A $5,000 Sale Thanks to Wealthy Affiliate
Seeing some real progress these days, due to all the training I've received through Wealthy Affiliate.
I started out like everyone else, building a site, figuring out how to monetize it, adding quality content. I started out with BakingNaturally.org, which got me comfortable with SEO and all the ins-and-outs of online business. I got accepted by Amazon, Rakuten, then by several vendors through Pepperjam. I expanded to Pinterest (really active for recipes, BTW) and Instagram. I still work on it regularly, but it hasn't yet been a real money-maker.
Because of my training and experience through BakingNaturally, I started thinking about other areas of my life where I could build a site that would be interesting AND make money. My partner and I travel quite a bit, spending months each year in Mexico. We also own quite a few weeks of timeshare, and we never use them all. So together, we formed an LLC, "Cowboy Concierge", where we offer travel tips and post listings for weeks we've booked in Mexico.
Since then, things have taken a huge upswing. I learned how to use MailChimp (again, through training here on WA), and have built a good following via email. We now gather emails from everyone who has ever stayed or rented through us in the past, and we send out new offerings every month or so. This past month, we snagged a two-week rental at one of our high-end weeks in Puerto Vallarta - a $5,000 rental with more than 50% profit.
We are able to turn that money around and book more high-season weeks, again offering them through MailChimp. I've seen activity on the site skyrocket, and rental inquiries come in regularly. I've created a page on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram. Through Pepperjam, I'm now offering specials to local vacation hotspots like Xcaret in Riviera Maya, as well as travel gear, luggage and mobile wifi devices. I've compared my site to others trying to do the same thing and there is no comparison - thanks to the good training and experience, my site stands far above any of the others in quality, organization and effectiveness.
My advice - don't get stuck with your original idea if it's not making money. If you're a premium member, you have a lot of websites you can fire up at any time. Use your training and experience to start up something else. Talk to friends and see if they need you to help THEM sell something. It's all about paying attention and snagging those opportunities as they arise.
Recent Comments
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Wow, Don! A great edge up on the industry! I do love Mexico and have been to Puerto Vallarta and Cancun. You have a great opportunity here for explosion! Love your creative planning!
Erin :)!
I love how creative you were with your business model. Great job. Best wishes for continued success.
Very inspiring, Don, thank you for sharing and congratulations. I think you are right, at some point, it is helpful to step back and consider beginning a new website with a new idea. To be perseverant doesn't mean to be stubborn until the sour end.
Enjoy the summer,
N with a smile
Great advice and I have just changed things up. How long do you think someone should hang on to a website, before deciding on something else.
This is a great post about how we can diversify with Wealthy Affiliate if we think 'outside the box'.
Affiliate marketing is our core business, but learning how to build and online presence for, and effectively market, a conventional business is something we can do with the skills we learn here as you have proved.
Well done on your success and may you enjoy much more.
Thanks for sharing this with us :-)
Cheers
Rich
Your story is so inspiring (I saw some of your previous posts). I am so glad it is still growing. It looks like this could be a big business for you guys! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jessica
As I was writing it, I got an IM via Facebook from someone who wants another week! It's getting a little crazy. :)
Pretty soon you will need staff! When my husband and I can finally get to Mexico I will look you up! (for a room, not to be staff) :)
Maybe you can have a WA member secret discount code.
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Wow! This is an awesome idea and ver y encouraging! Thank you Don fo sharing this.
I love the travle niche by the way, but hey I had to start with something so I picked other loved one :)
Following you of course!
Best wishes
Pablo "Pabs"