Have you read the 15kchallenge.com about how he generated traffic?

If you have a blog it needs traffic to make money. Spend more time generating traffic.

I find myself reading blogs a lot when I could be doing writing for my sites. Take, for example, me reading this site! It is quite amusing; however, I like to read them. It gives me confidence to do it. I see a lot of people on Digital Point that gobble up all these sites I want and make so much on them, so I just like to see other people that are small like me making some small amounts of money.

I think you have the right mentality by wanting to create something for yourself by doing this on the side. But you have to have a paradigm shift so that you don’t see it as just “something on the side” but a gem you are polishing each day to get as much sparkel out of it as possible. No one wants to buy anything dull, yet getting your hands dirty and polishing the heck out of it will give you better returns…

Hopefully that analogy made sense

Wow, talk about service! And good suggestions, all of them.

The problem with #3 is about trying to strike a balance (as with most things in life). To an extent I feel it’s necessary to keep up with at least some other blogs and forums within a given niche, for the purpose of networking, as well as just generally staying informed. (And remember, networking was #1 on your previous list.) I agree though, there comes a time when you have to cut back on how many other blogs & forums you’re reading and how often.

And as far as #4 goes, I spend plenty of time at both of my “real jobs” working on my own businesses, whether it’s brainstorming, handsewing, or blogging. But again, there’s only so much you can get done on company time.

i must admit allen that i (somewhat) disagree with you on the first part of #4.

let me see if i can get this out the right way (’cause otherwise it might not sound too good)

i don’t think it’s a matter of whether you should or should not daydream about your blog (or any business for that matter) or whether you should think about it when around family or not. it’s more like: it happens whether you want it to or not. i’m pretty sure it happened to you as well as to all the succesful (online) business owners. and i believe that’s what actually brings success.

here’s the thing: if you really care about your business you are going to look at it as your own baby. as a result, you, involuntarily, think of it all the time. even more when you plan on making it bring food on your table.

just like a child, once it has reached a certain level of “maturity” and it can function on it’s own, you can and should, little by little, release the strings.

how much can you let go of it? it depends on what kind of business it is. a blog for example: not so much; a store: probably more than a blog (once you have a system in place that needs little intervention - although this could be further more debated).

of course the discussion can be complicated further more (such as, when is the time to say “that’s it. i’m going nuts over this. i need to take a break to recharge my batteries” and other issues like that). but, keeping it simple :), every one who’s trying to build a successful business (of any kind) will be thinking about it on a constant basis (whether we like it or not).

i trully hope i managed to make my point the right way and that you guys understood what i was trying to say.

cheers to y’all

If you are pressed for time blogging, you might want to try blogging with your mobile phone. Then you can blog in your break or while waiting for something.

Hi Allen, nice post. I was wondering why you are not putting any ads here or perhaps you want it to be established first? Nice to see how successful you are now. Keep up the good work and for such a young age too.

@Jane: I totally agree, nice analogy.

@Mallory: Notice that I wrote “so many” on #3, there are many blogs out there, some good, and a few excellent ones, why not cut on those that you feel are not really essential and read them only on weekends?

@cosmin: It’s good to disagree sometimes, don’t worry =).

I often face the problem of thinking of my online businesses while offline, I call it a problem because at times I feel a bit obsessed, and it does happen whether I want it or not. But - For people already employed with 2 jobs and have a family around them, especially children, I don’t think it’s healthy to think about another business so often.

Your point is clear, and I have said this before my suggestions:

“Unlike your workplace, a business isn’t supposed to pay you first so you can have time to manage it, it’s actually the other way round - it’s when you dedicate enough time to your business that it enables you to monetize and live a boss-less life.”

@Katana: Hey mate, thanks for dropping by =)

I bet you’re the one laughing now Allen! Congrats and you deserve it because putting in the hard work when you’re a small fish in the big ocean can be one of the biggest drags ever.

I’ve only just started to see the real / monetary benefits of blogging after about a year - and I can say that it was worth investing that half an hour a day to blog.

Thanks for this post Allen, I like all 5 except #3. Pretty much along the lines of what others have said, yeah it can be a distraction, but it also builds friendships and networking which goes hand in hand with having a successful blog.

Business takes sacrifice.

Everybody has 24 hours a day. How well you use it will determine how much you get done versus somebody who doens’t .

I refused to become the labourer/desk junky working 9~5 and then spends the rest of his hours watching TV, sleeping and eating.

[…] Note: While I’m a strong believer of the fact that any (work at home) entrepreneur thinks about his/her business on a constant basis - and so he/she should - (read the comment I posted to one of Allen’s posts), I’m not, in any way, encouraging anyone to disregard their duties towards the family. If you don’t have any (you’re single) and you can afford to allow the dishes to pile up until they overflow your sink and if you can afford to live in a dirty house, more power to you. Otherwise, here’s how I take care of business. […]

I limit myself to visiting 3-4 blogs frequently, only so much time to spare and to write. You can also improve by watching, learn by experience.

Pretty good points there.