December 2007 Blog Revenue Report
During 2008, one of my main goals is to heavily expand my portfolio of revenue generating web sites and gateways. With the release of my new blog design last month, I decided it was time to monetize the blog as a case study, to see how it would fair as a new revenue source and that you really can earn more money by offering your inside tips and secrets for free, rather than selling an ebook. I get emails all the time asking when I will write an ebook or if I offer consulting, for the time being I feel it’s best to offer my advice and services through my blog at no charge… not to mention I’ve never been a fan of selling ebooks. When I first started blogging I thought about placing ads on the site, but I first wanted to establish my presence and legitimacy. It’s now 2008 and this blog is now ten months old, with over 1200 subscribers and time to make a case study out of it.
DECEMBER 2007 BLOG REVENUE REPORT:
– Affiliate Sales/Referrals: $1018.73
– Private Ad Sales: $125.00
– ScratchBack Top Spots: $343.91
Total Revenue: $1,487.64
I also placed a few ad spots for the month, which were the following:
– John Chow 1/2 Month Ad: $200
– Six ScratchBack Ad Buys: $25.83
Total Costs: $225.83
Total Blog Income for December 2007: $1,261.81
I really don’t feel either of these ad buys provided a significant increase in traffic to the blog during December, so it will be interesting to see how numbers play out for January 2008. I may focus on setting up a few ppc campaigns to help further promote the blog and bring in new readers. As for hosting costs, I have this blog running on my own rack of servers and the bandwidth is so minimal it’s really not worth calculating.
As mentioned earlier, I will continue to provide you with the best information and insider secrets to successful make money online. This week I will be working on a major update to the “Make Money” section, adding in several new networks, statements and my personal experiences with these companies. Together we can make 2008 our best year yet!
Wait... before you leave, consider these top resources:
It seems that you're making almost $60 for every 1k impressions, that's not bad at all so that you're doing a great job as far as blog monetization is concerned. My advice would be (as with Tyler Cruz, who has stats similar to yours) to invest a little more as far as advertising your blog is concerned since, given the quality of your content, your blog definitely has more potential than 13k unique monthly visits.
Alan Johnson
Congrats on the awesome stats Zac.
Your affiliate income seems to be huge (I know it's something that other bloggers don't capitalize on). Would you be able to give us a breakdown of your affiliate income as well?
"I really don’t feel either of these ad buys provided a significant increase in traffic to the blog during December, so it will be interesting to see how numbers play out for January 2008."
I bought 125×125 banners on various sites the last month and a half and I'm totally not impressed (or surprised, to be honest) by the traffic I'm seeing in return. I know those banners are the new hotness in advertising but I'm not totally convinced they're worth it from the advertiser's perspective.
I'm always amazed at how a blog can gain so much revenue in such a little amount of time. It always helps when you're already a big dog right? LoL
In this case, the blog has gained popularity (and this is only the beginning, there is a lot of untapped potential with this one) as a result of quality content. As long as people have a reason to visit your website (quality content) and a reason to return (quality content published on a regular basis), you are on the right track.
Alan Johnson
I agree. Zac provides some great content and even though he wants to make a buck too, at least he comes across that he actually wants to help the readers rather than just use the audience to pimp yet another ebook or affiliate link. I honestly think Zac Provides much more useful info and help than the blogs doing 20-30 times the monthly blog revenue lol. I like them all but the two that seem to give the most details that can actually be put to use are Zac and uberaffiliate.
Keep it up Zac! You are right about offering free AND quality content and still growing. Because of that you get people that WANT to sign up for your referral links to pay you back for the help rather than just trying to trick people into buying things to get a piece of the profit ;).
I couldn’t agree more.
I have read and learned more information from here then most of the other sites out there.
With comments such as these, it is easy to realize that Zac's blog deserves far more traffic/exposure than it is currently receiving.
Alan Johnson
Congrats Zac and Happy New Year! 🙂
-Mike
You ever notice the blogs that do really well have problem solving, good content? Anyone can be successful, it's about solving problems for people. Write better content. Innovate. Success will come.
Not a bad bit of income for your blog. Certainly respectable and I'm sure most bloggers would love to make over $1,100 just from their blogs every month.
Congrats!
You still far away though from what John Chow is making from his blog LOL, anyway it shows us what is possible with a smaller size blog & number of RSS readers you have. Everyone can make money from blogging not depending on which niche you will pick, it's just a matter of hard work in most of the cases! I like how simple John puts it on his blog: everything is about getting lots of traffic and next monitize this traffic. That's it!!
Zac, I am looking forward to see your stats again beginning of next year…
Mike
For some reason I thougth this blog was making more money.
It is great to see real numbers rather than fake!
You have achieved great results anyhow for a ten month blog.
I am sure this blog will grow up and eventually will get bigger than JohnChow! 😀
Keep up the good work!
Francesco
It is only a matter of time until things are taken to the next level. As long as he keeps up the good work and publishes quality information on a regular basis, his traffic as well as income will definitely increase.
Alan Johnson
Congrats Zac on the 4 figure month. I have been looking around the site quite a bit and really like what I have read hear. The part that I find the best is posting pictures of events that you have attended. Excellent job and I know that you will have a 5 figure month before the end of 2008!
Are you still giving out T-shirts to people who sign up for NeverBlueAds under your affil link and make $50?
If so, I would love a t-shirt. I was going to wear it when my first check came and post of a picture on my new blog.
Congrats on the $$, and thanks for the tips! Keep em coming.
Definitely, just send me an email through the contact page with your affiliate id and mailing address.
Not too bad at all! 😀 Congrats on the blog success!
Those are some great numbers! Good way to begin the year!
And all the very best of luck for all of the coming year as well.
at the moment, you have 1303 readers. it's amazing what you've done with this blog – congrats! and did you recently add the azads block? i gotta check that out…
Good stuff Man, dont worry you are on the smart lines. This graph will go high very soon. -:) BEST OF LUCK
If you want to see wat happen within 9-5 jobs, check this HILARIOUS video -:)
[https://www.snackaday.com/2008/01/03/9-to-5-jobs-can-make-you-like-this-video/]
-abs
i got 175$ with auctionads :P!
Thats alot from only scratchback O_O
you made some great money there, I hope I'll make this much with my blog too! 🙂
I thought you made more money, too.
I would love to be making $1100 a month from a blog, but when I consider that you could make twice that working as an assistant manager at a Burger King, it seems a little more than disappointing . I'm seriously not trying to insult you, but when you look at the big picture, $1100 a month is below poverty level.
It's a little disheartening to someone who aspires to make a living blogging.
Keep in mind… December was the first month the blog was attempting to make money. Also, this blog is not my main source of revenue. Please don't confuse the two.
Hey, it's nothing to sniff at, but I guess when you realize that one of the people you think is raking it in really isn't pulling a full time living, it's disheartening. It was my mistake for assuming. No offense intended.
I can't tell you how much your blog has taught me. Your style of writing and the way you put things are so simple for even a beginner to understand.
Thanks again for all the input!
Ronnie
Damn,
That's pretty good for the first month at going after the blog income Zac. Congrats.
@ Jon — You retarded?
December was his first month at monetizing the blog. Since you consider that to be poverty level its a wonder you and your blog is still alive. No offense.
mmm haters…yummy.
Well done on the affiliate income. Things seem to be moving nicely for you.
Zac – just wanted to let you know, I found you through John Chow's blog – which I found through an article mention he got in Entrepreneur magazine. I'll admit, I am a rank beginner at all of this, but I am running between 25-100 hits per day on my environmental blog and looking to monetize the traffic and drive it up as well. I appreciate the tips and such, guys like me starting out on a shoestring really need the help. Ik'm going to throw a link-back for you on my site, it's the least I can do.
Dan