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Is all my hard work worthy?

by goodmast3r
21 replies
I'm a freelancer with $10/hour rate. For the past week, I'm been working on my 3 sites 2 hours dailly. This is worth 2*30 days *$10 = $600 per month. Is it likely I will achieve $600 per month in 6 months?

In those two hours I write 3 articles. One original 500 words, one rewrite article, and one short article on 3 sites. I also spend 1/2 hour to get backlinks from blog commenting. I also submit articles to article directory. I think the article I write has good keywords in them and I can see traffic improve. I'm not sure if it will improve more. Getting 10 UV to 20 UV (100% increase) per day is easier than getting 150 UV from 100 UV (50% increase)

So will my hard work pays off eventually? Is there anything I can improve? Please help. I need directions.
#hard #work #worthy
  • Profile picture of the author Brent Miller
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    • Profile picture of the author goodmast3r
      Thanks, but it will be nice to know if this is not going to work. I'm just afraid that I went to the wrong direction and not knowing that I am wrong. True, we sometimes quit when we are very close. We always hear successful stories like your story that people succeed after not giving up. But are there more people not giving up and fail?

      Given what you said, nobody here is going to be able to give you a definitive, helpful answer. All I can say is that most people don't stick with it long enough to see success.
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      • Profile picture of the author notrichyet
        If you don't give up you won't fail, but if you do give up, you will. IM isn't for the faint of heart. Some get lucky and see results right away, some might wait a few months and others wait years. Unfortunately, no one here has a crystal ball where we can predict the future. The only way you're going to find out is to try it and see how it goes. If after you've given it an honest effort and a reasonable amount of time and you're still not making any money, then you might want to change your approach.

        The most difficult aspect of IM is all of the work that you do in the beginning that you don't immediately get rewarded for. The best advice anyone can give you is to keep plugging away at it.....

        Cheers!
        Mary
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        • Profile picture of the author goodmast3r
          So when is the perfect time to stop? Is it after 6 months of trying? One year? I think this is just like investing in stock. You need to have a plan when to close your position. In stock investing we can have a rule to close position after 10% loss or change in the company's fundamental.

          But when should we stop and change plan in IM?



          Originally Posted by notrichyet View Post

          If you don't give up you won't fail, but if you do give up, you will. IM isn't for the faint of heart. Some get lucky and see results right away, some might wait a few months and others wait years. Unfortunately, no one here has a crystal ball where we can predict the future. The only way you're going to find out is to try it and see how it goes. If after you've given it an honest effort and a reasonable amount of time and you're still not making any money, then you might want to change your approach.

          The most difficult aspect of IM is all of the work that you do in the beginning that you don't immediately get rewarded for. The best advice anyone can give you is to keep plugging away at it.....

          Cheers!
          Mary
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  • Profile picture of the author idk007
    Originally Posted by goodmast3r View Post

    I'm a freelancer with $10/hour rate. For the past week, I'm been working on my 3 sites 2 hours dailly. This is worth 2*30 days *$10 = $600 per month. Is it likely I will achieve $600 per month in 6 months?

    In those two hours I write 3 articles. One original 500 words, one rewrite article, and one short article on 3 sites. I also spend 1/2 hour to get backlinks from blog commenting. I also submit articles to article directory. I think the article I write has good keywords in them and I can see traffic improve. I'm not sure if it will improve more. Getting 10 UV to 20 UV (100% increase) per day is easier than getting 150 UV from 100 UV (50% increase)

    So will my hard work pays off eventually? Is there anything I can improve? Please help. I need directions.
    You can get a minimum wage job in for a bank california for $15/hour and its less work and you get benefits
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    • Profile picture of the author goodmast3r
      Originally Posted by idk007 View Post

      You can get a minimum wage job in for a bank california for $15/hour and its less work and you get benefits
      Unfortunately I'm not in the States. Would love that $15/hour.
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      • Profile picture of the author dtaylor
        As a freelance writer I would think you would have a pretty good idea of what articles and/or subjects are in demand.

        Keep in mind that your articles don't die or become useless. They will most likely have value at the end of the 6 months for your site or someone else.

        If you have done research on your niche and still feel confident that it is worthwhile driving traffic to it don't keep second-guessing yourself. Just keep going.

        As an example, a friend and I put up 10 or so IPK sites a couple of years ago. We were originally intending to put up a hundred or more. We did not see results very quickly so we went on to other projects. The IPK sites we put up bring in steady money. I wish we had built 300 or more.

        Keep going. Re-assess the situation at the end of your target date (ie. 6 months)

        Best of luck,
        DTaylor
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  • Profile picture of the author christopher jon
    You can get a minimum wage job in for a bank california for $15/hour and its less work and you get benefits
    Go out and tell the record number of unemployed how easy it is to land a $15 an hour job. BTW, minimum wage in California is $8, not $15.

    Back to the OP, it's up to you man. If you're making some money and enjoy it, keep going. If not, find an new road to follow.

    Something to keep in mind, most will fail. This place is packed with broke-ass gurus who've been at it for years.
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    • Profile picture of the author Nomerate
      Banned
      Originally Posted by idk007 View Post

      You can get a minimum wage job in for a bank california for $15/hour and its less work and you get benefits
      Hah! What world are you living in. No one is getting hired at $15/hour in this economy.

      Originally Posted by christopher jon View Post

      Go out and tell the record number of unemployed how easy it is to land a $15 an hour job. BTW, minimum wage in California is $8, not $15.

      Back to the OP, it's up to you man. If you're making some money and enjoy it, keep going. If not, find an new road to follow.
      +1 on everything. IDK is crazy and if you enjoy writing why not make some money doing something you enjoy.

      Also I think you are putting too much value on your writing...

      500 words at $1 per 100 words = $5 + rewrite + short article = less than $10 of work.
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      • Profile picture of the author goodmast3r
        Originally Posted by AwptimusPrime View Post


        500 words at $1 per 100 words = $5 + rewrite + short article = less than $10 of work.
        So you think I'm not good at writing and I should outsource it? I've done some research on the article so it took longer time. Outsource the article will cost me $300 a month and I'm not ready to spend $300 / month on articles.
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        • Profile picture of the author grisbyenterprise
          What you must realize is that the way you are getting traffic (seo methods) does not increase overnight. The reason why so many people fail at seo and most online ventures is because they want the magic pill or they want instant success.

          If you want your websites to be a business, you have to treat them like a business. I have to admit that I am guilty of this also. If you want instant traffic you have to pay for it. You are doing things the right way, you just have to keep doing them and be patient.

          One last piece of advice is that you must also do proper keyword research. Online marketing is competitive, but its not rocket science. Pick the right keywords, be persistent and patient, and the traffic and profits will rise over time.

          Ask yourself are you in it for the long haul or are you in it for a one night stand?
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          • Profile picture of the author ksmusselman
            Originally Posted by grisbyenterprise View Post

            What you must realize is that the way you are getting traffic (seo methods) does not increase overnight. The reason why so many people fail at seo and most online ventures is because they want the magic pill or they want instant success.

            If you want your websites to be a business, you have to treat them like a business. I have to admit that I am guilty of this also. If you want instant traffic you have to pay for it. You are doing things the right way, you just have to keep doing them and be patient.

            One last piece of advice is that you must also do proper keyword research. Online marketing is competitive, but its not rocket science. Pick the right keywords, be persistent and patient, and the traffic and profits will rise over time.

            Ask yourself are you in it for the long haul or are you in it for a one night stand?
            Excellent advice! I've been "at this" for a couple of years and things are just now starting to look up after some really bad down turns. And yes, I was about ready to throw in the towel just last week.

            Then a few days ago I picked up a new client and today made a really nice bookmarks sale! I looked at my traffic, and it's picking up again!

            Some niches hit the "jackpot" within a few weeks or months, but since two of my businesses are in super competitive markets, I know now it's going to take me a bit longer.
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            • Profile picture of the author goodmast3r
              Originally Posted by ksmusselman View Post

              Excellent advice! I've been "at this" for a couple of years and things are just now starting to look up after some really bad down turns. And yes, I was about ready to throw in the towel just last week.

              Then a few days ago I picked up a new client and today made a really nice bookmarks sale! I looked at my traffic, and it's picking up again!

              Some niches hit the "jackpot" within a few weeks or months, but since two of my businesses are in super competitive markets, I know now it's going to take me a bit longer.
              How do you know it will work eventually? Don't you have an exit plan?
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  • Profile picture of the author lakshaybehl
    Originally Posted by goodmast3r View Post

    I'm a freelancer with $10/hour rate. For the past week, I'm been working on my 3 sites 2 hours dailly. This is worth 2*30 days *$10 = $600 per month. Is it likely I will achieve $600 per month in 6 months?

    In those two hours I write 3 articles. One original 500 words, one rewrite article, and one short article on 3 sites. I also spend 1/2 hour to get backlinks from blog commenting. I also submit articles to article directory. I think the article I write has good keywords in them and I can see traffic improve. I'm not sure if it will improve more. Getting 10 UV to 20 UV (100% increase) per day is easier than getting 150 UV from 100 UV (50% increase)

    So will my hard work pays off eventually? Is there anything I can improve? Please help. I need directions.
    $600/month is a very small goal. For within 6 months, a LOT can be done. You need a mentor, plain and simple... who can not only help you dream big, but also give you a push in the right direction at every stage. Seek out someone already successful.

    My only advice to you is that don't get sucked into the idea of following a particular approach for a long time just because it is something you can do online.

    Every business involves sales... and online business is no different. And each sale should be ideally followed by honest customer serving intentions. You are in the customer serving business at any point of time. So if the idea of talking to people scares you, getting a $10/hour job maybe a better option.

    On the other hand if you can deal with being a leader and talking to people... then you deserve a lot more than $600/month.

    All the best
    -Lakshay
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    • Profile picture of the author goodmast3r
      I couldn't find a mentor. I know I need them. I approached two people, but no luck so far.


      Originally Posted by lakshaybehl View Post

      $600/month is a very small goal. For within 6 months, a LOT can be done. You need a mentor, plain and simple... who can not only help you dream big, but also give you a push in the right direction at every stage. Seek out someone already successful.

      My only advice to you is that don't get sucked into the idea of following a particular approach for a long time just because it is something you can do online.

      Every business involves sales... and online business is no different. And each sale should be ideally followed by honest customer serving intentions. You are in the customer serving business at any point of time. So if the idea of talking to people scares you, getting a $10/hour job maybe a better option.

      On the other hand if you can deal with being a leader and talking to people... then you deserve a lot more than $600/month.

      All the best
      -Lakshay
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      • Profile picture of the author ksmusselman
        Originally Posted by goodmast3r View Post

        I couldn't find a mentor. I know I need them. I approached two people, but no luck so far.
        Hi!

        I'm a freelancer too and my "hourly rate" comes out to around $20 or $30/hour depending on the project, whenever I get projects to do that is.

        But actually, we can't base what we've been doing on our hourly rates. IM doesn't work that way unfortunately. We have to reset our brains to work in a completely different mode than freelancing because with IM there is no "hourly rate."

        However, in my opinion, you're starting out on the right foot but like me, you definitely need direction and a better schedule, like what I'm doing.

        Me, I'm on 'waaay too many' marketers' email lists but once in a while something really, really good pops up in one of them that just blows me away. And this latest one did. So I'm going to share it with you and suggest you follow what I've been following:

        Niche Profit Classroom 3.0 - Home Page (This is not an affiliate link! Just a pure URL link to the website )

        Sign up for Adam's free video course on getting traffic to your site starting with solid article marketing based on awesome keyword research, article marketing and traffic building methods that work.

        Let this e-course be your mentor like I'm doing.

        I'm on the second to the last video of this e-course now and I have to say I am impressed. A couple of them I've watched two and three times and took notes! This video course has actually given me exactly what I've been looking for - DIRECTION, and actually, direction that makes sense "to me" ... FINALLY.

        He lays out an easy to follow, simple 21-day blueprint for finding keywords, writing articles and then, what to actually do with your articles and how. I love this!

        And for the first time ever, things are actually "clicking" and I might even be able to launch an e-course of my own soon!

        So anyway, head over to that website and sign up for the free email course. There really is a lot of information packed into it.

        Keep on producing and don't give up!
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  • Profile picture of the author msmir75
    Things are always rusty at first but if you stick with it and find good ways to learn how to improve (search around for relevant posts on here and look around for tips in general, keep searching around for places to offer your services as well, never put all of your eggs into one basket) in the long run it will pay off.
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  • Profile picture of the author melltonroper
    Many of the IM's did not earning so far, I think your so lucky to have that one, just continue what you're doing improve it and earn more.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
    Banned
    As long as you keep plugging away with quality content, then the work will become worth it. Your freelance work often stops paying you as soon as you finish the task. A successfull website can make you more money for a longer period of time.
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  • Profile picture of the author NoBSGuy
    Originally Posted by goodmast3r View Post

    I'm a freelancer with $10/hour rate. For the past week, I'm been working on my 3 sites 2 hours dailly. This is worth 2*30 days *$10 = $600 per month. Is it likely I will achieve $600 per month in 6 months?

    In those two hours I write 3 articles. One original 500 words, one rewrite article, and one short article on 3 sites. I also spend 1/2 hour to get backlinks from blog commenting. I also submit articles to article directory. I think the article I write has good keywords in them and I can see traffic improve. I'm not sure if it will improve more. Getting 10 UV to 20 UV (100% increase) per day is easier than getting 150 UV from 100 UV (50% increase)

    So will my hard work pays off eventually? Is there anything I can improve? Please help. I need directions.
    Be aware that calculating what you will earn next month can hurt your motivation if you won`t make it to the specified goal. Be persistent, if you don`t earn that much in the beginning, that`s normal. Just do it and learn from the mistakes you commit.
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  • Profile picture of the author Targeted Traffic
    Well just like most are saying...you can never actually be sure when you will finally get great returns from IM...many usually fail at first and waited for a long time...I think there are still a number of things that you can to improve your style...Good Luck
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  • Profile picture of the author WebPen
    You can try other methods of driving traffic and backlinks to your website.

    For example document sharing websites are stronger than the article directories these days, and video sites like Youtube give ya some good backlinks too.
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