Notes from Chris

Episode 2643

Alex from Dublin is asking a question a lot more bloggers should ask—and it’s not just bloggers, but that’s kind of where it started.

“Follow my journey”—well yeah, but why? If I’m your grandma, I might be interested … but what about everyone else?

The key to captivating an audience with your life experiences lies not just in the stories themselves but in how they’re framed and connected to universal themes or actionable insights. Let’s explore how Alex can leverage his unique experiences as a backdrop for content that resonates more widely.

“Hello, I’m Alex from Dublin. I’ve always wanted to start a blog about my life experiences, travels, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. However, I’m hesitant because I’m not sure if my personal stories would be interesting to others. How can I gauge interest or make my life stories appealing to a wider audience?”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

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SEE ALSO:

• Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
• Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
• Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2642

In the fast-paced world of fashion and the dynamic realm of side hustles, having a well-organized social media strategy is crucial. The key to managing this effectively is a robust social media calendar that keeps your content timely, consistent, and in tune with your brand’s voice, whether for your fashion brand or your personal side hustle.

Today, we’re going to explore some effective methods and tools that can streamline your social media planning and scheduling, making sure your content resonates with your audience on every platform.

“Greetings, I’m Sofia, a social media manager for a small fashion brand in NYC. I’m trying to streamline our social media strategy, and I’m looking for the best way to set up a calendar for our posts—oh, and I’m also wondering about this for myself, since (naturally) I have a side hustle, too! What are some effective methods or tools for organizing and scheduling social media content to ensure consistent and timely posting across different platforms?”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

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SEE ALSO:

• Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
• Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
• Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2641

Today’s episode is part of a feature we call ‘Your First $1,000.’ As you might surmise from the title, this is all about how someone made their first $1,000.

How did they get to that point? Not their first $100,000—that’s cool, but it would probably be a long story.

One thing I’ve learned is that once you begin to earn real money, the steps required to go to the next level—whether it’s $1,000 to $2,000, or even to $5,000 or $10,000 are often easier than that first real paycheck.

With that in mind, today’s feature comes from a savvy video editor who turns Instagram Reels into a lucrative career, showcasing the art of engaging short-form content.

Let’s hear it from Nathan. I’ll be back at the end to wrap us up.

 

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SEE ALSO:

• Military Spouse Starts Subscription Box Mission:When an HR Director’s husband is away on military deployment, she uses the alone time to march toward a subscription box.
• Think Inside the Subscription Box:Looking for more community, a North Carolina web agency owner starts a subscription box for female entrepreneurs. It’s supposed to be a referral tool for her agency, but it ends up becoming a full-time business of its own.
• Nature-Loving Neighbors Create Kids Subscription Box: When two couples can’t figure out how to get their kids outdoors and away from electronics in the winter, a personal challenge blossoms into an unbeLEAFable side hustle.

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2640

Nora from Boston is at a pivotal moment many content creators face: deciding how to monetize her blog on sustainable living without alienating her audience. The challenge lies in striking a delicate balance between free content, which attracts and nurtures a readership, and paywalled content, which generates revenue.

Let’s explore strategies to achieve this balance, ensuring Nora’s blog remains accessible to new readers while offering exclusive value to subscribers.

“Hi, I’m Nora from Boston, and I run a blog focused on sustainable living. I’ve been considering introducing paywalled content to generate revenue, but I’m concerned about finding the right balance between free and paid content. How much of my content should be behind a paywall to ensure I’m still attracting new readers while providing value to subscribers?”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

---

 

SEE ALSO:

• Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
• Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
• Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2639

In today’s digital age, monetizing content on platforms like TikTok has opened up new avenues for creators. However, understanding the complexities of these platforms, especially when it comes to earnings and commissions, is crucial.

Many creators, like Theo from San Francisco, are delving into the TikTok Creator Fund, only to find themselves navigating through a somewhat opaque commission system when withdrawing their earnings. Let’s shed some light on how TikTok’s commission works and discuss strategies to effectively manage and maximize these earnings.

“Hello, I’m Theo from San Francisco, and I’ve recently started monetizing my content on TikTok. I’ve heard that TikTok takes a commission when withdrawing payments from the Creator Fund. Can you clarify how this works? I tried reading and watching some videos, but it was a little confusing. Also, are there strategies or best practices to minimize these fees and maximize my earnings when withdrawing from TikTok?”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

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SEE ALSO:

• Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
• Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
• Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2638

I believe we can learn as much from failure as we can from success, if not more. It’s with this principle in mind that I offer you a weekly segment called Failure Friday: a collection of short stories all about mistakes, missteps, disasters, and of course, failure.

Just like our Throwback Thursday segment, you’ll hear directly from side hustlers who have struggled to get something off the ground. They’ll tell you a short story of something that went very wrong.

The stories will vary, but often it starts with an idea, what they thought would happen and what really happened—and of course, what they learned.

Today’s short story features Rachel Nguyen from Laguna Beach, California. As you might guess, their business has had a couple of challenges.

Let’s hear from him about one of those struggles… I’ll be back at the end to wrap us up.

 

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SEE ALSO:

• Marketer Creates Six-Figure Subscription Box Success: He looked for a simple solution for a client, and didn’t find one—so he spent the next year building it.
• Comic Book Curator Creates Custom Crate Subscription: A Sacramento-based comic and collectibles owner sparks an interest in reading with a monthly comic book subscription box service.
• A Packed Closet Leads to Secondhand Subscription Boxes: A professional organizer finds a way to stitch her passion for thrift shopping into profits.

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2637

Welcome to Throwback Thursday / “Where are they now?” where we take an in-depth look at someone who’s story has evolved considerably since we first featured them.

Last week, we heard from a semi-retired inventor who’s now demystifying the patent process for new creators.

Today, in our latest feature, we’ll hear from a licensed therapist who diversifies her income by offering non-licensed coaching services to out-of-state clients.

What’s happened since? Let’s hear directly from them. I’ll be back at the end to wrap us up.

Listen to today’s episode to hear more…

 

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SEE ALSO:

• Raver Turns LED-Powered Gloves Into Bright Future: When a raver-turned-salesperson falls in love with an underground art form, he turns it into a successful side business.
• Bright Idea Leads Chicago Woman to Million-Dollar Hustle: A Chicago-based plastic recycling sales rep overcomes her fears and doubts to transform her love for DIY lamp shades and $10 in supplies into a multi-million dollar business.
• 3D Printing Brings Cosplay Into 21st Century: With a 3D printer and sense of imagination, a California natural gas industry worker takes superhero DIY cosplay to a whole new level.

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2636

Welcome to a common crossroads in the world of content creation, where consistency meets creativity. Jamal, a freelance writer and blogger from London, brings us a question many creators ponder: the importance of a fixed publishing schedule.

In the realms of travel and culture where stories are as dynamic as the places they describe, finding the right rhythm in posting can be crucial for building and maintaining an audience.

Today, we’re diving into the impact of a consistent publishing schedule on audience engagement and growth, and how it can be a game-changer for content creators.

“Hi there, I’m Jamal, a freelance writer and blogger from London. I write about travel and culture, but I’ve been inconsistent with my posting schedule. Some people have suggested I should have a fixed publishing schedule. How important is it to have a set schedule for publishing content? Will it significantly impact my audience engagement and growth?”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

---

 

SEE ALSO:

• Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
• Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
• Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2635

In the bustling world of freelance web design, managing multiple projects efficiently is crucial for success and client satisfaction. Kevin from Toronto highlights a common challenge among freelancers: staying organized and keeping track of progress across various projects.

With the rise of digital organization tools like Notion, there’s potential to streamline these tasks significantly. Let’s explore the effectiveness of these tools in project management and how they can be optimized for organization, progress tracking, and collaboration.

“Hello, I’m Kevin, a freelance web designer from Toronto. I juggle multiple projects at once and I’ve heard a lot about Notion and other similar tools for project organization. How effective are these tools for managing various aspects of a project? Can you recommend the best ways to keep projects organized, track progress, and collaborate with clients or team members?”

Listen to today’s episode to learn more…

 

---

 

SEE ALSO:

• Catholic Designer Creates Stylish Apparel Line: What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world but not sell any t-shirts? This designer cast his bread upon the waters and ended up with a profitable fashion line.
• Seattle Couple Creates New “Income LiveStream”: When a married couple runs into logistical problems at their wedding, it leads to an innovative service that other engaged couples need during the pandemic.
• Role-Playing Pastor Rolls The Dice On $2800/Month Hustle: Listener success story! This Presbyterian minister turns to his lifelong interest in role-playing games to set up a sustainable second income source.

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

Notes from Chris

Episode 2634

Today’s episode is part of a feature we call ‘Your First $1,000.’ As you might surmise from the title, this is all about how someone made their first $1,000.

How did they get to that point? Not their first $100,000—that’s cool, but it would probably be a long story.

One thing I’ve learned is that once you begin to earn real money, the steps required to go to the next level—whether it’s $1,000 to $2,000, or even to $5,000 or $10,000 are often easier than that first real paycheck.

With that in mind, today’s feature comes from Jamie, a a social media influencer who mastered the art of monetizing her fashion and home improvement Instagram accounts. By skillfully integrating affiliate links into their Instagram stories, they not only engaged their audience with compelling content but also created a steady stream of income, all through the affiliate platform Howl.

Let’s hear it from Jamie. I’ll be back at the end to wrap us up.

 

---

 

SEE ALSO:

• Military Spouse Starts Subscription Box Mission:When an HR Director’s husband is away on military deployment, she uses the alone time to march toward a subscription box.
• Think Inside the Subscription Box:Looking for more community, a North Carolina web agency owner starts a subscription box for female entrepreneurs. It’s supposed to be a referral tool for her agency, but it ends up becoming a full-time business of its own.
• Nature-Loving Neighbors Create Kids Subscription Box: When two couples can’t figure out how to get their kids outdoors and away from electronics in the winter, a personal challenge blossoms into an unbeLEAFable side hustle.

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,