Thread by @mentorshipzim

Thread 3: $$$ [Google, Facebook AN, & others]

As I was explaining in the previous threads. Things were pretty tough for us not very long ago. Things changed when I became a Google Publishing Partner. In 2014 my first check was $1250. By 2016 my gross was just under $34,000/year

2. In my thread I mentioned that my reporting got me in trouble. In 2013 I relocated to SA. A great early decision because internet was cheaper & payments were easier from Google (Ireland) to South Africa. For some reason Zim banks didn't understand that Google could pay anyone.

3. I spend lots of time on the Internet. And by that I don't mean Social Media - NO. Am ever in forums, Reddit, 4chan, & others. Am many white hat hackers & black hat hackers forums too. I spend even more time on LinkedIn Learning (Lynda.com) in the past. Learning

4. I made a lot of money from Google, especially from evergreen websites - websites that carry niche specific content that is always relevant - unlike news websites.

I own several news style websites but their revenue per site is low. The effort doesn't match the returns for me

5. Its is easy for me to say News sites don't pay because I consider anything sub $1,000 USD a month that takes up anything more than 3-4 hours of my day to be pointless. Only because I have other revenue streams which are a story for another thread.

6. But for a starter $300-$500 USD is a lot. For me it was a lot because I did my own design, own development & own content. I didn't have any costs especially IT / Journalism. For someone starting in Zim - $500 USD a month can be a lot. So its worth doing. But you need skill.

7. Similarly, you can enroll your website on Facebook's Audience Network & ContentAd. This can bring in the same amount of money & you will end up possibly with $300 from each, going past $1,000 USD. Though I warn again, it takes time & lots of effort & you must have the skills.

8. It took me 3 years or so to make decent money from Google. And I mean 3 years of daily engaging high-quality original content. Bar that, 3 years of skills & expertise. But I was building a name in the game, making useful contacts & investing in a platform that would reward me.

9. Along the way, you will need to read. Google is difficult to get into. But its way more difficult to stay in. Many people rush to get to the dollars but never really learn about their Terms of Service. So they get banned for life quickly. Same as FB and CA. Read. Read. Read.

10. All these companies have user forums that are a great resource for information. Spend time in there, learn about how to apply, how to stay in, how to make money. Do the same with journalism. Put the same energy into learning Web Development. Get off social media even. Learn.

11. It’s easy to look at me to date ($150k+) in 5 years & assume it was easy. It was not. When I was doing my 1st degree. I was reading for my 2nd one at night online. Learning IT. I have done so many courses online I can't even count. I wrote for over 7 years with no payment.

12. But I gained skills, knowledge & networks. There is no substitute for these three things if you want to break the barrier of poverty. Working in a newspaper can make you comfortable but you won't break bank. Journalism doesn't pay - to make it pay, you have to invest in you.

13. There are many resources you can explore about how to run niche sites, and create sites that bring in money even when you are sleeping & not updating them. Although this avenue is so populated now, so you won't make the kind of figures we did - hence I suggest niche news.

14. Niche sites as they were in the day just don't pay as much. But a strong news website that focuses on a few key topics & appeals to a loyal readership will guarantee you returns. The only thing is, you must know how to set up & run it (frontend & backend) + skills + network

15. Journalism on its own may not be enough. Invest in IT skills & self publish. Aim to have your content on Google Adsense, Facebook Audience Network, and others.

Just remember that all this comes after you invest skills - Which means years of learning & writing.

16. When you do all of this, apply for a license / registration. It helps with credibility. I got both the media gigs I tried to run registered easily. One of the best decisions I made, because if ever the economy stabilises, my news sites can publish newspapers legally.

17. I must also stress the need to be versed with multimedia. When I began, I was a news reporter outright. I was mostly in print. Eventually, I ended up in Radio, a bit of TV, then went into production of video & audio. Along the way I learnt photo-journalism. I'll explain why.

18. If you build networks, are nice to people, keep relationships, especially with people who matter - you find that opportunities work on references - but nowadays opportunities demand that you be versatile. Are you good in front of the camera & just as good behind it. Its key.

19. I was luck that, I quickly found other income streams & pursued journalism only as a passion. In fact, I actually always claim to my kids that - "I only moonlight as a Journo 😂".

For others, Journalism maybe the only profession. To beat the low pay - self publish.

20. Great thing is, it doesn't take as much time to become well read as during my time. Social media has made the craft accessible. So I have no doubt that you will make it as a reporter & earn $.

BUT it is what happens after that I must warn you about in the next & last thread

21. #AfterThought - Thought I would share what a learned friend once wrote to me when I commented on social media stories. I consider this an amazing piece of mentorship - which prevented me from drifting into journalism dark spaces. It is my campus till today. #mentor