So I've Got My Site. But How to Make Money?

ecommerce newbie trying to get started

[OrangeClouds115]

I created a site about 10 days ago.

The traffic is good. Search engines are really starting to pick it up - especially MSN. About 85 people are subscribed to my RSS feed via LiveJournal and there may be more via other methods.

So now I want to make a quick buck. Any tips?

My thoughts...
- Adds (like Google AdSense) aren't worth it unless they are really going to bring in the cash in a significant way.
- I would love to write a cookbook. I could always self publish and just sell it on the site. However, I assume I would need some pictures of food and a nice layout. I'm not really sure what software to use (PageMaker?) or how to go about it. And how do I price it?

[edited by: shri at 5:06 am (utc) on Feb. 10, 2006]
[edit reason] Removed URL [/edit]

[FalseDawn]

So now I want to make a quick buck. Any tips?

Yes - don't bother trying. There's no easy way to make money "quickly" - if you think so, you have been watching too many late night "spamfomercials"

And personal URLs are against the rules.

[jk3210]

<<Any tips?>>

Here's the best one [webmasterworld.com] I know of.

[Lobo]

Well you are obviously in to your veggie food, so what sites do you use? what sites do you go to, what sites interest you, what sites do you buy from?

Sticking up recipes is fine, but it will never bring you money, there are free recipes all over the place..

some places sell products, but they need to have a shelf life ...

You could build the community and your sites profile and sell some Ad space .. but that's going to take at least a year min ..

So the wake up call is, unless you've got something people want to buy or buy in to, your not going to be making money ...

My advice would be, enjoy your passion, build your website and see what happens, but realistically your not going to make money any time soon..

ps: I for one am glad I got a chance to see your site, I don't like that rule...

[edited by: Lobo at 5:15 am (utc) on Feb. 10, 2006]

[shri]

Cook books.. great topic.

I'd suggest focusing on a niche. Quick meals for busy moms type stuff or ethnic specific. Fair bit of money (I would think) in seasonal stuff .. "cook a romantic meal for two", "spooky food for halloween" ...

Don't discount ads and adsense. There is some serious money to be made and businesses are run on them -- however, for that you'll need several thousand visitors in a niche that pays.

[Barb]

There are programs out there where you can make your own e-book. A themed e-book of recipes, perhaps peppered with decorating ideas (if holiday themed), nutritional information, history if this food or that food, etc - another words, bulk it up with more than just recipes, thus making the e-book more appealing and a draw to buy. Charge a nominal fee so all economic levels can take advantage ($9.95 or so let's just say for example sake).

Put that on the main page of your site (dedicate a section of the page to selling it with a link to pay for it and such....

Also put Adsense on your site - every little bit adds up.

Who knows, we don't know every aspect of your life, perhaps there is more ideas within you to create an additional 2-3 ebooks and have your own mini e-book shop on your site - created by the owner of the site (not reseller material) - another nice draw.

Don't be intimidated by "book" part of e-book - they don't have to be very long - a hundred pages or less even. You can have friends and family help you brainstorm ideas and such.

Incidentally, this is something I'll be doing in the near future - just not recipes and cooking and such. Another subject matter.

[Lobo]

Actually I also have a food based site under construction, although I am selling products ...

Do you create recipes or are these gleaned?