I went yearly on June 1st 2018 and found a new goal
On May 4th 2018 when I started my introductory trial of WA Premium membership for $19, I was just expecting to watch my rank to drop down to about 50000. I believed that the market was very competitive and it would take a lot of hard work just to be active in the WA community.
My numbers dropped drastically. My first week I responded to blog posts and started reading and watching training. The first training I watched was about Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich.
My first goal was to make money online.
From that lesson I made a plaque defining my goal for the upcoming year. What I wanted was be able to make $1,200 a month by my birthday May 14th 2019. My first intention was to make money. Later in the month my goal changed to become Ambassador in a year.
By the second week as I started writing blogs for my lessons twice a week. I noticed I was doing something I haven't done in a long time. I was writing more than 3 hours a day. My writing wasn't necessarily dedicated just to my website.
I was reading what other people had written and started to feel a sense of community with both newcomers and veteran marketers. I came out of my shell and started to write regularly.
I began to write regularly and something changed inside of me.
I had a feeling of belonging. I was waking up every morning eager to connect with my WA family. I was getting out of bed and going to my home office. I started my routine that involved reading WA emails. I was eager to learn more about internet marketing from those on the front line who worked at it day in and day out.
I began to think WOW this is a wealth of information right at my fingertips. The value of my first $19 investment grew and grew. I had tapped into something bigger than me and now I knew what it meant to be part of a greater whole.
It happened suddenly.
Once I was doing the exercises I realized I wasn't doing it alone anymore. At any point that I had questions all I had to do was ask and I would definitely get a response.
One of my first questions was real simple. I wanted to know how to bookmark a blog and I and bring it up later. I received a link to a training on how to do that simple task.
My question was asked so often that someone took the time to make a training to show how to do it. I'm a visual learner so I was able to watch the video and get the information that I requested. I thanked the WA member and I started feeling secure that I could do my lessons successfully if I just followed simple directions.
I was so excited about building my website here at WA I made the investment to purchase my domain for two years. I was lucky to get the domain name that I wanted.
I developed a vision for my online presence.
I had a vision of building an online magazine to answer questions for newcomers that wanted to get into internet marketing. I concentrated on seniors because in my daily life I ran across seniors that needed a supplemental income and didn't have any degree or experience being on the internet.
I wanted to develop a website that would cut through the red tape and offer solutions that have worked for me. I wanted to write in a very conversational style as if I was right there sitting next to you at your laptop.
My mission began with a few simple blogs.
I submitted one of my blogs for feedback. A young reader was excited to read my blog, because her grandmother was having the problem of using her smartphone. It required her to type and she wasn't able to do that with the arthritis in her hands. I suggested voice typing in my article.
That's when I knew that I touched upon something. I could share a wealth of information to a group of people that I truly respected and wanted to help them get acclimated to technology.
The money fell to the wayside and my desire to help became stronger.
I wanted to invest my time and money into building a place where seniors can feel comfortable and read about how I helped other seniors.
So the money bug left me and I wanted to help. The desire to help my future customers is more important than trying to encourage them to buy a product.
Helping people find what they need is the premise behind the internet: sharing knowledge back to those who are traveling behind you.
So my focus this year is how to build trust through my blogs and within the WA community. If I have this as my focus, the money will follow.
Recent Comments
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Hi, Louisa.
The best investment that one can make is in oneself.
Approximately $400.00 per year including domains and hosting complete is a far cry from $35,000.00 per year for an undergraduate program.
True, doctors will be doctors, and lawyers will be lawyers and accountants will rule the world.
The Internet has leveled the playing field for 'Earning' and Wealthy Affiliate is the platform that will get you there. Always put aside that 'Yearly Membership' cost so that you will not be left behind.
Take your time, as I am doing. First 'Learn' and then remove the 'L' when you think you are ready to compete Worldwide. My year will be 2020.
It all depends on your personal goals and ambitions.
The Wealthy Affiliate Open Education Platform is not a 'Get Rich Quick' philosophy. That is why it has been here since 2005 and earlier.
I am very pleased with your decision.
Stay in touch.
Kindest regards,
Paul.
Post Script, Louisa....
I did not read your post completely.
Too long for the hundreds that I receive here at WA.
But I got the gist of it and hope that my return comment helps.
The best to you always,
Paul.
Paul.
It is true that investing less than $400 for education and training for a year is a drop in the bucket compared to the $60K I spent on college courses. That $400 cost is what I would pay alone in textbooks for one semester.
It was a no brainer for me to take advantage of Going Yearly and feel relaxed that I made the commitment "Learn Before I Earn" just like I did with my associates degree these past 2.5 years.
I learned more outside the classroom through volunteer work. Here since WA is hands on I learn by doing. When I read some trainings I realize I have just scratched the surface.
It has been a month and I can get overwhelmed at times with all the information but I remind myself that Rome was not built in a day.
I can bookmark trainings to review later and stay with the coursework and keep engaging with WA community so I can have support towards what I want to accomplish.
I understand that couldn't read my entire post. I did make it a long one, because I was excited about the events that led up to me Going Yearly. I do however appreciate your words of encouragement and your in depth response.
All the Best,
Louisa
I wish you nothing short of complete success, Louisa.
Thank you for your response and have a most wonderful day.
Respectfully,
Paul.
First, I commend you for making the decision to go yearly, Louisa!
Second, I think some of what you expressed really gets to the heart of Wealthy Affiliate: self-development.
Although it's truly exciting to see how much we and others have learned as we go through the process, the self-development that occurs is, for me, the heart of everything.
Learning how to develop and grow a successful online business is tremendous. Seeing ourselves grow along the way, priceless.
Veronica,
The past month has increased my confidence to pursue my dreams. in the past when I signed up with other programs i felt cheated. I felt that it was another get rich quick scheme.
At WA the value of the community is really all i'm after for the first year. I have found camaraderie towards an interest i have had for years. Nowhere else could I find people to encourage me to become what i always wanted to be.
The greatest benefit is I'm writing more than ever before and I receive feedback about my work. The lessons encourage me to learn more instead of just building a website ad hoc, not considering what all go behind the scenes.
Thanks for your continued support, Veronica.
All the Best,
Louisa
What a great post, Louisa! I believe we gain as we serve others in our niches.That's especially true when we have a variety of interests and many ways in which we can help others through our blogs and sites. So many people are looking for help, but are leery of encountering scams. That makes building trust a huge factor for our seniors, because they are so bombarded with scams. Here's to your niche success! :)
Colleen,
Awesome to hear from you. I hope all is well.
Like i said in my blog post my initial interest was to make money online but one more time I realized that the core of any success lies in helping people first.
Building relationships is what I am about and to do that takes time.
I noticed that most people want success but not the work that comes with it. Money just doesn't pop into your lap by just wanting to be rich.
The rich have a different mindset than the poor. It takes a learning curve to educate your mind in doing activities that encourage self improvement as a focus for success.
All my failures before WA has been a blessing, because now I know what is worthy of my time and money.
The most important part is building friendships that will last the test of time in anything you do. People want a connection when they buy a product or service. They want to feel that the salesperson understands their problems and have the solution they are searching for.
All and all we want someone to look at us and say "Good job!"
I find that here at WA!
All the Best,
Louisa
Michael,
Isn't that the truth.
To come to WA for something basic as trying to supplement my income and now having friends that encourage you every step of the way.
I have a newfound confidence about succeeding in whatever I do. At first I thought my niche was overpopulated. As I delve into it more I realize I have something to bring to the table that showcases my personality and authenticity to help others.
It has made me available to reach more people than just in my town. I feel all the investment in time and effort in my site will make it easier for someone else along the way.
Thanks for the continued support, Michael.
All the Best,
Louisa
Great post Louisa, I really enjoyed reading it. Should be proud of your chosen niche, must be rewarding to be able to help out our seniors. Thank you for sharing.
In my blogs I love to tell stories about people I meet and how we made a connection.
I have been helping family members of veterans for the past 3 years and most of their woes at first is not having enough money to survive.
Being a veteran on disability myself I could relate to money problems. However there is more to life than worrying about money.
When I started volunteering in my community I learned that reaching out to people during their time of need has its own rewards. I may have limited resources myself but I had the knowledge of where to go to get help.
Most of my time with peers I just listen and provide support. Then we roll up our sleeves and decide what we can do to change the situation.
Most people just want relief knowing there is something they can do to make a difference. Here at WA every word I write is impacting another person. If not now, maybe later.
I'm building a trail to follow for the next person that comes along. I can provide insight about what it is like to be a marketer from the beginning and what it takes to become successful.
It is the journey that is rewarding not reaching the destination.
Thank you for your continued support.
All the Best,
Louisa
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Louisa, you went a month after me, and I must confess that seeing it in writing, I am experiencing what you are.
Stuart,
It is funny how WA changes your perspective once you join the community.
I just watched the live training on What is a Niche? and discovered that people are the niche...the audience is what we are focusing on.
The only way to do that is building relationships starting right here to change your mindset from product to the audience.
So when I respond to blog posts I want to talk directly to the person on the other end.
Have you been feeling this lately, Stuart?
Have you come to the realization that we are here to talk to our audience first and not focus on what we are selling?
That's what I love about the WA community. It teaches you to connect with other marketers first and then build a website with an audience in mind instead of programs they want you to push so they can make money from your sales.
All the best,
Louisa
Louisa, so agree, I do feel as if I am talking to the person that I am connecting with.
Take care
Stuart