- Jul 26, 2016
- 2,244
- 3,546
1. Could you please tell us a little about the journey and how you started in internet marketing/SEO?
A: My journey started pretty messy to be honest. I was working a call center job in 2016 and i really liked the job (but the payout was not really good), so I started to search for some ways to make money online. My intention was never to make this full-time. I always wanted to do a part-time job and earn some money online on the side. A couple of months of working in the call centre i decided to start an apprenticeship as a call-center agent (yes, there are apprenticeships for that). I got approved and it was a total mess from the beginning. I was basically the slave for the company and all i did was clean coffee-machines and take calls from stupid customers. While all this was going on, i was already heading deep into Internet Marketing. At this point (2017 - 2018) i had a successful Youtube Channel generating more money (than my apprenticeship) and i also had some other CPA Ventures that were earning me some money on the side. After 1,5 years of being the company slave i decided to call it quits, went to the mailbox and put in my notice that i would be quitting my apprenticeship, and that was it. Never heard from the company again. Fu**ers... Anyway, at this point i really started to take everything a little bit more seriously and started out trying other things as well. I noticed that i am better at failing then i am in succeeding and i think this is a very important part when it comes to life in general, but i digress.
2. Tell us a bit about your current projects, what are you working on?
A: Youtube has kind of taking a hit since 2019 and the whole "Adpocolapse" thing that has happened in the years prior. At this point my channel is demonetized, but i am still trying things to make it work again (Never give up!). On top of that i do some CPA on the side but not as active as i used to do it anymore. I am kind of getting away from the traditional CPA, since its getting harder every day to keep things going.
At the moment i am putting my Main Focus on Media Buying. In Particular, i am focussing more on POP/PUSH as well as Native, TikTok and Facebook. It's very difficult to get the hang of it but i am confident that i will eventually succeed in it.
I also have an Affiliate Site with a BHW Member. That has been going on for years now. He's really experienced in SEO and we form a good JV together. We'll have some upcoming projects in the making, but nothing that could be discussed yet.
3. What does your routine look like nowadays?
A: I start to wake up at 4:00 AM (Yes, this is no joke). I go downstairs and grab myself a coffee and eat breakfast. At 4:30 AM i am at the computer and go over my eMails and get ready for work. At 4:50 AM i get on the cardio machine and do work at the same time. I have a spinning bike and a electric desk, that i can change the height in (Best Purchase Ever). Bicycle fits perfectly under it and i can do cardio while i am working. My Cardio Session will last 2 hours. While doing cardio i am mainly creating articles for the Affiliate Site and checking my campaigns on the Tracker Dashboard/Optimizing them
After the Cardio Session i usually start to check more data from my campaigns, i also check my CPA Stuff and replace "XYZ", if i have to. Sometimes i'll try to do a Video for Youtube if time allows it. There is not really a specific routine after the Cardio Session. I usually start in the day and have some mental checklist that i wanna get done during the day.
4. How often do you take a vacation from work and do you vanish or still put some hours?
A: I definitely should be taking more vacations. My last vacation was 5 months ago and it was Paris. Especially with Media Buying, if you are running new campaigns you will always want to check your campaign stats every day. In terms of not working (touching any work that day) at all, i would have to say 2018, since that was the last day at my official workplace. I do however spent some time outside almost everyday. I should never forget what my official goal was going to be. It was actually to be financially free and have a life where i do not have to worry about not having enough money in the bank to cover my food.
I won't say that i am already at that point, but i am going in the right direction and the only way for me is forward.
5. I know that you are into media buying lately, for someone that just wants to get started what would you suggest?
A: Media Buying is difficult. You are competing with a lot of different people and you need to lose money in order to get experience in the field. The most important things, if you wanna start Media Buying are:
- Budget (To Start i'd say around 2k - 5k)
- Willing to test a lot of offers
- Willing to lose it all
Unfortunately, there is not a "method" for this type of stuff. You grab a offer, you grab a landing page, you put both together, send traffic to it and hope it works. If it works you can scale the campaign. If not then you have to suck up the loss and start again. That game sounds relatively easily, but if you constantly see red numbers in your dashboard, it can really make you crazy.
Another important thing is to have a backup. You should NEVER ever go into Internet-Marketing as your last resort in hopes to make some money. Internet Marketing takes time and especially if you are into SEO, then you need Budget + Time. I'd rather suggest you to start IM on the side and work your normal day job. If you have enough so you can cover your expenses + your IM Ventures for over a year, then you can think about quitting your job.
6. What is the SEO strategy that you follow and believe has the most success for your websites?
A: I hate to say this in a fellow SEO Forum, but currently i do not follow any SEO Strategy. I do have a few websites, that i am currently using a Silo Structure for if that helps. I am far from an advanced SEO Guy, but i am trying to get there. Just give me some more time
.
7. What is a productivity tip that has done drastic changes to your growth?
A: Every day when you wake up, get yourself a pen and a paper and write off the things that absolutely need to be done at the end of the day. It doesn't even have to be work related. Just write the things down that need to be done. And then start off with the hardest tasks first. If you are getting the worst part over in the beginning, the other ones will feel so easy. Trust me, try it out, and see for yourself.
Also, try to get some cardio in every now and then, and hit the gym. We as marketeres, spend a lot of time sitting in front of the computer. It can get very unhealthy and cardio/+ weightlifting will definitely help you against fatigue.
8. What are some books that have changed your mindset?
A: 1. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck (Mark Manson)
2. The 4-Hour Workweek (Timothy Ferriss)
3. How to win friends and influence people (Dale Carnegie)
9. What’s been your biggest regret and your biggest lesson since starting out?
A: One of my biggest regrets is not taking action, when i should've. There are so many opportunities every day and we either feel we are not skilled enough, have the fear of failing, or we are just lazy and not end up taking any action at all. We never know if we succeed in something unless we actually try it.
The biggest regret is also the biggest lesson for me, since this is what makes a successful entrepreneur. If you are not failing, not trying new things and not taking any action you will get NOWHERE. And i seriously mean nowhere. We all have a life, and we all want to make the best out of it, but without taking any risks at all, we limit ourselves so much, which is a tragedy. Sometimes i think about the future. When i am laying on my deathbed, i surely do not want to think about things like: "What happened if i would've done ... this ... or this"" - That's why i think taking action and failing is very important, ESPECIALLY as an entrepreneur.
10. What is the biggest pain point in your Online Marketing career?
A: Definitely Taxes and Bans from Social Media Networks. It's really frustrating to see your money getting flushed down the toilet and its also very frustrating when you wake up to several accounts banned on -INSERT SOCIAL NETWORK- here.
Is there a CEO you're following/studying?
A: Not actively. A while ago i was following Elon Musk quite a bit, since he has a rather quirky humor and has gone through lot of shit with Tesla and SpaceX, especially in 2006 - 2013. His motivation and thrive to be the best somewhat motivates me as well.
What is your favorite online tool that you use on a daily basis?
A: Yeah. With Media Buying its very important to know what your competition is doing so there are some Spytools that you can buy. Granted they are not that cheap (100$+ upwards per month), but they can really make a significant difference if you know how to operate and use them. Obviously, since I am getting more into SEO again, I am using SEMRush to analyze my competitors as well. I use Skype on a daily basis to chat with my JV Partner and some Ad Network Managers.
How many hours do you sleep every night?
A: I try to get in about 6 to 8 hours of sleep. Mostly its about 7 hours.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
A: Great question. I definitely wanna have an established website with my current JV Partner. I do wanna have a lot more streams generating revenue, since this also helps with my "financially free" philosophy. I wanna be able to travel at least 6 - 7 times (if not even more) per year and wanna see the world, explore stuff, meet great new people and have lots of fun, because thats what life is about. At the end of the day, we are all gonna die, and why should we waste our time on some meaningless bullshit, when we could rather have fun, make some money and explore the world around us.
What is the most likable task you do as a MOD and the worst one that you don't want to deal with?
A: I really hate to give out infractions/warnings. Sometimes people need small reminders to understand what the rules of the forum are, but i'd rather leave it at a friendly conversation then throwing shit against each other. Becuase the other thing is that warnings will upset some people, and i generally never have the intend to make someone mad/angry/sad just because they get an infraction from me. Unless you are being an ass on the forum. Then you deserve to get your ass kicked.
It's not really a certain task, but i definitely like to help people out when they actually need my help and when they appreciate the help from the moderators. Some people tend to forget that not all moderators are paid and we also have our businesses and work to take care of. A simple "Thank you" is already enough, and you will make my day better.
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A: My journey started pretty messy to be honest. I was working a call center job in 2016 and i really liked the job (but the payout was not really good), so I started to search for some ways to make money online. My intention was never to make this full-time. I always wanted to do a part-time job and earn some money online on the side. A couple of months of working in the call centre i decided to start an apprenticeship as a call-center agent (yes, there are apprenticeships for that). I got approved and it was a total mess from the beginning. I was basically the slave for the company and all i did was clean coffee-machines and take calls from stupid customers. While all this was going on, i was already heading deep into Internet Marketing. At this point (2017 - 2018) i had a successful Youtube Channel generating more money (than my apprenticeship) and i also had some other CPA Ventures that were earning me some money on the side. After 1,5 years of being the company slave i decided to call it quits, went to the mailbox and put in my notice that i would be quitting my apprenticeship, and that was it. Never heard from the company again. Fu**ers... Anyway, at this point i really started to take everything a little bit more seriously and started out trying other things as well. I noticed that i am better at failing then i am in succeeding and i think this is a very important part when it comes to life in general, but i digress.
2. Tell us a bit about your current projects, what are you working on?
A: Youtube has kind of taking a hit since 2019 and the whole "Adpocolapse" thing that has happened in the years prior. At this point my channel is demonetized, but i am still trying things to make it work again (Never give up!). On top of that i do some CPA on the side but not as active as i used to do it anymore. I am kind of getting away from the traditional CPA, since its getting harder every day to keep things going.
At the moment i am putting my Main Focus on Media Buying. In Particular, i am focussing more on POP/PUSH as well as Native, TikTok and Facebook. It's very difficult to get the hang of it but i am confident that i will eventually succeed in it.
I also have an Affiliate Site with a BHW Member. That has been going on for years now. He's really experienced in SEO and we form a good JV together. We'll have some upcoming projects in the making, but nothing that could be discussed yet.
3. What does your routine look like nowadays?
A: I start to wake up at 4:00 AM (Yes, this is no joke). I go downstairs and grab myself a coffee and eat breakfast. At 4:30 AM i am at the computer and go over my eMails and get ready for work. At 4:50 AM i get on the cardio machine and do work at the same time. I have a spinning bike and a electric desk, that i can change the height in (Best Purchase Ever). Bicycle fits perfectly under it and i can do cardio while i am working. My Cardio Session will last 2 hours. While doing cardio i am mainly creating articles for the Affiliate Site and checking my campaigns on the Tracker Dashboard/Optimizing them
After the Cardio Session i usually start to check more data from my campaigns, i also check my CPA Stuff and replace "XYZ", if i have to. Sometimes i'll try to do a Video for Youtube if time allows it. There is not really a specific routine after the Cardio Session. I usually start in the day and have some mental checklist that i wanna get done during the day.
4. How often do you take a vacation from work and do you vanish or still put some hours?
A: I definitely should be taking more vacations. My last vacation was 5 months ago and it was Paris. Especially with Media Buying, if you are running new campaigns you will always want to check your campaign stats every day. In terms of not working (touching any work that day) at all, i would have to say 2018, since that was the last day at my official workplace. I do however spent some time outside almost everyday. I should never forget what my official goal was going to be. It was actually to be financially free and have a life where i do not have to worry about not having enough money in the bank to cover my food.
I won't say that i am already at that point, but i am going in the right direction and the only way for me is forward.
5. I know that you are into media buying lately, for someone that just wants to get started what would you suggest?
A: Media Buying is difficult. You are competing with a lot of different people and you need to lose money in order to get experience in the field. The most important things, if you wanna start Media Buying are:
- Budget (To Start i'd say around 2k - 5k)
- Willing to test a lot of offers
- Willing to lose it all
Unfortunately, there is not a "method" for this type of stuff. You grab a offer, you grab a landing page, you put both together, send traffic to it and hope it works. If it works you can scale the campaign. If not then you have to suck up the loss and start again. That game sounds relatively easily, but if you constantly see red numbers in your dashboard, it can really make you crazy.
Another important thing is to have a backup. You should NEVER ever go into Internet-Marketing as your last resort in hopes to make some money. Internet Marketing takes time and especially if you are into SEO, then you need Budget + Time. I'd rather suggest you to start IM on the side and work your normal day job. If you have enough so you can cover your expenses + your IM Ventures for over a year, then you can think about quitting your job.
6. What is the SEO strategy that you follow and believe has the most success for your websites?
A: I hate to say this in a fellow SEO Forum, but currently i do not follow any SEO Strategy. I do have a few websites, that i am currently using a Silo Structure for if that helps. I am far from an advanced SEO Guy, but i am trying to get there. Just give me some more time
.7. What is a productivity tip that has done drastic changes to your growth?
A: Every day when you wake up, get yourself a pen and a paper and write off the things that absolutely need to be done at the end of the day. It doesn't even have to be work related. Just write the things down that need to be done. And then start off with the hardest tasks first. If you are getting the worst part over in the beginning, the other ones will feel so easy. Trust me, try it out, and see for yourself.
Also, try to get some cardio in every now and then, and hit the gym. We as marketeres, spend a lot of time sitting in front of the computer. It can get very unhealthy and cardio/+ weightlifting will definitely help you against fatigue.
8. What are some books that have changed your mindset?
A: 1. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck (Mark Manson)
2. The 4-Hour Workweek (Timothy Ferriss)
3. How to win friends and influence people (Dale Carnegie)
9. What’s been your biggest regret and your biggest lesson since starting out?
A: One of my biggest regrets is not taking action, when i should've. There are so many opportunities every day and we either feel we are not skilled enough, have the fear of failing, or we are just lazy and not end up taking any action at all. We never know if we succeed in something unless we actually try it.
The biggest regret is also the biggest lesson for me, since this is what makes a successful entrepreneur. If you are not failing, not trying new things and not taking any action you will get NOWHERE. And i seriously mean nowhere. We all have a life, and we all want to make the best out of it, but without taking any risks at all, we limit ourselves so much, which is a tragedy. Sometimes i think about the future. When i am laying on my deathbed, i surely do not want to think about things like: "What happened if i would've done ... this ... or this"" - That's why i think taking action and failing is very important, ESPECIALLY as an entrepreneur.
10. What is the biggest pain point in your Online Marketing career?
A: Definitely Taxes and Bans from Social Media Networks. It's really frustrating to see your money getting flushed down the toilet and its also very frustrating when you wake up to several accounts banned on -INSERT SOCIAL NETWORK- here.
Is there a CEO you're following/studying?
A: Not actively. A while ago i was following Elon Musk quite a bit, since he has a rather quirky humor and has gone through lot of shit with Tesla and SpaceX, especially in 2006 - 2013. His motivation and thrive to be the best somewhat motivates me as well.
What is your favorite online tool that you use on a daily basis?
A: Yeah. With Media Buying its very important to know what your competition is doing so there are some Spytools that you can buy. Granted they are not that cheap (100$+ upwards per month), but they can really make a significant difference if you know how to operate and use them. Obviously, since I am getting more into SEO again, I am using SEMRush to analyze my competitors as well. I use Skype on a daily basis to chat with my JV Partner and some Ad Network Managers.
How many hours do you sleep every night?
A: I try to get in about 6 to 8 hours of sleep. Mostly its about 7 hours.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
A: Great question. I definitely wanna have an established website with my current JV Partner. I do wanna have a lot more streams generating revenue, since this also helps with my "financially free" philosophy. I wanna be able to travel at least 6 - 7 times (if not even more) per year and wanna see the world, explore stuff, meet great new people and have lots of fun, because thats what life is about. At the end of the day, we are all gonna die, and why should we waste our time on some meaningless bullshit, when we could rather have fun, make some money and explore the world around us.
What is the most likable task you do as a MOD and the worst one that you don't want to deal with?
A: I really hate to give out infractions/warnings. Sometimes people need small reminders to understand what the rules of the forum are, but i'd rather leave it at a friendly conversation then throwing shit against each other. Becuase the other thing is that warnings will upset some people, and i generally never have the intend to make someone mad/angry/sad just because they get an infraction from me. Unless you are being an ass on the forum. Then you deserve to get your ass kicked.
It's not really a certain task, but i definitely like to help people out when they actually need my help and when they appreciate the help from the moderators. Some people tend to forget that not all moderators are paid and we also have our businesses and work to take care of. A simple "Thank you" is already enough, and you will make my day better.
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