Hi Jim,
The good news is I have been making websites since 1998 and know quite a bit about promoting a website.
But, I would like to point out that selling on your own website is generally more difficult than selling on ebay.
The two main reasons:
1. You need to know how to setup the website and get things running. It looks like you have this part covered with a completed website.
2. You have more variables in the equation when trying to do trial and error to get your sales going right.. On ebay, some variables are canceled out. For instance, ebay already has the traffic. So, you do not have to wonder if traffic is a factor on ebay and you can focus on just improving your ads.
WHAT I USE FOR PROMOTING MY WEBSITES:
1. Google Adwords.
2. Lots of free information on my websites. Free information people want.
3. Lots of internal links and pages for the search engines to crawl and log into their search databases. So, if you have 100 pages, rather than 10 pages, potentially, you can get 10 times the pull.
4. Try to get others to link to your website.
5. Make your website unique and cover something others are not, or do it better than the others.. This will bring a uniqueness that will draw people in.
6. Offer popular services for free. Email account, audio materials people want, forums on good topics, etc..
WHY EBAY IS EASIER:
You do not have to mess with most of the above on ebay. Also, you don't have to spend a great deal of time promoting the website..
My
philosophy is to start on ebay, get good at selling on ebay, start a website on the side. Start experimenting with your website on the side, while making money on ebay. When you have mastered eBay, you can take on the harder "own website" and really tackle it with a chance of making something big of it..
JUST right now, I am feeling like I really have a handle on overall internet selling. Making money on my personal website along with eBay.. I have been doing this for 5 years, selling wise, and I just now feel really like I know the internet and can make it work for me.
THE BEAUTY OF THIS:
1. With a regular business, you have to have a TON of money to get going, buying the store front, stocking the shelves, etc..
2. With the internet, you can start with little money, BUT you have to put in "the time" in getting good at it, so you
can really make the money..
3. The good news is you can often make money immediately on ebay.. I did when I started.. You can to, selling ebooks.
4. Selling on your own website compared to ebay is like learning to drive a semi compared to driving a car.. If you have ever test driven a semi, you will know what I mean.. Its about 4 times harder.
WHERE DO WE GO NOW?
My question is do you want me to coach you on your own website or on selling on ebay or both?
I can help you with making money on your own website, but I am guessing my advice will lead you a different route than maybe your premade website goes..
Generally, the best way to make money on a website, is to do subscriptions or upselling. Subscriptions are like my
Saledaddy.com subscriptions.. Upselling, is selling an ebook for say $5 bucks and then advertise a bigger package for $40 after they by the $5 buck version..
SO, which do you want to start on? EBay or website?
eBay is easier, so if you want easy, lets do this first and get some money flowing..
Sincerely
Tony
jrnixon@aaaa.com wrote:
Hi Tony,
I think ebooks may be the first option. I bid and bought an ebook website about the same time as your auction. I thought it was an established and running website that was already selling ebooks and did not expect to win the auction. In reality it is a new site that needs
to be marketed. I am a complete novice in that area. If you know of a ebook or tutorial on setting up and running a website I definately need to know about it. I spent a couple of hours today looking at the site which offers 20 ebook packages for sale with resale rights. I am not sure if it can be a money maker or serious expense at this time. I have been reading as much as time allows the past 2-3 days to decide what my next move will be. It is very easy to spend a considerable amount of money gathering information on any kind of internet marketing venture. I hope you can help me work into a prosperous business in the next few months. Thanks for your time,
Jim
> Oh, I forgot to mention sorry for the delayed email.
>
> I sometimes get behind on the weekend doing email. Don't have as
> much of the motivation as on the weekdays.
>
>
> Tony
>
>
> jrnixon@aaaa.com wrote:
> Hi Tony,
> This is Jim Nixon. I purchased your Ebay item #290015135839 last
> weekend. I build drag race cars on evenings and weekends. This week
> and next week are very busy for me as I set up the rear suspension on
> one car and am preparing a second car I built for it's
first pass
> down the track next Friday evening.
> My goal for this internet business is to provide an income for my
> family and eliminate my day job so I may work on street rods and race
> cars sometime in the near future. I enjoy creating a finished product
> out raw materials and watching it work. It gives me a sense of
> satisfaction that most jobs do not. I will have more time to devote
> to starting the business after next Friday. I accessed your website
> briefly a couple of nights ago and read some of the information
> available there. I have also bought a couple of ebooks from Chris
> Carpenter and Neil Waterhouse on internet marketing. It takes time to
> read all of the material and try to implement it. I bought your ebook
> business thinking it might be the easiest product to start building
> working cash to work to higher goals later. I am starting with no
>
reserves at this time so I need to find a product that costs little
> for starters. I felt Ebay auctions would be the first choice since I
> already have PayPal and Ebay accounts
> set up. Your input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks,
> Jim
>
>
>
> <><><>
> O'REILLY: All right, Lis ... I sell bibles in Tarzana, CA. Lenny
> comes in, & he's got a ... beard. He's wearing a dress ... I have to
> hire him?
> LIS WIEHL: You can't not hire Lenny.
> O'REILLY: Yes, but ... Don't you see my business point here? ...
> the state of Calif .. is forcing me to hire people that may be
> detrimental to my business.
> LIS WIEHL: appearance shouldn't matter. When you're selling
bibles.
> O'REILLY: Ms. Rivers, you understand ... better than Lis because
> she went to Harvard Law School, and that disqualifies her from common
> sense.
> <><><>
<><><>
O'REILLY: All right, Lis ... I sell bibles in Tarzana, CA. Lenny comes in, & he's got a ... beard. He's wearing a dress ... I have to hire him?
LIS WIEHL: You can't not hire Lenny.
O'REILLY: Yes, but ... Don't you see my business point here? ... the state of Calif .. is forcing me to hire people that may be detrimental to my business.
LIS WIEHL: appearance shouldn't matter. When you're selling bibles.
O'REILLY: Ms. Rivers, you understand ... better than Lis because she went to Harvard Law School, and that disqualifies her from common sense.
<><><>
