How This 33-Year-Old’s Printables Blog Earns $6.5k+ Per Month Through Email Marketing

The designs weren’t selling well, but I believed in their quality. To generate income, I decided to offer them for free on a blog with the goal of earning through ads later on. Surprisingly, the free printables were well-received, leading me to develop more ideas, focusing on different life stages I was experiencing. From wedding-themed printables during my engagement to baby shower content during pregnancy, and now creating printables for my kids as a mom of two.

After nearly a year, I joined Mediavine, which inspired me to dedicate more time and effort to turning my blog into a business. I continued freelancing for two years while also working part-time on my blog. In 2021, after the birth of my second child, I felt confident in my Mediavine income to quit freelancing and focus solely on my blog. Over the years, my blog’s earnings have increased, and I am passionate about working on it daily.

My income comes from various sources, with display ads being the main revenue stream, followed by digital product sales, affiliate marketing, sponsorships, and YouTube. I have seen consistent growth in my earnings, especially during the holiday season. Additionally, I diversify my income to ensure stability.

Despite fluctuations in traffic, I work around 15 to 20 hours a week on my site. I enjoy what I do, often working seven days a week because I find designing and blogging enjoyable.

My primary marketing strategy is email marketing, which significantly boosts traffic and income when I send out newsletters. With a clear niche in free printables, I aim to be an authority in the kids’ printable niche. SEO plays a crucial role in my business, and I focus on providing valuable content to readers rather than adding unnecessary words.

Initially, I based my content on what my kids would enjoy, but I now incorporate keyword research and analytics to create posts that align with trending topics. My content creation process revolves around holidays, where I develop printables in bulk for different seasons and occasions. To illustrate, if I decide to incorporate printable word searches on my website, I will craft a word search for each holiday or category featured on my site. Working in batches is a crucial part of my process.

I am the sole designer of everything on my site. Occasionally, I may purchase the rights to some stock graphics to enhance my designs, but ultimately, everything is created by me. I also write all the blog posts myself. It’s a one-person operation!

Additionally, as mentioned earlier, I constantly monitor my analytics to identify the types of posts that are performing well and then produce more content similar to those. Currently, I have around 540 articles published on my site. My aim is to reach at least 600 articles by the end of the year while also updating older content along the way.

Regarding my email list, I absolutely adore it! It serves as the primary source of income and revenue for my site, making it incredibly valuable. While I do have a substantial following on social media, I understand the importance of not relying solely on that platform. If a social media platform disappears or if access to my account is lost, I would lose connection with my followers. By maintaining an email list, I have direct access to my subscribers’ inboxes, and I have noticed that my email subscribers tend to be more engaged compared to social media followers.

I have cultivated my email list by utilizing Mediavine’s Spotlight Subscribe feature and opt-in forms from Flodesk. Since my site offers numerous free printables, I encourage readers to enter their email addresses to access the printables. This strategy has significantly grown my email list, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the majority of my subscribers remain on the list even after receiving their free downloads. Currently, I have over 106,000 active email subscribers. I typically send 2 to 3 emails per week during the first 9 months of the year, increasing it to 4 to 5 times a week in the fourth quarter.

A significant resource that I relied on while learning about blogging was the Mediavine blog, podcast, and YouTube channel. They provide a wealth of valuable information, accessible to the public even if they are not publishers with Mediavine. I also sought advice from other bloggers, as hearing from individuals who are a few steps ahead can offer valuable perspectives and insights.

The tools that I find most beneficial for my work are Adobe Creative Suite for graphic design, Flodesk for email marketing and opt-ins, BigScoots hosting for a reliable and fast website, and a paper planner for organizing tasks and to-dos.

The most significant challenge I have encountered while building my businesses is persevering through the difficult moments. Initially, establishing a business is tough because there are no guarantees of success. I have experienced several “failed” businesses before finally achieving real success. While this has been challenging, each endeavor has taught me valuable lessons.

As an entrepreneur, my proudest accomplishment is building a profitable business independently. Within a year of purchasing my domain name, I was accepted into Mediavine, a milestone that I worked hard to achieve. Through various revenue streams, I reached approximately $20,000 in revenue in December. Starting from earning just a few cents per day, reaching a five-figure monthly income is a dream come true. I also used my blogging income to contribute to a down payment on our home, demonstrating the unexpected profitability of my blog.

Looking back, I wish I had known the amount of work required to build and maintain a blog. The ever-changing landscape of the internet, social media, and regulations necessitates flexibility and adaptability. Blogging is a long-term endeavor, and success does not happen overnight. It can be challenging to stay motivated when unsure if all the hard work will pay off as expected.

Furthermore, receiving negative feedback from readers can be valuable. While some negative comments may be unwarranted, there are instances where constructive criticism can lead to positive changes. I recall receiving a critical email from a reader about the layout of my blog posts, which initially upset me. However, after reflecting on the feedback and making adjustments, my revenue actually increased. My advice is to consider negative comments with an open mind and use them as an opportunity for growth. Don’t take criticisms too personally, but also take time to reflect and see if there are any positive changes that can be made.

Kelly’s Biggest Mistake

In my entrepreneurial journey, I believe my biggest mistake was not achieving a good work/life balance.

Being your own boss and working from home can present challenges. You are responsible for everything and your success depends on your efforts.

While some struggle with discipline, I found myself working excessively in the beginning. I made unnecessary sacrifices in order to grow my business.

If only I had realized that it’s not a race, I could have maintained a better work/life balance and increased productivity by slowing down and enjoying life more.

Her Advice for Other Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs currently building their businesses, my advice is to be patient and not expect instant results.