Spreading yourself too thin...?

In my opinion, yes, you can spread yourself too thin real quick.

I keep 2 forums, 1 youtube accout and 1 blog updated, and that is all I have time for. In all honesty, I barely have time to keep 1 of my forums and 1 blog updated.

I have no idea how people keep dozens of websites updated on a regular basis.

I agree with Kev that it's pretty easy to spread yourself too thin, too quickly.

I think the real issue here is typically with timing. It's not "having many niches" that's the real problem; it's "building the initial stages of too many niches" at the same time.

I have niche sites in 8 completely different, unrelated niches, now, but I've built them up gradually over two and half years, and have never had more than two in their "earliest stages" at the same time (and two was one too many, really).

Thank you for this thread. I have been feeling alternately overwhelmed and excited as I build my IM footprint. It's like when I wrote my dissertation in a way - I kept veering off into unrelated searches whilst researching my topic, and had to yank myself back over and over again to remember the main purpose. On the one hand you can't have tunnel vision, and on the other you have to always be open to new opportunities!

Although I am getting ready to go on a diet, I do not spread myself to thin at this point. Do what you like best and outsource the rest has become my credo. It works and my business is better for it. Focus on one site and get it profitable before starting another. That was another mistake I used to make and advice I did not follow.

You can run quite a few small niche sites, but any sort of authority site is going to require most of your time. I currently run 4 authority sites and 11 niche sites. I'm adding another authority site that's going live in October and then another three niche sites that will be going live this month and next month. It helps that I have two partners, though.

I have run into the problem of spreading myself to thin but I have also learned how to put my focus on one project at a time, I have much better results and don't waste as much time as I use to.

It's very easy to fall into this trap. Start with one or two things and learn them well. Then move on to one or two more.

Resist the urge to jump on every new idea that comes your way. Start a file for "Ideas I want to try later" so you can write down these great ideas as they come to you and save them for future reference. Otherwise they'll keep bouncing around in your head taunting you. (Or maybe it's just my head that works that way.)

Once you have some cash flow you can outsource the things you aren't good at or don't enjoy.

Yes I have been guilty of that myself!! As a result when that happens, I fail miserably because I cannot focus. So now that I have learned some harsh lessons... after I come back from my vacation I will be coming up with some strategic plans (I am building up two huge things, my new business AND book that was just published), and I am getting help from good marketers too.. and I will certainly outsource as well! That is the key. A lot of people don't like the idea of it because it costs.. but what will cost you more? Outsourcing and letting others take care of the work, and delivering it to happy clients while you have more time to find more clients OR doing all of the work yourself and finding that not only are your clients unhappy due to poor service but you are sacrificing your SLEEP to get that work done... you do that, not only will you quickly lose clients due to poor service but you will certainly exhaust yourself. Spend a bit of money to outsource, you will win in the long run all the way around!

Most of my niche sites are related to each other. I do a lot of fitness, MMA, and writing-related things.

From what I see, most people(newbies mind you) that dive into numerous niches fail, lack of focus, get overwhelmed, lose their way, their interest, and possibly their money. Starting out fresh, I wouldn't suggest more then 2 niches, and focus entirely on them. Once you get to the point of those niches being on cruise control and already doing well, then look into a new niche, and use all that knowledge you gained from trial and error with your first niche, you can apply it to the new niche.

Start small, then shoot for the stars.

I would work on one project at a time and commit 100% to one project.

Yes, I think it happens to all of us. When you start feeling that way it's time to refocus and decide what exactly your priorities are and cut out anything else that isn't generating anything in return for your efforts. Cut out time wasters, etc.

I can certainly see why this may occur. I'm brand new to IM and have been wracking my brains trying to find potential niches and such and I think I've found one to start with. I've taken action and got a domain and created my site template and will be content writing over the next few days, both on site and off site. I'm hoping to just get the domain registered into the search engines, generate some content and articles around the web and do some basic back linking and see where it lands in a months time or so.

While all this could take some time, I certainly think this is doable in two's. I'm somewhat of a workaholic if my mind is on something.

I could also see some people becoming disheartened with a lack of action after a relatively short period (thinking they should be top of the SERPs after a month) and so going out to find new niches and starting over.

I've just purchased some decent stuff to keep my reading and researching for weeks, so I might get this multiple niche syndrome and may have to hold back.

Maybe the initial stages are most difficult because this is a money game, and while it is not coming in people may either work constantly until they start to see results, or not leave things long enough and go after many niches in the hope of hitting gold. I think once the money starts coming, thats when people become more grounded and there is less of a need for frantic effort.