Found Out What Works!
I'm trying. I really am.
To a large extent, however, it feels like I have not made much progress at all. And that's why this writing is very necessary. You see, in this case, my feelings are not an exact reflection of the reality. So what is the reality then?
At the start of this year, I was faced with declining course sales, mostly from the Udemy side. And I went through a lot of ups and downs. I went through many different permutations and combinations of what I should do next, ranging from pushing through with courses all the way to drastically reducing effort and finding a teaching job locally. Wild!
Finally I decided on a way forward, a test, an experiment. To try a combination of something old and something new. I came up with a methodology for gathering relevant emails from the CSV file downloads on PLCDojo, and a system for sending out those emails without using a bulk email sender service. And for the first time ever, I was able to make an announcement to relevant existing PLCDojo course participants that a new course was available from me. I also came up for a way for them to let me know if they wished to opt out. In addition I created a method for noting and storing exception email addresses so that they will not be emailed again.
And it worked! ~ US $1,300 by 15th March. I have no idea what it will be at the end of the month, but the fact is that I found a new methodology so I do not have to guess anymore. This works and is repeatable. This is a big thing.
I also discovered that launching a new course on Udemy and using PAs still works as well. And furthermore, I (accidentally) used the referral link for the first time and found out that it results in most of the revenue coming to me.
These favourable results means that I have proven that there is a way forward for now. And the results come from a methodology that is repeatable. So, for now, no more guessing. Only repeating.
I have now earned the right to worry less. It was not given to me. I earned it. So I deserve it. Hoorah!