If You Build It They Will Come – Only If You Run Your Website the Right Way

Guys, imagine not having to pick out a tie or shave before you go to work. And ladies, wouldn’t it be nice not having to apply makeup in the rear view mirror during rush hour?

Those can be just some of the mundane perks of having an online business; you can start work in the morning wearing pajamas if you feel like it. But there are more substantial rewards: the freedom to set your own work schedule, the self-satisfaction of starting a successful venture, the power to choose your own projects and not have to answer to a boss; and if you do it right, you can own a very lucrative company.

As a partner in Breakaway Solutions, a full-service web development company I launched in 2001, I consult with many entrepreneurs who want to grow their online business. I also operate several ecommerce sites myself, and my background has provided me the background to guide others in everything from marketing approaches to email collection.

Building a Successful Website

I believe there has never been a more opportune time to be an entrepreneur due to advancing technologies, especially for young people who are computer savvy. Building a website these days is relatively easy, but it’s what you do after it’s up and running that takes additional know-how. Don’t be fooled by the adage from that Kevin Costner baseball movie: “If you build it they will come.”

That’s where marketing comes in; and if you can drive people to your site in enough numbers, your chances of monetizing the site to your benefit can increase exponentially.

And marketing a website is intrinsically linked (pun intended) to technology. There is somewhat of a science to running a successful website that includes such things as enabling permalinks, using keywords that improve SEO, optimizing ads in your layout and making contact information prominent. Of course, having highly readable and interesting content is also part of the equation.

One of my peers, Steve Pavlina, has done a good job explaining optimal content with his post How to Build a High-Traffic Web Site (or Blog) and other articles on his site, StevePavlina.com. I like Steve’s approach because, like me, he intertwines business and personal development.

Knowing Your Technology

Understanding your readers and creating engaging content for them is crucial, but that doesn’t excuse the site operator from understanding permalinks, RSS feeds, pinging and other technologies. If you’re a beginner, you might turn to books such as “Building a Web Site for Dummies” or one of the many books available about WordPress, such as the recently published “WordPress Revealed: How to Build a Website, Get Visitors and Make Money (Even for Beginners.”

You should have some rudimentary understanding of the technology required to run a successful website, but if you “just don’t get it,” that shouldn’t be a reason for abandoning your dream. There are also services available that will do the work for you. One of the best is called Site Build It! – a one-stop-shop for creating and building an online business. For an annual fee, Site Build It! will give you all the tools you need to build a site with the potential to generate income. The fee covers the cost of hosting the site, registering a domain name, integrated tools that provide ease for adding content, including a built-in blog, as well as offering RSS feeds. So if you are not a technophile, you can turn those things over to people who are.

Site Build It! is just one company that offers such services and it may be worthwhile checking out several to find which one is best for you.

Of course, no service is going to relieve you of your duties completely. Establishing a money-making website still takes plenty of time and energy; you have to work hard at it just as you would at any other type of business. But isn’t it nice to know there’s help out there if you need it?

Written by

John Romano is an entrepreneur, marketing strategist, Internet consultant, blogger and an expert in the technical, conceptual, and content development of online startups. He is the founder of several ecommerce sites and has helped multiple companies launch successful online businesses.

8 comments

  1. If You Build It They Will Come – Only If You Run Your Website the Right Way

    The article is very educative, Thanks John.
    The formula to building a profitable business online comes down to implementing strategies that drive results and knowing the right tools to use.As an Internet marketer your priority is to drive traffic to your site, capture leads, and effort shifting through tool after tool,. Instead of But instead of wasting time, money.

    • If You Build It They Will Come – Only If You Run Your Website the Right Way

      Building a successful website these days requires wearing many hats. It is very important to have a strategy in place and to leverage your time by delegating some tasks to the right people.

  2. Sameer

    If You Build It They Will Come – Only If You Run Your Website the Right Way

    Hi, I do agree with Ndeto. Apart from getting the right tools, you need to start something that has returns- making money online. Making money online involves time, dedication, and some business-savvy. Establishing a site with a growing number of dedicated fans doesn’t happen overnight, and neither does the success of website monetization. If you’ve got a great site but aren’t turning over much profit, consider methods for monetizing your site like Pay Per Click Advertising and make the most out of your online presence.

  3. If You Build It They Will Come – Only If You Run Your Website the Right Way

    Talk of methods like PPC advertising. I know PPC is simply advertising your website through the use of the pay-per-click search engines but how does it work?
    Are there any success stories on the same.

    • If You Build It They Will Come – Only If You Run Your Website the Right Way

      PPC is no longer as simple as it was 10 years ago. Now you need to really establish a very targeted campaign to be able to increase click through ration and minimize costs. I suggest you find someone that is experienced in this sector to help you at least get started so that you can concentrate on the other facets of running a successful business.

  4. SEOGuru

    If You Build It They Will Come – Only If You Run Your Website the Right Way

    Well, you can contact me via my email address and I will help you out. Alternatively you can visit seomoz or any other helpful forums dedicated to online marketing.

  5. jon terns

    If You Build It They Will Come – Only If You Run Your Website the Right Way

    If only I could get more traffic overnight to my sites and not have to worry about them. I suppose if that were the case, everyone would be online and the competition would be much tougher. I think the biggest thing is patience, not many people have it but if you are patient and keep at it, good things will come.

  6. Nattie

    If You Build It They Will Come – Only If You Run Your Website the Right Way

    Great notes about building a website. With my site I feel like I’ve built this beautiful field but nobody’s coming. Like my website is blinking in the darkness. I’ve tried traffic builders, click promotions, and banging my head against the wall. (Oh ok, haven’t banged my head against the wall yet, but I’m getting close) As someone else mentioned doing this requires the wearing of many hats, perhaps I’ve dropped one on the floor I should have put on. I’ve been putting in the time and energy but I feel like I’m stuck in the mud.

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