Name of your website?The Dusty Newt
Your name?
Scott Dobek
Your Location (city, etc)
Haines City
Please give us a short summary of your website?
My website is about my little broke down workshop and the things that come out of it. The hundreds of lizard types (I call them all newts) that actually live in and around my shop guard it from the unfriendlies such as roaches, flying things, wood eating things and various other unwanted spirits. I have been woodworking most of my life and have sold my woodstuffs to people all over the world through mall shows, fairs etc. I really love building unique boxes and sweet little pieces of furniture. I recently got a digital camera and am finally able to take decent photos of my work. I wish I had more pictures of my work to share with you from years ago. Now I keep the camera handy and photograph all my work, so my website will have new projects added on a regular basis.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
Friends and family have been after me to put up my own site and sell my stuff on the internet for quite a while. I searched for the best (easiest) selfdo program I could find and wound up with this. For a non-technical, caveman type, it didn't turn out too bad.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
About 3 weeks ago, and this is it.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
See the website summary above. The friendly little newts really are into everything and boldly critical of my work. There is also dust everywhere that they seem to revel in.
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
I am not a huge manufacturer. Nor do I have ads all over my site selling tools, plans, mortgages, etc. It is all about the little kingdom on our borrowed little plot of earth.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
Hopefully, I will expand what I do artistically (maybe even get better at it), and the site will continue to grow. One day I may even get to pay the bills with my endeavor. That is my dream. To be left to my own design and get the bills paid. Simple.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
So far, time and money seem to be in the lead over success. I like balance in everything. I'm just hoping for a close race.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
Spend more time in the workshop so I can post more of my work on my site. Maybe add some video capabilities. Perhaps some tutorials to share the methods of my madness.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
There are answers to just about everything if you look at it objectively. I could probably figure a way to handle a busy site and my woodwork too if it was paying its way.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
Just personal stuff.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Getting acquainted with this cyber world has been a tremendous challenge to me, a simple woodworker. Just getting the site published has been a major coup for me.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
I am just starting.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
It is more interesting than I thought it would be. The www is so vast and full of information, (and traps).
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
It has been three weeks since I published the site. It is interesting and enjoyable now. If it doesn't prove to be a huge success, I would probably maintain it to share my ideas and work with others. It doesn't cost much except time. I don't believe in overnight booms. I think slow and steady wins the race (and causes less stress as well).
Do you want to be rich?
Hell no. It is too much responsibility.
What is your website address?
The Dusty Newt