In 04-05 I did almost half a mil $.
Every year since then it has dropped, and the 07-08 financial year was the worst for me with profit so far down I was starting to worry. But, in 08 things turned around because I stopped doing the same old garbage I was pumping out in 2002 ... that stuff doesn't work anymore, and approached people I had helped in the past who were doing very well for advice on what was working in today's market. I also did something most are incapable of doing ... i took the advice instead of asking around until I got the answer I wanted. Profit is back on the rise and things are good ... while ratios aren't what they were, there is definitely no recession in my office! If I had of been a stubborn bastard and refused to accept the changes then I would be one of the people complaining on the boards all day about how its not fair.
Thing is guys you have to adapt. The very nature of surfing has changed so radically in the youtube age that surfers simply aren't going to gravitate to sites using outdated methods. Surfers have faster internet, are used to content on demand, social networking, being able to get what they want to see and quick, and these surfers still signup when they find something they really want. Best of all SE's are moving towards getting those types of sites higher in their rankings because in the end they want a more rewarding search experience for their users. How many tube sites dominate top spots?
The problem with veteran webmasters is often their ego gets in the way of progress. This industry is maturing, and unfortunately those who don't update their methods and strategy are going to be left behind. I personally am excited by the radical changes in the industry!
Bring it on I say !
