I Think I Am Ready

Ulrich · #1 (**permalink**) 04-16-2008, 01:20 PM

I've spent the last 4-5 months reading and reading and reading articles, forum posts, blog posts, ebooks etc. about traffic building from various sites such as Ken Evoy's, selfpromotion.com etc. In total it's a lump of information and I have created a website in the meantime while learning many of these and adjusted and adapted to the things I've done wrong in the beginning.

Now I've also spent a lot of time reading about affiate programmes and so forth for the last week (I've never attempted to sell anything before, not a product or service of my own or someone else's).

I don't expect my current website to be all that successful - (maybe it could be but I can't see myself generating any money from it) and the main reason I think and say so is because it covers too much. Has random articles, some tutorials (also random) and some reviews (also random). So my niche is well... you get the point.

For the last couple of days I've been thinking alot about what my next site/blog could be about. I have all the information on promoting my site, which services are good, what to do and what not but I don't know of a nice niche. I've been thinking about what I like but the keyword "Linux" has too much competition out there and.. well it's an open source project so not too much money in that.

I'm not really a professional in anything so basically my question is: How can an ordinary college student (or person) make a site about something specific that could be successful?

Please enlighten me of some ideas if you could or of some success stories, maybe I could relate an idea to another success story...

Bingo · #2 (**permalink**) 04-16-2008, 04:24 PM

Any site that turns revenue to pay for the cost of the domain & a years web hosting is successful, in my opinion. I'm a strong believer that anyone can turn revenue on any topic of site as long they take the right steps.

Before you dive into the next site think of things you already know. You mentioned Linux, is that an O/S you know well? The majority of of my sites are based on topics that I know or at least have easy access to resources. Some of these I wouldn't believe would turn profit or was too competitive but yet, I have them turning revenue and sitting high in the search engines.

Take Linux for an example. The majority people searching about linux wont use the single word "linux". They are most likely to search for things like linux help guides, software for linux, linux how to guides etc etc. Run searches on different linux key phrases and look at the results number, you'll see a big difference.

Although Linux is open source sites still need to advertise and there is always revenue to be made.

You don't need to be a professional at anything, just create a site based around what you already know, even if its baking cookies at Christmas.

lisa · #3 (**permalink**) 04-16-2008, 04:43 PM

Great advice Bingo.

Even though "linux" is heavily saturated what about more specific keyword phrases with linux? Have you done any research on that? I know a lot of people ask about the difference between linux and windows hosting here. Say that is an article on your site. You could explain the difference in layman's terms and then suggest the best linux hosts to your audience and use an affiliate link.

Bingo's right. Even if you made $25/month in the beginning just from hosting affiliate programs, I'd call that a success. Sounds like you enjoy the topic so why not explore it more. See what's out there now on this topic and figure out how you can set yourself apart from the competition.

Just to inspire you, I was in college when I started all this. I was making like $6/month in commissions on Amazon.com at first. It wasn't a lot but as I learned more about affiliate marketing and kept building my site, my traffic and revenue grew. Start small with what you know and love and take it from there!

James · #4 (**permalink**) 04-16-2008, 05:41 PM

It is more important to discover what you really love more than it is to think about what you already know. If you know a lot but have no enthusiasm you will never succeed. But you can learn anything.

Look at Lisa. She would admit that when she started she didn't know as much as she wished about some areas but she communicated her desire to help and reached out to beginners. Every day she learned more and had more to share. People kept coming back.

You can do that on any subject. If you can show a sincere interest in your subject you will attract people.

Besides, think about this. If you take time to read an hour a day on any subject you will read a book a week. In about three months you will know so much that you will be unlikely to meet anyone who knows as much as you do. Even if you do they will not know all the same things you do. And as time goes by you will get better and better.

Going in another direction, may I suggest that a person limits themselves by negative thinking more than any reality. For example, when you say there is no money in linux because it is open source, why aren't you thinking there is more money in open source because more people want to know about it? It is a growing part of the computer world.

If you are excited about linux I think you can adjust your site emphasis as some are suggesting. But if you are not that interested, face that (it's ok), and look for a long term interest that you can devote some serious time to.

Ulrich · #5 (**permalink**) 04-17-2008, 05:42 AM

Thank you guys.

I do like Linux and Open Source and I know all about positive thinking (I read books and books about it :P ) and I guess I was a bit negative in those statements, but the main reason I said so is probably because my current website is already covering pretty much all I know about Linux except for some minor little things. I suppose I can always learn more about it, but I don't think that's what I really want.

What I do like is writing reviews so I've started thinking about making a site with a dedicated niche to reviewing only open source software and I've actually started my rough sketching on paper and a basic layout on comp as well.

You guys here at WB are always of great help. Thanks!

James · #6 (**permalink**) 04-17-2008, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ulrich

Linux and Open Source... I suppose I can always learn more about it, but I don't think that's what I really want.

What I do like is writing reviews so I've started thinking about making a site with a dedicated niche to reviewing only open source software and I've actually started my rough sketching on paper and a basic layout on comp as well.

Ulrich

Sounds great. Good thinking. An online project you don't really want is no better than a 9-5 you don't like. If you really like writing reviews I would suggest you go for it. For what it's worth, it is a little long but easy to remember, the domain "opensourcesoftwarereviews [dot[ com" is available as of now.

augenauf · #7 (**permalink**) 04-17-2008, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Even though "linux" is heavily saturated what about more specific keyword phrases with linux? Have you done any research on that? I know a lot of people ask about the difference between linux and windows hosting here. Say that is an article on your site. You could explain the difference in layman's terms and then suggest the best linux hosts to your audience and use an affiliate link.

I just really wanted to second this. If you know the difference between Windows and Linux hosting, please tell me. xD

Ulrich · #8 (**permalink**) 04-17-2008, 08:03 AM

Well it depends really, some Windows servers run on IIS and some on Apache which is open source and is also run on Linux servers.

Windows servers will allow you ASP / ASP.NET and Cold Fusion, Microsoft SQL 2005 and in some cases CGI with FastCGI support whereas Linux servers won't (unless they have specialised mods).

Linux on the other hand has some of its own benefits such as URL masking, custom throttle policy, custom cron jobs, password protected directories.

As mentioned however these things might differ from host-to-host.

Linux in general is more secure than Windows servers and if you don't do ASP I would strongly recommend you get yourself Linux/BSD hosting.

Yahoo! runs on several big BSD servers while the entire Google site is run on multiple desktop-sized pc's running Linux.

Jewel · #9 (**permalink**) 04-17-2008, 08:16 AM

James said:

Quote:

An online project you don't really want is no better than a 9-5 you don't like.

Great quote James! You can make a site on anything Ulrich...as long as you are loving what you are talking about. And that goes for anybody, college student, high school student, grandparent, SAHM, WAHM, or a 9-5'er.

I am not a professional camper...but I enjoy it and we do a lot with the scouts and our family...especially since right now for us it is an inexpensive way to vacation, far more inexpensive than staying in a hotel. I am not an expert...but since I have some experience I am more of an expert than someone who has never camped. I can relate to how I felt the very first time I camped...and how my knowledge of what to bring and do to make it more comfortable has grown over time. And daily I read online all over the place to learn more...to enhance my knowledge of what I might not know so well, so that it is informative and accurate when it does go up on my site!

So in response to your statement:

Quote:

I'm not really a professional in anything so basically my question is: How can an ordinary college student (or person) make a site about something specific that could be successful?

You don't have to be a professional...just find something you know a little more than average about (Linux???...being a college student????) and go from there.

I have to work now...but somewhere in Ken's stuff, maybe it is a thread on one of the forums, there is a fantastic questionnaire which helps you brainstorm ideas for a site. I will dig it up for you later when I come back.

augenauf · #10 (**permalink**) 04-17-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ulrich

Well it depends really, some Windows servers run on IIS and some on Apache which is open source and is also run on Linux servers.

Windows servers will allow you ASP / ASP.NET and Cold Fusion, Microsoft SQL 2005 and in some cases CGI with FastCGI support whereas Linux servers won't (unless they have specialised mods).

Linux on the other hand has some of its own benefits such as URL masking, custom throttle policy, custom cron jobs, password protected directories.

As mentioned however these things might differ from host-to-host.

Linux in general is more secure than Windows servers and if you don't do ASP I would strongly recommend you get yourself Linux/BSD hosting.

Yahoo! runs on several big BSD servers while the entire Google site is run on multiple desktop-sized pc's running Linux.

oic. ;D Thank you!

You could definately make a site about that x3

Ulrich · #11 (**permalink**) 04-17-2008, 03:31 PM

Thanks for the encouragement and info guys

James, sorry I completely missed your comment in my previous post and thanks for the domain name but I've already decided on one too.

I won't be able to get a domain yet, but when I make some revenue I could perhaps start sustaining the site from that - which is my goal for now.

PS: I'll be posting for a review in a couple' a days

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