“What’s The Best Kind of Website…?”

October 12, 2009 · 28 comments

My recent blog post, “My Failures. Your Lessons.” sparked quite a few e-mails over the past two weeks.

Many of you want my recommendation for the best kind of site to create if you want to make money online but don’t have a product to sell.

Here’s my answer…

[If you're reading this via e-mail or your RSS reader does not display video, click here to watch.]

I want to emphasize that the above video expresses my opinion based on my own experiences. There are many ways to make money online. You have to discover what works best for you.

Tagged as: affiliate marketing, website ideas

{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Klaus @ TechPatio October 12, 2009 at 7:32 am Follow on Twitter: @thuesen

I think my comment got caught in spam for some reason

Well, I believe my comment was something along those lines:

Thanks for another great video, Lisa. It must be amazing to have such readers emailing you to ask for an affiliate link

And then I mentioned something about FTC already having done something to make sure bloggers disclose paid reviews etc (I’m not in the US so I’m not fully aware of all the rules) – but I wonder how long time it will take till affiliates will have to disclose everything too (not that it’s a bad thing, disclosing you’re an affiliate).
Klaus @ TechPatio´s last blog … Learn How To Launch & Make An Income From Membership Sites

2 Tamela December 28, 2009 at 11:40 am: Hello Lisa!
I sell Mary Kay on the side and the website program I have through Mary Kay does not generate any business unless I personally email and hope for the same people to buy from me. I can not even get at the top of the list because I am not a high star seller. I also sell fashion non name purses and bags as well as wallets and jewelry. I am wanting to create sites for all three of these to generate business. However, I am an educator without a job right now and trying to do something at home while my children are still in school. I know alot about how to teach children to read and write. This could be a great start up information website for me as well. I have just bought over a $1000.00 worth of purses and need to sell them so I probably ought to start there as well as the Mary Kay. I am interested in the sitebuilder and I am pretty good at computers but unsure how this really works. I get that there is money generated from the adwares but taking my business to the level you are explaining I think that I can because I know that there are plenty of places that I can generate people through google and yahoo. I search through yahoo the most when I do my research. However, I have used google some.

I am trying to get started and generate what I can in order to promote my business and education knowledge. I was looking for a website based program to advertise my business from and this is how I found your site.

I appreciate your help!

Tamela Pittman

Reply

3 Réka October 12, 2009 at 9:35 am

Hi Lisa,

Hope you’re okay – your eyes look really tired in this video!

Just want to join the chorus of people thanking you for all the wonderful information on ALL your websites. I bought SBI recently, and I learned of their existence through your websites, and I certainly hope you got the commission!

Take care,
Réka
Réka´s last blog … DONA workshop

4 Jonathan Bennett October 12, 2009 at 10:38 am

I’m with you, Lisa. Creating useful tutorial sites that help people learn and solve problems are one of the best ways to create traffic and thus increase the options of creating an online income. And it’s something you can feel good about — because you’re really helping people!
Jonathan Bennett´s last blog … New PHP troubleshooting section open

5 Shelia October 12, 2009 at 11:02 am Follow on Twitter: @shgerac

Thanks Lisa, you have really helped me to decide on what type of site to start. This is why it’s taking me so long to start, reading, check out your recommendations and learning all of your information before I start. I have been following you and reading back and forth for almost two months now.
Great information as always.

6 Carl Coddington October 12, 2009 at 10:26 pm

I wouldn’t advertise AdWords without a caveat. Too many people lose their shirts with Adwords because they don’t know what they’re doing.
Carl Coddington´s last blog … Don’t Give Up on AdSense

7 chandrasekaran October 13, 2009 at 7:47 am

Dear Lisa,
Your letters are informative and are very useful.Is it possible for you to send me the text version of your message instead of video?I have a slow internet connection and the video loads very slowly.It is a torture to wait for it to load and it makes me click the back button.I come to your website in the hope that there may be the text version but again I am presented with the video version only.How can you ignore those who have slow internet connection and I am sure that there are many like me.My suggestion is that you must have a text version at least in your website.Please send me the text version only
and no video messages please due to my slow internet connection. Thanks.
chandrasekaran
- Show quoted text -
chandrasekaran´s last blog … Oct 13, Weight loss tips: Understanding Fat Facts

8 Highly Favored October 13, 2009 at 7:54 am Follow on Twitter: @krenee76

Lisa, you truly deserve props! You always offer valuable information – you’re right about the tutorial sites. I’ve noticed that it’s my Justhost webhosting tutorial lens that gets the most traffic. Google sends tons of vistors everyday and that traffic feeds my other sites. The more information a site can provide, the better.
I really appreciate all of the help you have given me. You continue to be my role model. Thanks!
Highly Favored´s last blog … I Need Your Vote!

9 Michael October 13, 2009 at 8:18 pm Follow on Twitter: @naprmm

There is no question that is you provide value – however it is determined in your niche – people will buy from you because they consider you a trusted and credible source. Heck, they will even donate money to your site.
Michael´s last blog … Does High-Fructose Corn Syrup Have To Be In Everything?

10 Ms. Freeman October 14, 2009 at 2:54 pm Follow on Twitter: @freemanlegacy

I am a fan of useful content driven blogs/sites, but I am noticing that a lot of blogs are simply rehashing the same old content, yourself excluded of course

So I find I have to read three times as many blogs today then I was reading five weeks ago simply to find new fresh content.
Ms. Freeman´s last blog … Learn Something Useful at FreebieGuy.net

11 Grady October 15, 2009 at 11:46 am Follow on Twitter: @BoxOfficeJunkie

Lisa, I definitely agree about it being easier to monetize a site where people are looking for help. I run a website about the box office, and it has been a major challenge finding out how to monetize it. I definitely don’t have it all figured out yet!
Grady´s last blog … Weekend Fix: Couples Retreat Validates The EEE Once Again!

12 Michael October 16, 2009 at 2:52 pm Follow on Twitter: @naprmm: Grady,

I was looking at your site. I’m curious as to why you have borders around your google ads.
Michael´s last blog … What To Eat In A Crisis

Reply

13 Ms. Freeman October 16, 2009 at 2:30 pm Follow on Twitter: @freemanlegacy

Hi Lisa,
I was wondering what type of video camera you use to cerate your vidoes. Are you using a webcam, flip cam or somthing else?
Ms. Freeman´s last blog … To Reply or Not To Reply That Is The Question

14 lisa October 16, 2009 at 2:56 pm: I use a Sony Handycam.

Reply

15 Rev Steven Potts October 16, 2009 at 2:39 pm Follow on Twitter: @papottsy

Great info as usual, keep up the great work
Rev Steven Potts

16 WebTraffic October 18, 2009 at 3:58 am

Great video. Your website topic should be something that you enjoy or are passionate about. It should actually be fun creating and updating your website. This takes out the stress factor and frustration.
WebTraffic´s last blog … Using Forums to Get More Web Traffic

17 Ileane October 18, 2009 at 4:56 am Follow on Twitter: @Ileane

Hey Lisa,
You hit on an interesting point about changes that are coming in government regulations on affiliate marketing and ecommerce. Full disclosure is something new bloggers might not be thinking about but they need to be aware of. I think that the best thing to do is start disclosing affliations now so you don’t end up getting fined by the government in the future.

Thanks Lisa.
Ileane´s last blog … Do Twitter Backgrounds Attract New Followers?

18 Johnluffa October 18, 2009 at 10:18 am Follow on Twitter: @johnluffa

Absolutely, you can make many friends online by providing solutions.

I actually have brief sessions on Twitter where I just simply answer random WordPress related questions – and as a result, I get some that follow me.

A site that provides good useful info works.
Great follow up post Lisa.
Johnluffa´s last blog … Did Blog World Leave You Behind?

19 Michelle October 21, 2009 at 3:12 pm Follow on Twitter: @y4upeople

Thanks U
INTERESTING and INFORMATIVE SITES
U Have!
I have Learned a lot and I will recommended UR Site
To many of my Friend Who has Adsense Account.
I’m Still Learn and Improving My Site and Income

20 Gail Monroe October 22, 2009 at 5:51 pm Follow on Twitter: @PartyPlanner47

I agree that if we are going to have a successful blog, we must enjoy the topic. There is nothing worse than spending time and money setting up a blog then running out of steam with just a few posts. I also agree with your comments about providing content that will help others solve a problem. Many times that is why people come to the net – they are searching for information and answers. I’m glad I found you on YouTube several weeks ago. I learn more from every video I watch. Thanks for your willingness to help us solve our problems.
Gail Monroe´s last blog … Five Great Halloween Costume Ideas and One Lab Coat

21 Johnson Yip October 27, 2009 at 1:21 am Follow on Twitter: @johnsonyip

I agree with you, that tutorial and review based websites are good for creating a bunch of followers. I knew a guy called Proffessor James Messor who has a huge following in his niche market because he made over 30 hours of tutorial videos, lots of quiz questions, a wiki, and a forum dedicated to help people pass the Comptia A+, Network+, and other computer certifications/accreditations for free. I look as him as a role-model since he helped me passed the Comptia A+ exam, and I also enjoy making computer tutorials for helping people. Great website, Lisa. Keep up the good work.

22 Christopher Roberts November 14, 2009 at 9:40 am

Great advice, thanks
Christopher Roberts´s last blog … The Best Ever Scientific Invention

23 Perambur Kumar November 14, 2009 at 8:43 pm Follow on Twitter: @way2onlinejobs

Hi Lisa, How are you? If you believe it or not. You are my “Role Model”. Infact you website is inspiration for all of us to start websites and also in same topic “How to create a website” or “How to design a Website” The last few months there are large number of websites added to Google Search Results. So it is very difficult to come in top 10 of the Google Search Results. How you manage this competition? and another thing people in India and US loving you very much and they are seeing your website as bench mark. (Goal)
Perambur Kumar´s last blog … Google AdSense Training – Direct Training for Google AdSense and SEO

24 Perambur Kumar November 14, 2009 at 8:49 pm Follow on Twitter: @way2onlinejobs

I saw all your videos. It is excellent. Great information. I want to know what is your source of traffic? Because I already promoted my websites through more than 600 Free classifieds and also in web-forums and so on. But I need consistent visitors (Regular visitors), I don’t want One time visitor. What to do? please help……………..
Perambur Kumar´s last blog … Google AdSense Training – Direct Training for Google AdSense and SEO

25 Jarrod Clark November 28, 2009 at 8:35 pm Follow on Twitter: @Optimistic_J

I agree. I don’t mind going to a blog or website that is affiliate based as long as they are helping me. My whole thing is where can I go where I can get information for free. I’ve had to purchase ebooks in the pass when I couldn’t find free info on the web so if I find someone I trust who if providing quality content that is helping me I’ll support them in whatever they are doing. Great post by the way!

26 Rick November 30, 2009 at 5:47 am Follow on Twitter: @elusiverick

Thanks again & Again & AGAIN Lisa.
I am early in the learning to make money online process & I’m so glad I found you.
Warm regards from a cool place,
Rick.

27 Shama Kern December 8, 2009 at 10:34 am Follow on Twitter: @www.twitter.com/shamakern

I really appreciate your good information. What I like even better is that you don’t send me countless emails with pitches to buy all the latest launches with miles long slicked out copy and half a dozen upsells. I have unsubscribed from most lists, but yours is a keeper!
Shama Kern´s last blog … Relationships in Thailand part 3

28 Henrico Ellis January 27, 2010 at 8:32 pm