Thyme & JOY

The Bounty of Balanced Living . . .

food blog side hustle

Blog Income Report May 2019

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Blog Income Report May 2019 : Find out how I made $1465.15 through my blog with various strategies. 

Something clicked in the month of May in a major way.  I somehow realized that even though this blog is a side-hustle for me, it doesn’t mean that side hustles cap out at a certain amount of money.

The truth is, the next 1.5 year of our lives is up in the air as we have our first child and while Mike gets out of the military.  Having something … ANYTHING that makes us money from home is a true gift, and to let that fall to the wayside is a bad idea. 

This month I changed my strategy and my mindset and was able to generate an extra $233 this month.  Even thought that my not seem like a lot, the hope it brings in playing the long game was all I needed to kick things into a different gear. 

Blog Income Report May 2019

Here are some noteworthy things that happened in May:

  • The 80/20 Rule: All my health foodie friends probably look at that and think that it has to do with diet and eating, I know I did!  This is actually the concept that 80% of your results come from 20% of the work you do.  I listened to this explained on a podcast and it made SO MUCH SENSE in blogging to me.  Truthfully, my every day traffic is coming from the SAME 5-6 posts every day.  My new posts rarely bring in traffic and if they are going to make that list, it takes 6-12 months for them to do so.  I started looking into my top posts and seeing how I can spend my time optimizing THEM instead of just thinking that the answer was constantly cranking out content.  So far this strategy is working and I have a full spreadsheet of older posts to work on along with my new ones. 
  • Deeper research: Figuring out the posts I needed to work on required I do much more research on WHY they were bringing in traffic. It also had me looking at what my competitors on each post were writing and why they had top spots.  Once I did this, I was able to add more information to those top posts so hopefully I can rise above.  Pretty much all of my research is done by using Keysearch.co  It is an SEO tool that gives TONS of information on URL’s and posts and what they are ranking for as well as helping you develop your keywords and phrases to target.  It is a paid service, but without it I don’t think I would have gotten this far. I am not signed up for their affiliate program, so I don’t have a code but I would recommend checking it out!  I also am open to splitting the monthly cost (of $11.90) with someone who is looking to try. 
  • Video: By now you probably know that video has completely taken over how we take in our information.  More people are searching how to do things on youtube than they are buying books.  More people are watching the accounts of others lives on youtube or instagram stories instead of watching TV.  While I didn’t think that people would actually want to watch a short video of me cooking a recipe when they could just read it, I was wrong.  Creating and having videos on my site have already helped bump up my revenue because advertisers are basically begging for spots on videos to place ads.  I have been very strategic about which recipes I want to make a video on because it really is a LOT of work but I really do love creating videos, especially of personal memories on our Youtube Channel. I also want to point out that done is better than perfect.  Some of the videos I made this month (Air fryer burger, Instant Pot Pasta with Meat Sauce) are not great but they convey what they need to. 
  • It’s A Long Game:  Obviously, I knew for a while that blogging is a long game.  Not only do you have to create quality content that is going to rank (if you want traffic) but you also have to WAIT IT OUT to see if it will gain traction.  Often times, it doesn’t but it’s all part of a puzzle that eventually gets finished over time.  The more you post, the more you build your foundation on the internet and become some sort of authority on some subjects.  Things I never expected to rank for do well and vice versa.  Because I know this information, I am able to create content AROUND those subjects to build up authority.  But, this takes so much time to not only create but also to climb in rankings.  It can be a very frustrating process but looking at growth over time does help.  I am happy to have kept up these reports when I get discouraged. I will say this though, these income reports are my favorite things to write but once they are out there for the day they are shared, they pretty much tank.  These are an example of posts I write for ME and the small group of people interested in them.  Long story short, its all a crazy balancing act that takes time and patience. 
  • Fucking Algorithm: I know I say something about this EVERY time I have an income report.  And I also know I talk about it a lot on my IG stories, but this shift is VERY REAL.  I thought I was going crazy because my engagement seemed even worse than before, but it turns out SO MANY OTHERS are experiencing the same.  It really makes me think about spending time on social media platforms.  Do I really want to take the time to put meaningful content out on a free platform that people wont see?  Or should I maybe make my email list and blog the place where I create that and use social media to let others know that the content exists.  While I figure all of this out, I find myself using social media less and less. As my due date gets closer and as I focus on my quality content in other areas, Instagram becomes so much less fun and engaging for me and maybe it is a lesson I need to learn. 
  • Summer slump: We are officially in the slump as of June 1st.  From what I understand, it’s that date where advertisers pull their budgets and save up for the holiday season.  I don’t blame them. Business really is a cyclical thing.  In fact, in my personal chef business I have clients traveling so much that I have full weeks with no work going on outside of the house.  While I have had my panic moments about this, I am fully embracing that time to work on blogging. The small growth keeps me motivated and the fact that I will be able to create an income from home with a new baby and possible move keeps me engaged.  

A note on the metrics below: All of this is income that was MADE in May.  I don’t actually see all payment for this money for about 2-3 months depending on the company paying me. 

Blog Income Report May 2019 | Metrics

Food/Recipe posts that were created in May: 7

Amazon Affiliate Income: $44.41

 Mediavine Income: $870.74

Recipe Development Projects Paid Out: $500

Virtual Assistant Work: $50

Hours spent working on the blog: 15-20 per week

Blog Income Report May 2019 Total: $1465.15

 

Valerie Skinner is a Whole30 approved personal chef & recipe developer that bridges the gap between healthy eating and busy lives by providing simple healthy meals and recipes for you and your family.Charleston Personal Chef Thyme and JOY

Lets Connect!

Check out my Podcast: Food Conversations

Email me: thymeandjoy@gmail.com

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Blog Income Report April 2019

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Blog Income Report April 2019 : Find out how I made $1231.17 through my blog with various strategies. 

chicken wings in a bowl with lime and orange

Hey friends!  It’s about that time for another blog income report. I definitely don’t want to jynx it, but it feels like the $1100-$1200 monthly range is sticking around.  I’m definitely not mad about it, but I do hope the summer blog slump doesn’t hit me too hard and that I can maintain this level and hopefully grow beyond that. 

Honestly though, I truly am scared about what will happen for reasons that I will outline below. 

Blog Income Report April 2019

Here are some noteworthy things that happened in April:

  • Paying my mortgage: For over a year now, my goal was to be able to pay my mortgage using only blog income and I have come SO close.  Definitely close enough to say I have met my goal but it makes me wonder about dreaming BIGGER.  I’m the kind of person that short-changes my own goals and sets them a bit lower than maybe they ought to be.  This has it’s advantages because I usually am able to make these goals, but once I reach them it’s hard to figure out what it takes to get MORE.  My next mile marker in the blog income arena was to make a solid $3k-$5k each month by the end of the year, but I really don’t see that happening anytime soon because of the shaky ground of the internet and MAJOR life changes ahead but, we’ll see!   
  • Scared of Financial Future: Yes, I am honestly scared of my financial future.  I am one that takes SO much pride in contributing financially to our family. So much so that it has become my identity.  With having our first child in 4 months AND with all of the changes in social media relating to internet traffic, it’s hard to see just how I will be able to maintain this identity.  I question a lot about how I will be able to take on clients and pay a sitter or daycare.  I question whether I will even HAVE clients by then and even though trusting it’ll all work out is what I need to do, it’s not that easy. All I can do is make a rough plan and adjust as necessary. 
  • Being Honest and Unlikeable: I’ve stuck with the theme of being incredibly honest in my social media presence.  I feel like it has freed this part of me and I love normalizing things others feel but can be afraid to speak up about.  With all the praise I get for this, there is definitely a backlash that comes along with it too.  ALL of my numbers have gone down since I started being honest AND talking about pregnancy.  At times, things like this hurt even this cold-hearted soul but every time I think about it, I understand that doing the opposite will hurt me worse.  I understand that not everyone wants to use their “influence” to be honest and authentic.  They play the safe smiley game and if that’s what they really like to do then thats great.  I can honestly say that it’s just not me and so I must take the good with the bad even if that means I lose money by not taking on many partnerships and selling something.  Respect to me means more at this time with people behind me for whatever I pivot into next. 
  • Thrive Market Partnership:  Speaking of partnerships, I only have ONE affiliate partnership with Thrive Market.  I am really intentional about working with ANYONE because I really don’t enjoy preaching a healthy lifestyle when not everyone can afford it.  I’ve ordered through Thrive long before they approached me and even though it STILL is weird to promote ANY company that isn’t myself, I am happy that I get to spread the word even if I don’t make any money.  And a note on that:  I don’t make any money by talking about it, I only do when others order through my link which I don’t know if that actually even happened yet! 25% off First order and First month FREE
  • The Internet is Shaky Ground: I talk about this ALL THE TIME, maybe even too much. The truth is that the internet is changing SO much every single day.  I swear this space wasn’t the same as it was even 6 months ago. Instagram may take away like counts, smaller accounts are getting more attention and partnerships, Pinterest is now public which will force it to become more of a pay to play game, google algorithms are constantly changing which affects website traffic, more and more people are quitting social media in favor of living life outside of a screen and getting jobs that have nothing to do with internet marketing. It’s clear that the internet and social media is NOT going away, but I and many others do feel a shift happening that will ultimately affect how online business owners make money. I still don’t know how I feel about all of it because I like having a hand in the space, but I’m not sure how much energy to contribute to it that will be worth it, ESPECIALLY if I have low numbers and income compared to my peers. I can only keep riding the wave in a way that keeps me sane but also allows me to develop other skills in the “real world” that will also translate into an income.  It’s a crazy balance!
  • Summer is coming: People are about to stop using the internet a LOT more once summer comes.  Often times, this is when bloggers usually stock up on posts for the busy holiday season. I plan to do the same at my own pace as once fall hits, we will be a family of 3 and I have NO idea what will happen. I think the theme of this post is . . . . everything is up in the air, just ride the waves as best you can.

A note on the metrics below: All of this is income that was MADE in April.  I don’t actually see any payment for this money for about 2-3 months depending on the company paying me. 

Blog Income Report April 2019 | Metrics

Food/Recipe posts that were created in April:

Amazon Affiliate Income: $52.89

 Mediavine Income: $628.28

Recipe Development Projects Paid Out: $500

Virtual Assistant Work: $50

Hours spent working on the blog: 10 per week

Blog Income Report April 2019 Total: $1231.17

 

Valerie Skinner is a Whole30 approved personal chef & recipe developer that bridges the gap between healthy eating and busy lives by providing simple healthy meals and recipes for you and your family.Charleston Personal Chef Thyme and JOY

Lets Connect!

Check out my Podcast: Food Conversations

Email me: thymeandjoy@gmail.com

Follow me on Instagram

Join my community on Facebook

See what I’m pinning on Pinterest

 

Blog Income Report March 2019

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Blog Income Report March 2019 : Find out how I made $1120.24 through my blog with various strategies. 

Blog Income Report text with salad dressing

It’s officially Spring!  In the blogging world, that means that the infamous Q1 is over.  In the blog world, traffic for most bloggers especially in the food and healthy living space drops dramatically due to advertisers blowing their budget on end of year mayhem.  

Luckily, being a health focused food blogger, the resolution crowd balances that out with an influx of traffic, especially with thing like Keto and Whole30 being as popular as it is. 

As for me, I have still been on the downward slope of blogging meaning I have not put nearly as much time into it as I did in the last few months of the year.  My life just hasn’t allowed for that and I really just had to put what was important first and do the best I can with the circumstances as you’ll find out below. 

Even through all of that, I am shocked to see that my revenue hasn’t really dropped all that much which proves that growth over time is KEY. 

Blog Income Report March 2019

Here are some noteworthy things that happened in March:

  • Growth Over Time is KEY: I’ve read a million times over that a post takes about 4-6 months to really start ranking.  This may take even MORE time for people like me who has a lower domain authority. The point is, posts that I’ve made 6 months ago are FINALLY starting to receive daily traffic.  For some, it isn’t much traffic at all but over time it does grow. I now know that once I put a post out there that I’ve put my all into, I may not see any benefits until half a year later.  The good part of this is that I can share it again later when the season comes back around and it will have a bit more power under it at that point.   
  • Pregnancy Has Been Hard For Me: On my Instagram, I finally shared some honest thoughts about the first few months of my pregnancy. It has been a rocky ride for me filled with fatigue, emotional stress and unknown as well as scary news we received that told us our baby may not be ok. After a lot of crying, depression, and testing, we’re in the clear for right now and I feel like I am on the other side of a nightmare. I feel SO much better now and I have learned so much about myself and the journey we’re about to go on as parents.  One thing I’ve learned for sure is that taking a break and focusing on what is important will not cause everything I’ve worked on to crumble.
  • I dropped out of the Rat Race:  With all of that said above, I felt this ease in pressure to drop out of the “rat race” of the internet game. So many of my friends are becoming so successful with blogging, social media and other aspects of business but I really just can’t!  Not only do I not have the energy to keep up with it all, but this HUGE once in a lifetime (for me) event is approaching in 5 months that will take up SO much of my time. If I miss out on those precious years because I was trying to prove myself respectable by being “popular” and “killing it” I know I would look back and feel really sad about it. I think I’ve truly learned and accepted what it means to stay in my own lane when it comes to the internet world.  It’s ok if I don’t grow fast enough as those around me and whatever opportunities come my way in this limited capacity are good enough. I am not giving up blogging or my internet over-sharing by any means, but I AM no longer in a season of hustling being the only thing that matters.  There will be plenty of time for that later. 
  • I’m enjoying Instagram Much Better: This is mostly because I am not on it as much!  I’ve made a few decisions about how I want to treat that platform and what I came up with is this: I pretty much muted A LOT of stories.  It’s nothing personal, I just find that once I watch one persons, it tumbles into watching 20 peoples stories and all of the sudden I spent 35 minutes of my life watching a mix of ads and things that aren’t always what I need to see. When I am thinking about someone, I go to their page and watch their stories and that’s that.  I’ve also decided that most people that I am friends with on FB that share their IG to it I have muted on one or the other.  This is purely because I am seeing the same thing in 2 places and there is no need. One major thing I’ve changed as I’ve mentioned in my last income post was that I was making it more of a personal place for me.  Not every post has to have great meaning or be a recipe and what’s funny is I get more engagement on the personal posts than a recipe ever would.  I like making it personal again and making sure it’s for me just as much as it is for you. 

A note on the metrics below: All of this is income that was MADE in March.  I don’t actually see any payment for this money for about 2-3 months depending on the company paying me. 

Blog Income Report March 2019 | Metrics

Food/Recipe posts that were created in March: 7

Amazon Affiliate Income: $37.23

 Mediavine Income: $658.01

Recipe Development Projects Paid Out: $375

Virtual Assistant Work: $50

Hours spent working on the blog: 3-5 per week

Blog Income Report March 2019 Total: $1120.24

Well, this report was more about personal updates than it was about actual blogging but that really actually mirrors what my month was like!  

Like I said, I do have a blog coach AND Foodtography school in my current flow (albeit slow) so I will not be giving up on this endeavor that I’ve worked so hard for, I am just finding a way to balance it with my main hustle, pregnancy and time to enjoy the last 5 months with it just being me and Mike and I am totally ok with that! 

Also, I was featured over on YourParkingSpace.Co with a bunch of other people explaining how they make money with their side hustle.  Check it out HERE. 

Valerie Skinner is a Whole30 approved personal chef & recipe developer that bridges the gap between healthy eating and busy lives by providing simple healthy meals and recipes for you and your family.Charleston Personal Chef Thyme and JOY

Lets Connect!

Check out my Podcast: Food Conversations

Email me: thymeandjoy@gmail.com

Follow me on Instagram

Join my community on Facebook

See what I’m pinning on Pinterest