The Unexpected Path to Part-Time Work

After some discussions about potential responsibilities, we agreed on a part-time role that would allow me to focus on my business during the mornings while continuing my development work in the afternoons. This arrangement was ideal for me, as I tend to be quite cautious with finances. I realized that without a steady income, I would likely face financial difficulties for at least a year before my side hustle could fully sustain me.

I estimated that I could write a keyword-optimized blog post each morning. With an average earning of $7 per post from ad revenue and search traffic, I anticipated an additional $1,200 monthly by year-end. Embracing patience, I felt content to maintain a part-time position for a year or two while I demonstrated the viability of my side hustle. This setup reduced my stress levels, allowing me to enjoy outdoor activities on my days off.

What Challenges Can Arise?

However, before my transition to part-time work began, the Ukraine war sparked inflation, and interest rates began to rise in an effort to stabilize the economy. While the economy may have cooled, my ad revenue certainly did not follow suit.

Below is a representation of my EPMV (Earnings Per Mille Views), a key metric for my website’s revenue:

EPMV for my website over the last 14 months

Over the past year, my earnings per view have dropped by nearly 50% since April. This decline was primarily beyond my control, as it depended on what advertisers were willing to pay for digital placements.

Despite this, I continued to produce content at an unprecedented rate. The views per article remained stable, motivating me to keep generating content, as this was fully within my control.

Here’s a look at my site’s traffic over the last 14 months:

Daily page views for my site for the last 14 months

As illustrated, traffic was promising until September. I had increased my content output by 50%, which led to more views. Unfortunately, a series of Google updates drastically impacted my site’s traffic. Previously, I had navigated updates with relative ease, but in September 2022 and March 2023, core updates significantly reduced my audience reach, seemingly favoring larger competitors in my niche.

The combination of decreased average views per post and lower earnings per view resulted in my site earning roughly one-third of what I had previously made. I had once anticipated about $200 in lifetime earnings per post, but now expected that to be under $100.

I’ve also begun considering the potential impact of AI on my website. When ChatGPT launched, I posed a specific technical question that I had covered on my site. The AI presented my own code mixed with other solutions, providing a quick answer without prompting users to visit my site for more information. This situation highlighted the precarious future of my website.

Rising Costs, Diminishing Returns

By the end of 2022, my expenses had increased, and my ad revenue had dipped below what it was before I transitioned to part-time work—an undesirable scenario.

To address this, I took two significant steps:

1. I diversified my income by launching a programming course on Udemy.
2. I negotiated an hourly rate with my employer, allowing for flexible work hours.

This year, my Udemy income has almost matched my declining ad revenue. While I’m not moving forward, at least I’m not sliding backward anymore. Switching to an hourly setup has been beneficial, enabling me to pause my business activities as I reassess my next steps. I still enjoy a few mornings off each week for outdoor adventures, but with my day job income stabilizing, I feel I’m regaining some financial momentum.

Looking Ahead: Strategies for Success

I believe the future landscape for online businesses will heavily lean towards video content, immersive experiences, and networking via social media—elements that are challenging for AI to replicate compared to traditional informational content.

Currently, I’m considering reviving my writing on Medium to leverage its networking benefits, and I might even start a YouTube channel showcasing hidden parks and nature spots I enjoy exploring.

At this point, I don’t plan to create additional content for my programming website, though that might change if AI tools like Koala simplify content creation. Ultimately, it boils down to the time investment required to write an article versus its potential earnings.

I’m uncertain how long my coding role will remain viable in the face of AI advancements, but I recognize that I need to diversify my income streams. The research indicates that most individuals need to initiate multiple ventures to discover their path to success, emphasizing the importance of resilience in the face of setbacks.

Lessons Learned from My Experience

My journey offers valuable insights for anyone building a side business. Here’s what I did right:

• I planned ahead and established a solid financial cushion.
• I developed a scalable business model while still employed full-time.
• I sought opportunities for revenue diversification.

Conversely, here are areas where I fell short:

• My business was overly reliant on a single source of traffic: Google Search, whose algorithm updates severely impacted my traffic. Ensure that your business isn’t dependent on a single “client.”

The most beneficial decision I made was to remain part-time at my job, a strategy I’m grateful for in these shifting times. If you’re contemplating a full-time commitment to a side hustle, consider asking your employer about the possibility of maintaining part-time status; it may serve everyone involved better.

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The first video explores the importance of not quitting your job until your side hustle is consistently profitable, providing insights and tips for managing both.

The second video discusses strategies for quitting your job while ensuring you can still meet your financial obligations, offering practical advice for transitioning smoothly.