One thing I'm going to do is build small, focussed websites catering to profitable niches. I am hoping to spit a couple dozen of these out by years end.
I have almost finished a new version of my ebay aff site system - even quicker to build, and hopefully longer lasting in the SERPS.
I will be training the elves to crank these out, and keep doing so till Google or eBay bans me :)
Will also be re-working a few old sites that have been neglected, with the possible end objective being to sell them on.
I'm in charge of a couple of estate-related trusts. Congress just planned 2011 & 2012 for me.
QuoteTemporary modification of Estate, Gift and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax for 2010, 2011, 2012
Higher exemption, lower rate. The legislation sets the exemption at $5 million per person and $10 million per couple and a top tax rate of 35 percent for the estate, gift, and generation skipping transfer taxes for two years, through 2012. The exemption amount is indexed beginning in 2012. The proposal is effective January 1, 2010, but allows an election to choose no estate tax and modified carryover basis for estates arising on or after January 1, 2010 and before January 1, 2011. The proposal sets a $5 million generation-skipping transfer tax exemption and zero percent rate for the 2010 year.
Portability of unused exemption. Under current law, couples have to do complicated estate planning to claim their entire exemption. The proposal allows the executor of a deceased spouse's estate to transfer any unused exemption to the surviving spouse without such planning. The proposal is effective for estates of decedents dying after December 31, 2010.
Reunification of estate and gift taxes. Prior to the 2001 tax cuts, the estate and gift taxes were unified, creating a single graduated rate schedule for both. That single lifetime exemption could be used for gifts and/or bequests. The proposal reunifies the estate and gift taxes. The proposal is effective for gifts made after December 31, 2010.
As noted above. the look-through of RIC stock held by non-resident decedents is extended through 2011.
Exemption amount indexed for inflation in 2012.
2011. phew.
I am considering "trying" some PR. So many people say "beware" that I am taking Christmas to chew it over.
I have a number of small sites, that are in different niches, that I am using to test the water.
With what I do now.... automate, automate, automate. Manage only the exceptions, and do everything in my power to reduce the exceptions, so we have time to solve problems, not firefight (same as 2010)
Take more holiday. 2010 holiday was too thin on the ground for me. I guess I had the regulation days... just about.
For 2011 I have 4 weeks booked, another 2 to book as definite. See what else I can pull in.
Not specifically in order, yet:
1) Finish going over all of my sites, updating, fixing, and update categorization of pure link inventory or money site.
2) Finish the working A-Z plan which can be farmed out in sections, to build a new niche site from the ground up, and market it.
3) Build 10-12 autoblogs for testing
4) Do some list building and learning
5) Get heavier into social stuff. Look for a possible A-B-C revenue ideas.
6) Pick 3 of my most successful sites, and put some real work into them.
7) Train and start using Dragon Naturally Speaking.
8) Repeat #1 as needed.
9) Set new goal for number of sites in inventory for money or links.
10) Reach goal of #9.
11) Create and sell my own info product(s).
12) Create, promote and maintain a membership site.
It's going to be a busy year, can't wait.
Drastic, yes you have a busy year ahead!
Get back into the fray after an hiatus.
>7) Train and start using Dragon Naturally Speaking.
You will *love* it. Be forewarned...training it takes forever, but once you've got it, it is absolutely wonderful.
>Train and start using Dragon Naturally Speaking.
have had my eye on that for awhile. what kind of training time heather?
Well, you'll spend a full 3 hours on the first tutorial thing, and that's if you do it all at once. Reading, Reading, Reading. I remember getting sick of it.
Then it trains as it goes....I will say, it does get better and better as you go along.
The key is not to read any differently than you speak...which sounds obvious, but I've noticed that when you read something, you tend to enunciate better than you do when you're "just talking"...
Years ago, when the telcos were testing the first voice recognition software the trials were going great until they tried it in the South.
QuoteDragon dictation is outstanding. However, those with thick, drawling Southern accents might want to rethink their use of this application.
http://twitter.com/WSouthernBreeze/statuses/14561109327478784
>Dragon dictation is outstanding. However, those with thick, drawling Southern accents
Me? I ain't got nary an acceent.
I have wondered how well it would train, but I'll just switch to my "online voice." (Sort of like my happy place?)
Several Youtube vids' comments say I sound just like Nicolas Cage, so I should be able to pull it off.
Dragon stumbled some with my drawl, but that was a long time ago. But the browser commands were specific and fairly limited in number so I was able to get it to follow those just fine.
>nary an acceent
I've always suspected you were a Yankee spy.
Wonder what to do?
Try to convince people we can take on Groupon:)
Doug
> Dragon
I remember trying to train some of there early voice recognition engines in Windows 98 (or thereabouts). It took hours and never seemed to improve. Also I still felt odd talking to my PC. It never became useful. It was more of a task. Does Dragon save you any time?
> 2011
I've got a bunch of sites to make...all just sitting there waiting for me. I'm looking forward to getting more active with my sites again.
So, a third of the way there, how are we doing so far? I figured this would be good for motivation/accountability (for me at least.)
My original list:
Quote
1) Finish going over all of my sites, updating, fixing, and update categorization of pure link inventory or money site.
2) Finish the working A-Z plan which can be farmed out in sections, to build a new niche site from the ground up, and market it.
3) Build 10-12 autoblogs for testing
4) Do some list building and learning
5) Get heavier into social stuff. Look for a possible A-B-C revenue ideas.
6) Pick 3 of my most successful sites, and put some real work into them.
7) Train and start using Dragon Naturally Speaking.
8) Repeat #1 as needed.
9) Set new goal for number of sites in inventory for money or links.
10) Reach goal of #9.
11) Create and sell my own info product(s).
12) Create, promote and maintain a membership site.
I've done most of 1, but need to go over several sites with some specific work. Prioritized a list with several dozen sites.
2 I think will come together on its own as I go through everything. Currently going through tools and outsourcing for various aspects.
Built an autoblog, which took considerable time to learn several tools and implement them very well. More to come, and will go much faster now. I doubt many go to my extent of doing it right.
About to try my hand at selling a modified plr product as my own. Testing the waters here and should be set up this week.
Playing with social more, integrating into sites.
Holding off on Dragon for now, buying content instead. Will train it when I need to write my own.
New goals will be set once I go over everything and fully gauge where I am and where I want to be with sites. Financial goals already set.
Things I need to get done or get into the workflow:
Start list building. I have some really good sites to set this up on.
Plan and start building the public side of the membership site.
Define the types and numbers of completed sites I want to have at the end of the year.
Put serious work into a few successful sites. (Tough, as I generally leave stuff alone that is working well. Specifically last.)
You?
Nice progress there :)
Mine is coming along...my targets were:
QuoteI have almost finished a new version of my ebay aff site system - even quicker to build, and hopefully longer lasting in the SERPS.
Was needed more than ever after I suffered a MASSIVE banning session :)
Smarter system now finished - no 'smarter system' sites have been whacked by G yet, but it is still early days.
Revenue climbing again :)
QuoteI will be training the elves to crank these out, and keep doing so till Google or eBay bans me
elves trained and churning out sites
QuoteWill also be re-working a few old sites that have been neglected, with the possible end objective being to sell them on.
not started yet :(
However, I allowed another target to intrude.... I needed to streamline my process from finding expired domains to setting up hosting - as I can no longer keep up with the elves.... so I taught myself how to program enough PHP to set up a small sqlite database driven system that catches the dropped domains, filters those with too few links, and saves the rest into a 'workflow' system that makes it easy to do the rest.
Its not great coding, but it does EXACTLY what I want it to - so I am quite proud of it :)
Now I have some new targets:
- to do even more footprint removal stuff to the 'smarter system'
- to use my newly acquired, if somewhat clunky, php skills to set up a central control panel that can drive a link network embedded in 'quick build' sites
I think that second one will be a challenge - I know it would be better farmed out to a programmer - but I like the challenge :)
My plans are moving slower than I expected (isn't that always the case), but I am pushing forward. This year I've taken on some clients so I have less time for my own projects. However, I am still determined to launch a few sites. My subscription site is nearly done. For my niche sites I'm simplifying to a formula that is easy to implement and sticking to topics which I actually have an interest in so I'll have the motivation to do a quality job.
Thought I'd check in on my old list here. At first glance it seems like the business runs me more than me running it. But, after taking a higher altitude look at things I did do on the list, I'm probably in pretty good shape with about half of what I wanted to accomplish either done, close to completion or enough done to have the end result I was looking for.
The list building and social stuff I pretty much dropped off for now so I wouldn't be losing focus in too many directions. Add in the new ideas and angle or two and motivation to complete what is almost finished, I feel pretty good about this year.
With about 6 weeks to go, how is 2011 wrapping up for you so far?
Looking back, I have to say I am disappointed in my progress so far this year. After much internal debate I'm scrapping my subscription site. I've also been very caught up in my contract work and doing things that earn money now instead of what will pay off later with bigger rewards.
I am doing a sports project with a buddy though, it is relatively simple to start and I think it has good earnings potential.
>The list building and social stuff I pretty much dropped off for now
Why not just start to collect the emails Dras? It's pretty simple process and once you're ready, you can launch with a bang?
Yeah that's what I was going to do to start. But still need to pick and set up a list manager, integrate into sites, etc.
I still have sites that haven't been touched in a year or two. So many things to do that won't take much to get fixed or started, but have to prioritize it all.
I will get on it for sure, just pushed to the back a bit. Thanks for the encouragement.
I did get to a lot of site work done, but was side-tracked by integration of a lot of those properties into the SNS pages of FB, LinkedIn, Google+, and the like. I'd also like to use the "earthquake and tsunami" excuse if I missed anything else. ;)
Lacking the option to collect emails is probably the one thing we should have done years ago. Seeing the effect on traffic and earnings when my gf sends to her list, I'm pretty sure we could have done a lot better.
All the major providers have easy peasy integration to fx WP through a plugin. We also just bought and added PopUp domination for collecting even more emails. Works wonders - do it Dras :) Mailchimp even has a free account for smaller lists.