Nelson Bates Web Entrepreneurship Blog

One change—equals a 23% increase in sales.

It's been two-and-a-half months since I added two large photographs to the beginning of my Website.  The thought was—putting a few real-life, vivid and clear photos up would help better connect with readers and hopefully turn them into buyers.

I held everything else constant to make sure it was the only variable being measured; (Also, Google Analytics showed steady traffic so there wasn't an external increase in traffic that accounted for the 23% increase in sales.)

In the 17 years I've been building Web businesses, I don't ever recall a single technique being changed that produced this type of legitimate increase.

It's also interesting to note that both photographs were relatively easy to take.  The first was taken by hanging a print-out of my book cover from the back of my beach chair—and the second was taken by sitting my camera on top of the banister end-cap to my stairs in the living room while I stood in front of a forest wall-hang from IKEA.

It's difficult to find things you have control over to authentically increase sales, so I wanted to share the results—and encourage you to try it, if it makes sense with your business.

p.s.  I was made an offer for BestWebsite.com and have sold it, it's currently being developed into something else.  However, I've moved all the files to my new home at http://WebFluent.Me

I've never had a "dot-me" so we'll see how things go!

Also, if you ever move your website, remember to do a 301-redirect so you don't lose any of your search engine optimization.

How to Earn $100,000+ From Your Website. (New Video)

I've earned more than a quarter-million-dollars in profit from this one tip.

This new 6-minute video explains the technique and is free.  The entire Course that includes another video and written details is only $5 through Udemy. 

I'm also experimenting with black-and-white video—please let me know what you think.

Click Here to see it on Udemy.  Or here, to see it on YouTube.

Partnership Opportunity:  I have two Web Fluent book partnerships available working with me where you own the website.  I'm now opening the lucrative Canadian(WebFluent.ca) and Continental Europe(WebFluent.eu) Marketplaces.  

You'll receive exclusive ownership of the Web Fluent book rights as a PDF and Kindle book in the country you choose as well as 50% of the printed book sales.  

Why don't I do it?  I have a full time book promotion tour for the U.S. and need to bring on Partners to properly open international Markets.  International Markets also need a separate website targeting them specifically to rank well with the search engines.

You'll be mailed a copy of my first book, Best Website, to follow the free promotion strategies outlined in it to create a steady flow of traffic to your new website.  

I'll be working side-by-side with you as much as you need so you know exactly what to do.  I'll build the site for you, that will be an exact copy of BestWebsite.com, except modified to fit the new Market and listing you as the President.  All money is paid directly to you.

The Canadian is $5,000 and will earn $3,000-$4,000 per-month that will take 90-days to reach that level.  The European is $12,500 that will earn $6,000-$8,000 per-month.  After your entire investment is earned back to you, a 5% royalty comes into effect.  That's it, no further payments. 

These can be run from anywhere and will need 8-10  hours a week for the first 90-days and then drop to 3 hours a week.  You'll be working directly with me. These never last long, email or call me for complete details.

 

Teaching, Learning and Earning Money.

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Udemy—an online learning academy—about becoming an Instructor for them.  They describe themselves like this.. 

"Udemy enables anyone to take and build courses online.  Our goal is to disrupt and democratize education by enabling anyone to learn from the world's experts."

So after spending a few weeks on their Site, it's obvious they have reached the point of synergy and are primed for rapid growth.  

This is a place where you can not only take classes to learn—almost anything—but also a place to offer classes of your own and be paid well for it.  Everyone knows something worthy of teaching.

They've been around 2 years now and have more than 50,000 subscribers. They have also just closed $3Mill in second-round funding from the same venture capital firm—LightBank—that has funded some big companies like Groupon.

I've added my first free course titled:  Web Fluent - The Faster, Easier Way to Build Your Web Business (Appetizer Course.)   It includes two videos and the first 20 pages of the Web Fluent book.

Udemy tracks who's taking your course, how far they get through it, posts reviews from students, helps you promote it, and you keep 70% of the revenue if you choose to charge.  But most importantly, you own all your content.

Definitely a Web business worthy of your time to check out.

(I have no stake in this business.)

Inspired by FUN! (Premiers today)

Two exciting Premiers today.

1.)  The fabulous redesign of WebFluent.Me with compelling photographs and exhilarating music.

2.)  The freshly minted, hot-off-the-presses 2012 Expanded Edition of the 'Web Fluent' book in Paperback, Kindle and Nook.

I've been having a lot of fun redesigning my site with 3 very large photographs (Approximately 1,250 pixels; almost as large as any computer screen) that makes up the only design element of the page.  

It's a very different way to go about Web Design—moving away from a traditional "flat" website and embracing a real-life 3-Dimensional photograph that is more striking.

Here is one of the photos shown here about 1/4 size..

In addition to the photos, I wanted to add another element to the experience—music—and not just any music.  Something really special—that fills one full of entrepreneurial energy and renewed passion.

I serendipitously stumbled upon just such a song two weeks ago and luckily it's by a new band, aptly named, FUN, that embraces sharing.  I've been able to add their latest song, "We Are Young" to my Home Page using a great new website called SoundCloud by copying and pasting their code snip-it on my site.

By the time the chorus kicks-in, I'm charged with energy.  I'm hoping the refreshed design will inspire you with new ideas!

Here's another image.. (There is a third on my site.)

 

If you're on a iPhone or iPad it unfortunately doesn't play the song.  The photo above is a print-out of the cover, 3-times actual size and mounted on foam.  I then hung it to the back of my beach-chair and this is exactly how the photo came out.  No retouching needed except adding the words on the right.

This redesign is also to celebrate the Expanded and Updated 2012 Edition of the 'Web Fluent - The Faster, Easier Way to Build Your Web Business' book.  Now available for the next 3-days for only $5 for Kindle or Nook and $10 for the Paperback.  

The Expanded Edition includes, —among other things, "The Essential 9 things you should do to make your Web business a success." as well as the results from my Provocateur Project campaign and the Paperback includes a tear-out of one of my Entrepreneur Motto Stickers to hang somewhere you'll notice.

If you're struggling right now and don't have the money for the book, please send me an email, I'll forward you the PDF free.

Also, I'd love to hear any thoughts; good or bad on the redesign.  Did it inspire you?  Disappoint you?  or any suggestions for doing something REALLY outlandish with Web Design.  Comments will be left open. You are also welcome to hit reply to this email to send me a note.

—If you're ready for the ride, here's the link!.. WebFluent.Me

Web Fluent Book Hits #2 on Amazon. (Free Today & Tomorrow.)

The book "Web Fluent: The Faster, Easier Way to Build Your Web Business" has now hit #2 on the Amazon Bestseller List for Web Marketing on Kindle out of more than 2,000 books.  

It has also hit #1 on Amazon's Popular List for Web Marketing; the Popular List takes into account not only sales, but customer reviews.

I believe it's also important to note the Web FLuent book hit #1 solely on it's own strength with no gimmicks.  Meaning no PR team was assigned to promote it to #1.  In fact not a single dollar was spent on advertising and its average sale price was $7.81.

Ok, so how can this information help you and your business?

A few ways;  First, if you're an Author or want to become one and distribute your book through Kindle, it means if you write a good book you can cut through the clutter and make good money even though there is a flood of new Kindle books being published every year.(more than a million will be published next year, 8 times the amount from 2010.)

Secondly, if you are looking to build a successful Web business, the information in the book is pretty good.

For New Years Day and Tomorrow the 'Web Fluent' book is free to anyone.(no-strings)  If you don't have a Kindle you can download the free App for iPhone, Android or any computer and get the book free.

If you know someone struggling to build a Web business, please share this free book offer with them, I'm sure they'll thank you.

Notes:  Here's a video of me describing.. "What it Means to be Web Fluent".  If you've been forwarded this note and would like to keep up-to-date through email with this blog you can sign-up at NelsonBates.com or follow me via FaceBook or Twitter that receives automatic posts from this blog.

Although it's different each time because the Bestseller ranking is compared to other competing book sales in its same category, to hit #2 this time I averaged selling a book about every 90-minutes for the last month.

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Experiments in Web Entrepreneurship.

What I thought I'd do now is show how much traffic(including which keywords) BestWebsite.com receives visitors from.  

I probably should have done this years ago because it lets you see the results of the techniques I suggest to build a successful Web business; and highlights that you don't need a lot of traffic to earn a great living online.  

In addition, I'd like to state I haven't purchased any YouTube video views to make my videos viral; purchased any questionable Web traffic sources; employed any trickery to make my first book a #1 Best-seller; bought any FaceBook 'Fans'; and all the 1,900 Blog subscribers are individual opt-in by each subscriber.

I know it's a tough time for many so I hope to breath life into your Web business project if you've been struggling.

Click Here to read.. "The BestWebsite Story: How Much Traffic it Receives."

Essentially everything I've done in Web business the last 16 years has been an experiment.

I come up with an idea, start making it happen, begin experimenting with marketing ideas, ..fail badly, feel confused everyone hasn't recognized my brilliance, try a new technique, get a little better results, ..fail again.. over and over.

It sounds horrible when I write it out, but I actually love the journey of discovering which combination of marketing techniques makes a business successful. 

Wishing you Happy Holidays!

Inspiration for Entrepreneurs!

I normally strive to create practical products, but this one is just for FUN.

Interestingly, after finishing it I realized I might have created my most practical and useful product to date.

In the Information Age we don't need more information.  We need more INSPIRATION.  I truly hope to provide some now.

So without further ado, I present to you..

 

The World's Most INSPIRING Entrepreneur Motto Sticker!  
Be the first in your neighborhood to get one and
gain its SUPERnatural  power.*

+ The Entrepreneur Motto Stickers™ are a great way to reaffirm your mission as an Entrepreneur.  If you ever find yourself stuck or need inspiration, just glance at the Sticker and check if you're ..Starting Something BRILLIANT, ..Being BOLD, not b-o-r-i-n-g and ..Creating Something GENUINE.

* Clinically Proven to induce states of TREMENDOUS entrepreneurial genius that will blow past ALL barriers and thrust you to magnanimous success!        ..pretty sure.

It's taken me ten-years to refine the words into this simple Motto that has a dramatic impact on the way I run my business.  I hope you have the same benefit from something as unexpected as a Sticker.

Sticker Packages that include promotion for your Business from $120 to $1.2Mill.  You're welcome to print the Sticker FREE, no-strings.

See all the FUN and photos of the Stickers used in real life right here.. BestWebsite.com 

(Video) What is Being Web Fluent?

Here is a short video I just shot about what it means to be 'Web Fluent'. 

I've also included one of my best tips of how to use Mashable and Fast Company to flesh-out upcoming Web companies that have caught momentum and how you can get on early to become a power-user to gain all the benefits.

 

 Video on YouTube here, and my website here.

One Way to Create a Powerful Impact for Your Business.

I wanted to share the story of how things changed for me and how it can hopefully help you as well. It involves three portrait photos of me, brilliant business cards and a professional website that when combined create a fantastically powerful impact.

I used terrible business cards for ten years. I'm sure you've seen them, the ones you print at home and everyone knows it. Cheap, thin cards with no pizazz.  Just an ordinary, bland card. About six months ago I found a print company called Moo.com. They specialize in printing business cards that leave an impression.

Not only are the cards bigger and thicker than most anything out there, they feel silky to the touch. As soon as someone receives one from you, they know you are someone of-note, someone different.

Also, during the last two years I've been getting reasonably good at photography and was able to get some great, professional self-portraits to use in business. I uploaded the photos to Moo and put three different photos on the backs of my cards.

     

   

Not only did people start to act more engaged as soon as they touched it, but sometimes even before I got back to the office I would see they had already been online, signed up for my blog and sent me a thank-you e-mail about meeting me.

But there's one more piece to this puzzle. I had the same photos on my website as well and one big one on my home page. Something about a nice, large, clear photo of you makes people feel they know you better.

 
 
It created the perfect complement of seeing me in person, having my business card as a visual reminder and then seeing me again on my site along with my full bio. This synergy has a powerful impact on people and I believe signifies you've reached a different level in business.

The best thing is, it's under your control whether you achieve it or not. No one to ask, no marketplace to figure out, just your decision to do it and gain the synergy from it.

How to Make Money in the Digital Publishing Revolution.

For the first time in three years, my first book 'Best Website' has earned more money through Kindle sales than printed sales. This is definiately an amazing trend to be aware of moving forward.

 

For the first time in history, you don’t need to ask anyone to publish your book and make sales around the world. You can convert your Microsoft Word file directly into a Kindle Digital Text file for free and have direct access to the biggest bookstore anywhere, Amazon.  (Click Here for instructions on how to convert your file and upload.)

If you sell a $9.99 Kindle book, as the author you keep $6.89. You don’t even need a full book to start, you can upload a short article called a Kindle Single and sell it at $2.99 and keep $2.10. It’s a brilliant way to get your feet wet in the digital publishing world.

Access to the market is no longer the hard part, it's once you get there, have you spent the time to create a hungry pool of fish ready to buy what you've written.  That's the part that takes time, effort and energy.

It's about putting in the effort to build a website, write a blog, gain trust and create a true desire in people to buy from you what you've created.

In the case of my latest book 'Web Fluent' I ran a 99Designs design contest to create its front-cover for $199.  Then I converted my Microsoft Word file into Kindle format; wrote a short blurb for what the book is about and uploaded it directly to Amazon along with my bank account info for direct deposit of royalty checks. 

Then, since I've spent the time to build trust with my email list, I sent an email to my fans and POW!  It has already snuck into the top 25 of the Amazon Web Marketing bestseller list.  

However, it's not about the "Big Launch" to me, it's about consistently selling books that make a positive impact on peoples lives over the course of years.  This is how wealth is built.

I'm humbly grateful my first book is still on both Printed and Kindle bestseller lists weekly, ..even though it came out three years ago.

Also, something very interesting about the Digital Publishing world as noted at the BookExpo Convention last month.   While Amazon and it's Kindle currently hold about 65% of the ePublishing market, a surprise second is the Barnes & Nobles Nook which was widely ridiculed but now holds a commanding second place with approximately 25% of the market and iPad lagging with only 10%. 

An area for opportunity; especially for new authors, is to go directly to the Nook and work hard there to make an impact.  Many times in business the best place to make the most money is dominating a smaller market as apposed to being lost in a bigger one.