Make Your Own Website

a beginners guide to internet riches

So you've decided this internet thing is for you.  You're convinced that you can make money online and want to get started - now what?  Most everyone will agree, if you are going to do business online, you need to make your own website.  It can be a mini-site or a full blown multi-page mega-monster.  The possibilities are limitless.

But on the internet, the old adage "build it and they will come" does not apply.   In this article I will tell you the ways I have found to build websites that will get traffic - the essential ingredient to online success. 

1. Find a topic for your first website

First you need an idea.  I feel that it is better to build your first website around a topic that you love as your first website will include a learning curve and you will be spending allot of time staring at your pages.  If you love your topic it will be easier to keep your momentum up - which is the key ingrediant to succeeding online.

Take some time and jot down your hobbies and interests.  Are you an expert on some field or is there some topic you really want to learn about?   Once you are done brainstorming you need to see if any of these ideas can be money makers.  Is anyone else interested in these topics and searching for info online? 

To find out if anyone is searching for one of your topics you need to do some keyword research.  Keywords are the words searchers use to find what they are looking for and good keywords are absolutely necessary to your online success.   

Suggested Tools for Keyword Research

Wordtracker .  You can use the trial version for now but when you are ready you should use the paid version - it is much more powerful.    

Another tool that I have recently purchased and absolutely love is TheDowser Keyword Research Software.  This software has saved me tons of time and helped me create lists with hundreds of potentially profitable keywords.

Take a look at the data and pick one of your ideas that get some good traffic.  The idea is to pick a niche "a special area of demand for a product or service" that gets enough traffic to be profitable but at the same time is not too competitive. 

 2. Pick a Domain Name

You've completed your initial keyword search and have decided you want to build a website about dogs.  You see alto of people search for the term dogs.  But you also see that there is a boatload of competition for the keyword "dogs".   But crafty as you are you've used TheDowser Keyword Research Software and stumbled on a keyword that is getting quite a few clicks but does not seam to be too competitive.  So you have decided that you are going to build your website about dog kennels.  You have built a kennel for your dog and would like to share your secrets.  Perfect!  You now have found your niche ". 

So - what to call your website?  Most internet gurus agree that is a good idea to use your main keyword in the domain name you choose.   It may be helpful in getting your website to the top of the search results.  At any rate it will make it clear to searchers what your site is about.

Your main keyword phrase "dog kennels" seems like a good choice so you decide that's it.  Now go over to  www.GoDaddy.com to register your domain name (because oval told you that is a cheap reliable place to register).

You enter dogkennels.com and hit search......

But alas you find dogkennels.com is taken.  Not to worry - just try similar names until you find one you like.  Perhaps BestDogKennels.com or AllAboutDogKennels.com  - you get the idea.

3.  Find a Hosting Company

Now you need a company that can get your website onto the internet or a host.  There are free hosts but this is one area where you get what you pay for.    One hosting company I can suggest is kiosk.  When you see all of the extras they offer, their very reasonable hosting fees are well worth it.   They have a great forum and really support the growth of your company.  It is more of a community rather than merely a hosting company.