Yes, online competition is tough at this time – it was much easier to start websites a few years back as web guru repeat all the time. Those days are gone.

But there is the other side of the medal – it is much easier, cheaper and less time consuming to launch and run websites nowadays.

As I am set to start my own network of websites (in fact I run a few websites, but I am going to make them a kind of network with hired staff, interlinked and co-promoted) I have made a list of things required to start a website and an approximate amount of money you need for each online projects. What are the aspects to take into consideration?

- Get a reseller hosting account, think of getting cheaper domains with no .com extensions

- Ideas. Each website should have an initial concept and mission. Time proves that you are likely to change that concept with the time. But you need it from the start anyway. Here is the place to get some inspiration

- Coding. Start with some free CMS (content management system). In my case I prefer WordPress. Install the essential plug-ins. Add more features with time (forums, galleries, etc)

- Design, usability, website architecture. Choose any free template from thousands of available. Would like to make it unique? Just make a few changes. Outsource it (check the list of freelance websites) to install and get modified. I know that I can get it done (incl. coding) for 50.00$.

- Content. Hire a foreign copywriter. For instance, a person from Eastern Europe with a University degree will cost you 200-250.00$ per month (full-time). Good level of English guaranteed.

- Marketing. I see no sense to start a massive SEO campaign with every new website. Natural SEO, social marketing optimization, networking via forums and blogs, promotion via my other network websites. Probably, a bit of PPC. This work is done by copywriters (I have developed a sort of training kit for them – I plan to regularly update it according to the latest trends in the online business).

- Monetization. CPC (AdSense (aff) on top), Amazon (incl. Omakasa), ClickBank, CPM (Casale or at least ValueClick), text-link-ads (aff), CPA (AzoogleAds (aff), CJ, LinkShare), Chitika (aff) (also CPC), some indie programs. Select the affiliate networks that fit best for every website in question, add codes, bleding, etc to the pages.

Let’s make our calculations – how much does it cost to run a website per month if you follow the above plan? So, expect to spend max 150.00$ per project per month (I know from my experience that it is possible for a copywriter to take care of two projects properly).

Summary: What are your responsibilities in this business model?

- Administration, it is obvious – staff hiring and training, interaction with all member sof the team (incl. designers and coders), task delegation, analysis of the results, etc.

- Idea generation – it is also up to you. It does not mean that you generate one =idea for a web site and forget about it – you should regularly think of new ideas to improve the website (though your staff should help you with time).

- Monetization is also your area of responsibilities – you should keep control of finances, test what works and what fails.

[tags]website network, seo, internet marketing, affiliate marketing, blogs, make money online, home based job, earn your living online[/tags]

All my websites are based on free HTML templates. When I look at their design and compare them to the booming CSS styles I feel that it is not a competitive advantage of my projects. But they do not make enough (I hope yet) to start their redesign. It is not the right time – I am sure of that. Have a look at some successful websites – they are not in a hurry to invest into a modern design.

But I realize that one day I will have to redesign my promising websites. And I try to follow trends in design as well to know what I would like to get.

One article that I have bookmarked recently is a good reflection of the styles that dominates the web design now. Certainly, the list is not exhaustive, but the author was able to notice a few major tendencies

My own preferences of this time are that of minimalism. Simple, clear design, but still it breathes with professionalism, nice navigation, great usability – youtube is a sample from the list that is my current idea of top web design.

The websites that are new on the market and try to make their first baby steps obviously need a current design style – it increases their chances to succeed. Yes, the content is the king (community is the queen – as one of digitalpoint members recently called that), but the presentation also matters.

[tags]design, trends, tendencies, web design, online community, staff hiring, seo, internet marketing, affiliate marketing, blogs, content generation, make money online, work from home, home based job, earn your living online[/tags]

For those online entrepreneurs who firmly believe that they can get their website to the top of search engines if they follow a few simple steps sitepoint.com has published the Ultimate SEO checklist.

You can add it to this list of well known industry products:

Beginner’s Guide to Search Engine Optimization
My Guide to SEO and Success
Plain-Spoken Guide to Search Engine Optimization
SEO Book

Summary: Are they completely useless? Well, I will not put it in this way. But most covered points will not make your website to the top of search engines – exactly what you expect to get from this type of manuals. And they will not get you tons of traffic. The game rule have changed completely, the market is so crowded that you will find yourself nowhere by mere following of the steps listed in the books.

What are your options? I would definitely limit myself with one manual of this genre – just to be in the know – they are all similar and write about the same things. You’d better spend more time on networking in your niche, developing ideas, content, services and tools for your website. These techniques are much more efficient than sending out hundreds of spam messages asking for link exchange or than calculating keyword density on each page of your website.

[tags]seo, seo guide, search engine optimization, links buying, myspace, seo, internet marketing, affiliate marketing, blogs, content generation, make money online, work from home, home based job, earn your living online[/tags]