Do you know the Pros/Cons of Making Money Online?
Don’t forget your other tools when you find the golden hammer
“Join my mastermind group today and make millions…”
Your inbox tells the story of a close fellow writer crossing over with the new goal of becoming an email marketing machine. You may start to feel like a target and no longer a friend. You definitely miss the human side of the relationship.
“Is this all about money now?”
“Do they really care about me anymore…?”
Seems like the very experienced and well-known Medium writers at some point throw their personal stories out and become one-trick ponies in the business of marketing their programs.
Every article you read will be them hammering away. “Problem-to-Profits” pitches jamming up your inbox every day.
They have learned a formula. And it makes them money. You may no longer feel like you know them. They are scaling and monetizing.
Major warning. Don’t become that person.
It is great to offer your followers your services and expertise. In fact, you must expand yourself in this way to make a good living.
It is also great to get paid more by Medium to write about the golden topic of how you can make more money by doing x,y, and z.
That is the #1 way to get paid.
But if your followers learn that you have crossed into the dark side of chronically marketing yourself, they will hold you in distrust. They will see you now as a one-trick pony.
The key is to find balance.
If not, every article you write will be opened with one eye askance. We will surely miss the personal stories you shared when you were new, fresh, and caring.
People buy from people they like and trust. Period. And they buy from people who can help relieve their pain. If you are an expert but junk up your follower's inboxes with spam, people quickly lose trust in you.
Here’s an example of a better way.
Do you remember when Zoom was a new thing? Well, I needed to learn it better and tapped into a video of a marketing coach who took his marketing hat off and painstakingly walked newbies through how to do it. He was just teaching us.
His caring qualities actually came through better than his expertise. I said to myself, “I need to learn more about this guy.” His name is George Kao, by the way, a fellow Medium writer and coach for authentic marketing. He doesn’t push, he just offers.
George is just one example of a writer who has a business but still shares the human side of himself. His followers are loyal because his services come second. His humanity comes first.
In summary, I am all in for promoting yourself and your offerings.
Just don’t forget to write a few human stories along the way. Stories without promotions or hidden agendas. Stories that are written for their importance to the world and not simply because they will be good for your stats.
Don’t throw your wrench, screwdriver, and ruler out when you find the golden hammer that simply lets you print money.
We still need to know you as a human being.
Here’s a story I wrote that helps you find your balance between making money and being a great writer!
Happy almost Spring to my fellow great writers! Please read their amazing stuff.
Judy Derby BSc. George Kao Justiss Goode WrittenMastery Erica Dhawan Sahil Patel Scot Butwell Diana Meresc Michael L Butler Sreese Jeff Herring Ahlam Ben Saga Ema Fulga Cherie Gaskin Kristina Segarra
