Because in my day job I've learned a lot about websites, and learned to use an affiliate program with confidence, I've decided to have a go at making a couple more small websites in the hope of earning a little extra. I've been listening to some interesting podcasts on working from home - WAHM Talk Radio and one that I think is called Focus on WAHM or something like that. I also came across Cindy Rushton's website after she did an interview (funnily enough I'd already been listening to her mom-to-mom radio show) where she talked about getting started in writing. She had some excellent tips. (She's got the cutest accent and is SO upbeat it's almost painful - I've never heard anyone who can so sweetly phrase something when they are trying to be blunt!) she really does have some wonderful advice and is well worth listening to.

 So far, my affiliate experience has been with a major, well-established website that I write for. As well as how-to articles I have product reviews, and have quite good sales through the affiliate. I use Commission Junction. I've heard some people have had trouble with them, but I have personally found them excellent.

 I have a small personal blog which doesn't have much content yet, and has only two Amazon links. It is really just a 'mind dump' blog and not well optimised for search engines so I don't expect it to do anything, I was just experimenting with the blog host and Amazon. 

One of the things I don't like about Blogspot is the way it archives things. The post tags are good, but I totally don't see the point in timed archiving - unless you want to go through and read from the first blog. I prefer more categorized navigation so I think I'll see if I can do a website format that allows me to have a simple folder structure. 

 I have a cheap web host but I find their interface a bit ugly and clunky to use - they have a lot of good stuff - I can use scripts and so on - but I've been slow to do anything with it, because I don't really know what I'm doing! I've avoided those 'WYSYWIG' editors because their code is so cluttered, but in some ways I think I should probably look for a simple 'for dummies' website creator if it will help me get the content up quickly.

Have you had any experience with writing online and using affiliates? Got any thoughts on cheap web hosting?

 My tip on websites: CONTENT. You have to have quality content, and quite a bit of it, updated regularly, to keep readers coming, and keep them coming back. If I find a thin website with a half-dozen book reviews and loads of ads, I'll just click away. But personal insights, advice, how-tos and tips on things I'm interested in - yep, I'm there.

 Helen, I used to have a web site (I closed it down when I worked for About, because there just weren't enough hours in the day) that I used affiliate marketing with - Commission Junction for one. I never had trouble with them at all, either in paying or in navigating their web site, two complaints I've heard. 

Mine dealt with the Christian faith, so it was hosted with a Christian web host. I wouldn't try to use a cheap host because there are so many things that can go wrong. For $15 to $20 a month you can get a good one and not worry about it.

Content is definitely king. I bought articles to publish twice weekly, giving authors a prominent byline and of course, they always linked back to the article from their own web sites. That helped two ways, first in direct traffic from them and secondly it helped my rating in search engines to have that many links back to the site.

I couldn't afford to pay a lot, but 5 cents a word for short pieces of 300 - 600 words will bring a lot of good authors, especially if you're willing to edit and work with them.  My expenses ran around $100 a month (I wrote two or three pieces each publish date to help fill in) so it's not impossible to get something going. One or two articles a month won't do it. 

Settling on a narrow niche was/is the hardest thing for me, but if you have that settled, you can do it.  

 Thanks for those thoughts, Pat. Outsourcing is a great idea. I recently used iFreelance to buy some images that I needed, and it was very effective - I got some first-class work at a very reasonable price. In this case it was supplementing my own work - and I think it's good for people to see different styles of art, too - but in the future I'm going to use it to purchase the services of artists in specific styles that I'm not able to do. It will fill an important gap in my website and provide my readers with a good resource.

Another idea I had was to get together with a small group of other writers. I'd seen something similar with a Romance writer's website that I visit - they take turns blogging, and promote their latest books. That takes the pressure off individuals and gives a good, rounded web presence.

helen:

In this case it was supplementing my own work - and I think it's good for people to see different styles of art, too - but in the future I'm going to use it to purchase the services of artists in specific styles that I'm not able to do. It will fill an important gap in my website and provide my readers with a good resource.

 That makes sense. I think that publishing content from several avenues helps keep a site interesting. 

helen:

Another idea I had was to get together with a small group of other writers. I'd seen something similar with a Romance writer's website that I visit - they take turns blogging, and promote their latest books.

Do you mean that they use the same blog? I do something similar to that right now, but not to promote books: Lehman's Country Life 

If you mean they each have their own blog, I can see more potential value in that.  

I've done pretty well with my blog, considering it started out as a personal journal, and I never expected anyone to read it.  :)  I use a combination of Adsense, BlogHer ads, and affiliate links.  I agree that updating regularly and posting personal stories are important.

I use the Wordpress platform with Bluehost as a host, and I've been pretty happy with it.  If you like to write, blogging can be a pretty decent side income.

 Yes, it's a shared blog. The publisher likes authors to keep a public profile and it helps readers get to know their fave authors, and is also a way for new authors to get a bit of insight. Maintaining a personal blog, as a writer, is a big ask and takes a lot of time from the real writing, so this is a good alternative.

http://www.pinkheartsociety.blogspot.com/

 there's another one but it's content can be a bit naughty so I won't post it here. There are others too with groups of writers from various lines. It isn't a money-making thing in itself.

I think cross-promotion can be a useful thing though - blogs like liferemix.com has feeds from a variety of bloggers on related topics, and I think it broadens my online reading and in fact, keeps me reminded of blogs that I like, which I might not remember to visit if they don't always post on something I want to read, if that makes sense.

helen:

I think cross-promotion can be a useful thing though

Absolutely. The danger I see in a shared blog is that one's focus can become narrow unless there's an effort made to look up and out, you know?  Cross promotion is an important tool no matter how it's used.

The blog I mentioned is "real writing" for me, as I get paid to post there, but I'd do it even if I didn't get paid because I love the topic and the people and because it can be a big round robin of linking and promoting work in other places. 

beingfrugal:

I've done pretty well with my blog, considering it started out as a personal journal, and I never expected anyone to read it.  :)  I use a combination of Adsense, BlogHer ads, and affiliate links.  I agree that updating regularly and posting personal stories are important.

I've been to your blog; it's very well done. I do believe there's money in blogging if one is willing to put out the time and effort. 

 It's definitely a lot of time and effort.  But I enjoy it, so it's more like a paying hobby for me.  :)

 And cross promotion is a good thing, no matter what field you're in.  Plus, it's fun to move outside your regular niche to get to know other people.  :)

You can't beat a paying hobby!  If it's just work, I think that shows through in writing... you have to enjoy what you're doing to do it well.