I Quit Trying to Make Money Online (And What I Did Instead)

Hey Friend!

I used to be super focused on making money online.  It was my number one goal.  After my successful 5-year network marketing business imploded, I tried blogging and showing up on Pinterest talking about how to style your mantle and what type of meal prep to do when pregnant. I was all over the place with my content.  There was a time when I even started an Amazon t-shirt shop. I was awful at graphics, sold only 5 t-shirts, and profited $40.  That endeavor lasted 5 weeks, exhausted my energy, and compounded my stress around making money.

I tried so hard to make money online because I believed that if I focused on making money online, I would be successful. I could stay home with my kids, and I would not have to go back to work. I could grow a thriving online business and be a success story.  Instead, I stressed myself out and didn’t get any closer to money in the bank. After trying so many things with no success, I felt like a failure and was super frustrated.  I was anxious and completely overwhelmed. Can you relate?

Do you want to know what I started doing 6 years ago that completely shifted my focus and actually made me money?  Today my business is a 7-figure business with 25,000 people on my email list.  We consistently get between 900 to 1000 organic leads every single month. We make between 80 to 120 sales a month.  That wouldn’t be possible without four key strategies.  Let me share these four important strategies with you so that you quit trying to make money and start growing a successful online business that does make you a lot of money without the stress.

QUIT TRYING TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE AND START CREATING LONG-FORM CONTENT

Instead of focusing on making money online, begin focusing on creating long-form content. Show up online with long-form content that doesn’t expire.  Long-form content lives on and can be found one year, two years, or even five years from now.  The opposite of long-form content is social media.  Social posts expire in 24 hours or less and only 1-5% of followers see the content.  Posting on social media, creating reels and shorts, and writing post descriptions take time and energy.    

With long-form content, you can write blogs, record videos, or create audio podcasts. Out of these three options for long-form content, podcasting is the fastest, most inexpensive, easiest, and most scalable option, in my opinion.

Podcasting as a long-form content method remains for a long time in the online space. It does not go to the content graveyard nor are there algorithms to fight with.  Podcast episodes can be searched for and found year after year even if they are four years old. 

Only after a podcast has a million downloads, is completely self-sustaining, and consistently brings in revenue should you begin trying other methods of long-form content. Keeping up with multiple long-form content methods leaves you distracted, overwhelmed, and scattered.   Do one thing well with excellence until it is super successful. Then move to the next thing.

Long-form content is the first thing you need to do to make money online.  Remember, don’t focus on the money.  Instead, focus on creating long-form content in the form of a podcast, blogs, or videos. What piece of long-form content works best for you that your audience will relate to and keep coming back to for more?

QUIT TRYING TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE AND START HELPING PEOPLE

Rather than focusing on making money online, the second strategy is to focus on helping people.  Who are you here to help? What is your niche?  Who needs your tools or resources or methods to overcome a challenge that you have already walked through?  Whatever problem your client or customer is experiencing, begin creating content about that.  Start podcasting, creating videos, or blogging about what you did and how you did it so that they can experience the same success in their life.

Remember, they are already searching for “how to” on the internet.  For example, how to start a garden with zero budget.  Or tips to declutter their kitchen or how to communicate with their spouse when they fight.  As they search, they will find your blog, your podcast, or your video. 

Remember, don’t worry about how to make money.  Money will come as you help people first.  When you have an audience that you serve and you attract them through your content so that they keep coming back, they will begin to know, like, and trust you.  Then they will ask you for what they need and will be willing to pay you for your help and your solutions.

QUIT TRYING TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE AND START STORYTELLING

Besides creating long-form content and helping people, the third strategy is to start storytelling.  Stories connect and encourage people on an emotional level.  Stories sell.  People relate to stories and gain a renewed sense of hope and possibility.  Stories restore belief in people to where they are willing to try again.  So start by being vulnerable and sharing how you failed in business, how you were addicted to social media, how you struggled with weight loss, or how you failed at launching a program or courses.  Encourage people that it is okay to fail, to mess up, and to still step forward in faith so that they grow and improve their situation.  Become an encourager of the people you are called to help and start storytelling.

QUIT TRYING TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE AND STAY CONSISTENT

The fourth strategy to turn your focus from making money to helping others is to stay consistent.  Those who listen to your podcast, watch your videos, or read your blog know that you will show up consistently every week.

When people feel lost and don’t know where to go for help, they will think of you.  When they are really struggling and are finally ready to make a change and invest in something or someone, they will remember YOU because you stayed consistent.  Your consistency will keep you top-of-mind when they are ready because your heart posture has been in a place of helping, serving, and encouraging.  As you show up and serve inside your podcast, blogs, or videos, money will follow.

YOUR NEXT STEPS FOR MAKING MONEY ONLINE

Sometimes we focus on the wrong outcome, get self-focused, and run after making money. I understand because I was in that place once. Instead, I encourage you to trust God to provide the provision you need as you show up to help the people He has for you. As you make an impact for the kingdom and for the glory of God, you will make a good income.

I encourage you to journal over some tactical, tangible ways you can help the people you are called to serve.  Think through three or four stories that will help them believe in the concepts you teach. And lastly, commit to the long-form content method that you know is right for you whether that be video, blogging, or podcasting.  If it is podcasting, please allow me to help you. I have so many free resources such as a Build a Successful Business Checklist, a Should You Start a Podcast Quiz and a Podcast Launch Checklist that will help you get started if you think podcasting is right for you.

I pray this blesses you!

Xo,

Stef

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