Lyle Robinson is a web-designer and developing Netpreneur who has been making a living online since 1997 and also just happens to be the owner of this domain. This interview was conducted vie email August, 2008. ———–

From Small Beginnings: Where abouts in the world do you live?

Lyle Robinson: I live in the wonderful city of Montreal, Quebec.

fsb: What is the product or service you are using as a means for making money online?

LR: My main service is web design. I have a one-man web design company that caters to local creative types (ie: comedians, actors, musicians). I also have a few websites which generate money via various affiliate programs, which I really enjoy.

fsb: What first got you into making money on the web?

LR: I’ve been on the Net since 1992, loved it and still do. Around 1997 I had begun “designing” sites for myself on a few freehosts like Angelfire and Geocities (remember tiled backgrounds?) and I loved the idea that I could “publish” ideas/information online that I was interested in. I first started designing sites around a Sociology theme since I was doing graduate studies in that discipline at the time. Someone in the department saw a few of my sites and mentioned that I should design a site for the Sociology/Anthropology Department…which I did. Then it was just word of mouth as things snowballed from there and I’ve been living off the Web ever since.

fsb: How did that first “A HA!” moment come about when you realized you could make a living online?

LR: It was right after I designed the Sociology Department’s site. I was asked if I could design another site for a local Montreal Improv troupe. Being a full-time graduate student, I was chronically broke and all of a sudden I found that people were willing to pay me money to do something that I would have done for free…although I didn’t tell them that…lol… And then once I put up my own design site online, on a free sever at first (Hypermart), I started getting jobs from people finding my site online. That was an amazing feeling because all of a sudden I realized that I no longer needed to be tied down to a “normal” job or routine. What a glorious day that was!!

fsb: Did you have any specific education, knowledge or skill set prior to your using the web as a means to make money?

LR: Actually, no! I mean of course I had a BA at the time, but that was in Sociology. I had no official computer or web-design training. But what I did have was a curiosity for how others were getting their sites on the WWW and what tools they were using to succeed online. I just looked at a ton of websites, noticed what I liked and didn’t like and then did the old “view page source” to see what was going on behind the scenes. It was all trial and error…even to this day…well, maybe with a little less error…

fsb: Were you always interested in computers?

LR: Nope…I remember hating the computer classes I had to take in high school in the early to mid seventies. I hated the programming languages and if it was up to me I would have trashed all the computers in the World. Thankfully, it wasn’t up to me! Around 1987 I got my first personal AT computer and things took off from there. And then when I bought my first Pentium 90 back in 1996 things really took off for me and computing became fun and a huge part of who I was.

fsb: How did you go about learning what you needed to know to make money online?

LR: Well apart from my design biz, I started “fooling” around with affiliate marketing around 2001 and found that it was relatively easy to make money from other people’s services/products. As a Web surfer I began to notice that some sites had products they were selling but when I clicked on the hyperlink I was taken to another site with a different domain name and look. This was my first clue that something was going on a little deeper than I would have thought. So I traced a few more sites like that and soon began noticing the term “affiliate program” on sites that I had clicked on from other sites. I was fascinated by the fact that one could generate revenue by promoting an in demand service or product. All one had to do(at that time)was create a site based on a theme, or what is now called a “niche”, throw up some content, place a few ads/banners around the content and watch the checks pour in. Well, that didn’t really happen all that much but I did make some decent money in certain areas which was cool. I was already into my design business so it wasn’t a huge priority for me at the time. I’ve just started to get back into it more and am currently working on a bunch of sites in differing niches which should prove successful hopefully. Time will tell.

fsb: Are any of your friends or family involved in the same kind of business you are?

LR: Not really. I have a good friend who is doing extremely well with selling her photography online but she’s pretty much the only one I know personally who uses the computer to make a living. Although, I may get my sister involved if my affiliate work turns out to be half way decent. The more the merrier!

fsb: How do your friends and family relate to your using the Web/Computer to make money?

LR: For the most part everyone thinks it’s cool that I can work from home or a coffee shop and not be burdened by a boss or crappy job.

fsb: Did you have a day job before you started to make money online and what were you doing?

LR: I have worked regular jobs from the age of 11 until 31 when I got serious about my studies and enrolled full time in University. After 1992, I made my money either through my design business or a combination of teaching and design. There was a time, 1997, when my web design business was in the slumps and I found myself having to work a 9 to 5, or in my case, a 3pm to 11pm gig. Luckily a sizable student loan/bursary found its way to me a few months later and I was able to leave that job…and I haven’t looked back since.

fsb: What type of marketing are you using to promote yourself?

LR: I have been quite lucky in that all my clients have been word of mouth or via organic search queries through the major search engines. I also participate on a small number of webmaster forums which are cool for the networking possibilities. I once did a Craigslist ad which resulted in a few weird requests which I turned down. Other than that it’s just been word of mouth.

fsb: Was there one definitive product or individual that made you realize that you could make a living by using the web?

LR: At the time I was getting into this world, there wasn’t really any individual I knew of who was making a living online. But the one product that enabled me to realize that “even I” could make a go of it was Netscape’s Composer, a web design WYSIWYG program (What You See Is What You Get) that allowed me to worry about the look and content of a site rather than having to deal with learning hand written code. I’ve never been one of those “designed with Note Pad” kind of guys. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, it’s just that I would rather work on the aesthetics of a site rather than the underlying principles involved. This might make some people unhappy but it’s worked for me and for my clients all these years so something must be ok with it…I really don’t know where my life would have gone had it not been for Netscape…and of course now I use Dreamweaver and have utilized some hand coding as well so all is not lost I guess.

fsb: What was your biggest mistake?

LR: Not sticking with affiliate marketing when I first began. Although, I am working on correcting that “mistake” now and have started seeing some decent results…at least for me anyway.

fsb: Any words of advice to those thinking about trying to make a living online?

LR: The online money making World is quite competitive these days but that shouldn’t stop anyone from getting into this line of work if you can…and believe me, it is work! The hardest part is realizing where your talents lie and work on “exploiting” said talents to the point where you can somehow benefit or enrich someone else’s life. Create or provide something of value and you will be amazed at how generous people can be. But be warned that this takes time and energy and you may not realize any income for a good while. But if you stick with it and are determined to not give up, then you should do fine. And always have a backup plan! Whether it’s an existing job, career or moving back home…ok, well maybe not that last option… Believe in yourself and what you have to offer and you may be surprised how many people will begin to believe in you as well.

fsb: How has this changed your life?

LR: It has allowed me to pursue my passions in life, (guitar, friends and computers), while making a living unencumbered by the daily demands of others. I work when I want and how I want and I have the freedom to enjoy my situation anytime I choose. It has made me a more creative and happier person and even when times get a little rough I still wouldn’t change my lifestyle for anything.

fsb: Do you think that anyone can make money online or does it take a “Special” person or personality?

LR: To be honest I don’t think that just anyone can make money online. I think anyone can learn the mechanics of what is needed with lots of study and persistence. But there are many ups and downs at the beginning which may not be suited for everyone, especially those who have been dependent on a job or occupation to make them money for a long time. There’s a certain frame of mind one needs to succeed where one can throw caution to the wind and just go for it and stick with it through thick and thin. This entrepreneurial mind-set is way important and is usually what drives people into this industry in the first place. It also helps if you have little in the way of others being dependent on you bringing home the bacon, as the uncertainty one might find themselves facing at the beginning could be a strong deterrent from exploring this lifestyle more. That being said, I definitely think that everyone should look into this alternate way of making an income. If you already have a job, then try this out during your spare time. See how it feels and by all means, join forums or other social networking media and ask relevant questions. If someone honestly feels that they can devote a huge chunk of their time to work things out at the beginning then by all means, go for it. If nothing else, you may find out how “entrepreneurial” you really are…or aren’t.

fsb: What do you enjoy doing when you are not on the computer?

LR: I enjoy playing and teaching Guitar, both Jazz and Rock styles but I’m usually glued to the computer most of the time either for business or pleasure.

fsb: How easy/hard is it to balance work, life and family while working from home?

LR: I find it relatively simple since I am a single, never been married male but I’m sure it would be difficult if I had a wife and children to take care of. I would really have to hustle if that was the case.

fsb: What plans do you have to maintain or expand your online money-making activities?

LR: I’m currently working on a few sites that will hopefully generate a decent income through various affiliate programs and Google Adsense. I have also recently began monetizing my long time Jazz Guitar site which has been a tremendous labor of love for me and one that I am most proud of. In the first week alone, it has already paid for server costs for the past four years which is cool in my book…And I would like this site to follow in my Jazz Guitar site’ footsteps in hopes that this site can be an inspiration for those who come across it.

fsb: Favorite quote?

LR: “Money doesn’t grow on trees you know!” - My mom.

fsb: Thank you for taking the time to participate on from small beginnings.

LR: You are most welcome.It was my pleasure.

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