Here’s the deal:
Time for another one of my monthly online income reports. I set the goal of earning $600 per month exclusively from my website and related projects in the coming months, but this month I’ve decided to raise the bar…
My new goal is $1,200 per month from my site.
I’ve long touted $1,200 per month as the magic number for long-term travel–what would essentially allow you to continue traveling without spending savings. $1,200 per month is also what one would earn while working full time at minimum wage, more or less.
You might be wondering why I share this:
These monthly income reports are meant to hold me accountable to both myself and my readers. They offer a glimpse into the nature of making money through a blog and other online endeavors, as well as my efforts to cover my expenses while traveling in the pursuit of becoming location independent.
On to this month’s report…
September 2015 Income Report
Each month I report on what I did well as well as what I could stand to improve on from a financial perspective, as well as a blogging strategy perspective.
What Did NOT Go Well
1. No Real Complaints
September 2015 was my best month ever in terms of making money purely from my website and related gigs.
What Went Well
1. My book launch!
My book launch was a resounding success! Thanks so much to all of you for the help spreading the word, and leaving reviews. I had more than 13,000 free downloads, I’ve sold more than 1,000 copies since going to paid, and reached #1 in the Budget Travel category on Amazon, even knocking Nomadic Matt off his perch!
My book soared into the Top 100 non-fiction books in the entire paid Amazon store…
Beyond the Budget Travel category, I reached as high as #3 in general travel where I was right behind Cheryl Strayed’s book Wild, and Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods, and actually popped ahead of Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild and Into Thin Air (two of my favorite books of all-time)!
2. Amazon Affiliate Sales
Amazon affiliate sales were at a record high for me in a single month!
As part of my Kindle book launch I was spreading the word for my book on Amazon with an Amazon affiliate sales link–meaning that I would earn a small commission if someone clicked through my link and bought anything within 24 hours, even during the free launch period of my book, and even if they click through and purchase my book.
This meant nearly $100 in additional income during the course of the month, which obviously played the key role in putting me over my new single month record.
If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out the book at www.desktodirtbag.com/bigtravelbook
Full Income Report
-$381.93 – Amazon Affiliate sales
-$42.14 – YouTube Videos
-$0.00 – D2D T-Shirt Sales
-$13.19 – Vanabode Book
-$4.44 – Backcountry.com referral sale
-$721.49 – Big Travel, Small Budget Kindle book sales
TOTAL = $1,163.19
GOAL = $1,200 per month
97% of goal covered
September was a great month, and I was just shy of my new, more ambitious goal. It will be difficult to meet that same amount in futures months though, I am well aware. It’s going to mean buckling down and continuing to create great new content.
What Else is New?
In September we wrapped up our assignment house sitting in Mexico City and continued on our Central American Road Trip… From the pyramids of Teotihuacan and Cholula, to the colonial city of Oaxaca, from the stunning beaches of Zipolite and Mazunte, to battling the blockades in Chiapas.
It was a month full of adventures and lead us to the Yucatan Peninsula and our final few weeks in Mexico.
Are you following me on Instagram or Facebook? Be sure to do so, if you want to get the latest.
That’s all I got for you this month.
If you found this post interesting or insightful please don’t forget to Like it, Tweet it, or otherwise spread the word among your social networks. Cheers!
As always questions, comments, and feedback are extremely welcome.
Ryan
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