Name of your website?Home Surveillance Guide
Your name?
Elia E. Levi
Your Location (city, etc)
Rehovot
Please give us a short summary of your website?
This (second) Site provides comprehensive step-by-step guidance to understand, design, select and set up a suitable and affordable system for your home surveillance and security. It is intended for everybody. It does not require previous technical attitudes or preparation. It introduces Fundamental Concepts, provides Detailed Explanations, and suggests how to reach Informed Selection. A Free Newsletter and an e-book download are offered.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
I am a retired Engineer. Upon retirement I looked for an interesting activity to get busy with, and I decided that, with proper help, setting up a webside was well within my capability. It is indeed in most people's capability. The success of my first website, that was very technical, for people dedicated to welding, a collection of many different processes used for joining metals, inspired me to try my chances also with a more general subject, likely to be of interest to a larger crowd of interested Internet surfers. And I did it.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
It was about 2003. When I was approaching my retirement I had started studying the Internet with the idea to find an occupation for myself. By chance I found a website dedicated to helping individuals without previous knowledge to build their own website. I was impressed by their honest attitude and helpfulness and I can only recommend it heartily to anyone who may wish to consider to give a try. [If I may, here is it: www.sitesell.com/Quark.html]. As I wrote above it was highly technical a website, summing up most of my professional career. I am glad I did it as it fills my days with work and I feel that sometimes I am helping unknown people to solve their problems.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
That was easy: I had to make clear what it was about. I chose www.welding-advisers.com
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
It is personal, it is unbiased except for my personal preferences, it is not blatantly commercial, it is trying to help individuals. I request consultation fees only from companies who can get an economic gain from applying my professional advice.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
My primary goal was to provide to myself an interesting occupation and something useful to do while retired. Income is a good thing but was not my primary worry. I think that retired people should consider that the opportunity to build a website is open to anybody. Entrepreneurial people can reach extraordinary results. I am glad I undertook this new venture.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
I don't feel under pressure. Money investment is minimal. Time I invest liberally, I enjoy what I am doing.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
With unlimited development budget I would probably try something else.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
If the site got really big I would have to consider hiring some help.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
I had no unexpected costs, but a very annoying headache is that unrelated websites copy my material without permission and without links back. I should probably sue them but I am not sufficiently motivated to do that.
What has been your biggest challenge?
It is the continuing need to prepare new pages and new information, to issue regularly the newsletter, to keep my website up to the standard I want.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
I would not know, but I must say that I use most of the free methods and none of the paid ones.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
I cannot say I had definite expectations. I learnt a lot and still do. I understand that I should put goals to myself and try to increase the diffusion, but I don't feel it as a must.
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 have presently two unrelated sites, one for about five years, the other one for two. I have no timetable. I think to keep them as long as I am able to work on them.
Would you recommend to people without previous experience to build a website?
Yes, definitely, provided they are ready to put in real work and time and do not expect to become instantly rich. When prepared and done correctly this experience may be highly rewarding. It is open to every age, it is portable around the globe wherever you may wish to move, it does not require a huge investment and it permits to be your own boss. And, in time, it can provide a good income.
What is your website address?
Home Surveillance Guide
