Some Encouragement Going into 2024
Building an Online Brand is HARD
We’re lurching unsteadily towards the end of 2023. I have a lot of thoughts and I thought that I woulds share what this year has been like for me.
It has been hard.
I’ve mentioned this in passing but I had some long-COVID symptoms that I was dealing with that really impacted how I was feeling about everything.
From October 2022 through May 2023, I just wasn’t myself. For 8 freaking months. What made this even worse was that I was dealing with a deep crisis specific to my business.
It really wasn’t working for me anymore.
During COVID like many people I pivoted. The things that lit me up-such as writing ebooks, affiliate marketing, course sales and I just couldn’t do anymore. The energy wasn’t there. I found out the hard way that there is a level of sustained focus that I was tapping into in order to get those results. The ability to focus was gone too.
For the past 3.5 years I was building a business that had a lot of friction in it. Then I got sick and things came to a head.
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Holiday Break
I will be on break from December 21st, 2023-January 8, 2024. The next edition of the newsletter will be released the week of January 8, 2024.
What Did I Really Want To Have Happen
In My Online Business ?
I wanted to earn predictable passive income that could scale over time. And in the summer of 2022 I started making the stressful pivot back to what actually lit me up energetically, emotionally and professionally.
Serving creators who were passionate about helping others…but struggled with how to bring money into their business without causing harm to the people they served.
Affiliate marketing
Digital workshops
Ad revenue (the potential for it)
Brand partnerships
Sponsorships
Newsletters and Email marketing
What do these things have in common? They all have the potential to scale significantly over time. I can constantly focus activities that don’t necessarily depend on a social media strategy.
Predicable, growing revenue with payments that hit my account daily, weekly, monthly.
Why Am I Telling You This?
It’s not lost on me that I’ve pivoted back to the the business model that always lit me up from day #1.
In 2012 when I first started writing about personal finance before I earning an income from my work was even a thought. I was just sharing my story as a side-thing while working my 9-5.
In 2015 when I finally left my job after years of feeling unappreciated and dealing with exhaustion. The stories of people that I knew such as Michelle Schroeder-Gardner from Making Sense of Cents who has made millions from affiliate marketing and ad revenue. Tonya Rapley who also made millions from her project My Fab Finance.
2018 when I sold ebooks and courses and I LOVED IT. Those products didn’t feel like work.
I Planned on Quitting
Seriously, I was so done
I…was tired and feeling so demoralized. The window for my creative business to work was closing fast and I didn’t know if I had it in me to keep trying. Then a project that I started in 2022 began to light me up. The Creators Getting Paid newsletter has been a joy for me. I want to share why that is.
I get to talk to people that I know or who are new to me.
I can share their stories.
It allows me to lean into my writing skills and additional levels of creativity.
It’s in alignment with how I want to ethically earn money.
Then other parts of my brand that I had started years ago, stopped and the started again in 2023 started to earn money.
Easily.
7 Lessons Learned
If you’re struggling with your business, trying to figure things out and things just aren’t working I want to share some encouraging words. I also want to share some lessons learned.
When building an online business it’s highly likely that you will pivot (more than once)-Those pivots could happen because things aren’t working out, interests have changed or external factors (like a pandemic) affect your ability to do the work and focus.
These pivots will often coincide while you’re in the R & D phase of your business. Research and Development is when you’re testing things out and in an online business that can be super overwhelming because there are so many things that you can try to sell or build out as an entrepreneur. You have to test products, goods, services and systems out for awhile before making a decision as to whether or not something is going to work. What no one warns content creators about is how long the R & D process can last and what to watch out for in terms of overwhelm, analysis paralysis and imposter syndrom.
Pay attention to your natural strengths-It’s not lost on me the I am experiencing success by leaning into my natural skills (that I’ve always had)
Meeting people
Having conversations
Writing
Community building
Helping people make connections
Most pivots are good! Part of the reason why I’m hitting my goals with my projects/products/etc. is that I learned the skills that I’m using now to grow other projects that were much harder to work on. Even when it felt like a pivot was a mistake, it was just part of the R & D phase of my business (even if I didn’t realize it)
Not everything needs to be monetized-By that what I mean is within an online brand there are A LOT of opportunities to make money. However, not every part of your brand should be monetized. Only you can make the decision on what is a good fit for you, the people you serve. Then think about your goals and your brand. What is seamless fit and makes sense to you and for you?
You need a list-Email Lists and Newsletters are similar yet different in a few key ways. You’re not building a business without a list. Even your favorite stall at the local farmers market is asking for customer emails. Why aren’t you?
Constantly speak with your audience-In workshops, office hours, at events, surveys, etc. Pay attention to everything. Actively listen this to what your audience is saying to you. That’s where the magic happens. Also, it’s just nice to be listened to by the people that you’re sharing something with.
Bonus Tips: Audit Your Systems
And Ask Yourself Some Questions
When I worked my old job I had so little free time that I was super productive whenever I worked on my projects online. One of wildest things that I’ve noticed about myself is that I have to a lot less time to get a task done. What do I mean by this? I’ll share some examples below.
Working on a post-If I know it takes me a few hours to work on a post. That’s all the time I will allocate towards that task. I won’t give myself a day to work on it. Nope, just a few hours.
If I know that I want to release podcast episodes in the future, I batch episodes so that I have a few that are done and ready to publish. Maybe I will record some solo episodes that are much shorter than my typical episodes. Either way-they are done.
Pay attention to what is working-If something in your business is working-double down on that process, project, etc.
What Questions Are You Asking Yourself?
Here is a short-list of questions to consider as we begin planning for a new year.
Are you enjoying the process of growing your brand?
What is the feedback that you’re receiving on your work? (Social media shares, listens, page views, shout outs, etc)
Are you frustrated?
Where are you making money within your brand?
Where aren’t you making money within your brand?
How much time are things taking? Are there tools that you could be using to have tasks go faster?
There are more tips but it’s the end of the year and I don’t know about you but I’m tired. Want to start 2024 on good footing? I have some workshops planned
Services and Resources
Mastermind spots still available-Please note that the Mastermind is capped at 15 participants.
Creators Getting Paid Mastermind-Details in the linked to post. The Mastermind begins the week of January 16, 2024 and has limited spaces.
Payment Plans-will be available after the deal ends. Reach out to me at: thebrandbuildinglab@gmail.com for more details if you have questions.
Free Workshop: Creating an Impactful (And Paid) Vision for Your Online Brand in 2024-Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 6:00 pm MTN/8:00 pm EST
Free Workshop-How to Design Award Winning Podcast Content in 2024-Thursday, January 18, 2024 at 6:00 pm MTN/8:00 pm EST
IN-PERSON Workshop-How to Build and Grow a Newsletter that Pays (in 2024) I break down what works, what doesn’t and mistakes to avoid in 2024. Every person who runs an online brand who is serious about making money within their brand MUST have an email list or newsletter.
Leave the workshop understanding how to monetize your specific newsletter
Learn Michelle’s affiliate strategy
Get a chance to ask Michelle questions specific to your newsletter
Learn how to “sell” within your newsletter
How often to send out your newsletter and more
Cost: $147
When: Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 10:00 am MTN/12:00 pm EST
Zoom details will be shared the week of the workshop
Plan for at least 1.5-2 hours