How to start

by Colleen
(Trinidad)

Hi I am a at home mom and I wish I can really make money at home..can you pls guide me where and how to start. Thank you

Comments:



by: Karen

Hi Colleen,

Getting started is always the hardest thing. The process starts by answering a question. Do you have a passion for something? A Hobby?

Finding a topic that you're passionate about is the first task.

After you find something you're passionate about, then you have to have a tool to tell you if that topic can be a profitable, sustaining site.

Here's the tool I use:

How to get started

Be sure to click through to all the links. There's lots of great info.

Keep asking questions. I'll answer them if I can.

Karen

Will i be able to do something like this in the Philippines?

by Mae
(UAE)

As I am seeking the Lords guidance, one of questions that is in my mind is if I continue to work here in UAE or return home after a year or 2... If I want to do something like this in Philippines, will I be able to do it? how much capitalexpens will I need?

Comments:


by: Karen

Hi Mae,

The great thing about an online business is that you can work on it anywhere, anytime. As long as you have access to a computer and the internet, you're covered.

That is one of the things that attracted me to this kind of business. The overhead is almost nothing so your income is almost pure profit, depending on what topic you choose.

To initially get started you have choices. The system I use lets you try it out for free for awhile and then it can cost you as little as $29.99 a month. Take a look here to get a better picture.

I think the thing that I like best is that it includes everything I need in one place. I'm not a techie, so I need to be able to have all the tools and help I need right in front of me.

Best of luck, Mae. Let me know if I can answer any of your other questions.

Karen

Tips to Get People to View your Site

by Gina

I started my own website also. My site is focused on encouraging and uplifting christian women to see how important we are in the eyes of the Lord.

I use to get about 500 to 600 hits a day when I started it last year. Today I get about 20 to 70 hits a day. Do you have any advise of how to keep people interested in your site?

By the way, I enjoy coming to you site and I have booked marked it. Very well done.

Thanks,
Gina


Comments:

by: Karen

Hi Gina,

Thanks for the nice comments. They are always nice to hear. :)

As for your questions, there are many ways to build the traffic to your site. When you talk about the number of "hits", it is really a question of what you're talking about.

I deal with the number of visitors and unique visitors I get every month. Those numbers are much more indicative of how your site is really doing.

Here are a few ways to build traffic to your site:

*Write free articles that can be distributed openly. If you look at my nav bar near the bottom, you'll see a tab for "free articles". My stuff appears on all kinds of websites. The only stipulation is that they keep my contact information and credits in place when they reprint the articles.

Those articles create links back to my site, which are very crucial to your search engine rankings. See how that works?

You also can try social networking with other Christian sites, do joint projects, etc. I currently have a monthly column on two other sites, both of which include my site address. I get traffic from both of those.

And of course, there is your rankings with the search engines. That accounts for the majority of my traffic. Getting ranked highly is almost an artform these days!

SBI, the system I use, teaches you how to spread "high value keywords" throughout your pages so the search engines like the page. My homepage has been ranked number one on Google for months, just because I make sure to meet the criteria.

Gina, I think I provided the link to the action guide that I use as part of the answer to another one of the questions but here it is again.

Action Guide

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Karen

Getting My Pages Listed

by Lisa
(Virginia Beach, Virginia)

I want to know how to get your pages to the top of the listings. I read somewhere that you have to pay for higher listings?

I don't have much budget but isn't that the only way to get people to visit your website?



Comments:

by: Karen

Hi Lisa,

The Search Engines each have their own criteria for listing pages. The "hows' and "whys" are a secret.

I have never paid to have my pages listed and I have many of them listed in the top 10, some of them listed first.

Search engines look for many things when they decide who to list where. They look for great keywords sprinkled through your page, how many other sites are linked to your page, and other factors that are hard to measure.

Here is the step-by-step guide I use to build my site. You'll find lots of great stuff about how to build pages that the Search Engines like.

Best of luck,

Karen

Naming your site

by Steve
(El Paso, TX)

How do you decide what to name your site? I'd like to just use my own name. Does it matter?



Comments:

Hi Steve,

Yes, it is important as you decide what to name your site. Unless you are a famous celebrity whose name is easily recognized, it's not normally a good idea to use your name as your site name.

SBI taught me how to find a name for my site that is a keyword people use to do a search.

Deciding on your site name is actually one of the last things you do before you register your site. Doing keyword research is very important. It can make all the difference for you.

Best of luck.

Karen

Can I do this with a blog?

I am researching starting a blogsite. One of the reasons is to gain extra income. I realize from my research that it will not gain me millions. But can I be an affiliate without a website,just a blogsite?

How did you first find these people? I have gone to the google site and read about AdSense already. How do you contact companies to get ads from them?

thanks, Lucy



Comments:

by: Karen

Hi Lucy,

There is much on the web these days about "the blog". But in all reality, blogging suits news organizations or political pundits well, but in terms of building a web business to generate income?

You may want to rethink this just a bit. I have a blogging feature on my site. It's the "What's New" tab at the left. My system is set so that anytime I build a new page or even update an old one, I can add it to my blog. OR, I can manually add a blogging page if I'd like.

The thing about blogging is that it is VERY time intensive. It requires constant attention, and when you really think about it, people aren't all that interested in what you blogged 6 months ago. They're looking for the fresh stuff. So as soon as you stop blogging, your material becomes dated.

Here's some more info on comparing a blog versus a regular site:

http://Should I blog or build?

The ideal situation is to have a site that does both, like this one. It gives you all the strength with the search engines so you can generate traffic, AND you can show updates or whatever else you want very quickly. Your web pages aren't dated and you can be on cruise control if you need to be.

As for the affiliate program; each company makes its own decision about whether you can be an affiliate if you have a blog or website. Most of them require one or the other, but prefer regular sites.

When you build traffic to your site, advertisers contact you in many cases. The system I use has many tools to find the right affiliate programs for your site so they give you a good return.

The system focuses on building traffic first, so you have something to build upon.

I hope this helps.

Karen

Starting the process/Building Christian Hearts

by Kelly Stewart
(Fishers IN )

It is apparent that the Holy Spirit is working through you in all that you write! I have been getting emails from your site from a while and each time I am moved by the spirit. More so than any other site....I say this with respect to the other sites as they are also amazing. However, your site is where I need to be learning from right now. Thank you!!!!

In short,I'm a stay at home mom for over 17 years and have 3 children 7, 9 and 17. God has blessed my husband and I so much!!! In the last 3 years the Holy spirit has led me to our inner city youth to love on, teach, and provide opportunities to by connecting them with others. Results have been amazing. Many are being led to Christ. In doing this I have been led to a variety of programs, churches, organizations, and developed relationships.

When I talk with people and share stories of our inner city and youth and what God is doing, I often am asked, "Do you have a card? What is your website address?" I am JUST a mom who loves Jesus and am burdened by the hurting and poor. I have realized that God has been equiping me to teach others how to make a difference usng their gifts and reaching out to existing programs in the city.

Just yesterday I realized I feel scared/not capable in doing what God wants me to do and this morning I received your article on building Christian Hearts and self esteem. AMEN! I will read and study that more closely today.

I also read about your website and your journey to creating one. Thank you so much for being real and honest! I am going to look into starting a site and getting business cards.....and stop saying, "I just don't know what the cards/site will say!!!

I have to start the process!!!

Blessings to you and your family

Kelly Stewart