Nextebizguy

Website Name: Fireside Media
Website Link: http://www.firesidemedia.net

Please briefly describe your ebusiness.
I am the President of a small web development firm that specializes in SEO, SEM, and XHTML web design.

Why did you pick this particular idea?
It really just started evolving…we didn’t pick it, it picked us.

Did you have any previous experience in this area?
I’ve been a web developer for 6 years, so yes, I have.

How long did it take before you realized success or failure?
It’s taken about a year or so, we’ve been slowly planning, developing, and marketing to get to the point we are at now with our portfolio of websites.

Why do you think you succeeded or failed?
Hard work, dedication, and being willing to learn and try new things. Must give some to take some.

What things worked well?
Finding a good team to work with. Find some other dedicated individuals and work hard together.

What things didn’t work well?
Hmmm I haven’t found anything yet really. Most everything has worked out well.

What did you learn the hard way?
If you’re serious about managing a site, do NOT use shared hosting. I ran into problem after problem with shared hosting. I went dedicated and I’ve never looked back. I pay a pretty penny every month for the server, but it’s worth every cent. I currently use LiquidWeb and I highly recommend them to everyone.

Did you find any particular person, book, or site helpful?
Matt Cutts. He is a bank of knowledge. Good guy, definitely worth checking out.

What advice would you give to someone considering an ebiz today?
Read, read, read. Learn from other people. Talk, join forums, be part of a community. I’ve learned almost all I know from other people and reading. Don’t be afraid to try new things.