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.

The stories of Webmasters earning six and seven-figure incomes continue to flood the Internet.

Everything always looks so polished and put together once success has arrived.

In fact, you may have even caught yourself thinking, “They make it look so easy!” or “Why can’t I do that?”

While these stories inspire, they often leave a trail of misconception behind.

They also cause some people to compare their own journey to the Webmasters they admire, which can be a very destructive mental pattern.

I didn’t create this video to discourage you, but to help you put things into perspective. No matter how great the money may seem, understand everyone has their story behind the success.

Here’s mine, along with some raw facts many people don’t want to acknowledge…

Over the recent months I’ve gotten several requests from people who want me to review their travel-related websites.

Many of them are Site Build It! (SBI!) customers looking for suggestions on how to improve their site, make more money, etc.

I was just thinking the other day, “Wow, why so many travel related sites?”

Then it dawned on me…

While researching SBI!, many of these people probably came across and were inspired by anguilla-beaches.com – the heavily trafficked Site Build It! site created by teenager, Nori Evoy.

Site Stats:

PageRank: 6
Alexa Rank: 53,000
Ranks #1 in Google for “anguilla beaches”

Anguilla-Beaches.com is a perfect example of what to do when you create a travel-related affiliate website.

Not only does it help you plan your perfect Anguilla vacation, but there are personal stories and recommendations written by Nori that make the site feel real and definitely worth bookmarking.

This is not just your average travel info website. It’s an inviting site obviously written by someone who is enthusiastic about their favorite vacation spot and visits there often.

What’s even better, is that it doesn’t even look like an affiliate site. You don’t see Google ads before you see the main content. There aren’t annoying banners yelling for you to “click here!” and there’s nothing “pitchy” about her writing tone.

The opening paragraph gives you the impression this site is here to entertain and inform you on the island of Anguilla, nothing more. A good affiliate information website should never appear as if the #1 goal is to sell something.

Where People Go Wrong

Many Webmasters who create travel-oriented websites simply re-write content you can find anywhere.

Unfortunately that’s not enough to keep the average person interested – especially when they know they can go to tripadvisor.com to get similar information.

Airport information, embedded Google maps, basic restaurant and hotel information is all too generic and overdone in my opinion.

Nori includes hotel information on her site, but she does things most people don’t…

1) Her detailed review of the room, food, and landscaping draws you in and makes you feel you’re there.

2) Her writing style is personal and inviting. You feel that she is talking to you instead of at you. I cannot emphasize enough how your writing affects the level of “visitor engagement” on your site.

(Tip: Need a refreshers course? Download Make Your Words Sell. It’s now free. Yippeee!)

3) She adds pictures that she’s personally taken instead of using generic pictures found on the Web. Your audience wants to know that you’ve actually experienced what you’re talking about.

It makes a difference when you can walk the walk.

Be Original

If you’re going to build a site about “things to do in New York”, don’t just put up generic information that people can find on newyork.com.

First of all, narrow your niche enough to give yourself a better chance of being found in the search engines. Plus, the more narrow your niche is, the easier it will be to target content, affiliate programs, etc.

Instead of building a site about New York, why not narrow it down to something like “New York transportation.” Many first-time New York travelers are often anxious about getting around the fast-moving city.

You could ease their minds and provide an “insiders guide” to getting around the city. Using your own experience and useful tips, you can educate travelers how to use the subway, taxi tips and other little known facts that the average traveler may not know or be able to find (easily) online.

Choose destinations where you can add as much personal experience as possible. This is another reason it’s good to pick locations you really know or visit often because you can go above and beyond just the basic information that generic travel info sites provide.

This Doesn’t Just Apply to Travel Sites

Of course you could apply this advice to any topic. You have to learn to set yourself apart from your competition, or you’ll get lost in a see of “already-done” websites.

I felt compelled to discuss the travel niche because I see so many Webmasters making the same mistakes when they create destination websites.

Even though Nori’s site has been around awhile, you can still learn a lot from her technique. In my opinion, it’s a brilliantly done affiliate website. Mainly because it doesn’t look like one.

Remember, being successful with an affiliate site or blog goes beyond just putting up generic information. People bookmark sites because they are useful, fresh and provide unique information that can’t be found everywhere.

Whether your site is on travel or another topic, what can you do today to make it stand out like Nori did? Are you adding enough of your own personal experiences to make your site seem real? Is your writing inviting? Creative?

If not, maybe it’s time to re-work your content, add more personal touches and provide information that can only be found on your website.

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 receives between 400 and 800 visits per day. This is the kind of traffic many bloggers can only dream about.

What Mikey Did Right

While I’m not usually a fan of starting with a free blog (versus a website), Mikey is a great example of how you can use a blog to get your feet wet online.

The trick is finding a niche you love that is not too competitive and delivering great content that your audience will value.

While many first-time bloggers fail to identify a target audience, and begin blogging by posting random, uninspiring information, Mikey’s focus is clear.

His entertaining show updates, audience participation requests, incorporation of YouTube videos and clean layout all contribute to his early success.

As a reward, his traffic is soaring and his Alexa rank is already at 1 million. And even though he’s not in the top 1% of trafficked sites quite yet, that type of rank for a site that is less than 2 months old is nothing to hang his head about.

Especially during a time when the Net is flooded with new bloggers trying to climb their way up the traffic ranks and get a piece of the delicious Google AdSense pie.

While many people find success online by selling products in hot niches, Mikey’s story is a great reminder of how blogging about something you love can become quite rewarding with some dedication and effort.

I have a feeling this is just the beginning of a great future for Mikey and his flourishing blog, pBreak.org.

What can you learn from Mikey?

I’ve always had a dream of being my own boss and having the freedom to go to any Starbucks and work while I watch the busy 9-to-5ers scurry in and out.

Well, that time is finally here and I owe it all to affiliate marketing.

You too can have this life, and the quickest way to get there is follow your passion. What do you love? What can you help someone with?

Develop a site about it and go into the business of providing useful content. Yes, it’s a lot of work, but the concept is very simple.

So what are you waiting for? Get started today. There are millions of people out there searching Google for information that you could be providing. Your dream lifestyle is only one website away.

Wanna talk about this? Come to WebsiteBabble.com and find out how a website can help you achieve your financial and lifestyle goals.

Cheers!