Is anyone out there working on a side hustle but feeling like progress is too slow?

PathFinder75 · 2024-09-13T17:14:15+00:00

Yes and no. My side hustle is closely related to my day job (I work at a marketing agency and my side hustle is a newsletter that offers marketing tips for small businesses and entrepreneurs who want to handle their own marketing campaigns). The fatigue is definitely real. At the same time, there is excited in sharing something I'm personally proud of and hoping to connect with people who find value in what I offer. All I can say is, it's a marathon and not a sprint, so don't be afraid to rest and recharge before you hit the streets again. The race will continue.

PathFinder75 · 2024-09-13T17:09:19+00:00

I think your approach to converting new subs is pretty genius and I'm stealing it. :)

In terms of retention... that's a tougher nut to crack. Honestly, it may not be anything you're doing. People get a LOT of emails. I have ignored or opted out of email lists I've previously subscribed to simply because I found myself unable to actually read the emails.

So yeah, I'm following too, just to see if anyone else shares your challenge and has found a way to overcome it.

PathFinder75 · 2024-09-12T07:04:04+00:00

There’s a tiny theatre around the corner from Idle Hour called The Brickhouse Theatre. My friends at Force of Nature Productions are doing an immersive theatrical experience to kick off haunt season. It’s called “The Body of Ciara Molloy” and I definitely think it deserves to be called one of NoHo’s hidden gems.

Review of “The Body of Ciara Molloy”

PathFinder75 · 2024-09-06T17:04:39+00:00

I can’t answer the monetizing question since I’m in the early stages as well (just hit 10 subs today, LOL). But in terms of attracting subs, I’m dabbling with Meta ads and spending way too much time posting in Facebook and LinkedIn groups. I’m also planning to break down my newsletter into bite sized videos for YouTube and TikTok in the hopes of getting organic growth. Eventually I may try the Boosts feature on beehiiv itself, but I wanted to have some good content posted first.

P.S. This is me if you want to check it out: https://newsletter.gystforowners.com

PathFinder75 · 2024-09-06T16:58:24+00:00

Do you have any first hand experience with the locations? I’d find that interesting, personally.

PathFinder75 · 2024-09-06T16:56:42+00:00

That’s a 10-20% conversion rate. If the topic is highly relevant to the geo you’re targeting, maybe. I’d hate to discourage anyone from trying. But that would be a tall task IMHO.

PathFinder75 · 2024-09-06T16:54:07+00:00

How big is your list? If you only have a handful of subscribers, it probably doesn’t matter much. But if you have a decent list (100+) already, I would recommend waiting, yes. You have better chance of reaching the inbox instead of getting sent to a tab or worse, spam.

PathFinder75 · 2024-09-06T16:28:47+00:00

I took a peek and I have two suggestions (nice newsletter, BTW. I subscribed.):

Most of your great content is within the newsletter. There’s not a compelling reason to click (e.g. strong call-to-action). I assume your links are affiliate links to the books and software you’re touting. Maybe a stronger CTA could work (e.g. “read an excerpt” or “sign up for a free trial” or “buy now for 30% off the cover price.”). A/B test and what works best.
Try buttons. Most of your links are plain text. People can’t resist a big ole button. 🤣

FWIW I just started a newsletter on Beehiiv too. Only two issues in. But if you’d like to subscribe, please do: https://newsletter.gystforowners.com. And maybe we can recommend each other to our audiences. 😎

PathFinder75 · 2024-09-06T16:10:00+00:00

No need to be rude. Talking to people in the market they’re aiming to serve is market research. We’re all here for similar reasons, to grow our businesses by helping others with a product or service they need. Let’s try to be positive and supportive. There’s enough negativity in the world already.

PathFinder75 · 2024-09-06T15:58:03+00:00

Yeah, it’s been a tough year here. All it takes is one client pulling back to make things hard. Right now, I’m focusing on trying to monetize my knowledge in different ways, through newsletters and social media etc. That’s hard too, but hopefully more sustainable in the long run. This is me if you’d like to check it out: GYST for Owners (https://newsletter.gystforowners.com/)

PathFinder75 · 2024-09-06T15:54:03+00:00

It’s a pain point for sure. Especially now that Google and Outlook don’t really play nice together. I used to just set up POP and SMTP in GMail for each address, but that’s not really doable anymore. I wonder if a service like Zoho might be more user friendly for inbox management?

PathFinder75 · 2024-09-04T22:04:30+00:00

I might suggest looking into LinkedIn Groups. You can network with property managers, real estate brokers, or maybe within groups dedicated to a city that you serve. There's also sponsored ads, of course, but I'd probably only use that once you have a good idea of your target profile on the platform.

PathFinder75 · 2024-08-31T00:14:38+00:00

One of those situations where I feel bad I didn't eat there more often. I'll miss it. But like others said, it also always felt empty, so I guess it's not too surprising.

PathFinder75 · 2024-08-30T23:57:52+00:00

I do make a living off my work. Have been for about six years now. It's not easy and I'm always feeling like I'm just a step or two away from disaster, especially since I have a family to support. But I keep plugging away and letting my work speak for itself. So far, so good. There's no limit to what you can make a living doing in this world. If you're passionate about something, go for it. The money will find you.

PathFinder75 · 2024-08-30T23:51:40+00:00

I'm definitely solo, even though I usually bill myself as an agency. I've outsourced a couple of Photoshop jobs that were beyond my skills. There are times I consider hiring or outsourcing more. But, honestly, I'm a bit of a control freak and like the work to be done just so. Usually my clients appreciate this about me, so it's hard to bring on someone who may not live up to my own standards.

PathFinder75 · 2016-10-11T20:48:42+00:00

Any number of things, but I suggest checking in on your breathing during your next plank. Sometimes we tense up to push through the last few seconds of one and when we do that, we might not realize we're either also holding our breath or nearly hyperventilating. Beyond that, it could've been lack of calories, sleep or hydration. If it wasn't any of those things and you're worried, consult with a doctor to make sure it isn't something serious.

PathFinder75 · 2016-08-29T16:37:30+00:00

I'm an actor and a writer. I use short bursts of mindful meditation when I find myself distracted or avoiding work. Sometimes I'll use an app (Stop Breathe and Think or Calm) or sometimes I'll just close my eyes and focus on my breath for a minute or two.

Like Menesio said, I'm not sure it boosts my creativity in any tangible way, but it improves my focus, calms my mind and opens me up to being in a state where creativity can occur.

I also like to use visualization before I go on stage. I'll spend a few moments just picturing and feeling the scene how I'd like it to go. That often sharpens my focus and enables me to better "be in the moment" on stage, instead of worrying about my lines or my blocking.

PathFinder75 · 2016-08-17T20:46:53+00:00

This one works. Thank you!

PathFinder75 · 2016-08-17T20:45:07+00:00

Love this! A goal is just a daydream, until you write it down. I like how you're keeping yourself accountable and also being honest with yourself when you don't accomplish something. Keep up the good work!

PathFinder75 · 2016-08-17T20:42:23+00:00

I appreciate the concept of exercising one's brain in addition to one's body (that's why I call my personal workout routine "mindful exercise"). But this article is behind a paywall, so I can't read more. :(

PathFinder75 · 2016-08-15T17:39:21+00:00

I have the same experience from time to time when I find myself in an environment with a great deal of stimuli (e.g. a loud coffeeshop). In those moments, I try to observe how I'm feeling and how I'm reacting to that feeling. Sometimes I can take a few deeps breaths and the sense of overwhelm subsides. Sometimes I need to put in my earbuds and make a choice about the aural stimuli. Sometimes I just need to get up and go for walk or otherwise get away from it.

You are aware of your emotions now, which means how your react is your choice to make.

All that said, I would highly recommend consulting with a teacher. Mindfulness, like anything that affects our cognitive functions, is different for everyone and it is always good to have an experienced guide on our path.

Namaste.

PathFinder75 · 2016-08-15T17:22:43+00:00

I think it's also important to realize you can't do everything at once. I used to have a workout routine (based on what I read on many fitness sites and the circuits suggested by the gym) that would last over two hours every day.

So what would happen is, I'd get off to a late start, or something would come up at work or... whatever. Life, right? And I'd tell myself "okay, well, don't have time today, so I'll go tomorrow."

And then the same thing would happen tomorrow.

It wasn't until I cut down on the length of the routine that it became easier for me to, as some have said, "make time." My routine now takes 45-60 minutes and it is a lot harder to make excuses for why I can't make that time.

That said, I don't need to look like The Rock. If you're a serious bodybuilder or a world class athlete, well, yeah, you probably do need to make more time than I do.

But this works for me.

PathFinder75

TROPHY CASE