“Making websites” means different things to different people, so I’ll elaborate a bit on what I actually do:
Things I do:
- Design the graphics and layouts for my sites, like at Name Generator.in.
- Build databases to power my sites, like at Fake Name Generator.
- Write code to manipulate data, like at ASCII to Hex.
Things I don’t do:
- Create websites for other people or individuals (except perhaps for an occasional friend or family member).
- Use tools like Blogger, Apple iWeb, or Microsoft FrontPage.
- Sell stuff on eBay or on Craigslist (except perhaps for an occasional piece of furniture).
- Work in a sea of cubicles.
- Earn a lot of money blogging. I blog for fun, not profit.
So if I’m not working in a sea of cubicles and I’m not making websites for other companies, how do I make money? The answer is pretty simple: advertising! I get a lot of people to my websites, and advertisers pay me to show their ads.
I’m often asked how much advertisers pay. Well, the answer is “it depends”. For example, a site about finance that attracts people in their 30’s is likely to earn more per person than a website about toys that attracts people in their teens. The amount the advertiser is willing to pay directly depends on the quality of the traffic that my website receives, and the potential profit that the advertiser can earn. Luckily there are large ad networks that handle these complexities so I just sit back and watch the money accumulate.
I haven’t always been self-employed. Not too long ago I was working as Director of Software Development at an internet media company. So how did I get to the point where I could quit my day job? Again, the answer is pretty simple: hard work!
I didn’t get where I am overnight. It takes a lot of work to be successful on the internet. Some websites will make you a lot of money. Most won’t. For me, it took several moderately successful websites to earn enough money to let me quit my day job.
So enough about work. What do I do when I’m not working on websites? Well, I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and am currently serving as a youth leader and Assistant Scoutmaster in a local Boy Scout troop. I also love crafts, like making a Jumbo Jenga set. I think cooking is a lot of fun, too.
I’m also happily married to a wonderful woman, Becca, and have a lovely daughter, Anna. Being self-employed and semi-retired means I get to spend lots of time with both of them, for which I am very grateful.