If you're going to make money online, then you need to create a website. The single, best thing you can do is build a niche site - a website about something you know a lot about and are passionate about, a website where your knowledge will shine through and carry your visitors on a wave of enthusiasm.

Factors To Consider
If you're a tech-head, then building a website is a simple proposition. But if you're not, then how do you creating one?

One route to take is to pick up some webpage building software such as FrontPage or Dreamweaver and learn how to put webpages together. There can be a steep learning curve with this approach if you're not at all familiar with HTML or how websites are built in general.

Another option is to hire a web developer. However, if you're on a small budget, then this is an expensive option as all the knowledge remains with your developer and you'll need to rehire them to make changes to your website.

A third option is Site Build It!. I'd heard great things about this and was finally recommended to use it by a friend who'd started building his own site through it. I was also curious as to how different and easier it would be to build a site using Site Build It's point and click interface. While, for me, it was a bit of an adjustment not being elbow-deep in HTML code, the tools provided are eminently simple and anyone (and I do mean anyone) who can click a mouse, can build a website, and if you follow the Site Build It! philosophy, it'll make some money too!

Site Build It! Also provide a 10-step program that guides you through setting up a profitable website, one that's based on content rather than being all bells and whistles, so that it's useful to those who come visiting. It's what I used to build my Great Landscape Photography website. As traffic increases, you can then start signing up with affiliate programs and making sales of items that relate to the subject of your website (they tell you how to go about all this). It's a point-and-click solution to building websites and handles all the intricacies of email forms and responders and newsletter signups and mailings.

Pick a Domain Name
You need to pick a domain name for your website - something that's applicable to your topic. A domain name is simply the web address of your website. For example, if you're a grandmother and you like baking cookies, you could choose a name like:

You should put a fair amount of thought into this name as it's going to be the permanent address of your website. Think of alternatives too as with there being so many people on the internet these days, your first choice might already be taken.

Website Hosting
The other aspect of getting a website online is in having some company host the site. What this means is that you upload all the files for your website to a remote computer (called a server) that's attached to the internet where it goes "live".

There are hundreds (and probably thousands) of companies that offer hosting services. Many are free but they usually insert ads and banners onto your pages which can give them an amateurish look or create several popup ads that just annoy the hell out of your visitors. It's best to steer clear of them.

That does mean, however, that you will need to pay to have your website hosted. Prices usually start around $6.95 per month for basic packages although you can save money in some cases by paying for a year or more in advance. Most include a domain name as part of the package. Site Build It! include hosting as part of their package and there are no storage or bandwidth limits as there are with other hosting companies. And there are no extra charges for the autoresponder and newsletter mailing facilities they also provide.

Maintaining Your Website
Websites are not static things. You will need to update them, either because you're adding new information or content, changing the design or layout, or adding links to products you're selling or endorsing. So website maintenance is an ongoing process that you should be aware of. If you've hired someone to create your website, retainer/maintenance fees may be something you need to factor into your budget. If you're doing it all yourself, then you will need to devote some time to your website's upkeep.

Regardless of the topic you choose for your website, you should remember that any website should, at the very least, cover its own running costs.