Welcome to my monthly series where I share my blog stats and income with you. I was inspired to do this because I know of some bigger bloggers (like Pinch of Yum) who share their blog stats and income but I really didn’t see any smaller bloggers (like me! and maybe you!) who do so. I figured if I was looking for something like this, others might be as well, so I decided that I’d start sharing my monthly stats and income. Here’s my March blog stats and income report – I hope you find this helpful (you can find February’s report here)!
Ad income: 32.01 (BlogHer) + 11.05 (Adsense) = 43.06
Affiliate income: 250
Sponsored posts: 450
Total March income: $743.06
Total March pageviews: 15,159
If you haven’t read February’s post on blog stats and income, stop and go do that (post is linked here). Okay, all caught up? Great. The takeaway from February was that my stats were inaccurate because I had Google Analytics installed twice. So March’s stats are the first month in a few that have been completely accurate. My guess is that in February, I actually saw around 13 or 14k pageviews. Which mean that my numbers went up in March, which is wonderful. Of course the real story here is my earnings. March was by far my best month in terms of earnings. Let’s talk about it.
March saw the benefit of a number of sponsored posts paying out and a good amount of affiliate income. But the real lesson here is diversification. It was the combination of solid ad income (my best month yet for BlogHer) plus the payout of a number of sponsored posts (I don’t include these in my income report until they actually are deposited in my bank account) and the affiliate income all put together that resulted in a great month. I will say that looking at April so far, it’s going to be a big drop off in terms of income because I just don’t have a lot of sponsored posts that will be paying out this month. The ebbs and flows of income are to be expected and I know that May will be a better month than April. But let’s not get ahead of myself. I’m really pleased with April and pleased because I’ve already earned more than double what I earned in 2014. And I’m looking to continue to learn and grow (and of course share with you all!).
Tell me what questions you have that I can help answer! Do you track your stats monthly?
P.S. Are you reading this and thinking, “hmmm, I should start a blog!” If you are thinking it, then you are right! Read this post to help you get started and start a blog in three easy steps!
Very nice work! I have to laugh, tho, you call yourself small…I don’t even know what they’d call me! Good thing I’m not in it for the $$.
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Live and learn: lessons about fueling
Wendy, I’d call you small – just like me 🙂
Looks like you had a really great month. I did much better in Jan/Feb and saw a drop in sponsored posts this past month. I am also being a little more selective on which I accept to make sure they are a right fit for me. Thanks for sharing your stats-something to aspire to!
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Rock Your Core week 5
march was a good month! april will be much less but i think i’ll have another bump in may 🙂
Looks like you had a great month! I didn’t realize you could earn so much with affiliate links. Great job Courtney!
It was really my bluehost affiliate links that brought in the most income!
Wow! Amazing! I can’t believe your affiliate profit, that is amazing! I haven’t had even close to that luck! Great job!
the bluehost affiliate program pays very well and I was paid out for a few of those referrals.
As a resident of Arkansas, I am prohibited from participating in most affiliate programs; it would be interesting to see how it would go! I don’t make any $$ from my blog (never my intention), but I do get lots of perks with those books – ha! Thanks so much, Courtney, and congrats on such a great month!
Tara @ Running ‘N’ Reading recently posted…Training Recap
yeah, it’s a bummer about amazon and such. what about bluehost? that’s the one that brings in the most income for me…
I love this series! Thank you for sharing all of it with us. It is so helpful, but my blog is MUCH smaller than that! I hope one day I can start getting sponsored posts to get paid for my hobby 🙂 Great month!
Kelly @ miles to go recently posted…RRCA Coaching Certification Course Review
glad you find it helpful, kelly! my blog grew a TON in 2014. hoping for more growth this year 🙂
Congratulations on another excellent month!!!! Keep up the great work!
Diatta @ Femme Fitale Fit Club recently posted…Major Reasons To Drink More Water
thanks, friend!
I know embarrassingly little about this, but would love to learn. I was thinking about adding ads to my blog. Right now I don’t do anything but pay money and enjoy getting to know and encourage other runners :). I probably should know this, but what exactly are sponsored posts and affiliate links? I guess I know what a sponsored post is, but didn’t realize you could get paid for it. It don’t love when a blog seems to only be promoting products and yours never seems like that to me, but $450 is great! Ok, I am done asking questions 🙂 thanks for the info!!!
Jen@milesandblessings recently posted…Adding races to training
Hey Jen! A sponsored post is a post where a blogger is paid (either in cash or via product) to write that post. Affiliate income is income earned as an affiliate of a site/brand (i.e. Amazon or Bluehost – two of my primary affiliates). Affiliates earn referral fees if folks use their link to make a purchase. For example, if you were to click the amazon banner in my sidebar and then make a purchase (any Amazon purchase), I’d earn a small referral fee. Does that help?
Very nice work, Courtney! You are my blogging Mr. Miyagi. 🙂
Molly @alsoranagain recently posted…What’s New?
LOL. You are hilarious!
I’m obsessed with blog incone reports right now, so thank you so much for sharing yours! I’m still trying to get my traffic high enough to have sponsered post opportunities. I’ve been doing so much research, sometimes it makes my head spin, but I feel like I’m starting to really understand this whole thing!
Congrats on a great month!
Michelle recently posted…‘We Totally Won’
I love to read income reports as well! Which ones do you read? I am always looking for ones from bloggers w/numbers more in line with mine!!
I read fitnessfashionista.com, but she’s pulling in crazy numbers! I saw byregina.com also, but I like to stick to fitness bloggers. This post also reminded me how much I need to get my email sign up going…it seems like a major source of traffic for most…
Michelle recently posted…‘We Totally Won’
WOOP WOOP! Nicely done!!!!! 🙂 That’s a HEFTY chunk of “change”! I love blogging perks like making a little $$ ha ha!
GiGi Eats recently posted…Recipe Fail? You Be The Judge!
Thanks lady 🙂 def a fun perk 🙂
I’d love to hear more about ad sense. I’ve been thinking of trying it out.
Fiona @ Get Fit Fiona recently posted…Weekly Workouts April 19 to 25 2015
I just did a post about getting started with Adsense! http://eatprayrundc.com/2015/04/14/getting-started-with-google-adsense/
Wow, only 4 months in and you have doubled your income, that is HUGE!!!
BackatSquare0 (@BackAtSquare0) recently posted…Spring Reset 21 Day Challenge
Thanks Abby! It helped that I didn’t make a ton of money last year 🙂
This is such a great series – I love the inside look inside others businesses & what is working for them. GREAT month! 🙂
Heather @ FITaspire recently posted…FITaspire Favorites: April {Fitness, Food, Beauty}
Thanks – it helps keep me accountable!
Nice month, Ms. Eat Pray Run DC 🙂 I started the Amazon Affiliate process, but got a little lazy with the online forms… just need to do it 🙂 I may be in the Eastern Market area this weekend, will let you know in case you are at PB or around. Thanks for holding my WB! If not, lets plan something soon.
Jennifer recently posted…2015 Chicago Marathon – Am I IN or OUT?
Sounds good!
Wow, so awesome!! What a great month! I love that you share this information with everyone.
Lora @ Crazy Running Girl recently posted…An interview with an American record holder!
Thanks – glad you find it helpful!
March was a great month for you – congrats! I’m starting to see my numbers increase on my AdSense inclome – not enough yet to meet the $100 minimum to get my first payment, but it’s getting there! Now you’ve got me thinking about sponsored posts. So far the companies that have reached out to me have paid me in products.
debbie @ Deb Runs recently posted…Roasted Asparagus
It can be a really great opportunity if the fit is right! I turn down way more than I accept but the ones I accept are things I really believe in!