Escape Plan, Week 01: Why I’m Building This (Two Jobs, Kids, and a Realistic Path)
I work two jobs and I’m the default scheduler for my kids. I want to build a business that buys back time without pretending I have more of it. This series is the unfiltered log—what worked, what flopped, and the tiny systems that move me forward. I also work with grants, so you’ll see how I use AI differently for pre- and post-award tasks.
This week was about foundations: setting up the site in Systeme.io, choosing a daily publishing time (7:45 AM), building a repeatable writing flow with ChatGPT, and deciding to start with Pinterest before I spread myself thin. I also created a basic analytics stack so I can stop guessing and start iterating.
What I shipped (receipts)
Site structure: Home → Blog → Escape Plan hub (table of contents coming soon).
Schedule: One post per day (or Tue/Thu/Sun if I’m drafting less). No dumping.
Analytics: Set up Google Analytics; created Google Ads account for later testing.
Images habit: 3 landscape images per post (hero, method/comparison, prompts/how-to).
FAQ habit: 3–4 FAQs per post + FAQPage JSON-LD to help real readers.
Pinterest first: 2–3 fresh pins per post, keyworded titles/descriptions, saved to my boards.
Interlinking: Each post links to 2–4 related posts (and I’ll add a backlink from older posts).
The system I’m testing (templates + prompts):
My 3-Block Day (repeatable)
AM Focus (30–60 min): outline or polish yesterday’s draft.
Admin (20 min): schedule post, compress images (WebP ≤150KB), write ALT text, add 2 internal links.
Life Block: errands, kids, dinner—no guilt.
Prompts I’m using with ChatGPT
“Draft a 1,200–1,400 word personal post in a friendly, precise tone. Include a Quick Answer in the first two sentences, subheads every 200–300 words, and 3 FAQs at the end.”
“Suggest 3 descriptive ALT texts for these images. Keep them literal and helpful; no keyword stuffing.”
“Create 2 Pinterest pin titles (≤65 chars) + descriptions (≤500 chars) for this post. Use natural keywords.”
“Propose 3 internal links to my existing posts with the exact anchor text and why each helps the reader.”
Helpful tools I’m actually using
Systeme.io to publish/schedule and manage the email list → Build your follow-up emails in Systeme.io
CustomGPT to bundle and reuse my prompt packs
Other Products:
Why I’m adding more images (and what “good” looks like)
Three images make long posts skimmable and shareable:
Hero under the H1 (fetchpriority=high).
Method/Framework mid-article (e.g., the 3-Block Day).
Prompts/How-to above the step list.
ALT text says what’s in the image and why it’s here, e.g., “Three cards showing AM Focus, Admin, and Life Block to visualize a realistic daily routine.”
Why I’m adding FAQs (and JSON-LD)
FAQs reduce bounce because they answer the exact questions people bring from search and Pinterest. Marking them up with FAQPage JSON-LD helps search engines understand the page and gives readers a quick reference.
Interlinking (and why it matters)
Every post now links to 2–4 related pieces to help readers finish a task and to build topical authority. I’ll also go back and add one link from older pillar posts pointing to new content.
Pinterest first (distribution without burnout)
New accounts can get momentum with consistent fresh pins. My rule: +15 min / +48h / +7d, three designs per post, saved to these boards in order: Productivity & Time Freedom, AI Automation Hacks, AI Tools for Productivity, and Side Hustle Ideas (when relevant).
Metrics & money (setting the table)
Success this week = posts scheduled, pins created, analytics working. As traffic grows, I’ll test affiliate placements (Systeme.io, CustomGPT, occasional Amazon product that’s genuinely useful) and share what pays. If hiring help becomes the next best step, I’ll document that too.
What worked / what flopped
Worked: The 3-Block Day killed decision fatigue. The image/ALT/FAQ checklist made posts feel complete.
Flopped: Over-editing. I’m keeping the mantra: draft → edit once → publish → improve with data.
Next step & tiny challenge
Next step: Ship Week 02 on Time-Blocking When You’re Exhausted and create 2 pins for this entry.
Tiny challenge for us: Add descriptive ALT text to three images and interlink this post to two related pages (Starter Pack + AI Dashboard).
Next Reads
The Escape Plan
FAQs
How do I write ALT text without keyword stuffing?
Describe what the image shows and why it’s included. Example: “Three cards showing AM Focus, Admin, and Life Block to visualize a daily routine.”
Why schedule posts instead of publishing all at once?
Scheduling one per day gives each post room to be indexed, pinned, and shared—without overwhelming readers.
What’s the point of interlinking?
It guides readers to their next best step and helps search engines understand your site structure. Link where it actually helps.
How is ChatGPT helping if I’m still doing so much work?
It accelerates outlines, first drafts, ALT text, and FAQs. I still fact-check, add personal experience, and decide what ships.
Did you like this article? Spread the word!
