Name of your website?Lovable Golden Retriever
Your name?
Nancy Aingworth
Your Location (city, etc)
Columbus
Please give us a short summary of your website?
Filled with valuable, fun information and photos about Golden Retrievers, this site tells you about the Golden’s characteristics, history, purchasing, care and training, health problems, and activities to share with your Golden.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
I was looking for a self-perpetuating income for my retirement years, and I stumbled across Site Build It! which became the means to build a profitable, interesting way to fulfill my dreams and goals.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
This is my first website, launched in October 2008.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
I wanted to write about my passion, Golden Retrievers, and I used keyword research to determine the best way to reach other Golden lovers through using a good combination of words.
What makes your website different from other, similar offerings?
In my research, I discovered alot of pet sites that are either full of fluff (lots of fun photos and chit chat but not much useful information) or sites with so much medical and scientific mumbo-jumbo that I couldn't decipher what they were talking about. I wanted my site to be user-friendly and truly fun to read. I've included lots of pictures of these beautiful dogs, along with lots of easy-to-understand information to help you have the happiest, healthiest canine companion possible. I want to make you smile and feel fortunate to own a Golden Retriever.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
I believe my site will provide a steady stream of retirement income for the rest of our lives. Thanks to the web, it will continue to grow through the years, as more people discover us.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
As with most entrepreneurial activities, the bulk of the work is done up-front, with the results to follow. Accordingly, I don't mind putting in the extra work in these initial stages so I can relax further down the road. Fortunately, with Site Built It!, the modest financial investment provides all the software and support I could ever need. It's really a win-win all around.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
It's really not about the money (which remains the same modest annual investment with SBI), but rather how much time I choose to invest. The more time I put into it, the faster the site will develop and produce a more substantial income. So I'm motivated to put in the time required to make our dreams come true, as I'm working for myself and not a "9 to 5" boss.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Yes. I'm not currently working outside the home, so all my time and attention are devoted to my site. I would be delighted to spend every waking hour at the computer!
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
There's a bit of a learning curve with any web site, but the forums at SBI are helping me figure out everything as I go. It seems like a hassle sometimes, but I know it's worth it all. And it's really fun to continue learning so many new things through the weeks and months. Talk about "Lifelong Learning"! And I don't even have to find a community college to attend--it's all in my computer!
What has been your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge is being patient as my site is in its infancy, with a small amount of regular traffic. I know it will grow tremendously through the months and years to come, but I have to continually remind myself of that fact and not become impatient and discouraged. SBI encourages us to think like a tortoise--slow and steady wins the race!
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
I think the combination of writing articles and writing excellent keyword-focused site pages--all done in a fun, friendly way--are doing a good job promoting my site. I'm also applying to high-quality directories, a few at a time, to increase my exposure and link traffic.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
I knew (and expected) that it would take time to build traffic. So it really hasn't differed from my expectations, but rather fulfilled them. However, when the snowball starts rolling, there's no stopping it! I expect my website to exceed my expectations at that point!
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
I started my site in October 2008. Having put my hand to the plow, I'm not looking back. I'll continue to keep working on my site, adding pages and photos, eventually adding affiliates of great products, submitting more articles for publishing, and enjoying a slow but steady growth of traffic and income through the years to come.
Do you think having a newsletter or e-zine is a good idea?
I think a regular e-zine is a great way to stay in touch with my loyal readers, and I'll be launching my first issue this fall. It's going to be really fun--with breaking news on Golden Retrievers, interesting quotes, funny and heartwarming jokes and stories, and "What's New" at Lovable Golden Retriever, so everybody can keep up with the latest.
What is your website address?
Lovable Golden Retriever
