Getting Stuck on the Little Things
For context, I've been a member of WA for two months now. Before this I had never dabbled with affiliate marketing. I just recently completed Level 2 of the Online Entrepreneur Certification. Yea!
Getting to this point has given me time to reflect on what's gone well, and what could have gone better.
I wanted to share this BIG lesson. I hope it helps someone out there.
Building My Website
I've been working on my WordPress site, doing research on how to make it look more professional. I got a little bogged down in changing out themes and playing with the settings. I wanted to make it look good. This is my business, after all. I want it to look professional and legitimate. At this point, I had only written one article, but I thought, if I'm going to attract visitors to my site, it should look decent.
I started looking up tutorials on WordPress. I looked on YouTube, and other blog sites. I also looked on the WA classes.
I recently watched one of the recorded classes on advanced WordPress techniques. Here's the link:
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/classes/advanced-wordpress-t...
I don't know Jay, the instructor, but I just want to say, his recorded classes on the WA class library are really good. I've already learned a lot from him, and I have only watched two of the classes.
What I was looking for was techniques on working with WordPress. It's a great tool, but for someone brand new to it, there's a learning curve. I thought this was what I needed to move forward, but Jay dropped some wisdom on me. He said something that made me realize, I had the wrong priority.
Jay said, something to the effect of, do the things that are essential to the growth of your business.
I stopped the video; well paused it. I did watch the rest of it. It's great and you should check it out, but the point is ...
I stopped and asked myself, is this the most essential thing that I should be putting hours into right now? Is this essential to the growth of my business?
There is an argument to be made for making your website look professional. I know this is true.
The question is, is this task the most important thing to do at the stage I am at? Brand new website. One article. The site has only had one visitor, my wife.
Determining the Essential
How do you determine what is essential?
Revisit your goals, and then ask yourself, how can I achieve that?
Here's what that looks like for me.
Why am I doing this? I want to be financially independent so that I can spend time on the important ares in my life.
How can I make this happen? Build streams of passive income.
How do I build a stream of income with my affiliate marketing website? Monetize my website, and attract people who will use my affiliate links to buy things they need within my niche.
How do I attract people who will use my affiliate links? Create quality content that is relevant and helpful to people within my niche.
How do I create quality content? ... and so on.
Now I have a map of sorts to get to my goal. Let's go backwards.
No content means no customers,
- which means no one to use my affiliate links,
- which means no income from my website,
- which means no passive income,
- which means I'm spending 40 hours per week building someone else's business,
- which means I can't spend that time on the areas that are more important in my life.
My time, at this point, early in the life of my newborn website, is best spent on creating quality content. I could have waited a bit to improve the look and feel of my website. It doesn't matter how good it looks if there's no content. Without content, people have no reason to visit the site.
From Now On
Before I start a task, I now ask myself:
Is this essential to the growth of my business?
Is this the most important task I need to do next?
If this was helpful, please let me know in the comments.
And to Jay, if you ever read this, a huge THANK YOU! From a fan.
Recent Comments
8
Certainly Rich we have to be laser-focused on our key objectives always making sure they are front and center. There are a lot of shiny objects that try to steal your attention. It is not that they would not be useful also it is that they are not on your critical path. So agreed once you stick with the essential formula laid out i.e. to build quality content and publish frequently the rest will fall into place.
Hugh
Key objectives and critical path; I like that. I need to learn the business speak. Thank you!
Thanks for the compliment. It's such a simple thing that Jay said. I just hadn't thought about it in that way. I still have so much to learn. I'm thankful for the community here, to learn from those that have had success and are willing to share their knowledge and wisdom.
Rich
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Very true words that you speak, Rich! This pitfall has tripped up many! In the early days it is best to keep things simple--the embellishments can be added later!
Excellent post!
Jeff
Well summed up. Thank you!
You're very welcome, Rich!