People ask me all this the time. How do I make a website that earns money? How do I make a websites so I can leave my crappy 9-5?

Typically I would use this opportunity to tell about my web design services and offer to help them create a website. But after I tell them how much I charge they almost always change their mind. Why? Because most people are cheap and lazy. Most web newbies tend to think if you create a website, then people will magically show up to buy their goods.

I wish! It’s true that tons of people have been able to make a comfortable living online after creating a website, but it takes hours and hours of work, research and dedication to achieve this.

So lesson 1 of How to Make a Website is, have REAL expectations. Don’t think that you can just sign up for hosting, pick a cool sounding domain name, install WordPress and create some content and the people will come. Your blog or website will be one of a billion online, so how will people find you? You want to make your own website, but what is it going to be about? What’s your topic?

Start by reading posts located on the right. Start with Getting Started Online and don’t stop reading until you reach the last line of When To Call A Professional.

What? You don’t like reading? How to do you expect to make your own website without first figuring out if you even need one?

Lesson 2 is read more. lol. Easy right? The easiest way to create a website is just read! There are tons of details tutorials, tips and tricks all over the web that will show you how to do this, including this site. Just stop by the tutorials sections and look for wordpress help.

Lesson 3, the final lesson, is the hardest – start working today! You never be a success in life if you are scared of failing. You want to know how to make a website but are too scared to try anything new. What if I create a website, then break it!

No problem. Build another one. Believe me, it goes a lot faster the second time around. I can’t you how many times I have created a website and done something completely stupid to mess it up. One minute it’s working fine, the next minute my site is gone! Frustrating yes! Helped in the learned process? Most definitely!

I know this post isn’t probably not what you thought it was going to be. It’s really just a rant hoping to inspire a generation of slackers and pessimists to get off the couch and do something.

Tis’ All!

I have always had plenty of work to do. Swamped with back-logged freelance work to finish, I never felt it was important to socialize with other people. I mean, what would they actually have to say? What would they tell me that I didn’t already know? But honestly it wasn’t what they said that impressed me, it was the connection they created. I believed in them, their stories, their purpose. I wanted to know about them, not only as web women, but as individuals.

Listening to these ladies made me realize I should be doing more. More for myself, more for my family and more for my community. When I left this event with Maurisa I made my own personal resolution. That I would start working on all those projects I set aside in order to make a quick buck. Today I am putting myself and my own dreams first and no longer making excuses why I can’t get my own personal projects finished.

It’s a corny cliche, but very appropriate for how I feel right now … “Today if the fist day of the the rest of my life!” (ok, that might not be exactly right, but you know what I mean!)

photos courtesy of jen consalvo

(from left to right Jen Consalvo, Jill Foster, Mayra Ruiz-McPherson, Beth Jackson Bates, Terri Holley)