WA Bootcamp Phase 4 Completed
Hello WA World:
I completed Phase 4 of the Wealthy Affiliate Bootcamp. I finished it yesterday evening. I took roughly a 20 day break from the Bootcamp training after completing Phase 3 and completed other training available here. I am still working on my list of "other" training I need to get through. It is one month to the day that I completed Phase 3.
I learned much while going through Phase 4. The only real constructive criticism I have is on the big push for getting Jaaxy Pro or Jaaxy Enterprise. One of the reasons I joined WA and one of the reasons I like WA is the none existence of upsales. However, the push for Jaaxy Pro/Enterprise is indeed an upsale. When going through the training, you are asked to upgrade to the most expensive version so to complete one of the lessons in Phase 4. Ethically, I feel that is wrong to ask of us. I did complete the lesson in question but I did not upgrade. I already upgraded to a yearly WA membership using my plasma donor money and I cannot give anymore plasma for a while due to my protein levels being too low. I don't feel it is fair to ask us to pay more than what we have. And that is all I will say on the subject (for now).
On the positive side of the training, it opened my eyes to different techniques and strategies for getting more traffic. I have beefed up my social media outreach by creating a pinterest account and learning more about how that works and have eight boards ranging from six to about 26 pins. I am using twitter on a daily basis now. I am more active on Google Plus. I am able to write content quicker and think more clearly as I write. I am learning more about keyword research and utilizing Google Alerts. I acquired additional knowledge of WordPress and what the more advanced features do (and don't do). I created my first two videos using two of the free screen casting software that is out there - Screen-cast-o-matic and Screenr - if you want my recommendation, Screen-cast-o-matic is much better than Screenr. You get upto 15 minutes for your free video creation with Screen-cast-o-matic and only five minutes with Screenr. Plus with Screenr, you have to download Java and other plug-ins that I rather not do due to the memory it takes up on my computer.
During my 20 day break from Phase 3 and all through my training in Phase 4, I became an Ambassador and have continued on with what I see to be my strengths and contributions I make to the WA community. I have discovered once you become an Ambassador you instantaneously become even busier than before because you are continually approached much more frequently on requests for help, feedback, website problems, etc. And I love every second of doing that so don't stop contacting me. I thrive on helping others - just noting how much more I am doing as a result of a my newly acquired "title".
I still have not received any referrals yet through my WA site and that is discouraging for sure. I keep telling myself, "it will happen.....just a matter of time....but, I would like that time to be soon..." Money is tight. Mom and I are still trying to pay for funereal and hospital expenses from Dad's passing. So I would like to see some money coming in pretty soon.
I will be taking yet another 20 day break from WA Bootcamp training and during that break my plan is to:
- Develop more videos and get better at video production so I can start utilizing it in my website development
- Conduct more keyword research
- Write more posts on my sites. I noticed my publishing frequency has dropped a bit lately on both of my primary sites.
- Overall site maintenance and improvement
- Manage my social media profiles.
- Begin monetizing other websites I developed years ago and start working on those a little more
- Continue to watch and listen to "other" training that is on my to-do list
Speakign of training, I have been a premium member now for almost three months. Once I hit that three month mark, I plan on converting some of my tutorials I created as blogs into actual WA training, because you need to be a member at WA for three months before you can create training. So, please be sure to check out the training as I develop it and offer feedback and comments, as usual.
Please feel free to check out both of my websites (they are listed under My Websites on my profile page) and offer any feedback and/or comments. Also, if you liked my blog I wrote just now, click the like button below and be sure to leave any comments you wish. Love hearing from all of you.
Recent Comments
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Hi Steph,
You're doing really well with the training, and you've only been here since April!
Your website is new, so it may still take a while before you start seeing some success. However, the one thing I would say about your website is that something doesn't quite look right about it. Something about that green theme just looks wrong to me. Take a look at my website. I use the Catch Box theme, which everyone says looks nice and clean:
http://earnmoneywithmarcus.com/
I totally agree with you about Jaaxy. I also complained about it just like you did. I got mixed responses. But I do genuinely think K&C messed up there. It is an upsell, and it does slightly ruin the whole idea that WA contains everything you need. Personally, I would rather pay a little bit extra for my monthly membership and have it all as part of WA. Then I could confidently say to people that WA absolutely has everything included.
I actually don't use Jaaxy. I only use the standard keyword tool. Finding good keywords is actually pretty simple using the standard keyword tool. The only way I can really cope with the Jaaxy issue is to just pretend that Jaaxy doesn't even exist. Even when I got to the bit in the bootcamp training where I had to write a blog post showing how to find keywords using Jaaxy, I refused. Instead, I wrote a blog post about how to find keywords using the standard keyword tool.
Marcus.
Hi Marcus!
You have been so helpful. I really appreciate your feedback and I have been playing around with my WA site so much. It has gone under some major revision after revision and it is currently on its fourth theme b/c I cannot get it to look the way I want. You are the first person to truly give me the advice I needed. I am going to check into the Catch Box theme -- I do like your site a lot. Thank you again.
And as far as Jaaxy, I did not really mean to sound like I was complaining. I was trying to offer some constructive criticism. I am super glad you agree. And there are others too -- if you go to the lesson in question you will see lots of folks in the comments section say the same. I use the WA keyword tool and I am satisfied with it.
Keep in touch and thank you again!
Steph
I went to the Jaaxy website and it said co founder Kyle is just bonkers over Jaaxy. Kyle from WA? Might explain some things!!! Are we being targeted by a sideline upsell? Hum not happy about this, Jaaxy today whats next?
Yes, Kyle and Carson created Jaaxy. it's the one upsell, and the only thing I am unhappy about at WA.
Hi Marcus I feel the same as you. I was wondering is Jaaxy required we buy into this upsell?
Hi William. It looks like Jaaxy is useful and does save some time. It could be an option to go for once your business is up and doing well bringing in the money. But until then, you can do it all without Jaaxy,, it just takes a bit longer that's all.
I agree with Marcus. Once the business is thriving, maybe look into it, but I am going to do without for right now.
Great progress. I just added you to my Google + circles. I am just starting there also. I am in the final course of Bootcamp. Going to start my own niche soon.
You are doing well Steph. One step at a time and you will get there. Now can you tell me how you get your signature function. I've been trying to get one on my websites for ages.
Have a nice day.
Robert
Hi Robert.
You can get the signature thing for free from http://www.gif-mania.net/animated-signatures/artists-pencils.html
Loes introduced it to me when I asked her about the signature she had.
Steph
Thank you. I've tried loads of different functions without success.
have a great day.
Robert
Great work Stephanie, I to will be attacking Bootcamp the next few months, and jope to have my 2nd web site before Bootcamp, but only a newbie here under 2 months, I hope I'm going ok, just need a few sales and I'll be ok thanks again John
Hi John!
Thank you. I am sure you will do great when you start doing WA Botocamp. I have seen your work. It's awesome!
Steph
Steph interesting blog I have just completed phase 2 I don't like these additional costs you are made to think that if you don't take up on the offers than your mounting costs are money down the drain , it is a bit confusing!!!
Steph, OUTSTANDING Blog! I totally agree Jaaxy is an upsell. Somewhere I read only monthly membership, at $47 will never increase. Did you try to get up with Kyle about this?
Thank you William. I am sure Kyle has been told by others about the upsell of Jaaxy. It is $49 per month now or $499 for the year for Jaaxy -- it is actually more expensive than WA.
I am super glad you liked my blog and super glad to have connected with you tonight! I liked your first blog - I am always interested in internet security too, so I liked it alot.
I have another ready to post but must wait, only allowed 1 per day it's about Windows 10. Steph you have a lot going on at your end as do I. You are not alone! Stay Blessed and safe!
William :)
Way to go, I love to hear stories of how people are taking their time in the bootcamp and putting what they have learned to good use before they move on.
I believe you should master the lessons before you go to the next so you will not forget them in the process of learning something new and thus adding to the tool available to you while you are working,
Keep up the great work, proud of you.
San
You are welcome, you deserve a pat on the back and an applause, I know how hard it is to learn all this stuff, I keep learning it over and over, some of it sticks every now and then LOL
Oh that is so funny! I can totally relate San. I sometimes feel that I forget about half of what I learn and have to go back and re-learn. Must be age I guess. LOL!
Rule of thumb...never watch a training video for more then 30 minutes, after 32 minutes all we hear is blaa blaa blaa...LOL. It's true!
Best
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That's great work Steph. I knew you were busy cause I haven't seen any blogs for while. Thanks for the heads up about jaaxy. I just completed phase two of boot camp and on a break trying to create more content for my site as well. I too just keep telling myself the succuss will come with more time and and more content. I am using cross promotion in my boot camp site of other products and try to write a content article that relates back to my review of the product. I find the time that it takes to research the products and signing up for the prospective affiliate programs can be daunting. I am now wishing I would of just stayed on course with my original niche on home decorating because the boot camp authority site is not as enjoyable to me as I think the other would be but I have vested to much time in it to walk away now. So glad you are progressing and I always enjoy your blogs.
Hi Sheila!
Thank you for the reply. I am like you - I prefer doing research for my niche site, but I am also enjoying the work I am doing on my WA site. I am using prior knowledge I had and creating kind of like a tutorial site. My fingers are crossed on getting referrals eventually. I am sure we will both get there right?
Keep in touch and super glad you find my blogs enjoyable.
Steph
Hi Steph gee I hope I don't become an ambassador, took me 3 days to get my profile done LOL!