eTutorial on getting rich the slow way

[webgal]

My eTutorial is not promising instant, land-in-your-lap cash-- just a method of developing a website that inspires conversions, builds search engine equity and customer loyalty.

It's the whole process from choosing the target market to choosing the right tools for the job you're doing and the stuff in between. I've been doing this for clients for years. Putting it down on electronic paper was an eye-opening experience.

It took me 8 months to develop the eTutorial (since the summer) and I still need to make the .pdf mac version. Started that today. It's more of an offline website than a ebook.

I'm not advertising yet or marketing heavily. This is "work out the kinks" week. I have run through the cart and product delivery, had the eTutorial proofed and looked over by two reviewers. Only one testimonial as I thought using the other author whose book is in my store would be a bogus testimonial although her site really rocks since she read it. I wish I'd known she was doing it or I'd have gotten some before/after shots.

http://webpreppro.com

I'm not only open for business, I'm open to critique, both good and bad. PLEASE let me know if you see typos! Don't just say "it has typos". Point them out.

[JerseyGirl]

Quick Note:

You have a double word in the opening sentence:

Want a website that that kicks butt? Then do what 95% of site owners don't do.

[webgal]

Thank you! That is exactly what I always miss when I rewrite. I could not see them. And the first sentence no less.

[AshokanKid]

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Hey there;

Nice clean and simple site., I can see your ad copy writing skills at work as well as a keen eye for sleek, USEFUL design. I am guessing that you did the site design on your own?

One comment., that is a VERY ugly "Contact Page"., ouch., the rest of the mini site maintains the smooth template feel and then ., YIKES., probably just a temporary glitch? Easy enough to follow through the template on all pages.

Heck., I had one thought., gee this looks tempting., as I have heard, "Under promise., Over deliver" time and time again., Minor; the right sidebar on the home page is lacking Caps or punctuation., looks unprofessional.

I might also link the box on the home page DIRECTLY to your Order page., why not.,? And your order page begs updating., saying "around early December" smacks of., oops., old., may NEVER happen. (say 30 or 60 days?)

OK., that is it for now., and I never even READ your sites copy (yet!)., haha., just looking it over for the KAPOW,. grab me factor initially, but I really like your idea and premise., good job~! (I might add to your offer., hmm.,?)

P.S. But wait., that's NOT all., there IS more., (haha), also a nice touch to create a little cooler logo banner and link that to Home., AND then possibly add a REASON for people to submit contact info., a small free report., teaser., etc., while waiting for the product to be ready., ?

AK

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[webgal]

Actually it is ready. I inadvertently left an old link on the page that went back to the first site I did for testing. So you were at the right site and then because I forgot to update a link you ended up at the site I had at the beginning for testing.

I found the old link and changed it while I was checking the links. The cart page is below.

http://webpreppro.com/cart/

Thanks for the thoughtful suggestions. I was wondering about the very things you brought up. I can easily capitalize that bullet list but didn't because it finished the thought in the sentence. But I'm going to cap it.

And I had gone back and forth with the product shot and the link to the cart page. I'll add the cart page link. Like you said. Why not?

Contact page has been changed on the new site. I have to agree wholeheartedly that the other was butt ugly.

I usually design a site from scratch. Not that I'm a hotshot web designer. But I manipulated a template for this one since I address templates in the eTutorial and list several of them. I had to download several to check them out and ended up using one.

I've been trying to think of a freebie like a free report. I made two and decided they weren't enticing enough. But I think it would drive traffic and do great things as far as viral marketing.

I can't link the banner because it's a background image in an include file. So I still have that one to figure out. Then I could get rid of the home button. A clear .gif overlay would work I think.

Thank you again.

And if anyone has a suggestion on a freebie, let me know. I'm still pondering that one.

Would content tips be a good one? Or perhaps the questions that help you define your target?

[AshokanKid]

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Hey there WebGrrl.,

I can easily capitalize that bullet list but didn't because it finished the thought in the sentence. But I'm going to cap it.

I know what you man about the thoughts not really being sentences., but you have Bullets on the More Info page., and something like that just makes each item kinda stand out., easier to see and read. Could also use a little color cloud around each item., or something similar.,

And I had gone back and forth with the product shot and the link to the cart page. I'll add the cart page link. Like you said. Why not?

The more ways that you can give someone a chance to BUY, the better., ALWAYS~! :-)

Contact page has been changed on the new site. I have to agree wholeheartedly that the other was butt ugly.

Hehe., yeh., no excuse for that., still under dev it sez.,


I've been trying to think of a freebie like a free report. I made two and decided they weren't enticing enough. But I think it would drive traffic and do great things as far as viral marketing.

Well worth working something up., regardless of what it is., hmm., lottsa options here., Free Chapter., or part of., or some other freebie.,

I can't link the banner because it's a background image in an include file. So I still have that one to figure out. Then I could get rid of the home button. A clear .gif overlay would work I think.

I would not get rid of the Home tab., just add another (very commonly understood) point of nav to the site., hate sites that you cannot get back to ., ?., wherever easily., granted., with 5 pages., not so much an issue., LOL


Would content tips be a good one? Or perhaps the questions that help you define your target?

Yes., all of the above., good stuff., perhaps even "ask" people to do a simple "questionnaire" for the freebie! This way you get some immediate feedback,. and learn things about your (potential) customer too.

As for "adding to your offer"., I have some great ideas., boosting value., you wanna make people say OMG., now THAT is a DEAL., lotta ways to do that too., (depends on your current product).,

Again., GREAT Start., you are an inspiration~!

AK

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[Sven]

I really, really like it, congrats!

There is a lot of nice things to look at so browsing is very pleasant. I only miss one thing: The who am I page does not answer anything. I want to see a picture of the the author and a complete name. You are as anonymous on your own site as you are here!

I think that if you show yourself people will believe you even more! Don't hide behind the anonimity of the web, be a real person! (Unless it is better to apear as a corporation, which is not the case here)

I have actually been thinking of doing the same thing, you beat me to it in a big way! Now all that is left to do for me is see if translating your product in to Dutch would be worth my while... Would you be interestred?

Sven

[webgal]

Some VERY THOUGHTFUL observations and suggestions. You've really offered some genuine guidance and I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. Thank you, thank you.

Yes, Sven, I would be interested.

And I will add a photo. I've made sure to personalize things more since so much on the web is not. So adding a photo is a particularly good idea. I don't have a lot of photos since I'm the one behind the camera. But I'll try some out.

I'll come back later today and post some of the freebies and you guys can keep them and then let me know if you think they're good ones.

There are a lot of viral marketing and freebie things I could add. It's been overwhelming to figure out how to test the download link with paypal. That took a week to figure out. (you set up another account with a different e-mail, different credit card).

[FrozenCanuck]

I really like your site's layout. I notice the blog layout is different. Is there a reason you just didn't use the same tools for the sales letter and the blog? It seems that your main sales page could have been a wordpress theme?

I recommend you put a signup to your mailing list in your right-hand column. Don't bury it in a tab. You'll get more signups this way. Perhaps give people a free report with 5 tips to success, or 5 common errors to avoid ... then email them occassionally reminding them how much it's costing them to not have your product.

[webgal]

Thanks Frozen. Actually, the blog came after the fact. And I almost switched the site to wordpress layout but html really picks up the search traffic like nothing else. It borrows the colors but I do think it looks too different from the site. I'm okay with a deep banner on the blog but not on a website.

I do need to pull together the two to make them look more complementary. I'm really just tired more than anything else. I could actually make the blog look more like the site than make the site look like the blog.

I see that I don't have a mailing list sign up on the front page. I did have it at some point. Am I that tired? I'm going to add that now although it needs to be more prominent because you have to scroll to get to it. But that top column is a very important spot in this layout as far as search engine position.

I do know the value of the mailing list and I appreciate the freebie suggestions. It's good to know what others might find valuable. Would a pop under mailing list sign up be too obnoxious?

I have to say that usually I have more people to confer with in the process of a project. This was nakedly solo and I'm so happy to have some feedback.

[webgal]

Okay, I added a photo on the "About Me" page.

[AshokanKid]

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No wonder you are tired., you have been way BUSY~! Wow.,

A more seamless / transparent look and feel between the (sales) web site and your blog is something that we all want in order to provide our users with a more complete and easy online experience. It can be a little disconcerting to click and then wonder, "where am I?" what happened., ?

I would actually prefer to use the same or very similar banner for both sites and even try to have nav elements nearly identical so that going between blog and site looks more like staying on the same site. SEO can be accomplished with alt text tags for banner or other images even if this is not the most desirable solution.

I know that Wordpress themes can be tricky to optimize and customize, but for complimentary sites it may be worth the time and trouble to bring them closer together. I am playing with CMS solutions in order to do exactly this right now., blog within the site., or site within the blog., :confused:

I love the Screenshot on the More Info page., this is terrific for answering the questions that buyers may have regarding "what is this., what does it look like?"., and now I kinda miss those cool bullet gifs that you previously had on the Main page., they were unique and eye catching., just my 2 cents., ;-)

On another note., now I am getting just a teeny bit concerned that someone visiting your site and then getting to your blog (and who start reading your EXTENSIVE Info there), may just say., "gee, why PAY for this product, when it seems that I may just glean enough FREE stuff on this blog?"

This whole "why pay for what is free online" in regards to Info Products is quite the quandary when it comes to marketing info products alongside all this (apparently) free information. Not to say that your Info product is not giving more than anyone can easily get online, but you may now have to justify this "more" specifically in your marketing.

This brings up another point regarding the means that potential buyers will GET to your sales site. I might even test just marketing your Sales Site separately from your blog., this might seem counter-intuitive., I don't know., but I might link to the sales site from the blog., but maybe NOT the other way 'round., tough call.,

Maybe I am being too closed and greedy here with this suggestion., but I think it may hold some relevance if you really want to market your Info Product successfully. Linking to your product from the blog is a no-brainer., why not?., But linking from the Product site page to your FREE Info packed Blog may just be a shot in the foot?

Again., I may be way over-analyzing here., would be good to hear others opinions about this one., eh?

AK

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[webgal]

I think I would rather make the blog look more like the site. But if I separate them (easy to do), I'm not sure it will matter all that much--the look that is.

I could test severing the site from the blog. But keeping the blog attached to the site.

I know what you mean about free info. I was thinking of branching out and touching on some other things. But you don't really get the whole picture without the tutorial. I know that some want to bypass it. The thinking I've had to adopt (and I'm not totally there on this one) is that you offer enough to prove you know what you're talking about and you get enough traffic for the free stuff, the fallout for the product is worth the effort.

I mean some will simply want it all bundled up in a package. I think my target will want that. I'm mostly targeting those who've done a site and fallen flat on their faces and can't figure out why it's not converting. So $38 to them will be worth it.

But as far as target audience and marketing, I've found that I put something up and watch for a while to get a feel for my next step. It's worked well when I've done this for clients over the last 8 years. So I thought I probably needed to watch and see what is resonating.

The idea is to build on the product line. And I might just have other things I have reviewed and take a cut. But it has to be in that smart web planning and development niche and I will be picky. So I'm not sure which way it will go. I have sort of mapped out two different scenarios.

I've also missed some opportunities within the product to market. I have a link to the site, but I guess my first order of business was not to add marketing stuff but to create a good product. The other stuff can be added. But I won't add any affiliate links without saying that that is what it is. I need to give that more thought.

So I think that severing the site from the blog might be a good idea. I'm going to let that marinate. Thanks!

[webgal]

I just finished the pdf version (aka macintosh). It's in the hands of a reviewer right now. But while it is, I need to add some security to the document. I know nothing is full proof.

I'm reading the directions but if anyone has some wisdom to share regarding the best solution, let me know. I could use some experienced guidance on the subject.

[Sven]

I find that if I pay for info I tend to make better use of it. Another reason why I would pay for the same info is that it is in a book rather than on my screen. This is where e-book readers may turn out to be a great revolution.

Sven

[webgal]

There are some serious pitfalls with the new ebook readers and that's in the format you submit and the end product. Lots of problems. I think they'll iron them out, though. I think that novels will particularly benefit from the ebook readers. And I do think they're going to be a great addition, particularly when it comes to text books. My kids are hauling 75 pounds of books and notebooks. I think that it will completely revolutionize the textbook industry.

The advantage of ebooks or the etutorial, is that I have the opportunity to place on the page I want, the visual examples I'd like to add. With a regular book, you have to add it to the center or the back. Or it costs big time to add it with the copy as in the case of a coffee table book. I like that I can have a menu of headings and when someone wants to refer back to a particular one, they go to the menu click on the link and there is the info. So in terms of learning something, the interactive part of having it electronic is helpful.

[webgal]

I've been e-mailing back and forth and even talked to a 4hww member over the last week (aka tweak week). I followed the advice, changed some things and I'm so glad I did. I'm really happy with it. Thank you guys. You know who you are.

I have some reformatting to do on the mac version as it's too square. Tweak week continues.