Surprise. This post will be cynical. I continue to be amazed at my perseverance in this business. But it is waning badly. Each month I collect checks from all kinds of affiliate programs. None, save Google, are ever more than $100 typically. But combined they total a nice amount that I have more often than not been saving. Mostly for the thought that I can use it for vacations, but also with the thought that I may one day be laid off from my job and need to be able to continue paying the bills.
But I can tell you my motivation for this activity dies each day. I am at the point where I detest writing or rewriting content. It is a chore, man. (It’s why I like BlogProfitz and StoreStacker) I have zero interest in creating any more content sites. I have utmost respect for the guys at The Keyword Academy. They built like 100 hubs in 3 days or some shit and are making $500 for their effort. They reap what they sow. Put in maximum effort and get the benefits. My interest is at zero. No heartbeat. No elevation.
This stuff is not much fun. Cashing the checks certainly is. But I am a prisoner of two jobs. I am not a business owner. These businesses own me. If I stopped getting links or writing posts or building sites the amount of money I collect would slowly dissipate. Obviously if I stopped going to work the checks would likewise stop coming in.
Which is why I think that I am just about stupid. I should be outsourcing this online mess. I have plenty of cash to do it now. Let’s say I want to build 100 hubpages with the intention of collecting $400 each month. If I came up with 100 keywords, think maybe I could get someone to write 800 words about those keywords for $1,000? $1,200? Worst case scenario after 6 months you gotta figure it would all be gravy. Continue to build and with 1,000 hubpages, if I achieve my goal of $400 per 100 hubpages, I could be making $4,000 a month. All with little effort on my part.
I’ve waxed poetic about outsourcing before. Posted about how cool it would be. This post is no different. It all sounds good but is in itself a hassle. Getting good writers at a good price is tough to do.
So all this is cascading into what probably amounts to an infomercial for The Outsource Method by the folks from PLRPro. You’ve no doubt seen the banner ad that you haven’t clicked on the side of this blog. I don’t have a copy of the program yet though I suspect I will when it gets fully released. I have high hopes that this can be of significant value as I need to know how to outsource competently. I trust Marc and Daniel to provide good information. They are a couple of only a handful of “gurus” I trust online.
I can say with all honesty that I have to offload these online tasks. If I don’t, or can’t, then it’s over. I cannot continue to flog this work. I have been unsuccessful in creating a single flagship site that makes thousands of dollars a day. So I have to build small keyword sniping sites. Which I do not enjoy. But these are perfect for outsourcing. So it’s time to get with it. It’s time to try something else.
I have proved that money can be made with niche sites. I’ve proved it to myself which is all that matters. But I can no longer do this and keep my sanity. I want the money but I do not want to put in the effort. I am at the point that I am ready to pay for someone else’s effort. I just need to learn how to outsource. Perhaps the Outsource Method will be of assistance in this endeavor.
22 responses so far ↓
John // Jul 13, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Dude, this is scary. I was thinking the exact same thing yesterday! I know how to make money online (and I have made a bit using different techniques), but the easiest way is to create loads of small niche sites.
The problem? I hate content generation, whether it is for the website or article marketing. I also hate getting backlinks…
Which was why I was looking closely at the PLRPro guys’ outsourcing product. Definitely something I want to do, as I cannot stand creating and promoting the sites myself anymore.
Stan // Jul 13, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Quit your job like I did. That will motivate you. Might scare the heck out of you but it will kick you into high gear.
Patrick // Jul 13, 2009 at 5:24 pm
I have a rainbow for you: start with about 100 bucks at Textbroker.com
Get your stuff written at the level 3 quality, which is decent enough to pass a Unicorn poop test.
I say, dip your toes into outsourcing, it is mighty fine!
Splork // Jul 13, 2009 at 5:50 pm
John: Hopefully they have the program/answer that will be useful.
Stan: No doubt. And I would if I wasn’t responsible for the lives of three others.
Patrick: Thanks for the tip. I’ll give it a look.
Darren // Jul 13, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Splork you can try and dip your toes in at odesk.com…
Just search through the Jobs for ‘hubpages’ and see how others are wording their job descriptions.
Post your own job, interview and hire somebody, and voila…job done!
No more mundane content creation, and it is actually motivating when you are the boss, and all you have to think about is how to word your next job description…
Not too shabby!
Zania // Jul 13, 2009 at 7:26 pm
I’ve thought the same thing many a time.
The difference is, I do this as a full time job, so I have to do it.
My advice (apart from definitely go with outsourcing) – take a holiday from this.
There is no point sitting at the pc and hating every minute of it. If you are anything like me, when that happens, I get nothing useful done anyhow.
But a break works wonders.
And after all, those sites are still out there.
Jody // Jul 13, 2009 at 7:49 pm
wow, what a relief to see this in my inbox!!! i’m just embarking on my make money online journey, with little success so far. and i have to say, i’m more than a little disillusioned by the ever-enthusiastic success stories, when i can’t seem to make a dollar myself! so my question is this: is struggling along the learning curve false economy? do you think it is a more feasible option to put the money upfront and outsource from the very beginning? is there such a thing as outsourcing for newbies?
Splork // Jul 13, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Darrren: Thanks for the suggestion. Haven’t heard of that one.
Zania: With the exception of building a few Blogprofitz sites, a number of Hubpages, writing some posts on The Keyword Academy blogs, writing some posts on a few of my flagship blods, getting some links using BMD, getting link using BCD…um, maybe I do need a break.
Jody: I reckon I started this crap in earnest back around ‘03-04. Lots of trial and error. Lots of pain. Loss. A few successes. Creating stuff and breaking more. If I hadn’t bought this and that and tried that and this, I’m not sure I would be able to say that I am fed up and ready to try something different. I’m at the point where I know pretty much what works and what doesn’t. The struggle is part of it I think. Even if you followed what I did you wouldn’t get the same result. Moreover you would eventually figure out what works for you regardless what I did. I think until you figure out how to make money then outsourcing might be a loss. Hope that makes sense. There are a few people like Court, Griz and PLRPro that I continue to use for guidance that I would recommend. I think the Outsource Method is the 101 program for learning to outsource this business.
Lis - Online Income // Jul 14, 2009 at 2:07 am
I would vote for textbroker.com too – I am happy with the quality at 1c/word – so for your budget you could outsource the 100×800 hubs plus 50×250 ezinearticles – then you just have to post the suckers – still bloody boring – but doable over beer and TV
Splork // Jul 14, 2009 at 8:04 am
Thanks Lis. Sounds like a plan.
Sam // Jul 15, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Hey Splork,
You said ” I’m at the point where I know pretty much what works and what doesn’t.” That is
a big achievement. I bet you are ahead of 99% people trying to make it in this business.
I am a retired M.D. My pension plan has been depleted by 60-70% in past 3 years. I have been stumbling in dark trying to make just a little bit of money online for 3 years. What we have in common is a frustration and mental fatigue with this time consuming drudgery but no rewards in my case. Even if I decide to outsource, I still do not know what really works. PLR Pro may help but it is sold out. I’ve been on their waiting list for a while. I am hoping to get from them a a blue print for this business that I can understand and follow. Inspite of your moaning and groaning about this business, you give many of us a hope that there may be a pot of at least pocket money down this road.
Thank you.
Splork // Jul 16, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Thanks for visiting Sam.
I have my eye on this program from the guys who sell BANS. I have no idea if this will help or not as I haven’t bought it. But it seems like a plan that might help. It’s a crapbank product so you know you can get your money back if it sucks. Plus if you get it today you’ll pay $25 rather $45 tomorrow at noon. The only thing I can say about it is that it is a blueprint. Maybe it works. Maybe it doesn’t. BANS and their support was fine (though I prefer StoreStacker) so I have to figure that they wouldn’t put out junk for the sake of putting something out. And for $25 it might be within some folks budget.
The 9 Step Make Money Online Guide
It shouldn’t be long before PLRPro is opened again.
Jorge // Jul 17, 2009 at 10:23 am
Hi Splork
For almost 3 years now, I’ve been looking at these so called businesses that have in common Internet Marketing. You know, affiliate programs, niche sites, ebay, you name it. As a full time employee, I confess I don’t have the time enough to start something from the scratch and also not the motivation to spend 3-4 hours every night doing articles (like Bum method), creating hubs or squidoo lens for affiliate programs. Also I’m scared about the amount of money you can easily spend in CPC advertising with no results (tried some CPC for some affiliate programs and all I got was less money in my account). I must confess that some times I became a prey of the big predagurus around there. The result was always the same, money went out of my bank account instead of coming in.
I found this blog three weeks ago. Since there I read every post you made and the comments and what I figure is that to make some money online you must work like hell and spend almost all your free time writing articles, setting up niche sites, hubs, lens, you name it. That leaves no time for family (especially if you have children like I do), friends and just taking some hours in a weekend to go get some fresh air.
And, on top of that, I had a problem regarding content creation. Because I’m not an English language native (I born, grow up and live in Portugal), writing articles and other content for niche sites or whatsoever in English doubles or triples my effort, unless I outsource everything, which I can’t afford.
This means the “internet based business from home” dream is just a dream? Frankly I think so.
Unless you have money to invest and a plenty of time to work on the business, all you get is being some hundred dollars poorer.
I’ll keep visiting your blog, who knows, you’re one of the three bloggers that seems to me are not there just creating a lot of hype and trying to sell some crap. Maybe one of these days in on of these blogs I can discover how to setup a business to get 2.000-3.000 dollars month working 2 hours day…
I wish you and all the fellows that follows you all the best…
Jorge
Splork // Jul 17, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Thanks for reading Jorge. It really is a time suck. Very hard to balance full-time work, hobbies and family with this stuff.
That’s why I tend not to do much more than a site a week. Maybe a couple of Hubpages. I can write fairly quick so that isn’t a problem except that it is boring to write on stuff I care less about. The stuff I care about seems not to pay much.
Sam // Jul 18, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Hey Splork,
Thank you for your kind reply to my post
on 7-16-09. I bought the program on the nine steps to making money online you suggested to me through your affiliate link on 7-18-09.
BTW they have extended the deadline to 7-20-09 to for that 50% discount. It is laid out very well and looks promising.
I will put a full court effort into this business per their 9 steps the next few weeks and see the results. I will keep you posted.
Alok // Jul 19, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Hi,
Being part of both TAA and TKA I can smell an opportunity for providing services related to IM such a content generation,link building etc. We are already doing ebook covers,website designs and I think I should start concentrating on this services also. Let me know if you guys would be willing out to test my services in case I do go ahead with them.
Regards,
Alok.
Splork // Jul 20, 2009 at 8:00 am
Hey Sam, the only caveat with the blueprint is that it is eBay centric. It apparently focuses on making money with Ebay using BANS and phpBay or whatever that program is. It seems it is well organized but if you aren’t much for eBay then you will have to figure out how it can be applied to other areas in the online biz. I think it probably can be used as a guide to sell any affiliate product. Hope it works out for you.
Jez // Jul 21, 2009 at 5:42 am
I would not spend a penny on that garb from “The Outsource Method”.
I have seen similar blurb from something called “replace yourself” though I did not pay for that info.
Consider this… you have found a way to make $50,000 in five hours, do you:
1) Use that method, work 40 hours per week and make $400,000 per week
2) Use that method and work 60 hours for $600,000
3) Forget 1 and 2 and spend your time selling the secret for $300 or whatever it costs.
All this stuff is bullshit, I really dont know why you waste your time reading about it…
The real trick in that “$50k in 5 hours” was not the outsourcing part, it was picking the niche and the keywords, and knowing they could get the SERP.
That is why they are selling crappy info products instead of building more sites @ $10k per hour…. because, without the idea (niche / keywords) you don’t have anything to outsource….. and they are obviously out of luck / ideas… hence they are desparate to “sell their secrets”… info products are a joke.
Do yourself a favor, join syndk8 black hat forum and check out their products instead.
I outsourced writing for adsense sites, some went ok, but some lost…
It always comes back to niche selection…
Splork // Jul 21, 2009 at 9:50 am
Jez, I think the point of the 5 hours was that was the time it took to make 50K while outsourcing. You could obviously do what they did in 5 months or whatever by yourself but it would be a huge time suck. Outsourcing is the way to go. Apparently since I’ve been a member of PLRPro for over two years I’ll be getting a copy for gratis. Membership has it privileges. I’m hopeful that TOM has value and I’ll let the peanut gallery know how it is. I’d rather spend 5 hours outsourcing and make even a third of what they did with their 50-5-5 site than spending time doing it myself anymore.
Jez // Jul 22, 2009 at 7:33 am
Yeah but it is not the outsourcing bit you need is it, its the winning idea.
What they do not say is HOW MUCH THEY SPENT on that site. If you have an idea you are sure that will make you $50k, they yeah, you can go out and spend $10k on it…. but… have you ever had an idea you would bank $10k on?
Also the idea that you can get someone anywhere near decent for $400 a month (which I have heard quoted in articles promoting this garb) is ludicrous… the reason being that as soon as you train / upskill someone… they will leave for someone paying $500 per month, or $600… $700.
You always have to pay the going rate… there are no tricks to this… I really cannot see what these kind of info products really have to offer… but as you get it for free, then you get to see if I am wrong
Splork // Jul 22, 2009 at 8:04 am
Yea, you’re definitely right in about the idea. If you don’t have the right niche/keyword no amount of outsourcing is going to help. I can see the value though of finding those ideas and having someone else write up 50 articles. It may cost $500 up front, but if the idea was good enough there is a good chance you could recoup those costs in a few months. I just need to free up my time writing stuff.
Alok // Jul 24, 2009 at 2:02 pm
@Jez. $400 a month(In fact I can get you dedicated good writers for $200) for a decent writer is definitely possible but as you said they will soon be poached away with higher offers. That problem can be mitigated if the writer doesn’t have any idea where/why his/her content is being used. If you directly contact a freelancer through outsourcing sites sooner or later that writer is going to find out that he can ask for more amount since the people are ready to pay for good content. But if they are indirectly managed then they may never find out why they are being paid for re-writing a content which is already available on internet. Believe me – lots of people still don’t have any idea about making money online.
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