The end is nigh (for 2006)

With only a few hours to go in 2006 I decided to do my final bit of email checking for the year. Having done that I think I just about have time to reflect on the year:

What happened in 2006

As I mentioned before, it has not been as productive as I might optimistically have liked. My main website I had been trying to have developed hit several barriers and set backs. The site is still not ready, has cost me lots of money and on completion may not be the all-singing all-dancing appilcation I was after.

Other projects were started and not finished. Yet more sites were developed and not marketed properly (including this one!)

Reading that makes it sound like a complete failure of a year! But I have learned lots; I have experienced the down falls of using cheap developers, learnt about the time needed in managing such projects - even without being directly involved in the coding or graphical design. Most importantly I am more aware of what makes money and what doesn’t!

I have sites which have built up natural traffic from search engines, experimented with different marketing strategies and with different affiliate programs to maximise the income the sites can generate. These now make a steady monthly profit with no extra work on my part. I have also recently been able to renogotiate and increase the commission some earn. Throughout the year monthly profit has increased and I expect this trend to continue in to the new year. I hit my turnover target, and from next year will be earning more than had I continued in my job (taking generous pay rises in to account!)

Though I did not make any real impact on £1million I am pleased the way things have panned out. I have networked and met several very useful contacts. Profitable sites are almost self sufficient freeing up my time to concentrate on other exciting joint ventures with some of these contacts. Best of all these do not require huge investment which would eat up the profits from the areas which currently make money.

So I say bring on 2007!!! Time to have a few drinks now…. just before I go, since most people will try to sing this later I decided to look up the words. I cannot vouch for the accuracy as I previously knew no more than 2 lines. Enjoy.

Old lang syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp!
And surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes
And pou’d the gowans fine.
We’ve wandered mony a weary foot,
Sin’ auld lang syne.

We twa hae sported i’ the burn,
From morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roared
Sin’ auld lang syne.

And ther’s a hand, my trusty friend,
And gie’s a hand o’ thine;
We’ll tak’ a right good willie-waught,,
For auld lang syne.