two questions

[affiliate rookie]

HI! I am currently working on my first affiliate website. It is a small niche and so not a real complex website. I am using NVU and am probably going to pay someone to do the header.

My question is, being that my web design skills are VERY beginner, once I complete this first site do you established marketers think I should take the time to learn something like Dreamweaver or a similar product before going on to my next project? I would like to do something with a forum and blog in my next affiliate site. I think this first website will turn a profit but not make me rich! I just don't want to pay the big bucks to have my sites designed by someone else until I am making decent money.

And my next question involves getting acquainted with this industry. I have read the information from the Underground conference. Are there any conferences suitable for the beginner affiliate? I wasn't sure if those conferences would be useful for a beginner.

Thanks for any advice from an appreciative newbie!

Jean K.

[Rosalind Gardner]

Hello Jean,

Good questions, all... although I wonder if you'll have to change your username from 'affiliate rookie' in the near future?

Re the Underground - Yanik held a special day just for newbie marketers to acquaint them with concepts and terminology, and he plans to do likewise at the next one.

Affiliate Summit has something for everyone and I notice that Shawn places presentations in order of skill level. Also recommended therefore.

Although I highly recommend using advanced tools like Dreamweaver, XSitePro is also an option.

A better option might be to use a CMS (Content Management System) that comes ready-to-install with a Cpanel host through Fantastico.

A blog is a type of CMS and it's entirely possible to build a whole affiliate site using nothing but a Wordpress blog... which is a great way to get a site off the ground quickly.

Choices, choices, choices.

Cheers,
Ros