Earlier this week I posted my plans to follow three systems this month, and to follow them right through until the end without worrying too much about the instant results. Part of the reason why I chose to do this was something that one of my commenters, Jack, mentioned in his comment for that post: “the work you do now won’t necessarily impact you immediately in this line of work but it will pay dividends slowly. Prepare yourself mentally for that and just keep going. Think of your sites as seeds.”
This is something I’ve always struggled with. Even though I know it, logically, it makes it hard to know if anything you are doing right now is really worth it. However, the more I leave my older sites that I didn’t really do so well at the time, the more I see earnings increase simply because of their age. Just think what the results could have been if I’d followed them through fully?!
Seeing Systems Through ‘Til the End
The problem with worrying about seeing results straight away is that it can lead to you giving up on systems or ideas too easily. As a result, not following the system through fully could be the very thing that leads it to fail in the end, and causes you to move onto something else: it’s a vicious cycle.
This is part of the philosophy behind the Squidoo/ IPK challenge that Tiffany Dow is running in 2010, and which I’ve mentioned a few times before. It involves posting Squidoo product reviews, and doing one each week consistently, without always checking stats and waiting for earnings immediately. Over time, the idea is that they’ll get more power in the search engines and, by Christmas, we’ll have many buyers viewing our lenses ready to buy products through our Amazon links.
Taking A Risk
This is also part of my philosophy behind the challenge I’ve set myself this February. I’ve got myself a step by step plan, and I’m going to reach the end of that plan before I stop. In many ways this is a risk – as one of my other commenters pointed out, it may not provide a great return on investment if I’m not seeing many earnings after six months despite putting in the effort. I am risking my time, and time is very valuable.
But in the long run, I don’t think I’ve got much to lose. After seeing my old sites, which had terrible keyword research, doing OK with age, I know I’ll get something out of this. I’m also looking at the bigger picture – having more than one income source, and ultimately learning enough to know what works for me and what doesn’t.
Do you find that you’re someone who always follows through until the end, or do you get worried like me and end up giving up to soon? Do you believe in this long term approach or think it’s too risky?
~ Web Career Girl
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Forest (4)
Loren Jaslyn (4)
Des @ Affiliate P... (3)
Eric (3)
John (3)
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February 4th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
Any Internet marketing system has an inherent chicken-and-egg problem. It’s almost impossible to know the value of the work you put in until you’ve experienced the result. It’s difficult to be confident and say “if I make five sites today I’ll reap $100 per month” (for example) until you’ve seen another set of five already pulling in dollars! It’s that bit of confidence that comes with experience that allows you to relax and focus efforts.
That’s pretty much the mark of an experienced marketer. They have the faith, confidence, and gut-instinct driven by experience, to tackle a project and know the outcome despite it being truly an unknown. A marketer at this level no longer needs blueprints because she now understands the fundamentals and can develop her own ideas and thus the risk is much more calculated.
Twitter: webcareergirl
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February 8th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Jack – Great comment and very true. I am beginning to use my own experience now to make my own judgements. I also believe that you don’t need these blueprints with enough experience. I really hope that my goal this month gets me closer to my own system that I have real confidence in.
February 5th, 2010 at 3:12 am
Ruth…blogging and owning website(s) though personal should be treated like a business. Any good business needs market research and takes perseverance to prosper. It is about the big picture and the long term, short term gains can often cost you client base or assets.
There are lessons along the way, like a garden seeds that you plant now really do grow later on. Some of them need watering and nourishment, while others can simply be left to grow on their own. Organic growth and patience really do help build a strong business.
When I started blogging I had no intention of chasing the buck. My focus was building great content and discover products/ideas that met my philosophies of green and ethical. I also wanted to work on community.
Trying different blueprints will help enforce what works for you and find what you like to do. Looking forward to your results.
Twitter: webcareergirl
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February 8th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Stephen – Very true about what you said about the nature of a business taking perseverance to prosper, and planting seeds that will grow into the future. This, I suppose, is a problem with the mindset about many people who build a career online.
What you said about not chasing the buck is also interesting. In many ways, that could ironically set you up for more success, because you’ll achieve a level of consistency that you just won’t get when you expect the money to be rolling in and it doesn’t.
Twitter: frugalzeitgeist
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February 5th, 2010 at 9:32 am
I was building Xfactor sites with a partner and he was doing all the writing and I doing all the set up / posting etc etc…. Our older sites are perking up a bit now and he lost motivation until I pointed this out….. looks like our mini empire will be back on now.
Good luck Ruth, now is the time to get this sorted so you can relax in the future.
Forest´s last blog ..9 Ideas To Stay At Home On Saturday Night
Twitter: webcareergirl
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February 8th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Forest – That is great to see, and even further proof that patience is a virtue
Good luck in continuing to build up your X Factor sites, I’ll be really interested to see how they do.
February 5th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
I try extremely hard to stick with one thing through to the end, especially as my available time for online work is very limited at the moment. But I do find that the suspense of waiting for results to trickle through is very hard to take at times. I reckon patience is certainly the #1 virtue for the article marketer!
Des – Affiliate Progress´s last blog ..Free Affiliate Tools – Part 1 – Keyword Research
Twitter: webcareergirl
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February 8th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Des – I admire your attitude, I think you are doing better than I have been. I’m sure through that attitude you will start to see results, though it is frustrating when it takes a few months!
Twitter: lbogaerts
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February 5th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
I still have to finish my blog post on how finishing up your plans benefit you, but I know you know my story on it. Lots of people have half-finished project laying around just because they don’t see immediate results. It’s their mindset that is wrong. You have to do the work now, to see the results in the future. My biggest money making site only started making good money once I was finished with it. I’m sure that, once I have some more sites totally finished I’ll be close to a full time passive income.
Leslie´s last blog ..My Last Site Auction Last Month
Twitter: webcareergirl
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February 8th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Leslie – Thanks for yet another example about how being patient and finishing things actually pays off. That will really be fantastic once you get all your sites finished – good luck!
Twitter: BobBessette
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February 5th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Hi Ruth,
I am interested in following along in your progress as I really haven’t done much of anything to monetize my blog. I am getting some decent traffic and growing it organically. I have also used my blog to use as a portfolio of my work for paid guest posts on other sites. It also allows blog owners to view my posts should I send them a guest post. I do think that there are ways that I could make money directly through my blog but I am still trying to figure out the best way to do this. This is why I am so interested in your journey.
Best,
Bob
Bob Bessette´s last blog ..The Special Benefits of Giving Blood
Twitter: webcareergirl
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February 8th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
Bob – It is tricky, I have the same feeling with this blog. For now, concentrating on building relationships is important to me. Sometimes having a motivation outside of making money can really help you see something through properly!
Twitter: Kidgas
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February 6th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Ruth,
I think that you have been around long enough to mentally realize that what you are saying is true. The difficult part is in the emotional fortitude. I know that you will be able to finish these projects. The key is just doing a little something each and every day one step at a time. Before you know it, you are done and can move on to the next project.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Kidgas´s last blog ..Advertising My Blog
Twitter: webcareergirl
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February 8th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Kidgas – Very true! Your head can say one thing, yet you get scared, or impatient, and the logic somehow doesn’t hold anymore. Thanks for the thoughtful comment!
Twitter: pfincome
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February 7th, 2010 at 6:09 am
Unfortunately, I don’t really follow through on things – but I am trying to change it this year. I look back about one year ago when I was heavy into setting up Squidoo sites using the One Week Marketing plan. After awhile I gave up and went onto something else, not following through on all that work.
I am starting to bring in some of the concepts of OWM again into my work. Oh yeah – I am also doing a test on the $5 Formula plan you mentioned in your last post. I will follow through on one site and see how it goes.
John´s last blog ..The Earnings Diet
Twitter: webcareergirl
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February 8th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
John – I have been exactly the same. I think there is definitely a learning curve. I see that you have so many strong goals that you are probably setting yourself up to be much more consistent in your work this year. Good luck!
February 7th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Just found your blog – Seems interesting! Have another 6 tabs open to read as we speak, but I just had to come comment on this.
I think, with blogs and websites and so on, that you almost have to ignore the fact that you could start earning money. What I mean is, do the things you’d need to do in order To earn money (if that’s your thing, just assuming it is), but ignore that it will.
Tends to make me more patient in the times I can forget lol, but it’s not the most stable method. I like long term investment though, with time at least.
Twitter: webcareergirl
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February 8th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Heather – Thanks for visiting and leaving your comment
And this is a very thought provoking comment too. Just forget that it will make money, and work regardless – that’s a great way of looking for it, and helps to take the pressure off. Thanks again!
February 8th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
No problem
Course, over the next few weeks we’ll have to see if I can practice what I preach as I start monetizing…
Anyway, looking forward to your next posts!
Heather´s last blog ..The New Direction: Mission Plan
February 8th, 2010 at 5:40 am
Great site, I just found you through Pat Flynn’s blog… I love your blog posts and especially this one… it rings so true!
Twitter: webcareergirl
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February 8th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Maren – Thanks for visiting and glad you liked it!
Twitter: bluepop13
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February 8th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
I have a problem of not finishing what I start so I’m really working on this and doing a good job so far.
I know that I’ll make money online I just don’t know exactly how yet.
Putting things to the test is the best way to do it but having an educated guess about what to put to the test can be something else.
What do you think?
P.S. I’ve had an opportunity to give Yaro’s Blog Mastermind Course a run for it’s money and so far it’s proving to be something of definite value to me.
Eric´s last blog ..Real Or Robot
Twitter: thims
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February 13th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
I don’t think people finish what they start because they won’t break things down into small enough steps. If you create goals so small your guaranteed to succeed with each one, then it’s almost impossible not to follow through.
Great site!