SiteSell: The Blog

What's The Message?

Ken's Blog

Have you seen this YouTube video?...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Weq_sHxghcg

Clever, although I've seen the technique before.  But the message is facile.  It goes from a young generation who is superficial-brain-dead to one who is profound-and-thinking in a blink.

The reality is that the big fat middle of the bell curve sits half-way between the two playbacks.  And where the Web ends up moving them (or do they move the Web where they want to go?) could dramatically affect how smart the next generation is.

How much kids read today, though, compared to us, is very debatable.  On the other hand, do they learn more by all the other ways they gather information?...

Listening Vs. Obeying

Ken's Blog

Whenever you make changes to your Web site, or product, or service, or business in general, you are guaranteed to receive feedback that ranges from "I love it" to "I don't like this particular feature" (opinion) to "This feature is broken" (fact) to "This feature makes it harder to _____ (fill in the blank)" (fact). 

In our case, we recently updated the SBI! Forums, my favorite meeting place.  There was some great feedback about the changes, but no "I hate it" global-type comments (phew!) -- just "points" for us to consider.

The key, when listening to feedback, is to differentiate between listening and obeying...

The Spring Special Has Sprung!: 5 Pillar Affiliate Report #407

Zine Mailings

The 5 Pillar Affiliate Report is for SiteSell.com affiliates only (click here for 5 Pillar Report #407). This e-zine, together with the Quick Start Guide, the 5 Pillar Marketing Guide, and the SiteSell Promotion Center, forms the backbone of the #1 affiliate program in the world.

This week, 5P News announces the $100 Spring Special.

The Article shows you how to promote this week's Special.

Pearls From The Affiliate and SBI! Forums features the following...

• The $100 Spring Special Starts Friday
• 5P Survey Now Closed - Thank You To All
• 2-Night Offline Continuing Education Class... Booked!
• Brand New SiteSell Services Video In Video Build It!
• OFFline Affiliate Marketing Contest - Over $5000 In Prizes!
• Pearl: A Powerful Offline Approach to Sales

Click here to read this issue of the 5P Affiliate Report. (Affiliates only. Not an affiliate? Register today.)

Over 120 Great Stories at SBI2-4U! SBI! Xpress #339

Zine Mailings

Site Build It! Xpress ("SBIX") is for SBI! customers only (click here for SBIX #339 and recent issues). It boils down the near-infinite Net marketing and e-business noise into "only what you really need to know."

This week, SBIX News announces feedback about the new C2 Show/Hide feature, the expanding number of stories at sbi2-4u.com (over 120 so far!) and news about U.S. legislation that could affect your affiliate business.

The Articles section covers tips for generating Content 2.0 submissions on travel sites and also a "secure" way to look at the SBI! process.

Finally, Pearls From The SBI! Forums features the following...

• Wishes to Wish List and How To Do This One Now
• It's Impossible To Underestimate Your Visitor's Savviness
• Install "Make Money" button. Click it?
• Follow-up E-book Pearl On "38 copies of on the first day."

Click here to read the three most recent issues of the SBI! Xpress. (SBI! owners only.)

Your Site's Voice

Ken's Blog

"Should I use "you" or "we" when I am writing?"

This question pops up in the SBI! forums every so often.  For many sites, it's not an issue.  For example, in a travel site, you talk about your travels (so you use largely "I" and "we").  And if applicable, draw people into dialogue on your Content 2.0 site, using "you" to invite people.

But for some sites, you need to think about the choice.  As one SBIer noted, based on her interpretation of "Make Your Content PREsell!"...

'I think that which voice you choose depends on if you want to be perceived as an 'expert expert' or somebody more approachable.'

The bottom line question for a site, and for your core audience (you simply must be able to visualize your typical visitor/customer), is...

1) Do you want to have the voice of an authority?  This is especially strong if you are a clinical psychologist who wants to sell your services, for example.  There are, I am sure, other scenarios where the "authoritative voice" that talks to ("you") works just fine.  Just remember... if you establish "authority" in this area, you should be able to back it up.

2) Do you want to be one of your visitors ("we")?  A closer, more intimate, and sharing voice?  You are one of them, have been there, suffered that.  You share solutions, etc.  As you see, a totally different approach. You establish another type of "authority"... experience.

So...

The answer to the we or you question has to do with...

• who your visitors are and...

• the whole direction/VPP (Valuable PREselling Proposition) you plan for your site.

Think about both factors when you are figuring out your site's voice.

All the best,

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What's The Story?: 5 Pillar Affiliate Report #406

Zine Mailings

The 5 Pillar Affiliate Report is for SiteSell.com affiliates only (click here for 5 Pillar Report #406). This e-zine, together with the Quick Start Guide, the 5 Pillar Marketing Guide, and the SiteSell Promotion Center, forms the backbone of the #1 affiliate program in the world.

This week, 5P News announces 2 new SBI! Case Study updates and a reminder about the Offline Contest.

The Article shows you how to find local businesses in your community to promote OFFline.

Pearls From The Affiliate and SBI! Forums features the following...

• OFFline Affiliate Marketing Contest - Over $5000 In Prizes!
• SBI2-4U Officially Launches
• Brainstorm It!... Onwards and Upwards
• It's Impossible To Underestimate Your Visitor's Savviness

Click here to read this issue of the 5P Affiliate Report. (Affiliates only. Not an affiliate? Register today.)

What's A Typical Traffic Pattern?

Ken's Blog

Every now and then, we all need to "rise out and above ourselves" and see the big picture, not of where we are, but where we are headed.

We generally see three basic traffic patterns...

1) Exceptional - there is a steady increase in traffic, month after month, starting quickly (in the first weeks to couple of months) and growing steadily and well thereafter.  This is usually a sign of a great niche (good demand to supply ratios for many keywords), well executed with good content, and/or someone who is working harder than average and is creating a lot of good content, building inbound links, etc.

2) Moderate -- the more typical pattern is a site that runs in the 10s to 80s (per day) for a few months, sees a jump to the 100-300 range, which seems to be the critical hump after which growth is steady.  The period and exact levels vary with the niche and the time invested.

3) Dismal -- this pattern is generally due to a bad niche (too general being the most common mistake) and/or just not investing the time to build pages and links.

Overall, the conclusion is... The better the niche and the more time invested, the better you do.

And that, believe it or not, got me thinking about the stock market and site traffic.  Here is the connection...

C2 Show/Hide Launches! SBI! Xpress #338

Zine Mailings

Site Build It! Xpress ("SBIX") is for SBI! customers only (click here for SBIX #338 and recent issues). It boils down the near-infinite Net marketing and e-business noise into "only what you really need to know."

This week, SBIX News announces some new perks for Brainstorm It! and the launch of Content 2.0's Show/Hide feature.

The Articles section covers the SBI! CafePress Store.

Finally, Pearls From The SBI! Forums features the following...

• Feedback: The Difference Between Listening and Obeying
• Failure Can Be A Great Teacher... If You Listen To It
• A HomeBuilder Pearl... Make Adjustments As You Build

Click here to read the three most recent issues of the SBI! Xpress. (SBI! owners only.)

Raising Your "M" Game

Ken's Blog

PREsold customers are easier to convert.  By providing high-value, relevant content to your visitors through Keyword-Focused Content Pages, you build trust, credibility and a willing-to-buy mindset.

There is no reason in the world that Keyword-Focused Content Pages cannot be Product-Focused Content Pages.  Just think of the advantages...

• Online stores usually have several products per page. You focus on one product per page instead. What an edge!...
• You take the time to build good information about each product.  You win the Search Engine wars and then you PREsell. 
• It's C T P M for products!

This is a fantastic approach if you want to become a distributor/agent/dropshipper of big ticket hard goods.  (It can also be useful for Affiliates and Network marketers.)

By the time a customer is looking for a specific product number, model number, etc., s/he is far along in the buying cycle.  Think about how people search-then-buy online...

Don't Miss SBI2-4U.com. Make sales.. 4U!: 5 Pillar Affiliate Report #405

Zine Mailings

The 5 Pillar Affiliate Report is for SiteSell.com affiliates only (click here for 5 Pillar Report #405). This e-zine, together with the Quick Start Guide, the 5 Pillar Marketing Guide, and the SiteSell Promotion Center, forms the backbone of the #1 affiliate program in the world.

This week, 5P News announces the launch of SBI2-4U and highlights the Offline Sales Contest.

The Article shows you how to use the new SBI2-4U landing site in your promos.

Pearls From The Affiliate and SBI! Forums features the following...

• SBI2-4U -- Calling All C2ers!!
• A Sneak Peek At A Sneak Peek At SBI2-4U
• OFFline Affiliate Marketing Contest - Over $5000 In Prizes!
• We're Live! :-) Note From Ken On Forum Upgrade
• The Race Is On With 5 Points On The Board! And Great Idea!

Click here to read this issue of the 5P Affiliate Report. (Affiliates only. Not an affiliate? Register today.)