Four Months In - Time To Reset
Four months and it has flown by. When I began I had never created a website, did not know how to "properly" use social media, and never had any interest in writing. So logically, I decided to start blogging. Well, in four months I have learned so much that I wanted to pass it along so it can help others.
Let's Start With How To Blog
So I started with a niche that I felt pretty confident about. I have a lot of knowledge and experience so I figured I could create a website. Well, I was close...
Learning #1 - Make A Plan
I started and flew through the OEC. Man was I excited so I was posting every other day...then...I began to run short of ideas. This means posting slowed down as I had to start researching more ideas.
No worries, I have been updating my older posts and adding new ones. Still, it got me thinking...
What I Wish I Knew #1 - Make A Plan / Schedule
Looking back, if I had taken my time through the OEC and posted 2 - 3 times a week I would have been better off. From what I have gathered, it is better to post on a schedule. Next website, I will take it slow and steady.
Learning #2 - You Do NOT Need Affiliate Programs
I know, this is how you generate your income, but, seriously, wait until the training guides you to join affiliate programs. Your first focus is to build the website. Then you will start to get traffic, and finally, you can earn some money. Don't get ahead of yourself (I did).
What I Wish I Knew #2 - Affiliate Programs Can Be A Pain
So you long onto your favorite affiliate network (Clickbank, Share-A-Sale, CJ Affiliates, etc.) and you see the PERFECT program. You request to be added and then wait... and finally get the email that says "thanks but no thanks".
Why is that? Usually because of lack of traffic. So yes, wait for a bit and then you will have more success. This doesn't even include Amazon...
Amazon has an entire other issue... you have 180 days to generate some consistent sales. If you do the math, that is 6 months which seems like plenty. Until you remember Kyle says 3-6 months before you start getting traffic.
Moral of the story, just wait until prompted in the training.
Now Let's Move On To Perfection
So you start blogging, you post to your website, you set up your menus, and then you think...meh...it's ok. Now you return to find another theme or re-write your post trying to achieve perfection.
Learning #3 - Just Make It Good...For Now
Yup, this was me. I tried 46 different themes. I reworked the entire content of multiple posts trying to make them perfect. I finally decided on a theme that I am happy with, but there are some posts that I would like to redo. I am holding out and just updating them.
What I With I Knew #3 - There Is No Such Thing As Perfect
So I had a vision of "perfect" after going through the OEC. Yup, each step of the way I knew what perfect was. Then I learned something new that was even better.
My advice, what you will learn in the first four months (this is my experience) will keep you reshaping your website. Focus on getting the posts published and update as you go... remembering you won't have sustained traffic for a while after you start.
Social Media Is Good
This took some time. I will not even pretend to be an expert (or even coherent) in social media, but I think I have picked up a few things along the way.
Learning #4 - You Don't Need To Start With A Base Of Followers
Yeah, this was my big take-away from Facebook. I added friends and family to my Facebook business page. Turns out, they don't really understand that the share button is a powerful tool for affiliate marketers.
What I Wish I Knew #4 - Hashtags Are Key
I will admit that I had no clue how to properly use a hashtag so I set out and followed a bunch of Twitter users that related to my niche. That did not help me gain followers, but I watched how they used hashtags.
From that, I started adding hashtags to my posts. Then, suddenly, I started getting followers. If you use hashtags correctly, you will find your target audience.
That is a good start to what I have learned so far...now what I am going to do in month 5?
My Next Steps
I am going to work on preparation. I have a blog in progress to review some coasters (they reached out to me!!!). Beyond that, I am going to generate a list of keywords (shooting for 50). I will outline the posts and do some research.
Why slow down? I am changing jobs in a couple weeks. I would like to get it where I have posts ready to go so I can sleep a little more and post more.
What are your big learnings from your start?
Cheers!
Nate
Recent Comments
49
I need to learn how to use them to, I'm so down over this thing I haven't even written in a week
Alena
That sounds perfectly normal. You are at about 2 months so you have been posting and posting, but you aren't seeing results... Two Months In! - That Wall Hurts Exactly where I was. It will get better. Taking a week here or there is perfectly normal. This is a marathon so don't get down...if you look through my other blogs here I have been through it multiple times.
I am now starting to see some organic traffic so you will get there.
Cheers!
Nate, great post! You taught me something. I need to learn how to use hastags to find interested followers! How did you learn?
If anyone else wants to chime in on #, please do.
All the best to you.
Edwin
In twitter I added some hashtags to follow. Suddenly I was getting a whole bunch more tweets to read. So I tried it and I started picking up followers.
I also just found that Instagram uses hashtags too...one post today and 10 new followers! Not sure if I will ever figure it out, but it is fun to try.
Cheers!
I wondered why so many Insta and Twitter posts have hastags. Do you know if one can coin new nemes based on ones blog post?
Just wondering.
Cheers!
Edwin
P.S. thanks for adding me to your network. I've added you too.
Thanks for the add. I sure am trying to coin my own hashtag. No success yet, but I hope it will get there. I add it along with the other hashtags that actually get seen by my desired audience.
Cheers!
Hey Nate
Thanks for sharing your progress. I can relate to many of your experiences.
There’s so much to learn and the best thing is to allow yourself to learn.
I wish you all the best with your business.
Jane
Thanks Jane. My goal is to one day be past these experiences and offer some insightful posts like you do :)
Cheers!
Great Post Nate!
I learned WA is the real deal!
There are endless possibilities but we must choose something and build that before spreading ourselves thin.
The training is our blueprint/map and we should pay attention and follow it and stop looking for shortcuts.
Mel
Well said Mel. I tend to get distracted by all the possibilities. You couldn't be more right in focusing on building.
Cheers!
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What a fantastic story, Nate. And very much reminiscent of my experience as well.
I TOTALLY agree with the whole waiting to monetize thing. It can be disheartening to get turned down, and I honestly think we're doing it to ourselves. I've learned that the real challenge is getting traffic and building an audience. After that, the money part is easy.
Well done, and keep up the good work.
P.S. Oh, and for the record, this is the funniest (and best) thing I've read all week:
"When I began I had never created a website, did not know how to "properly" use social media, and never had any interest in writing. So logically, I decided to start blogging." LOL
You're awesome, buddy :-)
Thanks AJ! Glad I could add some humor. Well said by a trusted Ambassador (congrats BTW)
Cheers!