Adventures in Lifestyle Design from a Path Less Traveled
September 2010 Earnings
Hey everyone! So, we made it to Bangkok and we’ve spent the past few days hopping from hostel to hostel trying to find a good place to settle down for a longer stay. Overall Bangkok is pretty awesome, but I’ll write about that soon enough. It’s just been hard to find a reliable internet connection and the time to sit down and write.
So, I’m testing out how well these websites will run on auto-pilot while I’m traveling. So far so good. But this trip has just started.
Anyway, in September I earned $2162.37. This may seem like a step down from last month, but really this is a pretty good month since I didn’t have AffiloJetpack to boost my sales this month. If you break it down each site got the following results:
Website #1 – $139.82
Website #2 – $127.40
Website #3 – $18.04
Website #4 – $881.04
Website #5 – On Hold
Website #6 – $884.71
Website #7 – $0
Other Shenanigans – $111.36
I’m going to keep doing these updates while I’m traveling because I think it’s important to document the set-and-forget factor with these websites. But I’m curious, do you guys find these updates helpful anymore?
I’m considering stopping them because in some ways it feels like I’m just bragging at this point, and that’s not really what I want this blog to be about. What do you all think about it?
In September I got caught up on all my writing obligations, and finally started working on my own websites again. I just did more of the same old stuff. submitting articles to directories and feeding them to AMA and UAW. Just trying to build a few more backlinks before I left so that I could hope to increase sales a bit before the trip to Thailand.
While I’m traveling I’m planning on working on writing a few articles every now and then for some new websites that I’m going to start pushing hard when I get back home. I’m not really planning on working that hard though. Only a few hours a day at the most. I know this must seem incredibly crazy, but I’m actually really excited about these new “Gen 2″ websites and I’m eager to get home so I can really push them :)
Don’t get me wrong, I’m stoked to be in Thailand too! I guess I’m just really looking forward to 2011. I’m going to work really hard and finally get up to a real full-time income. Then I’ll actually feel like a normal person again. The past year has been really hard on me. Being poor an not being able to afford much has been a struggle. I can’t wait to do things like buy new clothes, have some balance to my life, get some new hobbies, and stop thinking about IM 24/7.
I guess if you spend too much time worrying about money and trying to cut spending as much as you can, you start to feel like a dried up husk of human being. You feel bad for always saying “no” to everything because you know you can’t afford it. In a way, you start to feel like an outcast from society. While everyone else is playing with their new iPad, talking about getting wasted on the weekend, putting money in their 401k, or remodeling their backyard, you feel like you’re in a separate world of Top Ramen, coupon clipping, freebie hunting, skipping meals in order to save money, and otherwise lurking in the shadows of the mainstream. It would be nice to feel like I’m part of society again.
But Thailand so far is a nice break from that. Money goes a lot farther here than in the US and it’s nice to be able to eat out or buy simple things without feeling guilty about it.
Anyway, hopefully in the next few days I can find some time to write more about Thailand.
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Maybe you could share some of your saving habits lol. Have fun in Thailand!
Please keep posting your updates, your blog is the one reason I’ve come into IM and started with affiloblueprint 3 days ago!
Have a good time in Thailand
Hey Clatyon, I love your updates. Keep them up!
Really like your updates, very inspiring, like me you must have a lot of “secret” admirers for sure, keep going with it and thanks a lot for sharing.
I definitely enjoy the financial updates the most. It’s not bragging, it’s a reality check for the rest of us who need inspiration and someone to look up to. We appreciate it and hope you’ll continue.
Hey Clayton,
Do keep on posting on your results to let us know how’s you doing with a lifestyle at Thailand with nothing much done on your auto pilot sites. Cya soon.
Cheers
Javier
Clayton – your updates are definitely inspiring (I’m the guy that asked you to put a link up to affiloblueprint so i could start doing what you do). I don’t think anyone sees it as bragging, and we are all excited to see continued growth, progress, and learning.
I’ve already recommended your blog to 5 or 6 would be IMers as completely honest and inspiring – so please don’t call it quits now!
Hey Clayton!
Personally, I get a lot of value out of the monthly
reports, but I’d understand it if you decided to keep
them private from now on.
Still, would love to see them.. I’m a numbers person.
I find them very motivating, it gives me a benchmark
and I also learn a lot from those numbers..
I don’t think it’s bragging at all… you don’t intend
to brag and that is clear from the way you write. :-)
What do you intend to change for the second generation
websites? Sounds exciting.
By the way, I know exactly what you mean by being poor
and feeling like an outcast. I’ve been a poor student
for years now, stuck between IM, a job and doing work
for university and it feels like none of them get really
ahead… Sometimes I feel like dropping out of university
just so I can spend more time doing internet marketing.
When I found your blog it instantly resonated with me
because you describe the exact same struggles I’m going
through. I recommended your blog to other friends who are in
similar situations.
Hope you have a blast in Thailand!
Cheers,
Ollie
Clayton…..Deffinately keep posting the updates!!
I like and even look forward to the updates. I’m just getting into IM and to be able to see others’ monthly figures is not only impsiring, it also provides a ‘reality check’ (as Jared said) for those of us who are looking to bloggers like you for inspiration and guidance.
It’s easy to get lost and caught up in all the blogs of the well established IM’ers who are raking in $20,000+ a month for a couple of hours work a week.
Reading a blog such as your own makes it believable to those just starting out (such as myself) that we can actually do it ourselves, and we can have a career in IM.
I personally thank you for that.
…and I look forward to reading your monthly updates (it also provides a bit of a benchmark, and something to aim for as I’m sure many of us would agree ;) ).
I definitely hope you keep them coming! I find them really motivating, especially when things are down for me personally – and I’m sure many others feel the same way. I’m also really looking forward to your trip updates – I hope you’ll fill us in soon on how things are going! :)
Hey Man!
Be careful over there. Civil unrest has been a local hobby lately. And, have fun! Great job this month.
Yea dude, keep the updates coming. I really enjoy them. You’re sort of our big brother here in IM since we’re all just a tad behind what you’re doing. At least I am.
And don’t worry it’s not bragging at all. It’s great motivation.
Keep up the work man!
Hi Clayton,
The updates are great. Keep them coming and enjoy Thailand.
All the best,
Antonio
Your updates are a breath of fresh air among much hype in this industry. Mark Ling similarly does not tend to hype things up. Definitely keep going. You should also not feel any guilt about bragging a little – in fact it is not really bragging.
Keep the updates coming Clayton! I’ll second what everyone has already said – they are *great* motivation
Okay, thanks for the comments, everyone. I will keep the updates going for now :) I’m glad that people get inspiration from them.
(awake early because our hostel seems to be right next to a stray cat mating ground…)
Please keep the updates coming. So many are trying to have the success with affiliate marketing as you are seeing. You are inspiring many who would otherwise give up.
You may never hear from them or know about them, but a blog like this keeps people going.
Thank you
Please keep the updates coming. This is my first time checking out your blog and it is one of the few realistic online SEO review blogs that I really can look at for inspiration.
You remind me that the hard work has to be done. There is no way around it, but it can be done.