Dear Members, Challengers, & Readers,
Happy New Year everyone! 2011 will be a year of positive change. From our humble beginnings as a disaggregated group of bloggers who used Google Docs and a patchwork of lists as our main sources of connection, we now have this site to call our home to help make magic happen. We hit all our targets for 2010 with the launch of Yakezie.com in August and the establishment of the Yakezie Writing Contest fund in December. Meanwhile, the Yakezie Forum is booming with ideas and our Yakezie Blog Network continues to grow.
In February we will welcome the Beta Class of Yakezie Members who have successfully completed the 6 month Challenge of networking with others. Some of you joined the Challenge after the window date, which is fine. Just let us know when your 6 month period is up, whether you’ve reached your goals, and we’ll invite you to write a Member Post to get inducted into the community. Those who have not been as active in getting to know your fellow Challengers, please make a final one to two month push. The more you give, the more you will receive.
As our Network grows, it’s important we don’t lose the tightness of our community. Inevitably we will have growing pains, but once we’ve developed our relationships with each other, there’s really nothing that will bring us down. I’d like to highlight three main initiatives for 2011 we should strive towards below.
THREE MAIN GOALS FOR 2011
* Consistently give back to the community through the Yakezie Writing Contest initiative. The Yakezie Writing Contest is our most important initiative which will happen all year long and not just during the holidays. We aim to provide at least 6 Writing contests in 2011 with at least 18 winners. It takes a lot of marketing, editing, scheduling, and coordinating to make everything happen so I would like everybody to pitch in to help where they can. We need Members who can 1) help promote the initiative to the offline and online world, 2) help choose the best essays for publication in case we get much more than 20, 3) volunteer as mentors to applicants who seeks further guidance and 4) find enthusiastic sponsors whose ideals align with our own. If we can combine monetary help with mentoring, we increase the applicant’s chances for success in their lives.
* Build out the Lifestyle Vertical and reach 100 official Members. The heart of the Yakezie Network lies in Personal Finance. However, solid Personal Finance is only a means to something more, which is a better life. There’s no reason why you can’t travel the world and have a great career at the same time. There’s no reason why you can’t do what you love and also build a retirement nest egg to provide for you and your family. We should cross-pollinate with the Lifestyle genre and learn from their adventures. Meanwhile, they can learn from us to help solidify their finances and continue to do what they love without financial fear. The Yakezie Member is one who not only has mastered their personal finances but is also living or at least heading towards their dreams.
* Generate meaningful extra online income for all Members. Officially, we have a $100,000 a month income goal by the end of 2011 where we envision 100 Members generating a combined extra $1,000 a month through the Yakezie Network. There are a myriad of ways to achieve this goal as Members can tell via the Private Forums. Everybody should think about ways to contribute and leverage the Network and the Yakezie brand. It’s tantamount to build great relationships because things can get sticky when money is involved. It’s also important to build great Member sites full of wonderful and consistent content as well. Good content is the key to everything, and if you so happen to have a network of powerful friends backing you up, then nothing is impossible.
SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS FOR MEMBERS TO HELP CONTRIBUTE
* Find one new candidate who you believe will be a perfect fit and ask them to join the Yakezie Challenge. You might see a blogger with consistently great content that isn’t realizing their full readership potential. What a shame, as likely they will get discouraged and give up as most do after a year. Let’s welcome them into the family and let them thrive!
* Take on a leadership roll. Positions include: Writing Contest Committee, Media Liaison, Product Review Team, Mentor Committee, Brand Manager, Advertising Liaison, Video/Audio Director, and Network Ambassador. If you see a need for a role, suggest it, create it, and run with it. We plan on putting up a page highlighting the Yakezie Leaders, whose rolls can alternate. Thanks Forest for being the Forum Leader.
* Organize your own ad campaign. I personally will ask every single successful advertising client on Financial Samurai whether they would like to expand their offering to the Yakezie Network. Imagine the revenue potential if we conduct just 5 to 10 ad campaigns a month. It is a win for all Members, clients, and readers a like due to more content and product offerings.
* Contribute a Member Article once every couple of months on Yakezie.com. We want to showcase your writing and have not only the other Members get to know you more but the thousands of readers and Challengers as well. Yakezie.com continues to grow and will be one of the best channels to spread your influence. See Forums & Google Spreadsheet for details.
* Donate $5 or more to the Yakezie Writing Contest once a month. I’d like to get as many people as possible to participate and help make a difference in our Yakezie Scholars. Our program is unique due to the transparency and the level of involvement we have in choosing the winners. Think up of creative fund raisers that benefits both your site and the Yakezie Scholar. One idea I have is doing a “Hire A Yakezie Member” fund raiser where a blogger outside of the Network will hire a Yakezie Member to write a post on their site, and the proceeds will go to the Writing Contest Fund. The idea is elaborated in the Writing Contest section of the private forums.
* Host a Yakezie Carnival and create a theme. The best Carnivals are those that are thematic and unique. We can use the Google Docs as a sign-up sheet. Don’t stress about not getting everybody to sign-up, as there will be plenty of opportunities for others to do so. Shoot for 10 Members articles and run with it.
CONSISTENCY + COLLABORATION WILL GET US THERE
There’s nothing more motivating than improving one’s finances, living the life of one’s dreams, and helping others achieve their own. As a result, through consistency and effective collaboration, we will strive hard to achieve our goals for 2011. Who knows, we might even surpass our wildest expectations!
Onwards,
Sam, Yakezie Member
Note: over the next several weeks, we will be highlighting Member Articles. If you wish to contribute, see the Member Article Tab in our shared Google docs. Thnx.
I love the goals! I think all of them are not only possible but highly probable as well. Great job creating such a positive affirming network!
I think these are all good goals, and I especially love the idea of trying to grow the scholarship.
These 2011 goals are not only right on target, but seem very achievable. I’m looking forward to the next round of member posts!
Sam, clearly articulated and achievable. Want to confirm that I am a member of the product review team. In that role, I’m currently reviewing “Power Spending” and will have the post up for publicaiton within 1-2 weeks. (BTW, it is AWESOME with a very sweet affiliate opportunity) I reiterate your attempt to broaden the leadership roles. With such ambitious growth initiatives, we need to spread the work out to avoid member burn out! Thank you Sam for your herculean efforts.
Confirmed Barb! We need a core YPRT and you are part of it. Cheers
My Yakezie goals for 2011 are to comment on member sites more often and to lead as many advertising campaigns as I can.
I’m interested in the advertising liason or the network ambassador position. What do I have to do to apply?
Sounds like a great goal. I think I comment too much everywhere and need to tune it down and focus more.
Right here in the thread is where we will collect all those interested in leadership roles and create a page of Yakezie Leaders. You are in as an Advertising Liason! Cheers, Sam
Ahh, I remember the google docs! We have come really far, and all yakezie members should give themselves a pat on the back for all accomplishments so far. :)
These are great goals for the Yakezie, Sam.
I wanted to add that the goals are very “SAM”!
Love these goals Sam! I didn’t comment much on other members blogs and do round ups due to my traveling in December. I will start doing all that again.
One thing I would like to do in the Yakezie forums is to compile a lot of the technical information like the minimum plugins we use, different theme and what problems we faced with those themes, general how to do stuff during the initial months and not spend too much time on the logistics of blogging. Instead spend that time on writing and promoting other peoples content. I am in the middle of compiling this. If you feel that is a good one we can make it sticky in the help desk forum, Just a thought.
Sounds like a great idea. Please lead the charge on the technical front. It will be helpful to a lot of folks.
Welcome back and see you around more often!
These are some great goals, Sam. I was considering writing up a lifestyle post for the site when I get a free minute!
Sammy boy — Thank you for all you do. I w/get on these ideas which are all great. I recommend that everyone check out the thread we’ve created for YAKEZIE MAKES YOU MONEY ON GOOGLE JANUARY. This is a great application of what you are talking about. We make more money and we all help more. NICE
Neal, where is this article you speak of? YAKEZIE MAKES YOU MONEY ON GOOGLE JANUARY
Thank you!
Sounds great. For those who are looking for it, it is in the private forums, or e-mail Neal directly for specifics.
Fantastic Goals! I would love to help out any new aspiring members get their site to the next level!
Terrific goals, Sam. These are definitely attainable, and I think a lot of our members are achieving at least half of these already. My blogging goals are continuous and these fit with them nicely! ;)
Outstanding Sam! I love all the goals, am already donating the scholarship, can’t wait to be a full member, and looking for opportunities to step into leadership roles. Just let me focus this last month or so on getting below the 100K mark (started at 1.58 million). I am at 132K as of today. When I become a member, I want to be shooting for 50K.
Here’s to a very bright future of the Yakezie network!
I am VERY excited to read the Member posts of the Beta Challengers! Some like yourself have done a phenomenal job. Can’t wait.
Sam, think I am kind of falling into my leadership role, but not sure how to articulate it. I like finding unique and different ways for each Yakezie member to promote and help one another…for example Blog Carnivals, the #YPromoGroup on twitter, the Yakezie Facebook Team, and now the Group Blog Post idea.
And I think we should have like some sort of road map for the new classes as they come in. Like Week 1 do this, Week 2 do this, Week 3……Let me know what you think, but I am sure there is something in here for me to help with and building a little more structure for the members and challengers. Sure we can figure out something, where there is a will there is a way!
Hi Freddie, I think what you are doing is GREAT! Feel free to come up with your own role and name and run with it! We’ll add you to he leadership page. Cheers
Awesome goals – they seem very attainable.
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We’ve had good progress so far, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more Yakezie growth throughout the new year!
Inspiring and motivating. Loved the goals. I have a feeling we all will be surprised by how much we achieve in 2011.
Thanks for the shout out, I enjoy the role and people behave on the forum so it’s a pretty straightforward one so thanks for giving me the opportunity to do it. I do sometimes fall a few days behind on reading when busy or away for the weekend but always endeavour to catch up.
Also thanks a million for the goals, it always helps to have some ideas laid out. I am really hoping I can make my Yakezie donation a lot more sizable by the end of the year.
I still need to host an official carnival and also get some member posts stubmitted, these are priorities when I get back from a little trip down to the Valley of the Kings for the next week :)…. Will try and write about it as am taking a pretty budget route.
The network is making great progress and I am looking forward to the Beta posts.
Thanks for everything Sam, Chris and everyone else involved.
Thanks for your Yakezie service in 2010 this year Forest and suggesting the e-mail digest for the forums.
EVERYBODY should sign up for the e-mail digest for the forums. A once a day, daily download. If you could send it out to everybody again, that would be great. Thnx!
Sam,
Some huge goals for the network. I’d love to be on the Mentor Committee or be a Network Ambassador. As I’ve said before, I’m very happy with the direction that the group has taken and look forward to helping to fund the scholarship as much as I can.
Sounds great. Come up with a gameplan for the Mentor Committee i.e. what mentoring advice can we offer, how do we increase participation, can we create a stand alone Mentorship offering such s the Yakezie Scholarship etc? A lot of possibilities!
i think these goals are very achievable if we all work together and as a team. If one member struggles, let’s help them get back up. If one member reaches a milestone, let’s all jump up and down with joy and celebrate together!
Agreed. We should leave NO MAN or WOMAN behind if they are asking for help. It’s important we all succeed together.
Great Goals for Yakezie, the best Personal Finance network online. I love being a part of Yakezie and I’m not even a full member yet.
I really like the lifestyle crossover idea, it would be great way to reach a more diversed audience. Also, I noticed many of the Alpha Class (?) members are not around anymore. Maybe someone needs to remind them to come by once in a while. Or maybe they are not posting in the non member forum?
Indeed some have been quiet, but when it comes to a revenue opportunity, they suddenly appear and are interested.
I’ve learned that we can’t force anybody to do anything. We can only lead by example and focus on what we can control. Perhaps you can be in charge of rounding up those who’ve drifted off?
Perhaps we will implement a minimum participation standard. Not sure, but we should reassess the Members once every 6 months to see how they are doing, b/c we won’t to be the strongest, tightest network of bloggers on the web.
I don’t think I can take on any additional responsibilities in 2011 with the baby coming soon. It’s going to be crazy and I think keeping up with the blog and working full time will be hard enough. Once things calm down a bit, I will definitely help out more. sorry for now… :(
I love the goals for the Yakezie. I think that every single member has been great thus far, and I can’t wait for all of our success this year!
I also can’t wait to be an official member that has completed the Yakezie challenge! I have just over a month under my belt and it has been great! By the time 6 months is up, I fully expect to have an Alexa Rank that’s under 100k. Thanks so much everyone!
Great goals! I agree that it may be hard to stay a tight-knit group and grow at the same time. Is there a review process for members or anything? Meaning, what if someone is a member, but they never do roundups, never contribute in the forums, but just love to get in on the advertising campaigns?
Also, how is it decided if you are PF or Lifestyle blog?
Each blogger should decide whether they are more a PF blogger or Lifestyle blogger. It doesn’t really matter as we all go on the same list. We can decide to highlight the differences though on the list if desired, but I see some downside to that.
We should probably do a review of the Members once every 6 months… whenever we have new Members come in.
The Belts of Honor system will be a good metric to use.
Sorry, I didn’t read through all the comments before I wrote my comment. I now see Retire By 40 asked the same question I did.
These goals are great, but very involved, nevertheless. I feel that I am slowly missing out on a great thing as I try to balance my own site, my in-process book, reading the sites of others, reading the essays of the prospective scholarship recipients, spending school and fun time with my son, and attending evening school myself. One thing that I preach on my site is “we don’t understand that time is money” so I must balance my time to make the most effective use to grow money. But what is money if you don’t have a great network behind you to share in your success?
Keep things going Yakezie, and I’ll do as much as I can to support. The least that I can do is contribute as much as I can to the scholarship fund :)
It’s OK mate. You should feel free to do what you can. This ain’t boot camp, so you should feel like you have the freedom to do what you want at your own pace. Cheers, Sam
Love these goals, and I love being involved as much as possible. I think including more lifestyle is great, and love keeping up with Aloysa’s posts, as they are very different than most PF I read.
I look forward to a fun 2011!
Hey Sam, thanks for creating all of these goals for the network. I am working on my Member Post (as I hit my goal a while ago but haven’t put together the member post yet). I’m also interested in helping out as the Video/Audio lead. Since my site is focused on video, I think that’s a natural step for me to take if the position is still open.
Hi Kevin, sounds great! I think you should/could totally run with a video segment on Yakezie. You make it however you see fit, and interview random people and do whatever. You just have to come up with a plan and make it happen! I think you’d do great, and get an immediately large audience that will then funnel to your site.
I’ll start thinking of some video ideas that could work for Yakezie and get some input in the forums. Thanks Sam!
Let’s say there is someone relatively famous or big in our arena you’d like to interview. You can leverage the Yakezie brand that can help access that person for example. I’m sure their ears would prick higher if you pitch it in a way that they get an instant audience of influencers who can spread their word around the web.
You can do anything you want frankly eg Yakezie TV, Y Ask Y segment (that’s a good one!) etc. A bigger media outlet could stop by, notice what you do, invite you to come speak on Yakezie’s behalf as well as share your story and then the rest is history! Could be good! Anything is possible. Just gotta try.
Great goals! I had so much fun following Yakezie in 2010 and am really looking forward to what’s coming this year. I still can’t believe we’re in a new decade now.
I like the goals and I’m looking forward to graduating from challenger to member. my 6 month blogaversary is next week, woo hoo.
I comment like crazy on other people’s sites, so I’m good there, but I think the other way I can contribute is my coffee talk writing challenges. Next one’s tomorrow by the way and the last couple have been really fun and popular.
It’s kind of like a carnival but the goal is really to expand people’s writing skills and flex people’s creative muscles. I think since PF blogs have been around for a while, the Yakezie members should also focus on ways we can collectively create fresh and interesting content that hasn’t been done 100 times already.
This is a great network and I’m proud to be a part of it. Thank you.
Coffee talk writing challenge… sounds like a good idea! Let’s see if we can implement a version here!
What is an advertising liason? I thought that was what campaign managers were…
Great goals and good luck to the Yakezie!
An advertising liason is indeed a campaign manager, but perhaps bigger. The advertising liason could be a central figure who can perhaps be the liason for others who don’t feel comfortable to run one themselves. Just throwing ideas out there.
I’d love to be an advertising liason! It’s fun!
These are great goals Sam – and I think very realistic as well. I’ve learned so much from my fellow Yakezie members and am proud to display my Yakezie badge!
Awesome goals! Freddie recruited me after being a long time observer/reader. Looking forward to getting into the community!
Awesome goals Sam! I am looking forward to becoming a full fledged member soon as I would love to help on the Scholarship committee! 330,000 and going down! Looking forward to posting as a Beta Challenger Success Story.
Great list Sam! It tells a lot that #1 on the list talks about giving back. The more you give, the more it goes around and comes back to you in leaps and bounds. It’s truly inspiring to see a lot of Yakezie members getting behind such a wonderful goal for the year! Cheers to an exciting year ahead!
Reposting my thoughts here instead of the comments, comment. Hoping to make sure see it and give some insight.
Sam, think I am kind of falling into my leadership role, but not sure how to articulate it. I like finding unique and different ways for each Yakezie member to promote and help one another…for example Blog Carnivals, the #YPromoGroup on twitter, the Yakezie Facebook Team, and now the Group Blog Post idea.
And I think we should have like some sort of road map for the new classes as they come in. Like Week 1 do this, Week 2 do this, Week 3……Let me know what you think, but I am sure there is something in here for me to help with and building a little more structure for the members and challengers. Sure we can figure out something, where there is a will there is a way!
Maybe you can be like the “Promotion Projects Manager” or something like that. :-) You do a great job!!!
Sure, that’s a good one mate. I responded to your original comment. Formulize exactly what the role is and run with it. We’re gathering the leadership roles now.
Love these goals. What are you thoughts regarding the brand manager and network ambassador? These both sound intriguing to me.
Brand Manager sounds great. It would be great if you clearly define what the mission of the brand manager is and then we’ll go with that.
P.S. I don’t think you comment too much!
Doh, just heard he went to rehab and has been drinking daily and NOT sober for 2 years. Dr. Phil reveals all!
At least he’s going to rehab!
I like coming back to this page over and over again because it keeps me motivated. One of my goals is to donate each month to the scholarship once I have my first monthly ad placement. I know I will be there soon!
If you need any help with the writing contest committee count me in! I love reading essays.
I want to be a Yakezie Member.