Build Your Site
If you’re looking to create your own website in order to make a living online or just trying to get your message out, then these easy steps will be able to help you. There are no guaranteed methods for creating successful websites but with the proper know-how the odds can be in your favor.
Step 1 (Website Theme)
Choosing the right theme for your website will directly contribute to your success or failure on the Internet. If you try to go after a popular theme like “Travel” you will be competing with close to 1 billion pages according to Google but it’s tempting because so many of people using the Internet are searching for Travel related products. It’s doesn’t mean don’t create a travel related site but do your research and create a niche within the travel industry to exploit.
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Step 2 (Website Content)
What will your site be about? The most difficult part of making a site is finding good information or content. You can either write your own content or put together a site consisting of other people’s content. If you use other peoples content make sure you get permission first. Search Engines love content and will always give sites with more content better rankings than ones that have little or none. It’s best to try to create a website that has at least 5 to 10 pages of content that is relevant to each other. Write your content in paragraphs no more than 8 to 10 lines long than separate them with spaces. Have bolded headings for each paragraph if possible. Read All
Step 3 (Website Keywords)
What are your keywords? Within your information or content you will have specific keywords. They can be either one word or a phrase like “NFL” or “NFL Stats.” These particular keywords or phrases are what search engines look for when someone types in a word or phrase at their websites. Your website will have to be indexed by the search engine itself in order to show up in its search results pages. Each Search Engine has its own routine about how and when it will index the internet. Almost all search engines will index the internet or part of it at least once a month.
You should find out whether the keywords you’re targeting are in Demand and are in relatively low Supply. One way to test the supply for your keyword(s) is Google. If your keyword(s) bring up 300,000 pages or less it might be worth pursuing. And a good way to test the demand for your keywords is the Overture suggestion tool. Type is your keyword(s) and if it brings up at least 1000 searches from the previous month it might be worth pursing.
Another tool for the more advanced webmaster is Keyword Density. High search engine ranking requires your pages to maintain optimum word depth and keyword density. Keyword density is the ratio of a keyword or key phrase to the total words (depth) on a page. Keyword density is a critical aspect of search engine optimization. To rank highly, your keyword density must not be too high or too low. A density of 1% to 7% is generally considered good. I’m not completely sold on the effectiveness of keyword density but it won’t hurt your web pages either. Read All
Step 4 (Website Builder)
Do you have a Web Page Builder? In order to build and design your site you will need a web page editor. This editor goes by many names like website builder or web creator but in the end you will have to choose from the many web page editors out there in order to create your site. This can be an intimidating task for the first time webmaster. The easiest and quickest way to make your own site is to use a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) web page editor. This kind of webpage editor lets you create dynamic web pages without having to learn HTML or Java which are the two leading computer languages used to create websites. Microsoft FrontPage is the most popular WYSIWYG webpage editor but is also the most complex. It usually takes months to completely learn all the functions of this editor. If you would like to create a website using HTML or Java then I suggest taking a course. Below I listed two very good website packages that include things like a webpage editor, web host, domain name, shopping cart, site analysis, graphics, guest books, email, etc so you don’t have to waste a lot of time signing up with individual websites in order to get what you want.Step 5 (What to Sell)
Are you planning to sell anything? You can either sell your own products or services or other websites products and services through affiliate programs. In order to sell your own products or services your website will need to accept credit cards and checks plus have shopping cart ability. If you have chosen to sell other person’s products and services through affiliate programs then you will need to know where you can get access to a large number of merchant’s products or services at one place. Here are two of the best, Commission Junction and LinkShare. Just go to their sites and sign up as a member if you’re interested. Make sure you sign up with merchants that will compliment your site. If you have a golf site trying signing up with all the golf merchants or if your site pertains to home decor sign up with interior decorating merchants. With affiliate programs you either put text, banner or products links on your site and they do the rest. I find product and text links are the best.
Step 6 (Website Advertising)
Do you advertise your site? You can advertise both on and offline in order to bring targeted traffic to your site. It costs money to advertise but if you find the right plan for you and it brings in more sales then it is worth the money. Pay search engines are probably the easiest way to advertise your site at generally low costs. This method of website advertising can guarantee you the #1 position in search results if you are willing to pay for it. You bid on a keyword or keyword phrase and if you are the highest bidder on that particular keyword your site will appear in the top position in the search results.
Conclusion
You have to remember that the most important aspect of your web site is information. How current and the supply and demand for what kind of information you’re offering is crucial. If you’re selling just products on your web site make sure you have good information pertaining to each product or the search engine might just pass you by. The other part to web site success is how many sites are linking to your site. It is not as important as content but a lot of search engines use link popularity in ranking your site especially Google which is the largest.