| You are thinking about making your own website? | | | | At the registrar, you need to redirect all other |
| This is a great idea, since the Internet lives from | | | | versions to the main domain name that you have |
| fresh and diverse content that is as individual as you | | | | picked. If you have a very long domain name that |
| are. | | | | might be hard to read, like 'allaboutsiamesecats.com', |
| Now you might think all you need to do to make a | | | | you will want to use the hyphenated version |
| website is make a page, either by hand or in an | | | | ('all-about-siamese-cats.com') as your primary. Much |
| HTML editor, upload it somewhere and be done with | | | | easier to read, isn't it? If you got a short two word |
| it. If you are doing that, you may have a website, | | | | domain name, such as 'siamesecats.com', you can |
| but will you have visitors? Not to speak of making | | | | simply use that, since it should be easy enough to |
| money from your efforts. | | | | read. |
| Here is a fundamental truth: To learn how to make a | | | | Now you have a domain name, but there is nothing |
| website, you need to understand why people | | | | to see there yet. Let us move on to to the next |
| browse the Internet and how they find websites. | | | | step of how to make a website. |
| How did you come to this article? I bet you searched | | | | Get Reliable Web Hosting |
| for something related to the topic of how to make a | | | | The next thing you need is some proper web |
| website. In the majority of cases visitors will come to | | | | hosting. You often can get web hosting and buy |
| your website from a search engine. | | | | domain names from the same place. However, it is |
| That means, to come to your website, people will be | | | | also possible to split up the two. In any case, it is |
| searching for something in the first place! | | | | important to find a fast and reliable web host! |
| When you are thinking about how to make a | | | | Picking a low-end web host can be detrimental to |
| website, you may or may not already have an idea | | | | your website's success. Search engines will frequently |
| about the topic. Choosing the appropriate topic will be | | | | 'crawl' your website to take the pages into their |
| crucial in securing your success in the online world. | | | | index. These automated bots are also known as |
| But what is 'success'? | | | | 'spiders'. Should your website not load because the |
| Your personal success depends on the goals you are | | | | server that your website is hosted on is down, or |
| after. It is mandatory to clearly define what you | | | | simply because the server is very slow, search |
| want to achieve. Do you ultimately want to make | | | | engines will rank your website very low or not at all. |
| money online by learning how to make a website? Or | | | | Google recently stressed the importance of website |
| do you mainly want to connect with like-minded | | | | speed again. They want an experience that is as fast |
| people or friends and family? | | | | as flipping a page in a book. |
| Depending on what your goals are, there will be | | | | However, many web hosts will overexert their |
| different roads to walk. | | | | servers to make more money from less resources. |
| This article focuses on how to make a website and | | | | If you get started with a new web hosts I suggest |
| monetize on it. Monetization does not mean that you | | | | you just make a contract for a month or so, and |
| are going to have to sell your own product or | | | | keep paying on a monthly basis. At least you will be |
| service. In fact, most sites you are browsing on a | | | | able to move your site to a different host if you are |
| daily basis that you think are 'free' monetize on their | | | | not happy with their service. This is a way better |
| efforts via advertising or other means. | | | | option than being stuck with a crummy service for |
| But we will come to that later! | | | | months or even years. |
| The First Thing You Need Is A Plan | | | | Traffic |
| Believe me, things will go nowhere fast without a | | | | Securing traffic is one of the key elements in learning |
| plan. Brainstorming and spontaneous ideas are good | | | | how to make a website. The good news is, if you |
| and necessary, but they must be turned into an | | | | have carefully researched your niche and know the |
| organized plan. Planning up-front is critical in reducing | | | | topic you are writing about, this will be less of an |
| tears and frustration when you make your own | | | | issue. |
| website. | | | | Make sure that your site has an XML sitemap. This |
| Imagine you have wasted months of work, just | | | | file is used by search engines to index your site and |
| because you did not take the time to plan carefully. | | | | find all the individual pages. Depending on what |
| In order to be successful, you have to look at what | | | | software you use, your website should create this |
| what people look for when browsing the web. This | | | | file automatically and submit it to the appropriate |
| can be easily summed up as information and | | | | services. WordPress for example has a plugin called |
| entertainment. Most people have a problem and are | | | | Google XML Sitemaps by Arne Brachhold that takes |
| looking for a solution. | | | | care of the process for you. |
| That problem can be anything. Maybe they are | | | | Secondly, find out what links your competitors' |
| looking for information on a certain model of digital | | | | websites receive from other sites. Do a Google |
| cameras. Or they want to learn more about training | | | | search for the niche you are targeting. Note down |
| their dog. | | | | other people's websites that rank for that term. Go |
| Solving these problems is where your website comes | | | | to Alexa and enter your competitors' domains into |
| into play. Create quality content and help your | | | | the search field and click 'Lookup Sites'. Now look for |
| visitors, and in turn you will be able to monetize your | | | | 'Sites Linking In'. This is the amount of other websites |
| website from several different sources. | | | | linking to that domain. Click on the number to browse |
| The success of many web entrepreneurs lies in the | | | | these websites. |
| creation of niche websites. Choosing a niche that | | | | Note down your competitors' backlinks and see if |
| suits you best (and sticking with it) is probably one of | | | | there is a way for you to receive backlinks of similar |
| the most important steps in making a website that is | | | | quality or better. If you have quality content on your |
| valuable both to you and your visitors. | | | | site, this should not be that much of a problem. |
| Niche Research Is Important | | | | Let us say you have a website about German |
| Niche research is probably one of the most important | | | | Shepherd dogs. When looking up your competitor's |
| steps in learning how to make a website. I can't | | | | backlinks you will most likely find other dog related |
| stress enough how important it is to take the time | | | | websites in there. Try to approach the webmaster |
| to find a proper niche for yourself. | | | | of each sites by letting them know about what your |
| You might ask yourself, 'What could I possibly write | | | | site has to offer. Many people will be happy to link |
| about'? Here is the good news: Almost everybody is | | | | back to your site if they feel your site may be of |
| an expert in something. Almost everybody has a | | | | interest to their visitors. If they run a blog, you could |
| hobby. Something that you are passionate about. | | | | also offer to write a guest post with a link back to |
| This should be a topic that you can create a lot of | | | | your website. |
| content for and that will not bore you once you've | | | | To Sell Or To Presell |
| written about it for two weeks. | | | | Before you get started on monetizing your own |
| Most people that want to learn how to make their | | | | website, ask yourself: What can my website do for |
| own website just brainstorm some ideas and throw | | | | my visitors? |
| them out there without further thought. Why do you | | | | Never put your money making efforts before what |
| think are there so many websites that will never see | | | | you can offer to your website visitors. Quite the |
| the light of day, err, I mean rank in the top results at | | | | opposite. How to make a website and be successful |
| Google? Honestly, when you search for something, | | | | with it means looking at how you can help the |
| how many pages of search results do you look | | | | visitors of your website. This is where preselling |
| through? I bet not more than one or two! | | | | comes into play... |
| So it's mandatory for your website to rank on the | | | | Doing business with people, both on the Internet and |
| first two pages of Google to receive a noticeable | | | | offline, comes down to building trust and relationships. |
| stream of traffic. | | | | The first step in doing this is to provide your visitors |
| I hear you asking: I have some ideas, but how do I | | | | with valuable content. Remember, most of your |
| find a good niche? And why does it have to be a | | | | visitors will come from a search engine. They will |
| niche anyway? | | | | have searched for information regarding the topic |
| Well, you should always target a specific niche. Don't | | | | that you are writing about. |
| target a whole industry! | | | | This information should be helpful and not self-serving. |
| Let us say, you love shoes. Don't come to the idea | | | | Give your visitors what they were looking for. Build |
| to make a website about shoes as a whole. This is | | | | trust by helping them scratch the itch that drove |
| just too wide of a topic, and you will have to create | | | | them to your site in the first place. |
| hundreds of thousands of pages of quality content | | | | Let us say you run a site on cat health. Your visitors |
| to compete with some of the giants that come up | | | | might be coming to your site when searching for |
| on Google when you search for 'shoes'. | | | | how to trim their cat's claws. If you build trust and |
| Pick a more clearly defined niche. Just as an example, | | | | provide them with quality information from your own |
| I'm going to say 'red women's shoes'. Let us say you | | | | experience, chances are these people will read other |
| love red shoes. You can talk about them forever, | | | | information you have to offer. And they will take |
| and are up-to-date on all new designs hitting the | | | | your suggestions serious. |
| shelves. You could post pictures of the cool new | | | | This is the time to suggest your own product/service |
| shoes you found recently, write personal reviews etc. | | | | or those of another company willing to pay you a |
| Just make sure to do it frequently (once a month is | | | | commission. If you are an expert in your field, your |
| not enough) and to stay on topic. Using the same | | | | suggestions weigh a whole lot more than some |
| site to write about your dog's health problems is | | | | random sales pitch they may encounter. In fact, your |
| probably not a good idea (unless he ate one of your | | | | visitors will be thankful you pointed them in the right |
| shoes...). | | | | direction by suggesting a product that is of value to |
| Your niche shouldn't be too obscure, though. There | | | | them. |
| needs to be a general interest in the topic. Don't | | | | Don't promote products that you know are of low |
| make a website about Ramses III and expect a lot | | | | quality just for the sake of selling them. That will only |
| of traffic. In this case, rather talk about this whole | | | | cast your site in a bad light and discredit your |
| ancient Egyptian dynasty or extend your topic to his | | | | information. I would also suggest against promoting |
| famous predecessor Ramses II. | | | | products you haven't had a chance to use and |
| But how do I find out which niche is popular and | | | | review yet. If you plan on getting them mention that, |
| which is not? | | | | suggesting them beforehand though could also hurt |
| Actually, there are a lot of resources to find this out, | | | | your credibility. |
| some of which are free. You can get started with | | | | Monetization |
| the Google keyword tool: adwords.google.com/select | | | | Now you might ask yourself: What if I don't have my |
| KeywordToolExternal | | | | own product or service that I could suggest to my |
| Enter one or more keywords and check out the | | | | visitors? In fact, many people that learned how to |
| columns 'Local Search Volume' and 'Global Monthly | | | | make their own website make money from renting |
| Search Volume'. Make sure to set the Match Type on | | | | out advertising space or affiliating other people's |
| the right to 'Exact'. These numbers are some good | | | | products. |
| indications for how many people a month search for | | | | Depending on your niche, there will be multiple |
| the keyword(s) you entered. | | | | monetization models for you to choose from when |
| When you create your content, be it in written or | | | | you make your own website. |
| image form, make sure to keep checking the | | | | Contextual Ads |
| keyword tool to determine what keyword to target. | | | | Contextual ads are served from other companies to |
| All the pages on your website should be targeted to | | | | your website. Like the name suggests, these types |
| something that people actually search for. Don't just | | | | of ads automatically check for your website's topic |
| make up something. This is one of the common | | | | and try to serve matching ads. These types of ads |
| problems you might face when you learn how to | | | | can be installed by placing a small code snippet into |
| make a website. | | | | the source of your website. Some publishing |
| Web Applications That Make Life Easier | | | | software has plugins available to simplify the process |
| Now comes the fun part: the coding. | | | | if you are not comfortable adding the code yourself. |
| No, I'm just kidding! | | | | These types of ads are based on pay per click (that |
| Learning a little HTML, CSS, PHP etc. is a good idea, | | | | means if somebody clicks on the ad on your |
| and if you ask me, you will probably pick things up | | | | website) or for a certain amount of impressions on |
| pretty quickly once you have been working with | | | | your site (usually per 1000 impressions). |
| your site for a while. | | | | Usually, the payout on these types of ads is not that |
| But, generally speaking, no coding experience is | | | | high. But it is always a good 'default' monetization |
| necessary if you want to learn how to make a | | | | model that can generate a lot of money if you get a |
| website. That's right, if you have the motivation and | | | | lot of traffic to your website. Also, these ads don't |
| are willing to stick to your plan you can make a | | | | need any maintenance from you once they are |
| website without touching the source of any HTML or | | | | installed. |
| PHP script. | | | | Private Ads |
| This is possible thanks to the wide array of web | | | | If you are getting enough visitors to your site, it may |
| applications available. Some of these are free, others | | | | be lucrative to rent out ad space on your site |
| are not. My favorite among the free options is | | | | directly. For this you will charge a certain amount of |
| definitely WordPress. WordPress is originally a | | | | money for showing somebody's ad over a certain |
| blogging platform, but it is so feature rich, and at the | | | | period of time. Just as an example, let us say you |
| same time simple to use, that you can turn it into | | | | may want to charge $90 a month for a 125x125px |
| practically anything. Also, there is a host of free and | | | | image ad in your website's sidebar. This depends |
| commercial plugins available for almost anything you | | | | greatly on how many people visit your site and what |
| can think of. | | | | authority your site has. |
| This kind of software makes it easy for you to | | | | Affiliate Programs |
| simply create your content and post it to your | | | | Affiliate programs are programs that let you promote |
| website without further hassle. Now isn't that a fun | | | | other people's products in exchange for a percentage |
| way to learn how to make a website? | | | | of the sale. |
| Choose Your Domain Name | | | | Becoming an affiliate is also known as performance |
| Before you can get started on making your own | | | | based marketing. This simply means that you get a |
| website, you will need a domain name and web | | | | part of the sale that you referred from your |
| hosting. The domain name is the address that your | | | | website. |
| website will be found under. Domain names are | | | | For some reason, there seem to weird myths going |
| bought for a certain amount of time (1 year is usually | | | | around concerning affiliate marketing. Some people |
| the minimum) and will have to be paid for again | | | | think that they have to pay more if they buy from |
| before they expire. | | | | an affiliate link. |
| Domain names can be bought from any domain name | | | | This is very wrong. |
| registrar. Often, you can get a domain name and | | | | The company whose product you are affiliating is |
| web hosting from the same place though I would | | | | happy to make a sale that they might not have had, |
| discourage this. Registering your domain name and | | | | had you not referred a customer to them. That's |
| hosting from the same company puts you at risk of | | | | why they will freely share their profits with you. |
| forfeiting your domain should anything happen and | | | | Some companies will even give you promotional |
| you're hosting would be closed. | | | | codes to place on your website as an incentive for |
| As for top level domains, or TLD, (that's the 'com' | | | | you to promote their offers. |
| part in example.com) I would always go with | | | | There are many, many different affiliate programs |
| something generic like 'com' or 'net'. It is possible to | | | | for you to join. You should be able to find something |
| rank well with other extensions, too, but this will | | | | no matter the niche. Make sure to look around and |
| make things easier. I would also stay away from | | | | find high quality products that you would use yourself |
| choosing a country code, such as 'ca', 'com.au', 'mx' | | | | or suggest to your friends and family without |
| etc. unless you are targeting visitors from that | | | | hesitation. |
| specific country only. | | | | Affiliating other people's products is a great way to |
| Now, your domain name should have something to | | | | make money once you have learned how to make a |
| do with the keyword you are going for with your | | | | website. |
| website. If you are making your own website about | | | | Diversify Your Monetization |
| all things related to the Siamese cat, you will want to | | | | In general, it is always a good idea to not place all |
| have the term 'siamese cat' in your domain name. | | | | your eggs in one basket. Rather employ multiple |
| If you go to the registrar of your choice and search | | | | means of making money on your website. Imagine |
| if 'siamesecats.com' is available, you will see that it is | | | | you are affiliating one product that does really well |
| already taken. Don't let this deter you. Think outside | | | | for you, but one day your sales are gone because |
| the box and try names like 'siamesecatscentral.com' | | | | that offer is no longer available. This would be a |
| or 'allaboutsiamesecats.com'. Check if the hyphenated | | | | mayor hit to your business. |
| version (e.g. 'all-about-siamese-cats.com') is also | | | | However, if you are using your website to promote |
| available. If anyhow possible, you will want to buy | | | | your own product, it is okay to focus on that one. |
| both versions so that your visitors don't end up on | | | | You don't want people to be lead out on a cheaper |
| some other website, should they try to type in the | | | | click before getting to introduce them to your own |
| domain themselves and don't remember it right. The | | | | product or services first. |
| same goes for common misspellings! | | | | |