Last week a reader made a comment that stuck in my head all week. She said her website is mostly irrelevant. It was just as aside. A small comment in a longer conversation about social media and book marketing. She’s doing super well and I’m really happy for her. But...
Every tike I think about getting a website one, I think of two things and I stop. One is the cost. It has to work perfectly, and that means I have to hire somebody.
Two, how do I get traffic. I compare getting traffic to opening a brick and mortar store. It;s easier to open on a busy street and use less advertising than most, than to save on rent and then pour money into ads.
Funny story, Philip. When I think back on the first sites I built, they were far from perfect. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be trustworthy. Having a strategy to get traffic built into the site really helps. Makes for less work. :)
I've just renewed my WordPress site after quite a lot of reflection about the value of a site. I don't post much there, so that's a big part of the problem. I'm interested your workbook.
Would love to have you preview it, Tree. And the good news is you don't have to post a lot. I had a site that I built 15 years ago and never posted new content to and it made a nice little side income for over a decade. I took it down a couple of years ago because the download manager I was using closed up shop. Haven't rebuilt it yet, but I will one of these days. lol
In 2002 I ran one of the first retail websites selling inkjet cartridges on the Internet (after-market and OEM) and I inherited a platform built on Yahoo. After a month or two - KA-BOOM . Yahoo didn't like our marketing strategy, so . . . (alarm bells ringing out) we designed our own retail sites. Ahhhhh - clouds parting, stress reduced, on our own. Yeah, I'm channeling this period again as I think about Medium, audience and everything else that leads to better results and inner peace. 😊. Workbooks sounds good. If you need help, let me know. Cheers, Linda.
I can relate. Back in around 1997 I was messing around with programming. There were no cheapie shopping carts so I built one using cgi scripts. One day I was standing in line at Safeway and about 5 people ahead of me at the front of checkout was the guy I built it for. He yelled out omg, I just got an order from overseas. lol. That was amazing. I still smile remembering it. Thanks for the offer, If I need a brain to pick I will holler for sure. :)
My website only gets around 1,000 views per month, so would definitely be interested in the workbook if you’re looking for reviewers. For reference, the site is PolisPandit.com. Great newsletter!
I'd love to know more about this workbook of yours! As a self-taught marketer and tiny-business owner, I can't agree more about marketers not knowing a lick about how to sell a product like you described.
Omg, kudos to you. I have mad admiration for tiny business owners who figure out how to make it work. Would love to know what you do and feel welcome to share a link to your site, too. And I will come back to these comments when I'm ready for reviewers, too. :)
How did I not see this comment before, haha! I have a little stationery shop at https://jadefyredraws.com (which, incidentally, could use some TLC so maybe it's fortuitous that I was reminded by being late to reply, lol). I make most of my own products in whole or part, but also sell a handful of Denik notebook styles because I like their cause. They help build schools :)
I'm generally a little obsessed with stationery so it felt like something I could easily be passionate about.
Ouch! You’re right. I’ve witnessed first hand large brands going up in flames because of an algorithm change or getting the boot by a fickle platform.
My website bounce rate is atrocious whereas I had another viral video this week, pushing me over 110k combined followers across social media. Last night I sold out a live paid webinar event.
Where do I begin with my website? Do I focus on my niche topic? Products? Helpful resources? And I don’t have time to keep updating content. Can it pull from the other sources? Maintaining all my platforms now requires a team and most of my time. A flat static website is an easy default. But yeah I hear you.
And I’m throwing my hat into the ring. I’d love to have your help or to be an early reader. Anything would be great. ❤️
It happens everywhere. I heard from one of the top writers at Medium, too. Just slayed by algorithm changes and views nose dived. I would SO love to work with you. I'm getting close and will give you a shout when I'm ready with some of this stuff. A review copy of the book will be yours for sure. Honestly, I don't ever want to see an external site hurt the momentum you have going. You're doing so great!!
Linda, your project on how to build a living website delights me. Mine is on life support, but I know it's mine, and I have control. I anxiously look forward to the release of your book and learning how to resuscitate my personal social media (website). Thank you!
You got that exactly right. It's yours. That's so important. I will definitely come knocking at your door as soon as it's ready for first reviews. Thanks, Kathryn!
Linda, as you might remember, mine is a dud. I can't wait for the workbook. I want the website as a hub for my interests: history, short memoir, my books which will come much later, another place for my podcast, and another I want to start.
I had a functional-enough website as a piano teacher but now I've retired and want to sell my paintings. "Functional-enough" won't be good enough. I know nothing about a marketing strategy and that's the info I'd need. Will the workbook walk me through the marketing strategy?
Wish I could say I have a website to respond to your question. I started working on one through Wix. It seems easy enough, something I could set-up, but became overwhelmed by all the options. I also don't have anything to sell yet, but suppose I could at least showcase my work. Definitely interested in your workbook, Linda! Should be a great guide. Imagine the focus will help with overwhelm.
I'm looking forward to the workbook :D
Thanks, Sara. Looking forward to your feedback, too. :)
I would be interested in the workbook when available. I have no doubt it will be a valuable asset to have to hand.
Thanks, Jerry. :)
Really enjoyed reading this and I totally agree with what you are saying. I'm looking forward to the workbook!
Thanks, Linda.
Every tike I think about getting a website one, I think of two things and I stop. One is the cost. It has to work perfectly, and that means I have to hire somebody.
Two, how do I get traffic. I compare getting traffic to opening a brick and mortar store. It;s easier to open on a busy street and use less advertising than most, than to save on rent and then pour money into ads.
Funny story, Philip. When I think back on the first sites I built, they were far from perfect. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be trustworthy. Having a strategy to get traffic built into the site really helps. Makes for less work. :)
I've just renewed my WordPress site after quite a lot of reflection about the value of a site. I don't post much there, so that's a big part of the problem. I'm interested your workbook.
Would love to have you preview it, Tree. And the good news is you don't have to post a lot. I had a site that I built 15 years ago and never posted new content to and it made a nice little side income for over a decade. I took it down a couple of years ago because the download manager I was using closed up shop. Haven't rebuilt it yet, but I will one of these days. lol
In 2002 I ran one of the first retail websites selling inkjet cartridges on the Internet (after-market and OEM) and I inherited a platform built on Yahoo. After a month or two - KA-BOOM . Yahoo didn't like our marketing strategy, so . . . (alarm bells ringing out) we designed our own retail sites. Ahhhhh - clouds parting, stress reduced, on our own. Yeah, I'm channeling this period again as I think about Medium, audience and everything else that leads to better results and inner peace. 😊. Workbooks sounds good. If you need help, let me know. Cheers, Linda.
I can relate. Back in around 1997 I was messing around with programming. There were no cheapie shopping carts so I built one using cgi scripts. One day I was standing in line at Safeway and about 5 people ahead of me at the front of checkout was the guy I built it for. He yelled out omg, I just got an order from overseas. lol. That was amazing. I still smile remembering it. Thanks for the offer, If I need a brain to pick I will holler for sure. :)
My website only gets around 1,000 views per month, so would definitely be interested in the workbook if you’re looking for reviewers. For reference, the site is PolisPandit.com. Great newsletter!
Thanks Logan. I will have a peek at your site, too. :)
I'd love to know more about this workbook of yours! As a self-taught marketer and tiny-business owner, I can't agree more about marketers not knowing a lick about how to sell a product like you described.
Omg, kudos to you. I have mad admiration for tiny business owners who figure out how to make it work. Would love to know what you do and feel welcome to share a link to your site, too. And I will come back to these comments when I'm ready for reviewers, too. :)
How did I not see this comment before, haha! I have a little stationery shop at https://jadefyredraws.com (which, incidentally, could use some TLC so maybe it's fortuitous that I was reminded by being late to reply, lol). I make most of my own products in whole or part, but also sell a handful of Denik notebook styles because I like their cause. They help build schools :)
I'm generally a little obsessed with stationery so it felt like something I could easily be passionate about.
Ouch! You’re right. I’ve witnessed first hand large brands going up in flames because of an algorithm change or getting the boot by a fickle platform.
My website bounce rate is atrocious whereas I had another viral video this week, pushing me over 110k combined followers across social media. Last night I sold out a live paid webinar event.
Where do I begin with my website? Do I focus on my niche topic? Products? Helpful resources? And I don’t have time to keep updating content. Can it pull from the other sources? Maintaining all my platforms now requires a team and most of my time. A flat static website is an easy default. But yeah I hear you.
And I’m throwing my hat into the ring. I’d love to have your help or to be an early reader. Anything would be great. ❤️
It happens everywhere. I heard from one of the top writers at Medium, too. Just slayed by algorithm changes and views nose dived. I would SO love to work with you. I'm getting close and will give you a shout when I'm ready with some of this stuff. A review copy of the book will be yours for sure. Honestly, I don't ever want to see an external site hurt the momentum you have going. You're doing so great!!
Oh fantastic! I’m pumped. ❤️
Linda, your articles always enlighten and inspire me. I'm interested in your book for writers, so please be sure to let us know when it's available.
I sure will, Karen. I'll come back here for the first handful of reviewers and thanks!
Linda, your project on how to build a living website delights me. Mine is on life support, but I know it's mine, and I have control. I anxiously look forward to the release of your book and learning how to resuscitate my personal social media (website). Thank you!
You got that exactly right. It's yours. That's so important. I will definitely come knocking at your door as soon as it's ready for first reviews. Thanks, Kathryn!
Looking forward to the Workbook too :)
Linda, as you might remember, mine is a dud. I can't wait for the workbook. I want the website as a hub for my interests: history, short memoir, my books which will come much later, another place for my podcast, and another I want to start.
I had a functional-enough website as a piano teacher but now I've retired and want to sell my paintings. "Functional-enough" won't be good enough. I know nothing about a marketing strategy and that's the info I'd need. Will the workbook walk me through the marketing strategy?
Wish I could say I have a website to respond to your question. I started working on one through Wix. It seems easy enough, something I could set-up, but became overwhelmed by all the options. I also don't have anything to sell yet, but suppose I could at least showcase my work. Definitely interested in your workbook, Linda! Should be a great guide. Imagine the focus will help with overwhelm.
Linda, I always gain value from your words of wisdom. I am in the category of having a dying website. Looking forward to your workbook. :)