My Adsense income has increased because I made a simple change, I started putting a little more time into my Internet projects. Article directory submissions, adding some back links, and regularly adding some fresh content hasn’t made enough money for me to retire or anything, but it has increased my income enough for me to be encouraged. It has help me remember that time is a precious asset that should be invested wisely.

When considering your fresh supply of time each day, maintain balance so your God and your family aren’t neglected as you chase after money. There is enough time for God, family, friends, and work when you have well thought out priorities and when time is managed efficiently.

This morning I woke up, yet again on the couch. Normal people sleep in their nice comfy beds, I should sleep in my bed even though my couch is SO comfortable. Yet, today wasn’t the first time that I woke up and there just “happens” to be something useful and motivating to me on the television. Now it wasn’t some awesome miracle product available on an info-commercial…it had to do with my writing or photography. Today it was Art Wolfe’s show, Travels to the Edge. Besides just some interesting information about Mongolia, he talks about why he chooses shots and what makes a good picture. It motivated me to do more with my photography.

Today as I got up off the couch to let my dog out, it occurred to me that sometimes we need to be outside what is “normal” to be on the right path and receive all that is out there for us.

Look around at what you are doing and see if you stripped away the “rules” and what is “normal”, would you be on the path that you are on, or are you missing out on something because you are not on the path that is going to lead you to everything you are to receive. This goes for life, Internet projects, work, etc.

TO, TOO, or TWO?

• To-directional. ex: Let’s go TO the store
• Two-the number. ex:we went to TWO stores, Walmart and Target
• Too-means also. ex: Wait, I want to go to the store, TOO.

THERE, THEIR, or THEY’RE?

• There-location. ex: I am going over THERE to hike.
• They’re-they + are. ex: THEY’RE going to hike that canyon.
• Their-they own something. ex: It is THEIR property that we will hike on.

KNOW or NO?

• Know-to have knowledge. ex: I KNOW how to do it right.
• No-opposite of yes. ex: NO, that is not the right way to do it.

WRITE or RIGHT?

• Write-to put words on paper.  ex: I love to WRITE articles
• Right-the opposite of wrong. ex: I made the RIGHT choice to start my own business.

Even if you don’t write for a living, it will help with communicating online and texting.

DAY 22-HIRE A COPY WRITER

Giving yourself a break a few times a month and using your copy writer will be a good idea. If possible, have two. A writer doesn’t have to be an American citizen to be good, but the writer should be fluent in English or whatever language that you need content in. Translating programs may be able to translate words but may have the order wrong, poor flow of words, and inaccurate word use. If you find consistent errors in spelling, grammar, use of words, and order of words, it  is a sign the writer may not be proficient in the language that you need the content in.

When interviewing (in person, online, or over the phone) a potential writer, make sure you are both clear on the following needs:

• Content specifics
• Number of words per article
• How many articles will be needed
• Expected delivery time
• How and when payments will be handled
• Frequency of orders

When you have narrowed down the list of potential writers, order a few small articles from each of them. Request the writer provide websites and blogs that have samples of his or hers articles on them. Check the style of writing with the samples provided; they should be similar to the articles that you receive when your order is delivered. Note promptness of delivery, uniqueness of content, and quality. Inconsistencies may mean that the writing company outsources.

After you choose a writer, start with a few orders and gradually increase. Primarily use your first choice for a writer while sending the second writer some work. This will assure in the event the first writer doesn’t work out or is unavailable, you will have an established relationship with another writer. You can take a little time choosing your backup writer.

DAY 22-HIRE A COPY WRITER

Giving yourself a break a few times a month and using your copy writer will be a good idea. If possible, have two. A writer doesn’t have to an American citizen to be good, but the writer should be fluent in English or whatever language that you need content in. Translating programs may be able to translate words but may have the order wrong, poor flow of words, and inaccurate word use. If you find consistent errors in spelling, grammar, use of words, and order of words, it  is a sign the writer may not be proficient in the language that you need the content in.

When hiring a copy writer interviewing (in person, online, or over the phone) a potential writer, make sure you are both clear on the following needs:

• Content specifics
• Number of words per article
• How many articles will be needed
• Expected delivery time
• How and when payments will be handled
• Frequency of orders

When you have narrowed down the list of potential writers, order a few small articles from each of them. Request the writer provide websites and blogs that have samples of his or hers articles on them. Check the style of writing with the samples provided; they should be similar to the articles that you receive when your order is delivered. Note promptness of delivery, uniqueness of content, and quality. Inconsistencies may mean that the writing company outsources.

After you choose a writer, start with a few orders and gradually increase. Primarily use your first choice for a writer and a second writer that some work is sent to. This will assure in the event the first writer doesn’t work out or is unavailable, you will have an established relationship with another writer. You can take a little time choosing your backup writer.

• Article/content writing-11 hours
• Categorizing domains-2 hours
• Business development-3 hours
• Brain storming-3 hour
• Photography-11.5 hours
• Jan’s Writing Services-6 hours
• Marketing-4.5 hours
• Organizing-2 hour
• Planning-1 hour
• Keyword research-1 hour
• New project development-5 hours

The challenge resulted in me working on my photography more than I had planned, increase in income, and some great ideas for future projects.

All posts on the 50 Hour Challenge

To find out more about other challenges you can go to the category-challenges.

PHOTOGRAPHY

I spent 5 hours on my photography at the workshop and at the rodeo. I spent another 2 hours photographing snow in the dessert (rare) when we got enough snow that it stuck a couple weeks ago. It was quite the experience. I took so many pictures between a couple trips to the rodeo, the snow, the barn dances, visiting a national monument, and friends out dancing that I was almost tired of taking pictures! Have lots of great shots and awesome memories.

WRITING

I have been getting a lot done with my content writing services. I have a new writer and new client. I’m going to credit 4 hours towards the challenge. I got my new writer started, worked on articles for a new client, wrote articles for use for marketing, and wrote a little for a new faith focused project I started. That would be 2 hours for Jan’s Writing Services and 2 hours for content writing.

WORKING WITH BOB SCHMUCK

The time working with my son, Bob Schmuck continues to be productive and motivating.  We have gotten together twice in the past few weeks. During that time we did the following:

• organize (1 hour)
• marketing (1.5 hours)
• keyword research (1/2 hour)
• write (2 hours)
• brainstorm (1 hour) during our time.

The focused time has paid off. I hit my $100 in Adsense income in two months…a personal record! (happy dance!….happy dance!)

NEW PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

Working on a few new projects. One is for Super Bowl L (50). I am going to have two sites that I will develop over the next 4 years and then sell it right after Super Bowl XLV (45). This I got the domain names and keyword research done.

The other project is faith focused and I haven’t gotten much farther than lots of notes and ideas in a notebook. It will have a lot of videos. It will start with a focus on teens. I did get the domain names.

When my new writer submitted her sample article, she actually had an excellent keyword. I have the articles ordered for that and am going to develop a website. I got the domain names.

For these projects I probably spent about 3 hours plus about 1/2 an hour on keyword research.

Well, I’m almost done! I have tomorrow off and hope I will be able to get closer to finishing.

TOTAL    42.5/50 hours

Yesterday was especially productive time spent on my 50 Hour Challenge. In addition to the time with my son, I had gotten some writing done earlier in the day and prepared some handmade American Indian jewelry to photograph. My photography is another one of my incomes streams (self-employment).

WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING MEETINGS

When  Bob Schmuck and I get together we usually do the following:

• Brainstorm
• Write articles, content, intros, etc. (me)
• Submit articles to directories (Bob)
• Create/update website designs (Bob)
• Blog comment submissions (both of us)
• Plan future projects (both of us)
• Keyword research (Bob)

BASECAMP FOR WEBSITE MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS

Basecamp is a free service (click on pricing, then in small print the free option is under the price boxes on the right) that is upgradeable. Yesterday we set up a Basecamp project for our work. We are going to upgrade in the future, but for now, we are using the free option. We started with having our meeting under milestones and then added a to-do list that covered everything that we did. This will be a good document of how we progressed and we will be able to evaluate the length of time until we see results from our work. The write board will be used to list ideas for future meetings.  This should help us be more efficient in the future when we meet.

One of the main reasons we want to upgrade is to be able to share files and also to be able to have more than one project.

INTERNET VENTURES UPDATE

Adsense-My Internet income from Adsense is continuing to break personal records as the results of previous Internet marketing is seen.

Jan’s Writing Services-Bob and I re-connected on Facebook with an Internet marketer that we met years ago online. He contacted me regarding doing some writing for him. I am no longer writing for Karma Snack due to inconsistencies in my delivery of articles. I’m looking forward to using what I have learned with new clients.

The re-organization of Jan’s Writing Services included working for my family first, getting new writers, setting up schedules, and only working with clients who have professional business practices. The fresh start will fit in perfectly with my re-organization. New clients won’t have unproductive practices that will need to change and I will start with a clean slate. This will be great for everyone.

(2 hours writing, 2 hours marketing,1 hour brainstorming)

TOTAL     20/50 hours

50 HOUR CHALLENGE

SATURDAY-I will consider about 4 hours part of my challenge because of the pictures that I took I can use for future projects and the brainstorming that I did as we drove.

• I have some collage ideas for artwork that I jotted down
• A logo for myself. I have many “Jan’s….” so I was looking for a logo idea that would be changeable so it could match each project, but still be consistent enough to be recognized as one of my projects. The logo will be able to use my many photographs! Still working on the details of it.
• Blog ideas

SUNDAY-I spent about 2 hours on my challenge on writing related projects. I spent the time going over articles my writers have submitted and a new writer’s sample. I will be using the new writer, I really like her work. She is new to Internet article/content writing, but I know her and will work with her to help her get started. I did some organizing of the work I have available for my own projects and for my paid writing-1 hour

The break was rejuvenating. The relaxing drive with my friend, the walk around the lake, enjoying a drink at the local bar and the interesting people, good food, and relaxing. Went to bed early and didn’t have to get up for anything. It was very energizing.

Had a record day for my Adsense and getting comfortable with the success and results of the work I have been doing.

TOTAL     14/50 hours

When planning tasks, it is important to know your limits, know your schedule, and plan for everything to take longer than needed. My problem usually is that I set my goals too high and try to do more than I am capable of.

TOTAL      2/50 hours