Before we begin talking about how to set one up and plan one, let's look at the different types of recurring revenue streams you can generate online. There are basically three different forms of recurring revenue.

The first one is a subscription based model, where people subscribe to your brand through something like a membership where they gain value each month. As long as you are performing for them and meeting their needs, you can secure your income with minimal drop offs.

The reason many consumers enjoy belonging to an online membership program is because they are a part of a community where they can connect with each other, ask questions of you, and even support each other in their goals.

They also like receiving ongoing value from someone they know and trust. They get to look forward to new information such as courses, templates, and other elements of content that meets their needs.

You can also offer different tiers of subscriptions so that people can choose one that fits their budget. When promoting this type of recurring revenue stream, you can offer a free trial to prove value before they make a commitment and drip teasers out to non members so that they can get a sneak peek of the type of value that waits for them inside.

The second type of recurring revenue business model is licensing. With this type of option, you are going to charge your customers for the right to use a product for a specific period of time, where it renews each month, quarter, or year.

Many online software developers use this type of recurring income model and the price is more attractive for a longer commitment, such as purchasing annual rights rather than monthly.

With this type of business model, you can have other ways to earn from it, such as charging for a single user or multi user license and having tiered licensing where they can access different functionality or features.

Digital product models with recurring revenue are the third option, and this allows you to bill customers on a regular basis for the of your product. So if you develop a product that is cloud based, such as storage or a product such as an artificial intelligence tool, keyword research tool, etc., you can charge customers for using what you created.

If you think about it, you are probably using this type of business model as a consumer. For example, if you have an email autoresponder system, you are likely paying a certain fee each month for the number of subscribers you have, which increases the more people you get on your list.

Or, you might be paying OpenAI for access to ChatGPT plus. You pay each month for the use of that tool, and as soon as you stop paying, your access goes back down to the free level or stops altogether.

The great thing about this type of revenue model is that customers only have to pay for the level that they are using, so they see it as a fair deal, where their price is less when they are using the product less.

As your product is proven to be useful to them, and you entice them with elevated features and perks to different levels, they can upgrade and contribute more to your recurring income stream.

We all have dreams, aspirations whispering in the back of our minds. Maybe you crave the thrill of starting your own business, yearn to finally master a new language, or simply desire to run a marathon. But between the spark of an idea and its tangible manifestation lies a vast and sometimes daunting space. How do we bridge the gap and turn those dreams into concrete realities? The answer lies in crafting a powerful plan – a roadmap that guides us from aspiration to achievement.

The first step is acknowledging the power within yourself. You are capable of incredible things, but effective planning helps translate that potential into focused action. Here's how to create a plan that propels you towards your goals:

1. Define Your Goal: Clarity is Power

The first step on any journey is knowing your destination. What exactly do you want to achieve? Is it learning French fluently or launching an online store? Be specific. Avoid vague aspirations like "get in shape" or "be more successful." Instead, define a measurable goal like "run a 5K race within six months" or "increase my income by 10% in a year." Specificity provides a clear target and allows you to track progress.

2. Break it Down: Divide and Conquer

Large goals can feel overwhelming. To combat this, break your main objective into smaller, more manageable steps. Imagine climbing a mountain; you wouldn't attempt the entire ascent in one go. Instead, you'd break the climb into manageable sections, focusing on reaching each base camp before tackling the next. Similarly, divide your goal into smaller, achievable milestones. For example, to run a 5K, you might break it down into weekly training sessions, each gradually increasing distance and intensity.

3. Set Realistic Deadlines: Time Management is Key

Every action step needs a deadline. This creates a sense of urgency and helps you stay on track. Be realistic, though. Don't underestimate the time and effort required. Factor in potential roadblocks and buffer periods. Assigning due dates also allows you to schedule reminders and hold yourself accountable. Utilize tools like calendars, project management apps, or even simple sticky notes to keep deadlines visible and present.

4. Identify Resources: Fueling Your Journey

No journey is undertaken alone. Identify the resources you need to achieve your goals. This could involve acquiring new skills, enrolling in courses, seeking mentors, or securing funding. Research online tools, workshops, or classes that can equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary. Don't be afraid to reach out to experts or successful individuals in your field for guidance and support.

5. Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge Your Progress

The path toward your goal won't be a straight line. There will be bumps, detours, and moments of doubt. But it's crucial to celebrate your accomplishments, both big and small. Reaching each milestone is a victory, a testament to your dedication and perseverance. Take the time to acknowledge your progress, reward yourself for achieving your mini-goals. This positive reinforcement helps maintain focus and motivation throughout the journey.

6. Embrace Flexibility: Adapting to the Unexpected

Life throws curveballs. Be prepared to adapt your plan as needed. Unexpected events may require adjustments to your deadlines, resource allocation, or even your overall approach. The key is to remain flexible and resourceful. Don't let setbacks derail your progress. View them as learning experiences and use them to refine your plan as you move forward.

7. Maintain Focus & Discipline: Stay the Course

The final, and perhaps most crucial, element is maintaining focus and discipline. There will be days when motivation dips, and distractions abound. Here's where your "why" becomes paramount. Remind yourself of the deeper purpose behind your goal. What motivates you? What will achieving this goal mean for your life? Harnessing the power of your "why" helps you persevere through challenges and stay committed to your journey.

Action: Take the First Step

Remember, planning isn't just about creating a document; it's about taking action. The most detailed plan is useless without execution. So, take the first step today! Schedule that introductory language course, research potential business mentors, or lace up your running shoes for your first training session. Every action, however small, sets you in motion towards your desired outcome.

By crafting a well-defined plan, equipped with actionable steps, deadlines, and a focus on resource utilization, you empower yourself to turn dreams into reality. Remember, the journey towards your goals is just as important as the destination itself. Embrace the process, celebrate progress, and remain focused on the power within you to make things happen.

 Life, in all its richness and complexity, can sometimes feel like navigating a vast ocean. Without a sense of direction, we drift aimlessly, buffeted by currents and storms. This is where purpose steps in, acting as our internal compass, guiding us towards a meaningful destination. Having a purpose isn't about grand gestures or achieving world domination. It's the guiding force that imbues our days with meaning, motivates us through challenges, and fuels our desire to contribute something valuable.

So, why is having a purpose so important? Research suggests a strong correlation between purpose and well-being. Studies have shown that individuals with a strong sense of purpose experience greater happiness, resilience, and even better physical health. Purpose provides a sense of direction, helping us prioritize and make decisions that align with what truly matters. It fuels our motivation, pushing us to persevere through setbacks and keep striving towards our goals. When we feel like we're contributing something meaningful to the world, it fosters a sense of connection and belonging – essential ingredients for a fulfilling life.

But how do we find this elusive purpose? The truth is, purpose isn't always a lightning bolt revelation. It can be a gradual process of self-discovery. Here are some ways to embark on this exploration:

• Uncover your values: What core principles are most important to you? Is it creativity, justice, helping others, or intellectual growth? Identifying your values gives you a foundation for your purpose, as your purpose should naturally align with what you hold dear.
• Reflect on your experiences: What activities or situations have brought you the most joy and fulfillment in the past? This could be anything from volunteering to spending time in nature to pursuing a creative hobby.
• Explore your strengths: What are you naturally good at? What skills and talents do you possess? Using your strengths in service of something larger than yourself can be a powerful source of purpose.

Once you've started piecing together your purpose, the next step is keeping it front and center. Here are some ways to ensure your inner compass remains steady:

• Integrate purpose into daily life: Find ways to weave your purpose into your everyday routine. A teacher might infuse passion for learning into every lesson. A parent can find purpose in nurturing their children. Look for opportunities, big or small, to live your purpose each day.
• Set goals that align: Your goals should be stepping stones on the path towards your purpose. When choosing goals, ask yourself: "How does this move me closer to what I truly value?"
• Find a purpose partner: Share your purpose with a friend, family member, or mentor who can support and encourage you on your journey. Having someone to hold you accountable and celebrate your successes can be incredibly motivating.
• Embrace the journey: Purpose isn't a fixed destination but an ongoing exploration. Be open to learning, adapting, and refining your purpose as you grow and evolve.

Life inevitably throws us curveballs. There will be times when our purpose feels distant or blurry. During these moments, it's important to practice self-compassion. Reconnect with your values, revisit the experiences that sparked joy, and remind yourself of the unique contribution you bring to the world.

Remember, having a purpose is not a luxury reserved for a select few. It's a fundamental human need, a guiding light that empowers us to create a life filled with meaning and fulfillment. By embarking on a journey of self-discovery and actively nurturing your purpose, you'll find the motivation and direction to navigate life's vast ocean with confidence and purpose.

Life throws curveballs. From flat tires to lost jobs, unexpected events can test our composure and leave us feeling overwhelmed. But what separates those who crumble from those who rise above? The answer lies in resilience, the ability to adapt, bounce back, and even thrive in the face of adversity.

Resilience isn't a magic shield that deflects all problems. It's a set of skills and attitudes we can cultivate to navigate life's inevitable bumps. Here's how to build your resilience toolbox and use it to conquer everyday challenges:

1. Cultivate a Growth Mindset:

Imagine challenges not as roadblocks, but as opportunities for learning and growth. People with a growth mindset believe their abilities can be developed through effort. When faced with a setback, they see it as a chance to learn new skills or improve existing ones. This optimistic outlook fuels perseverance and fuels the fire to overcome obstacles.

2. Embrace Acceptance:

Life doesn't always go according to plan. Sometimes, bad things happen. Fighting against reality only prolongs our suffering. Acceptance doesn't mean giving up; it means acknowledging what is and making a conscious choice to move forward. By accepting setbacks as part of life's journey, we free ourselves to focus on solutions and positive action.

3. Build Your Support Network:

No one is an island. Having a strong support system – friends, family, mentors – provides a safety net when life throws punches. Knowing you have people to confide in, who offer a listening ear and words of encouragement, can make a world of difference. Lean on your support network during tough times and reciprocate the support when they need it.

4. Develop Healthy Coping Mechanisms:

Everyone has stress, but how we manage it is key. Unhealthy coping mechanisms – like overeating, substance abuse, or social isolation – can worsen challenges in the long run. Find healthy outlets for stress, such as exercise, spending time in nature, meditation, or creative pursuits. Having healthy ways to manage stress equips you to deal with difficulties in a constructive way.

5. Find Meaning and Purpose:

Having a sense of purpose goes beyond daily tasks. It's about feeling connected to something bigger than yourself. Whether it's contributing to a cause you believe in, nurturing relationships, or pursuing a creative passion, meaning provides a sense of direction and motivation. When challenges hit, a strong sense of purpose reminds us why we keep going.

6. Practice Gratitude:

Taking time to appreciate the good things in life, no matter how small, can significantly boost resilience. Gratitude shifts our focus from what's lacking to what we have. It fosters a sense of optimism and appreciation that fuels our ability to navigate difficulties with a positive outlook.

7. Celebrate Small Wins:

The road to resilience isn't linear. There will be setbacks. But don't underestimate the power of celebrating small victories along the way. Each hurdle we overcome, no matter how minor, is a testament to our strength and perseverance. Acknowledging these wins reinforces a belief in our ability to keep going.

8. Take Care of Yourself:

Resilience starts with self-care. Prioritizing a healthy lifestyle – eating nutritious food, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly – provides a solid foundation for mental and physical well-being. Take breaks when needed, engage in activities you enjoy, and get help if you're struggling. A well-rested and cared-for self is better equipped to handle challenges.

Resilience in Action:

Let's see how these principles can be applied to everyday situations:

• Job Interview Rejection: You didn't get the job. Analyze why (if possible) and use it to improve your interviewing skills. Maintain a positive outlook and keep applying.
• Fight with a Friend: Practice acceptance – disagreements happen. Focus on communication and problem-solving to resolve the issue.
• Health Scare: Focus on getting the best treatment and maintain a positive outlook. Lean on your support network and take care of yourself physically and mentally.

Remember, resilience isn't built overnight. It's a continuous process. By incorporating these practices into your daily life, you'll cultivate a strength that allows you to not only bounce back from challenges but to emerge stronger and more prepared for whatever life throws your way. So, face life's curveballs with a resilient spirit, and watch yourself rise above them, ready to conquer whatever comes next.

One thing all marketers should excel at is getting more mileage from their content. You are in need of regular content across so many different platforms and for multiple purposes, so it’s wasteful if you don’t maximize the use of every piece.

There are two ways AI (artificial intelligence) can help you with this concept. First, if you’re a marketer who purchases private label rights (PLR), you can get more out of your readymade content by pairing it with AI.

For example, let’s say you bought a 400-word article about survival gardening. You can feed that into an AI tool and ask it to expand on the topic so that you have a 1,500-word pillar blog post that has potential to rank well in the SERPs (search engine results pages).

You can also ask it to change the slants or personalization for the piece of PLR so that you can use it for multiple audiences. A simple article about self defense for survival can be altered from a general audience to one for women, or one for non-lethal methods.

Repurposing content is another way AI can help you get more from your content. Whether it’s PLR that you bought or content you created (or even had AI create), this is something AI excels at.

So if you created a blog post, you can have AI repurpose it into many different formats. It can extract something for a social quote poster. It can take the main points and turn them into a listicle article.

It can take the steps in the article and create an infographic, even telling you what icons or images should accompany each one. It will take long sections and distill it into a phrase or sentence.

If you need a Pinterest image, it can create that for you – or something visually stunning for Instagram. If you want to turn your article into a podcast episode, it can do that – using your article as a transcription but adding more natural talking points to it.

It can do the same for turning it into a video, making it into a script you can use and even telling you what to put on the slides if you’re making a slideshow presentation. Now you instantly have a blog post, social media content, audio and video elements from one piece of content.

If you want to turn a 30 minute YouTube video into a 6-second short form TikTok video, it can tell you how to do that, too. You can even have it take materials and create outlines for Webinars or live streams if you want to repurpose it in that manner.

One things many marketers have trouble with is traffic generation. They spend hours research topics, using keywords and trying to gain traction, but it never happens. They envy people with deep pockets who can spend money on ad campaigns, targeting the perfect audience to showcase their ads to.

But whether you’re using free traffic strategies or paid campaigns, artificial intelligence (AI) can help you get more conversions. All of the content in the world won’t help if your content doesn’t get the clickthrough, or findability that it deserves.

High conversions require many different elements that AI can assist you with, starting with knowing what your target audience is even interested in. You wouldn’t believe how many marketers don’t bother researching what the needs of their audience are.

Part of getting the clickthroughs you want is based on the topic, but also how it’s presented. The slant matters – as does the personalization showing it’s tailored directly to their needs.

Ai can help you develop a content strategy that appeals to your audience more than generic content will. For example, a blog post titled, “Tips for Better Marketing Strategies” isn’t going to results in much traffic.

But if you target an audience and use something like, “10 Easy-to-Implement Marketing Strategies for Seniors,” it’s more likely to get their attention and make them want to see what you have to say.

In addition to audiences and slants, Ai is going to help you master search engine optimization (SEO). It can see what’s performing at the top of the SERPs (search engine results pages), and give you an action plan to bump those top ranking sites and replace them with your own link.

Every little thing that play a role in whether or not people go to your site via organic methods can be boosted by AI. Even making sure your site is user and mobile-friendly so you don’t sabotage your ability to rank in Google can be improved by AI.

For paid ads, AI can help with making sure your targeting is on point. You’ll have a precision-based campaign based on the right demographic and it can come up with split testing options to maximize the ROI (return on investment) for you.

If there is any sort of bottleneck in your funnel – from the time your audience sees your initial content to the time they abandon your link or offer, AI can help you identify and take corrective measures to prevent any obstacles in your business.

Most marketers are using artificial intelligence (AI) for two primary purposes – research and content development. AI is a wonderful tool to have at your side for digging into the details about your niche, target audience, and strategy.

It helps you get an upper hand over the competition and even has built in predictive analysis that helps you stay one step ahead in positioning yourself as an innovative thought leader.

Content is king online, and that’s a saying that’s held true over the years. Whether it’s text, audio, or visual, content is how consumers absorb information, get educated and informed, and ultimately, are swayed into making a buying decision.

You can use AI to help you dominate the online content in your niche by using it in several ways. If you are in a fast-moving or evolving niche, it can keep you abreast of trends and changes in your niche that you may not have known about yet.

It can spot patterns online – using social listening technology – and inform you about what the most in demand topics or media formats are in that moment. Every step of the way, your content will be fresh and up to date, never stale or out-performed by the competition.

If no one else is stepping up to serve the audience about a topic they’re hungry for, AI can tell you what that topic is so you can quickly fill that role for consumers and gain respect for meeting their needs.

Your content can be personalized for specific audiences, including using tailored storytelling and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) strategies to heighten their response to your work.

You can also dominate based on the quality and quantity of content AI helps you create. If you’re not a very good writer, AI can spiff up your work, expand on points to ensure the readers’ needs are met, and help you deliver flawless content.

If your competitors are publishing 2-3 blog posts per week and you’re struggling to keep up with them, you can lean on AI to help you not only catch up, but outperform their pace.

One thing AI is very good at when it comes to content domination is in allowing you to publish across many platforms all at once. It can create a pillar blog post on a topic that will rank well in Google, and create supplementary materials to publish on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, and even send to your subscribers via email.

This allows you to have blanket coverage of the topic instead of having to create and publish one piece at a time, because by then others may have capitalized on certain platforms and you’ll be a follow-up contender.

Reaching more people is a problem many marketers experience – regardless of what niche or business model they’re pursuing. But artificial intelligence (AI) can help you with this struggle.

One reason why content might have poor reach is that it’s too broad or generic for your audience to want to click on or share with others. AI can personalize and tailor your content for many different demographics.

So you can have the same concept being written for men or women, seniors or college students, and so on. You can start with one piece and feed it to AI for it to personalize so that you can share it for each demographic.

If you don’t know who all could be a potential target for the content, ask AI – it can help you come up with a list of potential readers (or buyers), including many you may not have considered so far.

Not only can the content address a particular audience, making them more likely to click through and read it because it appears to be speaking to them and their needs, but it can optimize the content so that it ranks for that demographic and keyword phrase in search engines.

Even if your content has a broad audience, you can use AI to help you gain more free traffic with top positioning in the search engines. You can have it use the keyword phrases strategically, but also come up with meta data and schema markup to help you in this area, too.

Top rankings mean more traffic and a better reach than you had before! The same holds true for free traffic being generated from social media platforms. AI can pinpoint where your audience is, what kind of content they respond to, and even tell you what schedule to use (including frequency, time of day, and days of the week) to post.

Then, AI can map out weeks’ worth of content for you – including coming up with topics, hashtags to use, outlines or even creating the text, graphics, or video content that you want to post to your account.

If you are up against fierce competition and your reach is stifled because of this factor, AI can conduct a competitive analysis to see where your weak points are (and those of your competitors) to help you begin siphoning off some of their audience to pay more attention to your content than everyone else’s.

AI can hand over insight about your audience – their online behaviors, buying patterns and engagement – so that you quickly and easily rise to the top of your niche as a leader with his or her finger on the pulse of the industry’s needs.

Not everyone is eager to jump onboard the artificial intelligence (AI) train for full content creation. You may prefer human-generated content, but still not have the time to create the text, graphics or videos yourself.

In fact, this is a great way to get the best of both worlds. In order to achieve good results, you can use  AI to do the preliminary work before handing it over to your freelancers.

This step may even save you some money, depending on how the freelance worker operates or charges for your projects. Even if they don’t discount for providing them with the initial work, it’s going to help make sure you get the kind of deliverables you want without leaving it up to chance.

You can use AI for this purpose in a few different ways. First, get AI to conduct the research you need for the project. It can be the keyword phrases, topics, slants, and more.

Then, get AI to outline the project in its entirety. You can ask for a basic outline first. Then take each section and ask for an expansion outline. That way you’re giving the freelance service provider a detailed map of what to include in the content they create.

If you want to, you can even have AI crank out a list of instructions on how to write the best content for a specific topic or demographic and hand that over with the project specifications.

Another thing it can do for you is create a script for you to hand over to freelancers you hire for things like video creation. If you need an Explainer video, for example, get AI to make the script and hand it over to the freelance videographer to work with.

Sometimes they charge more for the creation of the script or content, and less if you only need your words turned into video. The same holds true with graphic designers. You can give someone the information to put on an infographic or other image and even get AI to describe what something like a product image should look like, which will help your freelancer.

If you want to, you can use a tool like MidJourney to create an AI version similar to what you want, which will help the graphic designer in their own creation. If you’re outsourcing things like ad creatives, AI can come up with the wording for your ad campaigns before the freelancer begins the design.

Whenever marketers find out about a new tech tool, they often rush into it using the bare minimum instructions they can grasp. Unfortunately with artificial intelligence (AI), this is going to result in poor deliverables, which sabotage your entire reason for using this technology.

Prompting is one of the most important lessons you can understand before using AI. You never want to rely on a single, generic prompt to use with this tool. For example, don’t just log in and type, “Write a 500-word blog post about how to make money online.”

Prompting needs to be far more detailed and it needs to be done more than once, in most cases, which is known as re-prompting or redirecting. When prompting AI, you may want to include files as part of the prompt, telling AI to write in a certain tone or style – or use the information you attach as the data it works from.

Even if you have no file, you can tell AI in your prompt how it should sound – such as professional, casual, motivational, etc. When it delivers the content, check the style and if you need it changed, ask for it to be altered to more professional, for example.

Another thing you can add to your prompt as a marketer is the length of your content, or how you want it formatted. Do you want a list or sub-headings used – or just paragraph form?

Let AI know before it begins. What about content for search engine optimization (SEO) purposes? Do you want to target a specific keyword phrase, or a cluster of keywords? If you tell AI, it will churn out content that can help you rise to the top of the SERPS (search engine results pages).

If you have specific thoughts about what should be included, be clear on that. If you just ask for ideas on making money online, it might come back with business models you don’t want to include, so give AI a list of what to focus on.

You can also ask it to write for a specific audience. Maybe you’re targeting women or seniors, rather than a general online audience. It can angle the piece to your demographic and that will convert better for you.

When redirecting AI after it delivers content, you can ask for revisions or expansions, or even ask it to eliminate certain sections. It might need to elaborate on a point it made or you may have to correct it on something it got wrong.

You can re-prompt it to alter the conclusion, turning it from a simple re-hashing of information to a strong call to action statement. It can even insert statistics or curate details into the piece to back up your talking points.