Have you ever thought about building your own website?
It’s something I’d always wanted to do but I didn’t know how to go about it. I had the idea for AlaskaPipelineJobInfo.com but I’d never built a website before and I knew nothing about HTML.
I thought a lot about what I wanted to be able to do with my site, and came up with the list below.
I was looking for a site building/hosting package that would provide:
- Site registration
- Hosting site that didn’t charge by the page
- A user-friendly program to build my site (I didn’t want to have to learn HTML or some other programming language).
- An easy way to post pictures
- Site email that I could autoforward to my personal account (I didn’t want to have to log in to different sites to open emails)
- A way to collect email addresses so I could send out a newsletter
- A newsletter design and mailout program
- Help with Search Engine Optimization – I wanted to work towards a decent Google, Yahoo & MSN page ranking.
- Daily site backup
- Great customer support
- Easy to follow directions
I spent over a year researching every program out there. I found a good site host here, and a decent site-building program there, and yet another place that offered a great newsletter program. But all of these things charged monthly fees and keeping track of all those different charges was going to be one, ginormous headache. Plus, as your site grew, so did the fees!
What I really, REALLY wanted was one package that could do all of these things. I didn’t want to learn all kinds of new programs and keep track of multiple subscriptions. And I wanted that package to come with fabulous customer support.
Was I asking too much?
During my research I subscribed to a lot of newsletters and one day I followed a link in one them to a web building program that they recommended…and I found SBI, which stands for Site Build It.
SBI claimed to offer me everything I was looking for plus more, and they boasted about their superior customer service. Hmmm.
SBI seemed too good to be true. I was immediately skeptical.
I went back to their site and read every page, watched every video, and downloaded this free manual: Make Your Content PreSell. The manual made a lot of sense. It talked about writing to inform your audience. How giving them something of value goes a long way in developing a trusted relationship. Good, information laden sites are the ones that rise to the top of the search engines.
I continued to research SBI. I read reviews and looked at the sites that people had built using the program. Some were very fancy and others were Plain Janes (like mine). But all of the site owners had one thing in common. They were all huge Site Build It fans and couldn’t say enough good stuff about the company.
I had more questions, so I emailed SBI customer service. They answered me within 24 hours and provided me with the information I needed. I actually emailed SBI several times, asking about the program and each time their responses were timely and helpful. They also gave me a phone number to call if I wanted to speak to someone in person.
It took me almost a year to take the plunge and purchase a subscription to SBI.
I’ve been with them for over 3 years now and I couldn’t be happier with my decision. SBI programs are easy to use, their website and user forums are full of excellent advice and their customer service can’t be beat.
If you don't know HTML then you use their building-blocks program to create your pages. But, if you want to do your own thing using HTML or another program, no problem. You just upload your code.
Site Build It has more than lived up
to their promises and
I have yet to find a better, cheaper or
more useful service out there.
A subscription to SBI costs $299 per year (starting from the date you purchase your subscription). This price is a steal when you consider what you all get with the program: SBI! All the Tools
If you’re patient and can wait for a major US holiday, SBI will typically offer a 2 for $399 holiday special. You can split the 2 websites with a friend and save $100 each. Both people have their own accounts with full access to all of SBI’s services. You aren’t sharing an account.
But the BEST DEAL is the Christmas/New Year’s special. This once-a-year promotion offers a 2 for 1 deal – 2 site for $299. Again, you can split the sites with a friend and each of you can be on your way to internet stardom for $150 each. (There is no guarantee that they will repeat this offer every Christmas but they have featured it the last 4 years in a row.)
I waited and purchased the 2 for 1 special last Christmas and now I’m working on 2 additional websites. One is going to be another informational site but for the 3rd one, a travel site, I want to get fancy and use all the bells & whistles. It should be fun.
Oh yeah – you do not need to know your domain name when you make your purchase. A guide for figuring out the best name for your site and then registering it is all part of the SBI package.
If you’re looking at building your own website then I honestly suggest you give SBI, Site Build It, a look. Read about their service and then spend time comparing them to the competition.
Take your time and do your research – I sure did.
And if you decide to go with SBI and can wait for a holiday – then do just that and take advantage of some great specials. The Christmas/New Year’s special would make a great gift. You could keep one site for yourself and give the other away!
Best of luck to you and please contact me if you have any questions about my experience with SBI.
SBI! Home Page ** SBI! Case Studies ** SBI! All the Tools
The links below are for free website building & promotion guides provided by SBI.
Make Your Content Presell
“Everyone should know how to write... to communicate! But many people believe they cannot write. This book breaks down the "I can't write" barrier-mindset.
Provide your audience with good. Solid information and they will thank you with more trust in you. Now they will listen to your recommendations!”
Make Your Site Sell
"The definitive work on making ANY Web site SELL!"
Make Your Knowledge Sell
"Turn knowledge into revenue -- sell "what you know" on the Net."
Solo Build It Action Guide
“Take a free, "inside" look at the Guide that SBIers actually use. There's no better way to introduce yourself to the best and most affordable way to build a flourishing, profitable small business on the Net.
The online Solo Build It! Action Guide will demonstrate how to execute the natural, powerful C T P M process, using Solo Build It!'s easy-to-use, integrated set of tools.
Make Your Net Auction Sell
"An e-biz in every closet... Get into Auction Action!"