Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2003 7:03 pm Post subject: SBI Comment
First off, I want to say hello, my name is Charles. I'm really glad to have found this forum after 3 weeks of researching how to start a web site. My wife and I have tried to impossible of trying to write html in notepad, d/led templates and so forth. From what I've read SBI could be the answer to our problems. I've had an SBI agent I've been talking via e-mail, answering some basic questions. He mentioned there would be an increase in SBI pricing effective 10/17/03.
I do have an off the wall question. What if you build a site usin SBI and decide you want to go another direction with it? Is it possible to redo your site? I've had so many A plans that didn't quite work out the way I had imagined, that's why they make B plans.
It's relatively easy to change your site anytime you want. You can edit, add, delete pages however you choose. If you decide to go with a new domain name too, you just contact Sitesell via the support site, and tell them what you need. They email you with instructions and how much it cost to replace the domain and reset the SBI Manager & Site. I think it's about $50 Canadian. Yes, I've done it! lol Then you have to call in your credit card, or mail in payment, once received, they process the change.
You get a new order number to replace the old one, which you use in your SBI Manager to order the domain you want. After a very short period of time, the old domain becomes dormant. It still belongs to you though, you can sell it on ebay, use it on another site, or just let it die. It's up to you.
Hope this helps,
Debs _________________ Learn how to turn keyphrases into quality, well-targeted articles your visitors and SE's will love with Gary Antosh's new ebook "Web Content Made Easy!"
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2003 7:37 pm Post subject: wow
Only 5 minutes after my post and I get a reply. I used to waiting 2 or 3 days on most forums. I like this place. I'm probably gonna sign on board for SBI in the next couple of days. Heck I've wasted lots more than $299 before and didn't have nothing to show for it but a sore head.
Joined: 28 Sep 2003 Posts: 258 Location: The Netherlands
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2003 8:29 pm Post subject: SBI
Hi Charles,
I'm now in my 2nd month of using SBI, and haven't been disappointed by the results so far.
The block building way of building pages is awkward to the html-savvy, and has its quirks, but it helps you focus on content rather than "look and feel". No more wysiwyg fior me!
Charles wrote:
Heck I've wasted lots more than $299 before and didn't have nothing to show for it but a sore head.
$299 aside, it's no free ride... you'll have to work the process to be successful. But if you're stuck at any time, you'll find people "in the know" right here. I did!
BTW, don't rush it! Take your time to follow the Action guide, and restrain yourself from immediately registering a site name and building pages. After a while you realize the way to go, and you don't want to go 180 degrees in the wrong direction before you do!
Erwin wrote:
BTW, don't rush it! Take your time to follow the Action guide, and restrain yourself from immediately registering a site name and building pages. After a while you realize the way to go, and you don't want to go 180 degrees in the wrong direction before you do!
Absolutely the best advice Erwin. I rushed it, hence I ended up 180 degrees west of where I needed to be! Took me several months to redo, etc. Wish I had taken the time, but we live and learn *sigh*
Debs _________________ Learn how to turn keyphrases into quality, well-targeted articles your visitors and SE's will love with Gary Antosh's new ebook "Web Content Made Easy!"
I've noticed that all the SBI sites are basically the same. They have the same look and feel. So I assume there is one template you have to work with. I think I read you could write html to change the layout. Debs I noticed your site had a different layout.
A few questions and observations,
1. Can you change the bg color (all the SBI sites I've looked at are just black & white)
2. There doesen't seem to be any visuals. I wanted to be able to show pics of item's, maybe in the form of a slideshow. Is this possible?
3. It seems all the SBI sites look exactly the same only different content. I quess there is a consistency in structure and form on all.
4. I'm very apprehensive at the thought of building a site and it just sits there, doing nothing. I understand that first you have to have a knowledge or product that people want in order for your site to be succesful.
I'm a very impulsive person. I bought a very expensive digital video camera last year. I didn't realize the accessories cost more than the camera. People spend more on tripod legs and head than they have in their camera's. I'm wondering if this idea will be the same. Will I have to pay to even get considered for SE listings and then not get listed? etc
I have a lot of friends who are artist, make pottery, jewelry and various crafters. Some of these people live way out and some probably have never seen a computer. I thought I could maybe start a site and show some of their work thru pics and 1-2 minute video. I would think I could sell some of their work for them. Making $$ for the crafter's and me alike. I'm just worried how feasible an idea this is? I know no one can assure me this will work. I wonder what percentage of people who start a web site for profit actually see any? I need to make a decision (in or out) in the next day or so. I really do like what I read about SBI.
Erwin wrote:
BTW, don't rush it! Take your time to follow the Action guide, and restrain yourself from immediately registering a site name and building pages. After a while you realize the way to go, and you don't want to go 180 degrees in the wrong direction before you do!
That's good advice, but just make sure you follow a plan which involves concrete "action" steps before too long. From my experience, it's all too easy to fall into the trap of planning but never actually doing. There is no perfect way.
charles wrote:
I've noticed that all the SBI sites are basically the same. They have the same look and feel. So I assume there is one template you have to work with. I think I read you could write html to change the layout.
You can now import your own page of html. This is the best way to make your layout look distinctive. Debs and Gary (speedguide) do this to good effect.
charles wrote:
I'm very apprehensive at the thought of building a site and it just sits there, doing nothing. I understand that first you have to have a knowledge or product that people want in order for your site to be succesful.
This is why following SBI's method is important. If you use the Manager as intended, you will target a niche that is popular, rather than just creating "another" web site.
For me, the researching tools (warts and all) are much more use than the publishing tools.
charles wrote:
I thought I could maybe start a site and show some of their work thru pics and 1-2 minute video. I would think I could sell some of their work for them. Making $$ for the crafter's and me alike. I'm just worried how feasible an idea this is?
Provided there is good demand for appropriate search phrases, this concept seems feasible to me.
With the increasing popularity of high speed internet connections, I think video will gain in importance as a marketing tool. "Showing" is often a more persuasive technique than "telling".
Hope this helps,
Charlie. _________________ "Before I speak, I have something important to say."
- Groucho Marx
Slide shows are great features, used appropriately. There are applets and scripts available for free on various resource sites that can do this. However, one of the problems is some require a cgi bin (not available with SBI) but others don't. The trick is finding those that don't.
DHTML is a popular method for slideshows that would work within SBI. I haven't specifically looked at this method however. If it requires access to the <head> section of the html structure, then you would need to have your own template to build pages, then upload individual pages. Templates are a great way to get a totally different look and feel for your SBI site whether you design them yourself (like speedguide) or use ready-made ones (like I do).
One caveat about slideshows, and videos, in particular. You need to watch your download times, and how it affects the overall loading of each page they are on. People won't wait long to see some type of content appear. An alternative would be to consider letting the visitor start the slideshow or video themselves, with a warning that it takes x amount of time on a 28,000 bps connection, or something like that.
Once you log into the SBI online center, go to the Resources HQ located horizontal after the Traffic Center and check out the templates designed specifically for SBI. Also, you can check out various free template sites for a design that appeals to you, then make the changes you need for your site. You didn't mention how much html or graphics experience you have, but it sounds like you may have a bit to be able to get local wares graphically reproduced online.
I agree with Charlie about find the appropriate profitable keyphrases that will target your wares and subject matter before you get into much of anything else. Without this, you could be a boat at sea without a lifeline.
Don't get overwhelmed by all the details. Just follow the Action Guide, get your keyphrases, and move from there. And when you have questions, don't hesitate to ask SBI support when it involves the technical aspect of SBI, or post here ... especially for things that Support can't help you with ... like workarounds, outside templates, and things like that. A great group of people here always willing to help.
You can set the timer delay for each frame, and it loaded pretty fast too. Also, you can link the images to go to the page of the item displayed, with each item having its own url. When you put your mouse over an image it stops allowing you time to view the image or click the url. I thought it was very neat. Dynamic Drive is one of the best places online for great DHTML scripts IMO.
Not using the head section of the html means you could go with a standard SBI template and not mess much with the html at all, just inserting the DHTML script where you want it to appear. **end added** _________________ Learn how to turn keyphrases into quality, well-targeted articles your visitors and SE's will love with Gary Antosh's new ebook "Web Content Made Easy!"
One caveat about slideshows, and videos, in particular. You need to watch your download times, and how it affects the overall loading of each page they are on. People won't wait long to see some type of content appear. An alternative would be to consider letting the visitor start the slideshow or video themselves, with a warning that it takes x amount of time on a 28,000 bps connection, or something like that.
Definitely let the visitor start the show themselves, in my view. It's simply not fair to make people with dial up connections wait - you risk losing people before the page even loads.
Cheers,
Charlie. _________________ "Before I speak, I have something important to say."
- Groucho Marx
Debs, html or graphics experience> Me? I know absolutely nothing. Anything I say is just wishful thinking. I'd like to be able to do lots of things, I just don't know how.
I'm reading and reading trying to absorb more info on SBI. If I decide to get SBI where do I purchase from. There seems to be lots of sites affliated with SBI. When I requested info from SBI I recieved e-mail from someone, an agent I guess who gives me a order link. He says he recieves no commission on the sale. Doesn't SBI site owner's affliated with SBI recieve commission from site sells?
It's up to you Charles, but when people get help here I love to see them use Allan's referral link, because he provides a great place for us to help each other.
As far as SBI templates are concerned, I would strongly recommend you go with one of the basic designs offered, and have someone modify the graphics to personalize them for you. This will get you started into creation of the site, with minimal html, and let you use the building block features so you don't have to learn a lot of html. Plus it will give your site the unique graphics related to your content. Don't hire someone, or ask anyone to do anything though until after you have built 10 pages for your site!! lol It's quite easy to change graphics with a site on SBI that's hundreds of pages.
I say 10 pages of content because then you know ... where you are going and if it feels right Another of my been there done that things lol When you get to that point, let me know. If my time isn't overwhelmed (as it is now) I would be happy to help with the graphic customization. This site has the SBI template with custom graphics I did awhile back (don't use the site as an example SBI site though ... that was my "in too big a hurry error" and is going to be changed soon!
Debs _________________ Learn how to turn keyphrases into quality, well-targeted articles your visitors and SE's will love with Gary Antosh's new ebook "Web Content Made Easy!"
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Me? I know absolutely nothing. Anything I say is just wishful thinking. I'd like to be able to do lots of things, I just don't know how.
Another of my been there done that things lol When you get to that point, let me know. If my time isn't overwhelmed (as it is now) I would be happy to help with the graphic customization. This site has the SBI template with custom graphics I did awhile back (don't use the site as an example SBI site though ... that was my "in too big a hurry error" and is going to be changed soon!