Some people just start out with the right attitude.

When it comes to making money online, they don’t complain about how difficult the journey is.  They just go for it.

They are resourceful people who take the information you give them and run with it.

They have this adventurous, go-getter mentality and aren’t afraid of failure.

They also understand the importance of enjoying the ride from the very beginning.

These people understand this is a process and find joy in more than getting that first AdSense check.

Know of anyone like this?  I do.  I got an e-mail from her a couple of weeks ago. Her name is Rachel and her site is GreenLeafeSimon.com.

I have her permission to post her e-mail on my blog, so I want to share it with you. Pay attention to the bold text. I did that for emphasis.

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Hello Lisa,

No need to answer this email; this is just to say thank you.

Awhile ago, my sister lost her job and I got the bright idea to help her learn how to make money online. She wasn’t interested and eventually got another job, but I got hooked!

I tried a few things and quickly learned most things on the net are scams. In the course of things however, I came across your website, 2Create A Website and I fell in love with the idea of having my own website. But about what? I love to write and all my life have wanted to be an author, so I got the idea to write serial stories and started a blog.

Then the idea grew and mushroomed as I found that although blogging was a lot of fun, the scope is limited. I took your sage advice and learned html and then css – and am I ever glad I did! I’ve never had so much fun in my life.

Designing, writing and marketing a website is better than any video game I’ve ever played (and I’ve played a lot of ‘em) and Lisa, I want to thank you for all the help, tips and advice you’ve provided for people like me.

From Colour Hex-code Generators to Server Side Includes (I actually cried when I finally made this work) and all the Tutorials and Videos in between, Thank you! I don’t think I could have done it without you. Many, many thanks!

Rachel
GreenLeafeSimon.com

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As a person who receives hundreds of e-mails per week with complaints and problems about either building a website or making money online, I really treasure e-mails like this.

Notice the bold phrases in the e-mail above.  See a pattern?  They all involve some kind of enjoyment or excitement.

Rachel reminds me of myself when I started 12 years ago.  I wasn’t making much money then, but there was something about the feeling of accomplishment and learning new things that was very exciting!  I always had that within me no matter how much I was earning.

I get asked about my “secret to success” all the time.  Some people think it’s my writing style.  Others believe it’s my videos.  I’ve also heard things like, She just chose the right niche, She had great timing, and my favorite…

She’s just lucky.

I actually think it’s a combination of several reasons, but one thing people neglect to mention is my sheer desire and passion for what I do.  In fact, I believe that is the #1 reason I have done so well.

This “Internet Marketing stuff” isn’t for everyone and you can’t make yourself love it just because you want to make money.   If you can’t find the joy, you may not be able to find the money.

So thank you, Rachel.  Your enthusiasm is refreshing and I have a feeling you will go far out here.

Remember folks, success starts with passion and the right attitude — not just the desire to make money.

As many of you know, I’ve been suffering from a typing injury for nearly 4 months.

First, I was misdiagnosed with tendinitis.  Then I was misdiagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome.

After a visit to an orthopedic surgeon, (the type of doctor I should have gone to in the first place), my X-rays came back negative.  I had no joint or nerve damage.  It was only inflammation.

I was relieved I didn’t have carpal tunnel syndrome, but the inflammation diagnosis was just as frustrating because there is no “one treatment fits all” when it comes to curing it.

Repetitive strain injuries (RSI) come in so many different forms and are caused by so many different things (wrong keyboard height/angle, fatigue, wrong size mouse, poor posture and other ergonomic conditions.)

The symptoms also vary from person to person.  Even though many of my ailments matched those who have carpal tunnel or tendinitis, the X-rays told a different story.

In fact, most people who think they have carpal tunnel, usually don’t.  It’s typically some sort of RSI.  That’s the good news.  The bad news is it can be just as debilitating and treatment is not as straightforward.

Recovery Can Take Months

When I blogged about this back in November, I thought I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I had no idea I was in for 3 more months of discomfort.

Nevertheless, I’m about 90% healed (still having occasional stiffness from time to time) and will make a full recovery.  Yippee!!

How I am Healing

1) Rest

This is probably the biggest reason I am nearly pain free.  If you start having any kind of discomfort from using the computer, take a break.  Also, don’t try to push through the pain.

That was my biggest mistake.  When I started feeling hand and arm discomfort, I kept working, thinking it would get better.  Had I rested more with the first sign of pain, it probably wouldn’t have taken nearly as long to heal.

It felt really weird to NOT spend so much time on the computer.  I felt I was missing out on something, but I eventually got used to it.  My body was exhausted and I didn’t even realize how much until I gave myself more rest.  Funny how that happens.

2) Stretching

Even if you aren’t in pain, you should stretch before you start computing — especially if you spend 20 hours or more per week on a computer.  I presume nearly everyone reading this post falls into this category.  Stretching not only helps heal RSI-related injuries, it can prevent them.

I printed the guide from this site and taped it to my desk.  This reminds me to stretch before I begin working.

3) Software

Two software programs are helping me get through this:

Dragon Naturally Speaking

This is speech recognition software that really took the load off my arms.  I answer a LOT of e-mails on a daily basis so this was a very useful tool to have.

It’s pretty accurate, and the more you use it, the better it gets as it adapts to your voice and pronunciations.  You can also teach the software new words, which is very helpful with all the Web lingo and acronyms.

You can also program it to type out large blocks of text by saying a word or phrase.  This sort of works like canned responses, but they are voice activated instead of using the mouse/keyboard to initiate it.

For example, if I want to type the steps to setting up a WordPress blog, all I have to do is say “WordPress instructions” and the program types everything I stored under that phrase.

RSI Warrior

This is another cool program that reminds you to stretch every X minutes and provides several exercises with a visual you can follow.

It also has an “auto click” feature so you don’t have to click the mouse.  All you do is hover for a predetermined amount of time and the software will click for you.

The auto click feature was my best friend for three months.  My forearm muscles were so taxed from all the mousing and typing that clicking the mouse and using a trackpad was painful.

There are some free auto click programs out there.  I tried to download a few but had trouble with installation, so I decided to go with RSI Warrior instead.

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I don’t want you to ever experience what I’ve gone through in the past 4 months.  And most of this could have been prevented had I stretched regularly, taken more breaks and not ignored the early signs (stiffness and soreness in my fingers/hands and arms).

Also, if you’re having symptoms that don’t go away, see an orthopedic surgeon or a doctor who specializes in occupational injuries.  Many general practitioners aren’t as educated on computer-related injuries, so they may be quick to diagnose you with the wrong disease.

Remember, not every wrist or hand injury is carpal tunnel syndrome.

And finally, listen to your body.  If something hurts, it’s trying to send you a message.  Give yourself a break.  I’m sure you’ll agree that spending fewer hours at your computer is worth preserving the health of your body in the long run.

Have you recovered from any computer related injuries?  Feel free to share what you’ve learned below!

You’ve had your blog for a few months now.  You’ve chosen a topic you love and have great information.  But you have very little traffic and no sales.

So what’s wrong?

Often times it’s nothing but your impatience and lack of consistency.

A few months is hardly enough time to give a new business.  So if you went into this with unrealistic expectations, you will be disappointed.

I get an amazing number of emails from people who claim “affiliate marketing doesn’t work.”  And when I ask them how long they’ve been at it, the answer is often two months or less.

Are you kidding me?

It took me months before any worthwhile money started to roll in. And even when my income didn’t equate to the hours I was spending online, I never stopped writing and strategizing.

If you haven’t generated a steady stream of traffic yet, one thing you have to work on is building momentum with consistency.

If you’re a new blogger, you need to establish a rhythm.  Posting once a month is probably not going to cut it.  This is a business so you must commit to it and take it seriously.

There are so many blogs and websites out there with great potential, but they’ve been abandoned by impatient owners looking for too much too soon.

I know it’s frustrating when you feel no one is reading your content.  But if you have a solid concept and believe in your site, you will be amazed at what will happen if you just stick with it and produce solid content on a consistent basis.

Set goals for content and video production. Make your presence known. It’s time for you to get serious. Let’s make 2010 a great one!

On December 1, 2009 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) clarified and updated their guidelines regarding deceptive advertising.

For all the official details, read the FTC documentation and head over to the FTC website to watch their videos.

You should know that the FTC Act is not new. In summary, it prohibits deceptive, misleading and unfair acts in commerce.  These guidelines have already been in effect for offline advertising, and even for some areas of the online world (e-mail/spam, etc.)

As Rich Cleland of the FTC states in this interview, The December 1st update is just an interpretation/clarification of the Act for bloggers, affiliates and other online marketers. It is not a new regulation.

Confusion Among Affiliates

What’s frustrating for many affiliates is there are no specific guidelines for how every affiliate site/blog should handle this. Is a blanket disclosure statement enough or should you add a disclosure statement to every link?

While some guidelines are still a bit vague, the example presented in the audio clip seems to suggest that a blanket disclosure will be enough for many sites, but others may need more.

According to the FTC, “The disclosure should be clear, conspicuous and aiming to “alert the reader” that there is a “connection between the endorser and the seller.”  I also found great disclosure advice on Geno Prussakov’s affiliate marketing blog.

My personal opinion is that the FTC will mainly go after the giants and malicious sites that have clearly crossed the line of deception, but that doesn’t mean they won’t punish smaller affiliates and turn them into examples.

There’s also been confusion over who these guidelines are for. The FTC website seems to focus on bloggers and not website owners. But remember, the guidelines have been updated to include bloggers, social media participants, etc.

So please don’t assume you don’t have to comply if you do not own a blog. Website owners, e-mail marketers, etc. should be disclosing as well.

So What Should You Do?

The first thing you should do is read the FTC documentation.  I know it’s a lot of legal jargon that can get monotonous, but the bottom line is, if you are getting compensated for your recommendations (i.e. through affiliate marketing), you should be disclosing your affiliations… period.

How detailed and specific you need to be will vary from site to site. Yes, the guidelines are not incredibly specific. So in many cases you will have to use your best judgment and common sense.

Also make sure you listen to Jim Edward’s interview with Rich Cleland of the FTC.  It’s always good to go straight to the source when it comes to things like this.

And lastly, one thing’s almost certain…

You won’t be penalized for over disclosure. So when in doubt, disclose as much as you can where you feel it’s necessary.

Start with a blanket disclosure statement.  See the one I created for this blog and go from there.   Don’t just copy my statement.  I think you will benefit from developing your own unique message that’s relevant for your own site and voice.

My Apologies

I wanted to write about the FTC guidelines much sooner, but as many of you know, I’ve been taking some much needed time off due to my RSI injury that I blogged about a few weeks ago.  I’m recovering slowly but surely.  Thanks to everyone for your kind messages.

I will be taking it easy for the rest of the year and hope to come back 100% next year.

I was reading Darren Rowse’s (ProBlogger.net) e-mail newsletter last night and he reminded me of a project I keep putting off…

Developing my own product.

It’s easy to get comfortable as an affiliate and rely on your affiliate sales and AdSense revenue, but in my opinion, the process isn’t really complete until you have your own product to sell.

Not only does it make you look more established as a blogger or website owner, but it allows you to develop another revenue stream that you have more control over.

One reason I’ve put this off for so long is the planning involved.  Even though I’ve had quite the success online, one weakness of mine is planning for larger projects.

This has never been something I enjoy doing, but if I want to develop and launch my own product, I will have to grow in this area.  I already have a few ideas and will be working on them in early 2010.

(By the way, your feedback and ideas are welcome as I continue to brainstorm.)

I’d love to start a discussion about this below.   If you are an affiliate and do not have your own product, have you ever thought about developing one?   And if you do have a product, how has it impacted your current business?

It’s that time of year where people start setting goals for the following year.  Developing my own product is definitely going to be my top priority.

Thanks, Darren for reminding me to bump this to the top of my To-Do list.

For the last month or so I have been quietly suffering from RSI (repetitive strain injury).

So I thought I’d post this to prevent you from experiencing what I’ve been suffering with since the end of September.

If you have an online business (or are trying to start one), no doubt you use the computer more than you ever have, so it’s important you pay attention to your habits now.

It started with discomfort in my forearm, wrist and the back of my hand (especially when mousing and typing). At first I thought it was Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.  Fortunately it wasn’t, but RSI can be just as debilitating and cause as many problems if not addressed.

Turns out this could have been avoided with proper workstation ergonomics.  I’ve always heard the word “ergonomics” and knew what it meant, but ignored it because I was not having any problems.  And unfortunately most people don’t realize something is wrong UNTIL they feel the pain.

The Problem

I was typing with my hands slightly angled up while my wrists rest on the wrist pad instead of raising them so they are parallel to the floor.  My posture was also very poor.  This was causing strain on my forearms and hands.  Ouch!

I also have a tendency to hold my pinky out and erect when typing fast, so that was also causing additional strain on my forearm.   Typing fast and hard can also cause strain because you use your muscles more for speed and you have a tendency to stiffen everything up.

I was definitely the poster child for improper ergonomics and what NOT to do when typing.

Fortunately for me, my symptoms seem to be getting better thanks to improved workstation ergonomics, plenty of rest from the computer, hot and cold compresses and lots of stretching.  (Epsom salt baths also work wonders!)

I feel so blessed to have a “job” that allows me to work when I want, so the rest has really helped me heal.  I wanted to post this today to prevent you from going through the pain I’ve been experiencing.

Listen to your body.  If you feel a slight pain or stiffening in your joints then the problem is already here, and it’s just a matter of it getting worse if you don’t correct what you’re doing wrong.  Also, see your doctor for the proper diagnosis and don’t assume it will just go away.

Take care of yourselves now before you end up with a nagging injury you cannot correct later.   Who cares about making a ton of money online if you’re in too much pain to enjoy it!

Since the launch of my free e-book, The Perfect Site Guide last week, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about how I created and secured the book.

So here’s a video that shows you how to create an e-book using Adobe Acrobat Professional.

Enjoy!

Don’t forget to subscribe to my programming YouTube channel where I focus more on coding, web design, using software programs, etc.

If you’re reading this blog post via e-mail, click here to watch the video.

It was time to breathe some life into my website tutorial that I was offering on 2 Create a Website.

When I wrote that guide some 5 or 6 years ago, it was current and relevant.

Well, the Net has evolved, and the book needed a major overhaul and face lift.

Who Is This Book For?

If you’ve already started your site and are getting decent traffic, making money, etc. this book probably won’t tell you much that you don’t already know.

There are some traffic tips that you may find interesting, plus you can take a look at some of my favorite tools that I use to manage and monetize my sites.

This book is really for people who are just starting out, or people who are struggling to find success online.  As the title suggests, it really is the “perfect guide” for people starting their first site or blog.

I focus on a lot of tools and techniques I used to create and promote my sites.  So the book is very personal in that sense.

50+ Pages for Free? Are You Serious?

You may wonder why I would write a 50+ page book and not put a price tag on it.  Well, the book is monetized with affiliate links so I would feel a little strange slapping a price tag on a book with affiliate links.  I’ve always felt this way, which is why I tend to offer my e-books for free.

And speaking of those affiliate links, I’d like to point out that I own and use every single product that has an affiliate link tied to it in this book.   That was an intentional effort on my part.

Offering the book for free was also a marketing decision.  I know that offering something like this will spread virally.  I figured if my old tutorial that was only 5 pages deep spread the way it did, this one should really take flight through the Netmosphere.

Special Offer Inside

There’s also a coupon in the book that first-time website builders may appreciate.  You can only access the coupon through the book.  I do not offer this on my websites.

Download The Perfect Site Guide Today!

Accessing the book is easy.  Just go to http://www.ThePerfectSiteGuide.com and you will be redirected to the PDF file.  (Must have Adobe Reader on your computer.)

I would highly recommend you go to File, Save Page As in Adobe after the book loads so you can save it on your computer.

Feel free to e-mail the book to your friends or offer it as a free download from your site.  (Selling is prohibited.)

Enjoy the book!

P.S.  This book will be updated often, so make sure you come back to http://www.ThePerfectSiteGuide.com regularly to ensure you have the most recent edition.

As your site grows, it’s easy to neglect some of the older content.  So it definitely pays to do an audit every now and then.

I must admit, it’s been a long time since I’ve completed one, and this is the next task on my never-ending To-Do list.

So what exactly is an audit?  To put it simply, it’s a thorough review of your site or blog that checks for the following…

1) Relevance & Accuracy

Are your articles/blog posts still accurate and relevant?  This is especially important if your site is in a niche that is constantly evolving.  Just recently, I found an article on this blog for Blog Rush, and this program was terminated months ago.

2) Monetization Opportunities

Check your older articles to see if there are places to add affiliate links for any programs you may have joined recently. It’s amazing how many opportunities will arise.

3)  Dated Info

As a rule, you should avoid phrasing that can become outdated.  For example, instead of saying “I joined 24 Hour Fitness 3 years ago”, you should say “I joined 24 Hour Fitness in 2006.”

Sometimes such phrasing cannot be helped depending on the article and the point you’re making, but it’s still good to check for outdated information.

4) Broken Links

It’s easy to delete pages and forget you have links to them on other pages.  Also, links to external sites may become broken due to site closures or typos. I use Dreamweaver’s broken link checker, but there are a ton of free broken link tools you can use online.

If you have a Google Sitemap (and you should for all your sites), there is a broken link report within your sitemap summary.

5) Promote Your Online Profiles

As the social media world grows, you’re probably developing quite a few profiles around the Web.  It’s good to remind people how they can stay in touch with you and keep up with your latest content.

I just created this page on 2 Create a Website that displays the many ways you can connect with me online.  I added it to my site’s navigation and linked to it from my Contact page so it’s easy to find. Eventually I will create a page like this for the rest of my sites and blog.

Also, don’t forget to clarify or explain functions that may be confusing. Yes, there are still a lot of people who don’t understand RSS.  Don’t assume they will click and subscribe just because you’ve provided a link.  A quick explanation never hurts.

Speaking of RSS, did you know you can promote your YouTube channel’s RSS feed by using the following format?

http://www.youtube.com/rss/user/YouTubeID/videos.rss

So if you have a channel you want to promote and/or want to subscribe to someone else’s channel via RSS, just use the above link and replace “YouTubeID” with the appropriate YouTube username/ID.

6) Content Re-organization

As you continue to add content, the organization of your pages may need adjusting.  It may have been logical three years ago, but perhaps there’s a better way to structure the content today. Look for ways to simplify and cut down on redundancies.

7)  Cross Promote Your Content

If you have a blog and use WordPress, you probably know that it’s super easy to cross promote your posts.  There are several related post plugins available that will get the job done easily.

However, if you have a static/HTML site, you’ll need to do this manually. Cross promoting your pages can improve your bounce rate (the number of page views per visitor before exit) and prevent older articles from getting buried.

8)  Unwanted Contextual Ads

One disadvantage to using contextual ad programs like Google AdSense is that you may lose track of the ads that show up on your site.  You might find some that are inappropriate, or you may discover ads from direct competitors that you don’t want to show.

Remember you can block domains from displaying ads on your site by logging into your AdSense account, selecting the AdSense Setup tab and clicking on “Competitive Ad Filter.”

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Regular site audits will keep your content fresh, accurate and effectively monetized.  There’s always so much focus on writing new content, but don’t let your older articles get stale.

Remember, not everyone enters your site via your homepage.  So if someone happens to land on an outdated page, it can reflect poorly on your entire site.  First impressions are powerful and lasting.