Newbie Question -- Getting Started

[beat-the-house]

I'm just getting started at this, and my site is by no means even close to being ready to start generating traffic, much less revenue or even interest . But, to start building page rank and getting search engine spiders(specifically Google's) to start hitting my site, is this primarily based on who links to your site?

In a couple of weeks, I hope to have all of my content ready to publish on my site...but until then, I'm just curious how long it took some of you to get your sites up to where they are today? When your page rank increased, did you notice any income instantly?

I've read some messages where people are making lots of money, and I've read where some people are making any...Im mostly in this to have some fun and teach myself web-design, but it would be nice if the site made enough at least to cover the expense of domain name fees and hosting fees.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated!!
Even though my website is far from being ready, if you would like
to see what the home page looks like so far, take a look and leave any critisicm you like. www.beat-the-house.com

[chalkoutline]

Im mostly in this to have some fun and teach myself web-design, but it would be nice if the site made enough at least to cover the expense of domain name fees and hosting fees.

It does take an awful lot of time and effort to start making money from your sites. SEO is a definite must in this game. However once you get set up with good content and people start coming to your site you'll begin to pick up players. It shouldn't take too long to make the domain and hostings fees back if you stick at it!

The basics of your site looks good, good content is a requirement. Is that a template you are using? Generally it pays to use an original design and then build from there.

Good luck with it!

[beat-the-house]

It's not a template yet. I'm trying to make it have 2 side columns for links and/or affiliate sites, and then a table in the middle for the page topic. Is that a bad idea?

[CPReport]

If you are using godaddy for your register and dayanahost for your hosting you are into it for less than $15 bucks a year. You should certainly be able to make that in your first month. We made $200 our first month and then it just kept growing from there. SEO is huge so when you are working on your pages make sure that your page titles relect the individual page. All the best!!!

[chalkoutline]

It's not a template yet. I'm trying to make it have 2 side columns for links and/or affiliate sites, and then a table in the middle for the page topic. Is that a bad idea?

That should be fine for a layout. I think it is the header logo that looks familiar, is it from a Referback template?

[beat-the-house]

I found the logo image in some free image gallery, but I just looked at Referback's templates, and I guess I'm not the only one who has thought of using it like that. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I guess it's back to the drawing board.

This board is really helpfull. Thanks for the info.

Once I finally get a good site up, can I link to one of yours?

[chalkoutline]

No problem. Have a hunt around online for other royalty free images, you could have a look at www.arttoday.com where you pay for a week's access for about $5 and can download any number of images from their royalty free image archive. Look through the thumbnail samples before signing up to make sure that there are some pics you actually want! You might find something you can use.

The GPWA is great set of forums to be a part of. If you think its good out here in the public forums, wait until you get inside the private forums (in about 3 months time)!

Drop me a PM when you get a site up and running and I'd be happy to swap links with you.



edit: Hmmmm.... scratch the arttoday.com advice, the seem to have been eaten up by some other company charging a lot more nowadays. There are some good royalty free pics out there if you look for them.