Someone asked me the other day why making money online seems to come so easy for me. I had to tell them that in my opinion it is NOT easy and nor is it for me. Well, the technical aspects and the actual work are easy for me…I love blogging, web design, graphic design, coding, etc. The leg work though is not all that easy. It can be tedious and time consuming, especially if I am in “production mode” as opposed to what Lynn Terry refers to as “maintenance mode”.
Maintenance entails all the stuff that keeps your business humming along as is…customer support, answering emails, paying affiliates, etc. It probably only takes me 5 hours a week to keep things running on maintenance, if that. But in production mode I am BUSY…sometimes like 30-40 hours a week busy. Production mode is what allows me to grow my business. Some of my production mode activities include writing and posting content for blogs (I have over a dozen), static web sites, article directories, info products, special reports, autoresponders (I have over a dozen), and for sale. I also scour my web sites and blogs for new ways to monetize the content. I spend a lot of time testing and tracking to see what works and what doesn’t and I tweak. I also look for ways to automate processes so my maintenance time is low. I brainstorm new ideas and flesh them out to gauge profitability.
I spend time engaging in various PR or publicity activities but admittedly I am very picky about my opportunities. I have turned down prime time TVs shows, on air broadcast news interviews, and photo shoots because I prefer not to do that. I didn’t start an online biz to be some sort of rock star, I started an online business to make enough money so that eventually my whole family could have financial freedom. My ultimate goal is to make enough money passively to support us spending 6 months a year out of the country…like a beachside rental in Costa Rica.
So for right now that means I spend some hefty hours in production mode. But it is worth it. Last week I bought my husband a motorcycle with cash. He gave up his motorcycle when we moved out of state and has missed it ever since. Tomorrow he goes to pick up his new one. It feels good to be able to do that.
Most days I am in production mode because I do want to see my business continue to grow for some time. I think it will be worth it in the long run even if it is hard right now.
That really is great Tiffany. I wonder about your take on the rock star and turning down PR like shows and news programs. I’m not sure what you’ve been offered but getting out there for tv shows, news broadcasts, interviews, etc…don’t that help your business? I guess I got the feel from your article here that by becoming a “rock star” and taking these opportunities that isn’t so great. If you’re after the same thing, customers and exposure wouldn’t it make sense that a new customer could find you through this type of marketing?
Maybe I misunderstood. I’m impressed and think it’s great what you are doing. Keep it up.
Sommer’s last blog post..Know when NOT to fold’em!
There is nothing wrong with someone taking advantage of those opportunities…it just isn’t for me. I like my spot behind the computer screen and not so much in front a camera. Some people thrive on that…I don’t.
I also think that it could make things to BIG for me. I don’t want to be obligated to spend more time on my business than I want to.
Gottcha, makes sense. Good for you, knowing your boundaries and what you’re comfortable with.
Sommer-Green and Clean Mom’s last blog post..Know when NOT to fold’em!
I think anyone who makes a comment like that obviously doesn’t have a true idea of what your days look like and how hard you work for your money…or the times you might struggle. Because I don’t think making money comes easily to most people. It is work..often hard work. Once you “master” something it does become easier to duplicate it but it doesn’t mean the business as a whole is easy.