Wondering what it’s actually like to go through your first year of amateur blogging? This realistic first year blogging income report will give you a taste of how hard it really it is to become a full time blogger.
I can’t believe it, lemonade + adventure has made its first rotation around the sun!
And I don’t know about you, but that’s cause for celebration in my book.
This blog was birthed from nothing and has turned into something and I couldn’t be happier.
I started this blog off with the intentions of being in the niches of fitness, food, and travel, but slowly came to realize that my purpose was to speak to women who were trying to overcome fear and self-doubt because I was trying to overcome that, too. It was the best change for me.
For those new bloggers who are looking for a realistic look into what the first year of blogging is like, I promise you this is definitely the blog post to read.
Table of Adventures
What To Expect The First Year Blogging
Unless you have SEO knowledge, Pinterest know-how (on the business/creator side), or a successful YouTube channel funneling traffic to your site or – if you’re lucky – have a product you already know will appeal to the audience you’re targeting and you do it well from day one – blogging is hard.
Heck, even with all of those things, blogging is hard.
If anyone tells you any differently – run.
Your expectations over the course of your first year of blogging should be incredibly realistic by taking into account your personality, your understanding of the niche you’re writing in, and the audience you’re writing for.
If you’re coming into blogging thinking this is going to be some sort of weekend hobby, think again. This is full-time work (part-time if your income is steady in a few years) and takes a lot of elbow grease.
You may think you like the niche(s) you’re writing for only to realize that you hate it and switch it up halfway through.
You may not make any money and if you do, it won’t be much.
You’ll have a boatload of information to learn and you may not have that much time in your already busy schedule to learn it as fast as you’d like.
You’re going to struggle and you’ll feel like giving up and it’s up to you on whether or not you’re willing to slog through the thick mud to the other side.
You’ll make costly mistakes that you wish you had never made, but they’re stepping stones, and eventually, they won’t seem so costly later on down the line when “you’ve made it.”
Don’t expect to make $100,000 in your first year. Dream for it, hope for it but know that you may not see that kind of money for another year or so, and that’s if you play your cards right and well.
However, expect to be challenged and to find yourself in that challenge to have something wholly your own.
Expect to meet and mingle with others who are in your shoes grasping for a piece of the internet pie. They’ll become fast friends willing to sit down and talk with you and to brainstorm and give you advice.
And expect to be proud of yourself when you meet that one-year milestone. It’s incredibly rewarding.
How Much Do Bloggers Make
If you haven’t figured it out by now, bloggers can make a lot of money monthly if they’re speaking to their audience well (and also solving their problems).
I’m still in that experimental phase where I’m learning what my audience needs and wants from me and I’m trying to adjust to those needs and wants.
It’s definitely not easy, let me just say that right now. I don’t think there’s ever a period in time where you’re not re-evaluating what works for your audience as trends and demands change.
However, bloggers can make anywhere from $1 to well over $100,000 in any given month.
My favorite blogger is By Sophia Lee who has made over $75,000 starting this year (posted in May 2021). She’s a college blogger specifically aiming towards decor and organization in the dorm and apartment space.
Earlier posts were done on other college topics but she slowly shifted as her blog grew and she finished up her college degree with the home design space.
I mention this because I want you to understand that even if you change your mind, you can still be successful and create something for yourself so long as you put in the work.
53 Blogging Income Reports (Updated in 2020)
You can see from that list alone that it’s possible to make as much money as you want, it all depends on your niche, the value you bring to your audience, and how hard you’re willing to work to do all of that.
I Started Coming Up with First Year Blog Goals
I did this really late in my first year and I wish I had done it sooner, but also, knew that I was only able to start on my blog goals (and thus my monthly blog reports) because I had learned so much prior and knew where to go from where I finally was at the time.
Technically, I still consider myself to be within the first year of blogging as I’m working hard to make a full-time income within a year (just a different kind of year I guess, ha).
I started in August 2021 and have been hitting many of my goals since then.
You can check out September 2021, October 2021, and my current November 2021 monthly blog reports if you’re interested.
Because of my monthly reporting on my blog goals, I have been able to see things in “3D” and I’m seeing the progress of my blog quickly accelerate. Without the reports, I think I would have remained stuck and without a purpose, so if you’re in the middle of blogging and are getting frustrated, that may be a great way to start.
My First Blog’s Income from Blogging
The heading seems pretty bold, doesn’t it? Sure, however, I’m looking at my blog as an investment that will eventually feed into another blog and maybe even another.
Once lemonade + adventure sees the success I need to see, I will create another blog with all of the knowledge I learned and see if I can replicate it and do better that time around.
However, this isn’t about a future blog, this is about l+a in the present. So, without further ado…
Within my first year of blogging, I made – drum roll please! *brrrrrrrrrrrr* – $67.24.
Those came from sources such as Google AdSense, Skimlinks, and Amazon Associates, with AdSense (number breakdown below) bringing in the bulk of that income. Affiliate links have proven pretty difficult, but it’s more likely that I’m talking to my readers well enough for them to see that I’m writing quality information than I am trying to sell them things.
AdSense: $50.39
Amazon Associates: $15.21
Skimlinks: $1.64
I dunno. I could’ve also just gotten lucky lol.
As you can see, I made nothing, not for all the work I put into the website anyway. Actually, I think this is pretty average for the first-time blogger. Therefore, I feel really great about it.
Did I expect to make $100,000 in my first year? Absolutely.
But I didn’t have the right direction that would lead me there and while taking courses has been helpful, it can only do so much if I’m not putting everything into motion or not understanding how to because my niche wasn’t right for me.
Plans for the Future
I plan to supplement this income with other avenues of income, but overall, I hope to write more quality content that will bring in my audience that will sign up for my email list.
Eventually, I hope to get printables off the ground and have that making its own full-time income and while you may think it’s not possible based on what I made this year, I just know that bigger and better things are going to happen.
I made all of that money once I started my blogging reports because there was finally direction. I have a lot of faith in the problems I can solve for my reader. And once you start believing that you can solve problems for your audience, too, you’ll start bringing in a bigger audience because you’ll know their pain points better.
My goal for the next year is to be accepted to Mediavine or AdThrive and make a full-time income. Whether that’s making $50,000 or $300,000, I’ll know that I have brought value to my readers and the only way is up.
Of course, I hope to get social media off its butt and make a more personal impact with readers through Tik Tok or Instagram.
I may be able to do a few sponsored posts and get more guest posts and backlinks, too, but I’m not all that worried about that, to be honest. I just know that one day I will be making money blogging (a lot more than $67 anyway) and wherever you are in your journey – you will, too.
Closing Notes
The first month will seem like you’re doing everything right, but reality will set you straight in due time and you’ll grow from it and become better. … Keep going.
The thing is: blogging is tough. It ain’t no joke.
I thought some people were trying to make it seem a little harder than it really was, but if you’re anything like me – slow, yet a quick learner, but has the focus of a nematode – you’ll find that things are just a tad bit difficult for you.
However, if you’re hyperfocused and it’s easy for you then blogging may actually come a bit easier. But I’m glad you got to see my perspective and the perspective of what I can only assume are other bloggers: overwhelmed, anxious, and patient.