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The AnimalBytes Success Story A few years ago, when I was 13 years old, I really wanted to have a presence on the Internet. I'm not sure what I expected to find, and I definitely didn't expect that it might be the beginning of a possible career for me. I taught myself HTML. It was slow and a bit frustrating at first—but once I understood a few aspects, I was able to pick up the rest quickly. Anytime I saw a Web page with a fun effect or awesome layout, I would look at the source code and walk myself through it, so I could do it myself later. I started my first Web site when I was 15. It was just a little page about my dogs. I really enjoyed the process of building it. I liked the planning involved, creating the graphics, learning the HTML language, and just being in control. And most of all, I loved combining two things that I loved—animals and creativity. The idea to develop a site providing wallpaper, cursors, themes, and screensavers for animal lovers came to me when my cousin Katie and I searched for a desktop wallpaper of a kitten for the computer. I looked for three days and couldn't find one. Eventually I did find a picture, and by then an idea for a site had formed in my head. I searched for a long time for a server that was inexpensive but reliable. After all, I was 15 and didn't have much money. I needed something reasonable that I could talk my parents into paying for. I'm thankful for Bayside.net and my encouraging parents. I was able to get a great server that allows me to have my own site and domain name that my parents would pay for. AnimalBytes.com's grand opening was on May 17, 1997. The site now averages about 5,500 page views daily and 150,000 views a month. It has become a huge archive of animal related wallpaper, cursors, themes, screensavers, shutdown screens, fonts, clipart, icons, miscellaneous items, and more. A few magazines published great reviews of my site. That was when I started to receive advertising offers. Advertising covers the basic Web site costs and server bills, and it supplies me with some income. Another webmaster recommended the Flycast Network to me. After reviewing my site, they were happy to let me join. Now, I do all my advertising through their network. This is still a one-woman operation, but I prefer it this way. I have met some fascinating and delightful people I have met because of this web site. Opportunities for terrific future careers have been introduced to me, and many of the people I have met through this site have helped me for no other reason except to be kind. The site now pays for its self though advertising, and I'm raking in a hefty little profit. To stay up-to-date with technology, I communicate with many other Web-site owners. I've learned what works and what doesn't easier that way. I'm also subscribed to several different computing magazines. If Microsoft did not exist, my site wouldn't either. My whole site is based mostly on products that must be used on a Windows platform. I use Microsoft® Word to proof all my letters and everything I write. I use Windows® 98 and Plus 98 to test themes, fonts, cursors, and startup/shutdown screens. Microsoft Picture It! is my product of choice for resizing and fixing wallpapers. Even though I'm now fluent in HTML, I still choose to use Microsoft FrontPage 98 to organize and link check my pages. I would like small business owners to know that technology is truly a wonderful thing. I now have ideas for future careers and have been introduced to people who have offered me terrific jobs and rare internship opportunities. I'm not sure what I want to do next or where this business will go. I start college in the fall and I would like to keep working on the site while in college. And, I might just hire my first employee. http://www.microsoft.com/smallbiz/success/animalbytes.htmYou've reached the end of this story... There are currently no more articles on Abigael Anthony Please check out the next success story! [ Next Success Story ] . about us . thanx . contact . awards . guestbook . site map . Copyright (C) 1999 (email link outdated) |