eHow Report #3: Proof That Passive Income Exists
When I created this blog, I was not only excited and nervous, but also a bit doubtful. I had been reading blogs around the net, people earnings $100k+/year. It all seemed legit, but still… I couldn’t help thinking, “Can I really earn anything close to that? Can I really earn a full-time income through the internet??” Well, with mixed emotions, Experiments In Passive Income was born mid-November last year.
My first challenged was to try something with no risk, and no money involved (well, no money coming out of my pocket) so I created an account at eHow and made it a goal to write as many articles as I could before my road trip. I submitted a little over 20 articles. After submission though, I couldn’t get rid of that sinking feeling that maybe this wouldn’t work out, that “passive income” would just be another myth. And then, there it was: I earned my first $5.00 through passive income within a month’s time. Proudly, I created my first eHow Report and brought you the news.
However, I wouldn’t get to enjoy those five sexy dollars because eHow only pays you when you earn at least $10.00 within a month. On January 11th (just last month), I barely reached the payout amount and received my first “passive income” related payment:
Alright, I get it, it’s only $10.83, barely enough to treat the gang a McDonald’s breakfast. But that’s not the point. The point is that, at the very least, if you fail at everything else, if you fail at Google campaigns or finding that product to sell, you can always write! Now that I know that passive income exists, that it’s no longer a myth, now that I have proof, I know that at the very least, I can churn out articles week after week, month after month, and it will matter in a few months. The pot will grow. It will go from $10.00 per month to $20, to $40, $80, $160, $500, and so on.
I know that if I can’t find a product or a niche, I can at least write. It might get boring, I might have to work with a writer, but I know I can get the money on returns and then some. If you haven’t read my last post on how I plan on improving my eHow income, please check it out here: eHow Experiment Revisited: Part I.
In a bit over two months, I have proven to myself (and maybe even convinced you) that passive income does exist. Sure, it’s not entirely passive: you have to put in a lot of effort up front, but you reap the benefits thereafter, hopefully consistently. Seeing that $10.00 in my Paypal account was powerful. I knew that if I brought in $10.00, then surely I can do a lot more than that. The only one stopping you from earning your first dollar online is YOU.
With all that being said, I would also like to try another site that runs on a similar model as eHow. I don’t want to put all of my eggs in one basket. I need a site like eHow though: the articles rank quickly and can start earning right away if you put in a little bit of work. Most importantly, the community of eHow rocks. If you’d like to connect with me on eHow, feel free to check out my profile here.
Have you earned your first $1.00 through an online income stream? If you’re doing a lot better than me, please share any tips!
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22 Responses to “eHow Report #3: Proof That Passive Income Exists”
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[...] I left for my December trip, I had written a good 20-23 articles. In my first month, I broke the very humbling $10.00 payout. Man, was I excited? I’ve never been so excited over a measly $10.00 before. The excitement [...]
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Interesting read, Moon. Do you have any other plans with respect to passive income? Personally, I think passive income is a nice benefit of doing what you really want to do in life and I don’t want passive income to become a major goal in my work or life. I know all too well that my main goal is just doing what I’m passionate about. What is your take on this?
Bart,
My main goal is to do what I’m passionate about, but it seems like I’m losing a grip on all of my passions with this job. And it comes down to more than just the job. I can understand that we all need to engage in some sort of work, but I refuse to work 8-5, Mon-Fri.
For now, my goal is to make money online, passively. As you can see, I’m testing eHow and I will also be launching a Google campaign for an affiliate product next week (finally). My ultimate goal is to move to San Diego in June this year and I don’t want to look for a job in CA. I’d love to make an online income stream work for me.
If you know your passion and work on that, then as Gary V would say, it won’t feel like work. I work as a programmer and while I’m grateful for what I’ve learned on the job, but I’d love to work on my own apps and release them to the public. I will probably be working on that after June, after I’ve kickstarted my “passive income” sources
I think it’s all do-able. I’d love to move to SD without having to tend to an 8-5 job and just explore CA.
Thanks for stopping by Bart and for reminding me what’s on the line here
Congrats on seeing your first returns
I think that in many cases the term passive income is a misnomer. Residual income might be a more accurate way to think of it, if work was involved in getting things started. (Which it usually is!)
I’ve earned money online from blogging (selling ads, affiliate income — altho not much there — and Adwords), selling my iPhone app, and writing some articles. (Although I stopped writing articles after a bad experience with blindly accepting a change to the terms of service at Helium. Take my advice and never accept those without fully reading and understanding their impact first.)
Jackie´s last blog ..Don’t Burn Out on the Road to Debt Reduction
Jackie,
You’re absolutely right, though the goal is that after the initial work, it will turn into a “passive” income. Requires hard work, as I’m finding out, but I’m upto this challenge and embrace it!
Do you earn a part-time income from your online ventures, if you don’t mind me asking?
This is awesome, the first payout is such a great motivator. Congratulations you are on your way!!!!!
Ms. Freeman@Baby Steps of an Internet Entrepreneur´s last blog ..Why I Welcome Being Laid Off From My Job
Ms. Freeman, perhaps you’re too kind. It is only $10.00 and a bit humbling, but yep, I know that it can be done now. No reason that $10 can’t be a $100 or a $1000.
Oh, with my one article on eHow I recieved $2.39 in January.
Congrats! Look forward to more successes you obtain. Just remember to ‘keep it real’ when your revenue increases.
Money Funk´s last blog ..Menu Plan Monday
Congrats, Money
Keeping it real isn’t the problem, haha. I’ll try not to miss those ‘little people’. J’k.
See it works Moon. Now to scale it up with more articles, an eBook, some other product etc. I appreciate you following my blog and the good comments you provide. Have a great weekend
JadeDragon´s last blog ..Is eHow Still a Good Place to Write?
No problem, Jade. Plus I learn something new every day.
Moon – Great job! Hang in there, my first few months on eHow took a while to get any sizable income. Then after a few months, things really took off.
John´s last blog ..The Earnings Diet
Thanks John. I look forward to getting to the point where you are now. Will be making my decision on a writer tomorrow, so we’ll see how it all goes.
Great post! I love that you prove that passive income is really attainable for those who try (And hustle!)
CHeers!
Thanks Maren,
Humble beginnings, that’s for sure
Great to hear that things are moving in the right direction for you Moon. It is a very slow process getting started online and every little sign of success is a great encouragement I find.
Des @ Affiliate Progress´s last blog ..Free Affiliate Tools – Part 1 – Keyword Research
Des, you’re right about the “slow process” but I want some sort of a break-through in the next month or so! But yeah, at least I know it’s do-able.
This is something hard to explain to people. It’s not the amount of the money, it’s that the process works.
The money will come.
Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Most Blogs Written by Non-Writers for Non-Readers. Is this you?
There’s a lot of truth to that-wise words, Dave. Thanks for dropping by!
If you can make the first $10, then you can make the next $10 and the next and so on…
You, my dear, are already a success.
To your dreams…
I’m a blogger myself and I found your post to be very interesting and unique. Good job on the post, and I’ve just became subscribed to your blog. Hope you do the same for me.
Good luck on your blog, and feel free to visit and comment on my blog as well!
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Hello. I hope you’re not a spam bot. I’ll check out your blog soon, thanks for dropping by.