Celebrating Four Years at uduforu! Blog | Designs | Short Stories | Videos | AI

Image by Martin E. Dodge

*update: some items mentioned in the blog may no longer be available.

October 1, 2023

        Uduforu, LLC, is four years old! Established in August 2019, the business opened in October 2019 by publishing its first eBook on Amazon. Four years later, my vision for uduforu has solidified as a blog, designs on shirts, short stories, and YouTube videos. Behind the scenes, the business requires my creative drive, detailed record-keeping, filing sales taxes, and an expanding knowledge base. I am organized, learning skills, and producing work, but I must create more to define my niches and adjust my sales strategy. In 2023, artificial intelligence became a distraction, but the business of uduforu and my work is propelled by supporting human ingenuity.

        The uduforu blog and vlog cover topics like my business efforts, personal development, and pursuing goals. Many habits or circumstances are roadblocks to progress, and while my suggestions are not unique, I include my follies in telling the solution strategy. In earlier blogs, I touched on addiction, depression, and anxiety, but I am not a mental health professional. I encourage those suffering from mental distress to find the appropriate help. Use the link to my Mental Health Resources PDF, a list of free accredited resources, to start your journey to well-being.

        My vlog studio is limited to my couch, so I wanted to make videos in parks I like to visit. Unfortunately, permits are required to make videos on some government-owned land. YouTube is considered a monetized platform even if you do not profit from it, and the government wants its piece of the pie in advance. Publishing a video can get you caught, and steep fines and jail time are possible. In addition, photography that uses a model to make an ad also requires a permit. These rules result from a judge’s decision that provides a catch-all solution intended to regulate the impact of film crews on national lands. Unfortunately, hobbyists and small businesses are affected by the ruling. Read the article in DIY Photography for more information. And watch my videos at uduforu on YouTube.

        October 2023 is also the first anniversary of uduforu Designs. My nature-inspired designs are on shirts, mugs, and stickers, and I plan to add photo prints soon. Categories and niches become a collection as I add more designs — for example, tree leaves, dragonflies, and Skelto Pets. Sign up for the email newsletter at uduforu.com to stay in the loop.

        Showcasing my writing was the original purpose of uduforu, and it is the slowest to develop. Stories take time to finish, and I want to make money, so I do not publish many freebies. Stories can also get trapped waiting for their fate in a contest submission. Eventually, I will compile my short stories into books. I also have a big writing project in a shifting sand phase. For free stories, check out my Tales at uduforu.com.

        The website for uduforu looks excellent, but it needs more visitors. Having an all-in-one website can be a drawback, but I am not a single-topic writer or selling one type of thing. Social media and internet search optimization are logical fixes for my website traffic. Posting on social media lets the people who know me know I am still around, but creating paid advertising is the best way to use Facebook, Instagram, Google, and other sites to attract traffic and sales. Acquiring 5,000 followers to qualify to pay for ads is not my current goal. Also, I do not qualify for paid ads because I do not have a trackable inventory – my retail is print-on-demand. So tell your friends and family about uduforu.com and buy uduforu Designs.

        The future of uduforu, LLC, is not artificial intelligence. AI may be a panacea for many things, but it often gets in my way. I appreciate the speed of enhanced information searches, but I need more than data compiled and regurgitated from the internet. For uduforu, AI is not a good tool for its creative needs. I will not waste time editing machine-generated writing into something that sounds like me. Or use artificial images. My writing helps me become a better storyteller. My images are deliberate and result from practice. My blog aims to share experiences and solutions to human foibles. Regarding marketing strategy, AI can make a generic plan that sounds good but does not understand reality and implementation. AI also does not know how or why to care. I need the support of others to make uduforu thrive, and I want you to find your own path, grow, and share your stories.

Be your story.

#uduforu