Name of your website?Religion and Spirituality Resources
Your name?
Katinka Hesselink
Your Location (city, etc)
Leiden
When did you start your website and why?
My website started because someone said: why don't you start a website on theosophy (this was in 1998 or something). I did, and it grew, and grew to include my interest in religion and spirituality in a very broad way. It now has thousands of pages and roughly 5000 visitors a day - which is very decent for this niche.
Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc
Basically my site consists of quotes and articles on the subjects that interest me. This ranges from the history of alternative spirituality to inspiring short quotes. There are articles on the scholarly debate on how karma and reincarnation work, as well as material on alternative health.
What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?
Coming up with new material that will be both interesting to me and my visitors is a constant challenge. Though - as you can see - my answer to what's the easiest is pretty much the same...
What has been the easist part of operating your website?
Finding the energy. Since I love my topic, so I've started studying it at university and that means I do find new inspiration regularly.
What was your biggest mistake?
I started on a free host and went onto a serious domain in 2001. Had I bought a domain when I started my site back in 1998, I would have had less trouble getting people to switch their link from the free host to the new site.
Who maintains your website and why?
I do.
Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?
My webdesign business has profited from my website: I usually get clients who are interested in religion and spirituality as well. This makes for a better fit between me and the client. My clients are usually very interesting people :)
What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?
I believe social media (stumbleupon and such) will really go big. When more 'ordinary' people get the hang of that sort of thing, the web will become a far more democratic place.
What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
It makes all the difference in promoting a website to do good SEO. That's where new visitors come from, after all. My site has a huge 60% loyal following, but without regular SEO work, I would not get as many new visitors as I do.
What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?
They've helped. See previous.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Stumbleupon. Stumble works well in promoting just about any serious content site, on any subject. The traffic is pretty targeted too.
What method has been least successful for promoting your website?
Digg. It doesn't fit my niche at all.
What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?
I'm just curious to see where it goes. I don't have much desire to change the web as it is.
What is your website address?
Religion and Spirituality Resources
