What Worked + What Didn’t Making Money Online // Our First Six-Figure Businesses
We often get asked the question – “My husband and I want to bring in some extra income online, how are you guys doing it? How did you do it? What have you tried?” Making money online has been a seven year journey for us. Today we are going to tell you what has worked for us, as well as different ways it hasn’t gone so well.
A challenge at any point in your life is taking care of the here and now, but also having a vision for the future that you’re excited about. Oftentimes, visionary people get excited about the future, but really compromise in the present. They think they will get all these investors and take on all this debt or quit their job and pour all their time and energy into a passion project. While doing that for this bigger future, their wife or children really suffer in that time. Neither of us were willing to do that. Finding that balance of working on your long-term future while you’re taking care of the here and the now is really really important, yet a challenging balance to find.
With almost anything, you’re going to start off small. You aren’t going to have instant success. Early on, when we realized that in order to get to a place in our life where we wanted to be, it was going to be uncomfortable. That really helped us embrace discomfort early and often in this journey. You can be uncomfortable and not be successful with it, but I don’t think you can be successful without discomfort and growing pains.
When we look back, it’s so important and advantageous to us that we started trying to build an online platform with a specific product in mind that we wanted to market, versus just trying to build an online presence with that being the product. If you’re just going for numbers and sponsorships, it’s really easy to “sell your soul” to the analytics and follower’s trap. When you have a specific product you are trying to market through social media outlets, you’re really able to celebrate those 5-10 new followers you’re able to get because they can be a potential customer that is interested in your product. That was really crucial for us to be able to sustain having an online presence.
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Timestamps:
00:00-1:14 – Intro
1:14-8:51 – How It All Started/VMA
8:51-9:35 – Growth Initiative & GIADC discount
9:35-15:25 – NeoLife & VMA commercials
15:25-19:52 – How we grew our network/YouTube
19:52-26:25 – Podcast/GIADC
26:25-29:02 – Building an online platform
29:02-30:20 – Closing
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What tips would you give for trying to figure out what kind of product one could generate based on individual gifts and talents etc
It’s good to know you guys have highs and lows too. I’m motivated to keep going even in the more difficult stages of life ❤
You story is very inspiring 🙂 May God continue to guide your steps 🙏 ❤
I’m an orthodox Muslim and I stumbled across your page. Although we are of different faiths there are a-lot of traditional values that I align with and it’s nice to know that in a world like today people with traditional values around family, marriage and homemaking exist
I love this vulnerability! thanks for sharing the journey!
yess to embracing discomfort! All successful people have had discomfort and had to get out of comfort zone🙌🏻
Checking out your music academy now !!
Oh, this was such a delight! Katie, I remember coming across your videos and feeling some mad respect that you were open about growing a business from home while caring for your kids instead of acting like an "accidental influencer" who just stumbled into a following and business. (Which I know happens, but, effort! Intention! Mission!) Anyway, your old video about hitting plateaus and working for a year consistently regardless of growth was such an encouragement to me as I launched a project. Again, such a treat to hear about this journey! Well done!
Can you reference that video you did a collaboration with just to get an idea of what a collaboration video would look like
Hi guys, I enjoyed listening and getting my brain juices going. As a stay-at-home mom, living the trailer/tiny house life with 3 kids 3-and-under, trusting the Lord for provision as jobs for my hubby come and go…I've lately heard the phrase "financial freedom" many times. My whole adult life, first full-time in ministry and later as wife and a mother, has been a continuous story of God's provision through miracles, people, and my work. I'm reminded, that whatever the financial strategy for the season is, it has to come from the Lord – sometimes including more hard work and trying, sometimes laying back and letting Him do more of the heavy lifting, whether that looks like abundance, or limiting our expenses to a simpler living. Realizing, that finances and needs exist for the Lord as a tool to teach us wide variety of lessons, dependency on Him most of all!
I've never felt as truly free, as when money just doesnt occupy much of my mental space – not because I have a lot, necessarily…
I love your creativity and will to keep going and finding new ways to do things. Love that quote about not becoming slave to the algorithm and rather going with a product than just online presence being a product. So true!
Blessings to y'all
Aww I remember you messaging me to ask to collab, Katie…I was so excited 🤣❤️
Aww, that’s a lot of hard work and Praise God you have seen the fruits of it!
This was really fun to watch and a lot like our journey. We are now in the phase where my husband works for the stable income while we still try to build out our online resources. Cannot wait to get it more off the ground.
But you are right, growing my YT channel because I want to serve moms has been so fun and every subscriber is a huge win because I am reaching another mom. Instead of hitting monetization and just chasing metrics, it’s also so much more fulfilling!
I think your pronunciation of your own last name is so funny. The name ‘Voetberg’ clearly originates from the Netherlands (where I’m from). And your pronunciation is not even close to what it should be in Dutch hahaha.
Thank you both so much for your openness to talk about your struggles and successes in both life and business. We also have a young growing family that could really use some extra income. My husband is beginning the process of starting an online side business selling his hand carved art pieces and I am doing the business planning side of things for it. It’s really encouraging to hear your story. Thank you !
Thanks for sharing and being so transparent about what you've gone through to be where you're at 😊❤
I love seeing and hearing not only the highs but also the lows of yalls life. The vulnerability to share the struggle is beautiful and inspiring. You're my favorite channel and I'm so glad God has guided the way for both of you to prosper and live sustainably and intentionally while still engaging with the Youtube platform. May God continue to bless your family and endeavours.
There’s so many things Katie has shared that has changed my home for the better. Can’t afford the GIATC course right now, but will be investing soon!!!
I really liked this. You are so onhest and shearing. But most of all love 2 see you togheter, such a good team you are. That is so important in a marriage. And the love you share for eachother is shines trough! Greetings from the netherlands
I love this! I am currently a teacher, but will be staying home with my babies next school year. I have been looking for ways to make some money to help supplement my income that will be lost while at home. So motivating!
I enjoyed this video so much! Y'all have been an inspiration to me in so many ways. Seeing some behind the scenes decision making and reasoning was so helpful! Love you guys!
So inspiring! My husband and I are full-time entrepreneurs and it's so exciting to see others thriving in this space! It definitely has it's highs and lows, haha!
It's so neat to hear your story! My husband and I have sold pasture-raised chicken for the past 5 or so years (our whole marriage basically) and are slowly building up our clientele. We are taking things slower than you did, but hopefully in the next few years we will be selling pork and maybe beef… and my husband can quit his job! It's been a juggling act with him working, us farming, having 3 kiddos, and physically building our houses. 😅
So inspiring!!! This is everything! THank you!
Katie’s motivation and work ethic, even in the childbearing years, is so incredible!!!
I loved this so much! It’s so fun to get a sneak peak into the business side of things! You all are SUCH an inspiration ❤
I have a kids electric piano would u guys do a course on that? Or which of the instruments is affordable and low maintenance?
You guys are the most helpful inspiring people I know online! I think I found Katie in 2018 and have been around ever since! She’s been my role model in so many ways!
I just goined the get it all done club about 2 weeks ago, & am so glad now to see that not only are you investing in my home but I am also in yours! ❤
I like the way you folks are sooo up front or try to be in many ways. Stay blessed…and it’s fun to watch you from France.😊