Posting Earnings/Screenshots Online - why & why not to
November 09, 07 by MaxA comment from Kevin on my Logging into Aff Network: What I would love to see ! post made an interesting point and one that got me thinking. Basically Kevin was asking why I blurred out my earnings on screenshots from networks. To be honest im not sure why I did blur them out, maybe just a thing I do naturally. Many other affiliates would do this, just like you wouldn’t print your bank statement off and show your friends. However some people do show them, Kierons famous post on sitepoint shows £84,000 coming in on just 1 page of his bank statement. This was way back in feb 06 and I’m pretty sure thats increased a lot more. 
. There are other examples of this such as Shoemoneys famous adsense cheque showing $132,000 in one month. Kevins comment said this line which made me think “If you earning money, show a few details, then when you speak or write people will listen” is this really true, I suppose it is to a degree, whose going to listen to someone who claims to be know what he/she’s doing if they wont prove it.
So i’ll post a screenshot of my payments from one network. Affiliate Future for 7 payments from the end of april this year till my last payment, which totals just over £22,000. I Know i’m not a huge fish in the Affiliate Marketing sea but bearing in mind in the months from April i’ve had my A-level exams, coursework, sorting out University, a few holidays and then starting uni with essays needed to be written and quite a lot of extra reading it’s not bad. Aswell this is only my earnings from one network, I also use Buy.at, Affiliate Window, WebGains and TradeDoubler. I don’t want to be seen as boasting as some may see it, i’m purely doing this in response to a post, and to see what the responses are.
Now my question is to all the other affiliate marketers out there that have blogs why have you, or why have you not posted your earnings. Don’t take this as a “demand to post them” at all as I totally agree with both posting them and not posting them at all.
Will be interesting to see the reasons behind it. Also do you feel you get more respect if you have than before you did ?
Will this post give me more respect ?!
who knows
Please remember to back this thru a4u if you want 
Click Here
Matty Says: 09.11.07 at 3:59 pm
it’s a nice indicator of how you’re building turnover, but gives no real indication of income (there’s nothing about how much you’re spending).
i think reasons for hiding it is partly to avoid jealousy from other people, but it’s also to avoid looking like you’re bragging.
There’s always been a bit of a taboo, particularly in the UK about voicing how much one earns.
Chris Says: 09.11.07 at 4:06 pm
I don’t post, as it’s none of your business!
OK, seriously, I have never felt the urge or seen the need to shout out what I do and don’t make on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. What I earn has no effect on anyone else, so I see no reason to post the detail.
Another reason some may not post, is due to the higher %ages they maybe on, and can you imagine the uproar if a network happened to leave all my details out in the rubbish and it got scanned and posted…. I would be furious.
Finally, my earnings from a network don’t give a true reflection of what I end up with, once I have paid all my PPC bills etc.
Max Says: 09.11.07 at 4:15 pm
Very true, For that £22,000 I could have spent £22,000 on Google Adwords and so not made a single penny. The same could be said for other posts.
I think the fact that its no-one elses business is very true indeed. Think this probably is the main reason why people dont post.
Of course if a network accidently left your details out then of course anyone would be very angry as its not your choice there at all. Much like John Arne Riise when his bank statement got put on the net. http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=bank+John+Arne+Riise+&meta=
kevin Says: 09.11.07 at 4:16 pm
Hi Max,
Credit to you - I don’t see this as boasting it goes to show newbies out there of whatever age, etc that you can make money online, if you try hard and not give up.
I think the reason why a lot of people don’t post their earnings is one they don’t make as much as they say they are doing.
Another reason I think is “loose lips sink ships”, ie you don’t want to give your niche away, give too much away and everybody copies you. Which I don’t totally understand as there is so much money to be made online for everybody to have a cut.
I don’t claim to make much money online and I struggle to get sales, but I still try hard every day.
Anyway all credit to you, I have added you to my favorites,
Cheers
Kevin
Ashton Under Lyne
Barry Wright Says: 09.11.07 at 4:41 pm
Hi Max, good to hear your doing well though as has been said its no indicator to earnings.
Personally I would never post any financial details online. Only my girlfriend and my mum know what’s coming in and that’s the way I like it.
(and of course anybody who can be bothered to find companies house)
KirstyM Says: 09.11.07 at 4:49 pm
I think it’s true to an extent that people will listen more to someone they find inspirational. In this game, that person tends to be the bloke with the big cheque.
As an aside, I personally think you should listen to the person talking most sense… but that’s just me!
I don’t post my earnings because I simply don’t want to tempt fate. I enjoy knowing that I earn a really good income and can do a lot of stuff I never imagined I would. I don’t want to stymie the deal by getting up myself and tempting a bit of divine retribution
Raymond Theakston Says: 09.11.07 at 11:06 pm
I’d much rather tell an inspirational story of being £25k in debt just 11 months ago and turning it around to the point that it’s now a running joke that I’m still in full time employment.
Monty Says: 10.11.07 at 11:41 am
Hi Max
I don’t know if you’ve got trackbacks displayed on your site but if not here’s the url of my thoughts on your posting : http://www.leavingthedayjob.com/2007/11/10/max-ing-your-affiliate-earnings/
Monty
HM Revenue & Customs Says: 10.11.07 at 7:48 pm
Good evening Max.
Thank you for updating us on your earnings so far this year.
Regards
Rob
The Taxman
Kieron Says: 10.11.07 at 8:17 pm
I posted my earnings on Sitepoint for a few reasons. One was because my mate did so I thought “if he can then I can” lol. Also, it validates that you are successful in this business and people can see you mean business. It also builds your reputation, gets your name out there as well as links and traffic.
Its unfortunate that here in the UK if you post something like this then the haters come out of the closet and flame you. Thats just the culture we live in, sad but true. Whereas in the USA you get more respect and people treat you more seriously. It also inspires a lot of people to give AM a go and shows them what’s achievable. Its great to get emails from people saying that you inspired them and they have now left their day job as a result of some of the stuff I write that motivates them.
Anyway mate, congrats, looks like you’re doing well.
Chromate Says: 10.11.07 at 10:49 pm
Hi Max,
That’s an interesting question. On the one hand it’s great when people post these screen shots. I remember finding Kieron’s one on sitepoint hugely inspiring and very motivating. When you’re struggling as an affiliate and feel like you’re getting nowhere, these posts just demonstrate what’s possible and spur you on.
Having said that, if I was earning anywhere near “super affiliate” levels, then I don’t think I would be posting screen shots. I love helping people out, but I really wouldn’t want the extra attention in the form of crazy emails saying things like “can you show me all your sites?” etc
I also get a bit skeptical when people post about their earnings and naturally think “Oh, what product / service are they about to try and sell?” (I know that’s not the case here).
BTW, I’m really enjoying your blog. Good work!
Cheers, Rich.
Joe Connor Says: 12.11.07 at 12:43 am
Hi Max,
Like Kirsty one of the reasons I’ve never posted anything financial is I don’t want to tempt fate - I got started in affiliate marketing as a house husband and my son is 17 it’s a proper full time job and I’d like to keep it that way. It’s a great industry to be involved in. It’s certainly nice to see other peoples network stats and try to fill in the blanks and guess how much they make but as several people have pointed out any single network screenshot doesn’t show a true picture.
As a limited company anyone who really, really, wants to know can look at our last published accounts.
Geoff Says: 12.11.07 at 10:32 pm
Another way of looking at it is that your actually a business rather than an individual. You’d thing nothing of hearing someone say AffiliatesRus Ltd have a turnover of 10k or whatever. I know it’s not exactly the same, but it’s not the same as someone showing a statement of their personal account either.
Jez Says: 13.11.07 at 2:51 pm
Hi Max,
Posting stats makes more interesting reading but they prove nothing… for all I know you could have photo shopped them
Out of interest how much of your traffic / success would you put down to good PPC campaigns?
Max Says: 13.11.07 at 3:10 pm
Hey Jez
I did photoshop the pics ….:O ha well just the account number bit and invoice numbers as didnt know if i was allowed or should show those. but nothing else.
I’d say probably about 50/50 ppc and seo
jez Says: 13.11.07 at 5:12 pm
So what changed for you in May?
Dave Says: 16.11.07 at 1:18 am
Hi Max,
You look like you’re doing well with your affiliate ventures although it is hard to fully tell without seeing outgoings etc.
A word of advice, I see you’re at uni like me….if it’s your first or even 2nd year, and you are doing well with your affiliate stuff, I’d seriously consider focussing on affiliate marketing and doing your degree on the side.
You’ll find when you reach your final year @ uni that you will have very little time for affiliate stuff. You may end up being in a difficult position when entering your final year…i.e. do I put aff on the back burner for a bit (looks likely to be a silly option with figures posted above) or do I defer degree even though I have completed useless 1st and 2nd year.
Cheers.
Max Says: 16.11.07 at 2:54 pm
Hey Dave
Its something im really in 2 minds about, I mean I really enjoy doing affiliate stuff and love the money etc but at same time I’d like a degree. If ever the affiliate marketing stuff went t*ts up.
Then again my course at the moment im not loving and I cant be bothered with some of the work already which isnt great. Really not sure what to do.
What year are you in at uni ?
Add me to msn some time if you want max99 ( at) hotmail dot co d0t uk (done so spamm bots wont get me)
Chielprip Says: 21.11.07 at 12:27 pm
[img]http://www.pictaboo.com/f/119398749157.jpg[/img] ?????
Mic Says: 29.11.07 at 3:19 pm
I’m not afraid of showing my earnings.
Infact you can see them right here:
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb253/Ahqar/woot_a_sale_lol.jpg
jagga Says: 19.02.08 at 12:23 am
kudos to you max, your making a lot of money there!
keep it up