When you choose a domain name, one thing you want to do is try to select a .com name if it is available. Dot com names are easier to remember and more often than not do better in the search engine rankings than dot net or dot biz sites.
So, the question I have had many ask me is where is the best place to purchase a domain name? Does it really matter if I purchase my domain from one place and host at the other?
For me, I chose Yahoo Domains for my domain and $9.95/year isn't too bad. However, in my situation, I chose to go with Shiftcode for my GPT sites.
However, if you were to choose Yahoo for your hosting company, they would bundle and offer you a better deal to purchase a domain and host with them AND they offer wonderful customer support and other advice for building your website.
Reliable web hosting from Yahoo! Web Hosting - 35% off for a limited time!
Because there are numerous hosting companies popping up, the competition is a lot higher between online hosting companies and so do not be afraid to ask them for a custom quote or for a better rate. If they cannot tailor to a reasonable request, they know that you could go elsewhere and more than likely you will be able to get a bundled rate.
GoDaddy is a great company to work with especially if you have more than one site.
Go Daddy Bulk Domain Registration
Often times with a company like GoDaddy, you can register unlimited domains and get a reduced rate for hosting more than one site with them. Another way of gaining you as a customer is offering an especially lower rate if you sign up for more than a few months. For example, save an additional $5 a month if you sign up for a 12 month contract.
If features, additional products and good customer service are your determining factors, your best bet would be to go with a host that is well-known and that is well-established. These companies normally do have the best rates and are more willing to cut you a deal. They also will answer support tickets faster than a week's time and will have more than just one way to contact them regarding your services.
Web Hosting - $7.96 - Free Setup!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Research To Build the Backbone
Monday, January 21, 2008
HTML Can Be Your Friend. Really.
One of the biggest challenges for me thus far has been learning HTML. HTML is and has always been my worst nightmare. I've talked to those programmers and those who live and breathe the HTML language and I've been told the same thing time after time. "HTML is simple, one of the easiest things to learn and it will be your best friend."
Hmmm...With my prior years of experience, I find it hard to believe that HTML and I will be BFF's. EVER.
Learning Shiftcode, the site that I have both Disco Dollars and Ode To Family hosted on, I had to rigorously study and learn how to use the products and how to edit my own sites. I have had computer experience and I have taken some computer classes and so, I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for some to manage their own sites without some guidance or minimal computer knowledge.
The one thing about me is that I am definitely, by far, a hands-on learner. So for someone to try to sit and explain something to me is all fine and dandy. However, let me go through it on my own and let me ask questions along the way. That is the only way I can learn. Now, I'm certainly not saying that Shiftcode's products are that complicated, but it is new so of course it takes time to learn as it does with anything. As the old saying goes, "Practice does make perfect".
HTML is like learning Spanish. HTML is its own language and is what is behind website creation.
Here is a great resource for everything HTML-related:
At this point I am not a pro when it comes to HTML, but I can say, it is not completely foreign to me.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Affiliating With the Competition
Because I was new to the GPT scene, I quickly became friends with other site owners who were in the same boat I was in. I found these other owners in Forums and other message boards relating to our site
Being a mid-western girl, I was more open to being trusting and "real". However, I learned the hard way. My advice to new owners is find someone who is a credible source and who knows the ropes, not someone who will take advantage of you or betray you.
There are plenty of Forums out there for you to check out in relation to online marketing and affiliate marketing and I encourage you to check out these for your own personal use. I received a lot of valuable information and advice simply by reading threads and asking questions.
That is one thing you shouldn't be afraid of, asking questions. As you go along on your journey of building your site, these forums will help you. I know they did for me.
Enjoy!
Digital Point
Get Paid Forum
Admin Zone
Global Gold Talk
Dream Time Money
Cash Talk
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Brainstorming
I really had no clue where this road would take me, this GPT road, however, I knew that I was capable of succeeding.
I remember being excited, nervous, anxious, happy...so many different emotions going through my mind as I started my journey. However, I was lucky enough to have a couple people that were willing to guide me and to answer any questions that I had along the way. For that, I will forever be grateful to them. One of the gals is no longer involved in the GPT scene, however, I must thank Christina from Deal Barbie Pays. She is a leader in this industry and has been there since day one. She has been not only a mentor to me, but is now a good friend.
The first step of my journey was to come up with a theme. What could I do that would be different from everyone else? And, what could I do that I had interest in? I began to ponder. I took out my notepad and my pen and began to brainstorm.
When I did wrote down my ideas, it all came back to one of my interests...music.
Thus, Disco Dollars was born. http://www.discodollars.net
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
Affiliate Marketing 101: In a Nutshell
Sure, GPT's mean money for both you, the site owner, and the advertiser.
I've had several people ask me, "well, how are you able to pay me for completing surveys and for trying out a product?"
The secret is the "behind-the-scenes" advertising and marketing efforts between the merchants and webmasters.
Many businesses branch out their marketing efforts by creating affiliate programs. These affiliate programs pay a certain percentage of a sale to the referrer. Often times, included in their program are incentives or added bonuses to boost the number of their sales/leads produced by the referrers. This is especially common during the holiday season. i.e. For every 50 sales, receive a $20 bonus. It isn't uncommon for businesses to offer their product/service for a discounted rate or even offer trips for a reward. This is referred to as a "performance incentive".
To promote their affiliate program, many businesses sign up with affiliate networks. These networks are responsible for generating the leads/sales for the said business.
That is where webmasters come into play. We, as webmasters, can sign up for the affiliate networks to pick and choose which business/services/products we wish to promote based on our site demographic/target, etc. Obviously if you run a website that caters to the health field, you aren't going to choose an ad that promotes a casino. It just doesn't make sense.
Working the affiliate marketing scene as described above is working with a "middle man". If you choose to go the direct route, you can attempt to apply for the affiliate program directly from the site itself. In some cases, the business will direct you to the affiliate network they are working with and you have no choice but to work through the network. The disadvantage with working with the middleman? $$$$$$$$$$ and less of it.
Webmasters working the GPT scene receive pay after the network take their cut and this is why it is sometimes better to work directly with the merchant. However, often times it can be more of a headache than worth the extra time spent working directly with the merchant. And, this is especially true if you have a high traffic site.
Here is the way an offer is paid out in the GPT industry:
Merchant>>>>>>Affiliate Network>>>>>Webmaster>>>>>>member of GPT site
Here is the way an offer is paid out to a non-GPT webmaster:
Merchant>>>>>>Affiliate Network>>>>>Webmaster
or
Merchant>>>>>>Webmaster
Jumping Into GPT
GPT (Get-Paid-To) Sites: GPT stands for “get paid to”. There are a variety of GPT sites, including getting paid to play games, getting paid to read emails, etc, but the most common and financially beneficial use of “GPT” is getting paid to complete offers. (surveys, products, etc.)
At first I was skeptical. I mean, really, who isn't when it comes to making money online? This whole GPT scene, seemed interesting none-the-less and I wanted to know more.
Many WAHM (work-at-home mothers) were working GPT sites completing surveys and trying out products while making money in the process. After seeing how many individuals were being paid by these sites, I knew this had to be a legit money-making opportunity. Mothers would post their payment proofs on the MommyJobs.com forums and I could see for myself that this was for real. I really had nothing to lose, especially if I started out with the "freebies" offers. So, I jumped on in head first and started offering my information as part of market research for advertisers needing public opinion and the like.
I completed surveys, many surveys. I even got the opportunity to try out some pretty cool products, including my favorite and apparently one of Oprah's favorite things as well, the Clarasonic facial brush. AND, I got paid for trying the product. (Let me tell you, I really do love my Clarasonic...you should try it. *Shameless plug.*)
Over the span of about 6 months, I easily made over $3,000 working on GPT sites. I was happy and so was my husband.
How It All Began...
Let me take you back to October of 2006, after the birth of my second child, Carter.
Here I was sitting here at home on maternity leave with my two kids, dreading going back to work in the "real" world. It wasn't necessarily because I didn't enjoy my job, because I really did. I worked at a television station selling ad time, writing ad script, and producing commercials. It was a great job. I enjoyed it because it allowed me to be independent, creative, and it did pay decently. But, after my husband and I sat down to figure out finances, with daycare and the price of gas going up, it didn't seem worth it for me to go back. With luck, we'd break even.
Staying home with my kids wasn't something that I had dreamed I would be doing, considering I am more of a social butterfly and would prefer adult interaction over watching that big purple dinosaur any day. However, each day that I was home with my kids, the more I wanted to stay home.
I did some "googling" online and came across MommyJobs.com, a site catering to mothers who work-at-home or have the desire to work at home. I will admit it was a wonderful resource for me, considering I really had no clue what I could do from home to make money and feel like I was contributing to our family financially.
MommyJobs.com was part of my daily routine for the next few months and so were GPT (get-paid-to) sites. It was the big craze other WAHM (work-at-home mothers) worked on for extra income. Let me stress, by no means were these sites meant to be a supplemental income, but rather that extra cash you could tuck away for a rainy day.
