Advice about targetting my first site

[Andrea]

Hi,

In order to promote myself as a writer, is it necessary to have a website that concentrates on a specific niche or theme? I was hoping that perhaps I could develop a site that contains a variety of information, ranging from writing to cows, books and movies.

I also have an idea to start a kind of work from home site that provides articles on jobs such as Web Designer, Graphic Designer, Photographer, writer and so on.

Which one of the above ideas would be the best idea to go with in regard to ranking well in the search engines as well as promoting myself as a writer?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Andrea

[Quadrille]

Both approaches would work - but you might find it useful to arrange the site in topic folders - and think ahead, so when the site is larger, you'd have the option to split off topic(s).

The key is to have a clear vision of your site, one that your target audience can relate to. The search engines will happily work around wahtever you decide, as you will have unique content for them to get their teeth into.

[thedigitalauthor]

The key is to be passionate about the site you create.

A few years ago, I tried to set up a few eCommerce websites with the obvious goal of getting on the top of the search results. After a year or so, I got bored, and began working on a "fun" site about a general topic I enjoyed. Three years later, the fun site is generating over 900,000 unique users a month and those eCommerce sites are all but defunct.

You have a few posts under your belt, so you have been around this forum and know that a little bit of SEO and a lot of hard work and TLC is your best formula for succes. On a personal note, your first idea would probably allow greater opportunity for yourself as a writer.

[webmustang]

I agree with thedigitalauthor, you have to ENJOY what you are doing, because you will be burned out if you do something that has become routine or tedious...

Most often, the "fun" sites that you create generate massive amounts of traffic (youtube is an example of a "fun" site), then from there you can "plug" your other sites through text links and banners.

[Andrea]

Hi,

Thank you all for replying with the advice.

I think that concentrating on what I am interested in now is more important in order to earn an income online. Therefore I agree with everything that's been said.

Should I start with a blog or website? I hope to have a website eventually anyway.

Andrea

[Quadrille]

Both.

If you have a theme in mind, pick out a new domain name, and put a blog there (yourdomain.com/blog/, rather than at yourname.blogspot.com, etc).

I'd suggest starting with a blog; because it has that ephemeral feel to it, it's more relaxed, doesn't need so much 'commitment', and so is a strsss free way to experiment.

Plus any and all feedback you get will only help you. And because the web site is there, you can start and build that as and whenthe mood takes; in parallel, or as a separate project.

That's how I'd do it, if was starting now; if any of that sounds useful, great; if not ... well, that's just you, isn't it ;)

[Andrea]

Quadrille,

Sounds like good advice. Can you put blogs at blogspot on a hosting server?

Andrea

[Quadrille]

You certainly can; I think all the 'big' blog sites allow that.

[Andrea]

Hi,

Thank you for replying with the advice.

Andrea

[Ardrigh]

I would like also to add my incites about your plan. I really like your plan. Sometimes I had thought of building such type of site but time did not let it happen. I would suggest that you start creating a site with the content that you love most. Eventually adding one at a time until you reach to a site that you planned. Of course, you must first have a concrete plan as a guide. This approach/idea of developing a site, I think, (I might be wrong - good thing we have so many experts here) would have a good ranking with regards to most search engines because you had chosen a specific niche(which lessens the size of competition). Your skill as a writer as well can be well promoted because you had chosen the best niche for you, thus, themes that you know very well.

Clearly define your plans and things will automatically fall into the right place as you go along...

Good luck!

[Andrea]

Ardrigh,

Thank you for replying. I appreciate your advice.

Andrea