Through my online journey, Sammie has been one of those people I’ve admired and looked to for inspiration and information. He has an admirable brand (Upthegains) that we could all learn from. Because of this, I went out of my way to see if he wanted to be featured on Incomestrms, and thankfully, he agreed. Below, you’re going to learn about Sammie himself, his income streams, and some valuable lessons about navigating online business the right way. Let’s get into it.
Short Introduction About Yourself
Hi, I’m Sammie, 34 and I’m from just outside London in the UK. I’m the Founder of Up the Gains which is a financial education platform teaching people of all ages the money lessons they wished they’d learnt in school.
What Got You Into Making Money Online?
I’d always been fascinated with the space. When I was 17 I was buying bulk clothes on eBay and selling them on Facebook before it was really a thing.
I’ve been in marketing for over a decade in hospitality and just always dreamed of doing something big online.
It was really covid that was the push for me. My hospitality business had closed down and I had 9 months at home which gave me the push I needed to jump in.
What Are Your Income Streams? – (By Order Of Significance) – you could do %’s if you’d like (no big deal either way)
Sponsorship – 35%
Break Down: With his large audience across Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, his blog, and others he’s able to make most of his money through sponsorships (tied with digital products/courses)
Digital Products / Courses – 35%
Break down: By using short form content on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, Sammie has really scaled his digital product/course sales. Here’s a video on how he did it here.
Visit Sammies Digital Product Store Here
Affiliate Marketing – 25%
Breakdown: Through all of his marketing channels he’s able to make 25% of his income from affiliate marketing.
Ads 5%
Breakdown: He’s monetized on YouTube and has ads running on hit website Upthegains which allows him to make money via ads.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out with the goal of creating multiple income streams?
Pick one and go laser focused on that. Don’t feel like you have to do everything at once. I did and it takes a lot longer plus everything is sub par in quality.
When you scale back and do one thing well you become a master in that area. Then systemise it and bring in the 2nd channel.
There are many people out there who deal with Shiny Object Syndrome. How do you decide what’s worth your time and what’s not?
I’ve been a culprit – I’ve bought sites and started creating courses that have led to nowhere. We all do it but what I would say is since I went laser-focused my business went up 300% in revenue in just 2 months.
It’s incredible what can be achieved with 30 days of laser focus on one mission.
For me, it’s now got to fit into my framework.
How much effort is needed to generate X amount in X amount of time?
Is something everything knows but what they forget to add in is – how much time will this takeaway from what I was already working on in the first place?
Can you share a significant mistake you made while developing your income streams and what you learned?
I’ve made lots and I plan on making lots more but they’re not mistakes, they’re me failing and failing fast. Nothing is a mistake in my eyes.
If you let a mistake or failure get on top of you then you’re probably not built for this space.
Take it on the chin, learn from it, and do better the next time.
Online Business Moves Fast. There are a lot of changes (Google updates, AI, etc.). What Would You Say Is The Best Bet In Terms Of Staying Ahead of the Curve and Ensuring Long-Term Success in Making Money Online?
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Stay flexible.
And secondly, build a real business. Don’t hide behind a pseudonym. Get out there and build a real-life business. Become a leader in your space. You don’t need to be an expert to get started and you don’t need to be one to win either just positioning yourself as one makes others believe in you.
Act like a big brand from day 1.
What are your future business goals, and how do you plan to achieve them?
I’m planning on Up the Gains being the biggest personal finance platform in the UK. We have a podcast, youtube channel, website and social channels with strategies to be the biggest in all of these areas.
I grow one channel and then move onto the next. Being methodical about it as possible.
Where Can Everyone Find You & Learn From You?
Upthegains.co.uk or upthegainsmoney on all social media platforms.
Or my personal account is @ellardking on Twitter
Thanks for having me!
Lessons Learned From Sammie
Embrace Focus On One Aspect at A Time
Sammie emphasizes the importance of focusing on one method at a time. This approach not only ensures quality but also allows for mastery in a specific area. By becoming an expert and systemizing one channel before moving to the next, efficiency and effectiveness in business operations are significantly enhanced.
Overcoming Shiny Object Syndrome
The journey highlighted the pitfalls of Shiny Object Syndrome, where diversifying interests and investments without focus can lead to suboptimal outcomes (bad quality). Sammie’s experience shows that a 300% revenue increase was possible within two months by maintaining a laser focus on a singular mission, underscoring the power of concentrated effort over scattered attention.
Learning from Failures
A key takeaway from Sammie’s story is the perspective on failures and mistakes. Viewing them as opportunities for rapid learning rather than setbacks fosters resilience and a growth mindset, crucial for navigating the fast-paced online business landscape.
Diversification and Authenticity for Longevity
To stay ahead in the ever-evolving online space, Sammie advises diversifying income streams and building a genuine, transparent business. This strategy not only mitigates risks associated with market changes but also establishes a solid foundation for sustained success and leadership in the industry.