With the official closure of eHow's Writers Compensation Program (WCP) on May 5, 2011, my monthly residual income took a dramatic shift downward. As much as I have been working to diversify my online income sources over the past year, I was still very dependent on eHow for the bulk of my monthly earnings (I made over $3,000 from my articles there in March 2011).
I have worked on my websites almost every week, sometimes daily, but having met my original income goals, and busy with little children, I didn't have quite the drive and intensity that I did when I first began my residual income adventure.
One of the silver linings to the end of the WCP is that it has re-inspired me to build my residual income platform through my online properties, with quality content monetized by ads and affiliate links.
The Numbers
April 2011 Online Residual Income Report
- Google Adsense: $647.96
- Clickbank affiliate commissions: $241.42
- Amazon Associates affiliate commissions: $239.42
- Other (NB $59.88 ; RA $21.82; WA $66.50) $148.20
- Demand Studios residuals $117.22
- Commission Junction affiliate commissions: $40.27
Future Writing Income Goals
Obviously, my writing residuals are much less today than they have been in years, especially compared to this past March and November and December of last year (those were my three $5,000+ passive income months). But even with no eHow and very low cj.com numbers (my best selling product was out of stock from the vendor all month) I still broke $1,000 and came close to $1,500. If this is my basis going forward, I think I am in good shape -- not starting from zero, at least. I'm going to work to build back up to a $5,000 month by the end of the year.
Will I make it? I hope so. I have a plan, which involves quadrupling the amount of quality content I have online currently in order to see the same percentage increase in my earnings by late 2011 or early 2012. Stay tuned in here to see if I make it.
What about your goals? How will you build your residual income, or freelance writing income, or work-at-home-mom business, going forward?
Note: Due to a Blogger glitch, most of the comments on this post disappeared. I've re-posted them below.
10 comments:
Well, we had to see this coming. I abandoned writing for ehow's wcp a year ago because I knew demand studios would figure out a way to royally screw us over. It does hurt however because I was using ehow to fund webhosting and monthly affiliate marketing tools.
You have to admit, a lot of content on ehow was pure crap. It's too bad that you have to suffer because so many others couldn't stop writing junk.
I hope demand goes south.
When eHow announced ending the WCP, one of my first thoughts was how it would affect you and other writers who earned a high monthly income off of it. It's nice to hear how positive you are about re-building your income. I also hope that eHow gave you one heck of a buyout! :) I hope you reach your goals ASAP.
Anonymous -- yes, the quality of writing on eHow deteriorated with an influx of people writing for what they hoped would be easy money and who did not contribute quality, unique material. It is unfortunate that poor writers and vocal complainers may have hastened the end of the WCP. But ultimately, the website belonged to Demand, not the community, and their move was purely a business decision.
Deanna -- You are very kind! If the income loss had happened a couple years ago, or without a buyout, it would have been very hard on my family financially. But it's something we can absorb and budget around until I increase my residuals again. Thanks for asking, and I hope your writing journey is going well.
I'm sorry to hear that about Ehow. I didn't even know that they had a writer's compensation program. It seems like you are doing great with your other programs. I just started working online about 2 months ago and am starting to build a little bit of traffic but it's been hard. I haven't been working consistently but am now trying to create a schedule around my daughter's nap and bedtimes! Best of luck to you!
Hey Maria,
I first want to say that I always look forward to your post. BTW, it was the summer 2009 Time magazine article about you and ehow is what prompted me to sign up for the site. I am grateful that I did signed up and have the experience with writing for residuals.
In late 2009, I bought your ehow ebook and learned even more about SEO and writing online. Thank you for all the information that you share on this blog.
Alicia, thanks for sharing that -- I had no idea you found eHow and my blog via that little TIME piece. Too funny.
Maria,
I love reading your blog. I am trying to find different revenue sites and build a plan. I have looked into Buksia and Infobarrel. I want to look into Demand Studios program. Which book of yours do you recommended moat for SEO and revenue? Thanks so much!
Hi Maria,
I am sorry to hear about the ehow program and you needing to rebuild but am glad to hear you are so positive about the whole thing. From reading what I have about your accomplishments, I have no doubts you will be back on track in no time!
I have been spending most of my time writing for clients and such but do have several blogs I have been working on to build up. I have not seen much income from them though and think I need help on the backlinking area.
My traffic is slowly creeping up there and a few of them have actually taken off for traffic, so if I could just get some money coming in from them, I would feel like I am successful in monetizing these.
I do make a bit of money on things from Hubpages and was just going to get started at Factoidz. Do you have any advice or experience with Factoidz? And if you are on Hubpages, do you do ok?
thanks
Maria, like you I took a big hit when eHow closed its program. eHow was about 50% of my online income.
I truly believe that if we can do it once, we can do it again. This time, however, we’ll be in control of our income and won’t suffer another blow like this one. Diversification and perseverance is key.
Sounds like you have a solid plan. I’ve got some ideas swirling around in my head. I’m in the process of brainstorming to see if they’re feasible. Once I get through the feasibility stage, I’m off in a new direction.
I’ll keep writing online, of course, but I think it’s time to spice things up just a bit. :)
Alicia James has left a new comment on your post "WriterGig's Residual Income (sans eHow)":
Hey Maria,
I first want to say that I always look forward to your post. BTW, it was the summer 2009 Time magazine article about you and ehow is what prompted me to sign up for the site. I am grateful that I did signed up and have the experience with writing for residuals.
In late 2009, I bought your ehow ebook and learned even more about SEO and writing online. Thank you for all the information that you share on this blog.
--
Alicia, thanks for sharing that -- I had no idea you found eHow and my blog via that little TIME piece. Too funny. ~Maria
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Gina has left a new comment on your post "WriterGig's Residual Income (sans eHow)":
Maria,
I love reading your blog. I am trying to find different revenue sites and build a plan. I have looked into Buksia and Infobarrel. I want to look into Demand Studios program. Which book of yours do you recommended most for SEO and revenue? Thanks so much!
Gina, thanks! I actually don't recommend an ebook or book for SEO info right now as there have been soem huge changes to Google algorithms in the past few months. I do recommend the forum and training at Wealthy Affiliate University (see http://mywahm.blogspot.com/p/tool-training.html) because their information is constantly updated. ~Maria
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Melanie Bremner (http://www.blogger.com/profile/10750259689540524925) has left a new comment on your post "WriterGig's Residual Income (sans eHow)":
Hi Maria,
I am sorry to hear about the ehow program and you needing to rebuild but am glad to hear you are so positive about the whole thing. From reading what I have about your accomplishments, I have no doubts you will be back on track in no time!
I have been spending most of my time writing for clients and such but do have several blogs I have been working on to build up. I have not seen much income from them though and think I need help on the backlinking area.
My traffic is slowly creeping up there and a few of them have actually taken off for traffic, so if I could just get some money coming in from them, I would feel like I am successful in monetizing these.
I do make a bit of money on things from Hubpages and was just going to get started at Factoidz. Do you have any advice or experience with Factoidz? And if you are on Hubpages, do you do ok?
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Felicia (http://nojobformom.com/) has left a new comment on your post "WriterGig's Residual Income (sans eHow)":
Maria, like you I took a big hit when eHow closed its program. eHow was about 50% of my online income.
I truly believe that if we can do it once, we can do it again. This time, however, we’ll be in control of our income and won’t suffer another blow like this one. Diversification and perseverance is key.
Sounds like you have a solid plan. I’ve got some ideas swirling around in my head. I’m in the process of brainstorming to see if they’re feasible. Once I get through the feasibility stage, I’m off in a new direction.
I’ll keep writing online, of course, but I think it’s time to spice things up just a bit. :)
Felicia, Diversification is the name of the game. I have plans for some non-internet writing as well, book ideas for hard copy publishing and for e-readers. ~Maria
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