The following post was written by Niki at Debt Free by Thirty.
To say that I am excited about joining this challenge is definitely an understatement. Go ahead and insert the thesaurus entry for excited here and that would about measure my level of enthusiasm. This is a great opportunity to become part of a community that is striving for excellence with their blogs and also trying to make some serious cash. It’s going to be a fun year.
I do have a few ideas up my sleeve on how to earn some extra income online this year. They include improving my personal finance blog, creating a new site, and selling my services with some (limited) site design.
For the most part, I will be using my existing personal finance blog, Debt Free by Thirty, as my main source of revenue for this challenge. Currently, it is averaging $800 a month with ad sales and guest posts. I hope to increase this average and continue using this revenue stream of online money.
My goal is to fine tune DFbT through search engine optimization. At the moment, I could tell you as much about SEO as I could tell you about brain surgery, and for clarification that is nothing, but I will be pushing myself to learn more and implement it. By upgrading my site I open up more possibilities for followers and revenue.
Projected earnings: $15,000
This assumes an average income of $1,250 a month for the year. I’d like to think that is not a completely absurd assumption.
At some point in the year, I plan on starting a foodie blog. While I may have more luck with making money with a niche site, I have an obsessive love for food, cooking and photography. Naturally, a site featuring pictures of food that I made would go hand in hand with my passions. I would much rather put my time and energy into something I love to do. It makes it feel less like work. There are a few tasks I have to accomplish before I can get a site up and running, but I am working on it fervently.
Projected earnings: $4,000
This seems like a reasonable estimate for the year, if I can get the blog ready within the next couple of months.
The last idea I have for bringing in some mo’ money encompasses my amateur fascination with graphics and site design. I have received quite a few emails asking me about how I create the graphics and the designs for Debt Free by Thirty. I might possibly be able to expand that interest into a decent profit.
Projected earnings: $1,000
This will probably be a “it adds up over time” type of profit.
Of course, at some point I hope to have more ideas to make money online, since I am falling a little short, alright a lot short of 30k. I am just not too sure what they are. Yet another reason I am looking forward to reading about everyone’s ideas and possibly stealing ahem, I mean borrowing them. J Wishing everyone the best of luck this year and with the challenge!
So if my math is correct, that means that you’re up to 20k in your projected income, but I bet you could do much better than you think when it comes to the graphic design business. If you wanted to, I bet you could earn $1,000 in a month.
Then, once you get established, perhaps you could start a graphic design website to describe your services! The dollars could really add up!
I guess I did underestimate, but I prefer to be more realistic with my earnings and be pleasantly surprised if I surpass them. Plus, the graphic design idea is a completely new frontier, maybe once I get my feet on the ground I’ll have a better idea of how much income it can actually bring in.
Yeah, I am amazed at how well people can do with graphic design. I have a friend that just quit his day job to do just that and it doesn’t seem like he is that busy with projects. I am sure you are underestimating and will be bringin’ it in in no time.
Thanks Corey, that kind of makes me feel better about taking it on as a venture.
Niki,
You could so do a foodie blog. You definitely have a talent for it based on what you are doing on your primary blog. And the web design….. well… You could sure make the money that way too. I love your new look!
Thank you for your vote of confidence Lisa! Hey, would you like to be my first blog design customer?
We need to talk about that… I would definitely be interested
I have to agree with Derek in that the graphic design work probably has more potential than you realize. Building up a client roster and reputation will take some time, but I think it is quite doable.
You’re probably right. I just have to get a few takers first.
It’s something I am excited to gt into though, even if I still feel a little trepidation.
I’ll second and third what everyone else says about graphic design works. Have a few satisfied clients, and you will probably have more work than you can handle!
Let’s hope!
If you have the skills- rock it! You have a supportive community here that will gladly support you and spread the word! Great to have you in on the challenge!
Thank you Shannyn. I have to agree about this being a great community of people, I am excited to learn and grow with everyone.
I think those all sound like great ideas. I’m really looking forward to see where you go with this. Could be big!
Thank you Ashley. I hope it can be.
Mo money, mo problems! I think you’ll do great. Good luck
Right? I hear ya.
Niki, I know you’ll do awesome at whatever you do because you? Are awesome!
As far as the graphic design, I’ve been testing my skills at that lately. I’ll be happy to share with you what I’ve learned. Which is not much.
Thanks Jana. I think you’re pretty rad yourself.
I appreciate that.
When I lost my job, I was able to bring in some cash for design projects pretty easily. It only takes great client that can refer you to another.
To get started, check out 99designs.com to get your first clients!
Thank you that is a great idea.
Nice diversified plan Niki. I think you’ll do great with a foodie site… I can see you have a nak for it based on your current site. BTW, love your new header.
Good luck!
Thank you!
I think you should pursue the graphic design business as well. I’m always looking for good graphics and it’s hard to find. Reach out as I’m looking for someone to make an info graphic for me.
I actually have my first client already but I will let you know.
I think your graphic design stuff would be a huge income marker. People pay big bucks for a great image and marketing.
Wishing you all the best.
Thank you Miss T!
I think you’ll do amazing things Niki because you’re so talented. I’m cheering you on to making the $30k.
I set myself the goal of making £12k/$18.5k in 2012..so far so good
Just to let you know, Niki redesigned my blog and it is beautiful! Thanks Niki!
http://www.centstosave.com/2012/01/what-do-you-think-of-my-new-look.html
Wishing you the best of luck, and might contact you with some design work in the future as I am looking to improve my site. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any ideas.