Is spending 30 minutes 5 days a week on IM enough?

39 replies
(Well first of all I should clarify - enough to make progress - albeit slow - don't expect to be on a tropical island in 3 months sipping out of a coconut )

Hey guys, even though I am floating around in IM for the last 2 years, I really only have started to work at it on a near daily basis over the last few months.

I am very busy with my day job as well as extra study I need to do for that at the moment - but I've been managing to stick to 30 minutes to hammer out SEO each night.

I am not in a rush for success, I'll stick with it for as long as it takes to get there. But I am wondering what your thoughts are on 30 minutes a day?

The idea is to slowly learn how to build out sites, and then once I am on a roll start to outsource.

Obviously I feel if I could spend 1 hour, or 2 hours a day that would be 2x or 4x faster progress respectively - but to have a balanced life and not just spend 16 hours at work I've found 30 minutes is okay for me.

What do you think?
#30minutes #days #spending #week
  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    I don't think it's enough. You say you're working on SEO. I wonder what you're doing because much of what once worked doesn't work any more. Good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author Linkology
    For one thing, it depends what you are doing for those "30 Minutes" and for two- remember, You get out what you put in...
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    • Profile picture of the author LocoDice
      Originally Posted by Linkology View Post

      For one thing, it depends what you are doing for those "30 Minutes" and for two- remember, You get out what you put in...
      What would you suggest to put in?
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  • Profile picture of the author jingrong
    Do you have your own website or squeeze page? Don't just depend on SEO. They are other source you can work on. Article, blog, video marketing, etc. If you are working on these, I think 30 minutes or an hour a day is not enough. I usually spend at least 4 hours per day. I know you are busy with your work and study. But if you think that online business is not your priority, you may concentrate on your study first. At least you make an effort.
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    • Profile picture of the author LocoDice
      Originally Posted by jingrong View Post

      Do you have your own website or squeeze page? Don't just depend on SEO. They are other source you can work on. Article, blog, video marketing, etc. If you are working on these, I think 30 minutes or an hour a day is not enough. I usually spend at least 4 hours per day. I know you are busy with your work and study. But if you think that online business is not your priority, you may concentrate on your study first. At least you make an effort.
      When I said SEO I mean learning about how to build SEO for websites, etc. I've been experimenting with niche sites.

      I am seriously considering putting my IM study on hold because of time commitments. I've experimenting with sleeping less but I just can't do it. I do marathon running training which takes a block out of my time so this is how most days end up looking:

      Monday->Friday:
      8hrs -> Sleep
      2hrs -> Running/Exercise
      8hrs -> Job (Work at home, no travel)
      2hrs -> Software Development Study Course for Job (will continue till mid 2013)
      .5hrs -> SEO/IM

      20.5 hours accounted for without doing anything else... I've tried adding in more but I burn myself out if I don't have spare time.

      Saturday
      8hrs -> Software Development Study Course for Job
      2hrs -> Running/Exercise

      Sunday
      Day Off
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  • Profile picture of the author rosetrees
    If 30 mins is all the time you have, then yes, it's enough. Obviously you will see results more slowly than if you were able to work for 4 - 8 hours a day. If you are consistent and learning (which it sounds as if you are) then yes, you will start to see results.
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  • Profile picture of the author Trev81
    It all depends on what you want to achieve. 30 mins every day is fine everyone has to start somewhere. Set yourself a few goals and see how you get on reaching them. Give a deadline too. Will give you something to strive for and keep you focused. Might even super another 15 mins for you some days.
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    • Profile picture of the author LocoDice
      Originally Posted by Trev81 View Post

      It all depends on what you want to achieve. 30 mins every day is fine everyone has to start somewhere. Set yourself a few goals and see how you get on reaching them. Give a deadline too. Will give you something to strive for and keep you focused. Might even super another 15 mins for you some days.
      What I was hoping it would do is allow me to see anything that works and then work on outsourcing it. Right now I'm not comfortable with outsourcing since I want to pass something on that works - even if that takes 6 months. I'd like to learn how to make a delicious chocolate cake myself before telling others how to make one!
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  • Profile picture of the author michaelplies
    it depends on what you are trying to accomplish. some project may require 1 hour a week, others 80 hours. it's all relative. just remember the 80/20 law
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    • Profile picture of the author LocoDice
      Originally Posted by michaelplies View Post

      it depends on what you are trying to accomplish. some project may require 1 hour a week, others 80 hours. it's all relative. just remember the 80/20 law
      Right now I like the idea of learning how to build niche sites built with organic traffic that make a bit of money each month, and then keep replicating once I have a formula down.
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  • Profile picture of the author KaplanT4
    30 minutes of planned non-stop CONDUCIVE solid work every day is actually a lot more than what most "IM'ers" do, you'd be surprised.
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  • Profile picture of the author Thomas W
    it could be enough you have a strict plan you can follow..
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  • After you have a list, an outsourcing staff,credibility, and some kind of steady income, then perhaps that will be enough.

    But then it depends on what you are ding for 30 min.

    Once you know for sure how much money that 30 min will make you, and you are ok with that, thats enough.
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  • Profile picture of the author bkdubs
    as long as part of that .5 hour is reading forums

    most people fail because of no action, so any action will bring you closer to your goal, you need to minimize what dont work though as that could set you back in the long run.
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    • Profile picture of the author LocoDice
      Originally Posted by bkdubs View Post

      as long as part of that .5 hour is reading forums

      most people fail because of no action, so any action will bring you closer to your goal, you need to minimize what dont work though as that could set you back in the long run.
      I'm guessing you mean NOT reading forums? I read warriorforum, etc in my spare time at the end of the day...
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  • Profile picture of the author CsabaSzücs
    30 minutes work could be a good start. I wrote work because you should consider it as a business if you want to get serious results. Take action, do things and learn from them not just read about them.
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  • Profile picture of the author DotComBum
    As you have already mentioned that you have no rush for success, so I guess 30 mins is enough for you.
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    • Profile picture of the author LocoDice
      Originally Posted by DotComBum View Post

      As you have already mentioned that you have no rush for success, so I guess 30 mins is enough for you.
      Hmm, while I have no rush for success - I do not want to keep doing what I'm doing without tracking how I'm going - I just know because I have 30 minutes a day something that might take me 1 month to do if I had 2 hours or so a day might end up taking 3-4 months...
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  • Profile picture of the author brainfreeze0
    I spend around 40 hours a week on top of my full time job on IM and it doesn't feel like enough, but if you are in no hurry its completely enough because you have all the time in the world.
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  • Profile picture of the author RAMarketing
    I work 70 hours a week running 4 restaurants and have a 2 year old and a 1 year old; I only work on my sites 30 minutes a day. What matters is leveraging that time to the fullest. How?

    Spend your first week creating a schedule for yourself for the next monithng breaking in day into tasks that you can do in 30 minutes so that you don't get discouraged. Your first goal (in my opinion) is to get a site design, freebie, and squeeze page that you can be proud of. Set up an autoresponder, build your list up to 100-1000 (up to you). Ask them what information they want, and create a simple product around it.

    Give it to your list as a thank youfor their feedback and invite them to promote it for 100% commissions, then create an upscaled version of the same product. Use the first product as an OTO and add it to your signup process, promote the second on the back end. Invest your first earnings into a VA so that you can continue running the business instead of wasting what little time you have building backlinks.

    Use Googles funnel analytics to figure out exactly how much each subscriber is worth to you (or how much each visitor to you site) and start testing very small paid advertising using 7search, adfly, or facebook. Focus on one at a time, and test until it is profitable. Once it is profitable, scale up that site and move on to the next. Once you have a solid line of at least 5 products (you can promote physical products as well through amazon or whatever), the paid advertising will allow you to scale quickly.

    This wil not be easy. However, following this will allow you to easily break the $5k mark within a few months, even with 30 minutes a day.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Yeah if you have a heavy advertising budget, and you're profiting immediately... sure.

    If you're starting from scratch, you need to spend much more time than just 30 minutes per day... assuming if you want to accelerating your success.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gianni
    I think 30 minutes a day on the forum providing good value is more than enough to drive traffic to your site.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chri5123
    Originally Posted by LocoDice View Post

    (Well first of all I should clarify - enough to make progress - albeit slow - don't expect to be on a tropical island in 3 months sipping out of a coconut )

    Hey guys, even though I am floating around in IM for the last 2 years, I really only have started to work at it on a near daily basis over the last few months.

    I am very busy with my day job as well as extra study I need to do for that at the moment - but I've been managing to stick to 30 minutes to hammer out SEO each night.

    I am not in a rush for success, I'll stick with it for as long as it takes to get there. But I am wondering what your thoughts are on 30 minutes a day?

    The idea is to slowly learn how to build out sites, and then once I am on a roll start to outsource.

    Obviously I feel if I could spend 1 hour, or 2 hours a day that would be 2x or 4x faster progress respectively - but to have a balanced life and not just spend 16 hours at work I've found 30 minutes is okay for me.

    What do you think?
    I think if it works for you then great...

    However my point of view is that it is not enough DEPENDING on what you are trying to do.

    If you want to build a business then it is not enough, at least not in my view.

    However if you just want to make $100 extra a week it may be possible.

    In short the more time you put in WITH the right method and strategy the more you will get out of it.

    The TIME issue is finding the right method and strategy...

    Kudos to you for taking action and dipping your toe in the warm but choppy waters of IM!

    Chris
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  • Profile picture of the author contentwriting360
    Banned
    If 30 minutes is what you can only dedicate on your research every night, I think it's enough so long as you remain consistent and motivated in terms of learning whatever you want to learn in IM. After all, it's not about the number of hours you spend, but your consistency and motivational level in seeking answers to your questions.
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    • Profile picture of the author FredJones
      I have a suggestion for you. I looked at your routine and realized that you are investing 2 hours per day on running and exercises. That essentially means, you are an expert in this area.

      How about participating in forums for fitness, exercising etc and establishing your expertise there? You may be able to sell quite a few exercise material in those daily 30 mins of routine work, plus establish your base in the long run in that niche.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dave3110
    I'd say non stop it isn't bad but not enough. In reality a lot of people will become distracted so for 4 hours you may get one hours solid work. If you did maybe 1.5 solid hours a day I'd say that's more like it.
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  • Profile picture of the author excelso
    just one sentence, efforts equal result
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  • Profile picture of the author HorseStall
    Enough for what? The old addage you have to spend money (or time) to make money. ;-)
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    • Profile picture of the author LocoDice
      Originally Posted by HorseStall View Post

      Enough for what? The old addage you have to spend money (or time) to make money. ;-)
      Hmm thats a very good point, what my goal is. I think I'd want to make about $500 a month. By then I'll have enough money and knowledge to pass on to outsourcing.. So I guess my new question is will 30 minutes a day be anough to get me to $500 a month, and then my question will be is 30 minutes a day enough to outsource staff to make $1000, and up and up, etc
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  • Profile picture of the author nicholasb
    I work about 8-10 hours a week and that is plenty with my type of business to support a very above average lifestyle.

    I do apply very specific principles and have income avenues that work for me that do not require my involvement after a certain point that create real residuals. Not the fake residuals and recurring income that is thrown around so loosely in this business.
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  • Profile picture of the author MattStevens
    IM or business creation is not like a 30 minute ab infomercial. The nitty gritty answer is this. You get out of it what you put in. end search
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  • Profile picture of the author samanthaelandon
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author fin
      I'd just build out one site.

      Spend half the time one one amazing article and the other half on one amazing guest post to get visitors.
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  • Profile picture of the author eb219
    30 minutes a day? Yes it is.

    Question 1.) Have you developed your sales funnel yet?

    Spend your time there if you haven't. Then use your 30 minutes for emails, phone calls, follow-ups, etc.

    Question 2.) Since you're doing SEO ... will you be incorporating any SEO tools into your biz?

    Each new tool might require a learning curve or some extra time to customize for initial set-up (ie., automated vs. manual link-building), but once you take care of that, you can easily perform SEO maintenance jobs in under a half an hour.

    So for example, the first 20 minutes might be dedicated to email/phone/follow-up (calls depend on time of day), then the last 10 minutes submitting your daily link-building work.

    As another poster mentioned - once you take on more clients, you'll want to push off of shore and hire yourself a VA or independent contractor for manually related tasks, like appointment setting ... but the key is also finding the right help. Once you develop the relationship, this is what we would refer to as the 'dividing line' between time and money.

    Ultimately, outsourcing will be the best way to streamline those daily routines and effectively scale up your biz...especially if you have no time to begin with
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  • Profile picture of the author handymoney2
    I don't think 30mins but I definitely know that the more you spend the more successful you will be so my advice try and squeeze as much time as you can for your own sake a little struggle man and then you might even be able to quit your job.
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    • Profile picture of the author Black Hat Cat
      Banned
      In a word, no. If you can find 2 hours a day to exercise, and who knows how much spare time surfing the WF(and non-WF stuff), but only 30 minutes a day to work on IM, it's pretty clear you're not really interested in the IM thing. And that's ok. Some folks are more into the dream of IM than they are the actual IM part. By all means, play around for 30 minutes a day if you want, but it's not going to get you anywhere.
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      • Profile picture of the author sethdrebitko
        What about optimizing your exercise? What do you do when working out that could be replaced with a more efficient form of exercise. If you can cut that down by a half hour you open up an hour of time.
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        • Profile picture of the author Rich E Rich
          Hell NO!!! im online all day when it comes to my business. I think for about 30 minutes before i implement a plan or strategy. Sometimes hours a day just on one thing lol.
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  • Profile picture of the author Paulme
    Banned
    30 minutes is not even enough to be upto date with the latest changes and trends in seo.Atleast 2 hours a day.
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  • Profile picture of the author LocoDice
    Thanks for all the good feedback guys. This thread has really helped me clarify in my mind what I am trying to achieve in the limited time I have. Sorry for not being clearer but when I said SEO I meant for my own knowledge inorder to apply it to the build out of my own sites - right now I'm thinking niche sites make the most sense.

    As posted in reply to HorseStall, I think I want to get to about $500/month or so on my own, and then start outsourcing what I've done to scale that up from there in my 30 minutes a day.

    Obviously once my income from IM approached a tipping point I'd consider leaving my job or doing anything I can to reduce hours at work.
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