Hey! Do you say “thank you” enough?

We should, but we don’t.

We don’t really say “thanks” a lot. When was the last time you said, “thank you”? Likely not as recently as you think.

Expressing gratitude is something we don’t do enough nowadays. Of course, we regularly say “thank you” here and there, but when was the last time we really meant it?

We rarely take the time to pause and show appreciation in a meaningful way.

There was a time when “thank you notes” were a big deal, especially in the West. People used to write thank you notes for every little thing.

You get a gift – You send a thank you note.

You did well in school? – You send a thank you note to your teacher.

The notes were everywhere, a small but significant act to show appreciation.

Unfortunately, people are not writing as many thank you notes by hand as they used to. Mostly because we’re all so connected online and use digital forms of communication a lot more. If you look at Google’s trends, it is obvious that writing thank you notes is no longer a thing.

If you’re wondering why we’re discussing about thank you notes, allow me to fill you in.

There’s a story behind this. It’s a tale that will change the way you see thank you notes forever. It involves a curious entrepreneur, a unique business idea, and a classic business model that will make your jaw drop.

Have you ever wondered how a simple “thank you” could make a big difference in your life? Well, let’s see a story that will make you wonder about the power of gratitude. It might even inspire you to start your next big business idea!

Curious? Let’s dive into the fascinating story of Heidi and her website.

Meet Heidi: The Thank You Notes Queen

Heidi, the mastermind behind TonsofThanks.com.

While the rest of us were busy forgetting our manners, one savvy entrepreneur saw an opportunity perfectly in the thank you notes.

What is it?

It is a simple blog that talks about how to write thank you notes in different situations.

It gives you-

• Templates that’ll make your thank you notes sing

• Resources to turn you into a gratitude guru

• Free PDFs (because who doesn’t love free stuff?)

• Blog posts that’ll have you saying “thanks” in more ways than you knew existed

Heidi’s website is a treasure trove for anyone looking to show gratitude. So that anyone can write better thank you notes.

That’s it. It’s as simple as that.

And the best part? it makes around USD $8700 /month.

Yes you heard that right. A simple but effective business idea that is raking a cool $8,700 USD per month! 🤑

How? Let’s dive deep.

The Birth of a Thank You Notes Empire: A Step-by-Step Journey

Step 1: Identifying the Niche

In 2013, Heidi decided to start a blog. To find the idea of her blog’s topic, she did something unique.

Instead of brainstorming ideas out of thin air, Heidi turned to the world’s largest online marketplace for inspiration. She went on Amazon and searched what topics had books with lots of reviews but not enough blog websites.

One of those was the “thank you note” industry. She found a few great books, but there were no dedicated blogs about the topic.

So, she created one.

Heidi started a simple blog on WordPress.

And just like that, TonsofThanks.com was born.

Step 2: Building a Solid Foundation

Heidi began working right away with her niche in mind:

• She started crafting engaging content on all things around thank you notes.

• Writing helpful articles consistently was her goal.

• As long as she kept working at it, she produced helpful articles on a regular basis.

Step 3: Consistency is Key

Heidi didn’t just write a few posts and then stop. She wrote about different scenarios where thank you notes could be used. Shared tips on how to write the perfect note, and even provided free templates and PDFs.

She treated her blog like a garden, nurturing it with:

• Regular new content

• Updates to existing posts

• Engagement with her growing community of gratitude enthusiasts

As a result of her valuable and practical content, her blog attracted a steady flow of visitors.

Step 4: Using search engine optimization

Search engine optimization (SEO) was a big part of Heidi’s success.

She made sure her blog posts showed up on the first page of Google search results by using relevant keywords to improve their SEO.

More people visited her site because of this, which helped her make more money from ads and affiliates.

Step 5: Making Money Via Monetization

This is where things really get interesting. Heidi turned her side project into a money-maker in two main ways:

Ad Income: Most of her money comes from ads on her website. Making every “thank you” sound like a “ka-ching!” She didn’t stop there, though.

As her reputation for writing great thank-you notes grew, she put out a book on Amazon called “A Modern Guide to Writing Thank-You Notes.“ This new source of income now brings in about 80 book sales a month, which helps her bottom line.

Once you look at the numbers, you can see how hard people worked and how powerful a unique business idea can be.

It’s amazing how much a simple “thank you” card can mean.

Earnings every month: $8,700

Income per year: $104,400 (That’s a great deal of thank you cards!)

Annual Sales of Books: Around 960

Seven years to full-time success: Her first job was in 2014, and she quit in 2021.

7 Lessons from Heidi’s Thank You Notes Success

Before you go and start your own business, let’s break down some key takeaways:

1. There are unique ideas all around you. Sometimes the best business ideas are the ones that no one else has thought of.

2. Simplicity Is King: If you want to start a great online business, you don’t need a revolutionary idea or a lot of technical know-how. Also, you don’t need a hard-to-understand business plan. Very simple ideas can be very strong.

3. Patience Pays Off: Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was Heidi’s empire. It took her 7 years to go from blog launch to full-time entrepreneur.

4. Solve a Problem: Heidi saw that people wanted to know how to write better thank-you cards and she met that need. What issue can you address for other people?

5. Consistency is Key: Making useful content on a regular basis helps you build a loyal following. Heidi’s regular blog posts kept her fans interested and coming back for more.

6. SEO Matters: Optimizing content for search engines is important for visibility. Heidi worked hard on SEO, which helped her blog rank high in search results and bring people to her site.

7. Smart Money Making: Heidi was able to make the most money from her blog by using different sources of income, like ads and book sales. Heidi’s main source of income is ads, but her book also brings in money. Do not put all your eggs in one basket!

Heidi’s blog is built on a simple WordPress platform and focuses on providing valuable content to a specific audience.

Heidi’s monthly income of $8,700 may not seem like a fortune, but it adds up to a respectable yearly income of $104,400. That’s a pretty penny for something as simple as writing heartfelt thank you notes.

Your Turn to Say “Thanks” to Success

This isn’t just about thank you notes or blogging. It’s about opening your eyes to the possibilities around you. What overlooked niche could you turn into your own success story?

Here are some action steps to get you started:

1. Brainstorm Niches: What topics are you passionate about? What skills do you have that others might need?

2. Research: Use Amazon, Google Trends, and other tools to identify underserved markets.

3. Start Small: Launch a simple blog or website. Remember, Heidi started with just WordPress!

4. Create Value: Focus on providing helpful, high-quality content to your audience.

5. Be Patient: Success doesn’t happen overnight. Keep at it, and you might be surprised where you end up!

Thinking Bigger and Differently

Now, the point of sharing Heidi’s story isn’t to suggest that everyone should rush out and start a thank you note blog. Rather, it’s to illustrate what’s possible in the world of online business.

Heidi’s success shows that niche interests can be turned into profitable businesses with a little creativity, strategic thinking, and persistence.

Heidi’s success story is a reminder that thinking outside the box can lead to incredible opportunities. It’s easy to get caught up in chasing the latest trends or trying to replicate someone else’s success. But sometimes, the best ideas are the ones that are uniquely yours.

If you have a passion or a niche interest, don’t be afraid to explore it. Start a blog, create content, and share your knowledge with the world. You never know where it might lead. Whether it’s a business about gratitude, like Heidi’s, or something entirely different, the potential is limitless.

If you enjoyed this story, you’ll love the other success stories we’ve shared.

Start your entrepreneurial journey today and

learn how to find your own profitable niche business idea.

Keep dreaming big and thinking differently. The next success story could be yours.

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