Blogging My Heart Out
Phew! After taking the entire weekend off, I had a crazy day first day back in the saddle today. I literally feel like I've been in the saddle all day. Ouch.
It's time to step away from my desk but I wanted to quickly share one insight I gained with you today.
All Work is Not Created Equal
I published 5 posts today.
I smashed through my Site Content Goal of 25 articles but was only at 84% of my 30,000 words so I added another 5 articles to my publishing goal and now I have just 690 words to go to reach Month 4's target. Then I'll set new targets to see me through the rest of Month 4 like I did last month. Still another 2 weeks to go if I'm not mistaken?
The first post I published was a tutorial of over 1000 words with loads of screenshots. I poured my heart and soul into writing this post and it took me about 5 or 6 hours.
It was kind of a sponsored post, I wasn't paid in cash, the PR company offered me credit on the system to review a service (so the credit could only be used for the service I was reviewing). My client was thrilled with the result, so although, I earned nothing, the work felt really rewarding. And I was proud of the piece I produced.
The other 4 were all paid posts.
The two I got paid the highest for were the least work, by far. They were for my main client. I'm using to working with them, I know the quality of the work and I know exactly what's expected of me.
The other two were for a new client on Fiverr, who offered me a lower deal than I normally would charge to publish posts on two of my sites. The posts were short and poorly written so I had to dd more content of my own and do heavier edits than usual.
When Do I Start Seeing Passive Income?
It was a loooong day. I still have a To-Do List as long as my arm to get through this week.
And I started wondering whether I'm focusing on all the wrong stuff.
By the end I was almost in tears, wondering if I'm ever going to crack my first $1000 month, or if it's always going to be SUCH HARD WORK.
I feel like I'm waiting for that day when something I publish goes viral.
Or that day when my traffic suddenly takes off. Even though I'm making money, I still get depressed when I check my Google Analytics and see my Traffic stats so low.
Something's Got to Give
Or shift. Or Change. I need to look at things from a different angle. Or get help. Or automate something.
Or just know it's going to take that little bit longer.
Have you ever had days like this?
Days when you're so tired by the end of it you're wondering whether you've lost the plot?
Or is it just me?
To Your Success
Recent Comments
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Lauren, will you please send me some of your tenacious energy?! :) So enjoyed reading your post, and no it's not just you, it's surely me and many others too - :) You have reached a milestone and the continued work from here is reaching even higher up that ladder, and know you will get there.
Lately, I have noticed some adding short videos to their sites either with promoting WA or their actual product/service and see the potential in this area versus just content. Being camera-shy will not help here, but think adding some video spice may add some flare to the actual content.
Thanks so much, Carrie. Keep meaning to get around to creating and posting videos but haven't even found a gap to do Jay's training yet.
Hi Lauren, another great and inspiring blog, in which you tailed off with your open honesty and this is to be commended.
If you’re not sure that you’re focusing on the correct factors then I would say yes, you need to refocus attention on what is going to work better for you.
You have a fantastic flair for writing and it comes across in a very positive manner, there must be many more writing streams that will pay you better for the content quality?
I think in your case, you’ve worked so hard, and with the experience that you’ve gained, it’s now time to think smart on other writing options available
Best wishes
Heyday
Congrats and Awesome, so, this proves to me that we can accomplish whatever we set our mind to do, and it will be done! You have really went over and beyond to get it done, and you did it. Wow! five post published in one day, Humm.. I can probably do two and a half, so starting today I will put my foot forward and do the other half and make it three. {LouisaB}
Haha Louisa, glad you're feeling inspired. Don't break your neck over 5 posts in a day - remember I didn't write all 5 posts, I only wrote the first post from scratch.
Congrats on getting so much done in one day - that was a lot of writing indeed. I understand that taking on the writing gigs helps pay the bills, so if that's what it takes, by all means do as many as you can. But perhaps set aside a day or even a few hours to make yourself the client, when you work that hard for yourself. You are worth it, and doing that will help you achieve your goal for sure.
Thanks so much Jeannine. Great advice. Am doing my best to carve out more time for my own writing, it's certainly the most rewarding work on a personal level.
Well, first and foremost, well done on publishing 5 posts in a day, Lauren! That's outstanding! The most I ever did was 3 and that was a bit of a stretch for me.
Second, I think the doubts, frustrations, and uncertainties are all part of the journey, Lauren. There is not a week that I don't feel all of those and more... and sometimes in one day!
Even after 18 months on this platform, I'm still inspired by reading other people's journey, success, and even their concerns. It's a simple reminder to me that I'm at the right place, at the right time, with the right mindset, with the right group of people.
Strive to thrive, Lauren!
Aw, Thanks, Veronica! You are always so motivating. Thanks for your kind words and inspiration.
It is not only you, we all get those days I know I do but I don't really worry about that because I am focused on the future and what it will bring. I keep looking for the prize at the end. The prize is the passive income that we will all be making and that is not really that far away. I hope this helps you out.
Keep focusing on the future and what it will bring and that will keep your focus on that you need to do.
Great attitude, Mary. Most days I don't let my slow progress get me down, just every now and then it gets my goat. Thanks for your positive message.
I certainly know that feeling, Lauren. I think we all have days like that, but in my experience, after reaching such a low point, things really take off. And I'm convinced you are very close to your breakthrough. With all the work and right things you have done, you can only succeed.
From your lips to God's ears, Sammy. :) In a sense, there have been breakthroughs (I shouldn't be so ungrateful), my DA keeps climbing but just so weird that the traffic stats aren't climbing too. Thanks for your support, you are such a Sweetheart.
I do wonder the same thing Lauren, but as my site is only 3 months old, I understand I just need to keep on writing.
I have a 9-5 job so that is paying the bills but leaving me with so little time to pursue on online career it really sucks some days.
I was talking to my partner last night, telling him all about SEO and the top 10 women bloggers, about other sites I could be building, about an article I read reacently and some of the areas I need to improve and about the whole GDPR thing.
He said wow you really have a handle on this stuff, you seem to passionate about it, you are going to be a superstar.
So what am I trying to say? Hang in there, we all know this works and you are obviously working it hard. Your day will come, of that I am sure for all of us.
Shoo, Heidi, you're doing grrreat! Not easy blogging and working full time. Wonderful that your partner is so supportive.
It's not just you. I feel like this pretty much every day, LOL. I have non-existent traffic and it's been five months of constant effort. I must be doing something wrong.
I asked my older sister to go to my site and leave comments, and instead she looked at it for a couple of minutes then sent me an e-mail critiquing the website. I don't think she understood what I was asking her for. Oh well.
Think I'm going to the give/get comment page today and see if I can get some WA traffic on my site at least.
Aw, Susan. Good to hear I'm not alone but sorry to hear your sister didn't support you by adding a few comments. I know what you mean, I very seldom have friends or family commenting (except for my lovely Mom because she's in WA with me now). And yes, agree - that's why the give and take thread is so awesome! WA Members give way better comments than anyone else out there anyway.
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Hell no! Laurenjean, many many of us feel that way some days. For me it is most days. No one really knows if they are going to be successful, or if they are going to happen upon that special something that will catapult them to mega success. But here's the thing, you are good at what you do, you are committed and smart, imagine not doing this and what you might miss out on!! With all the work you put into this, I sure something special is coming your way. Hang in.
Aw, Thanks for your kind words, Jenny. Definitely hanging in and continuing to do the best I can.