Category: Freelancing and Small Business

Strategies to make income on your own after you’ve lost your job. These include but are not limited to blogging for affiliate income, freelancing, starting e-commerce sites.

How Much I Earned From Four Months of Blogging

by Getting Canned, posted in Featured, Freelancing and Small Business

Tell anyone you’ve started a blog and you’ll inevitably get the question about how much money you’re making blogging. It’s pretty straightforward to answer how much money I made THIS MONTH.  But it’s not at all easy to answer how much money you CAN make from blogging or how much you’re likely to earn in the future. It’s largely dependent on how much effort you put into being successful.  But what could a person expect?

Different Way Bloggers Make Money

Well, there are many things to consider about making money from a website.   There’s a great variety of ways to earn money.   Here’s some that come to mind for me:

  • You can sell your own product
  • You can promote your own service (I do a bit of tutoring on the side)
  • You can promote a product of another company which is typically called affiliate marketing ( I promote a few services I have used and recommend)
  • You can run ads on your site and get paid for your views. ( I believe you need a lot of traffic for this to be profitable..probably not ideal for early on)

These are some of the fundamental ways to make cash from your website or blog.    This blog “Getting Canned” seeks to provide entertainment and information about the experience of losing your job and I do hope to generate a bit of revenue from affiliate marketing to help keep the site running.

That means that on some of my pages, I refer to products or services like web hosting or scheduling software that I use and recommend.    If someone clicks the links and signs up for a service, I can earn a commission.   So how much have I earned from doing this so far?

Earnings From My Two Sites

Well I started this site in April 2018.  So I’m about 3 months in and I’m just now starting to ring up a few commissions.  I’ve helped refer others to sign up for web hosting and domain services and earned a few commissions that will pay out this month.   The sales commissions were earned from either clicking my site links or me sending the customer the link directly.    Here are screenshots of sales I’ll be paid for this month.

From Bluehost.   I referred two signups and should earn $130.

Bluehost Affiliate earnings
Bluehost Affiliate earnings for the quarter

And I’ve had one signup for the host I am currently using to host this site, which is Siteground.   This resulted in $50 of commissions.

Here’s earnings from Siteground affiliate program .

This felt pretty good to see earning commissions like this with minimal effort.   Full disclosure:  For web hosting signups, I typically have worked with the person to help them set up the site so it wasn’t totally passive income.

Earning my First Passive Income

I did earn my first passive income commission this month.   Someone saw the value in the M1 Finance signup which paid out a commission of $100 to me.   This resulted from them viewing my site and clicking the link.   I wasn’t involved.  To be honest, I didn’t even realize I earned this commission a few weeks ago because I’m a bit behind on my email.   But how’s that for passive income?   Thanks, fellow investor out there.

M1 Finance Affiliate commissions
My first signup from M1 Finance

Dare to dream but perhaps someday I can earn the types of commissions that some of the top people do.  It’s crazy to think some folks out there are making 10’s of thousands of dollars a month.   Take for example Michelle Schroeder who made $136,000 last month from blogging.

So the question is could you generate income from blogging?  This is capitalism so there are no guarantees.   It will take a little luck and a good deal of hard work.  Generally the harder you work, the luckier you’ll be.  In my opinion, it’s certainly worth a shot.   If you’ve been terminated and can spare around $90 that’s enough to get started.   Ping me if you need help.

How To Get Started Making Money From Running a Web Site

The first step is signing up for web hosting. If you don’t feel like spending money and are tech-savvy, why not try Digital Ocean?  Sign up here for a free $100 credit just for trying Digital Ocean.

Click here for a $100 Credit good towards hosting with Digital Ocean.

And What am I Doing With the Profit?

Some money gets reinvested back into the business and the rest gets invested into my new favorite no fee robo-advisor M1 Finance.

M1 Finance

Disclosure:  I have an affiliate partnership with M1 Finance, Digital Ocean and Siteground and may earn a commission on new signups over a certain threshold.

Relaxed earning

10 Innovative Ideas to Earn Money Without a Traditional Job

by Getting Canned, posted in Freelancing and Small Business

Breaking free from the conventional 9 to 5 job and generating income on your own terms is an achievable goal, but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s an effortless endeavor. For some, success may come easily due to luck or exceptional intelligence, while others may need to put in considerable time and effort. Regardless of your background, pursuing non-traditional sources of income requires dedication and patience.

One crucial step for many online ventures is setting up a website. To do this, you’ll need to choose a reliable web host like SiteGround or Big Scoots are recommended for WordPress hosting due to their fast servers, great reputation, and competitive pricing. WordPress, being a free and powerful content management system, enables you to effectively run a site, manage a blog, and maintain all related content.

Here are 10 innovative ideas to help you start generating non-traditional income:

1. Blogging

Blogging can be a lucrative way to generate income by driving traffic to your own site, earning advertising revenue, or making money through affiliate marketing. By creating valuable content that appeals to a specific audience, you can establish yourself as an authority in your niche and monetize your blog through various channels.

2. Freelancing

Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr offer an abundance of freelance opportunities across various fields, including writing, graphic design, programming, and marketing. Sign up for Fiverr and receive up to a $100 signup bonus to get started. As you build your portfolio and reputation, you’ll have the flexibility to choose projects that align with your skills and interests.

3. Tutoring

If you have expertise in a particular subject, you can offer your services as a tutor on platforms like Wyzant. Whether you’re teaching math, science, or a musical instrument, tutoring allows you to earn money while sharing your knowledge and helping others succeed.

4. Selling Stock Photos

If you have a passion for photography, you can earn royalties by selling your photos on sites like Shutterstock. As a contributor, you’ll receive a percentage of each sale, creating a passive income stream from your creative work.

5. Real Estate Investing

Investing in real estate, either directly by purchasing properties or indirectly through Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), can be a profitable venture. By buying rental properties or investing in commercial real estate, you can generate a steady income from rent payments and potentially benefit from property appreciation.

6. Creating YouTube Content

Establishing a YouTube channel and creating engaging content can lead to ad revenue, brand partnerships, or even drive traffic to your own site. As you grow your subscriber base and views, you’ll have more opportunities to monetize your channel and turn your passion into a steady income.

7. Teaching English Online

If you’re a native English speaker with a strong grasp of grammar and pronunciation, teaching English online can be a rewarding way to make money. Platforms like VIPKid, and Teach Away connect English teachers with students worldwide, offering flexible hours and competitive pay.

8. Participating in Market Research

Companies are always in search of consumer opinions to improve their products and services. By participating in market research, you can get paid for testing products and providing feedback. Sign up for platforms like Curion and Vindale Research to start earning money from your opinions.

9. Selling Handmade Products

If you’re a skilled artisan or craftsperson, consider selling your handmade products on platforms like Etsy or Handmade at Amazon. By showcasing your unique creations, you can reach a global audience and turn your hobby into a viable business.

Drop Shipping

Drop shipping is a low-risk e-commerce business model that allows you to sell products without holding inventory. By partnering with a supplier and setting up an online store, you can market and sell products while the supplier handles fulfillment and shipping. Platforms like Shopify make it easy to set up a drop shipping store, allowing you to focus on marketing and customer service.

Conclusion

Earning money without a traditional job may seem challenging at first, but with dedication and perseverance, you can create your own path to financial independence. By exploring these ten innovative ideas, you can find the best fit for your skills and interests and start generating income on your own terms. As you embark on this journey, remember that patience and persistence are key to success in any venture. Embrace the challenges, learn from your experiences, and watch your non-traditional income sources grow over time.