Feel like I'm missing a MAJOR piece of the puzzle... help?

11 replies
I'm going to be 100% honest with you guys here. (I'm new and this forum is amazing so far )

I'm a teenager.

I have been teaching myself how to make websites/use wordpress/use photoshop for the past six years. And I think I'm damn good at it too. In the past, the only money I have made online has been freelance design work. Sure, its nice and all. In fact, my customers come to me - I never go looking. Its easier for clients to come along here and there, because I have school and can't always work.

Anyways, I have become very interested in Internet Marketing lately. I would love to use my web dev skills to make some serious cash with niche sites (or other IM techniques).

Now, here's where the 'puzzle' comes in.

I have a blog (SoDevious . Net). I have ran it for about four years, and have managed to bring it to a PR4. About a year or so ago, my traffic was through the roof, now I feel like it's slugging along. I am using it to experiment with advertising and seeing what works / what converts. I have this goldmine sitting in front of me, I just have no clue where to go from here. New site design? eBook? More articles?


I'm so lost!

---

PS: I own like six sites, some are monetizable, others not. I should really stop making sites, I have a problem guys... D;

Also, I have abut $250 in seed money to invest in advertising, article writing, etc.
#blog #feel #major #missing #newbie #piece #puzzle #teenager #website
  • Profile picture of the author BloggingPro
    First off...

    I really like your sites design. It's clean and crisp and looks really professional in my opinion.

    What does your local area look like when it comes to web design and hosting? Why not offer some local businesses you design skills?
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    You're going to fail. If you're afraid of failure then you do not belong in the Internet Marketing Business. Period.
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  • Profile picture of the author sodevious
    Thanks

    I could offer my services, and I have in the past. I like creating my own websites more than making them for other people. I feel like if I could make money online through affiliates and advertising it would be a great alternative
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  • Profile picture of the author NateRivers
    Tutorial membership site buddy. If you're damn good at those things you mentioned, figure out what specific tasks in those areas people are searching for and then screencast how to do them. Then sell them.
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    • It is a nice site. I'm not too keen on those pixelated social bookmarking icons, though.

      You haven't really given any information that would point to why your traffic may have fallen off. You did say that you use the site to test various things. Did you make some changes, and then traffic fell?

      You also gave yourself a really good piece of advice: "I should really stop making sites." Stick with one, get it going, learn what works and what doesn't, and then you can start branching out into other sites and other areas of IM.

      Originally Posted by NateRivers View Post

      Tutorial membership site buddy. If you're damn good at those things you mentioned, figure out what specific tasks in those areas people are searching for and then screencast how to do them. Then sell them.
      That's a really good idea. Play on your strengths.
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  • Profile picture of the author sodevious
    @Nate This sounds very do-able. Time for some research!

    @Brad Thanks for the heads up, I'll try some new icons. And by my traffic, I was more active back then, my site was geared toward the tweens/teens market. (Yes, this means graphics and smilies and little personal rant blogs) I forgot to mention that I was featured in the New York Times three years ago, which made my traffic skyrocket. Unfortunately, I was naive at 13. I didn't know I could make money through IM or any means. I guess what has changed from a year ago to now would be that I was guest blogging for bigger sites like 1stWebDesigner. I'm actually talking to some fellow bloggers to get back into guest posting.
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    • Profile picture of the author mello
      Originally Posted by sodevious View Post

      @Nate This sounds very do-able. Time for some research!

      @Brad Thanks for the heads up, I'll try some new icons. And by my traffic, I was more active back then, my site was geared toward the tweens/teens market. (Yes, this means graphics and smilies and little personal rant blogs) I forgot to mention that I was featured in the New York Times three years ago, which made my traffic skyrocket. Unfortunately, I was naive at 13. I didn't know I could make money through IM or any means. I guess what has changed from a year ago to now would be that I was guest blogging for bigger sites like 1stWebDesigner. I'm actually talking to some fellow bloggers to get back into guest posting.
      If you were featured, what was it for - can you leverage that still or do a follow up story with them eg this is where I am now kind of thing.

      Before doing that I'd get your member site up and running like Nate suggested - it would be a doddle for you to get that going. Then your story could be about how your teaching others to get to grips with the net/design space. Get a sales page up for the member site and jiggle your optin to giveaway something more concrete than 'updates' so you can build a relationship with your subscribers and give them reasons to head back to your site.

      IMHO, work with what you've got and go from there rather than start a new model.

      Good luck, sunshine. You're on your way.
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  • OMG! A New York Times article would be a goldmine for anyone's site! That's a shame you didn't have it monetized then, buddy. But, hey, you live and you learn. Just keep moving forward...
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  • Profile picture of the author sodevious
    Yeah, I realize the mistakes I was making back then.
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  • Profile picture of the author sodevious
    @mello, nytimes(dot)com/2008/02/21/fashion/21webgirls.html it was a paragraph, but it sent me TONS of traffic.

    I'm really looking into this membership site now! I'm trying to figure out the logistics... seems kind of complicated.

    Thanks for the tip!
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    • Profile picture of the author NateRivers
      Originally Posted by sodevious View Post

      @mello, nytimes(dot)com/2008/02/21/fashion/21webgirls.html it was a paragraph, but it sent me TONS of traffic.

      I'm really looking into this membership site now! I'm trying to figure out the logistics... seems kind of complicated.

      Thanks for the tip!
      Not hard at all buddy.

      I just installed the Profits Theme on all my sites a few weeks ago and made them into membership sites with it. It integrates with clickbank or paypay without the need for any third party software. It's sick.

      Feel free to click on my sig and get it through my aff link on my blog and I'll give you any help you need on setting up your membership site with it. But- check out all your options first... I agonized over what to use for membership sites for weeks before finally deciding on the Profits Theme.

      But setting up a membership site is easy- don't let it freak you out.
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      • Profile picture of the author sodevious
        Thanks for the optimism!
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