"Websites like SEOmoz and LifeHack don't focus on giving their visitors a good experience - you shouldn't either."

Do you want your visitors to go away from your website thinking, "That was a really good experience."? If your visitors have a good experience at your website, they're more likely to come back again and again.

Why not give your visitors a great experience instead? It's fairly easy to turn a website that offers a good browsing experience into a website that offers a great browsing experience. All you have to do is give your visitors what they're looking for, and then you give them more.

Websites like SEOmoz and LifeHack don't focus on giving their visitors a good experience - you shouldn't either. Instead of focusing on giving visitors a good website experience, SEOmoz and LifeHack give their visitors a great experience by having the things a typical visitor would look for on their website, and then giving them more.

Once someone finds themselves at the SEOmoz site, for example, they have the option to look around at all of the typical search engine optimization firm options - types of services, pricing, contact, and more. SEOmoz provides visitors with the things most internet users searching for a search engine firm would look for. SEOmoz then takes the visitor experience to a new level, offering SEO tips and advice, a great blog packed full of useful - and fun - information, a user generated blog, useful website and search engine tools, and more.

SEOmoz is a firm offering website optimization, but has become a great website experience because of the fun and useful things they provide outside of their regular content.

Similar to the SEOmoz site, LifeHack gives users what they are looking for when they come to the site - information on how to be productive. Then LifeHack goes further and offers a complete how-to section, a forum where users can get together, and - for those daring at heart - an advertising option.

LifeHack is designed to be a simple blog, but has become a great website experience because of the little things added to the site.

Both websites are good examples of how to give visitors a great experience. If you look at all of the websites that you visit on a daily basis, you'll notice that they are doing what SEOmoz and LifeHack do. They give their visitors the content that they are looking for originally, and then the websites give more content (whether useful, fun, or original) that will expand the visitors experience of the website.

All it takes is a forum, a poll, a "how-to" page, a quirky little game, a photo-sharing page, or anything that adds to the experience. You can turn your visitors experience from a good one (or a bad one) into a great one.

"Everything you thought about online marketing is completely wrong."

The field of search engine optimization is always changing, and that's what makes it exciting. Yet, the same changes that make search engine optimization exciting, make it a struggle to work with. If your business is shying away from optimization, you're losing valuable customers.

Search algorithms used by the major search engines are being tweaked randomly - and the rate at which they change is rapidly becoming smaller. Updates to the webmaster guidelines are made more frequently with each passing day. The rules of SEO change on a weekly basis. The strategies and approaches towards search engine optimization are not set in stone, and their benefits can change without notice. What you think you know one day could be completely different the next.

Weeks worth of work could "go to waste" in an instant. One minute your website is on top of every search engine in the world, the next minute your website can't even be found and everything you thought about online marketing is completely wrong.

Because of these exciting, and intimidating changes there are a lot of people - and businesses - that shy away from search engine optimization (or even look down upon it).

Businesses that shy away from optimization are losing valuable customers - they aren't reaching every potential customer possible. If you're not into optimization, you're not reaching all of the people you could easily be reaching.

Yes, search engine optimization is a tricky field. SEO is full of excitement and failures and success and boredom and everything else you can possibly imagine when it comes to marketing. All you have to do is come up with a strategy that works for you and your business and go with it. Even if your marketing strategy for search engines turns out to be a failure - due to changes in the system - at least you are reaching a wider audience and impacting more people than if you were to not optimize.

"The most effective way to get your website to the top of the search results pages."

Search engine optimization is big. You can easily optimize your website, and reap the benefits by doing so, right now.

Because so much web traffic is being sent from - and to - search engines, the benefits of your website being on the top of search results page is huge. I've found the most effective way to get your website to the top of the search results pages (or SERP for Search Engine Results Page) for any keyword you want. And I'm going to tell you that method right now. You won't have to pay a penny for this information, and I can guarantee it will increase your website's rank. The key to SEO is...

Produce quality content on each page of your website.

Now get to it.

"Give me two minutes of your time and I'll give your website more business."

Do you want to know the secret to getting thousands of visitors to your website daily? The secret to making 10 times more sales? The secret to making your website into one of the most well known? I'm going to tell you what that secret is. I'm going to give you the secret that can get you everything mentioned above, and more. Give me two minutes of your time and I'll give your website more business - or, at least, the secret to getting more business for your website.

The secret is a mixture of two valuable aspects of your life: time and communication.

No, you didn't read that wrong. Simply having some spare time and communicating can get you thousands of extra visitors, make you 10 times more sales, and make your website one that will be referred to for years to come. But it's only a collaboration of both time and communication that will make your website truly successful - whatever your website's purpose is.

The easiest, and most effective, way to market yourself is by communicating with others. Taking the time to simply say "Hello" to someone everyday who is already a big name in your desired field of work will make an impression on that person. Taking the time to help out around a forum and communicate positive responses will get you noticed.

When combining time and communication successfully together you create an friendly, knowledgeable, helpful identity that will be directly linked to your website.

That's it. That's the big secret that big named marketers use everyday. Become a resource for help, knowledge, and just friendly conversation and your website will get more and more traffic. And the traffic won't just go away. It will follow you wherever you go.

If you take the time to become interested in somebody else, they will become interested in you.

That's it for today. It's a state holiday here in Utah and I'm going out to enjoy a family BBQ and some fireworks. I hope you all have a great Tuesday and I'll be seeing you tomorrow. I also want to mention that an Internet Hunger contest is in the works - with some GREAT prizes.

"HEO - or, Human Engine Optimization. Websites optimized for you and me."

There are currently an estimated 6 billion users on the internet in our day and age.* Practically 99% of the entire world population is online. Sharing pictures, posting to blogs, meeting friends, downloading music, and whatever else it is people do online.

Today I would like to talk about the most important of all of those 6 billion users - you. You are number one out of 6 billion users, and that makes you pretty important. Yes you. Reading this right this very second, I'm talking to you.

Out of the billions of websites on the internet, none are more important than the ones you like - because, remember, you are user number one out of 6 billion. Nothing is more important than what you say. And there is nothing cooler than what you bookmark through your browser or through social bookmarking sites - such as Delicious, Digg, or StumbleUpon.

But why is it that the websites you like are the best ones in the entire world? Because you think they are. That's why.

Let me explain.

I call it HEO - or, Human Engine Optimization. Websites optimized for you and me. The kind of websites that are designed in a way that they are easy to use, welcoming, and make you go back for more.

Obviously every webmaster wants their website to be HEO friendly, but most don't know how to do it - when it's very simple to figure out. All they have to do is make a website you like. Make a website you can easily work around, and make it one that you wouldn't mind visiting a thousand times a day. Design it for the most important internet user in the entire world.

It's too easy to focus on dollar sign numbers these days. But if you want your website to be as successful as the other major sites out there - do what they do, watch why people are drawn to them. It's because they focus on the human engine. They use techniques and provide information and services that appeal to the majority of 6 billion internet users. You can do the same.

The next time you find a website that really gets your attention, take a close look at what they're doing to get you interested. And mimic it in your own website or blog. It's never been easier to create a great website that will bring a lot of people together. And as the internet grows and expands, I think we'll be hearing a lot more about HEO and how successful it can make your website.

It's the weekend and I won't be posting any updates, but I'll be back on Monday with some great news and articles for you. See you then!

*Source: Internetworldstats.com

"If you're not on the bandwagon yet, you should seriously consider hopping on right about now."

Search engine optimization (or SEO) is a growing field, not a dying one as others would have you believe. In-fact, I would even say that search engine optimization is still in it's crawling phase, and we're going to see a lot of changes and growth in the field within the next 15 years. If you're not on the bandwagon yet, you should seriously consider hopping on right about now.

Every business that has the power to be online is quickly discovering the power of optimizing for search engines like Google and Yahoo. Even major corporations are beginning to realize the power of search engines and - even though they hardly need it - they are optimizing themselves online to reap the benefits associated with the number one spot on a Google, Yahoo, or MSN search. We're talking giant fortune companies, the ones with millions of millions of dollars invested in their websites, getting interested in optimization.

When giant companies, who gained billions of links over the past thirty years - without the thought of SEO even existing mind you - are focusing more attention on optimizing their websites for SEO, you know it's a good sign that the field isn't going anywhere but up.

Search traffic is amounting to a huge percentage of visitors, and that percentile is growing almost every single day. The only foreseeable future is a growth in SEO and marketing. By optimizing your website for those visitors, you're going to increase your ranking on the search engine results page, and you are going to boost your business by an incredible amount.

Even with the introduction of mobile web, search engine optimization is only growing stronger. There are millions of cell phone users who use search engines on their mobile phones to find content. With the introduction of the Apple iPhone and rich HTML viewing on a mobile phone, SEOs are finding ways to appeal directly to cell phone users who can now browse the full, unaltered web from anywhere.

The field of search engine optimization isn't going anywhere. In-fact, I'd state that within 15 years it will become a huge industry, and almost every single person will know about it. So, if you haven't considered optimizing your website - or looking for someone who can help you do it - I'd suggest you get started now. Take a look at these great websites for more information on SEO, what it is, how to get involved, and other valuable resources:

• Seattle-based SEO company, SEOmoz, serves as a hub for search marketers worldwide, providing education, tools, resources and paid services.

• Tips about internet search engines and search engine submission through Search Engine Watch.

• SEO Book.com is a leading SEO blog by Aaron Wall covering the search space.

"Your blog is like your body. If you fill it with loads of crap, it won't work very well."

There are too many bloggers out there who are writing crap and trying to get away with it. They don't understand that piling junk into their blog isn't going to help their blog be healthy. Just because you can write, doesn't mean you can write well - and it doesn't mean anyone will be interested. For the sake of potential readers, don't be a junk food blogger.

Your blog is like your body. If you fill it with loads of crap, it won't work very well. But if you take the time and energy to fill it with good, wholesome things, it will work beautifully.

It's simple to write content. Anyone can do it. I spend a few days a week writing up articles for Internet Hunger, and I post new content every weekday. But I do my best to make sure the content is good, interesting, and wholesome. And that's where the line needs to be drawn. It's great if you can come up with content, but don't post it unless you're sure it's got potential.

Bloggers who devote time to their writings - inspecting for any spelling mistakes, proof reading to find out how the overall article feels, and triple checking that the content has a unique angle - are going to have healthier blogs than bloggers who cram things into their blogs in hopes of getting hits.

Next time you open up a New Post window, think to yourself: would you want to put another ding-dong into your body, or would you prefer something that will make you live a little bit longer. Would you rather fill your blog with crappy junk that will wear it down, or fill it with wholesome, well-thought out, content.

This message was not brought to you by the Food and Drug Administration. It was brought to you by Internet Hunger. Feeding your need for healthy, wholesome internet content... one day at a time.

"Sphinn.com is basically a popularity contest."

Social media websites are driving the internet forward. Websites like Digg, Facebook, and Netscape are helping people meet, communicate, and be-friend one another. Not only are address books filling up through these online connections, but these social media sites allow the internet to be funneled into an easy-to-use website. Giving just about anybody access to the best in news, entertainment, and almost anything else you can imagine.

That's why search engine marketeers and optimizers rejoiced this past week, as Danny Sullivan launched a social media site specifically for innovative, online marketers. It's called Sphinn - pronounced however you feel comfortable pronouncing it.  Amidst the excitement of this new portal for internet marketers, a lot of people didn't seem to notice that Sphinn isn't all it's cracked up to be - yet. As is, Sphinn.com is basically a popularity contest.

Anybody who is anybody in internet marketing is either using Sphinn already, or is in the process of getting involved. Big names like Todd Malicoat, Rand Fishkin, and Venessa Fox have already began taking over the home page. And I'm sure we'll see much more activity from the big players in internet marketing within the next few weeks - as Sphinn is debugged and tweaked.

Unfortunately, because the big named marketers are already "big named marketers" it's hard for anyone new to SEO or marketing to stand out from the crowd. Similar to Digg.com, those who are already known to be knowledgeable and innovative get practically all of the attention. Don't get me wrong, every article I have seen on the front page of Sphinn deserves to be there - it's great, useful stuff. But I've also seen tons of articles that received only two sphinns, even though they provide more unique, useful, and interesting information than "How to pronounce Sphinn."

Another example of the popularity contest that Sphinn is can be seen in almost every article post. Hardly anyone is using the comments feature to share their opinions. In big topics a few comments can be seen - roughly 20 or so - but even on articles with 10 or 20+ Sphinns there are zero comments. Granted, this is a new community, the growth rate and article submission rate can literally be seen skyrocketing and the interaction between users should resemble that.

Instead of people really putting themselves out there to participate in Sphinn, they are commenting on the big-named articles, posted by popular names in internet marketing.

If the online marketers of Sphinn don't start taking the time to really read through submissions and evaluate quality content - which I have seen 98% of Sphinn articles to be thus far - the community will take a drastic hit and never become what it could be.

Users need to seriously consider the articles they are Sphinning and really devote themselves to creating a community where everyone can learn and grow, rather than a place to make already-popular marketers even-more-popular.

You can help. If you haven't already, head over to Sphinn, sign-up, Sphinn articles you think are great, comment on every article you read, and share your opinions. Sphinn has great potential. A truly valuable resource for anybody interested in online marketing, SEO, SEM, web design, etc. But it's the community that has to make that happen.

I don't believe everyone is focused on the popular marketers only, but it is clear that a lot of useful, intelligent, helpful, and interesting information is being passed up. Let's change that.

"Instead of trying to show off your mad skills, focus on simplicity and you will be greatly rewarded."

A lot of new - or inexperienced - web designers like to show of their skills and make their websites fairly complicated, a mistake you probably do as well. By adding unnecessary technologies to a web page, creating a complicated navigation system, and simply having elements that are completely useless, your website could be losing a lot of valuable visitors every day.

By simplifying your website, your viewers have quick access to the information they need, your website becomes much easier to manage and update, and search engines will post your website more accurately and fully. All of these benefits can be achieved by avoiding the fluff of website design. Instead of trying to show off your mad skills, focus on simplicity and you will be greatly rewarded.

The first thing you should do is review the technology used on your website. You should be able to do everything you need to using only two or three technologies. If your website is using XHTML, CSS, AJAX, Flash, and JavaScript to achieve it's effects, then it is too busy and should be simplified. Using multiple technologies in your website is not only unnecessary, it makes it harder for every person who visits your website to see the same thing you see. Not everyone has the latest version of Flash running on their computer. As Daniel Shutzsmith of Graphic Define once said: "...only use [technologies] when it is absolutely necessary to achieve the solution you are looking for."

Removing unnecessary technologies from your site is one method that will greatly improve your visitors experience, but it isn't the only thing you should review to simplify your website. One of the most important aspects of your website is its navigation system. Instead of trying to think "out of the box" with your navigation system, think "easy, accessible, and friendly."

Place your navigation in a very open place - one where visitors will immediately be able to spot it. Use simple, friendly hyperlinks or similar methods to create your website navigation. A lot of javascript drop-down navigation menus, or flash navigation systems, won't run on many computers/browsers. Hundreds of visitors visiting your website everyday may leave within the first 10 seconds because they don't know how to navigate.

Finally, besides the mistakes of unnecessary technologies and a complicated navigation system, web designers often add elements to web pages that are completely useless. Your site visitors want to find the information they came to your website as quick as possible. By having flashy images or giant banners that serve no purpose on your website, you are scaring away the majority of your site visitors. The best way to deal with this problem is to use your imagination.

Pretend that you are visiting your website for the 100th time. If there are any elements that are annoying or seem completely useless - remove them. Not only will veteran visitors appreciate the new found simplicity of your website, but new visitors will find it easy, and enjoyable to use and come back for more at a later time.

By avoiding the common mistakes some web designers make you can save yourself a lot of visitors and potential customers. 

Simplifying your website by removing unnecessary technologies from a web page, creating an easy to use navigation system, and getting rid of useless elements, your website will dramatically attract new attention - as well as keeping old visitors coming back.

"The President of the United States of America was killed today, you could be a suspect."

Within the first 10 seconds of visiting a website, visitors decide whether or not the website is worth their time. Webmasters have only a few options to make visitors interested in staying on their website for longer than a few seconds. I call this the "so what?" effect.

A great tactic for making visitors care - or feel obligated to stay on your website for a duration of time - is addressing the "so what" effect. Obviously, you could lie and say "the President of the United States of America was killed today, you could be a suspect." to get attention. But once you got your visitors attention you would have to confess that you lied to them (unless, of course, the President really was killed and your visitors could be suspects), risking the loss of hundreds of loyal visitors. So, here is one way you can make your website pass the "so what" effect and keep visitors interested longer than 10 seconds.

Make your visitors feel important.

Most websites that offer services, valuable information, or just fun things, focus on themselves - not the visitors. By focusing entirely on visitors, you make them feel important, and interest them in what you have to offer them for their time (and possibly money).

To make your visitors feel important, use words like "you" instead of "I" or "us." By blatantly focusing on visitors in this way - rather then yourself or the company - you're making them feel like a valuable part of the website. Granted, you don't have to stay up nights trying to figure out how to change the company slogan from "Get your kicks from us" to "It's all about you." But you should spend a few minutes thinking of copy to place on your website that will really focus on the visitors.

I would suggest placing this copy on the front page in big, bold letters. Because, typically, once you have a visitors attention you've done what you needed to, get them interested long enough to find out what it is you can offer them.

Today's article is a quickie, but I still hope you found it interesting. I'm heading out of town for the weekend, so no updates will be posted until Monday. I hope you all have a great weekend and I'll see you next week.

"Valuable tips for any link lover, as I have learned from experience."

One of the most crucial - and beneficial - strategies to promoting a website is linking. While there are hundreds of ways to obtain links, one method has remained strong since internet marketing began. Of course, I'm talking about manually tracking down, working with, and obtaining links.

Yet, despite how simple manually working with links sounds, it can be a daunting task. So I've come up with a few tips and tricks on how to make a link building campaign less stressful. Some of these may seem obvious, but are easy to forget. And all of these are valuable tips for any link lover, as I have learned from personal experience.

When communicating, be human. When writing an e-mail to a webmaster, be human. You want to keep things formal, but don't sound like a robot. Act as if you were e-mailing an old friend, comment on features of their website that you admire, avoid using terms such as "link exchange." And, above all, be friendly. If you can create a connection between yourself and the potential link partner, your chances of obtaining a link are dramatically increased.

Don't just look for links. This tip goes along with the previous one. Granted, the easiest way to get links is to just ask for them. Asking a stranger for a link to your website is like asking someone on the street for a kiss. Instead, take some time to connect with the webmaster. After-all, you shouldn't just be looking for links. You should be looking for resources your site visitors can use.

Avoid out-dated websites. If possible, check the date of the webpage/site. If it looks like the website hasn't been updated for a while, chances are you aren't going to get anything beneficial from the website - let alone communication. Don't waste your time, move on to a different website.

The Google Toolbar makes things easy. The Google Toolbar has a few little features that users often overlook. When you find a great website that would be perfect for a link click on the PageRank button in the Google Toolbar and select "Similar Pages." What you'll find is a great library of links somewhat similar to the one you were on.

Use search engines to track quickly. If a website has a fairly big list of linking websites - or their links are spread through-out their pages - you can use a quick Google search to track your website down on theirs. Simply copy the URL of their website and type this code into Google: "site:theirwebsiteurl.com yourwebsite" but be sure to replace theirwebsiteurl.com with the actual website URL, and yourwebsite with the name of your website.

That's it for now. Hopefully these tips can be of some use to you - or, if anything, a good refresher.

"It isn't about tricks. It is about good structure and good writing practices."

I recently had the opportunity to sit down and chat about the future of the internet with talented author and professional speaker James Huggins. James is a professional speaker on technology, ebusiness, and other technology related topics. He's also a technologist with more than 30 years of information technology experience. He runs a personal website over at jamesshuggins.com, where you can read more about him and the things he has been doing for technology over the past few years.

When I first got in contact with James, I was interested in his philosophy on link trading. He's got an entire page devoted to link exchanges. "I believe that if a site truly wishes to benefit its own visitors, then it should link to another site, if, and only if, that link would benefit its visitors," says James.

While planning for links, keeping your focus on your visitors while working on your website - rather than focusing on search engine results - has its clear benefits. And by keeping your visitors in mind, search engines such as Google will automatically deliver your results - if they are what searchers are looking for. As James puts it, "Google's goal is to serve the searcher. That is, Google's ability to make money depends on its ability to deliver relevant pages to the searcher. ...Create the best pages for your readers and Google will deliver them."

In the market of websites today, there are countless websites that chose to focus on search results directly, rather than benefiting their visitors. "Many site owners think that rankings are a matter of tricks and they spend too much time looking for tricks and trying tricks," James tells me. "You have to write the page that the reader would want to read, in a way that Google will know that and deliver it, with appropriate information that will allow the reader to make the next decision you hope they will make (e.g., buy the product, subscribe to your newsletter, write their congressman, rescue a dog or cat ... whatever it is)."

I asked James why he believes there are so many webmasters that focus on rankings instead of visitors. "Many site owners own sites as a pure investment," he replies. "They read somewhere that by putting up a site they could make millions in their pajamas. They don't have a personal connection to the topic of the site nor to the customers who use that site."

Obviously the internet has become a superb breeding ground for multi-million dollar corporations, but unless a webmaster goes into building their website with their visitors in mind, their success won't be as great as companies such as Google, or eBay.

"[The success of a website] depends on your goals. ...Success is personal. Each person must define it for themselves. ...The best SEO writes for the searcher in a way that the search engines will recognize. It isn't about tricks. It is about good structure and good writing practices."

When James brought up the success of a website, I asked him what he thought about the success of the internet, where he thought the internet would be in the next five years, and if the internet will be a success in terms of social and business interactions. "I see two possibilities," says James. "In vision one, the internet has an increasingly positive impact on our [lives]. It allows social interaction and business data sharing. It works to reduce the cost of information. ...Competition can't work effectively if you don't know the competitors features, options, benefits and prices," he tells me. "In vision two, the future is not so bright. The internet has helped reduce the control of mainstream media, and given everyman the opportunity to become a journalist, an information creator and a critic of government, business, society and each other. There are many in the business community who see everyman not as a contributor, but only a consumer."

A perfect example of James second vision of the future of the internet can be seen today, with such things as YouTube becoming a part of CNN.

"I fear what Richard Stallman wrote in his classic short story "The Right to Read". And I fear the possibility of the internet to empower the powerful, both the private power of business, and the nominally public power of government, to steal the private information which you and I own by right of our lives, making it part of massive databases that make Orwell's 1984 look tame."

In conclusion, James left me with some good advice that all webmasters should consider: "I'm not saying these are likely. But I fear that when we do not recognize the power of lightening, we are more likely to take shelter in a storm by standing under a tree."

Next time you have a minute to spare, read up on some things James has done over at his website and drop him a line.

"If you wear a swimming suit to the party - instead of a business suit - you'll make more sales."

The internet, as we know it, is quickly becoming one giant pool party. If you wear a swimming suit to the party - instead of a business suit - you'll make more sales.

The pool party, or as it is commonly referred to, the internet, was created for one reason: to help people meet and connect. Now, in the year 2007, we are seeing connections from all over the world. These "social media websites" are springing up left and right. Connecting people from Spain with others from Russia. Citizens of Asia or India can video chat, e-mail, and send documents to people in Canada or Tonga. And the world is picking up on this social interaction - almost everyone who owns a computer is socializing through the internet. The pool party is growing every day.

There's a valuable marketing strategy here, but there are millions of webmasters who aren't getting involved with it - despite the fact that it's easy to do.

The strategy I'm referring to is interaction.

Of course, any website that wants to sell something - whether it's t-shirts or an opinion - will think of social connectivity, but not in a way that truly benefits their customers. Interaction through websites has become such a powerful tool that even major, global corporations are paying top dollar for somebody to figure out how to do it - they're paying somebody else to put on a swimming suit and have fun. While stating that "those huge companies are wasting their money" isn't completely fair, it's partially true.

Many businesses and corporations - big or small - are stuck in the frame of mind "professional sells." There aren't many companies that are catching a wave and connecting with their customers through the internet these days. Because they're wearing their business suit at the pool party, they're loosing a lot of potential business. They need to put on some swimming trunks and splash in the water with the people they want to sell to. They need to connect, one-on-one in the water of the internet, with their visitors.

By adding fun, less-business-focused content to your website, you're creating the opportunity for interaction. You're allowing a connection to be made with your visitors, that doesn't revolve around a dollar sign. Add a section to your website where you share customer mugshots. Or have a place where visitors can come and mix facial features of different employees of your business. The ideas are endless, and easy to come up with.

Companies like Coudal Partners have realized the ever lasting effects of being friendly (dare I say, human?) over being all-professional all the time. And it's paying off. Coudal is currently conducting what they call the "meat swap," and the publicity I have seen for this is everywhere.

When it come to your website, your visitors, and your business, don't be afraid to get a little wet. Take off the business suit and connect with your visitors. You'll not only make a lot more sales, you'll also make a lot more friends.

"In a lot of ways, creating a website is like having a baby."

I've spent the past few weeks pacing back and forth in my living room. Partially from excitement, partially from worry. The reason for these emotions is - thus far - the pride and joy of my life. My child. This blog.

Because, in a lot of ways, creating a website is like having a baby.

For most of my life I've wanted one. I know a few friends who have more than one. I've heard the stories of how much of a blessing - and curse - they can be. I have decided it's the right time of my life, I'm ready to have one of my own.

The first few days are full of excitement and planning. I looked around online on what to expect, and even searched around Google for possible names. I read up on what types of things it would need to be healthy and strong. I wanted to be prepared to put as much time and money into it as possible, to make it grow. In all honesty, I originally had the hopes that someday it will be able to make money for me. I understand that by having one I need to be responsible for it's well being, I need to be ready to support it while it grows.

After a lot of planning and pacing, the day has finally arrived. My baby - this blog - is now a part of this world. Even with it's first few moments of life, I've realized that it is going to require a lot of love and attention. I will lose countless hours of sleep at night worrying about it. And, above all, it will stink from time to time.

I think the best way a website is like a baby is that, it is a blessing that you and I get to watch grow overtime. Hopefully, someday, it will be able to stand up and change the world.

So, without putting it off any further, say hello to Internet Hunger.