Am I on track here?

1. 86

   Dorsiposted 16 years ago

   I've written 12 hubs in 4 weeks, I have about 2,000 views ( mostly Stumblers), I've made almost $2.00, and my hubs are averaging between 70-90 scores.  My average profile rating is 94-
   Now I am wondering, I know I'm in a learning mode right now, so starting slow is to be expected, but I really need to find out if I'm on the right track here. Advice please, are these stats about normal- are there ways I can improve- or things I am overlooking?
   The reason I ask is because I am in a career change transition, and I am looking at ways to earn with my writing, and I want to make sure I am on the right track. (BTW- I love writing here at HubPages, it's fun and you guys are great!)
   Thanks!

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2. 62

   Mishaposted 16 years ago

   It took me about two years online to start making noticeable money. YMMV of course, but as far as I understand it is pretty much about average

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   1. 86

      Dorsiposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Well I really think I like working online, I am just trying to decide what paths I want to walk down now- I'm 49 and not gettin any younger...lol..
      thanks for your response!

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3. 76

   Lissieposted 16 years ago

   been in the same place as you - this (very long ) thread may help http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/2129

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4. 87

   Marisa Wrightposted 16 years ago

   Dorsi, if you already have $2, you're doing far better than I did!
   
   I considered a similar career transition about a year ago. From everything I've read and all the people I've met online since, here's what I've learned.
   
   Lissie and I are good examples of people who thought making an internet living meant you could immediately downshift.  I was still working part-time and Lissie gave up altogether. We were both wrong.  I've earned the impressive total of $150 in a year.   Lissie is doing better but certainly not well enough to live on.
   
   Everyone I've met who is making a living on the internet has spent at least two years working full-time - or more than full-time - on it.  They didn't make much money during that time, so many of them also worked another job.
   
   A lot of that time was spent learning about SEO and marketing as well as writing.  In fact, I suspect the actual writing is the smallest part of what you need to do, to be successful!
   
   At the end of those two years, people seem to be earning enough money to live on, but probably not enough to put money away for a rainy day and certainly not enough to live in luxury.
   
   Whether this works for you depends on your own circumstances.  For me, it doesn't.   If I have to work full-time for the next two years, then I'd rather stick to a real job.  People say to me, "oh, but your two years on the internet will be building up a residual income for the future" - but that ignores the fact that my salary for the next two years will be the equivalent of several years' internet income, and I get the money now, which I can save and get the benefit of interest - and I can always go back to the internet once I've retired, if I want.
   
   It's an easy decision for me because (a) I've discovered I'm not happy working all day in isolation on a computer, so I've gone back to the real world appreciating the company of colleagues, (b) I have a good earning capacity and (c) I actually enjoy the work I do.  So office politics and corporate lunacy are easier to bear because I get some real positives from my work, too.

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5. 87

   Marisa Wrightposted 16 years ago

   Quick tip, Dorsi - read Darkside's Hub on Capsules (and any other Hubs about Hubbing you can find) to ensure your designs are optimal.   You need to break up your text into several capsules to allow ads to appear - it will also enable you to be clever with the placement of photos and to include highlighted text boxes.

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   1. 86

      Dorsiposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Lissie and Marisa for your insight. Today I am so bored out of my skull at home and I am realizing I need to be connected to the outside world too. I've been in marketing, sales and advertising for so long, and it's what gets me motivated. I love working with people, and I am finding myself burning out just focusing on the net. I love to write but I also desperately need interaction outside the net.
      I guess it's all part of the process of finding my new paths, huh?
      Thanks again.

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      1. 87

         Marisa Wrightposted 16 years agoin reply to this

         That's what I learned, too.  I thought I hated pressure, but without the buzz of a lively, fast-paced workplace, I slow down too!  I need a sense of urgency around me, otherwise my own productivity fizzles. 
         
         If I ever found myself in a situation where I had to work alone, I think I'd need to get myself a good laptop and do what J K Rowling did - go and write in a nice cafe.

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6. 62

   Mishaposted 16 years ago

   LOL yeah, this was one of my discoveries when I quit my regular job - people work for company, not for money
   
   I am an introvert, though, and hanging out on Hubpages more or less fulfills this need

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   1. 84

      SweetiePieposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      I am an introvert too and online hubbing, other groups, etc is more fun that socializing in a crowd for me.

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7. 73

   Inspirepubposted 16 years ago

   Just to be clear, Dorsi, even the most successful Hubbers, who have been here a long time, are still making less than $2,000 per month. I think there is one person getting close to that at this point.
   
   Now I don't know about you, but for me, $2000 per month is nothing like a full income!
   
   Hubbing is a hobby that can bring in some pocket money, and it's a great way to make friends with like-minded people, and also to make business contacts which can bring you contract work and joint ventures.
   
   It's not going to be your ticket to financial freedom - on its own.
   
   That said, Hubs have their place in a solid, overall internet marketing strategy. And a Hub which brings in a few cents is better income than an article in an article directory, which doesn't pay you anything.
   
   I am getting a steady stream of writing requests now (and I charge more than $3 per 100 words!), from my online presence on HubPages and in various forums and networking groups. People see my work, and if writing is not their thing they gladly pay me to do it for them.
   
   If you want some serious money, try going to sites like rentacoder.com, elance.com, and guru.com, and looking at the writing jobs that are posted there.
   
   Copywriting can be quite highly paid, too. You can start by charging $300-$700 for a sales letter, and as you get testimonials and references you can quickly work up to $2000 per letter. The top copywriters charge anything from $10,000 to $30,000 for a sales letter.
   
   It's still hours for dollars, but it's writing plus a six-figure income, which is better than the whole starving-in-a-garret-for-my-art lifestyle ...
   
   Jenny

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8. 86

   Dorsiposted 16 years ago

   Well honestly, it's not just about the money for me anymore. I've been in business for myself for over 15 years now, and the stress and strain have taken it's toll. The most important thing in my life now is to find fullfillment in what I do, and a $100 a day would do for me. I don't care if I get rich, I don't care about prestige anymore, I don't care about being in the hustle and bustle. I'm tired and just want to go out in my garden, spend time with my family and enjoy creative pursuits. I also love helping people and public relations, so working out in the world works out for me too.
   And if more money comes, thats fine, and if it does'nt, thats OK too.

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