[This Is Trouble]

I’d agree with that, but #1 comes with this caveat:

You must know how to understand a market, validate your product idea, and how to put together a launch.

All of these are hard.

[stefpdt]

Really great quality info Kyle.

I've been following your work over the past year, and you're a really high-quality entrepreneur. You make some awesome products.

I already have a niche site, so I'm personally more interested in how you built your video course.

I was just thinking about how you pretty much only need a laptop, webcam, microphone, and a tripod - and you can operate a one-man online empire from anywhere in the world.

Really exciting times we live in.

[nomadbrah]

Niche sites are cool and their allure is obvious.

I would recommend them for those who don't want to live full time from it. They can be good little earners and you learn a lot.

If you have a plan of eventually turning it into a real full time business, then niche sites are imo not the way to do it. Go big or go home, if you want to make a real living. Big brand.

[This Is Trouble]

(10-30-2017 12:09 AM)stefpdt Wrote:  

Really great quality info Kyle.

I've been following your work over the past year, and you're a really high-quality entrepreneur. You make some awesome products.

I already have a niche site, so I'm personally more interested in how you built your video course.

I was just thinking about how you pretty much only need a laptop, webcam, microphone, and a tripod - and you can operate a one-man online empire from anywhere in the world.

Really exciting times we live in.

Thanks man. I appreciate that a lot.

Pro Niche Site was pretty much done just with ShareX screen recorder, a Blue Snowball Mic, and Clickfunnels.

My course on harems was a bit more difficult because it has me on video and was built on WordPress with Memberpress, plus I had to handle all the pains of doing credit card processing myself.

Maybe I'll whip up a datasheet about this, too...

[This Is Trouble]

(10-30-2017 01:11 AM)nomadbrah Wrote:  

Niche sites are cool and their allure is obvious.

I would recommend them for those who don't want to live full time from it. They can be good little earners and you learn a lot.

If you have a plan of eventually turning it into a real full time business, then niche sites are imo not the way to do it. Go big or go home, if you want to make a real living. Big brand.

Exactly.

Use them as a stepping stone to something bigger.

[stefpdt]

(10-30-2017 03:58 AM)This Is Trouble Wrote:  

(10-30-2017 12:09 AM)stefpdt Wrote:  

Really great quality info Kyle.

I've been following your work over the past year, and you're a really high-quality entrepreneur. You make some awesome products.

I already have a niche site, so I'm personally more interested in how you built your video course.

I was just thinking about how you pretty much only need a laptop, webcam, microphone, and a tripod - and you can operate a one-man online empire from anywhere in the world.

Really exciting times we live in.

Thanks man. I appreciate that a lot.

Pro Niche Site was pretty much done just with ShareX screen recorder, a Blue Snowball Mic, and Clickfunnels.

My course on harems was a bit more difficult because it has me on video and was built on WordPress with Memberpress, plus I had to handle all the pains of doing credit card processing myself.

Maybe I'll whip up a datasheet about this, too...

I would buy a video course on how to make video courses from you, because I trust that you'll put out a quality product.

As for your current course (I don't wanna derail your thread) - I can vouch that building a niche site still works extremely well in 2017.

Sometimes niche sites can earn enough to cover all of your living expenses and travel.

Thank God for long-tails.

[nomadbrah]

I found another blog that looks worthwhile to follow: https://fatstacksblog.com/

Doesn't look like much but has some good info if you skip the fluf pieces.

I'm making a few niche sites from (complete) scratch by the way. No outsourcing of text, graphics, coding. It's an experiment and to get up to speed on some topics like video editing and marketing, social media etc. Might do an update in a few months.

[Leads]

Having sold 18 of my websites over the last year, I may be able to help. Each one was an income stream and I built them up over about 7 years -they ranged from games to blogs. Monetization spanned from adsense to ebooks to affiliate products and finally to private sponsorships.

The last one is the only one I mess with now. Firstly, you need to have an authoritative blog and this can be done with amazing design, on page SEO, off page SEO and a bend of organic and paid traffic. The organic comes from keyword research ( heres a brutal list ) and launching up a Chrome Webstore App to your site (check the store for comp, and then have a better logo, etc). Then, buy fiverr traffic from a reputable US/UK/Canada only gig. It will be real and show up in analytics. This will be referenced in your jaw dropping Media Kit, which is a single page PDF/PNG showing how great you are and why they need to pony the fuck up. Have all the socials accnts too and bomb them with followers. Keep feeding your site with helpful 2K+ word posts (easily done by recording a Skype chat and transcribing)

It's a good bit of work, but I can also recommend attending ONE conference in your chosen niche AND MEETING tons of key people in person. They are the ones that will green light the sponsorship of your site and pay. I've seen 7K to 45K annually from a single sponsor

Overall, I've been in this game since 95' and now trying to get back to pen/paper type shit. Hope this helps

Best of luck!

[Suits]

(11-14-2017 12:54 PM)Leads Wrote:  

It's a good bit of work, but I can also recommend attending ONE conference in your chosen niche AND MEETING tons of key people in person. They are the ones that will green light the sponsorship of your site and pay. I've seen 7K to 45K annually from a single sponsor

Could you explain what this means in more detail?

[qwertyuiop]

(11-14-2017 08:45 PM)Suits Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 12:54 PM)Leads Wrote:  

It's a good bit of work, but I can also recommend attending ONE conference in your chosen niche AND MEETING tons of key people in person. They are the ones that will green light the sponsorship of your site and pay. I've seen 7K to 45K annually from a single sponsor

Could you explain what this means in more detail?

Meet decision makers and make deals.

[Suits]

(11-14-2017 10:48 PM)qwertyuiop Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 08:45 PM)Suits Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 12:54 PM)Leads Wrote:  

It's a good bit of work, but I can also recommend attending ONE conference in your chosen niche AND MEETING tons of key people in person. They are the ones that will green light the sponsorship of your site and pay. I've seen 7K to 45K annually from a single sponsor

Could you explain what this means in more detail?

Meet decision makers and make deals.

I think there's a little to what he's saying than that. Specifically what he means by "They are the ones that will green light the sponsorship of your site and pay."

[nomadbrah]

If you want to sell a site down the road, it really pays off to build a social media following. Buyers are far more likely to invest in a brand with a social media presence than a site driven by SEO alone. This is really important, even if social media traffic usually doesn't convert well.

[qwertyuiop]

(11-15-2017 12:52 AM)Suits Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 10:48 PM)qwertyuiop Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 08:45 PM)Suits Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 12:54 PM)Leads Wrote:  

It's a good bit of work, but I can also recommend attending ONE conference in your chosen niche AND MEETING tons of key people in person. They are the ones that will green light the sponsorship of your site and pay. I've seen 7K to 45K annually from a single sponsor

Could you explain what this means in more detail?

Meet decision makers and make deals.

I think there's a little to what he's saying than that. Specifically what he means by "They are the ones that will green light the sponsorship of your site and pay."

They have the ability to write a check right then and there for your services. They make the decision to buy.

If you try to call into a company you're going to have a hellish time finding the right person #1, #2 actually getting ahold of them.

If you stroll up to them you can immediately get a yes or no to make the deal, and if there interested either get a check right there or be able to follow up after the show and have rapport.

[Suits]

(11-15-2017 08:20 AM)qwertyuiop Wrote:  

(11-15-2017 12:52 AM)Suits Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 10:48 PM)qwertyuiop Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 08:45 PM)Suits Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 12:54 PM)Leads Wrote:  

It's a good bit of work, but I can also recommend attending ONE conference in your chosen niche AND MEETING tons of key people in person. They are the ones that will green light the sponsorship of your site and pay. I've seen 7K to 45K annually from a single sponsor

Could you explain what this means in more detail?

Meet decision makers and make deals.

I think there's a little to what he's saying than that. Specifically what he means by "They are the ones that will green light the sponsorship of your site and pay."

They have the ability to write a check right then and there for your services. They make the decision to buy.

If you try to call into a company you're going to have a hellish time finding the right person #1, #2 actually getting ahold of them.

If you stroll up to them you can immediately get a yes or no to make the deal, and if there interested either get a check right there or be able to follow up after the show and have rapport.

I don't see the precise relationship between that explanation and the use of the word "sponsorship" which implies a different meaning than "make a deal" or "sell your product immediately."

I'm sure Leads will explain when he returns to this thread.

[Leads]

(11-15-2017 08:41 AM)Suits Wrote:  

(11-15-2017 08:20 AM)qwertyuiop Wrote:  

(11-15-2017 12:52 AM)Suits Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 10:48 PM)qwertyuiop Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 08:45 PM)Suits Wrote:  

Could you explain what this means in more detail?

Meet decision makers and make deals.

I think there's a little to what he's saying than that. Specifically what he means by "They are the ones that will green light the sponsorship of your site and pay."

They have the ability to write a check right then and there for your services. They make the decision to buy.

If you try to call into a company you're going to have a hellish time finding the right person #1, #2 actually getting ahold of them.

If you stroll up to them you can immediately get a yes or no to make the deal, and if there interested either get a check right there or be able to follow up after the show and have rapport.

I don't see the precise relationship between that explanation and the use of the word "sponsorship" which implies a different meaning than "make a deal" or "sell your product immediately."

I'm sure Leads will explain when he returns to this thread.

Ah, I was referring to website sponsorships, which take time. Attending an Expo just puts face-with-name and allows for a better feel regarding how interested they may be in working with you.

Im sure there are people selling physical things on-the-spot, but I have no experience with that (sales reps looking for bulk orders, etc) I'm talking about landing a sponsor for a website. It almost always requires a series of emails, sometimes over a period of time, to gauge interest. One trick I use to close, is send them a few examples of THEIR banner and ask which should be seen sitewide, over the course of the year in front of 500K visitors, etc. Since you made sure that each banner looks pretty badass, they will almost always pick one, moving the deal closer to a close.

[Suits]

(11-15-2017 09:41 AM)Leads Wrote:  

(11-15-2017 08:41 AM)Suits Wrote:  

(11-15-2017 08:20 AM)qwertyuiop Wrote:  

(11-15-2017 12:52 AM)Suits Wrote:  

(11-14-2017 10:48 PM)qwertyuiop Wrote:  

Meet decision makers and make deals.

I think there's a little to what he's saying than that. Specifically what he means by "They are the ones that will green light the sponsorship of your site and pay."

They have the ability to write a check right then and there for your services. They make the decision to buy.

If you try to call into a company you're going to have a hellish time finding the right person #1, #2 actually getting ahold of them.

If you stroll up to them you can immediately get a yes or no to make the deal, and if there interested either get a check right there or be able to follow up after the show and have rapport.

I don't see the precise relationship between that explanation and the use of the word "sponsorship" which implies a different meaning than "make a deal" or "sell your product immediately."

I'm sure Leads will explain when he returns to this thread.

Ah, I was referring to website sponsorships, which take time. Attending an Expo just puts face-with-name and allows for a better feel regarding how interested they may be in working with you.

Im sure there are people selling physical things on-the-spot, but I have no experience with that (sales reps looking for bulk orders, etc) I'm talking about landing a sponsor for a website. It almost always requires a series of emails, sometimes over a period of time, to gauge interest. One trick I use to close, is send them a few examples of THEIR banner and ask which should be seen sitewide, over the course of the year in front of 500K visitors, etc. Since you made sure that each banner looks pretty badass, they will almost always pick one, moving the deal closer to a close.

So, if I understand you clearly, you are talking about people buying advertising space on your website or are you talking about a more in-depth arrangement with a "sponsor?"

[Leads]

(11-15-2017 10:58 AM)Suits Wrote:  

(11-15-2017 09:41 AM)Leads Wrote:  

(11-15-2017 08:41 AM)Suits Wrote:  

(11-15-2017 08:20 AM)qwertyuiop Wrote:  

(11-15-2017 12:52 AM)Suits Wrote:  

I think there's a little to what he's saying than that. Specifically what he means by "They are the ones that will green light the sponsorship of your site and pay."

They have the ability to write a check right then and there for your services. They make the decision to buy.

If you try to call into a company you're going to have a hellish time finding the right person #1, #2 actually getting ahold of them.

If you stroll up to them you can immediately get a yes or no to make the deal, and if there interested either get a check right there or be able to follow up after the show and have rapport.

I don't see the precise relationship between that explanation and the use of the word "sponsorship" which implies a different meaning than "make a deal" or "sell your product immediately."

I'm sure Leads will explain when he returns to this thread.

Ah, I was referring to website sponsorships, which take time. Attending an Expo just puts face-with-name and allows for a better feel regarding how interested they may be in working with you.

Im sure there are people selling physical things on-the-spot, but I have no experience with that (sales reps looking for bulk orders, etc) I'm talking about landing a sponsor for a website. It almost always requires a series of emails, sometimes over a period of time, to gauge interest. One trick I use to close, is send them a few examples of THEIR banner and ask which should be seen sitewide, over the course of the year in front of 500K visitors, etc. Since you made sure that each banner looks pretty badass, they will almost always pick one, moving the deal closer to a close.

So, if I understand you clearly, you are talking about people buying advertising space on your website or are you talking about a more in-depth arrangement with a "sponsor?"

Never utter the words: "people buying advertising space on your website" Notice how pathetic that sounds? This is *exclusive* and cannot be automated. Do the work, make the connections. Call it a Platinum Sponsorship and put them on a pedestal. Never broadcast your rates on the site either. Offer them something of value, not just a fucking banner. Give them X number of social media posts/pages on your site, etc. I never go past 3 sponsors on a site. Keep the rate high and go after the best in the business....sometimes, it's a newcomer with insane quality. Maybe offer 3 different pricing tiers

[nomadbrah]

Leads, this is good stuff. I have a site where I plan on having sponsors, but I am unsure on how to approach. I was counting on them reaching out to me eventually.

[Leads]

(11-15-2017 02:45 PM)nomadbrah Wrote:  

Leads, this is good stuff. I have a site where I plan on having sponsors, but I am unsure on how to approach. I was counting on them reaching out to me eventually.

Unless you have a top ranking, hyper-visible, branded site....they never will. You have to reach out to them and hunt down the key contacts via their site. LinkedIn is a goldmine for making the connections btw

[redbeard]

@Leads what other metrics do you use to get them to buy your site? To convince them that your shit's legit?

Website views, sales, traffic sources, etc.

[Leads]

(11-16-2017 09:13 AM)redbeard Wrote:  

@Leads what other metrics do you use to get them to buy your site? To convince them that your shit's legit?

Website views, sales, traffic sources, etc.

I used google analytics to show traffic data and demographics ,etc. The main thing is your Media Kit, which is their window into that data as well as specifically what they will gain from being prominently displayed across your entire site. There are tons of examples of Media Kits found via google search. Usually a PNG with stats and touting the stature of your site. It should look Pro and show the price(s)

[HardcoreSexpatMotherfucker]

Yes, there's lots of talk about "passive income" but these days you really have to build value into a site, aka active income. It's a business like any other.

Nothing is really passive because the internet improves better non stop, and a "niche site" that might give you "passive income" for a few months or years can dry up very quickly after a Google update, an improvement in web standards, etc. So you always have to keep up. Rather than creating plenty of crap niche sites, I focus on 2 or 3 that I'm relly into it and that I know I'm able to watch and keep updated (in terms of content and technology) over the years.

[This Is Trouble]

(11-16-2017 09:01 PM)HardcoreSexpatMotherfucker Wrote:  

Yes, there's lots of talk about "passive income" but these days you really have to build value into a site, aka active income. It's a business like any other.

Nothing is really passive because the internet improves better non stop, and a "niche site" that might give you "passive income" for a few months or years can dry up very quickly after a Google update, an improvement in web standards, etc. So you always have to keep up. Rather than creating plenty of crap niche sites, I focus on 2 or 3 that I'm relly into it and that I know I'm able to watch and keep updated (in terms of content and technology) over the years.

Excellent advice.

Rarely are there shortcuts.

[nomadbrah]

(11-16-2017 08:53 AM)Leads Wrote:  

(11-15-2017 02:45 PM)nomadbrah Wrote:  

Leads, this is good stuff. I have a site where I plan on having sponsors, but I am unsure on how to approach. I was counting on them reaching out to me eventually.

Unless you have a top ranking, hyper-visible, branded site....they never will. You have to reach out to them and hunt down the key contacts via their site. LinkedIn is a goldmine for making the connections btw

It was more because I wanted to be in a stronger negotiating position.

[nomadbrah]

(11-16-2017 09:01 PM)HardcoreSexpatMotherfucker Wrote:  

Yes, there's lots of talk about "passive income" but these days you really have to build value into a site, aka active income. It's a business like any other.

Nothing is really passive because the internet improves better non stop, and a "niche site" that might give you "passive income" for a few months or years can dry up very quickly after a Google update, an improvement in web standards, etc. So you always have to keep up. Rather than creating plenty of crap niche sites, I focus on 2 or 3 that I'm relly into it and that I know I'm able to watch and keep updated (in terms of content and technology) over the years.

Passive income, is income that doesn't depend directly on hours in -> wage out.

You do make money while you sleep if you have a business of this kind. You also make money while you build a new moneymaking project. This is a fundamental difference from wageslavery.

Of course, people rarely mention the many, many hours you have to put in first to succeed, if you ever succeed, but we don't need to convince people about time=mastery on a forum like this.