This describes ideas for creating a content site, for affiliate marketing. There are other types of sites making money, but they are not covered here.
Do what you like.
If this is your first site, start with something you like to do. Do that, even if it seems like an over-developed niche.
The reason is -- your first site is a starter site. It is something you cut your teeth doing. You are going to screw things up. You need to learn how to discipline yourself. Better to do it on something you like.
The first lesson.
Repeat after me...
I will probably not make much money off my first site.
Say it again. One more time. One more time, just to make sure you heard yourself.
Understand this and you will be a much more satisfied person. Think of your first site as your college class of affiliate marketing.
You pay a college to teach you. You don't expect a college class to pay you, while you are sitting there. The payment comes out of what you learn and apply later.
The next step.
Go to your local libary. Check out every book on your subject. Or, at least get what you feel you might be able to closely skim through in a week's time. Magazines and other sources are fine too.
When I say skim, it does not mean copy. Plagiarism is wrong, bad, and dishonest. You are filling your head with ideas. You write about these ideas in your own words.
Using the ideas.
When you get home, get a pad of paper, a pen, and start skimming. Write down ideas as you come across them. Have a question about something, write it down.
If you have a question, chances are someone else will too. That creates one more page. Details can become entire pages if you know how.
Creating content.
Once you have your list, dedicate one page per item/question you wrote down. This should be good for at least 25 pages, probably more.
Start writing. Average 250 - 500 words per page. If you find an idea taking up more than 500 words, it is too broad. Break it down. Voila! You have more pages.
Pacing yourself.
Write one to two pages per day. It is recommended not to do more in the beginning. Writing is like exercise. Do it too much, or too fast, and you will give up because it is too hard.
Work your way up to more. Do one more page this week than last week. But, whatever you do, do at least one page a day.
Adding content.
Keep a notepad handy at all times. This includes next to the bed.
You will think of things constantly as you are working on this, particularly when you wake up and are going to sleep. Your impluse will be to start writing about those random page ideas immediately. Don't. Add them to your list. Let your brain develop them quietly without your help.
You will write a much better page if your brain has mulled it over a bit.
Creating the website.
Once you have 20-30 pages, put up a website. This goes againist the holy advice of 26 steps, but it is a pain to go back and add ads to 100+ pages. Better to have a tiny site, a merchant (and adsense) sees, looking complete than wasting time going back and adding code.
Managing ads.
Focus ads on adsense and 1-5 merchants who are related to your subject. Make ad placement obnoxious. Put it in the middle of the content text.
Use bright-yellow bordered adsense. Use your imagination. Don't be shy.
Your visitor has banner blindness. To make money, you need to break through that blindness.
Conclusion.
For the first time affiliate marketer, these are tips for creating your first website.