How to Build a Successful Online Business (Blog)

[Steve Pavlina]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Steve Pavlina's blog:

How to Build a Successful Online Business

[Kylark]

I was slightly disappointed by the content of this post. The title promises actionable content on how to build an online business, but the body is mostly an advertisement for Site Build It.

I understand that affiliate marketing is a big part of your income, and you've stated that you wouldn't recommend a product you don't believe in, but I feel the article would have had more congruency if you had mentioned Site Build It in the title.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by Kylark

I was slightly disappointed by the content of this post. The title promises actionable content on how to build an online business, but the body is mostly an advertisement for Site Build It.

I understand that affiliate marketing is a big part of your income, and you've stated that you wouldn't recommend a product you don't believe in, but I feel the article would have had more congruency if you had mentioned Site Build It in the title.

Yeah, I'd have to agree. You only find out about "Site Build It" half way down when the article starts to feel like an advertising. Maybe mention it near the beginning paragraph so there isn't that negative connotation that comes up when realizing half-way down that the post is kind of an ad.

Nothing wrong with advertising Site Build It and getting revenue from your endorsement. I'd just suggest you advertise it like with the other stuff you've advertised, where it's clear from the get-go you're talking about a product.

I'm still interested in Site Built It myself, and I may decide to use it, and I do appreciate the info posted.

[Steve Pavlina]

Thanks for the feedback. Sometimes it's hard for me to see these kinds of posts objectively. I wasn't trying to mislead anyone. It wasn't my intention for this post to sound like an ad, since it's my own personal recommendation of a solution to a common problem.

My recommendation for Site Build It! is the primary actionable content in this case. I genuinely think this is a great tool for non-programmers to build their own web businesses. This is a much more realistic path for most people than my previous approach of writing mega-articles or doing PowerPoint presentations to try to teach people how to manage all the technical details themselves, only to see them waste a lot of time getting it wrong.

As I mentioned in the post, if you're already savvy enough to be running a profitable web business, you don't need SBI.

Other articles may have more entertainment value than a post like this, but I think this one will benefit a lot more people in terms of helping them get real results.

I spent many hours researching this service before deciding to recommend it. A few forum members have also recommended SBI in the past after building successful sites with it.

I think that securing an exclusive bonus for StevePavlina.com visitors -- a bonus you won't find elsewhere -- is a worthwhile benefit too.

If this sort of service doesn't interest you, it's easy enough to ignore it of course.

[Dan.Linehan]

Right. This is more like, "A Good Tool To Publish Online Content With."

As an alternative to SBI... Dreamhost offers a one click wordpress blog installation that should be pretty straightforward for new publishers to use. Two years of hosting at Dreamhost would be $214.80, or actually $164.80 if you use the coupon code PRICESLASH ($50 off).

That's 27.5% of the cost of SBI over the two year period (assuming you pay the full $299 / year for SBI) - with a total savings of $433.2 dollars. You can also use your Dreamhost account to run multiple sites during that period, you get online storage, much higher transfer rates, etc.

Add an adsense optimized theme, switch over to permalink titles, test your contact form, and you're good to go.

Dreamhost also uses green hosting. SBI not so much..

[Steve Pavlina]

Originally Posted by Dan.Linehan

As an alternative to SBI, Dreamhost offers a one click wordpress blog installation.

SBI isn't a blogging tool or CMS. Comparing it to Wordpress is sort of like saying that a crate of apples is the same thing as a grocery store. A blog isn't a business.

If all you want to do is self-publish your own content, a blog is all you need, and SBI would be overkill. SBI is for people who want to build traffic and generate income from their sites, not merely post content.

[ericabiz]

Steve, as a longtime reader and huge fan of this blog, I have to say I'm disappointed with this entry as well. You build up the problem expertly...and then dump an affiliate link in our laps! How about some real, useful, actionable items other than "Go buy this software (and make me some money in the process.)" Also, I don't see you state anywhere that you use this software.

Really love your blog. Really didn't like this post. It should be marked as an ad.

-Erica

[annie]

I liked the article and found it an answer to my questions today. I will definitely be looking into it. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting as I started the article...I didn't think it would mention a particular "tool" and yet that is exactly what was needed for me.

More ideas on how to do it on my own wouldn't have fit the bill today.

Thanks Steve

[Shagaia]

I have had a Site Build It account for some time and being computer challenged not to mention web challenged has kept me from getting anywhere with the program. Nubies be warned it is not as simple as 1,2,3 which I was led to believe. Steve you have, however, inspired me to try it one more time. Thanks

[annie]

Originally Posted by Shagaia

I have had a Site Build It account for some time and being computer challenged not to mention web challenged has kept me from getting anywhere with the program. Nubies be warned it is not as simple as 1,2,3 which I was led to believe. Steve you have, however, inspired me to try it one more time. Thanks

Well i was planning on purchasing it within the hour. Your post concerns me slightly...however, I am familiar with quite a bit of techie things...but nothing regarding traffic building. I have a message into the company. They promise to contact me within 12 hours. I wonder if they hold your hand at all?

If you watch that 30 minute video...I feel like i"m going to be a millionaire next year! I know it can't truly be that easy....but I'm in the situation where I have a great website, but little traffic. This looks like it really could answer some of my problems.

I"ll let you know how it goes. I admit...I'm kind of excited about it. I'll pay $300 a year if it's really that simple and I get the traffic. It's a no-brainer.

[Rosie]

Did you get paid to talk about SBI?

[theknightwhosaysni-NI]

I'm happy you posted this. Personnaly I was expecting the article to be about site build it ! because I saw the new add on the top left of the forums this afternoon and had clicked on it.

About Site Build It ! :
I came across this service a few months ago and thought it seemed good but I couldn't get totally sure it wasn't a scam. I am not very web savvy and decided to learn a little more with free CMS like Joomla before taking the step to buy Site Build It. ( I don't intend to make money on the web yet)

Also after browsing a few sites hosted by this company I saw that all of them had a link to a page selling Site Build It ! services, and I found that strange. Actually now that you explained that their affiliate program is quite rewarding I understand better.

It's good to have the opinion of a very web savvy person about this company and its services, so thanks

[annie]

Originally Posted by Rosie

Did you get paid to talk about SBI?

No. But thanks for asking. I just had a REALLY interesting day today! Quite discouraged about getting traffic to my website...I was about ready to hang it all up today (just kick back and live my life ....I'm pretty well-off financially) and give up on business...100% due to lack of traffic on my blog/website.

Honestly, this might sound corny, but it was exactly like an answer to my prayer. I went snowshoeing into the mountains today and literally asked God..."If you want me to keep doing what I'm doing....then help me!" I was literally in tears because I know what I'm doing is truly my mission in life...it's my purpose. But I'm technically challenged. (I feel stupid admitting this...but I asked God to throw something at me TODAY. When I got home I was surfing the web and landed on Steve's blog. And there it was!

I'm sure this all seems silly to you....but hey, it very well could be THE answer I'm looking for. (And if it's the answer from GOD himself...I'll be sure to pass that on

here's my website:

Let Your Life Speak....... LifeVision Coaching

Thanks

[Steve Pavlina]

Originally Posted by Rosie

Did you get paid to talk about SBI?

Nope. I never do pay-per-posting stuff. They haven't paid me a dime.

I did, however, join their affiliate program when I decided to recommend their service, and I also worked out the extra 3-month bonus deal with them for my readers. This is a bonus people can't get elsewhere, so you actually get a better deal by clicking my links vs. if you found SBI some other way. That seems like a pretty fair arrangement to me. This is certainly no secret -- I mentioned it in the SBI articles.

I spend a ton of time researching products and services, the vast majority of which I never mention because they aren't of high enough quality. I think it's fair that I earn income from those efforts, especially when it benefits my visitors. If I didn't earn income from this, I probably wouldn't bother with these kinds of recommendations at all, since the research investment would make it prohibitive.

[Deyvon]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Nope. I never do pay-per-posting stuff. They haven't paid me a dime.

~~~
I spend a ton of time researching products and services, the vast majority of which I never mention because they aren't of high enough quality.

These two quotes are the basis of why I was not too distressed by the way you introduced the service. I would be beating a certain horse if I said you could have done it differently, but in the end we all read your work for a reason.

I personally see no reason not to try it out, and I think I am going to try to use it to start my first "job" blog.

Any way thanks for this review, it may be some of your readers saving grace.
~David Palmer~

[Steve Pavlina]

Some people get upset when I recommend anything with a price tag, but the good stuff isn't always free.

If you want 100% free, there's always Mars.

[beel]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Some people get upset when I recommend anything with a price tag, but the good stuff isn't always free.

If you want 100% free, there's always Mars.

i don't think that is the issue. i think the issue is the somewhat misleading title and beginning portion of the article.

[Paul C]

Thanks for the recommendation Steve. This encourages me further to go about making an income via the internet, just a matter of figuring out what it is I want to contribute.

I personally didn't have a problem with this article. It's understandable you'll tell us of a service that you genuinely see as valuable to someone, to many people, I would think.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by beel

i don't think that is the issue. i think the issue is the somewhat misleading title and beginning portion of the article.

Exactly. By not mentioning upfront you were talking about a product, it seemed like everything you wrote before your recommendation would be suspect. I know this isn't the case with you Steve, because I trust you.

However, I had that momentary negative reaction when I read the article, when I realized halfway down it was about a product you were trying to sell. It took me a few seconds to remind myself that I trusted you thus you weren't trying to rob me like thousands of other people online try.

I didn't have that reaction with your other articles where you were recommending products because it was clear from the other posts that you were indeed selling/talking about a product from the beginning.

So, please don't think it has anything to do with paying money, but simply having to do with expectations of what we're reading when we read your post. I'm totally ok with you making money recommending products - I actually love it when you recommend products because I trust you so I know it's good stuff. I've already bought stuff solely because you've recommended them, and I'm sure I'll do it again.

[Calculusaurus]

Steve, you seem to have a lot to say about building online businesses (moreso than you've said already).

Also, based on peoples' reactions to this post, I think your audience would be eager to hear more about online businesses in general.

I've got no problem with you giving genuine recommendations to priced products (though price tags tend to scare college students such as myself). But I was slightly disappointed that the ideas in the first half of the article weren't fleshed out in the typical Pavlina style.

In other words: perhaps you can write more articles on this topic to appease our appetites (and to generate more interest in SBI from your non-tech-savvy readers).

[codefreeze]

I'd have to disagree with Steve on this one.

I actually don't think technology is the problem - it's most often content that's the problem these days. With services like Blogger you can have a blog up and running in minutes - no technical skills required.

Also, most decent hosting providers give you single click installation of Wordpress - which couldn't be simpler. When combined with the fact you can set up a Wordpress blog for free on Wordpress.com and have a play first then I don't think in most cases it's the technology that restricts traffic - it's usually either marketing (lack of) or poor content that holds people back.

Also, $299 a year sounds like a hell of a lot of money for this service. Services like Freewebs give you everything you need to completely build an e-commerce site, with blog, forums etc for around $50 a year depending on how much disk space/bandwidth you need - again no technical skills required.

I guess for people who get swamped by the technology this service might be useful - but I'm not sure it will solve their traffic problems - which the article seemed to suggest.

[GlennCarfin]

Steve I am a long time reader but like the majority I am r