OK Before i start this ISNT directed at anyone in particular, just a general set of observations for those new to this space.

I have been online since 1996 making money and making sites (More sites than money but I am an idiot as you know:) )

Now I get quite a few people contacting me via email or IM (Feel free to btw) and asking advice about how to start.

I dont have a problem with anyone wanted to get started but if your 17 and you havent any money or skills your not going to get anywhere without listening and learning. Blackhat or SEO or any money making activity online IS A BUSINESS and its as hard work as anything offline (Initially at least). Heres my list of ideas and stages I suggest people go through: -

• If you cant afford anything other than an internet connection (heck use the library if you have to) go get a blogger blog or equivalent
• If you can afford hosting go get some shared hosting and some domains (Cheap 60 cents Regfly is a start)
• Pick a subject - something that is popular but not insane (Dont start with mortgages please!!)
• Find somewhere that you can read about the subject
• Do some keyword research and aim for the closely related 2 or 3 (or more) word terms
• Make sure the page tells the search engine what its about
  Write a few hundred words for each page
• Create the site
• Get a few links from anywhere (People struggle here but the internet is chock FULL if places to get links - yes even real ones!)
• Add some adsense and affiliates (Follow the advice about no borders, big rectangle, blue links, remove the advertise here link)
• Let the site earn you a dollar or two
• Learn PHP and learn scraping
• Write your own custom stuff one block at a time to help automate the process
• Try not to flood the se with crap - they really have seen all your bright ideas before. Youll have to be clever or even better provide some sort of value to them (OMG i cant believe he said that)
• Respect those that help you and learn all you can

DONT ask for free stuff from people - DONT grab hooky copies of peoples hard work for you to use.

By doing the above I can guarantee youll make a little and within a few months, with hard work youll be making enough to keep you interested.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 2nd, 2006 at 10:08 pm and is filed under Adsense, Coding. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.