Anyone here use Site Build It! ?

[Isis Kali]

I'm thinking of using this to build my sales website, but it's $299 a year! Eeek! Has anyone used it, or heard anything about it?

Site Build It!

[Jill]

I haven't used it personally myself, but I have had some personal discussions with Ken Evoy the creator of SiteSell. He and I share many of the same beliefs about websites and having a passion for what you do, yada yada. Come to think of it, I'm sure many here would have a similar philosphy to Ken.

From what I understand, if you're looking for an all-in-one solution, including hosting, keyword research tools, website design software, and a large support system in regards to how to use it all, then you might want to give it a try.

$299/year actually sounds really cheap to me!

[Isis Kali]

Yeah, it is. I'm just stingy. Silly, I know...

[Jill]

Well I learned about 10 years ago that the saying "it takes money to make money" is actually very true!

[Caveman Joe]

I spent a minute or two reading the first page of that website, and got nothing but marketing hype and the distinct impression that someone really needs to introduce this company to the idea of what we in the 21st century like to call "Meaningful Content."
What makes it different from free and open-source packages like Zen Cart?

[dmauder]

Originally Posted by Isis Kali

I'm thinking of using this to build my sales website, but it's $299 a year! Eeek! Has anyone used it, or heard anything about it?

Absolutely! I've been using SBI for a little over a month now to build a new online business for myself. In fact, I've been blogging about the whole experience over at my "Opportunity Junkie" site (link in my sig).

By your "Eeek!", I assume you're mean that SBI is expensive...? Actually, less than $25/month is quite reasonable for just business-class web hosting alone. But then add in everything SBI provides and it's hard to imagine how the company makes money.

To be honest, I've never been more impressed with a company. SiteSell is top-notch all the way. The vast amount of training and support alone is mind-boggling.

My new site is only about 50% done, and I haven't yet been indexed by the major search engines. SBI continues to automatically submit my pages when I create a new one and on a regular schedule until they all get picked up. I didn't expect anything major to happen in the first month, but I fully expect it to be a snowball effect over the next several months.

Let me know if you have any specific questions. Since I've been using the SiteBuilder tools every day for the last month or so, I've become quite familiar with them.

Dave

[dmauder]

Originally Posted by Caveman Joe

I spent a minute or two reading the first page of that website, and got nothing but marketing hype and the distinct impression that someone really needs to introduce this company to the idea of what we in the 21st century like to call "Meaningful Content."
What makes it different from free and open-source packages like Zen Cart?

Ironically, SBI'ers are taught how to create content-rich sites based on their passions and interests. SiteSell's websites are designed to sell their products because that is how they make money. But once you start digging into a few of the links and/or visiting the forums, you'll see the incredible amount of free information (meaningful content) they do provide. In fact, several of the ebook products SiteSell used to sell are now free.

I did a search for Zen Cart and read for about 5 minutes. It looks like that is only a shopping cart interface. SBI is SO much more than that!

Like I said in another response, if you visit my blog over at mauder.com, you can read some of my first hand experience with SBI as I use it to build a new website. It's pretty cool and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has been struggling to make money online (as I have since 1997).

Dave

[Jill]

SBI continues to automatically submit my pages when I create a new one and on a regular schedule until they all get picked up.

That's actually not a good thing, nor is it helpful. They should really remove that feature as it would most likely annoy a search engine as opposed to get your pages picked up.

The way to get your pages spidered and indexed is to have outside links pointing to them. In other words, another site needs to like yours enough to recommend it to their users/readers.

I'm surprised Ken still has that auto submit feature in there. Blech.

[dmauder]

Originally Posted by Jill

That's actually not a good thing, nor is it helpful. They should really remove that feature as it would most likely annoy a search engine as opposed to get your pages picked up.

The way to get your pages spidered and indexed is to have outside links pointing to them. In other words, another site needs to like yours enough to recommend it to their users/readers.

I'm surprised Ken still has that auto submit feature in there. Blech.

SBI (SiteSell) works very closely with the search engines and has for years. They only submit / re-submit based on the schedule allowed by each search engine. Once indexed, SBI then monitors each page and gives you ranking reports based on your keywords. If you aren't ranking well for certain keywords, the Analyze It tool will tell you exactly what to change.

The auto submit feature saves SBI'ers a TON of time because we never have to worry about how/when/where to submit our pages. I certainly don't have the time to figure that all out or monitor all the SE's to see when/where/how my page(s) are ranking. I'd rather have the experts (SBI) to do that for me - especially when it's included in the already inexpensive price.

SBI also has an entire program (training and tools) centered around creating a great outside linking campaign. Through their Value Exchange program and free "Make Your Links Work" ebook, you get everything you need.

Believe me... SBI has covered ALL the bases, and they've done it at a great price.

Dave

PS. SBI also automatically creates/updates my Google and Yahoo sitemap files every time I create/update a page.

[Jill]

The auto submit feature saves SBI'ers a TON of time because we never have to worry about how/when/where to submit our pages. I certainly don't have the time to figure that all out or monitor all the SE's to see when/where/how my page(s) are ranking. I'd rather have the experts (SBI) to do that for me - especially when it's included in the already inexpensive price.

No, you're missing the point. You NEVER, EVER, EVER need to (nor should) submit your site to the crawling search engines.

[Isis Kali]

Oh, dear... I got excited, and now I'm not again! Or am I?

[Jill]

It's a minor detail Isis Kali. I'm sure you can turn off the auto submission feature and just use the useful ones.

[dmauder]

Originally Posted by Jill

No, you're missing the point. You NEVER, EVER, EVER need to (nor should) submit your site to the crawling search engines.

Sorry Jill... I totally disagree and would like to see your justification/proof that submitting to search engines is not necessary. If what you say is true, then I don't believe any of them would have complete site submission guidelines and links to submit your URL.

Case in point: Add your URL to Google

While it's true that crawling SE's should eventually pick up every site on the 'net, it doesn't always happen that way. It's much better to submit your site to be sure it gets crawled.

That's why SBI handles this automatically. They make sure every major search engine knows about your top level domain and/or ever new page you create based on the rules of each SE. SBI never submits more often than allowed, and they track your SE results and positioning so you can improve your keyword density and other on-page criteria if necessary to get better positioning.

Dave

[Jill]

Sorry Jill... I totally disagree and would like to see your justification/proof that submitting to search engines is not necessary.

12 years in the business, and not having submitted a URL in at least 5 or 6 years.

While it's true that crawling SE's should eventually pick up every site on the 'net, it doesn't always happen that way. It's much better to submit your site to be sure it gets crawled.

No, actually it's not. Do some tests for yourself and you'll see that it won't make a difference whether you submit or don't. But hey, if it makes you feel good to submit them (that's the only reason I used to do it 6 or 7 years ago), then by all means go ahead. But I wouldn't do it on a regular basis as it's really just a waste of bandwidth.

BTW, Google has new tools such as their sitemaps, which may be a better way to get your pages spidered and indexed. I personally don't find that necessary either, but at least you get reporting features with that, as to when they've spidered and stuff.

so you can improve your keyword density

I don't mean to burst another bubble, but umm...keyword density is also so very 1999. You definitely do not need to be looking at that as it's yet another useless metric.

There's a bunch of articles on my site on that topic which you may be interested in.

[searstower]

Hi Isis,

I thought I might as well put in my perpective as a Site Build It owner. SiteSell is a company I have tons of respect for.

I built my very first website 1.5 years ago with Site Build It. The SBI forums and action guide were very helpful and taught me a lot. So much, in fact, that I've since changed professions and am now a web designer and web consultant.

I still own two SBI sites, both of which are doing well, and I have built SBI sites for 3 of my design clients. I use SBI for certain jobs and I think it's great.

The question is, should you use SBI?

If you are going to build useful, valuable articles and information into the structure of your sales site, then I would say yes. SBI does a great job of making success stories out of internet newbies, and if you are serious about building a business out of this store, having the autoresponders and SEO and tracking tools all linked together can save a lot of time.

However, if you are just planning on putting up a store with your products and no substantial information, then you can find cheaper hosting elsewhere.

Best wishes on your new venture!
Rebecca

[Blueskied]

I don't mean to burst another bubble, but umm...keyword density is also so very 1999. You definitely do not need to be looking at that as it's yet another useless metric.

Sorry to be off-topic but this got me curious. Do you have any articles where you elaborate on this,Jill ?

[Jill]

Sorry to be off-topic but this got me curious. Do you have any articles where you elaborate on this,Jill ?

Yes, please visit my high rankings site. See the articles, as well as the forum. Lots of articles in the forum that discuss the silliness of keyword density.

[ticktockclok]

I don't have SiteBuildIt, but I can vouch for it being an excellent tool. Its great for people who have never designed a website, and even for those who are Dreamweaver or Frontpage experts, you can intergrate your web design skills with the capabilities SBI gives you for a monster site.

[shanlstrick]

Almost 2 years ago I had a SBI website in the works, I never got it finished which is my own fault, but I do have a lot of respect for them. At the very least, if you have no idea about how to do a website, they do heavily emphasize content - content - content, and building multi-tiered web pages. And yes, the forums were the best help, lots of free info. Like others here have said, if you are just selling a product, there are more economical solutions. The biggest help for me was, getting knowledge of optimizing my pages for search engines, making it easier for crawlers to index, etc. The price is certainly cheap enough, but after you learn the basics mentioned above you can most likely do what you need on your own. At any rate all of this info is widely available for free on the internet and probably here as well. But I do believe they have a great service, it just depends on your own comfort zone and many newbie webmasters are probably more comfortable with SBI handling much of this for you. Be warned, they don't do everything - they will not build your website for you, they do have programmers for hire, but I used Coffeecup which is a great little program, and I learned much about CSS and HTML using that.

You could always do you own website and join their affiliate program where you get a commission for signing people up for the service - without actually using that service yourself. I wouldn't feel bad about that since the product is as advertized. Just my 2 cents.

[JMO]

Sitebuildit is more than just a hosting company. It is an all in one business development and website company that teaches people how to develop and create an online niche and teaches people how to make money doing so.

It is about helping people to discover what it is that they are passionate about and making it come to life through a website and helps you make money doing something you love which is quite contrary to most people's philosophy. Most people think that work is supposed to be something you have to suffer through.

I have been using SBI concepts since about 2000 when I started my first website using Front page. I too thought SBI was too much to pay for. Now I have 3 SBI sites and about 10 more in the waiting to start and develop.

The sky is the limit. It isn't hype. It works.

It took me awhile to really get it all and I still am getting new revelations every day. There is such massive amounts of information at SBI that it is unbelievable. All it really takes is motivation and passion about what you are doing.

my .02

Julie
Massage Therapy Careers,
The SiteBuildit! Way

[audreytheeditor]

In March 2003 I started my first SBI site, the one that's liked to in my profile. I now have 2 others and a fourth one in the wings. Before SBI, I could do email and that was IT!

I've learned so much from the SBI material and the community through the forums that I can hardly remember what it was like before SBI.

I thought long and hard before parting with my $299 in 2003 -- and yes, the price has stayed the same although the functionality has skyrocketed -- but for creating a business online, I find it hard to imagine anything better, especially for someone just starting out.

I was so enthusiastic that I created a video (and had to buy a camera to do it because I'd never done THAT before, either) for a contest SBI had about what we liked about the product. I knew right away what that was for me.

The other day I discovered that a clip from that video is now on the home page of Sitesell. (It's at 1 minute 30 seconds if you want to check it out.)

[chermille]

Well, I was going to start a whole new topic for my questions but I think they'll fit very well in here.

I am willing to start a site (I have the whole idea and bal bla bla) and my only problem is...yes you guessed it: I'm having some issues with the technical part.
As I discovered this so well-known "build it" site here I thought it was the solution to all my problems but still I'm not 100% sure about it.

So if you know/use this site could you please tell me:

- if we can create our own templates
- if we can add a flash player introduction
- if we can, in general, bring outside tools for our site
-if the interface "buttons" (as "cart" or "buy it" HAVE TO be in english (the public I am aiming at is actually Brazilian)

ps: Sorry for the language mistakes...still learning =)
thank you very much

[Niki]

@audreytheeditor.

Is one or more of your sites making a lot of money? If you don't care to tell, how much ?

Thanks in advance. I was just wondering how an average SBI site earns.

[audreytheeditor]

So if you know/use this site could you please tell me:

- if we can create our own templates
- if we can add a flash player introduction
- if we can, in general, bring outside tools for our site
-if the interface "buttons" (as "cart" or "buy it" HAVE TO be in english (the public I am aiming at is actually Brazilian)

Yes, you can use your own templates. (You can use any of the templates provided, alter and use the templates provided, or create and use your own.)

I'm not 100% sure about using a flash player introduction, but I think you can. (You are invited to phone SiteSell to ask questions before buying, and if you NEED the flash, that would be a question to ask.)

With InfinIt!, a new feature, you can use outside tools. Again, if you need something specific, you might want to phone and ask.

Sorry I can't answer the question about the buttons if you are talking about the Store feature because I don't use it, but I can make the "Submit" button on the forms say anything I want, so I imagine it would be the same. Again, you could phone and ask.

Is one or more of your sites making a lot of money? If you don't care to tell, how much ?

I have a full time job and care for my elderly mother. I also write on the side. I have very little time to work on my sites. That said, from my main site, I make from one quarter to one half of my full time salary, depending on the year.

The second site makes me pocket change. That's because I haven't set up monetization beyond Google AdSense yet. I just haven't had time. That site is at Retirement Investigator Home Page

I built the third site entirely for fun. Again, I haven't monetized yet, but the traffic to that site is already surpassing that of the second one. The third site is at Tortoise Facts, Fiction, and Fun!

It's important to point out that going in, the research I did for the first site warned me that I was not likely to make any money from my topic. I went ahead anyway because it was a topic I really wanted to do. If I had better understood what I was doing, I might have done some things differently and been more financially successful. As it is, the business from that site keeps me about as busy as I can bear to be without quitting my day job, which I love.

I have considered retiring early and putting more time into my sites, but I truly do love my day job. (I teach primary kids in the public school system. Who would willingly stop doing THAT? )

I have made friends with many SBIers, both locally and worldwide. Their Web incomes vary from next to nothing to six figures. So much goes into the mix. SBI doesn't guarantee anyone any income at all. It does give you the best tools I know of for making an income online. It is certainly the best for those who start from zero like I did. But even those who are Web masters for others and who then become SBIers themselves-- often reluctantly -- are huge fans once they begin to use the tools.

[Niki]

Thankyou for your answer.

Are there any more SBI money making site owners on this thread? I would love to hear how long it took ya to start earning, and how much.

Thanks in advance to all ya!

[chermille]

thank you very much for your help!