Earning Money

When I started DormEarning.com, I was using a generic, free skin because I was dirt poor and I could not afford to upgrade. When I have started every single site save one, it has always been me using a free skin and then, when the site go to the point of maturation, I would find a new theme or something and make it look even better, putting money into it so that I could really give it that look. But, now that I look back on it, I have to ask myself if that was really the wisest way of doing things.

As I have grown as a business man and I have seen how things work, I have begun to appreciate the real necessity of a first impression. With that, I have begun to appreciate the importance of putting aside some money before you create a site to really get that theme that will make you stand out. Am I saying that you need to fork over $600 and get a unique theme? Absolutely not. This theme is not considered unique, cost $80.00 (thanks to SheisDesign), but I have never seen a blog with it and that is what makes it unique.

I have heard the argument that it is better to start with a free skin until you are getting bigger and I only say do this if you have a really nice looking free skin. John Chow did that for a while, but it was a really good theme and did its job. But, I have to ask myself: would John Chow have gotten bigger even faster if he was using the theme that he is using today back then when he was using his old theme? I have to say yes, I think he would have. This new one has a more professional look to it and I have only see greater success in his blog since he added it.

All in all, my opinion on a free skin at the start or a unique skin at the start has changed. I think that, if you really are going to treat your blog or forum as a business, you are going to want to have a skin that looks really great. Sure, it might put you in the red right from the start, but with the right location for advertising and the right look to it, your earnings could far outweigh the red that you are in. But, look…It’s my opinion. I have plans for another site and if I make it, I will be using a more unique theme because I want it to really look great. But that’s just me. Do what works best for you.

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