Who ordered SBI back in March and has succeeded with it?

[bluedragon]

You know... I want to build a second site about personal development but I would like to aim for a different magnitude of success which I think only a blog like Steve's, with comments, a forum and with tens of other bloggers commenting on my posts and using trackbacks could create.
I was wandering, what do you think of this discussion: "Why most (if not all) bloggers should switch to SBI", started by Ken, and then abandoned just as I was beginning to ask some pertinent questions?
http:// forums.sitesell.com/viewtopic.php?t=104303&highlight= (i put a space after // so it displays the html)
My question was basically: when you integrate a Wordpress blog into your SBI site, SBI doesn't manage it for you. It doesn't do anything for it - you don't even get traffic stats. If 99% of bloggers fail, why would they automatically succeed using SBI?
There is a lot to know about how to promote a blog - learning about trackbacks, pings, managing comments, mysql, blog carnivals, and God knows what else. Those things do not become unnecessary when you integrate the blog into an SBI site, while most SBI tools do become useless because you can't use them for a 3rd party blog.

[alexplatups]

bluedragon,

lol...my second site will also be about self-development, and similar in the future
I want to have a forum once I have enough traffic

there are many ways to use outside sources, plus I think SBI will evntually move
toward providing full blogging with time

just like the 3 column template that is coming out in two weeks

....I started the SBI thread, in this section forums, where we can talk about SBI, and answer questions to each other and other people who want to know
something about SBI

...check it out, when you have the time

later

Alex Platups

[Rebecca800]

Hi Bluedragon

I'd love to be able to answer this properly.... however I know very little about integrating a blog into an SBI site (I've never even had a blog before )

I'd interpret Ken's title as meaning that 99% of bloggers don't know everything there is to know about effective blogging, marketing, and all the tecchie stuff you mentioned.

Above all, SBI is a program for beginners. And lets face it, most people aren't experts at this stuff. (Apologies if I'm undermining the skills of the average blogger...) Besides, plenty of SBIers never dreamed of making their own blog or website.

Perhaps I'm oversimplifying the issue. But I couldn't compare your ability to get rich from a blog against all of SBI's teachings. Somewhere there is a divide - and I guess that's why Ken says "Why MOST (Not ALL) Bloggers Should Switch To SBI".

Know what I mean?

[bluedragon]

No, actually he says "most (IF not all) bloggers". And the thing that puzzles me is that you can't get any kind of answers in the SBI community. I tried in several threads. When Steve wrote the original review for SBI I got the feeling that Ken would be the kind of guy to be totally honest about his product's benefits as well as limitations, but that is obviously not the case. Many bloggers who teach about how to make a site have been irritated by his dissing of blogging in general, and of course, the SBI community responded by considering that these outsiders didn't actually understand Ken's message. But the thing is, most of those who criticize SBI's over-the-top marketing are recommending it themselves, but for beginners only. Steve also suggested that if you are web-savvy and good with marketing and promoting your site, you are fine without SBI.
So I guess I'll just give my best shot at building my second site on my own. Personal Development is a way broader theme anyway, it wouldn't even fit in the "Fininding your Niche" philosophy of SBI and I would need to rely mostly on blog buzz, or at least so I think. Of course, I would use everything I learned from their materials, and I will chose wisely-researched keywords and do the basic SEO that Analyse-It helps you verify.

[Rebecca800]

Hi Bluedragon

I'll just copy & paste the title of Ken's thread:

Why MOST (Not All) Bloggers Should Switch To SBI!

That missing "if" does make a difference to his message.

Anyway, I think your answer needs to come from expert webmasters themselves, who have the knowledge and experience to compare the two approaches.

For now, I am definitely in the beginner camp with thousands of other SBIers.

If you don't see any advantage to using SBI for your new blog -- then don't I am sure you will be determined enough to make it succeed either way.

[bluedragon]

Of my God! I didn't even realize that. I guess I was just convinced that he was saying that all bloggers should switch, and my mind didn't even register what was really out there. It's amazing how our preconceived ideas can play tricks on us.

[bluedragon]

^ 11:11

[alexplatups]

Hi,

staying totally focused on your main target will make all the difference!

...what exactly do you want to achieve with your site, blog, or whatever
else you have in mind?

only when you have this answered, then a path toward that result will
start to appear

...for example with my weight loss site, I want to sell a certain amount of
e-books every months, plus I will have many other monetization options
that I will use...but for me it is not the actual money that is important

...I have a strong *desire* to sell a certain amount of my own e-books,
simply because that is what I want

...this was why I used SBI to create my site....in fact...I wrote the whole
e-book before buying SBI, and this was my major goal right from the start,
so this is the main target I am aiming at....an exact amount of e-books
sold on a monthly basis

...and SBI is only part of the process to reach my *main goal*, which is
the amount of e-books (in case anyone forgot, already)

...yesterday, my traffic hit 100 unique visitors per day with only my
keywords, and a few links to 2nd tier directories, so I figure once I roll out
with my traffic attraction strategy...my traffic snowball will be just fine

...concerning my own self-development site, my major goal with that creation
is also very clear

I want a site...that is focused on creating results for normal people, and by
this I mean, people who are interested in creating results using their true
inner desires, objective reality, a step by step process, and not focusing
too much on the side of the miracles that can happen while you are moving
toward your dreams

imo...too many people start to worship the process, forgetting that they are
after the result

...and too many people ignore objective reality, as a tool, to keep you on
track...and moving in the right direction toward your major goal

later

Alex Platups

[Rebecca800]

LOL Bluedragon, the universe speaks to you!

I think we all do this from time to time, become entrenched in one view so that we don't see what's right in front of us. Your point still stands about when to blog alone / when to SBI it, I just hope you don't think Ken is an evil genius trying to take over the world... he's really not

[northbound]

As far as I can figure out Site Build It does not offer software that allows a paid subscription members only section to be built into these websites. Apparently XSite does? Can someone point me in the right direction?

[alexplatups]

Originally Posted by northbound

As far as I can figure out Site Build It does not offer software that allows a paid subscription members only section to be built into these websites. Apparently XSite does? Can someone point me in the right direction?

you can do this with SBI, you password protect that tier 2 page, and then send
new codes on a monthly basis to your subscribers

later

Alex Platups

[Curtis2011]

I love how the nay-sayers are the ones that don't even have the determination to go out and DO IT THEMSELVES.


There are plenty of excuses why "it's too expensive" or "the videos take too long to watch" or "I have other more important things to do,"

but is there anything more important than establishing what will support you for your future?


Think about it- Why do we go to school for nearly TWENTY years. Sure, we need to learn to read and communicate with others, and maybe some basic math skills are handy - but once you get to college, it's all about finding a job.

About 95% of the world is satisfied with working to make other people rich.


Why not skip all that fuss, and work for yourself?

Be your own boss. Set your own course. Determine your own future.


I purchased Site Build It! yesterday and am almost done with Day 3 of the Action Guide (it is not necessary to follow it by calendar days). I have already chosen a statistically profitable niche and am currently planning my site content.


Wish me luck! And good luck to all the other entrepreneurs here!

[Rebecca800]

Ooh! What's your niche! Or is it a secret at this stage?

I had so much fun choosing my niche. I had no idea what to build a site/blog about before SBI - most of my ideas were fluffy opinion sites, with zero focus. Then when I was brainstorming with SBI something clicked and I realized I knew a whole heap about lots of things! It was very empowering.

[alexplatups]

Rebecca,

which site did you make first? and why?

and was the second more fun to make?

later

Alex Platups

[angus]

I love how the nay-sayers are the ones that don't even have the determination to go out and DO IT THEMSELVES.

Not true; quite a few of the naysayers are simply not convinced that SBI is the way to go about 'Doing It'. I've been reading the various threads, and looked into SBI back when Steve hyped it, and I have to say I don't get it. Rebecca, for example, is obviously smart and driven, and put time in—I'm convinced she would have succeeded at least as quickly, at less expense, had she put the same effort into Wordpress and maybe a template like Thesis, which is a reasonable one time purchase and includes ongoing support. And honestly? I think she might have had a better looking site sooner as well—she seems to say that the look came from her and her partner sweating out a template, and not from SBI.

Not saying that SBI isn't useful, not at all. I love Rebecca's site, and a few of the others I've seen. I kind of hate a lot of them I've seen as well—they seem to look all alike and have the same crappy writing.

My short take is that if you can write, which you need to be able to do anyway, and have the kind of personality that can put the time in, you're better off without SBI. I started from basically scratch a few weeks ago, and am getting traffic and a little cash already—one of my posts, Death and Religion is going to at least double my previous record for daily traffic today, thanks to interest from Reddit. And the site is far more 'mine' than it would be otherwise.

But hey, I could be wrong. Rebecca's Alexa rank is certainly respectable, and she's got a good income already. And a blog is different from a mini-site.

cheers,
Angus

[alexplatups]

Curtis,

good for you, any questions...just ask

later

Alex Platups

[ken nubo]

Originally Posted by alexplatups

Curtis,

good for you, any questions...just ask

later

Alex Platups

Alex,

Nice website -- but how are you montizing it? Curious...

__________________
Here's how you can make $400 by the end of the week on the Internet, cold hard cash -- the methods are free!

[Rebecca800]

Originally Posted by alexplatups

Rebecca,

which site did you make first? and why?

and was the second more fun to make?

later

Alex Platups

Hey Alex!

I made the lucid dreaming site first (launched June 08) because this appealed to me most and passed SBI's profitability criteria. Honestly, I don't think I would have chosen this topic had it not been for the brainstorming tool showing me the numbers. I guess I thought the market was already saturated... but clearly there was room for one more!

I started the vision improvement site in November 08 and everything was set up much more quickly. I knew exactly what to do and in what order. It was a lot of fun to make however, I enjoy thinking about lucid dreaming more so this is still my favorite site.

I reckon your second site will develop even quicker than your first (and that's saying something!) because most of the process will come naturally. Plus you'll have the confidence that you're doing it right.

[spirit4711]

Originally Posted by angus

Not true; quite a few of the naysayers are simply not convinced that SBI is the way to go about 'Doing It'.

...

True enough.

Some people just say no without trying it.

Some people say no after seriously considering it.

Some people say yes, and get stuck (turning it into a no) in different stages.

Some people say yes and make enough money to continue.

What you buy when you buy SBI is a process, tools and community support along with the webhosting. You can do all by yourself, using different tools and processes even, whatever works for you.

Until now I was in category 3, and that had all to with me and not with SBI. Reading this thread (and others on SBI) I got new inspiration. I'll get back to the Action Guide after I finish with this site

Thanks all,

Fred

[alexplatups]

Originally Posted by ken nubo

Alex,

Nice website -- but how are you montizing it? Curious...

currently I am not monetizing at all

finishing my ebook, and working on my traffic

but once I will roll out with my monetizations strategy it will look like this:

1) my own e-book (through my site) and (affiliates >>> clickbank)
2) google ad sense
3) affiliate e-books sold on my site

...plus about 15 more different monetization models that will be added one
at a time, until I find my perfect monetization mix

later

Alex Platups

[alexplatups]

Originally Posted by Rebecca800

I made the lucid dreaming site first (launched June 08) because this appealed to me most and passed SBI's profitability criteria. Honestly, I don't think I would have chosen this topic had it not been for the brainstorming tool showing me the numbers. I guess I thought the market was already saturated... but clearly there was room for one more!

I started the vision improvement site in November 08 and everything was set up much more quickly. I knew exactly what to do and in what order. It was a lot of fun to make however, I enjoy thinking about lucid dreaming more so this is still my favorite site.

I reckon your second site will develop even quicker than your first (and that's saying something!) because most of the process will come naturally. Plus you'll have the confidence that you're doing it right.

thanks for your answer Angela,

I just submitted and received my second (free) site from SBI, and I registered
my domain name with dashes in SBI, and bought the dashless version from
godaddy.com

I decided to go with another topic, leaving self-development and online marketing
for my next SBI sites (3rd and 4th) to be purchased around December 15, 2009
using the 2 for 1 Christmas special

and I will do the same thing, get one site completely ready and then the
second one, and then work on driving traffic to both of them

but this year, I will work completely on the two sites that I currently have,
it will take about one more month for me to put my monetization models
on my weight loss site

...and then I will spend half my day driving traffic to the weight loss site, and
the other half creating my 2nd SBI site (on my favorite topic in the world)

...will let everyone know my topic once I create at least ten tier 2 pages,
but it is a topic that I can spend even Friday night working on, and not care,
and for me this is the ultimate test for a passionate topic...lol

in fact I spend so much time during my life checking this out for free, I figured
why not make money from it, because weight loss is interesting to me, but
it is not a real passion

...it is something I must do, because I have a body type that needs healthy
food and exercise on a regular basis, to stay at 10% body fat percentage
year round, and this is where my knowledge is from

plus I love to eat deliscious food once in a while, and to do this I must keep
exercising and maintaining my muscle mass to keep my metabolism going

later

Alex Platups

[lalitearns]

I think u need to refer to share guru for this.