 Zero Cash, A Little Talent And 30 Days, Jennifer Laycock's business tale... |
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 Nov 19 2005, 02:00 PM
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#1
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 High Rankings Advisor  Group: Admin Posts: 29,201 Joined: 21-July 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 03:17 PM From: Ashland, MA Member No.: 2  |
Is anyone following Jennifer Laycock's (TheJenn) Zero Cash, A Little Talent and 30 Days?
The premise is that she wanted to see if she could start an online business on a shoestring budget. I love this whole thing because it illustrates exactly what we have been telling people for years. If you are smart, creative and work hard, you CAN succeed! (Or at least it looks like she's going to succeed...but it's too soon to tell for sure.) The really cool part is Jenn's creativity and the fact that she was smart enough to go with something that is her passion. She has a 1 year old and she has been passionate about breastfeeding, so what better online biz to open but one that sells breast feeding t-shirts and other items with cool breast feeding slogans on them. She has come up with some really cute slogans and graphics. I know that if I were a breast feeding mom, I'd be interested in these products (or if I knew some I'd be buying them for them). They are cute, smart and funny! She's apparently still having problems with her DNS, but the website is supposed to be at TheLactivist.com. Here's the CafePress site where you can look at and purchase the products: The Lactivist. Now, granted, Jenn has a head start on some people because 1.) she has a platform online (Search Engine Guide) to get the word out. And 2.) She knows a lot of people online. But I'm sure everyone can knows someone, somewhere that they can turn to when trying to promote their own site. The idea is to not be afraid to use who you know and what you know to your fullest advantage! Good luck with it, Jenn! |
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Nov 19 2005, 09:56 PM
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#2
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 HR 5  Group: Active Members Posts: 301 Joined: 31-July 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 05:17 PM From: Chicago Member No.: 165 |
Jill, thank you for sharing this link. The shirts are very funny.
When I was nursing, it was hard to find all the things I needed. You can't find good nursing shirts on every street corner, let alone pumps, scales, special bags for milk storage and so forth. Not to mention a good pediatrician who understands breast feeding. It would sure be nice to see some of these products on the site, or links or ads for them. |
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Nov 20 2005, 08:31 PM
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#3
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 HR 2 Group: Active Members Posts: 27 Joined: 12-October 05 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 04:17 PM From: Florida Member No.: 8,969 |
Jill,
I have been following it and have enjoyed it quite a bit. I showed it to my 17 & 20 year olds to show them what "can be done"...always trying to light that fire (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/fork_off.gif) I noticed Jennifer hasn't posted in a few day so I'm looking forward to her update. In the beginning I didn't think the $100 adword coupon she had laying around was really fair, if she was doing it with no money but she is proving that it wasn't really needed anyway. She's very creative! And it's a very neat experiment that will teach many people many, many things. iNet |
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Nov 21 2005, 06:33 AM
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#4
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 HR 4 Group: Active Members Posts: 191 Joined: 24-July 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 03:17 PM From: Australia Member No.: 30 |
Yes, I've been following this one with interest. It is a neat idea to diarise her experience, it makes for fascinating reading. Don't know where she gets the time though!
I was especially grateful to see that link she listed that showed how to optimize a blogger template so it would create unique titles and descriptions. Great stuff. |
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Nov 21 2005, 01:03 PM
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#5
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 HR 4 Group: Active Members Posts: 144 Joined: 21-June 05 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 03:17 PM Member No.: 7,797 |
Yeah, I've been following it too, with great interest! I'm trying to do the same kind of thing with my own web site, building something I'm passionate about on a shoestring budget. She's a lot more creative than I am, though! Plus I was a breastfeeding mom and have a lot of friends who are, so I've been trying to spread the word...
About the time - she and I emailed back and forth a bit and it turns out that her search engine guide job isn't full time, so she has a few hours a day to spend on it. Still, I'm amazed at all she's able to get done even in that short amount of time, with a 1-yr-old to boot! Janell |
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Nov 21 2005, 08:00 PM
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#6
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 HR 2 Group: Active Members Posts: 16 Joined: 31-July 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 05:17 PM From: Columbus, Ohio Member No.: 153 |
Hey guys! Thanks so much for the kind words! I'm really glad to hear that folks are enjoying the series. Sorry that there's a delay on the articles right now, I'm a few days behind writing them.
Likely won't get them out until after the holidays. I came down with a nasty sinus infection and Elnora's cutting teeth, so I've escaped to my parent's where I've got some help and can recuperate. I kept working up until today, just hadn't gotten the day 10 and 11 articles up. Oh, and to note...the AdWords coupon hasn't done squat for me. I signed up for AdSense the next day using the same username and got locked out of my account. Despite numerous emails to Google and complaining about it in the article, they've still not opened up access again. So the money is in there, slowly draining away based on what I setup in the first hour or two of the project. Annoying...thankfully things are going well without it. Up to about $85 profit now. Yay. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Just goes to show that while you wait for your organic listings, viral marketing is the next best "free ride." (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) What do you think, should I wear a Milk Jugs shirt for the Pimp My Site session? (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) |
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Nov 21 2005, 08:03 PM
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#7
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High Rankings Advisor Group: Admin Posts: 29,201 Joined: 21-July 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 03:17 PM From: Ashland, MA Member No.: 2 |
QUOTE What do you think, should I wear a Milk Jugs shirt for the Pimp My Site session? wink.gif (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/lol.gif) Definitely!!! |
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Nov 21 2005, 08:23 PM
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#8
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 Convert Me! Group: Admin Posts: 17,379 Joined: 17-August 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 02:17 PM Member No.: 551 |
(IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/hysterical.gif) Jennifer !
No comment otherwise, lest I be accused of making a sexist remark. |
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Nov 22 2005, 11:20 AM
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#9
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HR 4 Group: Active Members Posts: 144 Joined: 21-June 05 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 03:17 PM Member No.: 7,797 |
QUOTE(thejenn @ Nov 21 2005, 08:00 PM) What do you think, should I wear a Milk Jugs shirt for the Pimp My Site session? (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)  lol!! Single-handedly, she educates the entire search engine marketing community, contributing to the health of an entire generation of SEM kids! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/zorro.gif) BTW, your site looks great! QUOTE(Randy @ Nov 21 2005, 08:23 PM) No comment otherwise, lest I be accused of making a sexist remark. Isn't it a bit sexist that women can coment on it but guys can't? Eh, (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/thinking.gif) nah. |
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Nov 22 2005, 11:57 AM
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#10
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Convert Me! Group: Admin Posts: 17,379 Joined: 17-August 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 02:17 PM Member No.: 551 |
It's too bad too Janell.
I'm sure some of those of us unfortunate enough to be males could have come up with a good marketing twist or two. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/angel_not.gif) |
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Nov 23 2005, 09:19 AM
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#11
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 HR 5 Group: Active Members Posts: 300 Joined: 19-October 05 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 10:17 PM From: The Netherlands Member No.: 9,058 |
Hi Jenn,
Nice to read this thread, I must be honest, I did not know that you started this project. How is the business doing businesswise, do you already make a profit? RiYo |
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Nov 23 2005, 08:23 PM
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#12
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HR 2 Group: Active Members Posts: 39 Joined: 8-January 05 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 04:17 PM Member No.: 6,167 |
Wow- How great are you!!!? As an attachment parenting, unschooling, baby wearing lactivist myself- i am so proud! How odd my two worlds would collide!- you made my day, Jenn!
This post has been edited by shera1: Nov 24 2005, 01:26 AM |
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Nov 25 2005, 07:23 PM
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#13
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High Rankings Advisor Group: Admin Posts: 29,201 Joined: 21-July 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 03:17 PM From: Ashland, MA Member No.: 2 |
QUOTE Wow- How great are you!!!? As an attachment parenting, unschooling, baby wearing lactivist myself- i am so proud! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/mf_bounce8.gif) |
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Nov 26 2005, 03:05 PM
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#14
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HR 2 Group: Active Members Posts: 16 Joined: 31-July 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 05:17 PM From: Columbus, Ohio Member No.: 153 |
LOL...there's a smiley I've never seen! What in the world does it mean? Or is that the same smiley you wanted to give me when I posted on here that I was planning to go epi-free? (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) I know, you think we're all crazy...
(Ask Matt, he already knows I'm crazy.) Ordered up my Milk Jugs shirt for SES...though I should have waited. My dad (can you believe it? my DAD!) came up with a great one today. Putting it online shortly... Nip/Suck (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Oh yeah, and the next article is up. I just couldn't make it the whole week without doing some work. |
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Dec 16 2005, 10:02 PM
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#15
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High Rankings Advisor Group: Admin Posts: 29,201 Joined: 21-July 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 03:17 PM From: Ashland, MA Member No.: 2 |
I have to say that I haven't been keeping up with each day's entry, but took a few minutes tonight to read Day 22 and just wanted to say, YOU GO GIRL!
The gist of it was that Jenn got a not so nice email from someone who seemed to think starting a business was somehow easier for Jenn because she already had a network in place that she could get help from. But as Jenn pointed out, many of the people who have been helping her lately, she never knew of until this project. The key thing here to understand is that the reason Jenn is getting so much help is not because of who she knows (although that certainly helps) but it's because the project itself is creative and inspiring on so many levels. When we talk here about doing something unique and different, that's exactly what we're talking about. Yeah it's not easy. It takes a lot of smarts, creativity and yeah a few friends. But if you are ready to put your blood, sweat and tears into something you're passionate about, like Jenn seems to be doing so far, you CAN succeed at it. People LOVE a unique story and idea. What's yours? [added]Just ignore that ad for an automated link exchange at the bottom of the article! (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/blackhat.gif) |
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