Well, here's the gist of it: Using what money I had saved up, I started a couple of websites/business ventures with the best of intentions. Much to my chagrin, despite the great site design, use of extensive search engine optimization tips, and plain ol' good intentions, these two websites have yet to turn a profit for me. The reason: poor page rankings.
To this end, I decided to start a new venture -- http://evolinktion.com/.
This blog will serve as the chronicles for the trials, tribulations, and eventual overwhelming successes of Evolinktions. I hope that via regular updates, as well as input from others, it will serve as some sort of what to do (or what not to do!) guide for entrepreneurs hungry to take a Star-Jones's-ass-sized bite of the e-commerce pie.
A list of my current budget, state of mind, expectations, progress, and all other pertinent info will be catalogued with every update. Please also take a moment to check the website out (in it's infancy)--it may be something that you are interested in if you're actually reading this blog.
Budget-None to speak of. I just told you I blew most of my savings on the other two businesses--including some asinine "marketing" and "advertising" gems.
State of Mind-Optimistic
Expectations-To have the pilot database finished by this weekend (6/12/2005), the first 20 subscriptions filled by 6/19/2005, and a modest (no set number) profit made by the end of June.
Progress-Initial site is up and calling for all interested webmasters to submit their sites for review and inclusion in the pilot database. Database is nowhere near completion, but the initial categories are set, and more than a few websites have provided links and expressed interest in learning more.
Last time I slept- ~130A-430A on 6/6/2005
Sundry Info-I'm almost out of cigarettes and I broke a couple toes stumbling to a friend's house late Saturday night/early Sunday morning (yes, I was...drunk and barefoot).
Overview
This new website/business venture is an attempt to help aid those brave souls who also would like to found a successful online and/or small business. The gist of the proposal is this: By forming an extensive and solid base of affiliates, I will then allow other sites/webmasters/business owners to subscribe to Evolikntion and thereby increase their sites popularity within Google's page ranking system. This link exchange program is geared specifically towards Google optimization and will result in a dramatic increase in each site's page rank (PR), which will subsequently increase a site's value and customer base, and therefore it's generated revenue.
Since I only began work on this site and my database, it is still very possible to have your website added to the pilot database for free. All pilot affiliates will always enjoy free backlinks. Since they are forming the initial links in the database, and are therefore of high quality and modest page rank within Google's PR system, they will receive free links for the duration of their involvement (terminated upon their request only).
I have decided that until I am satisfied with the pilot database, which I hope will be no more than 500 of the best websites within 46 different categories, this site will not go live. Currently, the site is in a holding phase until my database is complete. If you would like to nominate a website (yours or a friends--and preferably one dealing specifically with actual products and/or services--at least for the pilot program), please feel free to email me at charlie@evolinktion.com or visit the site and read a little more about it.
In case you’re interested, here are the other two sites that I currently have up (I may consolidate them into one large site if I can get the format/flow narrowed down to one site offering both services/products):
One website, http://booksaboutme.org/, is (still) a brilliant and innovative idea in personalized gifts--using the stories of loved ones, places of special interest, and memories that you hold most dear, I conceptualize, compose, and hand-bind a personalized novella only for you and your loved ones. These are not story templates, but rather completely original works that combine your accounts and my prose into one intimate book of stories.
The other website, still being developed, offers children's books that not only help foster a love for reading in children, but also instills the values and lessons that you want your children to live by. That website is http://lifeslittlelessonbooks.com/ if you care to take a gander...As I said, though, it's still under refinement.
