Forum Moderators: phranque
I started my first site, about fishing, on July 4th of last year. I put it up because I wasn't a good fisherman and wanted to learn more about it.
What I discovered was being a webmaster has advantages beyond what I expected. It's INSTANT authority. It's a POWERFUL job that can sway people to an opinion. It's DANGEROUS to do when you've been tipping the late-night adult beverages:>)
I just finished having a meeting with the representatives of Minnesota DNR and North Dakota Game and Fish. I called the meeting to hash out some border water problems with tournament fishing.
What were my credentials? Webmaster. That's it. As webmaster I'm pretty well known in 3 states, and in Canada. I'm not known for FISHING, but for a lousy set of hobby websites. (Which happen to score very high in SERP's thanks to THIS site:>)
Has anyone else found out something they never expected to get by being a webmaster?
Money? Power? Fame? Sued? Bought out?
So why did you become a webmaster?
but as i go on, these idea's for new site's pop into my head…
oh, and a big HELLO to everyone!!!!!
Has anyone else found out something they never expected to get by being a webmaster?
Mainly peace of mind, I think. And I've learned that I'm more technically inclined and more creatively talented than I thought.
Money?
A living.
Power?
Definitely.
Fame?
Quite a bit in some circles.
Sued?
Only threatened, thankfully.
Bought out?
Never!
So why did you become a webmaster?
I spent 7 years working in traditional media, fueled by a need-to-know attitude, and jumping to this medium seemed to be the most logical thing to do at the time.
This has been a fun thread, thanks for starting it!
Secondly, that is cool to work for different projects.. 1 site about mosquitos, second about HIghTech, third for students.. :)Very big knowledge
I webmaster because I like being in showbusiness.
Think about it: conception, design, building, launching, promoting a new website is a lot like producing a TV show. It's just a matter of scale.
It is also a creative outlet and has a lot of instant gratification attached to it. Not as much as in the "old days" when you could go to bed every night in the number one position on Infoseek, but I still see faster results in this business than in any other I've ever worked in.
What is a "webmaster", anyway? Does anyone consider themselves a webminor? A webmonster? A webidiot?
Signed
archiemaster
Money? Its not that great. If I could drive that many people to WalMart or my own grocery store, I'd be rich, but for being 19 - I'm definitely beating the average guy my age working retail or at a restaurant.
To the uninitiated, I am a webmaster, to anyone who has ever handwritten code, its laughable what I DON'T know.
ggrot: <blasphemy>JUST A website?? </blasphemy>
For me it's the thirst for knowledge. What better medium is there to advance your capacity for learning other than the Web? Nothing!
From an idea to implementation, from design to marketing, everyday is a learning experience, a never ending challenge.
I live now very comfortably, have partnerships with major corporations, yet, I'm driven to learn more and so far...
I'm not even there yet.
Master the Web and the C.M.R. will come naturally.
Cheer
What we do now is reacting to the "BIG" players in the search engine world. We really have no control anymore unless we have the dollars. Companies have the advertising dollars and we like helping them spend it....for results of course.
In 1998 I was gifted with a used computer, a for dummies html 101 book and told to have fun! I had my website on line in about a year, (I had to write all the content myself and program the astrology software that I would be using) , and now I have 3 websites and getting ready to start on a third.
Since that gift I have gone through three computers, one new that got wasted with a virus and a bad hard drive, and recently purchased my HP with all the trimmings. :)
I have a library of how to and manuals that is priceless (to Me) and have since taught myself cgi/perl, javascript and PHP.
Why do I like to be a webmistress? Where else can a 66 year old female find a job that she actually likes and can work her own hours....10 to 18 a day?
OH yeah, and the money is good too as well as the fame....I'm not sure I like being a guru but I seem to have turned into one for my friends and family.
My son was a smart bird, he makes his living on the net and knew well enough that I would take to it like a duck to water.
ILOVEIT!!!!
Ann
I DO shovel horse manure! But it's because I want to and I can, because I work for myself as a "webmaster" .... that's sure a broad term! I love learning all this and although what I know pales in comparison to what I don't know I'm still able to make a little money and help out my family. I'd be playing on the web anyway, it's wonderful to get paid to do it! And it still just thrills me to put up a web site and see people from all over the world looking at it! Amazing! It's so fun.
None of my sites make any money, but that doesn't matter to me. What matters is when people use a site I've made and find it useful. That makes all the work worthwhile.
For the last 2 years I've been working full time for small companies building and running their websites while I learn my trade, but as a natural born freelancer (this the first real full time job I've ever had, not too bad for a 36 year old) I can't wait until I get to the stage where I can resign my full time job and work for myself again.
I'm inspired by many of the members I see posting here, now I know it _is_ possible to make money independently on the web without running "adult" sites :)
Money and fun for me, the power doesn't really register since I'm not yet doing it for myself yet.
-s-
Passion, passion and passion, thats why I'm a webmaster! I love having my own business, I've been into the internet thing for roughly one year now, five websites so far and I couldn't be happier.
Theres nothing like getting up in the morning and actually wanting to go to work, acheiving new goals, setting higher standards for yourself and all this comes with a huge amount of personal growth also.
Probably getting emails from people telling you that you've really helped them out is the best thing. I think I'm going to be running websites for a long time to come, its great!
I hope to be able to wean myself away from my current job and do this full-time; the idea of taking my work anywhere I go is a freedom few other areas can claim.
And lastly, more than a little vanity. Where else but the Web can we voice our opinions, knowledge, and experience on whatever subject we choose, and know anyone in the world who has access to a computer can read it? And do it for $100 a year per Website?
Having my dogs with me at work, (they remind me when I need to eat and exercise)
