In the early to mid 2000s I was creating 100 websites of my own in order to make money online. I was researching keywords that were highly searched for but had little competition. When I would discover a keyword I liked I would build a thin content website around it to attract traffic which I would drive to my Google ads and affiliate links.

After a few years of building these websites I had around 100 online and it was a little difficult to keep up with them all. I wanted a quick way of seeing all of the sites so I could monitor them on a moments notice from anywhere in the world.

I didn’t want to bookmark them all and have to haul those bookmarks everywhere I went so one day I got a clever idea. It occurred to me that if I could type a certain keyword into Google it would pull up all of my websites without any other results.

To make Google search results only pull up my websites I had to have a word on them that could not be found anywhere else. I invented my own word and searched the Internet to see if it showed up anywhere. It didn’t so I was set.

The word I created was “zoinkology”. It’s the study of the language from Scooby Doo. I made that up, that is entirely not true. I like the cartoon and many of the words used by the characters. One of my favorite words is “zoinks”.

When I would build a website I would put the word “zoinkology” at the bottom of the homepage. Eventually the word was at the bottom of all of my websites. I could then go to Google and type in “zoinkology” and no websites other than my own would pull up in the results. I could then easily skim through the links to see my sites.

A hashtag is simply grouping thoughts and information together through the use of a simple word. My made up word did not have a # before it but it was the same concept. Social media hashtags did not come along until a few years later leaving me to be the inventor of the grouping concept.

What is a hashtag?

A hashtag is a word or words preceded by a #pound symbol used to group like information easily together. Social media hashtags were first used in the summer of 2007 by Chris Messina. He presented the idea to Twitter officials and suggested the company start using the pound symbol to group related Tweets together. Hence the social media hashtag was launched.

Want to know what is happening in the world before everyone else? See which hashtags are trending on Twitter and you’ll know instantly what the hot topics are.

When creating hashtags you need to begin with the pound symbol and immediately add a word or words. Do not use spaces, symbols or dashes between words or they will not work. #nospaces #nodashes #nosymbols #hashtagtips

Where to use hashtags

Hashtags are very popular on Twitter where they first came to life. Instagram is also a popular place to use hashtags. Most people don’t think to use hashtags on their blog posts or on Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest and LinkedIn. You can use hashtags pretty much anywhere you want.

You can even add a hashtag to a business card, letterhead or brochure. Interested parties can then search online for more information simply using your hashtag.

How do hashtags help?

Hashtags attract new followers and like minded individuals. They can help you grow a group of people interested in the same topics. Hashtags also help build your brand, slogan or thought. When repeated by enough people they can become popular and draw a large following. They’re a great way to bind an audience and build a movement.

Hashtags are very popular for driving support for social issues. They’re a calling card telling people you are involved and back certain causes.

A hashtag can also sum up a post or tweet with minimal words and letters. By just using the proper hashtag readers will understand the purpose of your thought. This helps build an audience that is like minded.

Do searches for hashtags using your brand or company name. You’ll begin to get feedback from users and hopefully can address any negative posts or tweets. Many people will complain on social media and hashtag the company name.

Hashtag searches can also lead you to find helpful influencers. They also help you find the right people for you to follow. Follow people in your field and they’ll help you learn techniques and tactics.

Using the right hashtags also leads to more clicks. When linking to an article or information on your website you will drive more traffic with hashtags.

How to use hashtags effectively

1. The shorter the better. Long strung out hashtags are harder to remember and are not used by many people. They also take up lots of space and can look messy.
2. Use relevant words. If you use unpopular hashtags or obscure words nobody will ever find your hashtags.
3. Use non-relevant words. If you are wanting a private group or words that cannot be found by accident use made up words or long hashtags.
4. Don’t stuff hashtags. Limit your number of hashtags to only those needed to attract your audience. Keep things looking nice without looking like a spammer.
5. Sprinkle in popular hashtags. Although there might be millions of other posts using a hashtag it can bring in instant traffic if used at the right time.
6. Find trending hashtags. There’s nothing better than riding the popularity of a trending hashtag. Hop on while the topic is hot.
7. Search hashtags for related hashtags. Study the other hashtags being used by people using your most popular hashtags. Copy.
8. Avoid hashtags already being used. If a keyword is already a part of a popular hashtag don’t try to override it with your own use. You’ll annoy people.
9. Type out your most used hashtags. When creating a new post or tweet just copy and paste hashtags you already have in waiting.
10. Use hashtags for events. Create a unique hashtag for an event. This makes it easy for participants to follow what is happening and helps them connect.
11. Include location hashtags. Including a local location hashtag will help lead to increased sales and clients.

Popular hashtags

Wondering what some really popular hashtags are? Here are a few of the most popular hashtags. Sprinkle these in with your more specific keywords and you’ll pick up extra traffic. Popular hashtags include: #gym, #summer, #workout, #happiness, #motivation, #life, #cool, #hot, #music, #hair, #beauty, #landscape, #photography, #inspiration, #design, #beautiful, #bestoftheday, #goals, #style, #swag, #health, #funny, #healthy, #blogger, #photo, #food, #fun, #happy, #artist, #cute, #followforfollow & #art.

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The post I Could Have Invented The #Hashtag appeared first on Curtis Tucker.

Just as a quick reminder I wanted to say I bought my first domain name in 1999 and built my first website. By the end of 2003 I was making enough money online I quit my job as an advertising director and started working from home. After doing this for 20 years it seems like it almost started overnight but it didn’t.

It took three years of full time work to build what I had. Three years now doesn’t seem like much but if you’re just getting started please be patient! You will not be making a ton of money or have a huge audience in just a couple of months. You’ve got to stay consistent and add value to your audience.

I did not start working on my personal brand until 2019! I’m in the same boat as you all and I’m starting from scratch as far as my own brand. Part of this blog and podcast is to help build that personal brand. At this point it is not to sell a course, get you into a funnel or make you part of a mastermind. It’s just me helping you get to where you can have the freedom to work for yourself!

I knew the value of a personal brand in 2004 when I bought CurtisTucker.com. At that time the big personal brands online were Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, John Chow, Shoemoney, Joel Comm and Heather B. Armstrong also known as Dooce.

I was using the branding of “That Sneaker Wearing Entrepreneurial Cartoonist Internet Guy”. My plan was to become a huge daddy blogger talking about parenting and living in the 70s. Unfortunately I was making great money with my cartooning and AdSense that I never devoted enough time to get it off the ground.

Today my personal brand includes being an entrepreneur, driving a Jeep, my love of the number 2, going on wild adventures, dressing casual, reminiscing about the 70s and having fun along the way. My skills include graphic design, cartooning, branding, web design, blogging, social media, podcasting, photography and speaking. I’m working towards adding pop artist and writer to my brand.

My personal brand name is now Shaggs, owner of Shaggy Duck Studio. I’ve developed my own personal cartoon logo based on my casual style and cartooning background. My casual style includes shorts and sneakers and my look entails wearing a backwards ball cap with black rimmed glasses.

The backwards ball cap has been a bone of contention at times but it’s part of my casual “look” and is included on my logo. A backwards ball cap fits my style which is shorts, t-shirts and sneakers. My Shaggy Duck clothing and lifestyle brand is all about being casual, spending time in the sun, outdoor life and fun. The ball cap fits the brand and stays on my head while driving my Jeep! A backwards ball cap is not the norm. Normal never stands out and normal will never rise above the crowd.

Examples of unique style becoming a brand include the wool cap worn by Michael Nesmith, the outrageous glasses of Elton John, the bucket hat on Gilligan, the huge cigar held by George Burns, collars worn by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the du-rag of Eminem and many others.

Having a known personal brand opens doors for opportunities like speaking engagements, interviews, book deals, media coverage, and more. An example is the fact that I was chosen to fly with the US Thunderbirds in Enid, Oklahoma because I had built a personal brand as the go-to guy for connecting to the Enid community.

Personal Brand vs. Reputation

Your personal brand is what you say about yourself, but your reputation is what others say about you. Your reputation is your integrity and values. Your personal brand is your interests, expertise and knowledge. Reputation can influence your brand.

When someone goes online to learn more about you they are going to find your name in different places. Your website is where they are going to learn about your personal brand. On review websites and forums is where they are going to learn about your reputation.

Reputation is something you earn while a personal brand is something you create. Your reputation can have a negative or positive effect on your brand.

You Probably Already Have A Personal Brand

Everyone has some type of personal brand whether they want one or not. A personal brand is basically what you are known for. People around you will form their own impression of what you’re known for but you can easily control that impression with just a little bit of effort.

There’s a guy in my hometown that has a personal brand even though he didn’t create it and may not even know he has it. His brand is that he is the go-to guy if you want to know about VW’s. He buys them, sells them and works on them. He’s also an artist that likes to draw so his brand is that he’s creative.

This guy also wears a hat everywhere he goes. Not ball caps but fedora and Indiana Jones style hats. So his wardrobe is part of his personal brand. His longer hair adds to his personal brand. You see, everyone in some way already has a personal brand whether they like it or not.

Not everyone needs or may want a promote their personal brand. Some people just want to be an employee or not connect with other people. But, if you are wanting to build up a following of people and market your information or products to them you really should build a reputable personal brand. You’ll need it to stand out when you start networking.

All that’s required to build a brand is to take what you know and share it with others, especially online. Inform, entertain or instruct consistently, and you’ll build your own personal brand in no time. It’s nothing more than marketing yourself rather than a business or product. In essence you are the product. It’s your skills, experience, and personality that will set you apart.

Make Yourself Unique

Personal branding is all about building a marketable image which you are able to mold. Your own brand is a combination of your skills, talents and personal life experiences that make you unique. What you stand for will differentiate you from others in your field.

A personal brand makes you unique in a professional field full of lookalikes. A well crafted brand can help you carve a niche in an industry and make you thought of as an industry expert.

The age of the Internet and social media has brought us a much more competitive market unlike ever before. And with that in mind, audiences are looking to form relationships with unique people they can connect with.

Your personal brand tells people what you’re known for and what you stand for. It’s ongoing and really never ends. You can pivot your personal brand so don’t feel like you have to stick with just one skill or interest forever.

Take your most personal characteristics and traits and weave into your brand. Do you want to be perceived as very polished and professional, or perhaps more quirky and adventurous? A personal brand allows you to decide!

Tools To Build A Personal Brand

To build a personal brand you must have a website! More often than not people will be introduced to you online before they ever meet you. Your well planned website can present your personal brand in the exact light you want them to see.

When building a personal brand, it is important that you also use all social media channels available and that you are consistent across every platform. Be visually appealing, and represents the type of influential person you want to be.

Make sure you can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and the latest hot platform. Keeping fresh content on all of those platforms is going to be work. But guess what? That’s now your job! If it didn’t take some pretty good effort everyone would be doing it.

The more personality you can add to your brand, the easier it will be to find your audience. Over time you will build a community of like-minded people value your skills, thoughts and will be willing to trade dollars for knowledge or information.

To build a personal brand more quickly you’ll need to use more visuals online. The best thing you can do is video and live streaming. When an audience sees you with many followers on the Internet or on TV it will make you a celebrity of sorts.

Once I started using Facebook live streaming my personal brand went through the roof. The fact that people began to recognize me around town upped my cred and I began to get more calls to speak and appear at events.

Having a memorable personal brand makes it virtually impossible for someone to compete against you. They can compete with you on services, price and knowledge but they can’t match your personality, quirks, perspective and personal style.

Create A Brand Message

Create a personal brand statement, which is 1-2 sentences explaining your values, who you serve, and your unique value proposition. When developing your personal brand statement, make it memorable, short and attention grabbing.

With a personal branding statement, you are the one controlling your real-life message and you can make it say anything that you’d like. Think of it as your slogan. I have not come up with my own personal brand statement but did create a descriptive motto.

If I did have a brand statement it might be something like this, “Twenty year entrepreneur with complete freedom motivating unhappy dreamers to escape their day jobs by investing time into an online side gig.”

I attended a Daymond John speech a while back and he recommended that people should brand themselves with just 2–5 words. Those words should shape who you are and your goals at that moment. At any time you can change your brand. I came up with a motto for me at the time and it is “Adventurous Entrepreneur Happily Journaling In Sneakers!”

Build An Audience

Building a personal brand will elevate you to influencer status and being an influencer builds trust and authority in your field. People like to follow interesting leaders that stand out, inspire and look at things in a unique way.

A personal brand will help you become the leader of an audience. That audience will become your followers and they will consume your content and products. Cater to them and try to niche down as much as possible. Don’t be afraid to be energetic and enthusiastic.

I believe you should give your audience a nickname. My followers are called ShaggHeads and BuzzHeads. Lady Gaga had Little Monsters, Barry Manilow has Fanilows, Jimmy Buffet has Parrotheads and there are many others. Having a common name helps build your community and makes people feel included.

Brand Name vs. Personal Name

Personal brand names can be your personal name or a made up name. I started out as Curtis Tucker but eventually drifted to That Buzz Guy and then changed to Shaggs. I like to be a bit more playful so I started using the name associated with my Shaggy Duck Studio and associated with the 70s. Shaggs fits just about everything I’m doing today.

Lady Gaga does great with a brand name while Taylor Swift does alright with her personal name. If you get huge one day your name could become a brand in itself like Walt Disney and McDonald’s.

It might be easier to sell a business with a made up name rather than a personal name but either will work. If you know you’ll never sell your company feel free to use your own name. If you’re building a business to sell try using a made up name.

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The post What Is A Personal Brand and How Do You Get One? appeared first on Curtis Tucker.

Think of your website as your house, the place where you live online. Like a regular home you need an address to be found. Rather than assign a website along list of numbers you get to choose an easy to remember domain name. Your domain name is associated with a set of name servers that tell the Internet where your website is hosted. Name server addresses are entered at your domain name account registrar like Go Daddy or Network Solutions.

Think of a phone number like 1-800-843-2665. It would be easier to remember 1-800-THE-COOL. That’s exactly why we use domain names. There are many factors in deciding on the perfect domain name. Take a little time to research your choice but don’t let that stop you from getting started. Pick something and get going, you can always make changes later.

You can always change your name at a later date and even forward a new name to the old one. But! Don’t wait too long. If your business or side gig starts picking up steam you will need to make a decision quickly. The age of a domain name has been a ranking factor in Google before so the sooner you can get your name online the better.

I personally have owned over 100 domain names and still have a rather large collection. I have my own set of rules that will help guide you to a great domain name. There might be a reason for you to differ from my guidelines which is fine.

1. Purchase your name, business name, brand or keywords. This seems pretty obvious. I own CurtisTucker.com which is my name. I run EnidBuzz.com which is the name of my main gig. And I purchased EnidBusinesses.com which is a local business directory for Enid, Oklahoma. Most people will search for you by name so it would be advisable to buy your name if possible. Unfortunately your name may not be available. Someone may already be using it or a cyber squatter may have reserved it.

If you can’t get your exact domain name you can alter it slightly or choose a different name. At one time I wanted to buy CartoonLogos.com but it was not available so I purchased ECartoonLogos.com. If your name is gone try adding your middle initial or full middle name.

There might be circumstances where you want to buy your name or business name but would like to use something else as your domain name. Guess what? You can point more than one domain name to the same website! You cannot point a domain name to more than one website though. For example, I purchased CurtisTucker.com years ago but have since started branding myself as That Buzz Guy. So! I purchased ThatBuzzGuy.com and it forwards to CurtisTucker.com! Just like a phone number or email address.

Another example of when you might need two domain names is if one is very long or hard to remember. I purchased BottleCapsMercantile.com because we opened a brick and mortar store. That is the name of the store but is a bit much to type all of the time. So I also purchased BCMerc.com which forwards to BottleCapsMercantile.com. That way I can give people a much easier name to type in.

2. Purchase a .com. You can tell someone a million times that your website is WhiteHouse .gov and they’ll usually go straight to WhiteHouse.com. I always suggest getting a .com. Almost everyone has heard of famous DotComs whereas very few remember a famous .net, .edu, .org, etc. If you can’t get the .com go with a different name rather than going for a .net. Anything other than the .com will appear as not being the original or best web address. It’s like taking second place.

These days you can purchase a wide variety of descriptive extensions like .pizza, .photography, .buzz, .smile, .life, .lawyer, .me and many, many others. These are cute and can be fun to purchase but I would not use one of these as your main domain name. Like I said I own EnidBuzz.com but I also own Enid.Buzz. They both forward to the same website. I bought it just for fun and to make sure someone else didn’t come along and try to compete with me.

Some companies will purchase the .com, .net and .org to protect their brand. They don’t want anyone using their brand with a different extension. I’ll do a post on trademarking down the line.

3. Pick a name available on social media. Another factor for choosing a domain name might be the vanity usernames on social media. In an ideal world you would want to have your domain name as your username on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and other social media platforms. If your username is gone on most social media accounts you can pick a different domain name which helps with branding or you might just have to choose a variety of social media account names that don’t match. It’s not a huge deal but makes branding a little messy and less memorable.

4. The shorter the better. Try to get the shortest domain name possible. I purchased ShaggyDuck.com but my company name was Shaggy Duck Media & Design. Short domains are easier to remember, faster to type and actually worth more if you ever try to resell. Finding a four or five letter domain name is much like finding a nugget of gold. They are almost impossible to find unless they make no sense at all. I made up several six letter domains like Weetys.com. My shortest domain name is EHS81.com at five letters. It stands for Enid High School Class of 1981.

5. Choose a catchy name. There might be times when you are creating a fun online business and want something really catchy. Think of names like Google, Apple, Yahoo and Monster. My first domain name was Curtoons.com in 1999. It is a combination of my first name Curtis and the word cartoons. It was the perfect cartoon website name which I still own today. I also used to make up new words back in the day. I combined Zoinks and Jinkies from Scooby Doo and came up with Zoinkies.com.

6. Avoid hyphens and numbers. Although I just said I own EHS81.com I would not recommend using numbers unless it is specific to the name. Do not use a hyphen, nobody will remember it is in your name and they’ll never find you. The problem with numbers is that searches won’t know whether to use the number or spell out the word.

7. Don’t use a trademarked name. After the release of the Apple iPad I purchased iPadBum.com. I would blog about iPads, apps and accessories. It was a bad choice of names because I could never really promote it with merchandise and I could never trademark it myself because it was using the word iPad. If I had printed anything using the term and tried selling it, Apple would have shut me down really quickly. Make sure you have complete freedom to market your domain name without possibility of legal action.

8. Purchase an existing domain name. There might be a domain name that your really like or your actual brand name might be parked. In those cases you might want to purchase an existing domain name. Beware that you’ll pay way more than the actual $8-12 cost. Be sure and negotiate. One benefit will be that the domain name will have some age which could help in rankings. A negative might be that the domain was used for illegal purposes and or had been blocked in search rankings in the past. Be sure and do several searches online to see what info comes up. You can also visit the Way Back Machine to see what website had been connected with the domain.

Be sure and set your name to auto-renew! If you lose your name someone will snag it. They’ll hold it as long as they can and charge you big bucks to get it back. At one time I owned WebZot.com, a name I totally made up. I purchased the domain for about $10 from a registrar that I normally did not use. They did not have auto-renew on. The second the domain expired it was purchased by someone else. Over the years I’ve seen it used a few times but it is now parked and is for sale. Guess what the asking price is? $50,000! LOL!

The post Choosing The Perfect Domain Name appeared first on Curtis Tucker.

How do you find affiliate programs? There are several ways to find money making programs. You can search for the top affiliate networks that combine dozens of affiliates all in one place. Or you can go to some of your favorite websites and look in the footer of the homepage. Usually there will be a link called Affiliates and that will lead you to more information.

My links are below, a few of them I shortened at TinyURL. I will add more as I join them. I’ll let you know which one work the best also. If you click on one of these and sign up or make a purchase I will make a small amount of income so thank you! Check them out!

Robinhood – This is a fantastic affiliate program. When you download the app you get a free stock! That’s pretty cool. Most people end up with a $4-5 stock. When I personally signed up I got a Microsoft stock worth $156 at the time! The affiliate program allows you to invite friends to sign up and when they sign up under your link you will get a free stock when they get a free stock. I earned an extra $75 when I posted my link. I had 13 people sign up almost immediately. The chance at a $156 stock is enticing!

https://join.robinhood.com/curtist455
https://tinyurl.com/RHBuzz

Fiverr – This is not only a great affiliate to join but it’s a great place to make money from home. If you have a skill or are creative you can pick up tons of jobs from this website. Check it out and see if you can start a side gig.

https://track.fiverr.com/visit/?bta=86036&nci=7416
https://tinyurl.com/fivrrbuzz

HostGator – I host my WordPress websites at HostGator. I believe everyone needs a website! Get yours hosted here. I’ve purchased a multi-website package and I host some of my websites there and some of my clients. The payments from my clients cover the cost of my hosting so I’m basically hosting my sites for free!

https://partners.hostgator.com/c/2231139/176502/3094
https://tinyurl.com/gatorbuzz

Buzzsprout – I use this company for hosting That Buzz Guy podcast. They are offering a referral offer without even having to sign up as an affiliate. If you click on my link and sign up for podcast hosting they will give you a $20 Amazon gift card and they’ll give me one!!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=928225

The post Make Money With Affiliate Links appeared first on Curtis Tucker.

I wish everyone had a side income that could keep them afloat until this COVID-19 pandemic is over. Unfortunately not many do not. But, it’s not too late to get started right now! You won’t be making money right out of the gate but creating a side gig now could change the entire direction of your future. Learn to rely on yourself and enjoy the freedom of working from home at your own business.

I want to help everyone start their own side gig! Some will want to simply start a side hobby while others may want to create a viable business. There are almost an unlimited number of ways to make money online while working from home. There are also other fun gigs that you can do that will add to your overall yearly income.

For the past 20 years I made enough income online that I’ve been able to work from home as an entrepreneur. I’ve been my own boss and have the freedom to come and go as I please. I always say that, “I wake up every morning and find ways of making money so I don’t have to get a job.”

To give you an idea of how many ways there are to make money with side gigs I’m going to list all of the different methods I’ve used over the years. Many of my little ventures alone would not support a family of four. But combined together, just a few of them have supported me since 2000.

Almost all of these money making methods are done through websites but I have started looking at making money with podcasts, online radio, video and more. I’ll do those more individually as they grow. There are a few that do not require an online presence.

1. Cartooning – Becoming a professional cartoonist is what sparked my imagination into building my first website. I built Curtoons.com in 1999 and tried to sell single panel cartoons to magazines. That idea turned into a 10 year cartoon logo business. I created cartoon logos for companies all over the world charging anywhere from $150-$600 per design. Everything was handled online.

2. Cartoons & Clip Art – I eventually ended up with lots of single panel cartoons and cartoon characters sitting on my computer. I posted these online and sold the designs on multiple websites as digital cartoons, clip art and royalty free characters. I was selling royalty free cartoon characters for $49. Some characters were sold dozens of times.

3. Google Adsense – Other than cartooning the biggest money maker for me in my first 10 years was Google Adsense. At my peak I was getting 21,000 visits a day to my websites and that was making me on average $4,000 a month. That’s just people clicking on the tiny Google ads. I had built 100 thin content websites based on highly searched keywords that ranked well. This entire venture collapsed in 2012 due to the Google Panda update. An Adsense click can make anywhere from .03¢ to several dollars depending on the keyword.

4. Display Ads – Placing digital display ads on websites and blogs can make great money from local advertisers. This has been a big part of the success of my community website at EnidBuzz.com. This website get around 30,000 unique visits a month with around 70,000 page views. That’s a lot of eyeballs on local ads. I’ve also started adding back Adsense ads on this website. Ads can run from $10 to $600 a month with assorted packages.

5. Website Building – After building 100 websites of my own I started getting requests from local companies to build their websites. Building websites is not as complicated as it was at one time. These days you can open a WordPress hosted account and have an instant website and blog. Add customized themes to WordPress and you instantly have thousands of pre-built designs. Add local logos, photos and content to make it individual to your client. I would charge anywhere from $300 to $1200 per website.

6. Website Hosting – Look into opening a web hosting reseller account. You pay a monthly fee for hosting, let’s say, 10 websites. Put five of your websites on that account and add five of your clients. If the monthly fee is $60 and you charge your clients $15 a month you not only make a little bit of money but all of your websites are being hosted for free! Scale this and you can make some easy money.

7. Graphic Design – I’ve had a graphic design side gig since my high school days. With a little bit of creativity and a computer you can learn to design logos, layout publications and build ads. Charge per hour or project and you can make a really good living. Find a niche of clients to work for and you can corner a market. Look into the going rates for graphic design to know what to charge.

8. Sell Websites – If you build a website with enough traffic you can flip it! You can also buy and sell websites that are already online. I sold a website that only had puppy name suggestions on it. It was making $8,000 a year with Adsense so I sold it for two years worth of income. That was $16,000 and it wasn’t even for sale! Website flipping is just like flipping anything else.

9. Domain Names – I have acquired well over 100 domain names over the last two decades. Many of the websites have been shut down so I have put the domain names up for sale. Most domain names average $10 each. That’s a yearly cost. I’ve sold several for $100 each. Domain names were once a big business but the prices have come down. Dot Coms are always worth the most. It’s always fun to own a part of the world wide web.

10. Affiliate Marketing – Niche websites and blogs can make great money with affiliate marketing. Basically you are promoting services and products on your websites that are being sold by other individuals and companies. You place photos, descriptions and links on your pages and when customers click on those to go make a purchase you actually make money with each sale. Large ticket items will make much more money quickly but multiple websites selling small ticket items can add up to good money as well. At one time I had the #1 ranked website for “baby furniture” and all I sold was affiliate products.

11. Reviews – If you build a niche blog you are bound to be approached to by companies with related products. They will ask you to review their products in exchange for free merchandise. You can keep the merch or turn around and sell it. I had a blog that talked about the Apple iPad when it first came out and I was approached by a company in the UK that sent me all kinds of tech gear. Some may flat out pay you for a review.

12. Link Selling – This one is not as popular as it once was. With all of the websites that I had I was always getting email from companies that wanted to pay me for links to their websites. Links help websites rank higher in Google so many people try to buy links. This is frowned upon by Google and you can get your website knocked out of Google if you get caught. This one I would not recommend any longer. Either buying or selling.

13. Naming – At one time I built a website around being a naming company. I had clients come to me looking for creative name suggestions for businesses. This was not a big money maker but I didn’t put much effort into it.

14. Consulting – I’ve been paid to look at websites and give suggestions on design and SEO ranking. I’ve also gotten paid for meetings where I’ve given advice on marketing and advertising.

15. Advertising – I help advertise my clients by writing articles about them and link to those from social media accounts. I also do live streaming at events much like radio remotes and conduct interviews to help promote specials and events.

16. Micro Influencer – I recommend different businesses on my social media accounts. On Instagram I’ll wear a t-shirt with a company logo to help promote a business. I currently do not charge for these plugs but will eventually move to paid promos.

17. T-Shirt Sales – I create custom t-shirt designs and sell them online. Many times I use print-on-demand services that allow me to do nothing but create the design and promote the website. I also print t-shirts and mail those as people order them through a website or social media posts.

18. Flipping – I’ve taken stuff from around the house and sold it on eBay, Craig’s List and Facebook Marketplace. Tons of people make a great living by flipping products they buy used or highly discounted. Garage sales are a good source of things to flip. If you make this a full time business you can pay the bills. There are now many websites and apps that you can flip merchandise through.

19. Business Listings – I’ve started an online business directory with a monthly subscription. I promote the directory and get the pages to rank well in Google. This becomes another avenue for local companies to get their brand online. You can also include advertising options on directory websites.

20. Photography – I’ve added thousands of images to my websites. I spent two years taking sunrise photos and uploaded those to social media. Over the years I’ve sold many of those images for websites, publications and calendars. I’ve also been hired to shoot small projects and events. I am not a professional photographer but have made some decent money from my photos. I will eventually put together a sunrise photo coffee table book.

21. Being An Extra – I’ve had a few parts in some movies as an extra. If you’re in an area that films lots of movies you can make some many doing this. I started out just to do a story but ended up doing a few movies. The pay is not big but if you ever get a speaking part you will make more money.

22. Greeting Cards – I actually started my own paper greeting card company called Chuckleberrys. I sold cards online and also supplied them wholesale to small stores and boutiques. As part of that I also drop shipped greeting card displays. Each one that was shipped made me a little money. At one point I printed the cards in my office on my own computer and then I started using a print-on-demand service.

These are the 22 money making ideas that popped into my head. I know there are many more activities I’ve done to add extra change to my pocket. As I come up with new ideas and methods I’ll write new blog posts and record podcast episodes.

I promise you that if this sneaker wearing, entrepreneurial, Buzz Guy can learn how to make money online, anyone can!! Get busy. This post is also a podcast and YouTube video. Catch them below.

The post 22 Side Gigs I’ve Used To Make Money appeared first on Curtis Tucker.

COVID-19 has really hit the restaurant business harder than anything we’ve ever experienced. Unfortunately local eateries were the first businesses to get hit by the virus restrictions. The loss of dine-in eating has pretty much crippled the entire industry.

Restaurants can survive using drive thru windows, curbside services and take out options. To keep the doors open and not experience a loss every month restaurateurs will need to step up their marketing efforts and adjust to the changing market.

Give these tips a try and see if you can boost your sales and customer counts.

1. Don’t close! If at all possible cut hours, cut staff, turn down the utilities but do not close! As long as your doors are open you’ll be ahead of the game. I promise you people are wanting places to eat out and they will eventually be looking for variety. If you’re not in the game they can’t give you their money. BUT! Be sure you can handle take out ordering. If you are understaffed and irritate your customers you take a chance of losing them. Don’t lose customers!

2. Perform an online presence check. Do you have a website? Do you have a Facebook page? Do you have an Instagram account? You’ve got to have a website! Go grab a free one if you have to but get your name, address and phone number online! Update your social media with your hours and your ordering options. Try to offer drive-thru if possible and if not curbside. You should also look for ways of offering delivery.

3. Is your menu easy to find? Most people will not have your menu memorized. Get your current menu online ASAP. Having the menu on your website is best but you can also add it your Facebook page. Look into online ordering options if possible. Be sure your phone number and ordering instructions are part of your menu. Make ordering so easy a child can figure it out. Hand out cheap printed menus with each order.

4. Post as much as you can! If you’re not serving people inside and not having to clean tables you should have more time to post! Don’t be afraid to post 4-6 times a day. Let everyone know what you’re up too. Document yourself throughout the day. Do shout outs to your best customers online. Let everyone know when you make changes and answer all questions that your customers have. Do more videos! Post a recipe. Talk about the most popular reality show. Feature your pet daily.

5. Go live! Get over your fear and your looks! It’s time to go live! Show everyone how clean your kitchen is and what precautions you are using. Live stream what you are cooking and be sure you are following all safety rules. Live stream your thoughts about the situation but stay positive! Encourage your customers and ask them if they need help. Live streaming will blow up your brand. Dance on camera if you dare!

6. Make some unique offers. Give something free if your customers will pick their order up themselves. Drop extra little goodies in their bags. Give them a reason to choose you! People love surprises. Have your employees create something unique you can give to each customer. Offer a special deal during your slowest days and hours. Can you find some fun stickers or toys? The kids will be begging for more if they get a fun item in their meal.

7. Remind your customers that you have gift cards, gift certificates and merchandise. NOW is the time to push all non-food items. See if you can trade some t-shirts for a few meals. Ask your customers to purchase items for birthdays and holidays. Give out collector corona cups.

8. Use your email list! Personally email a few customers a day just to say hi. Ask them how they are and remind them that you are open. Don’t have an email list? Start building one! Ask every customer that comes in or calls and save those email addresses. If you don’t see them back in your store after a week be sure and send an email with a fun message. Collect phone numbers and text them if you need to.

9. Teach! Do some videos on how to cook! Teach your customers how to make some of the most popular dishes. Have fun and make it a show. Try to get the customers kids involved. Do you sing? Belt out a few tunes while you’re cooking! This is survival, don’t be shy!!

10. Experiment! Try some new dishes and let your customers try them. Add a unique dessert or drink. Create some new sauces and dips. People love dipping their food into stuff! Ask your most faithful connoisseurs what they would like you to serve.

11. Happy Hour! Give everyone a deal on a drink or dish during a specific time of day. Do a two for one. Offer to deliver 8 drinks or more to a business.

12. Make your customers feel special. Leave little messages on their food containers and cups. Remember names and orders and greet people by name. Ask if they want their usual. Check their social media accounts and see if they have a birthday coming up, then remember it. Give customers something special on their birthday and anniversary.

13. Start a rewards program. It doesn’t need to be fancy or electronic. Use a simple punch card. Give a freebie once the customer orders a specified number of times. Give them another reason to come back.

14. Get rid of stuff that will spoil. If you have a large inventory of food that may spoil before it is sold, give it away! Offer free items to customers while they last. Donate food to a food bank and video it. Do not waste anything. Have items nobody is ordering? Give them away! Clean out the freezer and pantry.

15. Create a reason for people to drop by. Set up a donation location at your eatery. Ask for donations towards a local worthy cause. Build a fun selfie background on your lot or paint a wall with a funtastic design. Build a fun statue. People love to take selfies! Give them a reason to take a selfie at your place. Ask them to share their photos. Have employees dress up in funny costumes when taking out curbside orders or doing deliveries. The kids will love it. Bring everyone a smile.

16. Try having a neighborhood night. Post online that you will offer free delivery to one section of town for everyone that orders food in a certain time frame. Pick a different area each night and then repeat. Tell your customers to contact their neighbors and spread the word.

17. Keep them satisfied! Make sure every order is correct! Check, double check and triple check. Repeat the order after they give it to you. Make sure the food is hot. Money is tight and people do not want their hard earned income wasted on the wrong order. Offer to deliver a corrected order if you get it wrong.

18. Get reviewed. Ask your customers to give you an online review. Reviews will help you rise to the top in the search engine rankings. Give online shout outs to everyone that reviews your business. Slip a note in their sack with the web address of your review URL. Remind, remind, remind.

19. Tell your story. Tell your customers why you do what you do. Give them your history in a series of videos. Explain your passion. Let them get to know you. Be vulnerable. Let them know you’re concerned about the situation but keep it positive. Don’t ever whine or complain about them! Be sure and do video stories about your employees.

20. Have a contest. Ask your customers to post pictures online and answer questions to enter a contest. Give a fee t-shirt or meal as a prize. Get them to share your posts and comment as often as possible.

21. Collaborate. Ask your favorite non-competing restaurant to pass out your menu and you pass out their menu. See if you can coordinate delivery to specific areas of town. Share their social media posts and have them share yours. Interview them on your platforms. Trade special dishes and serve them at opposing eateries. Share employees if needed, split costs on a delivery person.

22. Keep it clean. Offer no contact delivery and curbside service. Let your customers know that they will not get the virus through your business. If you have an employee that does not look well make sure they stay at home. Use all safety precautions given by the CDC. Review all cleanliness policies with your employees every week.

The post How Restaurants Can Survive COVID-19 appeared first on Curtis Tucker.

BIO:
Curtis Tucker is an entrepreneur, storyteller and content creator with one foot planted firmly in the 70s and the other racing into the future using the latest digital technologies. Known as the voice behind Enid Buzz, the founder of feel-good brands like Shaggy Duck and Zoinkies!, and the creator of The Banana Seat Squad, Curtis turns nostalgia into narrative and memories into magic. Whether he’s podcasting about pop culture, designing retro-inspired t-shirts, or speaking about being an entrepreneur, Curtis brings joy, curiosity, and authenticity to everything he touches. His mission? To encourage others to start businesses, spark adventure, spread smiles, and remind the world that life was (and still is) groovy.

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