Well, I am still working on my two blogs that I have goals for. Slowly plugging in a few articles a week to them and updating my biggest and best performing site too. I just checked out how many visitors my best site was getting the other day because I was really curious. It is still doing about $10-12 a day in adsense and my demographics are teens and parents of teens, well to my surprise it’s getting 15k visitors a month! And yet it’s only earning $10-12 a day. *sigh* I got a good niche and I am owning my competition so easily but unfortunately the advertisers are extremely cheap! One thing that is awesome is I also noticed about a week ago that I was suddenly ranking #3 for a keyword that I sometimes used in my content but not really with the hopes I would ever successfully rank for it because the competition was fierce. Right now the #1 spot is owned by a TV network, #2 is Wikipedia and I am #3 for it Amazing!
Well, I decided that my site really needed a new layout that was more appealing. I was using the Ad Flex Seo theme on it and although I had tried to personalize it with my own header and I changed some of the link colors etc, it was still rather blah looking. So I decided to change it over to run Thesis Theme that way I would have more control on my site’s design without having to know much CSS or PHP. And oh boy does it look beautiful now!!! I made a logo to brand myself better and I need to work on setting up a facebook page next. In case some of you have not heard of the Firebug Add-on let me just say that if you are are using Thesis Theme and wanted to change some things on your layout but didn’t know how, firebug makes it so easy for you to see the right CSS code in terms of which attributes need to be changed in order to get your desired changes.
For example on my site I wanted to change the colors that display the number of comments currently on each post. So I activated Firebug and then used the “inspect element” option that is on the top of the lefthand side of the Firebug window, then hovered over the area I wanted to change which was my “comments” text. Then I looked at the right hand window at the code that needed to be changed. Anyhow, I’ll have to do a tutorial on it some time but seriously if you are running the Thesis Theme or any other theme you wanna tweak a bit, check out this add-on.
Earnings blew for August. Must have been the fact that most people were not at home very much for the summer which is great for the economy in general but bad for those of us that depend on people getting online and surf the web to window shop.
I am slowly converting my blogs that promoted Amazon products over to using Buy.com. I got my final pay check from Amazon last week, for $33.18. haha! Buy.com seems to be slightly more expensive on some products that Amazon has. So, I think Buy.com will need to become more aggressive in dropping their prices to compete with Amazon because the bottom line is that Amazon pawns any other big online store. So even if I can get someone to check out products on Buy.com, how much do you wanna bet they will instantly search for that same product on Amazon immediately and compare prices then decide to go with Amazon because they have heard of Amazon, bought from them before and because they are cheaper???
Now that school has started again I make my mornings my work time then I hit the gym in the afternoon and then come home in time for my son to arrive from school. He usually has about 1-2 hours to relax until we are off to soccer practice, cub scouts or some other activity. We are both busy these days but it’s good. I am enjoying life and still believing in my business. 
Update on Buy.com – September 7, 2011
Ugh….I just found out a major disadvantage to shopping on Buy.com. They do not openly list the sale price and they won’t reveal the price you are paying for on an item until you get to the final checkout stages. I am sorry but I, as a customer want to know what I am paying for before I ever have to get to the point of whipping out my credit card. This is going to make conversion rates extremely low. The customer is gonna say “Screw you and your lameness for not showing prices! I’m off to shop at Amazon!” So, looks like I am still on the hunt for another affiliate store to replace my amazon links with.”
The only way to successfully use buy.com is to promote specifically the products that have their prices revealed.
RSS Feeds
on 
Sad to see that you get so many visitors and so little in AdSense – but I have a few sites like that, too, it just depends on the keywords/market. BUT it sounds like you’ll be killing it if you put up some aff ads that California doesn’t prevent (that’s still frustrating!).
I found a Wyoming law firm to work with when we do incorporate/move back to Cali, hopefully it all works like I plan, but right now I don’t see alternatives that I like. I’ll be eager to hear how the Buy.com stuff goes for you, though – and FWIW, your AdSense on that site isn’t “bad,” I’ve made $55 for the past 3 months on AdSense!
(Thank goodness I make money as an affiliate marketer living in the still-free country of Idaho.)
Anyway, wish you all the best. Good to hear from you!
JamestheJust recently posted..Win a FREE Copy of Duct Tape SEO From SEOSage.Org
I just updated my post because Buy.com has another major disadvantage from a consumer’s point of view.
That’s a silly thing for them to do…but honestly I think you should try it out and see what happens…maybe on a few pages. I’m curious how well they sell…But it is pretty lame business on their part.
No wonder they’re trying to gun for removing Amazon as a competitor…
James Hussey recently posted..How My Newbie Wife Used Twitter to Get Over 3000 Visitors
Yea, I am going to go ahead and try them for a bit. I replaced all my amazon links with Buy.com ones yesterday. I’ll see how the conversion rate goes.
Hi Sara,
When you are using Thesis, have you tried adding the Thesis OpenHook plugin for adding special items to your layout? It is a handy tool.
As for your Amazon problems, I live in Colorado; I know the feeling and have for quite a while now. There is a sort of affiliate link system you could use and keep your Amazon links in place. It’s called VigLink. They handle the links/ sales for your visitors that go to Amazon through your links and then they take a 25% cut. I know it sound like a lot of $$$ but as you said Amazons prices do make it hard to compete with from other affiliate outlets. You can also add other affiliate links that will work as usual and not be affected by VigLink.
VigLink tracks all the sales, clicks, etc and then sends you your 75% via PayPal or whatever way you wish. It’s not the best answer maybe but it does work. Do a Google and see if it could help you.
Hope it help and don’t lose faith, keep plugging along. I have visited your site several times before but did not comment. You really seem to be a strong willed person and have given me an added boost when I feel lost or non creative. I have two sons and the ball games, scouts and other activities bring back memories. They are 33 and 35 now and I have finally paid off the student loans. I don’t know who got an education?
Hope it helps a little.
Steve / ESM
Steve recently posted..Make Your Own Website Content
Hi Steve,
Yes, I use Open Hook. Love it!
VigLink sounds like some of the other resources out there that people have mentioned to use in order continue promoting Amazon products. What i don’t like is the 25% cut. I wasn’t making very much with Amazon, about $25-30 a month but still, I’d like my full profit. Plus, I would rather work directly with an affiliate store instead of using a 3rd party as it is very easy to be taken advantage of by 3rd parties.
It’s just sad that Amazon refuses to collect sales taxes on CA residents. Problem would be solved.
HI Sara,
I have the same feels about VigLink and Amazon’s tax issues. I am running VigLink on one site as an experiment just to see if it pans out. Granted a 25% cut is lot but it is the only simple solution other than the INC deal from a different state with its added cost. I do use other affiliate sale items on the same site just to see where the clicks are going.
I really think this Amazon type of tax deal will eventually come to a head one way or the other for all online merchants. Big A still is a volume player online and I am not sure how their prices would compare with other retailers if they finial have to comply with adding state tax’s to their sales.
Back when books where their main bread and butter Amazon grew fast with online expansion. Now, well hardcopy is really taking a hit and they have expanded into everything except fresh food and carry out.
When Colorado got disconnected by the tax issues I had to completely revamp some sites and literally in a fit of rage deleted a couple that where hard coded with Dreamweaver. I hope you, I and everyone else find an answer or a work-a-round that does not cost an arm and leg while still doing it legally. I wear a dirty hat, not a black one.
Steve recently posted..Make Your Own Website Content
Just for the record, it’s not just Amazon, it’s all online-only providers (like many in Commission Junction, Pepperjam Network, etc). The exception would be Clickbank and those types of software/ebook downloads.
Hint, hint…
Sara:
http://www.warriorforum.com/main-internet-marketing-discussion-forum/447561-deal-california-delay-amazon-tax.html
Did you catch that?
James Hussey recently posted..How My Newbie Wife Used Twitter to Get Over 3000 Visitors
Ugh, so the latest news is that it’s delayed for a year now? So we can continue with Amazon affiliate sales until September 2012. I still am not happy about knowing there is an upcoming date where my partnership with Amazon is going to eventually come to an end anyhow. I may just see how Buy.com does over the next few weeks. If I make 0 sales, I will restore my Amazon links, even just to milk out my earnings for another year.
So now the deal HAS PASSED?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/janetnovack/2011/09/10/amazon-deal-to-collect-caifornia-sales-tax-passed/
Right or wrong the Gov will get this tax deal passed everywhere and on everyone involved.
Its going to be a headache, but we might as well get it over and done with. I am now planning a multi-market outlook for some of my prime site’s so I can flow with the changes as needed.
Sara, like your Buy.com experiment, I think I will look at WalMart, Sears, etc to see if they are viable and or salable.
I’m sure there will be a lot of ideas floating around on the Warrior and other forums.
Steve recently posted..Make Your Own Website Content
Well it passed but it begins next year – I guess all that is moot unless Amazon decides to change their minds and withdraw their decision…but let’s face it: it’s the Field of Dreams – the 4th quarter sales will be ridiculous and affiliates like me or ‘Zen Duck’ Dave will still be plugging these things…
What a mess!
Sara, I hope you get your fair share of sales this last quarter, you deserve it despite the political mumbo-jumbo.
James Hussey recently posted..My Banned Warrior Forum Thread – A Dear Newbies Letter
i am wonder what is the niche of your website, because you have many visitors but low adsense, but you are earning at least $10 to it, i think it is already a great job.
i am making $1 right now on my niche blog..
Curious if you have any interest in doing a review of my service on this site? I would be happy to provide you with a free review copy. Didn’t really find any other good ways of contacting you on this site.
http://backlinksforum.com/backlinks-classified-ads/9436-%5Bguaranteed-rank-increase%5D-se-slingshot-high-pagerank-blog-posts.html
If you are interested Sara, let me know via PM on this forum. Delete if you need to.
Jacob
Initial Effort
Read this, http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110923-712660.html. I don’t know if the sale tax is no more for california.
Yes, it appears Californians can continue to be affiliates for Amazon. I received an email today from amazon stating that Jerry brown signed the repeal so now Amazon does not have to terminate the Californian affiliates! The email even had a link to invite previous affiliates to re-instate their accounts. This is great news even if I only earn $30 a month from Amazon. That’s still a dinner night out for my son and I!
Hi Sara,
I’m glad for you.
But I think it is a shame that big companys can buy their way out of tax laws that other regular people have to yeald to.
Is Amazon going to build shipping centers in all the other states where they have cut ties with affiliates. I would not bet on it.
Any way, still glad for you.
Steve recently posted..Website Design Development – The Paint on the Front Door
$10-12 adsense a day is great. I’m impressed that you get 15k visitors a month.
I’d suggest you to do Amazon Affiliate. You get commission when people buy other stuff on Amazon. Once you hit the no of shipped items, commission goes up to 8% which is much better than 3% on buy.com
Kent recently posted..How do I make extra money online as an Amazon Affiliate