Author Archive
A Staple Every Blogger Needs
I’m not big on reading “how-to” books, but when talented bloggers like Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett put together a guide about earning a six-figure income with a blog, it’s hard to overlook.
If you haven’t gotten Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six Figure Income you’re missing a treat.
First of all, it’s an easy [...]
Are You a Robotic Webmaster?
I define a robotic Webmaster as one who goes through the motions of managing and updating a website, without a clear understanding for what it takes to succeed online.
They haphazardly throw up content without much regard to how their target audience will interpret it.
They’re more concerned with quantity of tasks than measuring the results and [...]
Using Stats to Improve Your Traffic
I’ve always been a stat junky.
I love checking my RSS feed subscriber numbers, my AWeber subscriber stats, Google Analytics account, etc. multiple times per day.
I’ll admit, I might need therapy. :)
However, if you really take some time analyze your traffic stats and even stats from other sites (I’ll explain that part in a bit), [...]
Uh Oh! Your Site Looks Un-Trafficked
When you’re first starting a website, it can be tempting to seek new advertisers, build a community (forum) and add other features/additions that can generate revenue and make your site look appealing.
The problem is, if you don’t have enough traffic, your site will end up looking vacant, smallish and unimportant.
So I thought I’d make a [...]
SiteSell Says Blogging is a Mistake
SiteSell recently launched a new site called Blog or Build? — their definitive answer to those who ask the big question…
“Blog or Website?”
From a business standpoint, the page is brilliant. SiteSell sells websites, not blogs. So of course it makes sense to push the benefits of a website and display blogging in a [...]
How I Gained 200 Blog Subscribers Fast!
As I wrote in another post, you cannot assume your blog readers know how to use RSS.
Even though you’re comfortable with it, the majority of web surfers simply don’t understand it.
So if you use Feedburner, make sure you also offer the “Subscribe by Email” feature in addition to your RSS feed.
This will allow people to [...]
YouTube - Your Ticket to More Traffic?
I just logged into my YouTube account today and noticed my videos have handy little “Add to MySpace and Facebook” buttons below them.
Now anyone who likes your mini flick can post it on two of the most popular social networking sites with greater ease.
I’ve toyed with using another video hosting service because I’d like to [...]
Reporting Content Thieves to Google
I always say… You know you’ve made it when people begin copying your work.
And thanks to services like www.copyscape.com it’s much easier to spot offenders these days.
Plagiarizing used to really bother me, especially when the search engines weren’t as smart as they are today. It used to be much easier for thieves to steal your [...]
A Fix For Google PageRank Junkies
They’re everywhere…
Blog posts, forum questions, emails, website articles, etc… all about improving your PageRank.
Google is clearly the front runner in driving free, targeted website traffic, so everyone wants their site to rank well in any measuring tool Google produces.
First of all, I’ve seen no indication that your PageRank affects the amount of traffic Google [...]
How to Write Killer Blog Comments
Good content is king.
The more useful, relevant and unique it is, the more likely it will connect with its intended audience.
So why don’t people keep this in mind when commenting on blogs?
I’ve been generating decent traffic from this lately, and it’s mainly because I’ve revised my commenting strategy.
I used to reply with a quick comment [...]
Use Adobe PhotoShop for Free!
Adobe launched a free, Web-based version of their software this week. It’s called PhotoShop Express (Beta).
Now you can manipulate your images online for use on your website, blog, FaceBook profile, etc.
There’s even a “Share” feature that allows you to send photos to friends and family.
I just did a trial run. It’s very easy to use [...]
The Next MySpace?
When some Webmasters set out to build their websites, they have a lot of big ideas.
They want forums, profiles, user interactivity and all the Web 2.0 features that make a website look cool and fun to visit.
Nothing wrong with having goals to build the baddest site on the planet, but it’s important to think realistically [...]
Test Drive WordPress Themes In Windows
You may have noticed I changed my blog’s design.
I’ve wanted to do this for a while, but I kept putting it off because I knew I needed the time to customize the design, images, add my logo, etc.
If you’re starting a blog for the first time, then there’s no need for a WordPress testing environment. [...]
What’s Your Google Disaster Plan?
If Google suddenly dropped your site for good what would happen to your online income?
For many Webmasters, it would be a total disaster.
If you’ve been around long enough to remember the infamous “Florida Update” of November 2003 then you heard the cry around the Net when thousands of Webmasters lost their Google rankings.
Some rankings returned [...]
How to Create an Online Traffic Jam
I was checking my blog stats last week and noticed quite a few visitors from www.trafficjam.com.
I wasn’t sure how one of my blog posts got to the top of the page, so I read their “About” page.
Turns out, BlogRush was the culprit.
Apparently my post about the $8,000 SiteSell check received quite a bit of attention [...]
Why Many Affiliate Websites Fail
While there are several reasons some affiliate websites never get off the ground, here’s a few reasons I believe many people struggle with affiliate marketing…
SiteSell Sent Me $8,268.35 Last Month
Am I flashing my SiteSell affiliate check in your face to brag?
No, not at all.
When it comes to telling other people how to make money online, it’s all about credibility.
And if can’t prove you’re actually profiting, then you sort of get lumped in with all the other “how-to-make-money” sites that leave people wondering if [...]
Is Google Spying On You? Probably!
Getting ranked #1 in Google for those heavily searched, relevant keywords is the dream of every Webmaster.
And if you’ve been around for a while, you know that task is not as easy as it once was.
Years ago you could stuff keywords, hide content in your background and perform all kinds of tricks to get you [...]
Earning Residual Commissions Online
A previous post about earning $57,000 in one month created quite the excitement.
After all, some people don’t even make $57,000 in one year so the idea of earning that kind of money in a month is fascinating.
While I was happy to see that post generated interest, it also produced some unrealistic goals and ideas among [...]
Do You Really Need The Keyword Meta Tag?
Sad but true, many Webmasters still stuff the keyword meta tag and stress over how many (or which) words to use.
Most search engines don’t even read this tag anymore so it certainly does nothing for your search engine rank (at least for the search engines that really count.)
I know some people will disagree, but from [...]
Learn CSS Quickly With This FREE Template
Since my flat stomach site has been completely “CSS’ed”, I’ve really been pushing the benefits of using CSS on your site.
If you are looking to start your first site or want to redesign your existing one, this blog post is important.
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) allows you to control large sections of your site’s design and [...]
How I Doubled My Blog Traffic in 2 Months
I just got serious about blogging in December of 2007.
I had a blog on Blogger.com for 2 years, but rarely updated it.
Then in November of 2007, I installed Feedburner and discovered I had 430+ subscribers. I was shocked due to the fact I hardly ever blogged.
I didn’t want to lose those subscribers or the [...]
Free, Unique RSS Icons & Buttons
Why use the same, boring orange RSS icon? Call attention to your feed and add an ounce of flavor to your site with a refreshing button or icon.
Your RSS feed will never be ignored again. :)
Notes:
Please “Save As” to your own PC and upload to your Web server. That way if I [...]
One Website Niche You Should Avoid
One of the most common ways people get lured into starting an online business is by discovering an affiliate or MLM (multi-level marketing) “make-money-online” program.
Usually, they promise lucrative profits if you promote a pre-created, turnkey website and get other people to join the program and/or buy certain products.
YTB.com and SixFigureIncome.com are two programs that come [...]
Cool PhotoShop Text Effects for Your Site
I was stumbling upon some sites this morning and came across a very useful website.
It’s called TutorialsGarden.com and they provide tutorials on PhotoShop, Flash, CSS, HTML and more.
I’ve dabbled in PhotoShop over the years, but never mastered it by any means.
I’ve always wanted to learn to do more with text for logos, headers, etc. but [...]
My Automated Traffic & Revenue Generator
If you’ve been marketing online for any length of time, no doubt you’ve read articles that emphasize the importance of collecting email addresses.
Well, I’ve taken that a step further by using an autoresponder, which is a script that automatically sends emails at intervals specified by the user.
I’ve been using AWeber’s autoresponder on my flat stomach [...]
Why Create a Blog and a Website?
Someone asked me yesterday if they should create a blog and a website?
That’s a very good question because you may have noticed some people have blogs while others have websites. And some people, like me, have both.
Why I Wanted a Blog
My site, 2CreateAWebSite.com has been doing fine on its own for quite some time. [...]
My Biggest Design Mistake… Ever!
I’ve created at least 10 different sites over the past 10 years, but none of them have been developed better than my latest Site Build It! site, flat-stomach-exercises.com.
Now, I’m not talking about the the design and look and feel of the site. I’m talking about the way in which it was coded.
The entire design [...]
Would You Like $57,000 In One Month?
Someone who belongs to the same domain name reseller program as me earned that amount in January.
Every month the program publishes the top performers. While I was pleased to have earned a spot in the top 10 with my own personal record, I was floored when I saw the top earner pulled in nearly [...]
Help! I’m Clueless About Web Design
When you’re new to website building, web design can be a very intimidation process.
Heck, even if you’ve been around awhile it still can be intimidating if design is not your forté.
So here are some tips for getting off on the right track when designing your first site.
Tip 1 - Familiarize Yourself With a Web Editor
There [...]
Ugh! Stop Stressing Over SEO
People often stress over domain name choice because they worry if they choose a certain name, they’ll only be found for the keywords in that domain and nothing else.
While the domain name is important for branding, letting people know what your site is about etc., don’t stress over getting every “important” keyword in the domain [...]
Is Writing Content a Chore For You?
One of the common mistakes Webmasters make is they don’t define who they are targeting.
Now that everyone is learning you can profit online by writing about any topic and adding Google ads, people are often mislead.
It’s not just about publishing as much content as you can on one subject and waiting for the money to [...]
“Site Build It! is a Scam!”
That was the comment left on one of my YouTube videos a few days ago.
It’s not the first time I’ve heard the scam cries regarding SBI!.
Apparently this person heard about the $10,000 prize Ken Evoy, President of SiteSell.com, awarded to the customer who created the best “I Love SBI! video.”
So his comment warned others there [...]
Does Your Audience Ignore RSS Buttons?
If you use RSS and are familiar with how it works, it’s easy to assume your audience understands it too.
And even though it’s been around for a few years, the average surfer still doesn’t know what an RSS feed is, much less how to subscribe.
It’s worth taking the time to explain what RSS is and [...]
Become a Better Writer… Now!
How you communicate with your audience is a critical component of having a successful website.
And it’s an aspect of website development that is highly overlooked.
If your audience doesn’t feel that all-important connection with you, the chances of them buying products from you (or products you recommend) are slim to none.
Don’t underestimate the power of your [...]
Do Banner Ads Work In 2008?
There was a time when I relied heavily on banners. After all, they look kinda cool floating in your right or left nav, and they add a spice of color to your design. But after awhile I noticed they were getting few clicks and generating even fewer sales.
So years ago I started [...]
Do You Struggle With Creativity?
I hear a lot of people say, “I’m not creative enough to build an interesting site (or blog).” And while I believe creativity comes easier for some than others, there are ways you spark creativity into your site or blog whether you feel you have that special gene or not.
1. Get Involved In Your [...]
I Want a Website But I’m Stuck & Overwhelmed!
I receive a lot of the same questions/concerns from wanna-be website owners.
Let’s face it. Getting started can be a very overwhelming process.
From choosing the right web host, deciding on the perfect niche to selecting the right domain name and then totaling up all the costs involved.
Whew! It can be intimidating at first. So [...]
Creating HTML Tables The Easy Way
I often talk about how I’m not very technically inclined and not anywhere close to being a programmer. I keep my designs simple because I enjoy writing much more than figuring out the techy stuff.
While I use CSS on 2CreateAWebSite.com for my links, headings, colors, etc. I’ve never taken full advantage of [...]
5 Amateur Website Moves
1. Visit/Hit Counters
Nothing says “amateur website” like a good ole’ fashioned hit counter.
Let me be blunt…
No one really cares if you’ve had 15,034 visitors since May or 232 hits today. They care about your content, site usability and what your site can do for them.
I think a lot of people add counters because [...]
The Most Profitable Website Niche
I get a lot of questions about website topics and what’s the most profitable niche. First of all, what’s profitable for someone else may not be profitable for you and vice versa.
For example, a lot of people make money online because they choose topics they love to write about, then affiliate themselves with [...]
6 Tips For a Profitable 2008
It’s the time of the year when millions of resolutions are made all over the world. Weight loss and financial gain are two of the most popular ones made each year.
Speaking of financial gain, many Webmasters have set financial goals for their websites in 2008. If you’re reading this now, you are probably [...]
“Sitemaps Don’t Increase Traffic!”
I saw a comment on another blog from a new Webmaster who was frustrated about his lack of traffic. He recently submitted a sitemap to Google and Yahoo and wondered why his traffic hadn’t increased. So he titled his blog comment, “Sitemaps Don’t Increase Traffic!”.
There’s a lot of misunderstandings when it comes [...]
5 Easy Traffic Building Tips
Building traffic to a site or blog is an ongoing process that takes time. And over the past 10 years, I’ve learned it’s about the sum of the little tasks you do often.
For example, you may not think much of that 3-paragraph blog post you wrote this morning, but two years from now that very [...]
I Ditched Blogger - Hello WordPress!
I love Google and all they are doing on the Web, but one of my goals for 2008 is to become a more active blogger, and I needed a platform that will grow with me.
All signs seemed to point to WordPress - especially when I realized how simple it was to install.
Don’t get me wrong. [...]
Blog Rush = More Traffic?
I’ve never been too big on blogging. I know, I know… everybody’s doing it and it’s sooooo “Web 2.0″, right?
Well for me, it’s always been sort of a secondary tool I use to draw traffic to my main site, and it was usually at the bottom of my “to-do” list.
But in the past two months, [...]
Beware of AdSense Overload!
As the AdSense popularity grows among Webmasters, it’s hard to find a site without at least one AdSense unit displayed.
And in my opinion, many Webmasters overdo it.
Because you want to get as many clicks as possible, it can be very tempting to lace your page header with multiple AdSense ads. After all, the more [...]
I’ll Give You $150…
Yup… my WebsiteBabble.com contest is on again.
It seemed to work very well last time, and is really helping me build a nice community with useful posts and friendly folks.
All you have to do is become a regular member of my forum, contribute useful information on a regular basis and you could be $150 richer on [...]
A Free Site For The Holidays
[Note: Offer expired January 4, 2008]
It’s that time of year and SiteSell has done it again. (I was hoping they would.)
This is the best Site Build It! special you’ll ever find - 2 subscriptions for the price of 1. Yes, you pay for one SBI! subscription and you get a second one absolutely free.
If [...]
Need Help? Join My Family
When you’re learning the ropes of website creation, design, making money, etc., the online world can be a lonely and even intimidating place.
More and more people are finding e-comfort at my forum, Website Babble. It’s a place to connect with people who are learning just like you, and the members are some of the [...]
Wanna Quit Your Job in 2008?
For most, it takes a few years get their sites to the point where they can think about quitting their full-time job. But if you work hard enough, it can certainly be done within a year.
And even if it doesn’t happen in 2008, perhaps you can earn enough to make it feasible for 2009.
If you [...]
Passive Income From Content
Cathy Stucker (The Idea Lady) conducted a tele-class last night, hosted by EzineArticles.com.
Cathy is making a living from the abundance of content she’s created over the years, and I thought she offered excellent advice… particularly for those who are just getting started and may be skeptical about how to make a living online from articles [...]
Accidental Blog Success
I love hearing stories about people who create sites for fun and they suddenly turn into a success story. That’s what happened to Mikey, an avid fan of the series, Prison Break.
He told me his blog was originally created in early October 2007 for fun. And after only a month, the blog [...]
I Owe You An Apology
I was so excited to launch my new e-book, Untold AdSense Facts, on Saturday that I published a typo in the download link.
And a special thanks to the kind gentleman who brought that to my attention.
I am terribly sorry. So many of you take time out of your busy day to read my blog, [...]
Untold AdSense Facts
Due to all the AdSense buzz generated by the media lately, I felt it only fitting to write a small e-book that addresses many questions I receive about AdSense.
Yes, the concept of the program is super simple, but making a lot of money takes time and work.
Right-click here and download my free e-book Untold AdSense [...]
AdSense Member Earns $120,000
One of my Website Babble forum members posted a link to an article from USA Today about a retired gentleman who earns $120,000 in Google ads in one year.
I wasn’t as amazed by his story as I was the skeptical responses to the article. Then again, people are often skeptical when they hear stories [...]
Need Traffic? YouTube It!
If you haven’t tapped into the video world, you may want to consider it. Not only does video help build credibility for your site, it builds traffic too.
Just like a website on Google.com, you can optimize your video for YouTube searches, and drive more targeted traffic to your video.
Learn how to turn this YouTube [...]
Subtle Affiliate Marketing Rocks!
A fellow Site Build It! (SBI!) customer contacted me today. Someone emailed her a compliment regarding her website, deliciouscakerecipes.com, and went on about how she loved the site and would like the SBI! owner to design one for her.
The new SBI! customer was honored by the compliment, but didn’t know how to respond. [...]
Ashamed To Be An Affiliate?
You know you’re doing something right when people ask you to provide them with your affiliate link before they buy a product.
That’s what happened today in my forum, WebsiteBabble.com. And to be honest, it’s not the first time I’ve been asked.
In my opinion, this says so much about the importance of PREselling a product. [...]
Hire a Web Designer? Really?
You know absolutely nothing about web design and the thought of creating your site intimidates you. So it’s just best to pay someone to do the site for you right?
Not necessarily.
Read this article for my thoughts on the subject.
Sample Money-Making Sites
Thinking of buying Site Build It! but not exactly sure if it’s for you or how you can apply it? Take a sneak peek at some sample sites equipped with stories from the SBI! owners.
This site proves that SBI! will help you monetize (make money) with almost any topic you can come up with. [...]
Link Exchange Boo-Boo’s
When you’re struggling to get enough traffic to your site, it can be tempting to exchange links with anyone who is willing. More is not always better when it comes to link exchanges, so choose your partners wisely.
Swapping links with sites that have little to do with your theme won’t do you much good. [...]
Why Most Fail With AdSense
I call it the “Hodgepodge Theory.” And if this applies to your site, it may be a big reason why you aren’t seeing your AdSense earnings increase.
Watch the video below to learn more about why I believe many people struggle with building their AdSense revenue…
Why My Sites Failed
I thought this would be a great, candid discussion to start in my forums.
Everyone is always talking about what you should do for success. But often times you can learn even more by focusing on what you shouldn’t do.
I started the discussion by talking about 3 previous sites I created that failed, and I’m [...]
The Most Critical Website Phase
This blog entry was inspired by a post in my forum yesterday.
It’s easy to get bogged down in the technicalities of how to create a website…
How do I create a chat room?
How am I going to setup a membership area?
How exactly am I going to make money?
How do I accept credit card payments [...]
Same Ol’ Traffic Tips (Yawn!)
You know about search engine submitting, blogging and writing/submitting articles for other sites. So what do you do when you’ve done all these things and still can’t get enough traffic?
The video below discusses topics which often get overlooked when people create websites. While some of it may seem like common sense to you, [...]
If I Had To Start Over…
While people are encouraged by my online success, some often frown when I tell them it took me six years to make enough online to at least match my 9 to 5 salary. Even though I made a profit every year, there were a lot of ups and downs in the beginning as I [...]
My Site Gets a Facelift!
Not only does 2CreateAWebSite.com have a new look, but I’ve finally abandoned the little annoyances of Microsoft FrontPage and decided to design and manage my site in Dreamweaver.
I must say, FrontPage does have its quirks such as adding unnecessary HTML code and not handling certain file extensions very well (.php, for example). But it [...]
Why Most Online Stores Fail
Selling products online can be quite the challenge, particularly if you are building your first site and have no brand awareness/recognition. A big mistake many newbies make is they try selling products before they have the traffic and credibility.
Building a store is not a guarantee people will just flock to your site. You [...]
I’m Giving Away More $$$
The first contest at my Webmaster forum, WebsiteBabble.com really helped grow the forum quite a bit so I’ve decided to hold another one. This time there will be multiple winners (3) and they will be randomly selected.
For more details, read the announcement at WebsiteBabble.com.
And while you’re there, why not join the friendly community? [...]
An Experiment Gone Horribly Right!
A lady asked me today why I created a site on fitness (flat-stomach-exercises.com) when a topic like that is so saturated.
I have to agree. Fitness is a very competitive niche. That’s why I narrowed my topic down a bit to just flattening the stomach.
Plus, it was a topic that interested me since I [...]
My Critics & Their Comments
It’s wonderful to receive all the e-mails from the people my site has helped over the last 5 1/2 years. But of course, with praise always comes criticism from my er… “fans?” :)
I met a new “fan” today.
Apparantely this gentleman had a problem with my site because it’s very limited in its teachings. Since [...]
I Want to Pay YOU!
Well, the $300 giveaway has certainly helped the activity on my new forum, WebsiteBabble.com. In fact, it’s been so good I will probably continue the cash awards after the first giveaway next month.
Not only is it a nice tax write-off for me, but it really does encourage people to contribute quality information. Even [...]
Is Money Your Only Motivation?
I just received an e-mail from a gentleman desperate to find something to do online so he could quit his job that he hates so much.
He asked me how long it took me to make a full time living online and I got the impression he would do anything to get rich on the Net.
First [...]
Google Says "No!" to Crappy Sites
Years ago a top search engine ranking wasn’t too hard to come by. You simply created a site with a few pages, added your meta tags, stuffed some keywords, got a few links from other websites (related or non related)…
And Voila!
You’ve got a top 10 ranking!
However, times have drastically changed and Google continues to [...]
Affiliate Nonsense
I just launched a new blog discussing the things affiliates and merchants do wrong. I’ve been involved in affiliate marketing for nearly 10 years and decided to blog about the common mistakes I notice with affiliates and merchants.
Check out AffiliateNonsense.com.
A Year Off WITH Pay!
What’s the one job where you could take a year off and still get paid?
Yup… you guessed it.
Affiliate Marketing.
I got an e-mail from a gentleman today who wanted to know how many hours he’d have to invest upfront to make enough money online to quit his full time job. He admitted he didn’t have [...]
Too Many Website Ideas! Help!
This entry was inspired by a post in my forum today. If you want to build a money making website, this message is for you.
People starting out often get overwhelmed by all their ideas and it’s hard to decide where to focus. W