Though developing this language-learning methodology has been my passion since 2006, I’ve also had to pay the bills in a variety of ways.
I have been doing online marketing and advertising since 2010. I started a small digital advertising company in Milwaukee in 2012, which I later sold at auction before moving to Chicago to become the marketing director of a promotional products company, Digital Imprints, before moving on to an advertising specialist position at NinjaTrader, downtown–a futures investment and trading software company. In both positions, I was managing $1/4 million ad campaigns. I specialize in online advertising and website development, though my marketing skills go beyond this.
The $250 Website
I offer many website development services, but like to keep things simple so that I can focus on my primary business. The websites I create start at just $250, though they often end up being $400 or more when additional features are needed. The basic $250 website includes everything the average small business needs: domain name research and account setup, launching the website on the server, installing WordPress, theme research and installation, theme manipulation and plugin installation (custom coding not included), basic copywriting, and the inclusion of what photography you provide. Since I work remotely, I don’t offer photography services, but can partner with who you hire for that if you don’t do it yourself with my consultation for the kinds of photos you’d want. If more advanced copywriting, more than 5 pages (it is often ideal to keep a website simple, anyway), custom coding, or advanced features are required, these cost extra, and would be quoted above the base $250 price.
Because WordPress is used, you will easily be able to make additional changes to the text and images, and even the layout or color scheme by yourself if you wish. I charge $25/hr for future adjustments to the website or for consultation on how to make these changes should you prefer to learn to make them yourself. The initial website consultation is free, but other communication time is charged at $25/hr, rounded up to the nearest 1/4 hour. If you are already a supporter of my language project in having either purchased my book at full price or written an Amazon review, the first 3 hours of communication time above the initial consultation is also free.
I also provide the following:
- $5/month – Website Hosting
- $25 – Google Analytics Installation
- by quote – eCommerce websites
- by quote – other advanced websites
For an example of a website that I developed for little more than the base price, check out My41auto.
I could probably have developed a similar website to the one you are on now, “creolio.com”, for about $750, though it’s basic form would have costed only $250. I’ve sinced added much to it, and it’s evolved into a more valuable website. Both websites were developed with the WordPress CMS and with Themeforest themes.
Website Strategy
My strategy is simple. Spend 5 hours if it takes that long to find the right theme for the job–something that is 95% of what is wanted, then use theme manipulation tools to conform the site to what is needed, then focus on getting people to the website.
Ground-up custom websites are for those that can afford to spend at least $15,000, and might get you an extra 2-3% accuracy as far as having the website look exactly as you envisioned it, but what’s more important is marketing. If you don’t have at least a $2,500 budget, then you absolutely shouldn’t spend more than $500 for your website. For every dollar spent on a website in the first year of business, 9 should be spent on the marketing involved to get people to the website. A website is worthless without visitors, which is why I also offer online advertising services.
Online Advertising
I have had a Google AdWords certification, and managed 2 separate $1/4 million dollar ad campaigns with a focus on Google Ads. I have also worked extensively with Facebook and Instagram ads and YouTube advertising for companies as large as Wacker Neuson.
I specialize in optimizing ads according to various demographics such as location, age, and device used–always working to get you more results for the same amount of spend over time.
I also offer:
- Display advertising & graphic ad design
- Remarketing
- Conversion Tracking
I charge $25/hr for online advertising services according to a monthly allotment of hours that you decide on. This could be as few as 1-2 hours/month or as many as 10. The first month requires at least 3-4 hours in order to setup the initial campaigns and website integrations. I am also open to profit-sharing as an alternative to hourly pay.
Mexico Tour Guide
Over the last two years, I have lived all over Mexico, and gotten quite deep into the culture, as well as developed amazing connections all over the country. I can offer you an experience of Mexico that you didn’t think was possible, and that definitely goes off the beaten path of traditional tourism–though I can offer that as well. You tell me how deep you want to go, and I’ll get you there.
I charge $150 for my transportation costs to get to and from the city that you want to visit, and then just $50/day for the following cities (I will handle my own food and lodging on that budget):
- Mexico City
- Cancun
- Oaxaca
- Guanajuato
- Guadalajara
- Monterrey
- San Cristobal de las Casas
- Tuxtla Gutierrez
- Veracruz
- Queretaro
- Tijuana
I’ve lived in all of the above cities, and know them well, as well as have contacts in each of them. If you want to visit any other city in Mexico, I’ll charge just $30, since it will be a new experience for me–though I will also do my research ahead of time and connect myself with the local contacts in advance. In any case, you will receive my translation services and my general street smarts which apply broadly throughout the country.
I also offer consultations during the planning stages of your trip to Mexico for $25/hr via Skype. If you decide to hire me as an actual tour guide, the first two hours of consultation is free.
Spanish Tutor
I also offer Spanish tutoring for $15/hr. I will train you in pronunciation, how to trill the Spanish R, vocabulary, grammar, and syntax. You’ll get a free copy of “Stories de la Jungle”, as lessons will be based on the book, and branch out from there. All tutoring is done via Skype or another online video chat service.
Video Editing
I have also learned to edit videos for my YouTube channel. In my experience, most video editors are very expensive, and many are very talented. My skills are way beyond basic, but not much more than mid-range, which is why I charge only $10/hr or something in a similar range, but project-based.
Support Me on Patreon
If you have no need of these services, but would still like to support my projects to develop more language-learning books in a reasonable time-frame as well as to publish my independent journalism videos from my bicycle trip from Tijuana to Juarez, you can support me directly via Patreon for as little as $1/month, and you are free to cancel anytime:
