My Real Business Model..

I'm going to jump back to a post I made in December of 2006 today.

On December 4, I wrote about a company that I was doing some work with. At the time I
wrote that post, the project was in testing and I was just getting ready to send out a direct-mail
package. That package initially did go out Dec. 7 and continued after the Christmas holidays.

I'm beginning to see results. No, they're not earth-shattering. However, I have already earned more from this side business than the radio station earned for all of 2006. I have the office
loaded and ready to roll with this thing on a big-time basis. I've continued with regular mailings
every month. I plan to continue with this as long as possible.

Here is the reason why:

Personal broadcasting packages, such as the one WJJD is under with Live365, may not insert any ads in their streams. Therefore, selling spots, brokered-time broadcasts including preaching/teaching and such is not allowed. About all you can do is build a website for your station and sell space on the website.

Internet radio advertising appears to be beating a dead horse. The advertisers seem to want visual ads in synch with the audio. I also wonder what damage will be caused if the advertisers think, "Well, if it's going to be killed off, why put money in a sinking ship?"

I love radio. Always have and probably always will. But the Internet business model seems to lack one thing..business. Unless you're fortunate enough to have listeners donating to you, there's not much you can do to earn money.

So my business plan us to earn money from a separate business that is NOT related in any way to radio. It's simply a direct-mail business. And, I like that it is direct mail for someone else. I
just make sales for them and get paid. I made 17 sales in February. March should do about as well.

Granted, preparing direct mail packages isn't as much fun as being on the air.

But it sure is paying me a lot better right now.