It is a fair bet that Spencer's business will continue to develop and grow as he devotes more and more of his energies to it.

Let's see what he has to say.

BizE-zine: Have you ben involved in any other business or jobs, online or off?

SU: No, I jumped right in to Internet. I haven't had any other jobs. I see this as a full-time occupation.

BizE-zine: How did it all start?

SU: When I was about 14, my Dad worked for Woods Cross City. They needed a web site and at that time very few people knew anything about Internet. I volunteered to build it for them, and although I didn't know much myself, it was a great learning experience.

I ran that site for them, on a voluntary basis, for two or three years, learning new things all time. Eventually, I became too busy to run it unpaid, and they found someone else to do it.

When I started, I hadn't even read a book - I just jumped on in and learned on job.

I was just looking over some old files other day, and in some of them were old design. Yikes! Frankly, I was a bit embarrassed. This was before I learned that web sites were tools. Before I found out important idea that web sites are a means to an end, not an end in themselves.

Given time I made it, it probably wasn't fully as bad as I thought it to be (this was around 1996 or so), but it was still very amateur. I'm just glad its still not around for everyone to see! It just shows you how fast thing have changed.

BizE-zine: How did you move from that early experience to idea that you could support yourself with an online business?

SU: My first successful ventures were creating entertainment sites and selling advertising on them. Greeting Cards, fun pages, jokes, etc.. They were a mish-mash of general audience content and debatable value. But, there was a good deal of money involved, and it got me started.

As ad market started to crash, I realized that I needed to add new streams of revenue as any site that is fully reliant on advertising for money is going to be subject to market conditions - something I am a bit uncomfortable with.

I used my experience as a webmaster to create new tools for webmasters like myself. AdvertisingResults.Net was first service I created, and I have since created several products to sell, and I've also branched out into running my own newsletter.

BizE-zine: Lots of people try to run newsletters online. Tell us a bit about your experiences.

SU: The Uresk Internet Marketing Journal (http://www.uresk.net/imjournal.html) is my newest newsletter. It has been a bit of a struggle to get subscribers (I am used to entertainment industry where we get them buy tens of thousands!) and also determine where they are and what they are looking for. I've found that they are usually all over - some are complete novices, some are just into MLM schemes, some are further along than I am and so forth. Its a bit of a challenge to write your articles (and pick syndicated articles) that can help as many of those people as possible.

One of most rewarding things so far has been feedback I get. When I sent out my first newsletter (with under 200 subscribers), I got about half a dozen replies - all thanking me for sending them newsletter and telling me they can't wait to get next issue. Now I can't wait to SEND next issue! >From a sales standpoint, newsletter fell on its face. I didn't get a single sale. But, fact that several people read newsletter, and benefited enough to warrant letting me know makes me feel good. It also shows that down road, any of these people could become a customer because they trust me and find me generally knowledgeable about what I am doing.

BizE-zine: So what is your long-term advice for would- be newsletter publishers?

SU: Don't go straight for money. Newsletters can be quite lucrative, but if you go into it with mindset of making as much money as possible as quickly as possible, you'll fail. Newsletters take time to grow, and also for your readers to trust and become acquainted with you. Give it time!

BizE-zine: How long did it take your online business to start making a profit?

SU: I didn't buy much to start with! After my first few months, I was profitable and haven't looked back since.

BizE-zine: Have you bought any ebooks or courses on online marketing, and if so, which was best for you?

Milana currently lives in Central Pennsylvania, quite close to Harrisburg, but originally came from Ukraine. She recently changed her name to Lechinsky at her U.S. citizenship ceremony. Although eligible for citizenship in 1997, a combination of factors, including lost paperwork delayed ceremony until June 2001.

"By time I had my ceremony (June 2001) I felt completely "American" already. Watching Friday night sitcoms over a box of pizza is not exactly a Russian thing!" She says.

BizE-zine: How did you first get involved with Internet?

MN: In my "past life", in Ukraine, I was teaching music to children and never thought I would do anything else. But after a year of trying to choose my new path in America, I decided to major in Computer Systems. What a huge change from music, I thought! Computers leave no room for imagination whatsoever... That is, until I discovered web design and was absolutely blown away by creative possibilities it offers.

Now, I am a professional web developer, a web coach, a workshop leader, and an author of web design manuals for beginners.

BizE-zine: Tell us about your first experience of Internet?

MN: In 1997 I took my first "Internet Development" class in college and fell in love with it ever since. I remember my first web page was a collection of bright yellow buttons linking to other sites, but I was proud of it anyway :-)

BizE-zine: You are certainly building a good reputation for yourself online at moment - how did your current online venture come to be?

MN: I came across so popular "Make Your Site Sell!" by Ken Evoy and spent next 6 weeks reading it. By time I was done with it, I was filled with excitement and anticipation to start my own online business. Not sure what to sell yet, I decided to offer web site critiques on my HelpingFoot.com.

I remembered that Ken Evoy promised to send a free book to anyone who sent him a useful comment, and I wrote a 1-page feedback about "MYSS!", asking if he could send me his "Make Your Price Sell!" but instead he sent another book.

It was a little disappointing at time, so I filed it somewhere on my hard drive and forgot about it. A few months later, after not making too much progress with my site critiques, I read somewhere that you can make money with writing and selling e-books. A book was recommended to learn how to do it. I was thrilled to recognize title of book - one that Ken Evoy sent me a while ago and I never bothered to read it! It was called "Make Your Knowledge Sell!" and it inspired me to create my "First Business Web Site in 10 days!"

BizE-zine: Do you still critique people's sites?

MN: Yes I do, but only now as a bonus to my "First Business Web Site in 10 days!" customers. When they complete their web site after following my manual, I look it over and give them my feedback.

BizE-zine: I couldn't agree more about Ken Evoy's products. I have both books you mentioned and think they are both in my 'top 5'. As an aside, if anyone would like a free trial copy of 'Make Your Site Sell!2002', it can be downloaded at: http://www.BizE- zine.com/files/Sitesell ryMYSS!2002.zip

BizE-zine: I know you are a very open person, but can you share with us what % of your income now comes from Internet?

MN: Oh, I never hide my income - perhaps it's because I was raised in Ukraine, where people are free to ask how much you make, how much your house cost and how much you paid for your car :-)

When I started writing my first e-book, I was hoping for at least some extra cash - $500 would be nice. But what happened next has blown me away. Between February, 2001 and January 2002 I have made a little over $26,000, working only 4 hours a day.

BizE-zine: That is pretty impressive. How long did it take you to start making a profit?

MN: I completed my "First Business Web Site in 10 days!" on January 26, and received my first order on February 2nd, a week later. I remember customer's name, how much I received, and how high I was jumping around house with excitement. That was an absolutely unforgettable moment.

BizE-zine: Have sales been steady over year, or is your business accelerating? Also, did September 11th have a significant impact on you business?

MN: I became a little worried after September tragedy happened - I was absolutely positive that this is end of my business. But October ended up to be my best month ever!

Since this was my first holiday season since I started business, I was surprised (and scared!) to see just how slow sales were in December. But now that I know this, I will be more prepared and able to plan ahead next holiday season

BizE-zine: Your book "65 Instant Web Design Answers!" is getting a lot of attention. How did it come to be? What sparked idea off?

MN: Well, I had to create a 2nd product - one just wasn't enough, I still had a lot of web design skills and ideas that I haven't shared in 1st book. The idea of easy-to-follow tutorials on how to do specific things on your web site (like password-protect it, or create a simple feedback form) immediately felt like a winner.