2 Create a Website Blog

About Lisa

lisa

So you want to know more about the chica behind this site, huh?

Cool!

Well, let’s get the formalities out of the way, shall we?

My name is Lisa Irby [extends right hand for virtual handshake] and I am an online entrepreneur.

You can see how I make money online here.

I also teach a course on building a website and earning with affiliate marketing.  You can see all my courses here.

There’s nothing better than getting paid to do what you enjoy, and fortunately I’ve found a way to turn online teaching into a full-time income thanks to affiliate marketing, Google AdSense and sales of my own products.

But don’t get it twisted!  It’s hard work, and there’s a lot about this biz people don’t talk about enough!  I discuss all that here.

I absolutely love sharing what I learn along the way and I want you to benefit from those lessons too.

But before I go any further, make sure you subscribe to my email list so you don’t miss any of my new posts and exclusive tips…

Who’s Lisa?

My personality is best described as complex.  🙂

beats

I am a classic ambivert, which means I have both introverted and extroverted qualities, depending on the people and situation.

I can be extremely social (and admittedly a bit goofy) when I’m around people I am close to, but I also need my space more than the average person.

This T-shirt from Zazzle describes me to a “Tee!” (Get it?) 🙂

social introvert

I’m also a very self-motivated person who loves gadgets, is moderately tech savvy, loves to laugh, bowl, joke and dabble with music arrangement.

The Beginning

So how did I get started with all this?  (You can listen to the story on my first podcast if you wish.)

In January 1998, I was studying Business/HR at Truman State University in the small, college town of Kirksville, Missouri.

I was one of those students who was just focused on graduating and getting that diploma.

I had no idea what I wanted to do in the real world, but I did know that I loved computers and being on the Internet.

Little did I know, I was about to embark on a journey that would lead me to my calling…

Teaching.

Freshman Year

I remember spending my evenings in the university library teaching myself HTML when I probably should have been studying for exams.

Before I knew it, I was making money by building one-page websites (yes, one-page) and monetizing them with Amazon books and any other products I could find that had affiliate programs attached.

I racked in about $6,000 in nine months.  Not bad for a broke college student, eh?

Going Forward

For the next few years, I continued building mini-sites/doorway pages that promoted various products for affiliate commissions.

Search engine optimization was a breeze compared to what it is today, so I was able to rank for some pretty competitive phrases in a matter of days.  Believe it or not, I ranked #1 for “home employment” for a short while.

(Ahhhh, those were the days!)

Of course, that party ended pretty quickly, and I concluded that system was not going to provide me with any kind of stable, long-term income.

My Strategy Changes

By 2002, I had grown tired of my temporary income solutions.  If I was ever going to quit my 9 to 5  job, I needed to build something with staying power.

That’s when 2 Create a Website was born and within two years this site matched my 9 to 5 income.  By the 4th year, my Internet income was four times my 9 to 5 largely thanks to affiliate marketing and AdSense.

So I packed up my cubicle and began my journey to the land of self employment.

It’s still amazing to me how a very simple site grew into something that has allowed me to work for myself since 2006.  So here I am sharing my advice with the world.

How I Can Help You

On this blog you’ll find a selection of articles related to creating, promoting and monetizing blogs and websites.

You can keep up with my advice here by subscribing to my RSS feed or following me on Twitter.

I can also be found chatting it up on YouTube, Facebook, or Google Plus or administering my forum, WebsiteBabble.com.

In other words, I’m pretty much everywhere! 🙂

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Now that you know more about me, feel free to tell me about yourself.  Scroll down and leave me a comment.  Even if you’re just saying “Hi”, I’d love to hear from you. 🙂

Comments

  1. OMG Lisa! Allow me to be one of your student here! I’m very new to website/blog monetization and i found your site to be beneficial to all my needs specially with adsense earnings. I’ve been blogging since 2009 and have no luck. My earnings are just 0.01 and its so far far far from your adsense daily earning! Now, I see you as the master of the master hehe. I’ve subscribe to you so I will get updated to all of your blogs that would help me a lot. Can I ask you a question regarding my adsense earnings that never process for almost 5 months?

    Reply

  4. Lisa,

    Thanks for always providing so much great content and always overdelivering. You are a true asset to anyone trying to build an online business. I wish you all the best and want to thank you for sharing your expertise with all of us.
    Chuck

    Reply

  6. Hi Lisa,

    I started watching your youtube videos and i was very impressed with your presentation and your experience–you provide very very good content.

    I am student, and my major is art, entertainment, and media management-i know you probably never heard of it lol. I really want to start a blog that can help make my personal portfolio stand out…and maybe make me a few bucks to help with college and living expenses. What specific things should i be focused on?

    Reply

  9. Hi my name is vincent i love your site i think it is great. wow very well put together i heard you speak on the web i think you are a inspiration to others trying to build a business on the web, I would love for you to take a look at my site tell me what you think. I am trying to help people get back to work.
    recruitingexecutive123.com When browseing the site you must go to public search there you will find all careers this site is not for everyone. You must qualify for these superior jobs But any professional out there that want to give us a try is welcome. THANKS

    Reply

  12. Hey Lisa,

    Just wanted to give you a quick shout out and say that reading your site was extremely helpful in my recent decision to start a blog. You’re really out here changing lives. Congrats on your success!

    Reply

  13. Hey Lisa:
    I have been following your site for over 2 years and appreciate all of your up-to-date information. I have been integrating social media with my SBI static website to create both an encyclopedia approach to stress management and a news approach to stress management. Thanks for all of your help. Your videos are awesome.
    Ann

    Reply

    • Thanks Ann! I really appreciate your loyal following and you always take the time to comment. Don’t think that goes without notice. Appreciate ya! 🙂

      Reply

  14. Awesome, as a beginning blogger and a fellow WOC, it’s really great to hear stories like yours. Launching my first real blog soon, after being inspired by the earnings of a few niche practice sites I put together. Hoping to do as well as you are!

    Reply

  16. Hi Lisa
    I’m new in marketing on internet.I not know where to start and with what.I need money for my children and my Wife.Please help me thank you .kindly

    Reply

  17. I’ve been with you for a while now and you give some awesome information. I have a blog and it’s not easy getting traffic because my target audience is teens.

    However, I love speaking to them so I’m willing to wait on the traffic. I want to get into affiliate marketing but my issue is the niche. This is something no one can help me with.

    Everyone says to either ask a family member what you’re good at or find a hobby you enjoy and or just start jotting everything that comes to mind down on paper. None of it works really.

    I enjoy mentoring teens and writing. That’s all I have. There aren’t any other niches out there I can think of. My mom says writing is my niche, but even though I enjoy writing, I have to have something to write about, you know?

    I know i won’t get rich from my teen blog or even make a decent income from it right now, that’s why I was looking into affiliate marketing. However, until I find my niche, I guess it’s back to working my 8am to 5pm job. Man I need help, lol.

    Reply

    • Hi Scarlet

      Have you ever polled your audience and found out what their #1 problem is? I wonder if building a more niche site that focuses on helping them solve a common problem would help draw in more visitors. You mentioned you have a teen site but what is the focus?

      Reply

      • The focus of the teen site is to help guide teens through life. i want to be able to answer any questions that they may have – whether it be about relationships, sex or school. I want to provide them with helpful information on life. That’s my main focus.

        Reply

  18. Hi Lisa I was just coming here because i know your really succesful with adsense and i just started yesterday i want to know how i can icrease my traffic to my blog and other sites that have my ads. Its hard and sometimes i want to beg for clicks.

    Reply

  19. Hi Lisa,
    I am Gee from the Philippines. You are an answered prayer as I was looking for a mentor who can help me build a blogsite, but having zero knowledge about it. All other sites I have seen are willing to teach me but for a fee.

    I am happy that you are paying forward your success in this endeavor. and I hope to be learning much from you… and paying forward too in the future.

    Will be following you . . .

    Gee

    Reply

  20. hey lissa, im so glad that someone have show me your site, it really helps me thank you lissa for your help! many people like me we benefit through your site wishing you godluck and succefully life.

    Reply

  21. Hello Lisa,

    I do not know how I came across your site, Oh I was searching Google for AdSense advice, but I am so glad I did. What a amazing journey. Thanks for sharing all you know.

    Reply

  24. Hi Lisa,
    Thank you for giving such wonderful info, I myself love computers and being on the net, so this will be a new journey for me and I’m looking forward to see what the outcome will be, also looking forward to continued collaborations and learning from you, keep up the good work!

    Habakkah

    Reply

  25. Hello Lisa

    I have been struggling with making money on the internet for almost 5 years. I came to this site to get adsense advice and stumbled upon SBI…bought it from your site and now have 2 sites working and a 3rd getting ready…just bought your book and am sooo very excited to read it.

    I just want to say thank you because, for me, your information has made a very confusing online world, easy to understand and do-able in real time.

    thanx

    Vickie

    Reply

  27. Hello Lisa: greetings from Monterrey, Mexico. html is some kinda happiness, everyone should learn it, there´s no time to get bored. I´ll wait for your info, it will be more than welcomed!

    Reply

  28. Hi Lisa,

    It was all by accident. But I found your blog as I was looking for information about WordPress blogs. Information about how to set them up.

    You know. I opened a free WordPress blog. I published an article about the Line command in IntelliCAD. This is the site of my blog:

    http://www.moreaffordablecad.com

    Now I’m reading the articles that you have written. You give good information. What you say. I’m going to use it. I hope it helps me with my blog and so.

    Jos

    Reply

  31. Hi Lisa,

    I stumbled across one of your articles while writing one of my own for http://nucreature.com . You have some great insight especially with WordPress. Proud to see my people successful in this area of technology.

    TP, NuCreature Media

    Reply

  32. I just found you today and I thought you said enough about yourself to let me know how real this is for you. I’m a newbie in every sense of e- marketing and my Web page proves it (banners everywhere). I’m not sure which direction I’m headed but I hear you loud and clear you about teaching and having a passion . I thought I would log my journey and and see if like situated persons would network with me …..we’ll see how that works

    Reply

  33. Hi Lisa,

    I have to sum it all in one word, Awesome!! You are very resourceful and thanks for imparting your knowledge in the most helpful way to others.

    Reply

  34. Dear Madam
    Please provide me information relating to make a static website and other information about hosting, blogging, HTML, CSS, ULR etc for my knowledge/information.
    We organized a non profit NGO for which we want to make our own Website to promote and advertize our NGO.

    Kindly help and coordinate/cooperate us
    Thanks
    M.I. Leghari
    President Fatima Welfare Organization
    E-mail : mileghari@gmail.com

    Reply

  35. You said a lot about your business, my dear, yet very little about yourself – the most incognito About Me page I’ve seen! lol

    However, the very first line put a smile on my face… Loving the journey!

    Reply

  36. How you doing Lisa,
    I’m new to the internet world of affiliate marketing and how to start an online business. But I would like to congratulate you on a great website that is full of wonderful information that will be very helpful to newbies like me. Keep it up, look forward to learning more from your experience.

    Reply

  37. Thanks for putting out quality easy to understand instructions. Your website and links have taught me a lot.

    Reply

  38. Kia ora Hi Lisa,
    Its nice to read about some one who is passionate about what she does admits mistakes you sure are a real person and if any one has a problem with you being a blogger or what ever that’s there problem bottom line you made it you are where you are and if you hadn’t made all those mistakes you wouldn’tc be where you are some people don’t understand or they just like to complain. You are a teacher and you want to share your gifts of what you learn to the world and yes i take my hat of to you and keep going.

    Reply

  40. I started into SEO about 3 years ago, and I get so confused by everyone telling me do this or that. During that time I found affilliate marketing, but this is even more confusing. I am glad I stumbled upon your site and I hope you can help me explain this profession that is just starting to take off.

    Reply

  41. Hey Lisa,
    Thank you for all the helpful tips on this website. It’s inspired me as I continue to grow my own adsenses-implented site. Since my site is more of a web application (it composes original jingles to a users words) rather than a blog. I wanted to ask you – do you advice for how to use adsense on a web-app based site?
    I’m growing my traffic everyday, but have yet to see many clicks.

    Thanks!
    Matt
    http://www.jingle-generator.com

    Reply

  42. Hi Lisa and everybody else. I have been following and learning from Lisa for awhile. I am a website designer in Miami and have a farm of my own websites as well as running several websites for some of my website design clients. If anyone wants to network resources please contact me. I think im sitting on profits if I make the right moves. I say this because I have been designing websites for awhile but I’m new to website marketing, affiliate marketing etc. It would be great to interact with others in similar situations to see what web and marketing related resources we could share and gain profits from and exchange knowledge.

    For example. I spent a week looking for and configuring a affiliate marketing program to use on some of my sites. I would be glad to share the program i used and how if finally figured out how to make it work correctly with others. Im sure we could all gain from each others hours of reading installation pdf’s manuals at 2:30am

    Scott in Miami

    Reply

  43. Good morning lisa,
    Am a school sat, who dont have much idea about all these online business. When i browse through your webside, i was touched. Please mar, put me through so that i will be one of the succussful person.
    My email is anthonyone4real@gmail.com. I don’t have a webside mar. Thanks and God bless.

    Reply

    • Thank you Lisa for your quick response. with all that said it wouls make since for me to hire someone to do my SEO and email marketing and to build and engage with new clients so if you know of anyone who could be looking for a part time job that could easly trn into a full time have them to email me: exhibit@sbcglobal.net

      Thanks!!

      Reply

  44. Greetings Lisa,
    Its My First Day on your site and i have really fallen in love with it as i have been reading some interesting articles of yours, You are doing pretty well and helping so many other people achieve the same success you are already having online.
    I have been on the same journey but its been tough really but hoping to get much success too having been motivated by your successes.
    Keep up the Good Work and please am gonna take some time to contact you later. Hope to read more from You.
    Delords.

    Reply

    • I’m new to this social media. I have been doing a lot of reading to understand what road I should take. The people Ive been talking with the different marketing companies but no one have really impressed me with the route I should take.they try to get you when they figure you don’t know the social game. So I am going to continue to study until.. The way we were marketing was word of mouth and postings..PS can you point me in the right direction? Or what areas should I study this social media?is there a site out there for dummies?I would love any suggestions that you may have. do you train?

      Reply

      • Hi Marco

        No matter what platform you use, social media is about engaging people. You start by providing them with useful, relevant advice. The more relevant it is to what they need, the more they will like and engage with you. The 2nd component is interaction. Talk back to your fans and answer their questions. Also ask them about their needs and spark conversation. The last element is to link to other people’s content and they will often do the same for you.

        So whether you use Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, the basics are the same. It can seem overwhelming at first, but if you think about it, it’s really simple. I did a video about engaging people on Facebook a couple of weeks ago. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbgGOtlvSc8

        I learned by trial and error and I’m still learning.

        Reply

  45. hi. i started a couple of hosting reseller websites hostingtheglobe.com and hostingneeded.com. it have been almost a month now and i cant seem to get my first sale. i am looking to build a website to earn money but i have failed every time a try. and now seem to be a lot of competition out there so now it is harder to make money online. what advise can you give me please. thanks

    Reply

    • How much traffic are you getting Marco and how are you promoting your site? When I started reselling my site was getting about 500 visits per day mostly from google. It was very targeted traffic because they were keywords related to creating a website.

      Reply

  46. Does anyone know of a automated blog software that is free meaning free, not a trial?

    Looking for software that allows you to create a post , then send that blog post to a blog directory.

    Scott in Miami

    Reply

  48. Hi Lisa,

    You started making money since 1998 and full time since 2006, my question is, it took that long, 8 years, because you did not put that much interest on it or it really took that much effort to be able to make a living from it

    Reply

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