traffic some of which are free, but many cost money. You hear a lot about using your "list" to drive traffic. But guess what, you need a list. The bottom line on traffic is that in many ways, you have to go out and get traffic. Unfortunately traffic doesn't magically come to you.

- Getting to the top of search engines is no simple matter, at least not without

In my experience there are a ton of people surfing around the internet that want their own website. This is wonderful; however there are a few things I want to make those people aware of before they begin their journey. I'm not making these points to be pessimistic, simply realistic. I sincerely wish I would have read an article where the author was being honest about the internet and websites before I began my foray onto the internet. These are the things that no one told me about this process and I had to learn through experience.

- Having a great looking website means nothing to anyone other than the person or people that pay for it. My partner and I heard how "great" our websites looked all the time from friends and family. Then one day we both said to each other "who cares how great it looks, that isn't translating into anything". Don't get me wrong, you want a professional looking website, just don't get caught up in thinking that the site looking good is going to translate into anything tangible.

- Once your website goes "live", that doesn't mean anything either. You need people to visit your website. This sounds obvious, but we didn't give getting visitors to our site nearly enough thought. It's easy to get caught up in thinking that having the website up and running means that people will automatically visit it. This is not the case.

- You need "traffic". "Traffic" is people visiting your site. There are various ways of getting traffic some of which are free, but many cost money. You hear a lot about using your "list" to drive traffic. But guess what, you need a list. The bottom line on traffic is that in many ways, you have to go out and get traffic. Unfortunately traffic doesn't magically come to you.

- Getting to the top of search engines is no simple matter, at least not without

e internet and websites before I began my foray onto the internet. These are the things that no one told me about this process and I had to learn through experience.

- Having a great looking website means nothing to anyone other than the person or people that pay for it. My partner and I heard how "great" our websites looked all the time from friends and family. Then one day we both said to each other "who cares how great it looks, that isn't translating into anything". Don't get me wrong, you want a professional looking website, just don't get caught up in thinking that the site looking good is going to translate into anything tangible.

- Once your website goes "live", that doesn't mean anything either. You need people to visit your website. This sounds obvious, but we didn't give getting visitors to our site nearly enough thought. It's easy to get caught up in thinking that having the website up and running means that people will automatically visit it. This is not the case.

- You need "traffic". "Traffic" is people visiting your site. There are various ways of getting traffic some of which are free, but many cost money. You hear a lot about using your "list" to drive traffic. But guess what, you need a list. The bottom line on traffic is that in many ways, you have to go out and get traffic. Unfortunately traffic doesn't magically come to you.

- Getting to the top of search engines is no simple matter, at least not without

Then one day we both said to each other "who cares how great it looks, that isn't translating into anything". Don't get me wrong, you want a professional looking website, just don't get caught up in thinking that the site looking good is going to translate into anything tangible.

- Once your website goes "live", that doesn't mean anything either. You need people to visit your website. This sounds obvious, but we didn't give getting visitors to our site nearly enough thought. It's easy to get caught up in thinking that having the website up and running means that people will automatically visit it. This is not the case.

- You need "traffic". "Traffic" is people visiting your site. There are various ways of getting traffic some of which are free, but many cost money. You hear a lot about using your "list" to drive traffic. But guess what, you need a list. The bottom line on traffic is that in many ways, you have to go out and get traffic. Unfortunately traffic doesn't magically come to you.

- Getting to the top of search engines is no simple matter, at least not without

le to visit your website. This sounds obvious, but we didn't give getting visitors to our site nearly enough thought. It's easy to get caught up in thinking that having the website up and running means that people will automatically visit it. This is not the case.

- You need "traffic". "Traffic" is people visiting your site. There are various ways of getting traffic some of which are free, but many cost money. You hear a lot about using your "list" to drive traffic. But guess what, you need a list. The bottom line on traffic is that in many ways, you have to go out and get traffic. Unfortunately traffic doesn't magically come to you.

- Getting to the top of search engines is no simple matter, at least not without

traffic some of which are free, but many cost money. You hear a lot about using your "list" to drive traffic. But guess what, you need a list. The bottom line on traffic is that in many ways, you have to go out and get traffic. Unfortunately traffic doesn't magically come to you.

- Getting to the top of search engines is no simple matter, at least not without spending a lot of time and money. Some people and companies claim that getting to the top of search engines is an easy matter. It's not, at least not with words and phrases that people actually search for. Believe me; getting good search engine results is a whole other can of worms, and something you should research rather than buying into all of the hype.

- If your goal is to make a living with your website, it's going to take longer than you think. Overnight riches are no more probable on the internet than they are in any other aspect of life. If you have any delusions of getting rich quickly with your own website, save your time and go buy lottery tickets………you'll have a much better chance of hitting the jackpot.

Again, I didn't make these points to discourage you, just to enlighten you to some of the things no one made me aware of. After reading this article you should have a much better understanding of what to put your energy into, and think about in relation to your new venture. I wish someone would have been honest with me in the beginning, thus the reason I'm being honest with you.