How I Made $210 My First Month Blogging
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Back in 2015, when I first started working online and travelling full-time, I decided to start my own blog.
Although I made one crucial mistake: I had no strategy.
I didn't promote my posts or connect with other bloggers. I didn’t know how to use keywords or show up in search engines. I sort of just expected the traffic to start rolling in but it never did. My blog went unnoticed. It was discouraging and I quickly gave up on my blogging efforts.
I didn’t touch my blog again for almost 2 years. Until one day, I got a comment from someone on an old post. Knowing that even ONE person read and enjoyed something I wrote was enough to inspire me to try again. So, last month I started blogging again. But this time, I came up with a strategy!
Over the last month, I wrote a lot of posts and signed up for affiliate programs to hopefully make a side income out of it. I promoted my posts, connect with others, and did a lot of research.
Guess what? It worked.
I was able to make over $200 in my very first month of blogging! And I'll tell you exactly how I did it.
If you’re thinking about starting your own blog, check out my most recent guide: How to Start a Blog in Under 1 Hour. It’s easier than you think.
Blogging Income Breakdown
In June, I signed up for a handful of affiliate networks and programs, which earned me a total of $210.
Let's take a look at the breakdown:
Affiliate Window (also known as Awin): This is an affiliate network that connects bloggers to tons of popular brands and companies. It costs $5 to join but you can get that back once you make your first commission. These are the programs that I've joined so far on Awin and the earnings I've received:
Fiverr: $15
Trusted Housesitters: $0
Bluehost: $195
I often include my Airbnb referral link in my blog posts, which provides first-time users with a $40 coupon off their first stay. In return, I receive a $25 travel credit for my future reservations. I've had several people sign up for Airbnb with my link, but none have completed their trips yet.
Update: As of 2021, Airbnb has ended its referral program.
Total Income in June 2017: $210 USD
Which is around $272 CAD. Plus a $25 Airbnb travel credit. Not bad for my first month on just affiliate marketing alone.
It can be overwhelming to keep all of the affiliate network information organized (or maybe I’m just easily overwhelmed), so I suggest keeping a document or spreadsheet with all of the important information. I have a master list with the program details and login information.
Blogging Expenses Breakdown
To be honest, I didn't have very many blogging-related expenses this month. As I mentioned earlier, I technically started this blog in 2015. Back then, I paid upfront for a 36-month hosting plan.
Website Theme: $50
Tailwind: $15
Update: At the time of writing this income report, I was using a WordPress blog which requires purchasing a website theme but I have since upgraded to Squarespace! This platform conveniently includes themes, domains, and hosting all under one roof - it’s less expensive too.
June Achievements
Besides making money through my blog, I had some other achievements this past month! Let's take a look at my highlight reel:
I restarted my blog. Can we just take a moment to appreciate how big of an achievement this is on its own? If you're feeling inspired and want to start your own blog, check out my in-depth guide!
I learned new skills. Okay, so this is more of a personal achievement rather than a blog achievement. But since I started this blog, I've learned a lot about search engine optimization, coding, and graphic design. And I for one, love learning new things.
I started an email list. As per the advice of many bloggers, I decided to start an email list from the very beginning. I created an exciting opt-in, where I share free blogging resources, printables, and advice. I've only had an email list for about two weeks and I'm very impressed by the numbers so far.
My social media grew. I really put myself out there this month. I joined Facebook groups, Pinterest group boards, and Instagram comment pods. Here is a breakdown of my social media growth (keep in mind that a lot of these were initially my personal accounts, which is why I already had some followers):
Facebook page likes: 0 to 142
Twitter followers: 282 to 957
Instagram followers: 2,421 to 3,011
Pinterest followers: 27 to 305
Goals for Next Month
Next month, I have even bigger plans. Here are some of the things I would like to accomplish:
Grow My Social Media. In July, I definitely want to focus on growing my Pinterest followers. To achieve this, I am going to make more Pinterest boards for my own profile and apply to more Pinterest group boards.
Start a Facebook Group. Honestly, Facebook groups are such an awesome way to connect with each other, ask for advice and promote/share content. In July, I want to start my own Facebook group and bring more bloggers and entrepreneurs!
Make a Resources Page. I don't know about you, but I love finding resource pages on blogs that I read. It's a great way to learn about new products and services. And I'm also thankful for bloggers that share their best secrets!
Write a Monthly Roundup. Full disclosure, this was actually one of my goals for this month. But the last two weeks of June were jam-packed for me. I could barely find enough time to write this post, never mind a roundup! But next month, I want to write a July roundup, where I share new blogs and products that I've been loving.
Final Thoughts
That concludes my very first income report. I hope you enjoyed learning about my blogging journey, income, achievements, and goals!
If you're feeling hungry for more new blogger income reports, check out some of my favs:
Let's talk about blog income in the comments! Share your favorite income reports. Tell us how you made your first money blogging. Or share your goals for next month!
Haven’t started your blog yet or itching to start it up again with a new foundation? Check out my guide on How to Start a Lifestyle Blog, which breaks the process down into 6 simple steps. You can also grab a free 14-day trial of Squarespace here - no payment info required and full access to your blogging tools!
