What about a super simple "sideline" site?

Where should I look to set up a simple website to sell my ebook/info product?

Simple, easy and inexpensive is what I'm interested in.

Basically I'm looking to create a simple one page site with a "buy" button on the bottom (or as I read about yesterday, a link to paypal to buy). I'm not good at all the "website" set-up stuff.

So many "gurus" say you have to "offer a free multi step tutorial or course, get email addresses, build your list, work your back-end, etc." ... but GEEZE! Can't I just start with the basics and build up from there? To me, the basics would be:

1. create a one page sales letter with a "buy" button
2. advertise, test (maybe adwords or ebay?)
3. convert a few visitors to buyers (easier said than done of course, so maybe I should say "make a sale ... or not, and learn from it"?)

I'm just looking to get started. Simple, easy and inexpensive. Just the basics, and then improve the site, sales, from there.

[Dien Rice]

Originally Posted by hartrealm

Where should I look to set up a simple website to sell my ebook/info product?

Simple, easy and inexpensive is what I'm interested in.

Basically I'm looking to create a simple one page site with a "buy" button on the bottom (or as I read about yesterday, a link to paypal to buy). I'm not good at all the "website" set-up stuff.

So many "gurus" say you have to "offer a free multi step tutorial or course, get email addresses, build your list, work your back-end, etc." ... but GEEZE! Can't I just start with the basics and build up from there? To me, the basics would be:

1. create a one page sales letter with a "buy" button
2. advertise, test (maybe adwords or ebay?)
3. convert a few visitors to buyers (easier said than done of course, so maybe I should say "make a sale ... or not, and learn from it"?)

I'm just looking to get started. Simple, easy and inexpensive. Just the basics, and then improve the site, sales, from there.

Hi,

Sure, you can do that. Here are a couple of examples...

Gordon Jay Alexander's guide to "HOTSHEETS. How to Start Your Information Empire" http://www.hotsheetprofits.com - (it's about as simple as you can get!)

Michael Ross's guide to "The Art of Leverage" http://www.artofleverage.com - (slightly more complicated, but still simple!)

I can tell you there have been plenty of sales of both reports from these two sites, and customers seem pretty happy with them...

(Disclaimer: I make a slice of the profit from these websites...)

However, doing all the other things you've read about will probably improve your profits. So - while it's more complicated, it's often worth doing.

I hope that helps.

Best wishes,

Dien

Originally Posted by Dien Rice

Hi,

Sure, you can do that. Here are a couple of examples...

Gordon Jay Alexander's guide to "HOTSHEETS. How to Start Your Information Empire" http://www.hotsheetprofits.com - (it's about as simple as you can get!)

Michael Ross's guide to "The Art of Leverage" http://www.artofleverage.com - (slightly more complicated, but still simple!)

I can tell you there have been plenty of sales of both reports from these two sites, and customers seem pretty happy with them...

(Disclaimer: I make a slice of the profit from these websites...)

However, doing all the other things you've read about will probably improve your profits. So - while it's more complicated, it's often worth doing.

I hope that helps.

Best wishes,

Dien

I checked out the two sites you referenced above ... that's exactly the kind of site/page I was interested in setting up! Looks simple, easy and quick to set up! Another question on the set-up. How or what software do I need for the "immediate download" of the product? Is that something that can be set-up "automatically" with a payment system?

[Dien Rice]

Originally Posted by hartrealm

I checked out the two sites you referenced above ... that's exactly the kind of site/page I was interested in setting up! Looks simple, easy and quick to set up! Another question on the set-up. How or what software do I need for the "immediate download" of the product? Is that something that can be set-up "automatically" with a payment system?

Hi,

You'll notice the "Art of Leverage" website uses Clickbank to process orders. With Clickbank, you just set it up so after people order and pay, they get redirected to what's called a "Thank You" page. You keep the location of that page "secret". That's where you put your download link.

On the other hand, the "Hotsheets" report sales page uses PayPal. With PayPal, they have a feature (under "Merchant Services") to help you create "Buy Now Buttons" to put on your website. (I'm not sure, but this might be only a feature with Premier and Business accounts.) Using their button creator, you can set a web page that people will be directed to after ordering.

For people who are more technically inclined (using the programming language PHP), there is a short tutorial on "Standard PayPal PHP Integration" here... http://leepeng.blogspot.com/2006/04/...tegration.html (However, don't bother going there if you don't know anything about programming.)

By the way, I highly also recommend generating your own email list, as Steve MacLellan was essentially recommending in his post...

I hope it goes well!

- Dien

Some Quick picks mostly Free options...

Although... As you probably know, getting your own Hosting and Domain name is the Better way to Go...

Lots of Affordable hosting solutions with easy Free site builders if you Google around...

Here's a few Good Free web tools and resources for anyone interested...

http://www.weebly.com/
http://www.synthasite.com/
http://www.jimdo.com/
http://pages.google.com/
http://members.freewebs.com/
http://nvudev.com/index.php
http://www.kompozer.net/
http://wordpress.org/

http://www.marketingvox.com/adwords-...-pages-025909/
http://www.copyblogger.com/landing-page-resource/
http://www.salesforce.com/appexchang...0000003zbjqAAA
http://daily.mequoda.com/gla-8-maste...templates.html

https://www.paypal.com/pdn-item
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/we...manual-outside

Phil

here's a site a friend of mine put together using all free tools , hosting , etc. from the live or microsoftlive website.

I think the domain name is his also, free, now I don't know what he'd have to pay to change registrars but FREE ...

http://pcbestdefense.com/default.aspx

We don't like to think about good ol' Microsoft...

But Looks like an Excellent option...

Although, it's Not available everywhere...

Make sure you read the fine print etc. etc.

http://smallbusiness.officelive.com/
http://smallbusiness.officelive.com/ResourceCenter/FAQ

Phil

Most people are not going to buy the first time they see your offer. Spending money on advertising isn't a bad idea, but you could certainly help leverage your costs by getting subscribers.

One place I've bought from a number of times asks you to sign-up to receive the first two or three chapters free. This seems to work well.

If you do a search for "free autoresponders" you find plenty of services -- I can't vouch for how good any of them might be, but it would give you a place to start.

For hosting, try hostgator.com. They have over 4,000 free templates and some sort of free website builder you get with your account.

Summary:

The basics include a website that will attract subscribers, and built in a way so it doesn't scare people away. You should have a domain name, a hosting account and a plan for getting your offer in front of your target market.

Best Regards,
Steve MacLellan

Thanks for the info!