Comments on: Monday Motivation: Internet Fame Ain’t All That

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 09:58:27 +0000

I’m go glad you wrote this. I really do not want to be famous, online or anywhere. I do want to be appreciated though. But most of all, I just want to make money. And I thought you needed to be famous and popular before you could make that money.
In fact, I just came to your blog to figure out what you did to build up your fame. But you saying that it is not worth is means a lot to me!
Content and SEO it will be for me! Thanks for the advice.

By: Chris Peterson

Chris Peterson — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:51:08 +0000

I would say that the only criterion for sexiness is results, results & results. So, its sexy, for sure.
Keep rocking, Wendy!

By: elle

elle — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:30:24 +0000

You have no idea how energizing those words really sound! Weird how slowing down actually gives the opposite effect, but I can understand. Always appreciate your honest and forthcoming nature.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:39:23 +0000

Fantastic blog post and comments that are just as astute! I don’t think I can say more than Kelly did in comment #1 or Becki in #13 so I’ll leave it as, “Well said by all!”

By: Monica

Monica — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:25:13 +0000

This was so refreshing for a relatively new mom in the blogosphere. What I want is to focus on what makes money so I can live the life I want to live. Some PR doesn’t hurt if it comes naturally, but it’s good idea to put my time into the more profitable tasks.

I really appreciate your input.

By: Becki Maxson

Becki Maxson — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:52:43 +0000

I had this same revelation earlier this spring when attending a big-time event with a lot of high level coaches, authors, internet gurus etc. It all seemed to be who could get stage time, camera time, etc. I saw a lot of “striving.”

Not criticizing anyone for what they want from their business, but what I want is lifestyle == meaning the most $$ for the least time invested. I don’t care to be anyone’s guru. It’s just not important to me.

In teaching other moms who are new to the net, I think we’re more in the majority too. Nothing wrong with strategic publicity that opens important connections, but cash flow is primary.

By: Aurelia

Aurelia — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:39:35 +0000

Very nicely said Wendy!!

By: LaTara Ham-Ying

LaTara Ham-Ying — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:08:26 +0000

Wendy thank you for showing that being popular ain’t all that is your wallet is not fat

It is a joke!

On a serious note I am always telling my clients that it is not worth it to use social media and get all the PR you need if there is nothing for your target market to really chew on.

By: Alyssa

Alyssa — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:12:53 +0000

One thing if for sure and Wendy said it nicely but the truth is, “popularity doesn’t pay the bills.”

By: Kelly McCausey

Kelly McCausey — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 05:34:35 +0000

I don’t care what anybody says – paying the mortgage IS oh so SEXY!

By: Andre Kibbe

Andre Kibbe — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 05:58:12 +0000

As Caroline Middlebrook likes to say, popularity doesn’t pay the mortgage!

Social media promotion is definitely not a high leverage activity for anyone focused primarily on income. Social traffic tends to be untargeted and converts poorly, since it’s comprised mainly of browsers. Search traffic, on the other hand, is made of people actively trying to solve a problem or learn a skill, even if that means clicking on an ad.

More and more bloggers are becoming disillusioned with the notion that making the A-list is their ticket to financial independence. The trick is to figure out all the search funnels into your niche, and optimize for that.

Congratulations on shifting your priorities, and those lovely August revenues that followed!

By: Alice Seba

Alice Seba — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:11:03 +0000

Nicely said, Wendy. I have been trying to drive the same point to my readers/clients/customers for a while now.

Whether it’s blogging or Twitter…popularity doesn’t always get you to where your business goals are.

Everyone wants to be an A-list blogger. I’m happy being a $-list blogger.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:24:26 +0000

I’m seeing a lot of ‘revelations’ in the world of the internets and IM in particular. Andy Jenkins leaving StomperNet, for instance, and you taking your own step back, analyzing, and heading off again in the direction YOU want to go.

Seems 2009 has been a life-changer for a lot of us…

By: Crissy

Crissy — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:31:45 +0000

Great post, Wendy. A lot of people who are new to the idea of working at home see the “famous people” and think that is what they need to be like them in order to be successful.

I think we fail to realize that what we are seeing is what these people want us to see — the glitz and glamour. We don’t know if these people are really happy or if they are tired, stressed, and unsatisfied.

I’m glad you were able to spend this summer re-discovering what makes you happy about an internet business!

By: Sharon McMillan

Sharon McMillan — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:10:12 +0000

Lovely post Wendy. Since I see/experience the same emotional journey in the “employment” world I’d say we have a universal lesson here. Why are we working/running a business if not to enjoy the people in our lives that mean the most to us, go to bed happy at night AND pay the bills? The other stuff – promise of fame or promotions – are off-road distractions.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:39:42 +0000

I’m still in the stage of getting all that publicity together so that, hopefully, I can figure out how to use it for monetary purposes. So, I’ll take what I can get. lol

By: Loretta

Loretta — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:45:49 +0000

Brilliantly said, Wendy

By: Kelly McCausey

Kelly McCausey — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:28:59 +0000

Wendy, I applaud you for sharing this so frankly with our readers.

Too many people are on this PR train to nowhere. They’re working too darned hard for too darned little hoping for this big end game promise that only a precious few ever experience.

I’m not raining on any parades here. If you want to be famous – go for it. But if you realize you really just want to get paid for doing something you enjoy – relax and go for that instead.