Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 6:38 am Post subject: Should I SBI?
Hi guys,
A few months back I visited here a lot and picked up on the idea of building a site on a subject one is passionate about. I've been busy since doing just that, and have the beginnings of a site up here:
It's a travel site with hundreds of pictures. I didn't think SBI would be a good tool for building a site with hundreds of images because my understanding was I'd have to upload pics one by one, which is out of the question. I'm very comfortable with building sites with html, ftp etc.
But, my site is not modem friendly, nor have I done any SEO yet, so I was considering using SBI to build a text only version of the site. The SBI system of building traffic via SEO seems smart, and I'd like to use SBI for that.
So, question is, would you advise I create a text only modem friendly version of this site, using SBI to focus my SEO work?
Or is this a dumb idea, and a time waster I should avoid? Should I instead use my SBI account for some other project that I do on SBI from the ground up?
Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Posts: 208 Location: Germany and the World
Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 9:01 am Post subject:
Nice Site. I found it quite informative, especially as I am planning a trip to Florida in May (going to the southern Golf coast).
To make your site more modem friendly, check out if you can make the pictures smaller (shrinking byte size). You find a tool for analyzing your load time and also a shrinikng tool at netmechanic dot com.
There are more advanced tools around, but this gives you a rough idea.
Regarding switching to SBI: I would stay with your current setup and promote it by trying to get as many related links to your site. It doesn't have to be a link to the homepage, but links to the pages about the parks can be even more helpful.
Monetizing from your content is also possible on the "How to get there" pages of your site. You could include links to Motels etc in the area (use the finders fee concept of SBI) or put adsense on these pages.
Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 12:59 pm Post subject: thanks for advice
Hi Onlineleben,
Thanks for your comments regarding my site, much appreciated.
Yes, you're right, image archive pages are redundant and load heavy and I'm fazing them out. I can't reproduce the weather report or broken image problems. Maybe I didn't understand, or it was some temporary connection issue? Thanks for bug reports!
If your time permits, could you elaborate on the "finders fee" concept you referred to?
I have thought about the kind of local business that would be likely ad customers for me. Canoe renters, local hotels, etc. Most of them have web sites now, but few of them are net savvy enough to have set up their own affiliate programs.
So, it seems I would be faced with selling them CPM ads like a regular ad salesman. That's a very time intensive process, ad rates are in the cellar, and I'm wondering if it's worth it.
My thought so far (always subject to editing) is to focus on Adsense, affiliate programs, and selling my own products (same type of content packaged in multimedia). Perhaps I'll just try to trade links with local nature tourism vendors (even that is really time consuming)?
I had also considered selling pay per click ads to the local vendors. An easier sale perhaps, but still tons of hand holding, accounting etc, and I'd have to set up my own site CGI system for doing this.
As for SBI, perhaps the solution is to create a new related theme site with SBI and cross market it with the current photo heavy site. Still pondering.
Have you considered making a sister North Florida site with SBI, about a closely related topic, or more about the same topic? It could have some of your beautiful photos, but be more text-content based. The SBI one could have a Florida-topic newsletter with a slightly different angle (mailing lists and newsletters are so easy to create in SBI that it's a shame not to use that feature if you have it)!
Your two sites could link to each other and send each other more visitors and PR.
Also, I recommend adding a blog to your site - a daily or every other day tidbit about North Florida, to give your site "stickiness". I mention and link to my new pages in my blog, and they get spidered and indexed very fast.
Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Posts: 208 Location: Germany and the World
Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 3:03 pm Post subject:
OK, there are possibilities to work together with these businesses, that don't have affiliate programs. Ken Evoy has described this concept as "Finders Fee" in one of last years backissues of the 5 Pillar Weekly Affiliate Report. Example is always Nori Evoys site.
You could either establish something using email (like setting up a special email address per business on your site and forward this to the business) or printing coupons. In both cases, your income depends on the honesty of the business partner.
I wouldn't ruin the site with putting Ads like banners on the site. Better go with adsense then.
Selling PPC is too much of administraton. Go the easy way so you can focus on building even more content or create an other site.
SBI idea for crossmarketing: something related to photography. Sell an eBook uncovering the 27 ways of successful nature photography. You are definately an expert on this. Write the book (use your current site as example), build the new site, get visitors email adresses, sell the ebook and sell even more stuff in the backend.
Joined: 22 Aug 2003 Posts: 1322 Location: Gainesville Florida USA
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 5:15 am Post subject: thanks
Thanks for your suggestions guys, much appreciated!
Online, you mentioned a trip to the Gulf coast in May. We just returned from a trip there last week and I have a number of new articles on that area in the works. Should be on site before your trip.
Nope, sorry, not a photography expert. Just bought my first camera 3 months ago. It's a fun web content creator, you just push the button. _________________ Free Email Discussion Group For Your Site
Your visitors will build your site for you.
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Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Posts: 208 Location: Germany and the World
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 9:25 am Post subject: Re: thanks
Phil Tanny wrote:
Nope, sorry, not a photography expert. Just bought my first camera 3 months ago. It's a fun web content creator, you just push the button.
So how did you choose your camera model, what do you look out for when taking pictures, experiences with prints from digital photos, which inkjet is the right one for your photos ( amateur, professional, absolute berginner ), enhancing digital photos on your pc/apple, scanning 35mm negatives/slides paper prints to enhance on computer.
Nature photograhy, lots of different themes pop up.
This is just a two minute brainstorm before breakfast.
Have a nice wekend !
Joined: 22 Aug 2003 Posts: 1322 Location: Gainesville Florida USA
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 1:20 pm Post subject: see your point
Hi onlineleben,
OK, I take your point. Although I'm new to photography, I've been doing the web end of it so long I've forgotten that not everybody is born knowing all the details.
I'm getting in to video as well, as part of this project. One of the tools I've acquired allows me to film everything I'm doing on the computer screen. So maybe I'll create some how-to movie tutorials.
If you'd like to keep up with future articles on my site I'd invite you to join our newsletter. Newsletter subs will get to see video clips from our trips.
Thanks much for the conversation and your tips, the wheels are spinning here now. _________________ Free Email Discussion Group For Your Site
Your visitors will build your site for you.
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I have thought about the kind of local business that would be likely ad customers for me. Canoe renters, local hotels, etc. Most of them have web sites now, but few of them are net savvy enough to have set up their own affiliate programs.
So, it seems I would be faced with selling them CPM ads like a regular ad salesman. That's a very time intensive process, ad rates are in the cellar, and I'm wondering if it's worth it.
Quote:
I had also considered selling pay per click ads to the local vendors. An easier sale perhaps, but still tons of hand holding, accounting etc, and I'd have to set up my own site CGI system for doing this.
Phil,
this is an interesting question, ie the hand-holding involved for those who may be good prospects could be too time-consuming. Those with their own "brochure" websites may not yet understand the value or need to get traffic, and very few with websites understand the affiliate model.
One thing Ken Evoy of SBI has described is the referral or finder's fee which his daughter Nori uses on her site. The easiest way may be something like this, where the visitors fills out a form which is emailed to the merchant, cc to you. Then you charge for either a smaller amount for each email referral or a larger/commission amount for a sale, or a combination. By having the form cc: to you then you can keep tabs and if you get requests for credit (someone sends spam via the form) you can verify.
As far as whether the merchant makes a sale, this is largely up to the merchant's honesty--and that an honest merchant and all staff are organized enough to keep track. That said, this has been done for years in the offline world. An accountant will give referrals to a lawyer or mortgage brokers, realtors will give referrals to home inspectors. There is not always a fee arrangment, but often the savvy do that.
Just some thoughts. I would like to hear what sort of success you have, as I am thinking of a travel site ( in a region far from you ) down the line so I'm already brainstorming these ideas .
Joined: 22 Aug 2003 Posts: 1322 Location: Gainesville Florida USA
Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 8:45 pm Post subject:
Mark,
I like it, I like it. Yes, a "request for more info" form, submitted from my site to the merchant, and CC to me, could be perfect. Nice and simple, a record created at both ends etc. Thanks for spelling that out.
Good luck with your travel project, get in touch if you want to share notes. _________________ Free Email Discussion Group For Your Site
Your visitors will build your site for you.
http://Discussion-For-You.com
Phil,
Glad you like it. Would like to hear how it works for you.
Other things that come to mind.
1. Many will not understand the value or meaning of traffic volume, clicks per mil, conversion rates, etc. but they DO use email and so can understand that.
2. Using a form prequalifies the referral-- they will understnad that if someone takes the time to fill out a form (however simple) that this will be a (more) valuable referral, also self-qualifying by having gone to that particular web page and then fill a form.
3 Test it and make sure the merchant whiltelists the source domain so their referrals don't go into the spam filter
4. Depending the business, putting a phone # required on the form may increase the (perceived) value of the referral. I wouldn't accept less of a few, however, if the visitor puts 312 555 5555 in
5. In addition to having form messages cc to you with the merchant's knowledge you could, have an email out on receipt of form "thank you for requesting __ we have forwarded your request - if yoiu don't hear back please let usknow [here]" this helps you keep tabs on the merchant.
6. If you really want to go into depth, send the merchant a monthly or quarterly list of all referrals sent to them -- either to verify if payment is by the referral or to jog their memory if it's on commission for buying referrals. This may be more work than it's worth, depends.
7. If you're not sure on the best fee arrangement, set up a trial period, say 3 months, then you both will have the info needed to renegotiate or go separate ways.
Joined: 22 Aug 2003 Posts: 1322 Location: Gainesville Florida USA
Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2004 2:11 pm Post subject:
Mark,
The issue seems to be, can I send any merchant enough referrals so that it will be worth their while and mine to create and maintain an accounting relationship.
Until that time, the merchants can actually do more for me than I can do for them.
My first thought is to offer this referral service for free to any merchant who will resell our videos in their stores.
The merchant buys 20 videos at wholesale, and then marks them up to retail. I agree in writing to buy back any unsold vids after a year if it doesn't work out, making it risk free for merchant. In this scenario, the referrals forms from my web site are an automated way to nuture this relationship.
If at some point I'm sending so many referrals that the merchant would care if they stopped, then perhaps it's time to start billing them for the service.
Anyway, there's some brainstorming in reply. Hope something there is useful. _________________ Free Email Discussion Group For Your Site
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) down the line so I'm already brainstorming these ideas .