Today, I’d like to share more about my experience and what I’ve learned so far from launching four websites on Fourthwall, especially because so many of you ask how we make money as we travel.

Overview

Fourthwall provides you with the opportunity to sell Made on Demand, dropshipped products through its partnership with Printful. You can also sell digital products and memberships, offer special perks and tiers for customers, and write posts with this platform. They even create a mobile app for your website’s members.

I’ll provide a snapshot of some important considerations.

Pricing

There are two pricing plans for Fourthwall: FREE and PRO ($19/month). As with any free plan, there are a few benefits you don’t get if you were going paid, but for this platform and what I get, that’s not a problem. At this moment, I don’t want or need the extras they offer, with the biggest factor being digital storage space and 24/7 priority support.

Design Capabilities

Out of the box, I really love the simplicity, yet effectiveness of their UX and UI. You can begin with a template (basic but good) and then customize the entire brand and appearance without any coding, in addition to rearranging or adding sections as needed. You can also create and save your own theme, which could be a valuable service or a source of passive income.

In my opinion, you have everything you need here to build your brand and it certainly compares with Shopify’s design features.

Promotions

It’s easy to add special promos, including product discounts, free shipping, membership discounts, gift cards, and giveaway links for freebies. These are all benefits that are important to customers and it’s easy to set up.

Memberships

This is where it gets really cool, especially since it’s included in the free plan and membership websites can be expensive to invest in. You can chat with members via the app, upload videos for everyone or members only, write posts for everyone or members only, create custom badges (we don’t need no stinking badges 😝), offer membership tiers and upsells, and protect certain offerings.

The only thing I don’t like about this post feature for articles. It’s clunky and unattractive, and not a good UX.

SEO

Search Engine Optimization seems to be shit these days, particularly with Google, which seems to play god with our livelihoods. I spent a decade building traffic to certain online properties only for it to be wiped out by updates and AI. That said.

Fourthwall provides basic options to improve your SEO, and with very little investment on my part, I’ve managed to rank in the top positions for certain product keywords and earn a handful of sales with NO promotion. If I spent more time on these properties, I think I could increase sales, which I plan on doing soon.

You can also add Google Analytics and tracking pixels into the mix.

Social Media Integration

While I personally hate social media and choose to spend very little time on these apps - which also likely hurts potential sales - you can connect to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, YouTube Shopping, Spotify, and more.

At first glance, these features seem like a great opportunity to build your brand, especially if you already have an established online audience. Who knows? Maybe I’ll try harder with social media, see how it goes, and do an update.

Professional Opinion about Fourthwall

In the last 20 years, I’ve used almost every platform for building websites and e-commerce websites — WordPress, WooCommerce, Shopify, Squarespace, Wishlist Member, Udemy, and so on. Every platform has its pros and cons. Some excel in specific areas, while others do not. Some are free for basic features, and others require money up front.

In my experience, the best solutions are designed to make your life easier and earn you money as quickly as possible. They are easy to use out of the box, help you build your brand, and reduce friction for you and your audience.

Fourthwall does all of this!

With minimal effort on my part, I’ve launched four websites to test the features I’m most interested in. Each website probably took me a couple of hours to set up, customize, add products, and launch. I’ve made money and spent nothing, without dicking around with dumb stuff or frustration.

So is it worth it? 100% YES!!!

There are people who doubt the on-demand and dropshipping business model, yet businesses like House of Chingasos have become million-dollar businesses using it.

The problem is that most people don’t think through their brand or products. They don’t put in the work to make it a success. They load a few ideas, hope to make money online, and get mad when it doesn’t happen that way. You gotta work it, baby!

I was skeptical about using Fourthwall at first because I’ve made great money using Shopify and WooCommerce in the past, but honestly, I’d start with this platform. Test your product ideas, play around with your messaging and offerings, and see where it goes. Maybe you’ll make a million bucks, too.

My plan for these four websites (and a few other ideas) is to build and grow them and potentially sell a couple to someone interested in them over the next year.

Additionally, I’ll start offering consulting and design services to those who want to build their own online brand with Fourthwall but don’t have the time or expertise to do it themselves. Because why not? We all gotta make a living.

If you have questions or need help, let me know.

Now it’s time for me to go make some more money!

Check out my current projects at:

• www.101stairbornedivision.com

• www.roadlifeshop.com

• www.joesnuffy.com

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Have you ever thought about starting a new business, had lots of ideas about what you could do, but then couldn’t decide which one to pursue because you liked them all?

Please tell me I’m not the only one!!!

If you’re anything like me, it’s really difficult to see so many opportunities in front of you only to realize you can’t chase every idea that comes to mind.

Believe me. I’ve tried.

Like a dog chasing its tail, it just never works. It only ends up in frustrating exhaustion.

I don’t think failure comes from a lack of passion or possibilities, but from not having enough time, money, energy, or resources to do it all. It’s just not possible.

Unless maybe you’re a unicorn.

. . . 🦄 . . .

At some point, you have to start letting go of the ideas because if you don’t, you’ll probably not end up achieving any of them. Of course, this means you will have to choose something.

But which one?

Trying to decide is another challenge altogether because analysis paralysis often creeps in, causing you to spend days, sometimes years, evaluating every single detail, along with the pros and cons of each idea.

It feels like some sort of damnable eternal misery.

Not that I’m speaking from experience.

I wish I could tell you there’s an easy formula for choosing the right business idea or deciding what to dedicate your time to, but despite all the popular opinions and advice out there, it’s just not that simple.

However, I can ask you a few questions to consider that I believe will help you.

. . . 🙋‍♂️ . . .

1. What are you obsessed with?

I like what Justin Welch wrote about in his article, Don’t Pick a Niche. Choose an Obsession, because when you’re obsessed with something, you’re way more likely to stick with it no matter what.

This has been true in my own life.

After chasing an endless array of business ideas for decades, the ones that achieved financial success came from my obsessions — ideas and interests that I had to pursue regardless of the outcome.

There’s a good chance you’re thinking of something right now. What is it?

2. What will people pay you for?

If you want to make money from your business, there has to be a market for whatever you’re selling, and the best ideas that do typically solve a difficult problem or fulfill a need for the right audience.

Before all the AI website generators and DIY templates, I made a lot of money designing and launching websites for clients, big and small. I was great at making their lives easier while helping them generate substantial online revenues. My work sold itself.

Remember, it can be a great idea, but if it can’t make money, it’s just a hobby.

3. What is your gut feeling about it?

Even though I said there needs to be a market for what you offer, sometimes the world isn’t ready for your offering yet. Maybe they don’t know they need it until you show it to them.

A perfect example was the iPod.

Steve Jobs knew in his gut this little music device would be life-changing, but there was no real market for the iPod when it was conceived. We all know now just how transformative it was!

Sometimes, you need to ignore market research and trust your gut. If I had ignored my feelings and listened to others, I’d be completely broke.

4. What will you stick with for 3-5 years?

I really hate this one because I’m a fire starter and not a firekeeper.

Statistics show that, on average, it takes at least 3 years for a business to become sustainable or profitable, though it can take much longer.

If you don’t see yourself staying with your business idea long enough because you get bored or lack patience, you should reconsider investing in it; otherwise, you’ll just waste time, money, and resources.

. . . 🔥 . . .

Honestly, we never truly know what will work. Sometimes it’s a gamble.

You can do the research, study the experts, dig into the marketplace, and ask people what they think, but sometimes success just comes down to dumb luck. As Tom Petty sang, “even the losers get lucky sometimes.”

Here’s what I do know.

If you have a strong desire to pursue an idea you believe in 100% AND you think you’ll have deep regrets for never doing it, it’s way better to try and fail than never try at all.

GO FOR IT.

I have seen business ideas that I thought were absolutely stupid make millions of dollars, while others I thought were brilliant make no money at all. It’s a 50-50 shot.

That said, the right business idea is the one you choose and try to make happen.

And if it doesn’t work out, you can always pick another from the list.

Last week, I spent time thinking about all things writing, especially in relation to the growing discourse on AI use and the ongoing degradation of travel writing. When I came across this article from Between the Dots, it made me question the purpose and future of publications like Road Life Adventure.

The author discusses how the internet and the rise of travel influencers have changed the way we travel, as well as the demise of great resources like Lonely Planet. One quote in particular that really stood out to me was this:

Without a doubt, I have noticed a trend towards professionally curated and edited images, often accompanied by AI-generated writing that feels more like an inauthentic marketing message than heartfelt stories about adventure. It has become more about capturing likes than captivating an audience.

I have detested the standard kind of articles that many travel publications and writers have produced for years, the type of commoditized posts that simply reduce travel to a top ten list of places to see and check off, while pandering to the algorithms and search engine gods in order to be noticed. Sadly, I have also been guilty of these kinds of practices in the past, but I am fighting hard against them today.

During my time of contemplation, I fixated on whether travel writing in the future has any hope of sustainability or if it will be killed off by mass-produced content mostly created by machines, or destroyed by the dopamine hits provided by video. And there’s no denying that video killed the radio star!

It’s far easier for people these days to consume reels and shorts than to read a lengthy article, which is evidenced by the billions of views for travel-related videos and the insanely exponential growth of YouTube or TikTok. Humans are more inclined to be entertained by good-looking influencers on screen than to engage in the critical thinking required of diving into a good book, guide, or publication. This is not a slam on those who prefer video to reading, but a testament to how culture has changed since the internet’s inception.

Ultimately, this is why Donetta and I attempted to complement our writing endeavors and gain traction with our YouTube channel.

Yet as we tried to plan, film, edit, and publish our videos, it became quite overwhelming, and honestly, felt inauthentic because the focus was on entertaining viewers rather than inspiring them to step away from the screen to seek their own adventure. It also kept us from being present in the moment. So we put it on pause.

The same can be said for Instagram. We deleted our Road Life Adventure account because it was a stagnant recollection of mostly curated images designed to get likes.

Thankfully, millions of people love to read, which is good news, because we truly love writing about and sharing our experiences with you. Still, this leads me to ask an important question and to seek your input.

What compels you to want to read about travel?

I’m very curious as to what draws you in the most and makes you want to learn more, in addition to subscribing to any travel publication on Substack or other platforms.

Of course, it can be all of these, a combination, or none, but this poll feature doesn’t give me enough options, so I’ll concentrate on one thing. If you have additional input, I sincerely appreciate it if you drop it in the comments section below.

When I consider the enshitification of the travel and hospitality industry as a whole, paired with the demise of great writing and the increase of AI-produced content, it is extremely valuable to gather feedback. Donetta and I dream of building a future here and someday earning a living from travel writing and our Road Life Adventure brand, but we also don’t want it to become like every other curated experience online, either.

Is there a future in travel writing? Please tell us what you think.

Every person who responds and shares their input will be entered into a drawing for a free gift from our online store, which will also be getting a facelift, new products, and hand-drawn artwork made by yours truly soon.

Thank you for reading!

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If you’ve ever followed any location-independent blog or Instagram account, you’ve seen those glorious photos of the freelancer happily working away while sitting by the Caribbean blue waters on a white sand…

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I know, I know. Just pick something and stick with it!

That’s the voice inside my head right now because it’s what I constantly hear from my lovely wife, Donetta. She’s right. At least I’m brave enough to admit it.

Yet, having been in the digital media space for several decades and knowing the complexities of publishing platforms, it’s not always easy to choose the right path for creating and sharing your content—especially when things are changing so quickly these days and AI is taking over the world! Not to mention the actual cost for it all.

Over the last couple of months, we’ve been busy buying a camper van, learning to live in one, working harder to grow our YouTube channel, and evaluating how we invest our time in Road Life Adventure going forward. And because we love what we do and want to make a living from it, we’ve had to ask ourselves some hard questions, like how we actually make it happen and where to focus our efforts. 🤔

Some of you know we originally started writing on our WordPress website before moving to Substack a few years ago. Then, amid ongoing controversies and problems with this platform, we moved everything to Ghost. Seemed logical, right? We wanted to protect our work and avoid the drama. Now we’re back.

Rather than giving you a deep dive now, I’d like to keep this short and sweet as to my reasons for returning to Substack.1

Why We’re Back to Substack

Money: Ghost is an excellent platform with features I love, but paying $300 per year for a website that’s not getting much traffic and doesn’t generate any income isn’t a wise investment when Substack is free.

Community: There’s a strong, active community here, something that Ghost currently lacks. It’s nice to be in a place where you can connect with other talented people and not feel completely alone.

Engagement: People enjoy a variety of content, and this platform is perfect for writing, videos, social media, and podcasting — all activities we do or enjoy. Why not create a mix of engaging, interactive content in one place?

Simplicity: Publishing is a lot of work, especially when you do it across multiple platforms. This increases our stress and cuts into our travel time. We’re simplifying the process and focusing our efforts.

Now comes the lengthy process of moving our content back here to Substack. I wish the import and export features made this easier, but alas, they do not — which is another frustrating reminder to pick something and stick with it. Yes, Donetta was right. LOL!

In the meantime, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who continues to follow us on this adventure and who has connected with us! 🙏

We don’t take your time for granted, and we appreciate your encouragement, advice, feedback, and recommendations. It really does mean the world to us and we’re thankful for every connection point we make with you. We’ve made new friends all over the world and that is priceless.

Additionally, if you previously unsubscribed and were inadvertently re-added to the list, we apologize for the error. This is one of the problems with moving again and the import feature. We’d love for you to reconsider, but you can unsubscribe again. Sorry!

We’ll publish some new material soon, but we want to wish everyone a Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year in advance. We hope you are doing great and staying healthy.

See ya soon. Thanks again!

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As many people in the United States and parts of central Europe have been experiencing arctic temperatures and snow, we are enjoying sunshine and decent weather in Sedona, Arizona. But wherever you may be, I hope you are safe and warm.

So over the holidays, I spent time contemplating my future and where I needed to go as a creative professional, as well as what exactly we should do with this publication in 2025 and beyond.

I think it’s beneficial and extremely valuable to evaluate where we’ve been and where we want to go, so we can make adjustments to improve our lives. This is more than coming up with resolutions that get tossed aside in the first two weeks of the new year; it’s about having a hard, candid conversation with yourself to understand what needs to change. And to be honest, it can be a painful process at times!

However, when you take the time to ask and answer those difficult questions, this form of self-therapy can help you become a better person.

In my own life, this practice has helped me let go of past hurts and regrets, forgive myself for stupid mistakes, make better choices for the future, uncover solutions that made me happier and healthier, and provided clarity for my endeavors.

The result has been a beautiful experience!

Anyways.

I’d like to share how all this deep contemplation has given me renewed energy for Road Life Adventure and our endeavors.

💡

My vision is to build a brand and community centered around passion for adventure travel, bringing people together from all walks of life to explore and enjoy the world around us.

I’ve spent decades wandering in the proverbial desert trying to find my way to the promised land, a place where I could bring together my passions, experiences, interests, and skills in a way that brings me happiness and peace, but also in a way that could inspire and be meaningful to others.

It all fits perfectly with the vision for Road Life.

There are no simple words to express how the adventure travel lifestyle has changed both of us, but we can say we have absolutely loved it. Now we really want to build our future around it.

Our goals for 2025 and beyond.

1. Focus on storytelling that ignites an adventurous spirit.

2. Create a community of kindred spirits.

3. Share the stories of other adventurers and travelers.

4. Generate goodwill for the places we visit and the people we meet.

5. Celebrate our adventures together in person.

6. Build a brand that means something.

7. Launch a store of curated travel adventure products.

For us, this is more than just an online publication; it’s everything we've been dreaming about!!! Therefore, we’re deeply committed to seeing this vision become a reality.

I’ve written about our magazine launch before, and we’ve made some good progress, but it’s definitely not anywhere close to what I want it to be yet. This year, it’s time to really amp it all up and make it happen.

One of the biggest ideas we want to start ASAP is interviewing other travelers and adventurers about their experiences. I’ve met some awesome people over the years who inspire me and have way more insights than I do. Why not give them a place to share their advice or lifestyle with us? Maybe it will be via a podcast, video, or a post, but this could be super fun.

I also want to work harder at storytelling, as travel books did in the past, and not just write the same “10 Things to Do and See” type of posts everywhere else. Those things serve a purpose, but I’d love for you to feel the adventurous spirit as you read, then be motivated to get out there and live it.

Plus, we want to encourage travelers to adopt better travel strategies, ensuring the local communities we spend time in receive our goodwill and care in ways they never expected. This is desperately needed in a time when over-tourism has left a bitter taste in people’s mouths all over the world.

We have more ideas, but this is the start.

Travel writing for the average person.

• People who are dreaming about the adventure travel lifestyle.

• People who are living this dream every single day.

• People seeking a community of roadies just like them.

More than anything, we want to bring ordinary people together and see them live their own adventures before it’s too late in life.

Most travel publications cater to retired or financially wealthy readers, making these dreams seem hopeless and unattainable, or focus on extravagant experiences that most middle-aged, middle-income Americans cannot afford. There is a different way, and we want to show others how to do it.

Road Life isn’t about staying in $10,000 per night hotels or taking an all-inclusive trip to the Arctic Circle to do the polar plunge; it’s about responsibly exploring the world around you on a budget until you can’t do it anymore.

There are plenty of resources for vacation travel. Not many for full-time nomads.

Especially on limited funds.

Building community matters.

If I had to give you one aspect of the adventure travel lifestyle that really sucks, especially if you’re a solo traveler, it is not having others to celebrate it with.

Most humans long for a sense of community, and when you’re constantly on the move, it makes it extremely difficult to make new friends or connect with others who share similar passions.

I don’t know how to create it, but I know what it looks like. Maybe this year we’ll find some way to build it.

It would be super cool if we could hold adventure meetups at different locations or throw a huge shindig every year to have fun, other than just focusing on online efforts.

Whatever happens, though, strong community matters.

How will you live your adventure this year?

Unless you randomly found yourself at this website, chances are you stopped here for a reason. Maybe you have a lust for adventure or travel, too.

If so, what are your hopes for 2025?

I want you to really think about it and share it with us. Not only are we curious to know what you want to do, but sharing it also helps it become a reality. That’s exactly why I’ve written this post. LOL!

Of course, you can write it down and keep it to yourself.

You can also subscribe to our publication for free.

Either way, we love helping people live their own adventures, so if you think of ways we can make that easier for you (besides giving you a truckload of cash), please let us know.

Your input means a lot.