Hiya!
Bjork here, checking in for the monthly traffic and income report.
Quick back story on these reports: Lindsay and I started this experiment way back in September of 2011. You can check out our first ever income report here. We made $21.97 that month.
I mention that first income report because itās important to understand that monetizing a blog takes a lot of hard work, dedication, time, and luck. Other bloggers know that thereās a lot that goes on behind each and every post that goes out: lots of testing, learning, changing, staying up late, getting up early, tweaking (not twerking), connecting, and hustling.
Along with all that hard work, itās important to have patience. Weāve been at this blog thing for a few years. As you’ll see in the image I share later on in this post, it was a long time before Pinch of Yum started to get decent traffic (and therefore decent income). As a matter of fact, Pinch of Yum turned four years old on April 11th! We celebrated by watching Office reruns and eating double chocolate cookies.
In honor of Pinch of Yumās fourth birthday, Iād like to give a quick shout out to four people that have inspired me in this journey.
- Gary Vaynerchuk – Gary was the first person that helped me understand that you could actually create an income from a blog. His book Crush It was instrumental in inspiring us to take this blog thing seriously. Thanks, Gary.
- Pat Flynn – Pat inspired me to do these monthly income reports back in September of 2011. Iāve learned a ton from him and owe him a huge thanks for the things heās taught me about doing business online. Thanks, Pat.
- Dan Miller – Dan wrote a book called 48 Days to the Work You Love. It helped me realize that itās possible to do work you love alongside people you love. It might still be hard work, but it will be work you love. Thanks, Dan.
- Lindsay Ostrom – Lindsay has built this thing called Pinch of Yum in the early mornings and late nights in between her job as a 4th-grade teacher. She works incredibly hard yet is intentional to prioritize the things that really matter. She inspires me. Thanks, Lindsay.
Letās take a look at the numbers for April.
Income
- BlogHer (now SheKnows) ā $5,901.88
- Bluehost ā $4,255.00 –> this income comes from a page where we show people how to start a food blog in three easy steps.
- Tasty Food Photography ā $4,013.00
- sovrn ā $2,585.14
- Everyday Healthy Presale – $2,217.50
- YellowHammer Media – $2,023.16
- Ziplist ā $1,925.29
- How to Monetize Your Food Blog eBook – $1,590.00
- Swoop ā $953.34
- Google AdSense ā $902.04
- The Creamy Cauliflower Sauce eCookbook ā $722.25 (Update: This eCoobook is no longer for sale)
- Genesis Theme ā $469.47
- Elegant Themes ā $49.00
- Say Media – $16.67
*We didn’t have the totals for Swoop at the time of publishing this post, so we took last month’s income and adjusted for traffic.
Total Income: $27,623.74
Expenses
- eBook Affiliates ā $1,229.36
- Canon EF 100mm 2.8L IS ā $1,049.00
- Food Expenses- $523.58
- Support Staff ā $496.18
- Amazon S3 and Cloudfront ā $454.29
- Media Temple (Hosting) ā $350.00
- PayPal Transaction Percentage ā $338.60
- Accountant and Bookkeeper – $362.50
- Misc. Expenses ā $107.25
- W3 Total Cache Premium Plugin – $99.00
- MailChimp – $75.00
- LeadPages ā $67.00
- Adobe Creative Cloud ā $53.55
- PayPal Website Payments Pro ā $30.00
- ViralTag ā $28.00
- QuickBooks ā $26.95
- Time Doctor ā $19.98
- E-Junkie ā $18.00
- VaultPress ā $15.00
Total Expenses: $5,343.24
Net Profit: $22,280.50
If you’re interested in learning more about some of the ways that you can monetize a food blog, we encourage you to download this free ebook, ā16 Ways to Monetize Your Food Blog,ā from our sister site, Food Blogger Pro!
Thoughts On Income
Display Advertisers
You might have noticed a couple of new advertisers in the income list. In this monthās report, youāll see a company called YellowHammer Media and at the very bottom, youāll see Say Media.
Our earnings with YellowHammer Media started out strong but dropped significantly at the end of April. We started using Say at the very end of the month, hence the reason for the low earnings.
In last monthās report, Kiersten from Oh My Veggies shared her five tips for blogging full-time. That post (and her eBook, How to Monetize a Food Blog), inspired me to take advertising more seriously on Pinch of Yum.
Kierstenās first tip is āup your ad game,ā which is exactly what weāre doing with Pinch of Yum. In short, weāre testing different ad networks to see which ones pay the highest CPMs. I applied to a handful of networks in April but the implementation process is slow, hence the reason for only having two new networks in this monthās report. After testing the ad networks we’ll place them into our advertising waterfall.
The highest paying ad networks will show first. If they donāt have an ad to show then it will āpassbackā to another ad network to see if that network has any ads to show. If they donāt, it will āpass backā again to another ad network. The process helps to increase your blog’s RPM without increasing the number of ads that appear on your blog.
Speaking of RPMā¦
Rpm
RPM stands for page revenue per thousand impressions. Or, in other words, RPM shows you the average revenue you earn from every 1,000 page views on your blog.
If you want to learn more about RPM (and some other important advertising terms) then be sure to check out this post on Food Blogger Pro.
Everyday Healthy Presale
On April 28th (Lindsayās birthday!) we did a presale release of Lindsayās newest eCookbook, Everyday Healthy. The thought process with the presale was twofold:
- It allowed us to build some buzz around the product before its official launch.
- It was something that Lindsay could easily and naturally mention at the end of posts leading up to the launch as she did at the end of this post and this post.
Hereās the process we used to run the presale:
- We decided on the incentive: The $19 package would be discounted to $10.
- I created a simple verification PDF in Pages for people to download after the purchase: You can click here to see what this looks like.
- I uploaded the PDF to E-Junkie just like you would an eBook. (If you want to see the step-by-step process for doing this you can go through the Selling your eBook course on Food Blogger Pro.)
- I used this tool to create the āAdd to Cartā button.
- Lindsay wrote the presale blog post and created some images to go along with it.
- We published the post. š
- When someone purchases the presale package they are emailed the confirmation PDF and their email address is recorded in E-Junkie. Weāll use these email address to send out the Everyday Healthy eCookbook and add-ons when the product launches.
Overall the presale process has gone pretty smooth. Weāve had a few people follow up and ask why they didnāt get the product, which made us realize that we could have been more intentional about communicating that they wouldnāt be receiving the product until May 12th, when the eCookbook will be released.
If youāre interested in becoming an affiliate for Everyday Healthy you can check out this affiliate page for more information!
Traffic
Below are some screenshots from Google Analytics. You can click on these images to view a larger size.
Traffic Overview
Top Ten Traffic Sources
Mobile Vs. Desktop Traffic
I usually don’t include the screenshot below, but I thought it would be fun for people to see. This is the traffic to Pinch of Yum over the past four years. Starting in April of 2010 until the day I wrote this post (May 8th).
You can click on the image to see a larger version.
Traffic – April 2010 – April 2014
Rss Email – Mailchimp And Leadpages
I dedicated an entire day in April to switching over the Pinch of Yum email RSS to MailChimp. We had previously been running RSS email through Feedburner. The good news with Feedburner is that itās free, the bad news with Feedburner is thatās free. In many ways with Feedburner, youāre getting what you pay for (at least when it comes to the email side of things).
The transition process wasnāt too complicated, but it took some time. The general step-by-step looked like this:
- Export RSS email subscribers from Feedburner.
- Import that list into MailChimp.
- Create an RSS campaign in MailChimp and assign it to the list that was just imported.
- Turn off the Feedburner email list.
- Turn on the MailChimp email list.
We have a relatively small email list considering the traffic that Pinch of Yum gets (at the time of writing this post we had 7,500 RSS email subscribers). The open rate is pretty good (42%), but we could really improve on the number of subscribers.
The first step we took was to make the signup option more obvious. Weāre using LeadPages and integrating it with MailChimp in order to get this signup box in the sidebar.
You can click on the image below to see the same box that people would see if they clicked on the button in the sidebar.
That opens up an opt-in box like this:
At this point, weāre using an eCookbook that has the top 25 posts from 2012 as the lead magnet for signing up for the list. This is actually the same eCookbook we use as inventive to like Pinch of Yum on Facebook, but weāll soon be pulling back on that Facebook marketing approach. As many of you know Facebook is making it harder and harder to reach followers without paying to get their attention, so weāll be switching our focus to the Pinch of Yum email list.
The next step will be creating a similar signup box that weāll put at the bottom of blog posts. This has been a long time coming, so Iāll be excited to get that in place soon.
Those are the updates from Pinch of Yum! Thanks for checking out this month’s report.
Because Of You
Itās really true. Itās because of you (yes, you!) that this thing we call Pinch of Yum can exist as it does today. Thanks so much for reading, tweeting, commenting, emailing, and sharing these recipes with your families and friends. We love hearing from you!
Weāre using a portion of this monthās income from Pinch of Yum to support special projects at the Childrenās Shelter of Cebu, an orphanage where Lindsay and I lived and worked for a year.
This month we’re supporting CSC by purchasing new bunk beds and sponsoring “outings” so that kids can get out and do some fun things with their teachers and houseparents. This is a picture of Lindsay’s students on one of the outings we did to the mall and the arcade last year. Fun times for the kids (and the adults)! You can learn more about CSCās special projects by visiting this page on their website.
My friend Michelle just posted her blog income report for July 2018. She’s over $100k in income again. I’m grateful to have you and her in my online life to keep me inspired. Way to go Lindsay! š
Impressive traffic and income. I learned a significant amount about ads and look to use this information to improve my blog!
You guys are such an awesome couple just working together, God bless and thanks for the info you two.
I was wondering about the addition of YellowHammer Media? Did I miss you mentioning it? Are they a good ad network? I’m in the market for a new network….
A question: would love to know what comments plug-ins you are using.
Thanks in advance for your answer!
Wow, thank you so much for all these infos. I just started my online travel magazine and these posts are so useful. I’m devouring all of these reports as well as your newsletters. Thank you for being so generous with your time & teaching!
Bjork, I was just looking through this (again!), and had a question about LeadPages. I really want to put an e-mail signup at the bottom of my blog posts, but wow, you’d think I was trying to scale Mt. Everest. Ok, not really, but it’s not straightforward at all. I really like the idea of LeadPages, and I think I will use them eventually. However, I can’t justify the cost, being so new at this blogging adventure. Do you have any suggestions for an option that is the “lite” version of LeadPages? I am swimming in plugins and not finding the right fit. Thanks for any insight!
I just love your transparency. I think there is something very fresh about that. Not many people are honestly willing to put all their cards on the table, let people poke their noise through their books! Well done.
Ali
Hi! Thank you for your guidance and helpful tips. My husband and I are executing a similar “experiment” and it’s encouraging to see your progress and tenacity. I agree that this road is not easy and it takes a lot of work, patience, effort, and time. But I’m happy that you are succeeding, and I love that you are giving back as well. You are inspiring and I just wanted to say hi!
Thank you for sharing this! Being a new blogger is a bit intimidating if you’re thinking about switching over to self-host/trying to monetize your blog. I’ve looked at the past reports and it’s fun watching the income grow! I’m just wondering, what’s your average traffic like per day to have so many hits?
Aloha from Hawaii… Wow, I’ve spent over 2 hours on your site and I love it!! I’m making the switch from blogger to wordpress very soon, so happy that I found this site. I really need some major help creating traffic and generating income… Where do I start? Mahalo
This income report is SO incredibly helpful! Pat Flynn has had such an amazing impact on the blogging world with his income reports and I was inspired by him too (though I share what I earn, spend and save each month as a twenty-something). The opportunities that we can create for ourselves with persistence, consistency and hard work is truly amazing! Thank you for sharing your secrets to success – I really appreciate it!
Sam xx
http://www.smart-twenties.com – how to make the most of your twenties
WOWEEE! I get so excited when I see such success Bjork and Lindsay! I have just recently come upon you YUMMY blog and just love it! Will be following along and UMMM hoping to glean much for you two! And so cute you two are! Blessings!
Hi Lindsay and Bjork,
I ran across your blog while looking for an easy hummus recipe. I made your hummus (very easy and tasty, although I definitely need a food processor, my blender did not cut it) and was intrigued enough to look around the rest of PoY.
I’m a writer/actor/gardener/animal lover and recent transplant from NYC to Los Angeles. I was freed from the corporate ball and chain in 2006 and have never looked back. I made several attempts since then to create a blog, but was either distracted by other things I was trying to accomplish, or daunted by the time and effort required to make it worthwhile.
It’s utterly refreshing to run across a blog that offers to share with others how you began and the steps you took to build a profitable enterprise; in fact, I find it pretty astounding given the dog-eat-dog nature of capitalism. Maybe you really can be a good guy and finish first. š
Thanks for your tips, advice, and insight. You have a great blog, plus, there are so many useful things here for people who want a crack at doing what they love. You’ve given me some great ideas. The caveat was not lost on me that while it’s possible to make money at blogging, it’s a lot of work and, of course, a crap shoot in terms of whether your blog is attractive to enough people. Then again, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
May your business continue to inspire and blossom!
Best,
Kim
Thank you both so much for sharing your journey so openly! I have been blogging for nearly 4 years and am still trying to figure out how to make a living out of this thing I love so much! I love your recipes, your insight and, on the days when I am thinking I may never make my dream of blogging full time a reality, your candid and passionate encouragement. I may never be able to quit my “real” job to do the job that is in my heart, but I sure am having fun sharing my stories and recipes with (what few) readers I have! Thanks for your generous spirit and inspiration! š
This is honestly one of the most fascinating and(to a techni-phobe like me)concise independent income breakdowns. Awesome to see a blog be so upfront about their business side!
I really love that you post your progress and your thought process in developing your site its really inspiring and encouraging. I do have a question for you about pinterest. I know a lot of people get traffic from pinterest I was wondering if you have any recommendations on how to get started.
Thank you
Hi Susan! I was not actually ON pinterest myself until a few months ago, but it has always been a big player for us in terms of driving traffic I think because of how visual it is. If you can really focus on taking great photos, it’s going to be that much more easy for people to want to pin them. š I’ve also seen some of the members on Food Blogger Pro talking about their tips for Pinterest… things like shared boards, etc. Here’s the link!
I love your transparency and the help you freely offer to other bloggers. You two are obviously a dynamic duo!
What do you make of the Bounce Rate? Mine fluctuates from 80% down to 1% and I cant tell why. I understand the basic concept of bounce rate, but do you notice that as well?
Keep up the great work. š
Hi Lindsay and Bjork, these income reports are so interesting, they are inspiring and instructing, thanks a lot!
I’m in the process of building a mailing list. Although I love MailChimp’s logo, I’m thinking over choose MailChimp or Aweber. Could you tell what was the thing that made you choose MailChimp over Aweber?
Congratulations on your blog’s birthday!
EXTREMELY inspiring!! I appreciate all of this information so much! I got so pumped because this month I think I am going to break $1k in earnings, LOL!! To me, that’s a lot for my blog š
so exciting!!!! Congrats GiGi! That IS a lot!
Truly amazing and inspiring! Congratulations on a great 4 years!
Hey Bjork,
Interesting to know that you are looking to actively add to your email subscriber base. I had written a blog post about when is the right time to show a subscribe option to a visitor to maximize chance of getting him / her to provide contact details. Could be of use: https://www.cucumbertown.com/craft/when-to-propose-a-relationship-to-your-anonymous-visitor/
Warning Everyone! Clicking on this link leads to a warning that the site contains malware!
Yikes.
And now since I’m here, thank you Bjork and Lindsay for another inspiring post. And congratulations of your 4 years!
Hi Bjork – I’m curious do you use Swoop through BlogHer or on your own?
Through BlogHer.
These posts inspire me every time I read them. I’ve been thinking about offering a free most popular posts e-book for signing up for my email list for awhile now, and I think this post pushed me over the edge! Congrats on such a lucrative month- INCREDIBLE!
Just a heads up, when I went to the affiliate info page for Everyday Healthy I got a 404 error. I’d definitely be interested in signing up when that becomes an option!
Thanks for the heads up Chelsea. We’re all squared away now.
Oops! Thanks for letting me know Chelsea! I’ll look into that right now!
Thank you both so much for your hard work in generating these awesome income reports (and the delicious weekly recipes). Your work with and donations to children in Cebu is also such an evidently deserving cause. I am a Canadian teacher who has been living in China for the past three years. I have had the pleasure of visiting the Philippines a few years ago and really fell in love with the beautiful people and breathtakingly beautiful country. Good work guys! š xo