I was fired from my day job on Oct 13th 2009 and for the weeks that followed I was very stressed out and tried to find a new job (see my full story). A few weeks later I decided that it was a blessing in disguise and decided to pursue my online business full time. 2010 was my first full year as a self employed internet entrepreneur and I’ve already covered how well I met my goals for the year. Today I want to share specific information about the money I made from the year:
Table Of Contents
- 2010 Income Report Breakdown:
- Six Figure Website Deal: Undisclosed Sum
- Amazon Affiliate Program: $64,570.03
- ClickBank: $25,536.81
- Google Adsense: $4,406.72
- Misc Earnings: $1,856.94
- Private Advertising: $1,475.69
- Vibrant Media: $1,128.94
- eBay Partner Network: $838.65
- ReviewAzon: $819.42
- Market Samurai: $750.54
- Commission Junction: $599.63
- Overall Earnings Assessment:
- My Plans For 2011:
2010 Income Report Breakdown:
Note: All earnings are based on the money that actually came into my bank account during the 2010 year. *Clickbank is the exception where about half of the money I earned with them came in early Jan 2011 but was earned during 2010.
Six Figure Website Deal: Undisclosed Sum
I sold one of my larger blogs: Netbook Reviews in a deal worth six figures. I outlined specific details in my post about how to sell a website for a lot of money. I can’t disclose the money I was paid other than to say that the website sale in conjunction with the earnings from the rest of my business surpassed my 2010 income target of earning over $150,000.
Amazon Affiliate Program: $64,570.03
Amazon was the largest (disclosed) income source for me this year. Most people are generally surprised by the money I’m making with them but it’s important to keep in mind that my business is based on making money with niche and authority style websites outside the industry that this blog is focused on (web entrepreneurship). In other words, Amazon would perform terribly on this blog because my readers aren’t looking to buy stuff on Amazon, but if I run a blog about some niche product it’s a much better fit to make money with. Check out this article and sign up for my newsletter to learn more about how I make money with Amazon.
ClickBank: $25,536.81
Clickbank was the next highest income source and the bulk of the money I earned came from sales of my niche website training program: Niche Profit Course. We just hit the 500 member mark and overall I think it was a pretty successful product for my first try. I have two other products with Clickbank that have also been fairly successful as well contributing a few thousand dollars of that total income. In addition to my own products I’ve also promoted other Clickbank products as an affiliate which contributed to the total amount I earned with Clickbank as well.
I’m going to do more products in random niches outside of the make money online / blogging realm because I’ve found tons of opportunities there and product creation can be a lot of fun.
Google Adsense: $4,406.72
I don’t actively use Adsense and in fact I only put it on some of my niche sites as an afterthought in less optimal locations. I may start to use more Adsense in the future, but I’m not going to force it if it doesn’t make me the most money. One of the main things you need to learn is to find the right monetization method that fits your niche and sometimes it can be Adsense but it rarely is the best solution for the niches I operate in.
Misc Earnings: $1,856.94
These earnings came from anything that didn’t make me more than $500 in 2010 which includes some of the products I promoted as an affiliate in only a small capacity. i.e. WP Auctions, OIO Publisher, Woo Themes, SEO Book etc.
Private Advertising: $1,475.69
I sold some private advertising deals via some of my websites, but this was a money making method I simply didn’t put enough effort into. It’s a lot of work to find paying advertisers and it’s not something I really enjoy, I may consider using third party systems to attract advertisers automatically but that’s something I’ll figure out at a later date.
Vibrant Media: $1,128.94
Vibrant Media became my in text advertiser of choice after conducting a few experiments comparing them against the competition. Kontera came in second and Infolinks was a distant third. If you implement in text advertising be sure to monitor your other income sources to make sure they don’t dip as in text advertising could cannibalize your other money making methods. This isn’t something I found to be the case during my testing, but it’s something you should be aware of as a possibility.
eBay Partner Network: $838.65
I used ePN on only a handful of my websites and only in a skyscraper ad in the sidebar. That sidebar ad generally performed better than Adsense so I’d still recommend you consider using them on your websites. I use the PHPbay plugin to display the ads easily and it was a really good purchase that I made nearly 2 years ago and something that is constantly updated.
ReviewAzon: $819.42
ReviewAzon is a WordPress plugin that makes it incredibly easier to add and insert Amazon products and links on your WordPress powered websites. I did a webinar with the plugin creator in late December which you can watch a replay of here. He also offered a discount on the plugin which you can still take advantage of here. If you’re looking to save some time creating your niche Amazon websites this plugin helps out a ton. The $819.42 I earned was as an affiliate promoting the plugin, but I was a customer first that’s how I even heard of the plugin.
Market Samurai: $750.54
Market Samurai is keyword research software that I bought and have recommended on this blog a few times. You can download a free trial of it here to check it out. The $750.54 I earned was as an affiliate promoting the software, but just like ReviewAzon I was a customer first before I began recommending this on my blog.
Commission Junction: $599.63
I promoted a few random products and services from CJ.com via my other niche websites and earned a few hundred dollars with them. I really hate CJ.com because it’s impossible to create the links I want to quickly and overall it’s just a pain to work with so the only reason I made money with them is because some companies I wanted to work with have their affiliate program through them.
Overall Earnings Assessment:
I made just over $100k on the various income sources mentioned above without taking into consideration the six figure website deal that came through in November. I’m very pleased with the money I made because I surpassed my 2010 income target of earning $150k. This was not an easy goal to accomplish considering 2010 was my first full year in business by myself after losing my $60k per year high stress sales job.
I truly believe it’s possible to make a full time income online if you really have the drive to put in the extra hours after coming home from your full time day job. Remember, there are no push button solutions to making money online despite what you read on some hyped up sales page. Even with my Niche Profit Course where I teach people how to make money with physical product focused websites I flat out tell people that you have to work to make this successful.
My Halo Story: I’ve shared before how my passion for the video game Halo is what helped lead me to a six figure online income. Beyond that, there are plenty of odd stories of people finding their way to online success, the important thing is to just start somewhere!
My Plans For 2011:
Buying and Selling Websites: I’ve been making good money with buying and selling websites like the one I sold in the deal worth six figures and I’m going to do more of this in 2011.
Creating More Websites From Scratch: I’m going to continue building more websites from scratch to further grow my earnings from Amazon Associates and other affiliate programs.
More Info Products: I’m going to create more information products in niches outside of the saturated make money online space. There is a lot of money to be made in these fringe niches that people lose sight on.
Grow My Blog: In 2011 I want to take this blog to the next level and truly build it up into a great resource so you can learn how to quit your day job (or at least be ok if you get fired like me :D). I’d like to hit 20,000 RSS readers by the end of 2011 and I certainly think it’s possible because I started 2010 with only a few hundred RSS readers and made it to nearly 5,000.
Internet Startup: I’m launching a self funded internet startup and am currently in the process of hiring a few people to help out with it. When the project is ready for beta I’ll send out an email to everyone to try it out. I’m shooting for an April time frame to complete this. After the beta version is out I may try and raise funding, but I just don’t want to go to an investor with only an idea to try to raise money for something that I’m not willing to risk a lot of my own capital on in the first place.
I have several exciting things planned so be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to stay in touch.
How was your 2010 year?
Hi Chris,
What you’re doing is impressive. I think it’s a really interesting technique to set up niche sites for Amazon products. That’s way beyond what many people do. No wonder you’re kicking ass.
2010 was great for me. My web dev business is going very well, I’m getting clients into my freelancer site, and I launched a new site for entrepreneurs like you and me who are building multiple businesses.
2011 is going to kick even more ass. I know it will for you too. Looking forward to your updates.
Thanks Robert and yes I’m really looking forward to 2011 especially since I have plenty of capital to invest in projects I wanted to do earlier but couldn’t because of lack of funds.
I bet. I want to really ramp up affiliate marketing efforts this year and am looking at your Niche Profit Course. I like the no BS style you have in the sales video.
Chris,
Congrats on all of your success since you were fired! LOL! Looks like all that job was doing was holding you back!
I hope to simply have at least half of the success that you did this year in the new year!
Chris Hunter
Thanks Chris – yah I still talk to some of my friends at the old job and they always give me a hard time for “not having a real job” (I hate when people say that) but I always just smile and keep doing my thing ๐
Congrats on your success. Its a great inspiration.
Are you concerned at all putting so much into Amazon with more and more states forcing them to collect sales tax, which is forcing Amazon to stop the affiliate program for residents of that state? I live in CO and not sure how I could get around that.
Hey Kevin,
With online income there is always the risk of losing an income source or having to pivot your business to account for the new changes. As for the tax issues though, Amazon is head quartered in WA and even though our state is on the top 10 list for states over budget I am certain that Amazon has developed a relationship with the politicians here to help avoid issues like this ๐ or at least I hope they do hah hah.
Impressive!!!
Your growth rate is tremendous. And I’m sure you will find more opportunities to sell website with same profit.
I tried Amazon on some of my blogs but it seems not my choice. Adsense working great for these blogs. Now trying to improve on my Clickbank earnings.
Good luck for your 2011 plans!
Regards,
Vijay
Thanks Vijay – yes that’s the best way to do things, you want to find what works best for each niche you operate in for sure!
Chris
That is certainly some great earnings!
To answer your questions, slowly I’ve been getting more a hang of the writing and how to use wordpress. Also how to do it right by reading Viperchill, Smartpassiveincome, johnchow and your site.
Really been a great learning curve and can’t wait to actually make some money this year ๐
Hey Ralph, glad you found me and I hope I can teach you some great tips and strategies in 2011! ๐
WOW! That kind of puts my $1423.93 to shame. ๐
You gotta start somewhere. I know for my first year or two I struggled to make more than a few hundred dollars a month and never really broke the $1,000 a month barrier until I started making websites with a physical product focus.
Congrats Chris, quite the accomplishment there! Can’t wait to see what else you’re planning for 2011.
Thanks! Yah I’m very excited about 2011 plans!
Chris,
You make me sick, but in a good way :-). You earned more than I did for a paycheck job. Congratulations! I need more synonyms to describe your success and thanks for sharing so it may inspire us; it did me.
I’ve bought your Niche Profit Course and have developed one site with it so far. After this weekend I have a killer idea for another and will follow your instructions on that as well.
My goal is to match your 2011 income as I’m more than likely leaving the paycheck job in 2010.
Looking forward to your beta startup, good luck dude; always thinking that’s good.
Here’s to a better 2011 for you.
Hey Kerwin, best of luck in your online income efforts in 2011!
Hey Chris, VERY NICE! I was particularly impressed by your income diversity. Keep up the great work man!
Thanks Wes! Yah, I am working on a ton of different stuff these days that will spread that income out even further.
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Chris,
What an amazing year, congratulations! ๐ I really enjoy posts like this, it’s always interesting to see how others are making money. All the best to you in 2011! I will be following your blog closely.
All the best,
Ian
Thanks Ian, be sure to let me know next time you’re in Seattle so we can chat or just give me a call ๐
Amazing results Chris, and well done!!!
I hope 2011 brings you all the success you deserve…..to buy the Guthrie Castle!!!
With so many ways out there to make money, its hard to sift the wheat from the chaff and decide on what to focus efforts on, and that something surely has to be something that will bring in long term results.
With all the various methods, techniques and spiel out there to start making an income online, what would you say is the best (and safest) way for a noob to enter the making money online hall of fame?
And also, if you could start your journey again with the knowledge you have now, what would you focus on from day one??
Take care and peace.
DP
Hey DP,
I think one of the best ways is to pick a niche that you’re passionate about and has the potential to make good money and then build out a large website for it (only if you are willing to commit the time to be the best). If you don’t have as much time I’d go after niche sites instead.
If I had to start all over, I would have just been doing more of what I’m doing now and I’d probably have several million dollars if I knew what I knew now back in 2004 when I first tried doing stuff. But I don’t really like to answer woulda shoulda questions because I could always take it one step further and hop into my Delorian take it up to 88 mph and then go back to 1994 and start registering thousands of domain names and then I would have been a billionaire.
Hi Chris;
Congrats on a great year. Wondering if you would be willing to share the expense side of your biz for 2010. Perhaps in another post? That would really put what you did in perspective.
Thanks again!
James
$31,462.89 (give or take). This includes hosting, coding, domain names, macbook air, payroll for outsourcers, iphone app development and several other projects that I have launched but don’t discuss on this blog.
Looks like that you really did a great job for the last 2010 year! I can’t imagine how many hours you’ve devoted on these activities just to earn all of this huge money. Earning 150k within a year isn’t that easy.
Hey Samantha,
Thanks! I actually earned more than $150k, but I can’t say just how much more without giving away how much I sold one of my websites for. In either case it’s been a great year and I hope I can repeat it again next year.
So how have you enjoyed paying 1.8% of your $180,000+ to the socialist state of Washington for B&O tax?
Don’t get me started on how lame WA is tax wise. I hear you dude, it sucks.
Wow, I’m pretty surprised Amazon is your highest earner. For me it performs so poorly, just 1 or 2 cents per visitor if that. I imagine it’s successful for consumer electronic niches as those cameras and HDTVs sure can give you a pretty good commission though.
The Amazon Afilliate is working like a charm for you, the idea behind it is amazing, make websites just for Amazon rather than using any website to prome Amazon. Thank You
My 2010 year was really ok. Like you said, there is/will always be a spark that lights up the fire. Being an online entrepreneur isn’t a walk in the park or something easy like others might believe, being an entrepreneur means a lot of work but when it comes to profit – there is the big pleasure, the more you work – the more you earn, but in entrepreneur business, the more you work – the more businesses you find – the very more you earn. But, it’s up to the readers if they want to do something big or just smile at others’ success, so, start working people and be smart !
Hi Chris, it’s always inspiring to read blogs like yours. I’m a starting online marketer, and am discovering that it’s a matter of testing and finding what works best for you and then keeping at it. Takes a lot of work and strong will especially when you’re just starting out and have no budget to outsource the chores. But well, that’s how things are, stay result-focused and you’ll see the light.
Wow, it blew me off! I just got fired too and instead of crying over the spilt milk I thanked the opportunity of joining the successful online entrepreneurs like you. Thank you for sharing your inspiring story.
Thanks for being an inspiration in the make money online field, Chris!
I love reading stories like this. It really drives people to actually become successful.
You’re probably 1 year ahead of me in the same niche. I look forward to learning from you and others. ๐
Hey Chris,
Wow that is awesome! The part I particularly enjoyed is how you took some action after turning what seemed to be a bad situation into one to be your fuel for success. Very Motivating! and congrats!!!
Have a great weekend!
Darren
Wow, Chris – what a source of motivation! Congratulations for reaching the $150k mark in the first year of earning passive income. That’s quite a feat!
I printed this out to look back to when I’m especially in need of a motivation boost. Thanks for sharing this with us, and I hope 2011 proves to be just as fruitful if not more so!
Christina
Thanks Christina! ๐
Hi Christ,
Your fall and rise inspires me much. And how you get your life back after firing is excellent. You use the online marketing to move on. Great steps and strategy. Salute!
Hi Chris,
My plans for this year are to emulate your Niche Profit strategy. However, I’ve learned that Amazon has discontinued its affiliate program for residents of Colorado ever since the state began requiring Amazon to collect sales taxes. I was wondering if you have any suggestions or whether anyone has found a legal workaround for this barrier.
Thanks
Deborah
Nothing I can legally advise you on unfortunately…
[…] little while now, especially since becoming enamored with the income posts like these detailing how Chris got fired in 2009, but made more than $103k in 2010, not even including proceeds from a website sale that has to remain […]
hi chris,
thanks for the motivation, it always helps to keep going seeing that others survived. i still do this because i love it (and i do it much too short to expect real results) but i๏ฟฝm looking forward to that day ๐ keep up the great work!
I love those insightful reports. Thanks so much, Chris. Killer Clickbank earnings. I bet your life turned around after you discovered online marketing huh. Anyway, congratulations.
Hey Jessica,
My life was already pretty good, but it certainly got a lot better when I could do what I loved and write paychecks on my own terms that’s for sure ๐
Chris
Wow good job chris, Thanks for taking your time to discuss it, anyway congratulation.
Great information. I know it is not easy to achieve success but you did it . What is interesting is that you made it easy to understand the proocess. Thank you .
[…] I made the move to full time self employment in 2009 and last year I more than surpassed my goal to earn $150,000 in 2010. I also sold one of my larger websites in a deal worth six figures last year too so overall it was […]
[…] He has been making a living with online adventures full time, since he was fired from his day job in 2009.๏ฟฝ You can see a nice income breakdown from one of his prior income reports here. […]
[…] He has been making a living with online adventures full time, since he was fired from his day job in 2009.๏ฟฝ You can see a nice income breakdown from one of his prior income reports here. […]