My very first comprehensive infographic. This is a quick start guide to making money with micro-niche sites online. I’ll go into detail with each step very soon. In the meantime, I hope you like it!
Products mentioned in the Infographic (in order):
- Google Keyword Tool – Keyword Research
- Market Samurai – Keyword Research
- WordPress.org – Free Content Management Service
- Bluehost – Web Hosting Service (affiliate)
- Google AdSense – Ad Publishing Service used for Site Monetization
What’s up everyone and welcome to the unmasking of The Zen Capitalist.
Most of you already know who I am since 75% of you are Facebook friends. It’s okay because we have to start somewhere right?
Although it’s fun blogging behind a pen name, I wanted to change things up so I can be fully accountable to the words that I write.
Anyone can hide behind a fake name and make up how awesome their life is. This shady practice happens all too frequently. It’s called Fake It Til You Make It.
So I have followed suit after Pat Flynn from the SmartPassiveIncome.com and decided to go fully transparent with my online shenanigans.
As it turns out, absolutely nothing.
If you read my about me page (a page I will be taking down very soon to redo) or know me in real life, you know that I went into massive debt due to poor lifestyle decisions. The more money I made, the more I spent. After digging a pretty hefty ditch and having debt up to my neck, I finally realized something had to give — my reckless lifestyle.
So like that, I changed it and I never looked back ever since.
What I did not tell people when I first launched this site 3 years ago was the fact that I am partially at fault for the most recent financial crisis. I worked for Washington Mutual. Although I wasn’t the guy that pushed the flashing red button that automatically approved loans for people that couldn’t afford them, I am guilty by association.
When Chase took over, I was one of the lucky few in California to continue my career with the new bank. Problem was, it required me to move to a corporate building in San Antonio, Texas. Nothing against Texas, but no thanks. Like Tupac, I have that California Love.
Hey everyone, it is good to be back!
I understand I have been gone for a while and I’m going to have to woo you all over again with my magical powers. But you know what, it’s okay because I’m definitely up to the task.
This time around I have boatloads of new content you are all going to LOVE!
Case in point, the video at the top. I actually created this video 2 years ago in my first attempt to come out of blogging retirement.
Obviously, I stayed retired and the video never went up. Hence, the comment “6 months later” at 31 seconds into the film. It should actually say “2 1/2 years later” with a bunch of updated information after.
Don’t get me wrong, I tried to edit the video before I posted it here, but to no avail, animoto.com said “You must pay a toll before you cross this bridge.” They wanted me to upgrade my account and charge $5 to edit a video I created 2 years ago.
Umm, no thanks Animoto (although, I still love what you do)
The Zen Capitalist is Back! It’s on like Donkey Kong! <– Click to Tweet this Quote
You all know that I do things a little different here at thezencapitalist.com. Okay fine, I do things a lot differently than other blogs.
I take ordinary & boring information like personal finance and make it fun & easy to consume via an infusion of my own personality. Yea buddy.
It’s kind of a nonconformist thing that we have going on. Shoot, if my high school English teacher saw the colloquialism used in this blog, he’d poop bricks. So yes, you’re still going to have all of that jazz, plus more!
Here’s what we have in store for you:
Or can they? (sorry guys, this post is for the ladies)
There is no denying that buying used and wearing vintage clothing is more economical than buying new. You know what’s even more frugal than that? How about raiding your boyfriend’s, brother’s, father’s, or grandpa’s closet for old clothing. You know the type. The articles of clothing that hang in the back that are usually full of moth holes or covered with a few layers of dust. If they keep their clothes in drawers, it’s the clothing that make their way to the bottom of the compartment after months of laundry.
I would rather be dead than be caught wearing my father’s ex-favorite sweater vest
I want to share with you a website that will make planning your Secret Santa event so much easier this year. The site is called Elfster.com. If you have ever put together a Secret Santa, you know that it’s a pain in the neck to get everyone together to draw names. Everyone that wants to participate are not always there, people swap names with each other because they don’t like the person they got, and the gifts bought for each other are usually way off from what the receiver actually wants.
I know, to some of you, all of those inefficiencies make the exchange fun. However, not to me. If the exchange has a limit of $50, I want to make sure I get a gift that will be worth $50 in value to me. I honestly don’t like re-gifting, but if I receive something that I really don’t want, I’ll do it in a heartbeat. If I wanted to take a chance on a random present, I’d rather drop the price limit and call it a “White Elephant” exchange.
On the same token, I want to make sure the person that receives my present will experience the full affect of my $50. There is nothing worse than seeing your gift receiver with a fake “Thank You” smile. We’ve all been there. “Thanks for the fruit cake Auntie!” <insert fake smile>
Elfster is easy to use, quick, and hassle free. As the exchange organizer all you need to do is Sign Up.
Create the group and exchange name.
Set the Exchange Date and Place
Set the gift spending limit and exchange instructions
and invite the participants using their emails
Participants then accept the invitations and begin updating their wish lists. You can then anonymously ask questions to the group or individual participants. In fact, there are a plethora of options you can take part of without giving away your identity.
Here’s a few examples of questions that were asked to me in one of my exchanges
And here is my current wishlist if any of you readers feel like buying me a present. I threw in a Mac Mini in hope that some of my richer friends would pool their money together and get it for me. Haha. One can dream right?
It’s really that SIMPLE! My friends, family, and I use this service every year and our exchanges are always a success. We run a $50 Secret Santa and a $10 White Elephant exchange to keep it entertaining. I hope you give Elfster a try. For those of you that take up the challenge, let me know what you think. Also, if you already use Elfster’s services, tell me about your experiences.
Happy Holidays!
If you like this article, please support me by signing up for my RSS Feed HERE (You will not be emailed)
Photo Credit: ColumbusCameraOp / Ryan
Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way by Elfster.com for writing this article. This is just a website that I use to make my life, and hopefully yours, easier =D. If you have a product that you feel I might enjoy, please contact me via email.
