How to Build a Hobby Web Site

By Carmen Mardiros

Over half of the emails I get are from people with a hobby who want to build a website around their passion. That's how I built my first website, too. It was for my favorite band at the time, The Corrs, and I can't remember another time when I had more fun. With millions of websites offering tips on hobby web site creation, why should you read this page?

Three of my websites are built around my hobbies. They have all become successful, they bring a generous income and they have helped me start a career as a full time webmaster. Here's what I learned in the process.

Never make the mistake of thinking your hobby website is just a website.

Your own hobby website will never be just a website. It will bring you satisfaction that few other endeavors can bring. In fact, it will be more successful than most commercial websites. Why?

1. Passion creates extraordinary content

2. Extraordinary content attracts attention

3. Passion and extraordinary content opens minds and hearts

4. Open minds and hearts bring you tremendous benefits

For example, I originally created my Scotland web site to share my favorite destination with other people, to shout from the rooftops that Scotland is one of the most beautiful countries on Earth. Today, it earns enough to fund every new holiday trip I take, not only back to Scotland, but to other destinations as well. I have also sold enough photos taken during my trips there to not only cover the cost of my original digital camera, but to buy a much better one as well (a Canon 350D).

I've received praise from Scottish businesses, tourist boards, regular Scots and tourists. The website persuaded hundreds of other people to visit Scotland, while working on it made me realise just how much I love travelling and photography. I've acquired many skills in the process, skills which help me day in, day out.

Your hobby website will bring a priceless contribution to your life, and you should plan for it accordingly!

Looking back on my experience:

I wasted too much time on the technical side of things. Every one of my early websites went through 4-6 'designs' before I found the 'winning formula'. What a waste of time! If I had known how to build them right from the beginning, I could have focused my energy on creating more content and interacting with my visitors (which is what makes me happy, in the end). I should have taken shortcuts.
I never intended to earn money from my music or travel websites, or for them to become so successful in their topics, but it happened, and that makes me feel proud. I should have planned and built the websites for success, right off the bat.
I never thought a hobby website would be worth paying for, so they were built using tools freely available. Boy, was I wrong! If I had invested at least something, it wouldn't have taken 4 years to get (a) the satisfaction and fulfillment money can't buy or (b) the generous income which allows me to enjoy my hobbies even more, but perhaps 2 years or less. I should have invested money in the making of my websites in order to enjoy them more.

Bottom line:

You should take shortcuts.
You should plan and build the web site for success, right off the bat.
You should invest at least some money in the making of your web site in order to enjoy it more.

There are many ways to achieve the above but one way which has proven popular with many people (and with me, if I had come across it years ago) is the Site Build It! way.

How to Build a Hobby Web Site

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