Hi

I'm self employed and work from home. Whilst I was going through University (Mature student) I started an online jewellery business (costume) and dabbled with Adsense and probably got as much as £10 a week.

Jewellery business didn't work as it was so competitive and so I decided to have a go at a website to do with Self Building (big in the UK). I didn't have much idea, just read a couple of books that made it seem so easy. I made loads of pages which listed companies for my visitors to go to, I had adsense along one side and at the top and only used adwords to get my site know. I never updated the site and could hardly be bothered to update links. I made £50 a month, which probably wasn't bad considering! I then started my own Architectural Services business and changed the website just to advertise my business.

The world is in a dire financial state, I'm in the middle of a development that I can't sell if I get it finished, work has dried up and my outgoings are huge. I've found ways in which to keep things ticking over for the coming 6 months and my husband has gone back to his first trade of plumbing and heating. I've been trying to find ways to make money online from home as I'm needed by my husband and children and can't be tied to a 9-5 job. I stumbled across Lisa's site and have been reading it for the last week.

I knew straight away what my niche was, I love designing peoples extensions, home alterations etc, I spend weeks on end designing and redesigning my own houses before we start building. I've found there are a number of websites that give information of other peoples self builds, build choices, materials choices and advertises professionals. There are very few sites that show people how to make the design decisions themselves, what elements to consider and the process a designer takes when designing a new space or house. If home owners want, they can make practically every decision themselves, all they need is knowledge, which I hope to provide on my website. Its OK when you done it a number of times, but for the first time many people think about what designer kitchen they want in their new room and not much else, but there are so many issues to consider which would make a practical, good extension into a fantastic living area that changes they way they live in their home.

In turn I hope to affiliate to computer aided products for home owners, interior design products, designing aids, kitchens etc. I have never used Youtube, Myspace or anything like that so I'll have to start. I thought Lisa clip about Site Build It was great.

I have loads of ideas, I'm ploughing through websites, magazines and using my own knowledge and experience to start writing pieces for the pages on the site. I haven't purchased anything yet, but I'm planning on buying a Site Build It website for ease of use as I think its does everything I need in one. I spend £20 a month on a simple site at the moment so it will be cheaper for me anyway.