Looks impressive, where do I begin : - )

starting from scratch.

[Jacko2006]

Having never owned my own site (but are hoping to do soon as I've done a little research). I've read a lot about affelite programs (shh spellings), everyones on these forums who have their own site however appear to be very well experienced and/or educated from college for example, is this right?

I have not gone to college at the moment due to a really awquad sleeping pattern im famously late for everything but I would REALLY like to set up my own website, find ways to increase traffic (insert advice here :)) and hopefully make enough money to start a minor up and comming online buisness.

Now, my question is, should this be even approached by such a newbie? I mean everyones got to start somewhere but deciding which step I should take first is a nightmare for me. Anyones opinion would really help thanks!

[topr8]

my first website was live within about 6 weeks of having touched a computer for the first time.

so of course a newbie can do it.

just do it, see what happens, you get better as time goes on ... try joining some aff programmes, try to get some traffic, see what happens

[trillianjedi]

due to a really awquad sleeping pattern im famously late for everything

Absolutely perfect quality for a webmaster ;)

Welcome to WebmasterWorld!

Yes, as topr8 states, just get stuck in there and build something, join a few programs and read some of the library threads in these forums.

I recommend that you start here, and learn enough about HTML to get you through these basics steps to get something built and up and running:-

[webmasterworld.com...]

[metrofeed]

My advice is to start with the thing you know best about in the world. For example, if you are a massive Basketball fan, start with your favorite team and make a fan site for them. Collect information on the web (that is copyright free of course!) and figure out how to make the site and get traffic there. Best way to get traffic when you're just starting out is to add links to sites in your same field, and then contact them and tell them you have linked to them, then have them link to you.

The most important thing is to always make your site look clean and simple. No one will link to a site which is butt-ugly as it makes them look bad, and since most people are not designers, it's best to keep things as simple as possible at first.

As for your sleeping problem, that is no problem online because everything is 24 hours :)

[ConfusedWriter]

I think anybody that has a little business savvy, and can: a) get their hands dirty b) won't give in b/c of small setbacks, can be successful at this type of venture.

Thinking about doing it is great, but it's the moment you actually do some work that'll define whether you'll make it or not.

Good luck!

[Jacko2006]

Thanks for the quick responces people! Thats helped a lot because the only webmaster I know personally has gone AWOL when I really needed him, I will pursue this now!....few more questions though :)

Does it matter HOW u make a website? I attempted HTML which was farely easy but have heard XHTML is the sucessor. I currently own Effective site studio, just to get started with but Would it be better just to hand code the websites for flexable purposes?

Though im not really a person craving "material possestions", I am aware that money will be an issue during some point of this, wether if it's earnt or ripped from me, So my final questions are, if I was to say get a lot of traffic and constantly work at improving and maintaining my website, is this >generally< financially benificial? Or just sometimes?...And now that I've probably lost about 98% of the audience, my last question is how costly is the whole thing? Depending on your intentions of course. Thanks again for the help

[JoshInTX]

Does it matter how you make a wesbite?

Plain old HTML is great. if you start to have a HUGE website you can try your hand at databse driven stuff like php and asp, but that won't be for a LONG time if ever.

I currently own Effective site studio, just to get started with but Would it be better just to hand code the websites for flexable purposes?

Never heard of the software, but I wouldnt hard code a site in notepad unless I absolutely had to.

if I was to say get a lot of traffic and constantly work at improving and maintaining my website, is this >generally< financially benificial? Or just sometimes?

Tough question here. Some sites have millions of visitors and barely make enough to cover the hosting fees, where other sites have a few thousand visitors and make a killing.

my last question is how costly is the whole thing?

Your looking at spending anywhere from $40-$150 per year for hosting. All you will need at first is a shared hosting plan. After that, the expenses are pretty much optional: advertising, etc.

[Jacko2006]

Thanks a lot for the info!

I'll look for some hosts, being from the UK the average hosting price (which ive noticed) is about £8.99 to about £50 a year (or probably month?) but I'm assuming this be ideal for a buisness (lower bandwidth etc) but I'll get right on it, just trying not to get conned lol Cheers

[twist]

Whatever happened to peoples first post being, "how do I make a website?", not, "how do I make money from making a website?"

[Jacko2006]

Yeah that is obviously more important, but incase I am to give information to someone whose more of a newbie then me, surely someones going to want to know. Just a theory

[Jacko2006]

Wow, just been looking around the forum again, call me a little slow and slap me back into this year but, if I wanted to be a webmaster making commition from advertising do I just focus on a favorable subject (for example...Reality tv shows? I hate them but I seem to be the only one) displaying information? I understand that their is obviously more to it then that but Am i on the right track atall?

[ConfusedWriter]

Yes, focusing on a niche of some kind (like reality t.v. shows, specific t.v. shows, etc) should usually prove more profitable than if you had a super-wide selection of topics on one web site.

Find a niche that no one has yet capitalized on, and if there's an audience for it, then you should stand to make a bit 'o cash.

[twist]

Having never owned my own site (but are hoping to do soon as I've done a little research). I've read a lot about affelite programs (shh spellings), everyones on these forums who have their own site however appear to be very well experienced and/or educated from college for example, is this right?

Little research = quick
Affiliate programs = get rich

Translation = Get-Rich-Quick

I have not gone to college at the moment due to a really awquad sleeping pattern im famously late for everything but I would REALLY like to set up my own website, find ways to increase traffic and hopefully make enough money to start a minor up and comming online buisness.

So far we have,
1) Get traffic
2) Make money

How about we change those to,
1) Create useful content
2) Have an original idea

Now, my question is, should this be even approached by such a newbie? I mean everyones got to start somewhere but deciding which step I should take first is a nightmare for me. Anyones opinion would really help thanks!

Start with, how can I fill a much needed yet unfilled niche on the internet? How can I contribute to website development as a whole? How can I keep from diluting the web with more useless uneeded fluff?

Wow, just been looking around the forum again, call me a little slow and slap me back into this year but, if I wanted to be a webmaster making commition from advertising do I just focus on a favorable subject (for example...Reality tv shows? I hate them but I seem to be the only one) displaying information? I understand that their is obviously more to it then that but Am i on the right track atall?

I can save you a lot of time, open google and type "how to build an MFA website". Unless I am mistaken, this is what you are looking for.

[ergophobe]

twist - do you really need a Master of Fine Arts to build a website ;-) (tried your search for kicks, that's what comes up)

Seriously, finding a niche where you can offer useful content is nice, but if it is not an area with big spenders or a large population or both, it won't turn into money. No matter how big my site devoted to 8-track tape technology gets, it just doesn't seem to bring in visitors and the ones that come just don't seem to click on my iPod ads ;-)

[Fall]

I think you just started by posting a topic in the wrong section of these forums, which gave some people the impression you're only lookinf for a way to get rich quick. You should have a look at the html and general sections, and ask for help there. Once you've established a website, then you can start thinking how you can increase your traffic and monetizing that traffic.

[Jacko2006]

I have already started to learn HTML, but one of my questions were what is the most advisable way to built a website HTML, XHTML, a WYSIWYG editor etc, granted I posted my question in the wrong forum, even though I did get some helpful information My original question was should this be approached by a newbie, not HOW to do it

[Beagle]

Suggest that you take a look at the "New to Web Development" forum. There are enough threads on similar subjects that you might get a lot of info just from reading them - which could help you ask your own specific questions.

Edited in after a little more coffee:

On niches - If you really "hate" something, it's going to be hard to stick with the subject for the long haul, and to have the fans (who will be the ones lookng for the info) and the people who might be willing to give you incoming links (which is one of the main things that can get you higher in the search listings) accept you as someone who's an authority on the topic. But hopefully there's a niche that isn't terribly overpopulated that you enjoy? You don't have to be an expert in it to begin with; if you really enjoy it, you'll be willing to learn - which is awfully difficult to do with something you dislike. Seems that sometimes people make a dichotomy between a niche that can make money and a niche that you're interested in - Hopefully the world is big enough that there's a topic that can fill both requirements.

[Jacko2006]

Thanks for the advice beagal, I have just 2 more questions though

1, can someone explain the word "niches" so I got a better understandin.

2, Why does everyone react so defensively when one mearly asks for help? (Eg "Hes just trying to make a quick buck").

[twist]

2, Why does everyone react so defensively when one mearly asks for help? (Eg "Hes just trying to make a quick buck").

Possibly because your first post begins with "Having never owned my own site" and is posted in the "Advertising Sales and Affiliate Programs" forum.

[Jacko2006]

Yeah, but ive bin readin about this and I know its something ide like to do but Im just stuck at the first step. I suppose im just rushing but I thought websites were expensive so that would of payed for it

[Beagle]

1, can someone explain the word "niches" so I got a better understandin.

A niche is simply a topic or area of interest. It can be as narrow or as broad as you want (for example, it could be "current TV shows" or "current reality TV shows" or "Fear Factor", depending on how broad you want it to be).

2, Why does everyone react so defensively when one mearly asks for help? (Eg "Hes just trying to make a quick buck").

As has been said, because this forum is specifically about ways to make money, and it's kind of assumed that you've already built a site and are trying to increase the income from it. I'd again suggest the "New to Web Development" forum. People post there who might be experts in one part of web development, but are just starting out in another. So even if you've done some research, that would be a better place to ask questions about how to get started (or if you should get started).

"New to Web Development" is also the best place to ask general questions. Once you're up and running, and can ask more specific questions, the other forums will be a lot more helpful. But it's difficult for a forum on a specific topic (such as this one) to back up and cover generalities whenever someone new steps in the door - that's what the "newbie" forum is for (even though I've had sites for over 5 years, I still "hang out" there because there are a lot of areas I'm pretty ignorant about).

----And having a website doesn't have to be expensive, assuming you do the work yourself. Do some "window shopping" on hosting packages and you'll see some of them are inexpensive ways to get started -- another good topic for the "New to Web Development" forum.

[Jacko2006]

Thanks for the reply Ill go to that forum right now, this topic was my first post on webmasters, should of taken a bit more thought into where i was going really.

Cheerz

[Michael Anthony]

I personally think that "how do I get rich quick" is an excellent starting point. Anyone with a defined goal is more likely to succeed.