SiteSell: The Blog

Change A Life! Make A Microloan

As I was channel-surfing the other day, a PBS television program stopped me in my tracks.  The show was about Kiva.org, a super-inspiring organization.

Compared to the tired, cynical feeling I sometimes get when tracking the 99.9% nonsense-noise in the 150+ feeds that we now track (the 0.1% is valuable and ends up in SBI!)...

Compared to the self-absorbed "me-too's" that Venture Capitalists pour hundreds of millions into...

Compared to so many dishonest uses of the Web...

Sitemaps, Robots File, and Automated Pinging

SiteSell Insider

The four major Search Engines announced recently that they now look for the sitemap URL in a site's robots.txt file.  And Ask.com announced that it now accepts sitemap submissions.  (Previously, the only way to be found was by way of an inbound link from a site already spidered by Ask.)

Since Google first started the sitemaps process, Site Build It! has built and updated every customer's sitemap, every time a page is built, edited or deleted.  Within days of this newest announcement, we added the sitemap URL to the robots.txt file, set up an automated pinging process for Google, Yahoo! and Ask, and simplified the process even more for our customers.

It now takes about 15 minutes to submit the sitemap to these Big 3 (Windows Live Search/MSN does not accept sitemaps yet).  And that's all our customers have to do.  No rebuilding the sitemap.  No resubmitting it or pinging the engines every time they make a site change.

These sitemaps features are just a few of the cutting edge features that SBI! offers....

http://buildit.sitesell.com/main/tools.html#NEWFEATURES

They automate processes that site owners should not have to worry about, giving them more time to focus on building their businesses.

What's The Point For Your Business??

Re-read your site.  Are you differentiating yourself from your competition?  Is your message up to date?  Is your product or service up to date?

What could you do to make your product or service one that turns your customers into raving fans?

Act Fast! It's May Day Madness!: 5 Pillar Affiliate Report #273

Zine Mailings

The 5 Pillar Affiliate Report is for SiteSell.com affiliates only (click here for 5 Pillar Report #273). 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 May Day Madness $100 Special, and the SBI! launch of sitemaps in robots.txt file and auto-pinging.

The Articles section covers strategies for promoting the May Day Madness Special offline, strategies for PREselling to the gigantic retiree market, and the combination strategy used by the latest "Affiliate Of The Day."

Finally, Pearls From The Affiliate Forums features the following...

• Why You Have No Traffic
• Why Your Site Makes No Money
• Setting Up Your Own SBI! Classroom

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

Sitemaps In Robots.txt File Launches!: SBI! Xpress #207

Zine Mailings

Site Build It! Xpress ("SBIX") is for SBI! customers only (click here for SBIX #207 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 the launch of sitemaps in the robots.txt file (plus other important sitemaps-related news), a reminder about the May 1st deadline for the SBI! Slogan Contest, and the May Day Madness $100 Special.

The Articles section covers the management of "swickis" and an overview of a typical traffic pattern for Web sites.

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

• Tier One-And-A-Half Directories
• Change A Life... Make A Microloan

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

Video Tour "Lite" Launches!: 5 Pillar Affiliate Report #272

Zine Mailings

The 5 Pillar Affiliate Report is for SiteSell.com affiliates only (click here for 5 Pillar Report #272). 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 Video Tour "Lite." You can now add this powerful video introduction to SBI! (just over 2 minutes in length) directly to your site.

The Articles section covers strategies for getting the most out of Video Tour "Lite."

Finally, Pearls From The Affiliate Forums features the following...

• Setting Up Your Own SBI! Classroom
• Watch Out For Too Much Selling
• Meet the New Affiliate Manager

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

Enter The SBI! Slogan Contest: SBI! Xpress #206

Zine Mailings

Site Build It! Xpress ("SBIX") is for SBI! customers only (click here for SBIX #206 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 the request for feedback about the Action Guide's new Checklist, the launch of the SBI! Slogan Contest (win $1000!), and a fun forum thread about "Shelly," the pewter tortoise.

The Articles section covers an example of how to find a Goldilocks "just-right" niche, and map resources for travel sites.

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

• Courage To Act Gets Photo With Kate
• There Are Times When You Could/Should Be Ahead Of The Market
• Getting There First... A Puglia Discussion
• Pushing A Typical Traffic Pattern To The Next Level...
• An Example of The Power Of Blog It! (Best Of Both Worlds)
• A Good Inbounds Link Tip
• A Tricky One To Start With, But Great Potential

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

Meet Our New Affiliate Manager!: 5 Pillar Affiliate Report #271

Zine Mailings

The 5 Pillar Affiliate Report is for SiteSell.com affiliates only (click here for 5 Pillar Report #271). 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 arrival of Rick Hart, our new Affiliate Manager.  Consider him as your full-time scout looking for the best new tools and marketing ideas.

The Articles section covers MySpace and why you should make it your space.

Finally, Pearls From The Affiliate Forums features the following...

• Using Myspace To Grow Your Business
• Meet the New Affiliate Manager

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

New Sitemaps Developments: SBI! Xpress #205

Zine Mailings

Site Build It! Xpress ("SBIX") is for SBI! customers only (click here for SBIX #205 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 new Sitemaps developments at MSN, Ask and SBI!, Find It!'s high profile, and a quick usability poll about the TNT HQ.

The Articles section covers a new glossary resource, the importance of identifying your Web site's story, and several TripAdvisor tips for travel sites.

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

• It's A Whole New Generation Of Link-Building Techniques
• Important Lessons For Local Businesses
• To New SBI! Owners: If You Read Only One Post Today...
• Update On Using Google Maps For Travel Sites
• 11 Months And Overwhelmed...
• What I Love Most About These Forums
• The future of mini-content sites?
• MySpace Strategies
• Anyone Trying Britepics?
• Mini-Sites Vs. Keep It Real

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

Video Makes A Profitable Connection

SiteSell Insider

The Web hosting arena is super competitive, so it's important that we differentiate ourselves from the old-fashioned Web hosts.  Using words to describe a unique, comprehensive system like Site Build It! requires a longer explanation in order to get the key points across.

Most people prefer to watch than read (a fact that will have a profound impact on the Web over the coming years since the world is increasingly "broadband 24 x 7" -- but that's another post for another day!).

Our solution?

We added "SBI! TV" to www.sitesell.com and buildit.sitesell.com.  Its location (above the fold) and an eye-catching image make SBI! TV unmissable.

Video has allowed us to communicate our unique and proven business-building approach to potential customers on a whole new level...

• The "3 Minute Shortcut" video engages visitors, encouraging them to watch instead of read.
• Tube It!'s collection of "I Love SBI!" videos passionately demonstrates the benefits of Site Build It!.
• And Tour It!'s behind-the-scenes tour of the system highlights its features effortlessly.

Not only are visitors watching, they are acting and buying Site Build It! at levels we've never seen before.  Sales started to soar the day that SBI! TV was introduced, and they continue to climb.

No doubt about it... video connects!

What's The Point For Your Business??

Video get results.  It is total communication ("a video is worth a thousand pictures").  When you show your visitors what you're offering via a video, they "get it" much quicker and much deeper.  And that means higher Conversion Rates for you.

What videos could you add to your site to make that profitable connection?

Dip or Hump? Get Over It!

Seth Godin, one of my favorite business authors, has written a new book.  I've pre-ordered my copy from Amazon (release date is May 2007)...

The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)

It should, as usual, be a fascinating read.  But this one, I must admit, has me a tad worried...