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Minimum Maintenance Websites?..

         

pab1953

3:35 pm on Dec 4, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



I'm trying to get into the AM game and I hear conflicting advice about the type of website that's best to build.

On the one hand, folks say build an info-rich site, add a new article each week, and so on. On the other, the advice is to slap up a single page and fill it with links. Still another suggests using a tool that automates updating a site.

- Which is best?
- What tools exist for automating updates?

I have a content site -- that's reaped me only pennies -- that I've slaved over for nine months, putting in one full day a week updating it. I don't mind working hard if there's a return, but a no-pay grind is no fun (not to mention a waste). I'd like to learn about some low (or lower) maintenance options.

Any ideas?

Thank you.

suzyvirtual

7:07 pm on Dec 5, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



It really depends on what marketing and traffic generating methods you use. But, you can never go wrong with diversification and offering sites in both/many styles.

ska_demon

11:29 am on Dec 6, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



Don't worry about it. I have a site that I worked on almost everyday for months and months. The return just about pays for the hosting and domain. Once your site is up and running leave it alone, unless the updates are required. ie news, movies, weather, prices etc. Forget about it and move on to the next one. In 6 months time go have a look at the first one. You may be surprised at how much it may have improved itself just by letting it be. Then make some changes. Sometimes, depending on the market, aff marketing can take months to see even $1 return.

Patience is a virtue. If you don't have patience theres always short term profit SPAM techniques.

Ska

Rosalind

1:36 am on Dec 7, 2004 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



On the one hand, folks say build an info-rich site, add a new article each week, and so on. On the other, the advice is to slap up a single page and fill it with links. Still another suggests using a tool that automates updating a site.

- Which is best?
- What tools exist for automating updates?

You can combine the idea of an info-rich site with automatic updating by using a content management system. There are loads out there, or you could write your own. It's just a matter of automating the little things, like adding links and snippets to all the relevant pages when you've added something new. After a while this can save you a fair bit of time.

I'll second the comment about needing patience. My second oldest site seems to gather more quality traffic with considerably less effort than anything I have created in the past eight months, in spite of all the things I have learnt about SEO since then. It's not (just) the whole Google sandbox effect, more that it takes a long time for a site to get noticed by other webmasters, and to pick up links from places you might not have thought of.

pab1953

12:32 pm on Dec 7, 2004 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



<< Once your site is up and running leave it alone, unless the updates are required. ie news, movies, weather, prices etc. Forget about it and move on to the next one.>>

That's the problem. My content-rich site requires one full day a week to update, week in week out (it's a movie site and I have to create graphics of the latest releases, rearrange pages -- including multiple links -- to reflect what's coming, what's popular and so on).

I wish I could content-manage the site, but I don't see how at this point.

MrSpeed

1:33 pm on Dec 7, 2004 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Have you looked to see if there are any RSS feeds available?

The fact of the matter is that not every web site is suitable to make money. I don't care how passionate you are about the subject matter.

I also have a site that deals with movies. It doesn't make a ton of money but it pays for itself and a few 6 packs of beer a month. The difference between my site and yours is that I put almost zero effort in to maintain it. I don't write reviews or discuss upcoming releases or talk about the weekend box office. I add a link here and there once in a while or seek out some link exchanges.

I think if you want to get into AM you should try to find a subject matter you enjoy AND has the potential to make money.

Again I link to possibly the greatest post ever regarding affiliate marketing...
[webmasterworld.com...]