What this case covers
The author is a professional in Xi'an, born in the 1980s, who worked a regular job while starting with thesis ghostwriting and later moving into financial empirical data analysis. The article reviews repeated failures, choosing a project, connecting traffic with conversion and delivery, and preparing to establish a studio.
Questions it answers
- Why did repeated attempts at side businesses fail?
- How did the author choose thesis-related work among many options?
- How can a beginner start without traffic or conversion skills?
- How did the author find a new direction after Xianyu changed its rules?
- Why did the author ultimately switch to data analysis?
Our observations
- Thesis ghostwriting brought quick feedback but substantial revision work; one-off data-analysis delivery was more sustainable for the author.
- The author relied on paid traffic and fabricated orders on Xianyu, a low-barrier approach exposed to changes in platform enforcement.
- Moving from subcontracted writing to independently acquired clients changed income from a share of the fee to the full fee, enabling a substantial increase.
From the author
As a beginner, prioritize projects that provide positive feedback quickly. Build confidence first and show yourself that you can do it. Even if you later switch projects, that confidence will stay with you.