Hey, it’s great to have you.
My first week back in NYC has been crazy in a good way - I feel alive.
The pro’s of getting to catch up with people, motivational atmosphere, and convenience more then make up for living near Times Square as a light sleeper.
I’m currently taking advantage of the pre-Labor Day lull to double down on my projects, hence my mention of things developing quickly.
May you enjoy the last days of summer as we enter fall.
Essay
#2: No More Winging It
With target metrics in hand, this time it’s more than just execution.
Back when I was working on After Hour Projects, my goals were binary:
Launch content - check
Publish 10+ weekly releases - check
Record and distribute “video course” - check
While I did get 300+ subscribers to my newsletter, I wasn’t exactly tracking quantitative metrics - it was more about just putting things out there.
Shifting gears, my e-commerce endeavors have concrete metrics:
Cost per thousand impressions (CPM) - price for every 1,000 ad views
Cost per acquisition (CPA) - price of ad spend per purchase
Profit/loss - how much I make after all expenses
Things. Got. Real.
Currently, I’m iterating on a site after running some unprofitable FB ads. I spent $50 on the ads, drove some views to my site, and even got a few people to almost buy the product; however, they ultimately didn’t make the purchase.
The experiment didn’t go so well, but it gave me information on what to do next.
When it comes to online sales, there are multiple levers. Some at a high level:
Ads - audience targeting, ad creative
Supplies - cost of goods, shipping times and methods
Website - visuals, copy, structure
Now that I know I have a site that’s failing to convert, I know what to focus on.
And this is where I’ll redesign my site to get another shot on goal.
After Hour Projects Episode 14: Leo Chan: From Here to There
I’m still doing my podcast, and do I have THE EPISODE here.
Leo Chan, also known as Levitate Style on Instagram, is a full-time fashion blogger and influencer. He scaled his business while working a job in finance.
This is an episode of what’s possible.
Plus a combination of employing the immigrant mindset, doubling down, and - a cause I’m behind - positive Asian male representation in the media.
Marina Keegan’s essay, posthumously published in her book of the same name.
On being young, belonging, and thinking of the possibilities ahead.
The notion that it’s too late to do anything is comical. It’s hilarious. We’re graduating college. We’re so young. We can’t, we MUST not lose this sense of possibility because in the end, it’s all we have.
The Wealthy Gardener: Lessons on Prosperity Between Father and Son
A book akin to "Rich Dad, Poor Dad", except less Tony Robbins, more Earl Nightingale.
I found this book to be a very interesting read; not for the information captured in the pages, but re: process - how I felt while reading the book.
The book shares lessons in the form of fictional short stories about a wealthy gardener followed by the author’s own experience on the topic at hand. Quite the use of juxtaposition between fact and fiction to make points on personal development.
Until Next Time
Thanks for reading! Have any thoughts to share? Comment on the post!
Find me at leolu.info or on Twitter.
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