Month 2: Achievements, Challenges, and Growth Strategies
Now if you read my Month 1 Income Report you’ll already know that whilst this is technically month two of my blogging journey it’s really the first month that has truly counted income-wise.
The initial month was all about setting up the site, stumbling through the endless maze that is WordPress, obsessing over which theme to pick ( [ad] if you love this site it’s by Restored 316 Designs and you can visit their website and see which theme is perfect for you HERE), and soaking in all the blogging strategy I could handle.
It wasn’t until the very last days of that month that I finally hit “publish” on my first post. I hadn’t even joined any affiliate programs in my first month! So, really, this month was when the magic started happening. Or at least, when the real hustle began.
But enough about that – I know you’re here for the numbers, so let’s not waste any more time:
Month 2 Expenditure
One of the biggest perks of blogging is how low the startup costs can be, especially compared to other businesses. I’m treating blogging as my full-time gig at the moment, so keeping costs low is crucial, particularly since I’m not bringing in income from elsewhere. I’m extremely grateful and blessed to have a fabulous husband who supports me but also genuinely believes in me, and he cheers me along daily my dream to be a stay at home wife building a business from home – thank you Honey!
Here’s how the expenses stacked up this month:
Hosting: $0
Hosting is one of those non-negotiable expenses, I paid mine for the year when I started so there’ll be no further costs until July 2025.
I use BigScoots hosting as recommended by Lisa Bass from Farmhouse on Boon Youtube channel and Sophia Lee from BySophiaLee and Perfecting Pinterest YouTube Channel.
They weren’t wrong – for just a couple more dollars than the bargain basement version people often go for, I get incredible site speed and 24/7 support. They aim to answer all support tickets within 5 mins AND I HAVE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT TICKETS LOL! I couldn’t be happier with them and will be staying on with them after this year is up.
If you’d like to see just how many support tickets they’ve helped me with I have a fun video over on my Pinterest account you can watch HERE! Just don’t judge me – I’m a total novice at this!
[ad] Check out the BigScoots website HERE from some pretty great shared hosting plans that should fit your needs well as a new blogger.
Other Website Costs: $0
I’d already bought my theme last month and it came with a year’s worth of in-depth support for set up as well as a fantastic and supportive private Facebook Group – it’s become one of my favorite places to hang out online and soak up the tips and encouragement from other’s using the same products as me on the blogging journey.
[ad] If you love this site it’s the Boutique Theme by Restored 316 Designs and you can visit their website and take a quiz to see which theme is perfect for your niche HERE.
Canva Pro: $0
Canva Pro was another expense I paid upfront. It’s my go-to tool for creating eye-catching graphics, from Pinterest pins to blog headers. I’ve played around with free alternatives, but nothing quite matches Canva’s ease of use and versatility. I use it almost daily, so if you’re considering it, I’d say it’s worth every penny. Investing in tools that make your life easier and your content better is crucial, especially in the early stages.
I’ve heard great things about Kittl but I’m sort of a learn-one-thing-at-a-time girl and I’m maxed out right now! Let me know in the comments if you have Kittl and if you think it’s worth it!
MidJourney AI for images: $10
I decided to dip my toes into AI-generated images this month with MidJourney. It’s been an interesting experiment, and I’ve enjoyed the creativity it brings to my content. While I’m still using Pexels for free images, the added dimension of custom visuals has been fun to explore. At $10, it’s a small investment to see what’s possible, and it keeps my content visually diverse.
KDP book purchase: $3
This is a bit of a wild card in the expenses list. I’ve been intrigued by the idea of adding KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) low-content books as a side hustle alongside blogging. To ensure I’m producing quality work, I ordered a proof copy of a notebook I designed. It’s all part of my plan to diversify income streams in the future and I go through about 3 notebooks a month at the moment so it’ll come in handy!
Legal website page templates from Etsy: $50
Legal compliance is a necessary headache. I struggled with what to include on all the mandatory pages—terms of service, privacy policy, disclaimers—and it quickly became overwhelming.
I finally decided to purchase a comprehensive set of legal templates from an Etsy shop run by a lawyer. This was a particularly important step for me because I operate in both the UK and USA, and I wanted to ensure I was covered under the stricter European laws.
It felt like overkill at first, but knowing that I’m legally protected as I move forward with my blog and potential product sales gives me confidence.
Total Expenditure for the Month: $63
Not too bad, considering. Keeping costs low is essential right now for me. The beauty of blogging is that it doesn’t require a massive upfront investment, and I’m keen to keep it that way as long as possible.
My one and only income goal for my first year blogging is to make the $400 I need to cover hosting plans, Canva Pro and and AI app for my second year.
Income: The Good, The Bad, and The Learning Curve
Here’s how my income broke down this month:
Ads: $0
Ads are often touted as the go-to for monetizing a blog, but with just a handful of page views per day, I’ve decided to hold off for now.
It’s tempting to slap a few ads on the site and hope for the best, but I’m playing the long game. My goal is to join a network like Ezoic or Journey when my traffic grows, ensuring that the ads I do display won’t compromise the user experience. For now, I’m focusing on building content and traffic—ads can wait.
Products: $0
I haven’t launched any products yet, but that’s going to hopefully change soon. The proof copy of the KDP notebook I ordered looks promising, and I’m planning to list a couple of notebooks next month.
I’m taking my time with this because I want to ensure the quality is there before I start selling. Products are a great way to diversify income, and I’m excited about the possibilities. It’s all about laying the groundwork now for what could be a lucrative revenue stream in the future.
Affiliate Income:
Temu: $17.86!
Temu was the biggest surprise I had this month! I did minimal promotion, mostly just testing the waters, and it’s already showing potential. It’s earned me more than all the other affiliate programs put together and was perfectly simple for a new blogger like me to navigate.
This has got me thinking about how I can better leverage affiliate marketing in the coming months. The key will be finding the right balance between promoting products I genuinely believe in and creating content that naturally incorporates those recommendations.
I see a lot of potential here, especially if I can create good articles and effective Pinterest pins to drive more traffic to my content.
[ad] Check out the Temu Affiliate Program HERE and see if you can replicate the same earnings in your first month or more!
BigScoots: $5
They give you $5 just for signing up, which is a nice little bonus! I’ve had a decent number of clicks but no conversions yet. It’s a bit of a puzzle figuring out how to increase those conversions, but I’m learning as I go.
The clicks are encouraging—it means people are interested, but I need to work on my conversion strategies. Perhaps tweaking my call-to-actions or providing more in-depth reviews could make a difference.
[ad] check out the BigScoots Website HERE. If you’re planning to write about hosting or blogging in general, then becoming a BigScoots affiliate might be right for you too!
Amazon Associates: $5.56
I made six sales which added up to $5.56 in commission. It might seem small, but it felt like a huge win. Knowing that someone found value in a product I recommended is incredibly satisfying.
Moving forward, I’m looking to integrate Amazon’s API with my [ad] AAWP plugin to create more visually appealing product displays. I believe that enhancing the visual appeal of my affiliate links will help convert more clicks into sales, more below:
AAWP Plugin: $0
The AAWP plugin is a tool designed to help bloggers monetize with Amazon Associates more effectively, but I didn’t see much traction with it this month.
I think I need to take a step back and reassess how I’m promoting this tool. It’s likely that I haven’t been showcasing its benefits effectively, or perhaps I need to integrate it into more relevant content. This will be an area of focus for me in the coming months and will be much easier to do now I’ve made my first Amazon Sales.
[ad] If you’re also someone who blogs about blogging, or you’re delving into the world of being an Amazon Associate then you should check out AAWP HERE.
They really are one of the most affordable affiliate plugins out there (my budget as a newbie definitely doesn’t stretch to something like Lasso right now). I’m really hopeful that their beautiful displays of product photos they can help you build will generate extra clicks on my amazon affiliate links. Read more about how AAWP can work for you in THIS ARTICLE.
ShareASale: $0
I just joined ShareASale today, so no earnings to report yet, but I’m really excited about the potential here. ShareASale has a huge range of trusted brands, and the user interface is extremely beginner-friendly.
Plus, they offer a lot of resources to help you get started, like graphics and HTML codes, which is great for someone like me who’s still finding their feet in the affiliate marketing world and isn’t super tech-savvy. I’m planning to explore this platform more in the next few months and see how I can incorporate their programs into my content.
[ad] If you’re a newbie just starting out with affiliate marketing I really recommend you checking ShareASale out HERE and signing up – let me know how you find it.
They offer a 60 day cookie period in their own affiliate program which is really generous and maximises your chances of converting clicks to real income!
Currently on Day 1 of being with ShareASale I have applied and been accepted into the following affiliate programs:
[ad] Restored 316 Designs
[ad] LightInTheBox.com
[ad] Ador.com
I’ll let you know how I get on next month and if there’s any other programs on ShareASale that I apply to. Wish me luck!
Total Takehome Income: $0
Yes you read that right. A big fat zero. Whilst technically, I’ve earned $28.42, but since most affiliate platforms have minimum payout thresholds, I don’t actually get to take that money home yet. So, in practical terms, I’m down $63 for the month.
It’s a humbling start, but I’m all about transparency, and I want to share the real ups and downs of building a blog from scratch.
Biggest Challenges in Month 2
This month has been a rollercoaster, not just with blogging but with life in general. One of the biggest challenges I faced was managing my time and emotions while preparing for a significant life change—moving from the UK to the USA.
My husband, who is in the military, and I have been in a long-distance relationship for the past four years. As you can imagine, finally closing that gap is both exciting and overwhelming. Between packing, saying goodbyes, and dealing with the logistics of an international move, finding time to focus on the blog was tough.
Another challenge was technical difficulties. My phone died unexpectedly, and to make matters worse, my phone company switched off my service a month earlier than planned. I’ve been managing with my iPad, which is great for content creation but not ideal for staying connected on the go. It’s been isolating, especially during such a hectic month, and I’m counting down the days until I can get a new phone once I’m in the States.
The Learning Curve: A Never-Ending Journey
Blogging has been a constant learning experience, and that’s not always easy. The amount of information out there can be overwhelming—SEO, content creation, social media marketing, affiliate marketing, email list building… the list goes on. Trying to absorb all of this while actually implementing what I’ve learned has been one of the biggest challenges this month.
There’s so much to figure out, from the technical side of things like setting up plugins and optimizing page speed to the creative aspects like writing engaging content and designing eye-catching Pinterest pins.
And then there’s the algorithm game. Whether it’s Google, Pinterest, or even the platforms running the affiliate programs, the algorithms are constantly changing. What worked last month might not work this month, and keeping up with these changes requires a lot of time, research, and adaptation.
I’ve spent hours tweaking my SEO strategy, optimizing keywords, and improving the readability of my posts, only to realize that there’s always more to learn and adjust.
Thankfully though, because I am a Type A personality staying motivated is always easy despite these challenges. I’m grateful for that because it’s pretty easy to get disheartened when you put in hours of work and don’t see immediate results. I’ve had days where I questioned whether all this effort is worth it. But then I remind myself that every successful blogger started exactly where I am now—facing the same struggles, learning the same lessons, and overcoming the same obstacles.
Biggest Achievements in Month 2
I’m holding on to what feel like some pretty significant wins for me this month. These achievements have kept me motivated and reassured me that I’m on the right path:
1. Pinterest Growth
One of the most exciting achievements this month was growing my Pinterest account to 41,000 monthly views. This might seem modest compared to the big bloggers, but for someone in their second month, it’s a solid start.
Pinterest is a powerful tool for driving traffic, and seeing those numbers rise has been incredibly encouraging. I’ve been experimenting with different pin designs, posting schedules, and SEO strategies, and it’s starting to pay off.
2. Content Creation
I’m proud of the content I’ve created this month. I managed to publish several posts across different categories, keeping the blog fresh and engaging. This diversity in content helps to attract a wider audience and keeps me from getting bored with writing about the same topics over and over. Writing is at the heart of blogging, and I’m committed to honing my craft with every post.
3. Affiliate Sales
While the dollar amounts aren’t huge, making my first few affiliate sales was a major milestone. It’s one thing to understand the theory behind affiliate marketing, but seeing it work in practice is a whole different feeling.
4. Learning New Tools
I’ve pushed myself out of my comfort zone this month by learning how to use new tools and platforms. From the MidJourney AI for creating images to the AAWP plugin for Amazon Associates, each tool has helped streamline my workflow and enhance my blog’s functionality.
Mastering these tools is an achievement in itself, as they represent tangible steps toward becoming more efficient and effective in my blogging efforts.
Goals for Month 3: Planning for Progress
As I mentioned, I’m very Type A. So even though I now work from home and can do whatever I want with my time really, I still set myself S.M.A.R.T. goals every day because it is quite literally what drives me (I know, toxic at times right? I’m working on it! Read more about that HERE!)
Here’s 4 specific goals over and above just posting blog posts etc that I’ve set myself the goal of achieving in month 3:
1. Sustain Pinterest Traffic
Building on the success of last month, I want to make sure it’s not a fluke and just sustain being around the 40,000 mark. I’ve been reading in the Facebooks Groups that even really successful bloggers are seeing massive drops in their monthly views all of sudden and so I don’t want to take anything for granted.
I haven’t really nailed down my Pinterest strategy at this point. I’m trying lots of new styles of pins as part of the A/B testing method some creators have suggested. Realistically I think it’s going to be more like 6+ months before I really know when something’s likely to work, how often to pin, how to make pinning sustainable for me and perhaps to look at investing in a scheduling tool etc.
2. Launch My First Products
I seriously don’t think I can handle trying to run my own online shop right now but I’m aiming to launch my first 2 KDP low-content products in month 3, on the Amazon platform. It’s minimal commission from each sale but at least I don’t have to figure out how to sort inventory and shipping, or deal with customer emails etc so I think it’s still a pretty good deal!
As for the products – they’re just the notebooks I’ve been working on, and possibly a few more designs if time allows. My focus will be on ensuring the quality is top-notch and that the products are well-presented on Amazon. I’m excited to see how these products perform and to learn how to read my KDP analytics etc.
3. Utilize YouTube Resources to Learn More About Affiliate Marketing
While I’m happy with my initial affiliate sales, I know there’s room for improvement. I plan to revisit the content that generated these sales and see if there are opportunities to create more of it and sit through A LOT of YouTube videos because I don’t really have the funds to spare right now to invest in a specific marketing course.
4. Set Up a TikTok Account
As mentioned earlier, I plan to set up a business TikTok account in month 3.
My long-term goal is to reach 1,000+ followers by July 2025, but for now, I’m focused on getting started and learning the platform. TikTok offers a unique way to engage with audiences through short-form video content, and I’m eager to experiment with different types of videos to see what resonates.
5. Figure out How to Attach an Affiliate Link to a Pinterest Pin
It can’t just be me right? Am I the only person noticing that no one shows you exactly how to do it and yet there’s literally hundreds of videos about how people are making a fortune from Pinterest Affiliate Marketing? Is it all a scam? Is there some pretty heavy gatekeeping going on? I’m determined to find out! If you know – please let me know in the comments, it’s driving me bonkers!
Thank You For Following Along With Me!
Phew! You made it to the end of this really long post. Thank you for following along with my journey. If you’re on a similar path I’d love to hear from you – leave me a comment below and let us know about your blogging journey and any tips you have for navigating these early stages! And If you’d like to see more of my income reports click HERE!
