I have been in the online business world for over 28 years now. During that time, I’ve experienced many successes, including building and selling multiple websites and applications, as well as making millions in the process.
Six years ago, I rebooted my business goals and laid out a plan to start and grow multiple businesses with a longer-term, disciplined approach. While it was impossible to predict exactly which businesses I would build or how I would build them, I set out a core set of principles to follow. These principles would drive success regardless of market trends or technological changes.
Now, six years into this reset, the plan remains strong. My first six-figure ARR business continues to thrive, and the second business is growing in line with its plan. The groundwork for business #3 is also progressing well. However, in sticking to my principles, I don’t anticipate any significant movement on it for another two to three years.
This is my first annual income report, but I have no intention of it being my last. The report is broken down into details for Business #1 and Business #2, which are my primary focuses, as well as some miscellaneous income from smaller projects.
If you’d prefer to jump straight to the numbers, here are the highlights:
- $140k ARR (+13%)
- 5.1 Million Website Visitors
- 21 Million Page Views
- 23k Newsletter Subscribers Added
- 5.7 Million Social Media Views
- 1.5 Million YouTube Views
- 1 New Membership Site Launched
Now, let’s get into the details.
Business #1
I started this business six years ago, and it has now entered its autopilot phase. It’s still experiencing double-digit, year-over-year growth and is doing well.
- $131.5k (+12%)
- 60% Subscription Fees
- 40% Display Ads
- 4.77 Million Website Visitors
- 19.9 Million Page Views
- 61k Newsletter Subscribers
The primary monetization method for this site is a paid membership subscription service. There are three different tiers based on the content and features offered, and users can choose between monthly and annual plans. The secondary monetization method is display advertising.
This year, the site saw a 12% increase in revenue, driven by growth in both membership subscriptions and display ads. Growth wasn’t as high as in previous years, which I attribute to the site maturing and to my spending less time on marketing as I focus more on Business #2.
Business #2
I launched Business #2 two years ago. It’s another paid membership site in a completely different genre from Business #1, so there’s no overlap in audience or traffic.
- $3.7k Total (+53%)
- $900 Membership Fees
- $2.8k Display Ads
- 113k Website Visitors
- 1.1 Million Page Views
- 3.3k Newsletter Subscribers
This was the second year for this site, and it’s on track with its five-year plan. Approximately 40% of the annual income came in November and December, including all paid membership revenue (memberships were launched in November).
The first two years were dedicated to building content, technology, and brand recognition. Over the next three years, I’ll expand into adjacent niches and mobile apps. Within the next year, I expect subscription revenue to surpass display ad revenue.
Miscellaneous Others
- $4.8k “Other”
This miscellaneous income is a combination of one-off side projects and older websites. The older sites are on their way out, and I have no plans to revive them, so that income will continue to dwindle. The one-off projects include things like my faceless YouTube channel, which I expect to grow gradually over the next few years. These side projects are intended to be fun experiments and should never distract from my main plans.
Thank you for reading my first annual income report. I’m excited to see what the next year brings, and I look forward to sharing more updates as these businesses evolve.