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High Tech DiscussionDiscuss all the high tech, gadgets, computers, phones, etc. here
I think we have a few members here who run their own website. Maybe we can share some tips on contents, traffic, SEO, monetization, etc.
Well, you know I run this forum. I also have 20+ other sites I maintain. I've been doing this for almost 10 years. Can't say I've been successful yet but I've learned a lot over the years and I'm willing to share with anyone.
I have my own website, but....It's all paid for for the next 2 years, and there isn't really anything for others to do on it except gather information. Nothing like your sites I'm sure.
Well, so you pay someone else to maintain your site?
You can still do a lot. The website for a school can be useful marketing tool for people who are already in the school to exchange information and also for new students thinking of checking out the school.
Other things a webmaster can do is to do some promotion, even if it's free, such as link exchanges with other martial arts sites, or getting listed in the directory, etc.
Well, so you pay someone else to maintain your site?
You can still do a lot. The website for a school can be useful marketing tool for people who are already in the school to exchange information and also for new students thinking of checking out the school.
Other things a webmaster can do is to do some promotion, even if it's free, such as link exchanges with other martial arts sites, or getting listed in the directory, etc.
It can't hurt.
Actually, I only pay someone if I need something changed on the site. (Which I DO need done[my address is currently wrong], but I haven't found someone yet that I trust and can afford. LOL) I don't know how to write code, so it's something that has to be done by someone else. Until I get the address changed, I'm not doing much to market the site. I don't pay anything to keep it up and running currently. I paid for two years of hosting up front when I initially started the site up. I also paid for two years of the domain name at that time. So I'm set for another year and a half or so. Now....Where did I put that book on how to write code at?
LOL
I think we have a few members here who run their own website. Maybe we can share some tips on contents, traffic, SEO, monetization, etc.
Well, you know I run this forum. I also have 20+ other sites I maintain. I've been doing this for almost 10 years. Can't say I've been successful yet but I've learned a lot over the years and I'm willing to share with anyone.
I run around 7 or 8 sites. I also teach people how to design web pages, edit graphics, etc. Several require updates all the time and others are just educational for my job that I only update every few months or so.
As far as traffic...content is key. The more text, the higher you will show up on search engines. Also, spreading the word, for instance a great way is to sign up for a forum and put your link in the signature. Also trading links with other similar sites, especially ones that have a high google ranking.
As far as SEO..the first is good meta tags. Then using css, not older html. Then if you run anything web 2.0, like forums or blogs, there is a lot you can do depending on who you go through. My forums are through phpBB which is free but the seo is terrible and I need to go into the code and modify it. However, my sites that use phpBB get a lot of hits because there is other additional content.
Overall though, the most important thing is simple text and content.
O, and forum moderation is not fun Preventing spam on the forums is not fun
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Gracie Challenge: "If you want to get your face beaten and well smashed, your a$$ kicked, and your arms broken, Contact Carlos Gracie at this address..."
Sounds like we have other experienced webmaster midst us to share tips with.
I'm using vBulletin, which costs money compared to phpBB but it seems there are more mods and other applications written for it. I'm also using vBSEO, which turns all the URL into search engine friendly links but also cost money. So far I can't say it has helped to get more traffic or not. I have 2 other forums but they are not nearly as active as this one. Yes, fighting spammers is not fun. I try to find some applications someone else has written to make it more difficult.
Sounds like we have other experienced webmaster midst us to share tips with.
I'm using vBulletin, which costs money compared to phpBB but it seems there are more mods and other applications written for it. I'm also using vBSEO, which turns all the URL into search engine friendly links but also cost money. So far I can't say it has helped to get more traffic or not. I have 2 other forums but they are not nearly as active as this one. Yes, fighting spammers is not fun. I try to find some applications someone else has written to make it more difficult.
Ive only heard good things about vBulletin, only downfall is that you have to pay. phpBB is great if you know how to do a lot of coding and mods whereas vBulletin has the features already available. ive also heard vbulletin is more secure out of the box than phpbb. although with phpbb 3, i have yet to install a security mod. with phpbb 2, spam was a major issue unless i used the security mods. the best one I found was asking the person registering questions that only a human could answer.
I was going to do an SEO mod for phpbb that changed the links to spider friendly urls but just havent had the time. there are a few others as well but my time is limited until dec when i get off for 4 weeks in between semesters.
I created it in dreamweaver using all CSS. its in a dreamweaver template format to help save time when making changes. the forum is in phpbb. the forms were done in php and interact with a mysql database.
__________________
Gracie Challenge: "If you want to get your face beaten and well smashed, your a$$ kicked, and your arms broken, Contact Carlos Gracie at this address..."
Styles: Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Karate, Aikido, Judo, Tae Kwon Do
Posts: 1,427
Home Country:
I've been (in a past life) a professional web master/designer. Thankfully I dont do that as my career anymore (now I'm just a plain ol' SysAdmin).
That said, I do still run a variety of websites - I've got my own Martial Arts site, a personal blog, a gaming website/blog, a few *cough* uh.. OTHER kinds of sites , a online flash-game website, and a few others.
Most are wordpress (though not all). I always use phpbb for my forums, but just because it is free. I do my own hosting for most of my sites, which cuts down on expenses.
I will be happy to assist in any way I can, though none of my sites are particularly successful (the only one to make me a profit is the Martial Arts one)
Anyone here run a website?
Now....Where did I put that book on how to write code at?
Preventing spam on the forums is not fun
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