A new year - a new me. Well, not exactly but in some regards this is actually true. December was rather revealing in regards to how I look at blogging these days and particularly at the meta blogging industry (blogs that blog about blogging).
I really thought I knew it all - until I met Grizzly, Vic and Court and since then I’ve had to take a humble pill in regards to writing about blogging. I actually feel so damn stupid right now that I’m not even sure about the direction of this blog for the future. For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, I advise you read my review about Blogger Unleashed.
Don’t worry, this isn’t going to be a Caroline Middlebrook blog post where I ask your opinion about which way I should go. I actually know exactly which way I’m going and that way is forward to even greener pastures.
You see, I’ve fallen in love with niche blogging. And what I have learned in the past 3 weeks from the three gentlemen mentioned previously should be enough once and for all to get me earning some decent residual income.
I spend most of my days over at Vic’s blog these days (well, not most but all the time I normally spend browsing other blogs). This is one reason why you haven’t seen me around as much. I blame Vic for my lack of posts last month. Hehehe…
But despite this, this blog has still grown, albeit not as much as I would have liked to, but I’m not upset about it as I have done the best I could have at the moment. Despite the holiday and parties everywhere I only really took two days off in December.
After all I had a business to run. Below are the screen shots of my stats for those who care.
December Stats and Income Overview:
As you can see, my unique daily visitors are hovering around 732 and all though the page views have slightly gone done a little, overall traffic has still increased.
All in all, a healthy growth considering that I only posted 17 entries last month.
As usual I have added all my income streams.
Pro-blogging: $ 750
Freelance Writing: $ 654.27
Affiliate Income: $ 44.36
Google Adsense on Niches: $ 3.08
Total Income December 2007 $ 1451.71
Conclusion:
Looking both at my stats and my income, my business is still growing nicely and the income grew by 28% since last month which is great. I didn’t manage to get 200 subscribers which is a shame really, but I also noticed that around 58% use my blog from a bookmark. So naturally they would not subscribe at all but come straight to my site.
Not to worry, I just keep blogging and eventually this figure will rise too.
The Year Ahead:
I have several plans for this year, all are equally important and juggling them will be the hardest challenge of all.
- keep growing my freelance portfolio
- build many niche sites that can be properly monetized (set and forget)
- keep this blog going with longer style detailed posts
- keep growing my brand
- develop more products (ebooks, reports, maybe even a membership site)
Overall my aim is to earn enough as a freelancer to match an offline job (about 75% there) and then earn even more with my niches. Eventually I want to be able to keep travelling the world with my husband and having to be tied to one location at all times.
I can easily envision us living here in Australia for 6 month each year and then visit friends and family plus new places for the rest. As long as I have an Internet connection I can work pretty much anywhere which is the best thing about my business.
I know that niche marketing will allow me this desired lifestyle and I will do whatever I can to earn enough to allow for this to happen. I feel that this will be the best year so far financially and I’m excited about what’s around the corner.
Monika
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Congratulations on a great month Monika. I am loving Vic’s, Court’s and Grizz’s blogs too.
Wow Monika, congratulations on your income growth! I’m sure it’s just a matter of time that you’ll be a fulltime freelancer. And that affiliate income, looks like you’re going places with your strategy.
Way to go.
Cheers,
Ellesse
Hey, glad you’ve learnt a lot from those 3 stooges
Coz I’ve learnt my fair deal as well, though, you must be smart to filter some of their bad habits if you know what I mean 
Anyway, hope to be able to work together some day coz I’m too working on niche blogging
Keep in touch!
Jasa
Hi Monika,
Thanks for providing the income stats–a tangible visual aid that helps others to see how writing income is accrued.
I agree with your sentiments that the best blogs are those that give specific instructions on how to earn a living as a writer–or at least, steps writers can take to earn at least some of their income from writing.
I think, as writers, we benefit ourselves when we share our know-how with others. I like the idea of writers mentoring other writers and all finding success.
I wish you every success in the new year!
I think I’ll join your plan - it sounds a lot like what I want to do. I do have one addition income - grant writing. All else is pretty similar. Unfortunately, my numbers are no where NEAR yours. I thought I was doing good when I would hit 60 unique visitors. Guess I have a higher mountain to climb than I realized.
Good look with your endeavors!
Excellent stat. Congratulations. I like your determination. That is why make my determination always high when i see others. We need a lot of determination and desire to succeed online. There are so many distraction to make us lose focus.
The reason I am online is the potential it has in term of income and the way I want to life my life. Just like you said 6 months here 6 months there. What a wonderful life.
Fred: aren’t they just the best?
I can’t get enough from them and am like a sucker hanging out for new info all the time.
Thanks for the good wishes, I do appreciate this.
Ellesse: thank you, I’m actually ahead of my original target of earning full time by July this year.
Jasa: glad you also have seen the light.
Good luck with your niches and who knows what will happen in the future.
Athlyn: hi, it’s been a while since we have been in touch. Hope all is well with you and thank you for your well wishes.
Kathryn: great you too have found Vic’s site. I look forward to seeing your comments over there too. You will love it and Vic will help you to get more uniques.
Hi Monica - nice post and congrats on the site growth!
Mark
moneytalks: sorry for the late reply. Your comment sat in my spam folder. Glad to have you inspired. Like you I also get inspired by others who eventually push through some of their boundaries.
It is the best motivator one can ask for.
Mark: cheers, that just reminds me to stop by again in the forum. Last time I checked there wasn’t much activity at all.
Monika! Do you know when I have been around a lot commenting at other people’s blog just like yours I’m feeling kind of rude using just phrase. And when you mentioned about the spam folder make me feel more guilty. You know we are taught to use it for SEO purposes but lately I don’t feel good actually. So I’ll put my name and phrase too if you don’t mind. Thanks for having me here.
Wan: I don’t mind at all,
actually I am happy to finally know your name. I couldn’t find it on your site and hate to address blogger with their websites name. So well done!
Monika,
Congratulations on growing your income in December! Good luck in 2008.
Hey Monika! Keep growing those niche sites! Hope to see your adsense and other affiliate income keep rising and catching up with the other income categories. I’ll crawl out of my niches once in a while to visit heheheh
Cheers!
Steven: I wish you the same as well, things are moving great and this year looks very promising indeed.
YC: LOL, looking forward to bump into you wherever.