Over a month since I have created a blog.
Hi All,
I am conscious that my life has gotten a bit "busy" again and I haven't focused as well as I would like on my WA family. It's easy to lose momentum when I haven't got around to monetising my site yet (naughty!) - and other work that is paid (and some that isn't but I give into people too easily) takes my focus away.
It was my dad that pulled me back on track this time. He started suggesting all sorts of ways that the site could make money - some good but would take a lot of effort and time, some non-goers - but his point was this. I need to see if this is going to be something or not! I need to get the money aspect going....! If I leave it too long, I might become despondent and give up on it! And he is right!
Looking at my profile, I had promised myself that by July I would have 20 posts and start the monetising at this point. I have currently 13 posts (plus a 14th to be posted today - just gathering the images etc and polishing off!) - I have made some effort in getting affiliates and then became stalled when my fave choice just seems to be in limbo and I can't find a way to contact them. Time to move on from that....!
So it's not gone the way I planned again over the last few months but I have had movement - I have created posts. I have worked and I do have a site that I am proud of - so it's time to make it earn some money! Here I go...
On a personal front, apologies for being quieter than usual. Since the beginning of September, my daughter started nursery. It was a brand new nursery and so there have been a few teething issues. We have also had guests each month - Sept, Oct and going to be November. We have had Eid holidays and also this is a busy time of year for my coaching so I have lots going on in that front too. Left over time (although not enough time!) has been spent working on my website and there just hasn't been time to check out what has been going on here too much. And still I need to remember that this is what I want for my future so keep going with it... make it work!
Anyway, bear with me and you will see more of me again. I am slipping a little down the rankings within WA as I don't have the time to be as active on here as before. And I am ok with that as I am sure I will climb again when I have the time to be more active. What is important is that I am getting time on my site....! And I am!
You will see me ask a few questions over the next few days as I start to try to monetise and need assistance with aspects of that. All of your help will be gratefully recieved if you are able to give it - so thanks in advance!
Sarah :)
Recent Comments
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I know how you feel I am going in for surgery Friday on my hand so I will not be able to put as much time as I would like to and I have already dropped way down here because I can not keep up all the best
Hi Maxiam. Keep motivated. You can do it....! Good luck with the surgery. Just keep doing it bit by bit and you'll get there....! Everyone has a different path to success!
Great post Sarah. I hit home for me. I have been struggling to find time to keep up my sites too. There have been periods when I feel so overwhelmed that I get nothing done for days.
I have now accepted that I will never have as much time available as I want but, if I can do something every day, I can keep moving forward and avoid the really unproductive times.
Tom
Tom,
I am glad you are getting through that paralysis! I have had those days where at the end of the day, I feel like I haven't done what I set out to do. And part of it is that I have soooo much to do - OR there is so much I could do! I have so many ideas.
The important thing though is just to keep putting one foot in front of the other - and slowly move forward! There are others who are feeling the same Tom! Be sure of that!
Keep going - I know you can do it!
Sarah :)
Hi Sara,
I relate with you. I have struggled quite a lot to get work done this last couple of months and posted little. If life would just slow down and let me catch up. I have read this is when a lot of people quit. We have to keep pushing 'til we get our breakthrough.:)
Gina
Hi Gina,
Totally agree! My dad gave me a bit of a wake up call! He knows this is important to me - and yet I am going so slow with it. It would be easy to give up especially as I am starting to get some work through from some other projects! But ultimately, this is what I want to do... not the other stuff! So while it is important to earn money for now, I need to also focus on the future and what I want!
Keep going Gina! Even if it's baby steps, you will get there!
Sarah
You will get back on track. Sometimes you get drawn away with things that are more important at the time. Go for it.
Thanks Ron! I know I will get there - just slowly and surely!!! Not as fast as I would sometimes like...! ;-)
Before you can monetize your website, you need a significant amount of traffic. I was told that I would need at least 40-50 posts in order to being able to catapult traffic, so 20 seems very low. Once you have a considerable amount of traffic, and I cannot tell how much this would have to be, you can start thinking about making sales.
Yes I realise I need more content. But I have no way of making money at the moment at all - even if someone came to my site and found the content of interest, I might get a click through and a sale. I certainly want to continue developing my content - and part of my plan for monetising is an e-book (both a giveaway and a more meaty one for sale) on my topic.
My site has been around for around 18 months (yes, I hear you say why so little content - and it's a long story!!) so it has gained some traffic, although probably not enough for a really successful site yet. And yet it's not an exact science - I feel if I don't put the means on there for people to buy as I am going then I will never know when the sales start to come/when I tip over the edge. And another important point.... I only have the ability to go slow with content for the moment due to circumstances!
I would be interested to hear has anyone given you any advice on what kind of traffic figures is required to gain sales? (consistently, that is - as I am aware that even one or two sales could come as a result of someone just passing by accidentally!) I'm guessing that the answer might be "it depends"
So you are right - and I am still going for it! ;-)
I have asked the question about traffic myself, but all they say is that this differs from website to website, which really is the particular niche you are in. I have two websites myself and find that the site with 100% Google trust is giving me the quickest and high rankings. Do you publish your posts through G+?
Thinking of going for PInterest and Instagram too - just to cover all the bases!! Haha!! ;-)
I find find that though my post might not be on the first Google page, my G+ published article will!
I have always published through FB, Twitter and LinkedIn and yes I do try to remember to put on G+ (it's still not very natural for me to do so as I never used it before WA) . Yes my site has 100% trust! I thought that was probably the answer (frustrating but expected haha!)
Thanks for your answers and thoughts!
Sarah
Very interesting. I am guessing that you post the link but add extra content to it as an introduction? I am going to see if I can find you on G+ to see what you do! Thanks v much Jerry! :)
I just publish the post and use the meta description or another high profile sentence about the article.
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Nice to hear from you again. Don't worry about rank, you are doing the right thing by working on your site. It's my understanding that is the most important part. Will look forward to your monetizing questions. I would like answers in that area too. Thanks :)
I've missed the interaction but yes you are right - when time is limited, the work on my site absolutely needs to be the first priority in those working hours I do have! Later when I'm successful enough to choose the hours I work because of the income I have already coming in, then I can start giving more to the community again!! :)