SEM Tycoon

**dadofgage** · 06-21-2006, 11:03 PM

So I have been involved in web design, etc. for about 10 years and didn't even realize what a money maker web sites could be until about 10 months ago.

I got to meet someone who took me on as their designer and then began to slowly teach me the inner workings of how to monetize a site.

So how did you learn?

Did you visit forums (like this and others), have a mentor of sorts?

**wyrmblight** · 06-21-2006, 11:21 PM

I wish I had a mentor. Everything for me seems to be trial and error, or from what I can pick up on webmaster sites.

**BamaStangGuy** · 06-21-2006, 11:57 PM

Forums and trial and error

**John** · 06-22-2006, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BamaStangGuy

Forums and trial and error

same here...still learning

**Erwin** · 06-22-2006, 07:39 AM

I'm still learning too. I'm fairly sure I haven't fully monetized my site - for example, people email me all the time to advertise directly, but I have no mediakit and don't respond.

**LeeD** · 06-22-2006, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erwin

I'm still learning too. I'm fairly sure I haven't fully monetized my site - for example, people email me all the time to advertise directly, but I have no mediakit and don't respond.

I told you about a solution Erwin...

**Guaner** · 06-22-2006, 09:59 AM

I am learning from Lee, which as I hear is a great place to be!
(didn't mean to rhyme, but I guess that sounds pretty good)

**nwingate** · 06-22-2006, 11:01 AM

yea, mostly on forums. That is what got me into them in the first place.

I didn't know one bit of html or php when I started 2 years ago. It's been a long road.

**petertdavis** · 06-22-2006, 11:07 AM

Forums are great, but it's a mistake to limit yourself to what you can read on forums. Of course other types of websites, blogs for example, I have a list of blogs in Bloglines that I regularly read. But, don't limit it to just what you find on the web. Books are great too, all kinds of old media. Read E-Myth if you haven't already. It's a good book to start with. But, read everything. Go to your local library or bookstore to the business section and just browse, pick up a handful of books and bring them home and read. Read magazines, Business 2.0, Inc., Entrepreneur. Newspapers, the Wall St. Journal is a good one.

**nwingate** · 06-22-2006, 11:42 AM

E-Myth, Rich Dad Poor Dad, and business 2.0 are all great and I read through a lot of blogs too.

Entrepreneur magazine has gone down hill IMO. I don't get much out of it anymore. I read Inc on and off.

**petertdavis** · 06-22-2006, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan

Entrepreneur magazine has gone down hill IMO.

It kinda has, hasn't it. I still read it though.

**wyrmblight** · 06-23-2006, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petertdavis

Read magazines, Business 2.0, Inc., Entrepreneur. Newspapers, the Wall St. Journal is a good one.

Sadly I haven't found any good magazines yet that deal with other then brick and motor stores/businesses. I've subscribed to a few as I get magazines really cheap, but the information seems hit and miss.

**petertdavis** · 06-23-2006, 01:12 PM

Ah, but you're missing the point. The point is how well you can adapt the ideas you learn in reading other materials to your own situation.

**Mike** · 06-24-2006, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erwin

I'm still learning too. I'm fairly sure I haven't fully monetized my site - for example, people email me all the time to advertise directly, but I have no mediakit and don't respond.

If you use adsense, I would at least direct these people toward targeting you with their adwords account.

**phpdevrus** · 06-25-2006, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan

E-Myth, Rich Dad Poor Dad, and business 2.0 are all great and I read through a lot of blogs too.

Entrepreneur magazine has gone down hill IMO. I don't get much out of it anymore. I read Inc on and off.

i still read it but ya it has gone downhill... all their startup crap sucks, but that is just me.

:-)

**Fredto** · 06-28-2006, 03:31 AM

I started HTML at least 6 years ago but I didn't really got into websites since... hum... about last year.

Still learning too about the optimum visual configuration for a website... And I hate having to make images ;(

**Hoang** · 06-28-2006, 09:58 AM

I've ran plenty of websites so I learned by trial and error. It really is a good way to gain knowledge because now I have a broader understanding of what works and what doesn't.

As for building the websites, I didn't exactly sit down and decide that I wanted to learn HTML, PHP, etc. For every new project I take on, there's always something that I need to know how to do and I usually spend hours Googling information and that's how I developed my skills necessary to complete those tasks.

**Frito Pie** · 06-28-2006, 10:07 AM

Online money is new since it hasn't been that many years that revenue was available through the internet. Most entrepeneur resources are brick and mortor, direct marketing so the key is taking the books, magazines, information and converting it to your online business.

And in another generation, there will be resources for online business people.

**smnoel** · 06-28-2006, 12:07 PM

I'm not sure I have learned. lol I started from literally no experience at all. I do have a business degree though. Not entirely sure how much of that comes into play, but it no doubt helps a bit. I read a ton about any business topic in any form.

I started out on geocities. lol Had to start somewhere I guess. I must have learned something or got incredibly lucky.

I mostly do a ton of trial and error and test about every way I can think of to do things and have learned from mistakes and successes.

I've asked for help when I need it in the form of advice and suggestions plenty of times.

I have plenty of weak areas that I am trying to sharpen.

**insane** · 06-30-2006, 07:12 PM

well I visit alot of forums to see alot of scripts and new templates and designs ...
I know alot in forums designing also and adding hacks ..