Your First Website Doesn't Have To Be A Home Run
Image: Working from Pismo Beach over President's Day weekend!
As a new member, it can feel like you're under a lot of pressure to "make money fast" or at least prove to yourself that your WA membership is worth the cost. Why am I spending $49/month if I'm not making money yet? I need to make sure I'm not wasting my time or money here!
While I can sympathize, since was in your position back in 2010 when I joined, I also have some new perspectives after almost 8 years of membership.
One essential piece of advice I learned from my first couple months inside the community is that your first website doesn't have to be a "home run".
- You don't have to pick the "best niche"
- You don't have to build a website that will last the rest of your life
- You don't have to make money with your first business
It's OK To Fail!
I've covered this previously with my post: 5 Failed Websites From Nathaniell but that was just the tip of the iceberg. Over the years I've owned 100+ domains and had 60+ active websites going at one time.
Was it worth it to have that many? No. I'm narrowing it down each year and currently work on just 3 websites.
However, the experiences I gained from failing so many times have been worth the effort. Now I know a lot of what NOT to do, and can dole out advice based on personal experience instead of just repeating what other say. So overall, the many failures of my newbie errors were worth it.
You Can Always Restart
Doing work wrong then having to redo it sucks. It would be a terrible, sinking feeling to work on a website for 3 months, then figure out you don't really like the niche any more or you were making some grave mistakes along the way. Having to "restart" after 3 months of work would make it seem like you just wasted 90 days and $147 dollars (WA membership cost for 3 months).
However, nothing is ever wasted! Here's a blast from the past (2013 post): In Learning, No Time Is Wasted (Tip #3).
Consider this: What took you 3 months the first time around will now take you only 1 months. Next time? 1 week. Now you're a professional WordPress website manager! Oh, and you're also an SEO expert. Oh, and you're also a content marketer that can get paid to write articles on places like UpWork.
So although your first website "failed" you succeeded in LEARNING how to build an online business. Plus, you got some in-demand online marketing skills and are on your way to learning more. (Read more: How Much Are Your Online Business Skills Worth?
A Few Months VS A Lifetime!
Let's get back to the common misconception that your first website has to be awesome. Realistically, a few months won't make that much of a difference in your lifetime. It may seem like a long time now, but in 10, 20, 30 years, you won't even think twice about it.
When I start a new challenge, I always ask myself the The 10 Years Question (my own invention!). The idea is that if I failed at this for 10 years but then suddenly became a success would it be worth it?
In other words, if I failed at building a good niche website for a long time but then suddenly became a success and could enjoy the rest of my life as a "success" would it be worth it? For most people, the answer is yes.
Don't look at the near future of making mistakes. Look at the long term future of "getting it".
Don't Feel Pressure
In other words, don't feel pressure to be an instant success with your first website. It quite possibly could just a be a domain that expires next year or a project you laugh at a couple years down the road.
In fact, let's just assume it's going to bomb (it might not). Who cares? The next one will be better. And the next one even better. And so on....
The point is, whether or not your first website makes money isn't important.
What's important is that you are taking the first steps to learning how to build an income generating online business. Take your time, engage in the process, and keep your eye on long term goals (while taking short term action).
Experienced members: Was your first website an instant success?
New members: Were you afraid to start your first website because you thought it would fail?
Recent Comments
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I am starting to see regular success here with my website after it being over a year old. And being in the money making niche I am quite proud as I know this can be a tough niche to be a part of. All I did was exactly what VitaliyG told me, and as all the successful website builders say. Follow the lessons and do the tasks.
I have the same website when I started and now I am finding my reviews get to Google's page 1 pretty quickly so I am very happy about that. I am just going to keep adding content as regularly as I can, I actually found when I did 3 posts a week consistently at similar times each week yielded the best results.
This is a great post Nathaniell. I think too many people expect too much in the short term, but if they just hang around, keep building quality content the long term results will definitely come.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge from your own experiences! Cheers, Sharon
Great success story Sharon!
Appreciate the consistent posting tip. This is right in line with what Kyle suggests for Super Affiliate program (approx. 3 posts a week). But posting them on a routine schedule every week is an extra little good nugget of advice there.
Thanks again!
I totally agree with you Nathaniel. I knew this when I first started because I figured that this whole affiliate marketing website thing was going to be a learning curve that I would have to master over time. Just like Nietzsche said, "...one cannot fly into flying."
I have dozens of niche ideas so I chose my least favorite for my first website and second least favorite for my second. Though they both have good information in that niche, I have abandoned both and my other websites that have followed are doing much better.
Ha. Now there's a strategy. Choose your least favorite idea and PLAN to ditch it down the road.
My first and second websites ended up being successful, but after doing this for 5 years I also have started several websites I ended up abandoning. Mostly it's lack of focus - trying to do too much at once doesn't really work out that well if you're doing it all yourself!
Hope you're doing well Nathaniel!
Hi Nathaniel, great post.
I believe that you don't fail until you give up! So all those failures... were not failures... because you never gave up, you just never attained what you expected with them.
Your post really helps keep me motivated as I have been at WA for less than a year and am not having the success I expected with my 3 sites. Nice to hear that I am not the only one that experienced that and that if I persist I can still succeed.
Thanks
Bryanb
I love that way of thinking. A failure isn't a failure until you walk away completely. Otherwise, it's just a part of a success story :)
Nice post Nathaniell, I was afraid to start my first website because I wanted everything to be right!
It took me 3 months to set up something which took a couple of minutes effectively.
My own choices though, but against the advice of other members.
It was more simple and more fun than I had anticipated.
Don’t delay!!
Wayne
I had some experience with affiliate marketing before I joined WA. I signed up with Google Sniper 2.0 and worked like a madman over a period of 12 months or so. I had 11 or 12 mini-niche websites that generated a total of $123. I spent more for GS2.0 and all the upsells. Still, you live and learn.
My website here at WA is now starting to earn what I would describe as good money ($1100 last month, which was month #17). Along the way I've had to adjust my strategy and focus. Having 3 income streams in my niche meant some were earning more than others. I now know what to focus on but it's been a huge learning process.
I'm expecting big things this year and I may even start a second website once my current one is self-sufficient, or at least requires less maintenance.
Thanks for sharing your experience mate, it's certainly good advice.
I still make some passive income from my first niche website and it gets more than 400 visitors per day. However, the niche is not what I ultimately want to become an authority in so I have changed direction with a new website. Everything I do is, of course, more focused and swift now. Nothing wasted as someone might believe.
Passive income FTW. I still have some old sites that make a couple bucks too!
You can also sell those sites if they make some money. Usually 30-40 times monthly income :)
Great advice and back ground on what can happen in your first online business.
Currently working on building a WA affiliate site through the wonderful SWAG group and have much to accomplish, and so I would have to relate to the option that yes, I do not like to admit from the start that I would be afraid to start and see it fail, however, that is genuine to what actions are to follow, and although patience is key, it may take some time to get above what works and does not work. I'm willing to take the time and work on being patient while learning each step mindfully so that each training moves my ability to build a responsive site that works.
Great advice. I completed my certification program. This my fourth week and I have 3 websites that I want to work with, not sure if it’s a good idea but that’s I have done so far. Loads to learn, frustration and refocusing along the way, but as you say, nothing goes to waste.
Lilian
As you work on the sites, it'll be obvious which one you like to work on best, or which one starts making sales first. My recommendation is to then focus your energy on that one!
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I find your post incredibly inspiring and thank you for that. I was actually just getting ready to try and contact Kyle to ask him this queso, but maybe one of you can help.
So I'm trying to figure out exactly how I want to present or introduce my brand as a company, and it's got to do with natural remedies basically, and I've got this idea of beginning with a blog or video of my own story and journey that I've been through and am currently going through as I build my business. So I've got a mental vision of how things would sequence out, that being starting with telling my story from point A up to present day, and allow others that may be in the same situation or that of a similar one some may be able to relate to, join me in my journey and along the way educate them with the knowledge I've already gained, and with the knowledge I'll continue to gain as I make my path through my journey. Do any of you have suggestions or recommendations, constructive criticism etc?
Howdy. And yes, this sounds like a good approach.
The reality is, if you keep it real and human, then that leaves you with an open road of ways to help people.
What is good about your plan is that it's personal. We're all human and we thrive on emotions. We want to personally connect with people and resolutions to our problems, so that we feel better, feel happier, etc.
Here are two "online business" examples that don't feel like businesses, but yet they are. They are very subtle about it. They do a really good job of sharing their personal story and how their own personal experiences led them to create the support and products they have for you.
https://www.bodygroove.com
Watch the 2 min video on the homepage. Misty capitalizes on emotions (e.g. being happy, feeling good). And she shares her personal story within the video. I don't know about you, but this one 2 min video made me want to GROOVE!
http://adventuresinbraininjury.com
Cavin shares his personal story of recovering from a brain injury. He shares stories, connects people with similar stories, support resources and promotes support products. Because his story is personal, his site comes across more of a support site than a business site. He's promoting the sale of his book, but it comes across as a helpful resource and not just another product.
There are likely many other great examples but think these are two good ones to get ideas from and confirm your approach.
Hope this helps.
Kim Wolfe
Every person will build their brand in their own way, so I don't want to send you in one direction or another, because this wil be your business!
It sounds like you have an idea of what you want to do, so I would stick with that. You will always have the chance to tweak your funnel, rewrite your pages, or add/delete things along the way.
Start with what you are thinking right now, and change it up later if it isn't working.
It's a good way to do it, but it keep it concise and to the point.
Kim,
Wow. First off, thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking time out of your day to send me such an information packed, descripton filled, heart felt message❤❤❤
My appreciation extends beyond words, and truly couldn't thank you more for the way your words made me feel about my ponderence as to how I was going to be able to achieve the visual picture i have in mind❣
Your advice, and encouragement truly make me feel solidified in exactly what I want to do, and has truly helped me see the picture as a whole. Solidifying my how, why, and what I will be doing. How I'll be going about it, knowing the ones I want to reach, and the exact approach I'm going to take in building up my brand, myself and others❣
The way you explained us all being human and needing to feel personally connected, and emotionally fulfilled, grasped my heart, and gave me so much clarity bc that is me you explained, and what I've always stood for in all I've ever done. As well as what I strive to accomplish just in my everyday interaction with people as a whole.
Because honestly, I'm looking to show my vulnerability with others as I make my way through this journey, as I conquer each of my own hurdles ahead, and really in tending to myself in order to reach a better state of health. At the same time taking the opportunity to do it along side of others who might be dealing with the same or similar situations, or really being able to relate with whatever struggle one may find themselves fighting❣
Kim❣ You've no clue as to the rush of excitement running through me as I type this, and again, the completed mental vision of exactly where I'm going and what I'm doing❣ As though I needed that reminder in order to remove the clutter that's built up from over thinking❤
If I could reach though this screen and give you the biggest hug, I most definitely would❣ Please keep in touch, so I can always remember to show you my appreciation, and I'd love to be able to bounce ideas off of you when needed, as you really did confirm my approach I've been seeking to achieve this entire time ❤❤❤
Thank you again for ALL the great information, advice and for your sincerity❣ You're most definitely a shining star and inspiration to others in paying it forward❤❤❤
Truly with all my ❤
Amanda
Namaste
Thank you Nathaniell❣ You're absolutely right, I think I just needed people to put me back in my place, and to just do it, and not be hesitant with fear of failure, bc like said, 'failure is only a stepping stone to our success'. Thanks again for your advice❣
Much ❤
Namaste
Thank you CJDodaro, that's a fantastic reminder and piece of advice, of which is much appreciated❣
Much ❤
Namaste