I need guidance... What should my website be about?

[neoeved]

I am in my mid-twenties and don’t have a college degree because I have not seen anything out there that really gets my attention to do for the rest of my life. I KNOW I wasn’t made to work a 9-5 job because my main goal in life is simply to enjoy life and my loved ones, meaning (I work live, not live to work). I can FEEL in me that I can make a website (and my own business) work, but I can’t seem to know where to start.

I have different seemingly unrelated skills and hobbies that I would like to turn into my own website, but I don’t know where to start. It doesn’t have to be a full-time income website as long as I enjoy doing it, but I have a hard time translating my interests into website. To give you all an idea of the tools I have to work with: I will be getting my insurance adjuster license soon, I am fully bilingual in Spanish (actually English, since Spanish is my first language, lol), I’ve been a role-playing game player since I was little (have even considered a role-playing game review website, but I think there are too many of those), since my teens I’ve been very interested in psychology, personal development and self-help, I love helping others, giving advice/support and making a positive impact on other people’s lives, I am a single mother and LOVE parenting.

I’m aware all these are all over the map and unrelated, and I’m sure I’m forgetting some other things that should be on that list, but I’m trying to get across my personality, interests, hobbies and skills for the purpose of a website. I would love guidance, advice/suggestions and ideas on where I should go from here!

Thank you all very much in advance

[Pat P.]

Hi neoeved,

I know it has been said many times in this forum (and on several of Steve's posts), but one of the keys to make money on any enterprise - in your case, through out one ore more websites - is to be able to satisfy someone else's need or needs.

So, you should start by looking up for problems, other people problems. Since your interests are diverse (insurance, personal develpment, parenting, and role playing),
I would advice the following strategy:

1) Do not try to force all topics on the same site. Instead, create a series of websites that are focused on each subject.

2) Look up for the top internet forums on each topic. Narrow down the list to 3 (actually this number is arbiratry, but the idea it to keep the number manageable).

3) For each forum, try to look up for threads on problems or questions. You can make a list of them and determine what are the dominant topics/problems.

4) Now you have a set of topics you can write about on your sites.

If you think on other ideas to blog about while creating this list, write them down for later use.

Of course, this is just one way you to start this project. Once you have your master list, and your sites up and running, you could tailor the content based on the comments of your readers, surveys, etc.

Hope this helps to get you started.

Pat

[Mayo]

"I’ve been a role-playing game player since I was little (have even considered a role-playing game review website"

Maybe you could review rpg's from female point of view.. with a twist...

" but I think there are too many of those), since my teens I’ve been very interested in psychology, personal development and self-help, I love helping others, giving advice/support and making a positive impact on other people’s lives,"

Also RPG worlds are becoming a world on it's self (WoW, SecondLife[not an RPG but alas a world on it's own],etc.), sure there is a future market for helping people (^_^)

"I am a single mother and LOVE parenting."

Maybe you could give advices with a twist on how to parent, see how others are advising parents. Look out of the box! Look for cool products for kids, review them, test them, start reviewing your local store goods, books, diapers ...


"I’m aware all these are all over the map and unrelated, and I’m sure I’m forgetting some other things that should be on that list, but I’m trying to get across my personality, interests, hobbies and skills for the purpose of a website. I would love guidance, advice/suggestions and ideas on where I should go from here!"

Read Steve's logs from inception of his site to finish (whew lots of topics.... plenty to learn)

First thing first think what you would like to do, where you could offer great advices. Imagine what the website should talk about, if you will write topics start today, see what you can review with GUSTO!
For example, are you good at decorating, has your child bedroom distinct design? Can you find other people that have wonderfully designed bedrooms?

Maybe you could get together with few sponsors and give a prize to people who have best designed children rooms?

There are many topics you can talk about, pick one and go along that one. If you see that you are attracting people to your site stick to it and make it better! Don't open 5 projects and end up failing on all of them...

Good luck!

[Liara Covert]

I like Pat's suggestions. I also think you would benefit from narrowing down your interests into a shorter list of priorities that relate to how you think you can most effectively help others. Brainstorm your strengths and see how you can link these to helping solve other perople's problems.

[andrew]

If your site's going to be about something, make it one thing. Focus on that one thing and do that one thing better than everyone else.

You're not going to make anymoney offering advice or what not unless you have something to offer that nobody else does, whatever that may be. Everyone and their mother's have their own website nowadays, you need to stand out or you're only going to get medicore, if any results.

[rene_stpierre]

Here are my suggestions:

1- First, your site needs to be related to something you are passionate about. Otherwise, your excitement and motivation levels will go down very quickly after the first few weeks of excitement. There is nothing more difficult than having to work on something you are not passionate about (I know what i'm talking about ... I do this 40 hours/week .... but not for long!) and there is nothing more pleasant than working at some thing you love (it just doesn't feel like work!)

2- I agree with a previous post that 1 site should be about 1 topic (or 1 niche). Start with one, get it going, learn from your mistakes, adapt, succeed ... then move on to the next one.

3- Your site needs to fill a need. It needs to solve a problem many people have. The more people you touch with your solution, the more $$ you will make.

4- Learn how the Internet Marketing world works. You can start with a Click Bank product if you want. There is so much to learn about internet marketing and once you know how to advertize your site ... you will succeed.

5- Never stop learning. About your domain of expertise, about how to make your website better, about new advvertizing methods, about yourself, etc

Good Luck.
René

[icesar]

Hi Neoeved,

All the suggestions on here are great, and I'll add my two cents.

- Focus is key. Pick the area you feel strongest about and work only on that one initially.

- Consistency is key. Reserve time every day to work on your site or business.

-Networking is key. Find other people you call ally or partner with, and bounce ideas off of.

[neoeved]

I want to first thank you all with your suggestions. They did not fall on deaf ears

I guess my biggest problem is finding what need I can fill. I do want to provide a service that is needed, but I don't know what that can be.

[Mayo]

Keep the list of ideas! I have a bunch of them, all need to be worked out.(^_^)

Pick the ones you think will work, and after that start working on the technical production of the site, i suggest to start small, learn some basic XHTML, some scripting (Ruby on Rails, Django,...), CSS, marketing, Photoshop tutorials, SEO, ... , the list goes on...
You can also use tools that are already constructed like Wordpress, and other blogging software (some PHP needed for wordpress, but i don't advise you to learn any PHP, go for Ruby on Rails- great support, or Django - lesser support but also great framework both FREE), also if you have DSL line at home with good connection start with it using ZoneEdit and host from home "server" like i'm starting, it takes no extra charges for you to pay for hosting and you can learn the skill although that is the HARD WAY, but the hard way is maybe the BEST WAY, it's like the baby, you have to nurture it for the nine months, painfully deliver it and then take care of it for long long time. For me this is the only right way!

If you don't have to look for j.o.b. right away, hone the skills and construct your self a viable long term business, invest in knowledge that is mostly free.

To construct a business is long and hard way to make a living, but once you pass the painful barrier of learning the skills you will be free to do what ever you want and you wont be questioning what to do, you will simply do it in couple of weeks and test it if it works, if not, you will reuse the parts of your work and construct the framework around another idea that will work.

Use your inner power to actualize the life you wanted.

[Dani]

Neo,

Keep a small pen, and a piece of paper or a notepad with you at all times.

As you are going about your daily business, or surfing the web, keep yourself open to any ideas that pop into your head.

Write down every idea you have, no matter how silly it might seem. I have a list of 100 website ideas, some good, some ridiculous, some might just be brilliant. (my favourite ideas will be coming online in the next few weeks stay tuned!) But the important part is to keep your creative juices flowing and accepting every idea you get without judging it.

Once you build a habit of making up new ideas, and accepting them, you will start to get your good ones coming to you.

Keep in mind that your website doesn't have to be about -your- interestests, you can get someone else to provide content while you provide the site, or the idea, or even just the kick in the butt to get them moving and writing

Then you agree on a profit share.

I am planning down the track to have some friends of mine produce blogs, e-books etc. on topics I know they are really good with, and I am going to simply build the site for them and do the marketing, and we split the money.

You have a LOT more options then, and you can often build it and walk away while they plod along provide content for you!

As someone said above, study internet marketing. I am cramming myself through a number courses while building sites now, and having a great time. A lot of stuff I didn't think about that I am sure will make a huge difference in the long run.

Most of all have fun and don't stress! If you are worrying about what type of site to build, the stress will prevent you from thinking clearly, and stop the creative juices from flowing.

[AtriumGuy]

Hi there-- I read your post today and I can certainly empathize with you, and feel as though many people in their 20's are uncertain as to what they want to do in their careers.
Its funny, I just wrote a blog entry about what it takes to find a fulfilling career, and am posting it here:

http://www.wethechange.com/4-critical-steps-to-uncovering-the-perfect-career/

Hope this helps and talk soon!
Todd