Design with Design Counts

Google AdSense is one way to provide additional content and opportunities to make money from your website or blog. For many webmasters it can provide an additional source of income that supplements or replaces their day job, for others it can be a frustrating experience where they earn little money from having Google AdSense on their websites. One thing has to be made clear you will only make money from your website/blog in the long term if you develop unique and interesting content, it is essential to provide a reason for coming back to a website – either as a source of reference or for new ideas.  So first create unique and interesting content then add advertisements to your site to earn money.

To keep up-to-date with Google AdSense and how to moniterise your site then look at the Google AdSense Blog as well as forums including Web Master World.

I have just been reading on the BBC website that Microsoft have successfully managed to shut down a large number of domains that send out spam e-mail messages. The e-mails are often sent out from computers that have been infected by a virus or trojan and they believe that 10% of all computers on the Internet have been compromised. The only way to stop this is to make sure that you have realiable anti-virus and internet security software installed and updated on your computer or laptop. You can of course use free anti-virus software from companies such as Avira – http://www.free-av.com or pay for internet security software. 

What is the difference between anti-virus and internet security software? well anti-virus software does what is says on the box, it helps protect your computer from viruses – however the internet has many other threats and dangers and this is where a suit of software is helpful, that is what internet security software is, a combination of software and systems that protect your computer and your data. If you have ever purchased anything over the internet you will have entered your credit card or bank details, trojans and other security threats can capture this information and send it to others who could or will exploit it. In my opinion it is essential to have internet security software on your computer before you do anything.

Design Counts is now redesigned using WordPress as the publishing tool. The template theme has been created using Artisteer Standard and I am very impressed with the software. The reason for purchasing a template generator was to allow me to create a WordPress template for a friend.  I had originally used “free templates” then discovered they included encrypted links to gambling websites. As I planned to add Google AdSense and Amazon affiliate links to the new website I decided not to use these free templates with questionable links in them, rather to create my own. 

In the process of using Artisteer I have discovered more about and just how powerful it is as a website publishing tool. Over the next few weeks I will be adding information on how to use WordPress as a publishing tool and how to add advertising to your website to help you make a little money. The amount of money you make is dependant on the amount of work you do to your website, and how interesting your readers find it. The sky is the limit to online earnings although I would suggest keeping a modest target of a few pounds each week is more achievable and a lot less frustrating. 

If you start a website or blog with the sole idea of making easy money then forget it, you need to be prepared to put in many hours of work and be very enthusiastic about the topic you are writing about. You must also be in it for the long term, do not expect to make money after a few days or weeks. If you are not up to the challenge then it is easier and less frustrating to put in a few more hours at Tesco, at least you will get paid!