SiteSell: The Blog

My Favorite Pet Peeve

Ken's Blog

A few days ago, an SBIer commented in the SBI! Forums that she had received yet another e-mail from some marketing guru urging her to buy his stuff.  "I am so tired of all the marketing hype sales pitches these days.  It hurts my heart to see so many people buy into these programs and then become disheartened and disillusioned when they don't succeed."

Her post reminded of my favorite pet peeve...

I can't tell you how many of these marketing-guru letters I get.  They are brilliantly crafted.  So much so that I sometimes send a researcher off to buy the promoted product, just to see...

Always a disappointment.  Now, I can write that cost off as research.  But individuals get hurt, especially those with real dreams, motivation, and desire.

What I've found over the years...

New Landing Page Launches, Just In Time For Today's Times:5 Pillar Affiliate Report #345

Zine Mailings

The 5 Pillar Affiliate Report is for SiteSell.com affiliates only (click here for 5 Pillar Report #345). 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 a new case study update and the launch of course.sitesell.com.

The Article section highlights the launch of our newest landing page, course.sitesell.com as well as some useful promotion strategies.

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

• How do you promote SBI when you haven't made any money?
• Schedule for Success

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

InterNETwork Marketing Contest Nearing the End: SBI! Xpress #277

Zine Mailings

Site Build It! Xpress ("SBIX") is for SBI! customers only (click here for SBIX #277 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 that the $20000 World Championship InterNETwork Marketing Contest is nearing the end.

Articles cover How to Use Javascript to Enlarge Thumbnail Images, The 80/20 on Multilingual Sites and How To Set Up PayPal Donations for Your SBI! Site.

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

• Most Of Us Don't Think We're Writers
• Working Is A Trap
• Lessons I've Learned From Feedback To The Monthly Renewal
• SBI! Delivers A Skill Set That Makes Your More Employable
• Reasons For Adding A Forum To Your Site
• Letter to Marketing Gurus
• Good Advice for Today's Times

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

Is A Forum Necessary?

Ken's Blog

Add a forum if your users really have something to discuss (i.e., it's not just you posting). And I guess the best example I can give you is the topic of Anguilla.

My daughter Nori's site, anguilla-beaches.com, is aimed at tourists. Now, they aren't really going to talk about their vacations with strangers, compare notes, etc., after the vacation. There just aren't enough ardent anguilla-philes who would also want to talk a lot about Anguilla after the trip.

But there is a very successful forum about Anguilla, for Anguillians (not tourists)....

A Brand New Landing Page - course.sitesell.com:5 Pillar Affiliate Report #344

Zine Mailings

The 5 Pillar Affiliate Report is for SiteSell.com affiliates only (click here for 5 Pillar Report #344). 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 a brand new landing page and now, a monthly SBI! renewal option.

The Article section highlights the incredible potential for SBI! with your local businesses.

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

• How do you promote SBI when you haven't made any money?
• Schedule for Success

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

A Very Special SBI! Renewal Option!: SBI! Xpress #276

Zine Mailings

Site Build It! Xpress ("SBIX") is for SBI! customers only (click here for SBIX #276 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 a new monthly option (of course, the annual option is still available) and the expansion of SiteSell Education's reach.

The Articles section covers tips for local businesses, and a carpentry lesson that works for business-building, too!

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

• Setting Tortoise Goals
• course.sitesell.com? Yay or Nay?
• Why SBI is 'recession proof'- in the GREATER scheme
• Membership Sites And SBI!

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

Leveraging My Posts

Ken's Blog

The other day an SBIer in the SBI! Forums made an interesting observation about the type of posts that I comment on. I've never actually consciously thought about it before. So from now on, he has made me slightly self-conscious when I reply. ;-)

What I do know is that the over-riding consideration as I "graze" is leverage. I never really framed it beyond that, but as I thought about what "leverage" is in this setting (the SBI! Forums), I defined it as a question...

Best Practices For PPC Advertising:5 Pillar Affiliate Report #343

Zine Mailings

The 5 Pillar Affiliate Report is for SiteSell.com affiliates only (click here for 5 Pillar Report #343). 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 discusses new best practices for affiliate PPC advertising.

The Article section highlights a new must-read case study update.

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

• VistaPrint Useful For 5P Affiliates?
• Using LinkedIn To Recommend Ken/SiteSell

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

Database Upgrade on Tuesday!: SBI! Xpress #275

Zine Mailings

Site Build It! Xpress ("SBIX") is for SBI! customers only (click here for SBIX #275 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 an upcoming database upgrade on Tuesday and new releases related to Blog It!, Socialize It!, and Content 2.0 modules.

The Articles section covers how to add a custom "buy now" button on your sales page, and an inexpensive way to get a content review.

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

• Hollywood Directors and The Tortoise KISS
• Success!! (Ahhh... it tastes SWEET!)
• MX It!, Mail It!, ReMail It!? Or Do YOU Have A Better Name?
• How I use a javascript file to enlarge thumbnails
• Here is what I am doing and it's working well...
• Measure twice, Cut once
• So This Is How Rumors Get Started

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

The Key To Living A Life Of Freedom? It's All In Your Head!

Ken's Blog

Since we've moved to the Caribbean, I've met several people who rely on their brains to lead the life they want, living where they like and doing what they want...

A landscaper from England who worked in Bermuda, then heard about Anguilla and Eleuthra where two jobs were available. He chose Anguilla (he liked the boss better). He went to a couple of other islands and then returned here. He married a woman from St. Lucia, started his own landscaping business, and settled down here.

Or the architect I met at a restaurant one night, a younger man, who moves from island to island doing plans for various developments he hears about through the grapevine. Speaking of restaurants...