1. The studio I'm with has been actively promoting me, but they apparently haven't had much success in promoting me or their other shooter this year. I'm starting to hear that their reputation isn't as good as I thought it was.
2. I still believe that, with time, gunshopfinder.com will be a financial success. If I can find some banner advertisers whose ads don't conflict with the interests of the shops on the site, it could be very successful financially. As the owner of the hosting company put it, with that kind of traffic I should be able to make a lot of money from the site if I hook up with the right advertisers.
3. Judging from what the hosting company's previous SEO guy was doing, I'm certain I could do a much better job.
4. Can I do all three at once? I know I can continue to make phone calls for gunshopfinder.com while doing SEO work at the same time. If, suddenly, work at the studio took off, that would be a problem.
5a. Is it ethical for me to take on other work, such as the SEO work, while the studio continues to try to sell my photography work?
5b. Should I tell them that I'm doing other work to make ends meet while they try to sell my photo work?
6. Am I nuts?
Lots of questions, I know. Money problems are only getting worse, though, and someone waving dollars in my face certainly makes me pay attention.
If the SEO job were to come through, and there's a very real possibility it could, down the road I might have to just say goodbye to the photo studio. And there would be no looking back. In fact, I would probably not be able to get a photography job in this city again.
Thoughts, anyone?
Hi, Dick!
1. You're probably right.
2. Site success is a 'when', not an 'if'.
3. See #1.
4. Yes. Multiple Streams of Income. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0471381802/103-1308913-1835000?v=glance&n=283155&v=glance
5a. Is it ethical that they offered you a price, then pulled it out from under you?
5b. Hell no.
6. Probably.
But it's why we keep you around, for kicks & grins. ![Wink](http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
MOST IMPORTANTLY, you ask about the SEO job coming through, and dropping the photography...
Isn't that the plan, after all, once the website etc. take off?
Photog seems to me something you could always pick back up, like my PC repair, on the side, as needed.
Life's good, your lady loves you, your friends are glad when you're here.
Take it one step at a time, and enjoy whatever success comes your way.
(if ONLY I was as good at taking advice as I am at giving it!)
Regards, my friend.
Fig
Can I do all three at once?
Is it ethical for me to take on other work, such as the SEO work, while the studio continues to try to sell my photography work?
Yes and yes.
Taking on multiple jobs is easier when you're young, of course, but lots of people do it all their lives. If Smith is happy with your work, there's no reason not to make Jones happy, too. I don't see that your work for Jones is any of Smith's business, unless, of course, you've got some sort of exclusive contract.