Two Interests Merged

Back in 1998 I was teaching myself the mystery of this new code called "html" and the new software from Adobe called Photoshop. It was an intriguing brain exercise. A hobby. At the same time, I was going through some medical issues that led me to the internet, looking for information and resources.

Finding little in my particular area of interest, I gathered the little bit of information I could find, created "Frequently Asked Questions" in a simple website with basic html and found a "Guestbook" that was hosted by a free service.

I thought little about it other than to add to the content regularly as I found more information, expanding the "Frequently Asked Questions", writing a few articles. The big guy at the time, Yahoo, was nicely impressed, selecting the site as a "Hot find" which made us easier to find for those looking for information.

I was satisfied to provide a static page of reference for those seeking the internet for the same kind of information I had been seeking myself. At the end of the first year, the content pages were bulging. I, then, discovered two things. Adding a counter revealed real traffic, real people, were finding the website. And, checking the guestbook revealed that visitors were writing messages to each other.

Expand those Messages

In 1999 the choices for messages boards were slim. Most message boards were hosted elsewhere and were odd looking, threaded pages that when many people replied, the pages would not load. Within hours of inserting the first message board on my site, the pages were so congested they wouldn't load.

I finally discovered the newly launched EZBoard community and claimed one for my site. For the first time we were now registering visitors for the purpose of online discussions. To see people logging in and actually communicating in real time was momentous. To witness people helping each other was indeed a miracle and tribute to the kindness of humans.

Pushed by Revenue

I wasn't brilliant but I was smart enough to know that EZBoard was earning revenue from my traffic. I went in search of the solution so that I, too, could earn, using the revenue for the costs of the site. The larger the traffic, the more money was required. The more money required, the more traffic required. It was a cycle that was to change the direction of my life as a webmaster.

From a small shared server, to a larger co-shared server, we moved from EZBoard to UBB and within another few months, purchased and registered as one of the first communities to use vBulletin. Each time we moved to another message board solution we asked our members/visitors to register again. There were no import tools to help us maintain the messages and members.

vBulletin was the perfect solution. The software could be customized for specific additions to enhance the community. The software could be used for content management, blogs, adding special incentives while the large traffic was easily managed and maintained.

From Breaking Even to Salary

I invested my time daily in continuing to build content and manage the visitors and volunteer staff. Somewhere along the way, the choices made for the website expenses started showing some earnings in a positive way. Handing the paperwork to a CPA helped make sure the financial issues were handled in a responsible way.

I resigned from my "real job" and began the frightful adventure of drawing a salary from the revenue. Revenue from the various sources kept pace with the requirements for the website and the salary: Adsense, Network advertising, direct campaigns for small and large companies, resale products in our niche. The steady growth proved worthwhile and plentiful.

Fast Forward

The site is now over nine years old and surpassing two million posts and over one hundred thousand members. It is the leader in its niche and well recognized within the medical community. The media in the form of TV, newspaper and magazines have commented on our community and interviewed our members. We proudly serve our visitors and members with kind support during difficult medical issues. We work hand in hand with pharmaceutical companies who need clinical trial participants.

And the html code? The answer is no, I am not the one managing the code or the server. I employ a web-developer whose brilliance exceeds my ideas, a graphic artist whose designs are applauded with awards and a system administrator who manages the two servers with expertise.

Rewards Beyond Revenue

It started out as a content site created for the benefit of others medical needs and is now a large online community which continues to provide support for thousands daily. While I am proud that I can say I built this place from "scratch" and have worked on it all these years, the rewards are beyond monetary.

Knowing that somewhere on the worldwide web I managed to carve out a community of content that demonstrates the best of human kindness is my greatest accomplishment.

Fantastic story Frito...very inspiring.

Excellent story Frito! Great work!

Thanks guys. I hope it will help others.

I like that you outlined more of your strategy as that can be helpfull to others trying to build up.

Thanks xbox.

inspiring

Very inspiring one, too.

Very interesting and inspiring =] Keep up the good work.

I admire your passion in running your forum

inspiring..............

Passion for what one does is important. If you are passionate AND focused...then you have a winning combination.

very inspiring story, do you have a link to your site

I don't like to sound like everyone else, but that WAS inspiring!

hats off for you.
point to be noted here, you did not leave your other job until you were sure the forum could generate enough to support your expenses.

fascinating story dude , u made me wonder

As they always say it was totally inspiring. How I wish in three years from now I will become a good webmaster like you frit.

This is a prime example of showing patience is the key. Many webmasters are too obsessed with quick revenue and lost focus on building the content of the website itself.

I enjoyed reading your story

Wow! I've just understand why there are so many people writes on different forums.... I begin thinking of my own one....