My first month on Steemit: Experiences and lessons that I learned in a month

It’s been almost a month since I joined this amazing little social networking site called Steemit.com. I did not just join it I migrated to it, migrated from Facebook.

Why?

Just because Facebook was turning out to be something that ate my time and gave out the very little return on the time I invested.

I have had been on Facebook for the last seven years, and I have had formed great friendships and business relations with clients who wanted to hire a freelance content writer.

Those of you who do not know what I do, let me tell you that I am a Professional Fulltime Freelance Content writer from India.

Well, that’s what I am, a Professional Fulltime Freelance Content Writer from India.

I have been writing online for the last decade and for the most part of it I was a part timer.

Soon after I completed my Masters in Computers Apps from a very reputable college in Bangalore, I decided to be a writer and did not join the Software Industry as my brother and cousins did.

Being a Freelance Content writer

I was not new to the freelancing industry, I have been one for years and in different capacities. I was a freelance technical trainer, a freelance website builder, and a freelance content writer.

I was all prepared for the new full-time freelancer tag.

But…

It was always tough to get clients.

There were months when I had more work on my plate than I could complete and then there are months when I have to keep scanning all the sites where I could get some work enough to survive.

The month I will never forget

Since the beginning of 2017, my plate was almost full, some clients always had something for me, and I had no need to search for work. I had a few clients on Upwork who paid me really well.

##I was happy

Upwork is really a perfect place for people who are looking for work, but they charge a little commission, and many clients do not wish to pay those costs.

So there are customers who always insist that I allow them to pay me directly to me via Paypal or wire me the cash directly into my bank account.

The Sweet Talker

I always insisted that they pay me via Upwork and I would never work with anyone who forced me to get paid directly.
But then I fell into the trap, one such sweet talker, sweet talked me into trusting him and convinced me to work outside Upwork.

I couldn’t resist as the money he was paying was much more than what I usually charge.

$ $ $ $ $

All I could see was big, green Dollar signs in front of my eyes like Uncle Scrooge would see in the Duck Tales Cartoon. Do not think of me as a greedy person, who doesn’t like to be paid more money? I certainly do.

To be honest, money is the solution to most of my problems right now.

Trust

Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.
--William Shakespeare

This was the first time I trusted a client, and he ran away with my money. I do not want to tell you guys how much money I lost, but a rough estimate would be something that an average office is going Indian makes in at least two-three months.

And now, a month later I am out of work, and I am broke. I owe a few hundred dollars to a friend, and I am finding it really difficult trusting new clients.

My trust factor has been broken to such an extent that I am afraid of every new client who is trying to hire me.

The dilemma

The other day a client approached me to write an e-book, the book was about productivity and how successful people make use of their time. It was an interesting subject, and I agreed to work with him on this little project. But then the client insisted that I accept payment via PayPal and not Upwork.

This time, I didn’t want to get scammed, so I insisted he pays me a significant part of my fees before I start the project or pay me via Uprowk.

He refused, and I am out looking for work.

The Situation

I am under debt, I own money not to any bank or lending institution but to friends who were kind enough to lend me a few hundred dollars when I really needed it.

Now it’s time for me to return the money.

However, the problem is I have none.

I am broke.

The plan

I am broke, and that is not news.

There are millions of broke people on the ‘internet,' and there are many who have created a game plan and won their way back into a debt free lifestyle.

I am trying to do the same, with the help of Steemit.

Over the last month, I have earned at least ten dollars from Steemit. Ten dollars is a very less amount of money.

Maybe a decade back I would have written ten thousand words for ten dollars, but these days, I spend that kind of money on just say tea and breakfast.

The plan is to earn at least a hundred dollars from Steemit by the end of this month.

The Grand Plan

So, the grand plan here is that I am going to publish one post each day and I am going to do everything and anything in my power to market it, share around the internet and make as much money as I can.

The Great Grand Plan

As I publish one post each day, I am sure I will earn at least a few cents per post. And by the end of the month, all I expect to earn is just hundred dollars.

And with whatever SBD and SP I earn I am going to invest it in different bots. Take a look at the list of thing that I am going to do with bots.

1. Buy delegated Steem from MinnowBooster and increase my voting power.

2. Request Upvote bots to Upvote my posts, randowhale and MinnowBooster are doing a great job at this.

3. Invest some Steem Power in MinnowBooster so that I get a steady income over the month.

Share your ideas and Strategies

These are few thoughts that run through my mind right now and if you have any suggestions on how to maximize my earning I would be happy to listen to your ideas.

What am I going to write?

Well, I am yet to decide what to write. I have experience in many different things, and I am planning to share those thoughts each day.

I believe in sharing stuff that brings value to you, the readers. And that is the reason why I do not write so often.
I write stuff that brings some value in your lives.

I am involved with a Students Union here in India, and I might share a few experiences that I find interesting.

Conclusion and a Promise

I promise to myself and to you to do everything in my power to write and share stories or useful articles each day of this month. Today it is Tuesday 18th of July 2017, and I promise to write one post each day till 18th of August 2017.

Note: I will reply and Upvote to each and every comment that I receive on each and every post that I ever publish.

Regards,
Imran Soudagar.

Follow me @imransoudagar to keep track of my progress.