aaargh

I have realized that I hate selling ads. I used to be good at it, but not anymore. I don't enjoy it and it shows, but I certainly can't afford to hire someone else to do it.

Yesterday I made a huge gaffe by pointing out to advertisers that traffic was way up since the story about the motocrosser who died. Okay, maybe that's insensitive, but it is true. No matter how you look at it, the increased traffic is good for the website and its good for my advertisers.

I guess I am just not supposed to mention that to anyone...because I got a not-nice email and a not-nice phone call about it. I literally felt sick to my stomach, which is very unlike me (being the insensitive type and all) so I immediately sent out an apology, but I'm afraid the damage was done.

As much as I enjoy doing my paper/website I don't know if I can keep it up. I work many, many hours at it and it barely pays for the cost to publish because potential advertisers want to "wait and see" how long NWMX will be around. There are a few who have been regulars and are supporting me and I appreciate them greatly, but its just not enough. If everyone continues to "wait and see" it will be too late. I guess that's what happens to the majority of start-up publications. Its too bad.

So I am brainstorming ways to make money doing what I love--the creative, work from home, website building, blogging, writing, artistic stuff. Here's what I've come up with:

Build websites
Build blog templates
Write freelance
Create advertisements

The only problems is they all require some kind of sales. Selling my products, selling stories, selling myself. Blech! Any ideas???

Maybe I'll write something funny later, I just had to vent for now. Thanks for listening!