Today I wanted to make an expanded list of my rules to create and build Successful Websites. I have created 5 websites that each have millions of visitors. What I have discovered is that to have the best chance of succeeding with a website, I must make sure to follow this checklist.

It does not matter if you are just starting or if you already have 500,000 people visiting your website, I think that most sites forget at least some of these tips when it comes to creating the best possible websites.

The best tips for creating and running successful websites

1. Your website should be uploaded quickly.

(Because Google and users love it!) Beware of add-ons that require a lot of memory or conflicting add-ons, etc.

2. The safety of hackers is important.

I lost my first big site because I did not have any. More embarrassingly I did not have a backup! Fortunately these days, most hosts will make automatic backups for you (although I think you should always keep an updated backup of your site as well). Also, never choose a host that does not provide 24hours a day, 7days a week support. When things fail, you will want their help. Since we added the security of the xxxxx to our website more than 2 years ago, we have not had any problems. I highly recommend that you get it.

3. Always use a .com

unless there is really need for an alternative, do not use a DASH/hyphen between words in a domain name.

4. Create an email list from the first day.

Get Popup Domination here.

5. Websites are broken! Sometimes

For what seems to be a reason why the pages will stop showing as they should. This is often caused by a conflict with one of the add-ons we use. Regarding the internal and external links that are broken, I recommend you use Broken Link Checker.

6. Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

Choose one and dominate, stop sucking at all 3. Or alternatively, hire someone to take care of their social networks and make them responsible for the result.

7. Have a plan for your business (website)

I mean a brick and mortar business without a business plan is pretty silly! Why should it be different for your website? Have a plan for the next month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months! Where do you see yourself and your website in 5 years? Do you have an exit plan? Do you have an income plan?

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

~ Benjamin Franklin

8. If you focus on a source of traffic

You’re missing out. Google, Social Media, Email Marketing, Podcasts, Videos, Affiliates, Info Graphics and Linkbait are all important.

9. Consistency is key when publishing content.

Daily, Weekly, Monthly, you choose the frequency with which you must publish and stick to it. (Wow, I’m not always good at following this Rule myself, but it’s really essential!)

“It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It’s what we do consistently.”

~ Anthony Robbins

10. Make it easier for people to communicate with you.

What’s more, be open to some less than positive reviews or comments on your website. Surely some comments will come from generally negative people, but my general experience is that people want to help. For example, I received hundreds of emails from people who notified me of errors and misspellings.

11. The early bird catches the worm, a saying you probably have heard before.

Take for example that someone who bought Business.com in 1997 sold it for $ 7.5 million two years later. Okay, maybe you cannot do that every day but do not think it’s an isolated case, the opportunities surround us. Let’s take Twitter.com as an example: the first marketers who did it could take advantage of it before new rules were established that slow down the possibility of adding people. When you see opportunities, take it!

12. Never retaliate to comments or emails.

People will disagree with you and you might even think that they are stupid, but they are entitled to their opinion. Frankly, we do not have the time or energy to prove that they are wrong. It is also not so important that you have to waste your life trying to prove that you are right and that another person is wrong.

 “Do you want to be Right or do you want to be Happy”

13. Ask!

You can get many things just by asking.

14. Regularly ask yourself

If in 10 years (or one day, 6 months, 1 year, 5 years) you had to look back on your actions today, what would you have changed?

15. Keep learning

These days, there is a growing trend that people who get more cash online buy a high percentage of their traffic (they pay for the ads). Basically, they have learned additional skills based on opportunity generation and cost per acquisition (CPA). If you are not learning these skills, you are missing out.

16. Keep being productive

In my experience, it is easier to start a day productively and finish it productively. (Well … to this day I have not done anything, I think I’ll try more tomorrow …)

17. Do not put all your eggs in one basket

Particularly with the way you monetize your website. Try different methods.

18. Always have a written agreement

Signed by your partners / Joint Ventures. People will cheat you for less money than you imagine. Greed is madness.

19. What you focus on is what you get

So if you want money, FOCUS! Always keep in mind who owes you money, verify that the payments you expect to receive reach your bank account (Paypal account) at the right time. If you are still paid with a check, give it a shot immediately and do not leave it for several days.

20. Do not be afraid of a highly competitive niche!

The reason they are competitive is that there is money in that niche!

21. When negotiating, it is often more powerful to say nothing.

I find that people do not like silence and will want to say something, often lowering the price.

22. Keep moving forward.

Do not give up: the biggest difference between success and failure is not surrender.

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time”

~ Thomas Edison

“The difference between greatness and mediocrity is often how individual views a mistake.”

~ Nelson Boswell

The post 22 Rules to Follow When Creating Successful Websites appeared first on Entrepreneurs Blog.