Here we are at the start of another month and I can’t quite believe we’re two thirds through 2011! September is going to be a busy month for me, there’s no doubt about that! I thought I would post about what’s been going well for me lately, what I’ve been struggling with, and what I have planned for this month (both business and personal).
August 2011 – My Biggest Earnings To Date
Last month I was very happy to report that my July earnings were the best they have been since starting online. This was largely thanks to the launch of my PLR membership site.
With an increase in affiliate commissions in August, alongside a further boost in PLR sales, I’m extremely happy to say that August was even better. I earned just over 30% more profit in August than I did in July – a fantastic jump that I really wasn’t expecting (especially since I significantly increased my outsourcing expenses).
Where did this extra income come from?
- My affiliate earnings have been really picking up (although Adsense is infuriatingly dropping in recent months),
- I am making more affiliate commissions from PLR products (although I’m still unsure as to whether my website PLR Deal Guide is a good idea in the long term),
- I had some very successful PLR packs this month that earned me over $3000 in themselves.
What I Struggled With In August
1) Not Enough Time For Niche Sites
My number one goal is always to make a semi-passive income from niche sites. As you might be able to tell from the above, PLR has somewhat taken over my time. I have been reinvesting money back into writers for my niche sites, and I’ve found that traffic is increasing thanks to daily posting. That said, I need to scale things up. I am making consistent monthly income from my niche sites but still have the same old problem of not having the time to focus. I need to build more sites/ build bigger sites than I currently have.
2) Poor Time Management
When does the struggle of working for yourself ever end? Even after three years (I first started ghostwriting back in August 2008!) I still struggle to keep a balance. In fact, I hate to say I’ve probably been worse than ever this last month! Some days I do next to nothing, others I cram in so much work that I am completely burned out. This is not good and I certainly can’t stay like this if I want to travel and work (fewer hours) from the road.
The only good thing to come out of all this procrastination is the realisation that I can make a good income with few hours of active work. That is if I ever learn to properly limit my work hours!
3) Not Enough Creativity
What I enjoy best about working online is the creative outlet. Even this blog is creative for me. I enjoy writing here, the only problem is I don’t have time. Yes, I can churn out quick, short blog posts. But what I’d really like to do is spend whole afternoons crafting just one blog post. I really want to write something worthwhile. Ahhh, if only I had the time (see my problem in number 2).
One of my niche sites is in a personal development topic. It has good traffic but a lot of the content is poor. I’m slowly improving it and I want to be proud if it, because it’s a topic I have very close personal experience with. My email newsletter is getting a very good response and generating email conversations, but I haven’t set aside enough time to really make this site the way I want it to be. It may not be earning much right now (any ideas on how to monetize personal development – please share 
right now I promote hypnosis MP3s), but it’s something I can see as a long term creative blog that could really help people.
Plans For September – An Important Month!
Right now, I feel like every month is crucial to making things happen. The fact that I earned 30% more than I expected last month gives me a massive boost to my travel savings. These savings are essentially a buffer should my plan of working and travelling not go to plan. But the pressure is really on now!
1) Release More PLR – At Least 1 PLR Pack Per Week
I don’t do any ghostwriting any more – I enjoy PLR so much more for the fact that I can write what I want, when I want. The business is very up and down, though, in the sense that some packs can earn me a paltry couple of dollars per 500 word article, where my best packs have earned me around $70 for every article. Thankfully my average across all my articles is now climbing all the time.
The thing is, I do continue to make sales of older packs all the time. My plan is to get as many out there as possible in the next few months. A bigger inventory means I can satisfy a bigger portion of my visitors and hopefully attract more browsers in general. It also fulfils requests that existing customers have made.
2) Work On My Holiday Sites
I am already very happy with the traffic I’m getting to my Halloween site each day, which I imagine will only grow this month and next, and I’ve had my first Halloween costume sales.
But Christmas is also fast approaching, so I’m going to be working on my main Christmas site at the same time. It seems to have been hit with some Google penalty but not de-indexed. It had been doing nicely until a few weeks ago. I stopped adding new content – so my plan is to start doing what I’ve done with my Halloween site. Adding one post a day there has made a huge impact on its own, so I’ll see whether this works for my holiday site too.
Whatever happens, I’m just so glad I have some sites with age this Christmas. Last year I left it very late and didn’t have the time to put much of worth together. This year is different (hopefully!)
3) Set A Leaving Date (!!!)
My heart is pretty much starting to race as I write this. In all honesty I’m scared of giving notice on my flat, not having my own place in England and going off to somewhere completely foreign, doing something I’ve never done before. But the landlady has been in touch and wants to know whether we’ll be renewing. I’m hoping she’ll let us stay either for one extra month (’til November) or two (’til December) and then we’ll be gone!
I know many others in our situation would have set the date long ago – but it’s been difficult. The other half is finishing his MA and has enough to think about without quitting his job and thinking about travel just yet (I’m doing all the planning). But as soon as that’s done (end of the month) he can quit (scary!) and we’ll book the tickets. It’s very much in the spirit of what we want to do anyway: much will be left unplanned. We’ll book a one-way ticket to Bangkok, spend a few nights in a guesthouse and see where life takes us.
By the end of the month, I should be able to say when we’re going, and hopefully be clued up on all the visas and vaccinations we’re going to need. I’m also planning to document the whole planning process, and maybe turn it into a guide/blog presuming I can figure it out!
How was August for you? I’d love to hear your goals for September too!
Other posts you may be interested in:
Looks like your dream of traveling is getting closer and closer! I’m glad everything’s working out for you – everything seems to be improving for you lately!
I need to carry on with my Halloween site also and start to get ready for Christmas. I’ve gotten a bit lazy lately…and stopped posting every day.
With regards to the self development niche – used to have a blog in this last year but I found it difficult to monetize. If you’re using Adsense, try switching to image ads instead of text because there are a lot of self development products being promoted on AdSense and I think in some niches, seeing an image on a conference or a course seems to interest people enough for them to click for more.
Also, there are many great self help books that are in the public domain. Many were published a long time ago but they are a fantastic read. You could resell them or rewrite them and promote them to your list – that worked out quite well for me last year. There are also some great public domain guides on different types of meditations. They’re old but worth checking out. All you need to do is spruce them up a little and they’re great to resell.
I am in the process of putting together a PLR store but I’m really dragging my feet!
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Nathan – I appreciate the personal development niche advice so much, thank you! You’re right, I feel like everything is coming together, and I almost feel like it’s because I just made it a real goal and things started happening.
Wow! Ruth your travel plans sound great. I traveled many years ago after I left college but had set plans as to where I was going. This was the only way my parents let me leave England all those years ago!
I admire you for taking a one way ticket and seeing where life takes you. That really is an adventure and don’t forget to document your travels!
Great to see your PLR site is earning a good income. That is my own goal to have my profits increase each month so I can stop the ghostwriting as well and concentrate full time on my own products. Am a little nervous of letting that income go but it does eat into my time.
Seeing your progress should be a great boost to others knowing that it is possible to make a good income on line. We just have to keep being productive and not give up on our dreams.
I wish you luck on your travels. I know my husband and I have talked about packing up and taking off to and seeing what life brings. Though this would be more taking a RV around Canada and the US though.
Good Luck!
Sue´s last [type] ..Buyer’s Guide to Diamond Engagement Rings
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Sue – I will definitely be documenting my travels
I think you have a good goal there to focus on your own projects. Ghostwriting is good for knowing what you get, but it’s great to have the flexibility to write what you want, when you want to.
I love the idea of taking an RV around US and Canada – I have never been to that side of the world but to me it seems like there would be so many different things to see.
Ruth it’s always great to read what you have been up to and I love the way you share so honestly.
My offline world has been keeping me very busy these past few months but still keeping things moving along online as well! Halloween is stacking up quite nicely already and I am seeing lots of people buying toys already – so either lots of kids have birthdays now or people are buying well in advance for Christmas.
Sometimes I think we can become so focused on niche sites that we forget to have fun with them as well – over the past month I have been working to creating a couple of Dr Who related sites (the first one launched yesterday!) They are obviously promoting merchandise but it has also been a bit of fun too!
I did start a PLR store but I have to admit I have been dragging my feet over that – need to make a decision what to do with it in the next month.
Paul Duxbury´s last [type] ..Dr Who Lego
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Paul – Knowing that you’re making sales for toys already is encouraging me to hurry up and get working on my toy site! You are right about having some fun, though. Good luck with the Dr Who site
Wow – your plans are finally coming together – fantastic!
It’s great that you’re not wrapping yourself up in too many travel plans – think light, travel light!
Keep on doing what you doing and you’ll be fine – you’re one smart cookie!
You’ve been an inspiration to me this year as I’ve followed what you’ve been working on and I look forward to hearing what you get up to on your travels.
Good luck and feel free to drop into Cheshire for a cuppa if you find yourself at a loose end on your return
Julie
Julie´s last [type] ..How to Build an Email Marketing List Fast
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Julie – Thank you, I’m glad you’ve enjoyed reading
Congrats on two great earning months!
But I am honestly surprised you are earning so much from PLR as you give so much to your customers. I get your newsletter and am a member of your Product PLR and keep wondering how you can be so generous. You obviously are doing something right
I am so envious of your travel plans. With 2 kids and a husband with an inflexible job I could never do it. But I do think about it someday, maybe once the kids are gone. And Thailand is high on my list!
Looking forward to your updates over the next few months.
Carrie´s last [type] ..August Earnings and More Ranting
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Carrie – Thanks so much. I do try hard to overdeliver in my PLR, but it seems to pay off
What you said about travel, that is why I just decided I have to go now, no kids and no fantastic job to tie us down. That’s not to say you can’t make it to Thailand for a shorter break though 
Twitter: pattistafford
says:
Great results, Ruth. I’m so glad it’s all coming together for you. I can’t wait until we’re at the point we can travel. If your plans included coming to the states, we could just switch places. LOL
Abundance Abounds has an affiliate program you might want to check out in the PD niche. They sell vision board kits and stuff like that. It’s more about LOA, not sure if that’s up your alley or not.
Here’s the link: http://www.abundanceabounds.com/
My plans for September and the next few months is just getting a good inventory going at my PLR store. I also have a Halloween and Christmas niche sites, but I’m just feeding them right now. I don’t expect much out of them this year, so just going slow with those.
Other than that, I’d really like to find my specialty–what sets me apart, what I can teach. I haven’t had that “big” moment yet. Until then, I’ll just write PLR packs and do a bit of affiliate marketing. It will all come together soon enough.
Best of luck with your September goals.
~Patti
Patti Stafford´s last [type] ..Daily Affiliate Tasks Review
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Patti – I really appreciate the link, thanks! I think I have a lot to think about in terms of monetizing that site now. I think I have the same thing as you about my own speciality. This blog is still a mish mash. I guess it will happen
Twitter: EdieDykeman
says:
Your travel plans are way beyond what I had expected from your previously comments. How exciting for you – and brave!!!
I’m so excited that you are doing as well as you are as it gives me hope. Not that I put in the hours that you do, but continuing to build your business and remaining steadfast in your goals have really brought you a long way.
I made more in August than I ever have online and much of it was due to the PLR store. Plus, I basically only worked two weeks because of our move. That has really gotten me excited about the future.
Thank you for sharing with us as openly as you do – you really are a great inspiration!
Edie Dykeman´s last [type] ..Moving and Computer Challenges
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Edie – I really have never done any travel like this before. I am getting more scared every day now lol!
So glad your PLR store is taking off – you deserve it!
Congratulations on the August earnings. It sounds like everything is starting to work well although it does sound like you are somewhat tentative regarding taking the leap to travel. I do think that you will go and enjoy yourself, however. I can’t wait to read about your adventures.
I am doing reasonably well considering that I have to work a full-time job and write on the side. My main blog has been meeting goals each month and continues to grow. It is paying for itself now and will only get more profitable I suspect.
Best of luck in the upcoming months.
kidgas´s last [type] ..Record Traffic Day at Cash Flow Mantra
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Kidgas – You’re right, I’m scared but I will be so happy once I’m doing it
I am so happy for you that your blogs are taking off. I love that you’re writing about something you enjoy too!
Hi Ruth,
Have I already mentioned how jealous I am? Well congratulations. You deserve the increase in earnings cos you sure have produced a lot, especially setting up brand new membership sites.
A travelogue/blog would definitely sit well on this site as it feeds into the idea of a web career girl being able to work in any location. I certainly look forward to see photos of far away places.
Does you boyfriend also do some sort of work online that will allow him to also earn on the road?
Have a great September. Happy earnings.
Tiptocat
Tiptopcat @ The PLR Boutique´s last [type] ..Thanksgiving PLR
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Tiptop – He is going to work for me from the road. Actually, I haven’t decided if he should technically work for me or for himself. His masters is in English and he can definitely write, so I’m thinking on giving him PLR pack topics on things like games consoles that he knows a lot about. The only problem is, although he understands what I do, I’m not sure he’s into it like we all are
But we shall see.
Hi Ruth, I just wanted to say thanks for all the quality PLR you provide. You deserve every success ~ generosity will always pay off as another commenter mentioned above. It’s refreshing to hear you are struggling with time management (it’s the bane of my life as well) but your income is still going up. It shows you are doing plenty right and shouldn’t be too hard on yourself.
Congrats on the travel plans, you will have a ball. There is nothing better than getting ‘on the road’ and leaving everything behind for a while. I did it when I was younger and wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. These days you have a great opportunity to document your travels, something I didn’t have, sadly.
Looking forward to hearing about your adventures.
Kat
Kat Cooper´s last [type] ..The Smurfs are Coming this Halloween
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Kat – Thank you for the encouragement
I’ll definitely be documenting the travels online.
Twitter: JulieBMack
says:
Wow – sounds like you are doing quite well! In the meantime, my PLR site just sits – maybe that wasn’t what I was meant to do. I am focusing more on my travel blog since travel is my passion!
Good luck in your travels – sounds exciting!
Julie McElroy´s last [type] ..Volunteer Your Way to a Vacation
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Julie – I think we all have different strengths, maybe you’re right PLR is not what you’re meant to do. The travel site sounds good. I ultimately want to just work on “passion” sites too.
Twitter: TheAvgGenius
says:
That procrastination will get the best of you…tomorrow…:D
Actually I have the same problem, only it comes by way of doing what makes me the least money. If I could, I’d be a social butterfly all day long online and be happy with it, but every time I do that, it pushes my goals back further and further – I can totally relate.
Google+ lately has been that, but once the novelty wore off (even though it’s weird you can talk to celebrities on there), it was back to work.
I think you’ll meet your goals just fine, especially considering you’re kicking up your income the way you describe (go, Ruth!). Happy to hear it! Now…travel, young lady. Your blogging audience wants to live through you by proxy.
Hope you get to enjoy some time off, you’re always inspiring, Ruth.
James Hussey´s last [type] ..How My Newbie Wife Used Twitter to Get Over 3000 Visitors
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
James – Lol true about doing activities that make us the least money. That said, socialising isn’t a complete waste of time. We are all strange creatures who work largely alone, it’s nice to make friends
Twitter: todayhaspower
says:
Hey Ruth,
New to these parts, but a big fan already. My wife and I are getting ready to pile into an RV with our two children and mosey on down the road indefinitely. The thing that has us on hold is that wonderful thing known as passive income. We’ve heard so much about it but haven’t been formally introduced as of yet.
Working and knowing what to work on can be 2 very different things. I think I’m in the right place to learn though
I have a PD site and have written eBooks to sell. They aren’t selling like hotcakes, but as the site grows I expect that to change.
Looking forward to reading about your travels.
Lastly, it is hit or miss as far as people on line. You clearly are a person of integrity and I am one customer who appreciates it.
Rob´s last [type] ..Is There a Recession Going On?
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Rob – Love the idea of travelling around in an RV – so much to see! Thanks so much for the PD site info. I think I should try writing more original stuff there too. And thanks so much for the lovely comment
Twitter: esmconcepts
says:
Hi Ruth,
Are you going to end up at your uncle’s in the Bahamas again as you travel? That is one nice thing about having a passive income on the internet; you can access it from just about anywhere
ESM´s last [type] ..Make Your Own Website Content
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
ESM – That really is the beauty of the internet
My uncle is in Barbados – I am thinking about when I’m going to end up there again. I am sure I will at some point 
Twitter: lissie45
says:
Tell me about – bloody procastination – have you got a PLR pack for it! Seriously its my worst issue by far – and its not getting much better either – I really, really need to kick in the head – I know what I need to do – I just need to get it done! Sounds like the travel plans are going to work out – get of the UK before the cold weather!
LIssie´s last [type] ..Bullying Online is NOT OK – Even for “Adults”
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Lissie – It really helps to know I’m not alone! At least it’s still possible to carry on making money while we’re procrastinating. Thank goodness! And I think I’m already too late to leave the UK before the cold weather hits lol! Summer has been non-existant and it definitely feels chilly now.
It looks like you are really killing it with your PLR. That’s awesome that your income keeps going up so much every month.
Good luck with planning your travels… yes, I am jealous and would totally want to follow along with site you make on it!
Tiffany´s last [type] ..In Simple Terms: How to Make Money from a Website
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Tiffany – Thanks, the PLR is fantastic though I need to make sure I spend enough time on niche sites too
Nice post, it sounds like you are making some nice money!
I too have thought about packing up from here and going overseas somewhere and put myself out of my comfort zone. It scares me right now but the thought of my quitting my job to do marketing full time scared me once too and I now I look back and smile.
Maybe I’ll reconsider moving abroad again in 2012
Ben´s last [type] ..August 2011 Update – More Success
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Ben – “It scares me right now but the thought of my quitting my job to do marketing full time scared me once too and I now I look back and smile.” I like that
Hopefully I will be saying the same once I’ve left
Ruth, how was Sept? Do you have any update? I’d like to know how you do with your Halloween and Christmas niche sites.
Looking forward to your Sept updated post. Thanks!
Kent @ Make Extra Money Online´s last [type] ..My focus in 2011
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Kent – I am just posting it now, though I don’t share earnings specifics as I prefer not to. My Halloween site is doing well and getting several thousand visitors a day. It is making sales daily, but in proportion to the visitor numbers it isn’t converting at a high rate. Still, I am pleased with it just need to figure out how to boost conversions.