Forum Moderators: martinibuster
First, I wrote out a business plan. Where did I see myself in 10 years and how could I get there? My path to fame and fortune on the Internet ended up in a 180 page typed business plan, yes, 180 pages. You won't get anywhere without a goal and a plan on how to get there.
The only way I saw to reach my goals was to recruit help from my visitors. A good rule of thumb, you get back what you give. If you give your visitors garbage, that's what you'll get back. If you give them good quality content, that is what you will get back (if you ask for it, that is).
One of the first steps was figuring out how to communicate on a one-on-one basis with my visitors. Who are they? Where are they from? What are their interests? What are THEIR goals? If you can help them reach their goals, they will help you reach yours.
With all of my days free to do nothing but cater to my visitors, my sites experienced and are still experiencing a rapid growth. When I got to $4000 a month I hired someone to maintain what I had built so far so I could continue to have time to expand. By that time, visitors were asking for all sorts of things and I was busy trying to give them what they wanted.
What I like about Adsense as opposed to direct sales, affliates, etc. is that it's so simple and gives me time to devote to my visitors. To me, Adsense is a way to totally devote my time to my hobby and get paid for it. I'm having a blast and can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing for a living. Without Adsense, there is so much I wouldn't know about my hobby because I wouldn't have had time to learn. I'd still be doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.
When I started out, I said to myself, I will end up with the best site on the Internet in this niche because I'm willing to work harder than anyone else is willing to work. I could sit back and take it easy now, but instead myself and my help are pouring about 100 hours a week into the sites. When I get to 9,000 a month, I'll take on an extra guy so we can pour 140 hours a week into the sites... and so on. I can easily see making a million dollars from the sites if we keep going like this, either from Adsense if it stays around, or through another revenue source.
[edited by: martinibuster at 10:51 pm (utc) on April 6, 2006]
[edit reason] Fixed typo. ;) [/edit]
I dont understand though, how one can make a business 'plan' when so many things are out of your direct control - i.e.; you could drop out of the Google index, Adsense CPC could drop, Adsense could be canceled, people just might stop clicking (God forbid), and many more
it seems hard to make a *real* plan when so much is out of your (or my)direct control.
that being said, please sticky your 180 page plan to me.. :-)
$7,760.05 - May 2006
Have I slept through April?
My business plan didn't have anything to do with Google rankings or anything like that, it had to do with where I wanted to go with the sites regardless of what outside forces are doing.
I think you were pretty brave to quit your other business while only making $800 a month from your website. I'm also amazed about your business plan, 180 pages is a hell of a lot. I don't think I would be able to write more than 10-15 pages lol.
[edited by: Zygoot at 2:25 pm (utc) on April 6, 2006]
One of the first steps was figuring out how to communicate on a one-on-one basis with my visitors. Who are they? Where are they from? What are their interests? What are THEIR goals? If you can help them reach their goals, they will help you reach yours.
First, by adding a link and invitation to contact me. I also started mailings lists that visitors could sign up for and receive new content as it was published. By receiving that fresh content in their inbox, they are more likely to respond to you about it. They say these like "this is great, but I'd really like to see more of this..." I saved all their comments and suggestions to a folder and that's where I look before adding new content.
Once the mailing lists were popular and had a good number of subscribers, I started a forum on the site and emailed all subscribers inviting them to join. After that is was easy to get to know them. I can see what their goals are by simply reading what they are saying. I know what they want and I plan on helping them get there.
Yes, 180 pages is long, but I plan to take this niche in an entirely new direction on the Internet. I still have a long way to go, I've only gotten to about page 5.
Added: 2 main sites, about 25k visitors a day, and only word-of-mouth advertising.
Can you give us any insight as to how you develop traffic outside of G and other SEs?
180 pages... hmmmm.... have you ever thought about posting the plan online (making it somewhat general enough for public consumption) as an e-book or perhaps an AdSense enabled web site?
It would be ironic to actually make money from AdSense on your business plan - to make money from AdSense :)
"do you have other things on the site making money?"
No, just one regular unit and one link unit on each page(except the main pages and forum which contain no ads).
"have you ever thought about posting the plan online"
Maybe when I'm finished with it and ready to move on from there. Until then it is kept hidden under lock and key.
have you ever thought about posting the plan online
There really is no secret to what spaceylacie has done. Her site(s) were developed for vistors, not adsense. It's a subject matter that she is very knowledgeable in.
Not every site will be successful. Hopefully your area of expertise is something that monetizes well. A site about "French Basket Weaving of the 16th Century" may not be the best subject matter.
If your interest is "French Basket Weaving of the 16th Century", you are probably also interested in the history of France, 16th century artisan wares, and basket weaving in general. I see potential. Write a site about how it all started and where it is today. Learn as you go by asking visitors what else they want to know about related to your site, and keep building.
That 180 page business plan is amazing too. Wow! One day I would love to read it because for someone to be passionate enough to produce a 180 page 5 year road map deserves all the success that comes their way.
Honestly its threads like these that inspire me to get up and work on my site after working 10 hours on my regular sucky day job :)
180 pages PLAN! I guess thats what I dont have. I have a goal but I dont have a plan.
Thanks for sharing ur success story. I just started about 3 months back and I made around 1200$ in march and april seems to be heading the same way.
Hopefully in two years, I'll be close to where you are now :)
Congrats again
first month i made a 100$
second month close to 700$
third month 1200$
and now i have run out of ideas on how to increase it more :(
Sarah, to increase your adsense income you could possibly start another website. There's evolving niches and ignored markets that need love and attention.
It's been 3 months and counting and I haven't made anything from my adsense units, but that's only because I have been focusing only on blogging and didn't learn until niche marketing until a week ago.
I have a travel content web site that was previouly members only monthly subscription. I had 3 years worth of content and a few months ago I cancelled all the recurring subscriptions and made the content free with Adsense. Now we get paid to do what we love.. travel, have fun, and blog the experience online.
Craig
That's been my attitude as well from day one.
Thanks so much for a GREAT discussion.
Many of us will come away with a renewed enthusiasm from it.
I have a travel content web site that was previouly members only monthly subscription. I had 3 years worth of content and a few months ago I cancelled all the recurring subscriptions and made the content free with Adsense. Now we get paid to do what we love.. travel, have fun, and blog the experience online.
That is a great idea and I have thought of doing somethimg similar. I live pretty close to NYC and it would be cool to travel there once a week to review and take pictures of tourist spots and the hotels and restaurants near them.
Whenever I try to do reseach like this all there is out there is crap.
please tell me that's supposed to be $120.. and NOT $1200
Don't worry about what other people are making. Remember: the race is long and in the end it's only with yourself.
