Online publishing is a business. Like any business it requires work. It requires paying taxes. And it requires investments of cash to keep going.
That last hurdle is the one that many people stumble over.
They think that because the only equipment they need to set up an online publishing business is a computer, that's the only expense they'll ever need to pay.
Wrong.
It is possible to set up a successful online publishing business for next to nothing. It's possible too to start on a shoe-string then lay aside a part of a growing income each month to get better images, better services or more marketing.
But even when you're just starting out, you might find yourself spending at least some money on three things:
The first is the design of your website. If you're good at art and know your way around Photoshop, you can do it yourself... and pay in time. And while it's possible to simply stick with whatever template you can find, personalizing your site will help it to stand out and build loyalty.
If you're not buying in content, design could be your biggest initial expense.
Much of your initial promotional may also cost you time rather than money. Post the sort of content that wins links doesn't cost anything and optimizing your site for search engines can be learned, but advertising is one easy way to bring in traffic and get the users that make the effort worthwhile.
That might cost you some money but you'll get to choose exactly how much and you should be able to cut off the flow at any time.
And hosting is likely to cost you money too. While you can find hosting services for free, you usually get what you pay for. Often, that means ads that annoy your users and earn you nothing, limited stats reporting and even a sub domain instead of the sort of unique URL that search engines like.
Altogether, you could find that initially your monthly costs are... not more than a few dollars a month. How quickly that amount grows will depend on how much you want to invest... and on how quickly your site grows too.
But don't be afraid to spend a few bucks at the beginning and each month to get much more later.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
November 20, 2008 01:37 PM
It's all true. A business online or offline does not make money overnight and it requires planning and a budget. The unfortunate thing for most beginners is that they're in a hurry to make money and they fall prey to sites out there pedling get rich quick schemes. Take it slow and be consistent and good things will happen
November 20, 2008 01:41 PM
I agree too many people beleive that if you build a web page they will come. Wrong. You have to have a good understanding of how your business works. You will need to do research and learn as much as you can about getting traffic to your site not to mention that you need a great product or service. Education is the key to succeeding in any business.
November 21, 2008 08:52 AM
I've been a serial entrepreneur all my life, and my over aggressiveness lead me down many a dead end. Doing business on the Internet is no different then offline.
I spent $35,000 in the last 15 months chasing "Easy Street" and got nowhere.
Now I spend my time on education, networking, listen, learning and I finally have gotten it. well I'm getting it with help from Joel and the Infomedia team. If your here.. you have found the holy grail.
My lesson: The internet is like an onion, you have to peel away the many layers of BS. to find the real deal. (stolen from Shrek, "ogre are like onions")
Ralphc (Ralph Circelli)
www.MonetizedClicks.com
November 21, 2008 09:09 AM
Joel I'm an SEO guy, and I think SEO is kind of like site design. Can you do it yourself? Well, yea, you CAN. All you need to do is spend a lot of money and time learning how, and hope you aren't led down a one way street to no where by no nothing SEO "experts" (who are still working on years old assumptions). For instance, for the most part, free hosting will SINK your SEO. Good grief, Hostgator is just $4.95 mo.
November 22, 2008 02:38 AM
Luckily I have reach your website that provide the good information like this.
November 24, 2008 12:44 AM
TANSTAAFL = There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch
I agree, Joel. Even if you have cash to throw at a project, you'll also need to invest some sweat equity because each venture calls for new tweaks.
I have three blogs, narrowed down from five. After a year, they are starting to show some readership: they have also begun to show up in Alexa. I'm still looking forward to cashing my first check ... but I haven't lost any ground and I seem to be building pretty steadily.
November 25, 2008 12:51 AM
The harder the compttition the more money it will cost you to stay in the game. This is a good tip: it takes twice as long and cost three times as much to get your business going on the net.
November 25, 2008 11:52 AM
In order to start a profitable business, one needs to spend.
It does, indeed, cost money to make money.
With close to 1300 domain names registered, we launched our first, original site seven weeks ago. Our biggest cost was the website design, bur well worth it. The design company, http://inverseparadox.net did such a great job that my life insurance agent now contracted them for their new, redesigned site.
Other costs that some people might also need to consider is content. Sometimes, people need to pay for original articles (through elance, etc.)
And, if the whole "managing a website" gets to be a bit much, one might even need to hire someone to help run the site, too.
So thanks, Joel, for another great post. It's always refreshing to read someone who doesn't sugarcoat the "get rich quick" notion.
Best,
-K
http://www.for-the-troops.com/?page_id=2
November 26, 2008 05:37 PM
I think patience is the key to making money online. It takes time and alot of effort and learning.
December 5, 2008 04:01 AM
You really have to be motivated. Lack of patience can lead to frustration and failure!