Personal Computers and the Internet are evil. They are devious devices that play both sides of the fence.
On one side, there is the good.
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"We're thrilled with everything you do in your efforts to become a successful adult webmaster. Learning is good. Research is fine. Networking is vital. However, we would like to remind you that there's work to be done." |
PCs and the web enable us to change our lives. With them, we can research and learn how to become adult webmasters. We can create an entire career from scratch with just a little financial investment. Computers and the net enable us to communicate and do business with folks from all over the world without ever leaving our homes. These wonderful tools are responsible for the fortunes of many webmasters.
On the other side is the evil.
Computers and the Internet are time-sucking, energy-draining vampires. Many is the webmaster that has looked up from the monitor, only to discover they've spent the last five hours playing Warcraft. How often have you wasted untold time checking sales stats, chatting on message boards or experimenting with software that serves no immediate purpose? Suddenly, it's after midnight and there you are, with your gallery not made or your free site not promoted. You know who the culprit is. That evil computer and it's nefarious partner, the Internet.
Or maybe the evil isn't in the technology. Maybe the evil is in you.
At Cozy Frog, we encourage newbie webmasters to research and learn. We feel it's important to read the boards and join in the community of this industry. We want you to master new software and hone your skills. We think it's fabulous that you can check your stats and ICQ your peers and mentors. We're thrilled with everything you do in your efforts to become a successful adult webmaster. Learning is good. Research is fine. Networking is vital. However, we would like to remind you that there's work to be done.
Ask yourself: "Am I working?"
We understand that this business is rather overwhelming to the novice webmaster. There is so much to learn and do. Where do you start? What if you're a complete newbie with no knowledge of HTML, sponsors, niches or traffic generation? How do you take those first steps when there are so many roads from which to choose? How can I be working when I don't know what I'm doing?
Here's an example of working versus wasting time:
You know absolutely zero about creating webpages. As an adult webmaster, it's imperative that you learn how to build webpages.
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The working webmaster reads tutorials on HTML. The working webmasters installs an HTML editor. The working webmaster proceeds to create pages. The working webmaster purchases a domain and hosting for those pages. The working webmaster puts those pages on the web. The working webmaster understands that his/her pages will improve with practice.
The time-wasting webmaster will spend hours yakking on a message board about their lack of HTML knowledge. The time-wasting webmaster will go in search of other's pages in an effort to learn by example. The time-wasting webmaster will get lost in unrelated web searches, online games and the pursuit of the perfect niche. The time-wasting webmaster will come to the end of the day with nothing to show for the ages spent in cyberspace. The time-wasting webmaster knows no more about HTML than when they began.
It's understandable. PCs and the Internet are so amazing. It's so easy to get distracted by all they offer. Even the inner workings of this business are fascinating. It's fun to check sponsor stats to see if you're making sales. It's a blast to chat with other webmasters on message boards. It's a real treat to be able to look at porn and explore the talents of others. The adult Internet is a very cool place.
Just the same, you do remember that you're in this to make money, right? That time you spend checking your stats isn't going to make you one, thin dime. Shooting the breeze with other webmasters might help your image but it won't help you build your galleries or promote your free sites. Is it really important for you to take twenty minutes to find a factoid just so you can make a point on a message board? While learning a new program like FLASH is admirable, will that knowledge help you with the duties at hand?
Research, learn, chat, check stats, have fun. Just remember to save these activities until after you've done the work you need to do in order to get ahead. Don't let the evil PC and Internet lure you into an hours-long journey to nowhere. Be a working webmaster not a time-wasting one.