Online Success Story:
Lain Ehmann
http://www.layoutaday.com
I specialize in simple scrapbooking. I use my website to help scrapbookers overcome overwhelm and creative block and make their scrapbooking fun, fast, and fabulous. I teach classes, sell info products, have a membership site, and produce online events for the scrapbooking industry. I?ve been a member of the Clicknewz community for about a year and a half.
1. When did you set up your website?
I have worked in the scrapbooking industry as an editor and instructor for about five years. I originally had a Typepad.com blog where I connected with my readers and students. After the magazine I wrote for folded and I decided to make my living online, I started a WordPress blog in early spring 2010, so just over a year ago.
2. What gave you the idea for this particular niche & website?
Even though I?d worked in the industry and had an active blog and web presence in this industry, I was hesitant to get typecast as ?just? a scrapbooker ? I wanted to go broader! But after investigating the homemaking niche and listening to Lynn Terry and my business coach, Nicole Dean, I decided to focus on one niche until I?d maximized my presence and income. I was already making some money from my Typepad blog, and I knew it could get bigger if I focused on it.
3. Did you have any experience with online business prior to creating this website?
I founded an online publishing company in the crafting industry with a colleague, but I sold out to her when I realized partnership is not for me. We did EVERYTHING wrong. I wanted to start over, independently, and do it right ? and, in the words of Frank, ?Do it my way.?
4. What did you do for work prior to setting up an online business?
Most immediately, I was an editor for a scrapbooking magazine. I?ve written several books on scrapbooking and also traveled the country teaching scrapbooking classes. Before that,? I was a freelance journalist, writing for everyone from The Boston Globe to Runner?s World. ?Way Back When? I worked in government, but I don?t like to talk about that.
5. How did you initially promote your website, and if different ? how do you promote it now?
Initially, I promoted my blog through contacts in the industry. I started working on SEO almost immediately, but I?m not sure how well that works. Personal contact seems to be important. Now, I use a multi-layered approach:
-SEO
-Article marketing (I have over 100 articles on Ezinearticles.com)
-Guest posting
-Videos on YouTube and Vimeo
-Twitter
-Facebook
-Webinars/events
-Podcast
-Email list
-Blogging
The most effective methods have been JV partners for my events, guest posting, and my podcast and videos. And for some strange reason Jeff Herring is consistently in my top 10 referrers ? though I cannot figure out why! 
The least effective for me has been Facebook. I?m still trying to figure that out.
6. Is your website profitable? Can you share some basic traffic & profit stats with us?
Yes, I am profitable. I average around 8500 unique visitors per month. My sources of income are, in reverse order:
-Adsense (negligible ? i only include it on select posts)
-Physical products (I create kits and sell my book ? minimal income, less than $100 per month)
-Affiliate sales (minor source of income)
-Sponsored posts (minor source)
-Information products (major source)
-Membership site (major source)
-Classes (major source)
-Online events (MAJOR MAJOR source)
I hope to break six figures this year. Note: That?s before affiliate commissions!
7. What are your plans for the site going forward?
I see huge growth for 2012 in info products and online events, in particular. I want to streamline my processes and up my passive income. I?m working hard and I love it, but I?d like to work not quite so hard and still make money. 
8. What ONE piece of advice would you give someone interested in starting their own niche site or blog?
DO SOMETHING BEFORE IT?S PERFECT. You can sit and learn forever and ever and ever and you?ll never know enough to do it ?right.?? The ONLY thing that separates you from people who are making money online is that they took action, imperfectly. Period.
Source: http://www.clicknewz.com/2962/online-success-story-layoutaday/
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