1) Web hosting account: If you already have a Web hosting account, you can skip this section and use your existing account. Virtually any reliable hosting solution will work, since in this example, third parties handle tracking, order processing, and e-commerce.
If you do not have a Web host yet, and you want to keep it simple, use Verio.com like we do. They are incredibly reliable (99% uptime) and have lots of bells and whistles, including access to a CGI Bin (for advanced scripts and programming), a good statistics program, an easy to use interface, 24 hour a day live customer service, and pricing that starts at just $25/month.
On a budget? Here are four more hosts offering even lower pricing options. All will work fine for selling digital goods online:
2) HTML Editor: You are going to need an HTML editor (Web development software) to make your Web pages, and create a sales letter to sell your product. If you already use a program you like, great.
Some people use FrontPage, some DreamWeaver, some GoLive, and some HomeSite. It doesn't matter what you use as long as it works and you understand how to create basic Web pages and make changes and updates to your site.
If you don't have an HTML editor, we recommend FrontPage because it's easy for beginners, and there are lots of resources online (for free) about how to use it. FrontPage has limitations, but they are well known, and many are avoidable (click here for details).
One of the benefits of using this tool is you can write your sales letter or Web page in Word for Windows, then cut and paste it into FrontPage, and keep all (or most) of your formatting, including fonts, colors, centering, and links. This makes creating pages much faster and easier.
Here are some sites for FrontPage users and beginning site developers:
3) ClickBank Reseller Account: If you are selling digital information products over the Internet, ClickBank was created specifically for you. They offer real-time credit card merchant services (including online checks) and a digital delivery system for e-books, software, and private Web sites. The set up charge is $50, there are no credit checks or upfront deposits, and the monthly fees are reasonable, considering all the services they perform.
ClickBank will not accept merchants who ship physical goods, and there are a few restrictions on the type of companies they'll work with, but virtually every digital e-book publisher selling non-adult related material qualifies.
Two great benefits ClickBank offers:
- Built-in affiliate program: This is the easiest reseller program you'll ever start. They manage all the technology, track sales, handle refunds, even pay the affiliates! You don't even need to formally set this up, all accounts are automatically enabled so any ClickBank affiliate can insert their code in any ClickBank merchant page and earn commissions immediately.
- Built-in affiliates: ClickBank has 100,000 affiliates selling products and services. Since many site owners are already part of their program, it's easy for them to start selling your products too. All they do is add their ClickBank code to your promotional URL and start advertising!
To activate your account, you will need to make a few modifications to your existing sales letter and thank you page, and you're ready to go. The whole process is outlined in the ClickBank setup instructions.
Listen, I'm not a very technical person and I created an account for a new project in less than 30 minutes. If you have even the most basic site building knowledge, this will be easy.
Here is another excellent ClickBank resource:
4) WebTrendsLive.com: Tracking is one of the least understood, and therefore, least performed activities online. Yet, it determines how profitable your site is, so it's really a critical function.
If your host has a good stats program, like LiveStats, and you understand how to use it, you do not need additional tracking ability. However, if your host doesn't offer accurate reporting of unique visitors to specific pages over a defined time frame, you'll need something that does.
That's because in order to be an effective marketer, you need to be able to count visitors and sales to calculate your conversion rate. Then, if you make a change to your ad copy, headline, or price, you can see whether the change results in more or less revenue.
WebTrendsLive.com offers multiple options, including their personal package, which is free. When you get to their home page, click on the button titled Personal in the lower left hand corner to sign up.
5) Aweber.com: Actually, you can use any automatic follow-up system you want, including GetResponse.com. However, we recommend Aweber.com since it's easy to set up, and the most reliable follow-up system we have tested.
Whatever solution you use, you need two separate accounts:
- One for opt-ins to follow up with prospects before they buy, to deliver an e-zine, sample chapters of your e-book, or additional product information.
- One for customer follow-up after they buy, to make sure they received their log-in information, to ask for a testimonial, and to sell additional products and services.
6) Adobe Acrobat or Ebookcompiler.com: One of the questions aspiring online authors often ask is, "What format should I release my e-book in, Windows EXE format, or Adobe Acrobat PDF format?"
The answer is simple, and is based on the following:
- Does your information pertain to everyone online, including Mac and Unix users? If so, and your e-book contains no JavaScript or other special features (CGI, pop-ups, etc.), then Adobe PDF is the best choice. Virtually anyone with any computer can read Adobe PDF, and the software is built into many systems already. If a customer doesn't have it, they can get it free from Adobe.com.
- Does your information pertain specifically to Windows users, or do you need special features, for example, the ability to run scripts (like the AmazingPopUps.com script generator). If this is the case, you'll want to use E-Book Compiler software, which makes an executable file that opens on any Windows machine.
If you use an EXE Windows based file, we recommend the same software package we use, Ebookcompiler.com.
For under $30, Ebookcompiler.com offers the greatest number of features (passwords, ESBN numbers, etc.). Plus, it supports Java, JavaScript, and other browser functions like pop-ups and php.The five steps to getting started
1) Write the first draft of your sales letter, format it as a Web page, add the WebTrendsLive.com code, add a pop-up to collect addresses, and upload to your hosting account.
Like I said, you don't have to have a fancy Web page to make sales, just a well-written sales letter that's benefit oriented and clear. Take a look at some of the sales letters other merchants are using, and you'll get an idea of what it takes to create a saleable offer. Remember, you won't have to worry about scripts, e-commerce, programming, or anything overly technical, just the ad copy.
2) Set up your ClickBank account, enable your site following their instructions, and submit your pages for approval.
A few things to remember. You get to set up your whole account at no charge and test it before it goes live. You don't pay a dime until you are sure it works and ClickBank approves you as a merchant. All tracking is done automatically via their system. You don't need to program CGI scripts, just add a few links to your sales letter and upload your thank you page.
3) Set up your Aweber.com follow-up accounts.
For your opt-in list, write your first follow-up, delivering the e-zine issue or product. For your customer list (people who buy), write your first two follow ups: A sales confirmation and a thank you sent 48 hours after the sale. In the next issue, we'll talk more about the rest of your sequences for both prospects and customers.
4) Write your product and turn it into a saleable digital product with either Ebookcompiler.com or Acrobat, based on your target market.
If you are creating an e-book document in Ebookcompiler.com, you'll need to lay it out in html. Make your life easy, and just use the template you created for your sale letter. You'll save time and there's a design association between the sales process and the product. If you are creating a PDF, it's as easy as pie. Just write and format your document in Word and using the free online tool available at Adobe.com, turn it into a PDF in a few minutes. After you have sold a few copies, invest in the Pro version.
5) Upload your product to your Web hosting account.
Create a directory called /ebooks/ or /products/ or something similar, and upload the product file (EXE or PDF) there. When you link to it, make it a direct link and use the wording found on our example product delivery page so people can download it easily.
Congratulations! You have completed the technical steps necessary to start selling your e-book online.
ClickBank will give you and their affiliates a special link to promote that sets a tracking cookie, then re-direct visitors to your main page. When they click on the order form, the cookie is activated so the referrer receives credit for the sale.
| Beware! We use an ambiguous and difficult to remember code since it's been reported less-than-honest people insert their own affiliate number to receive commissions on sales to themselves. Even if you already have a ClickBank account, we suggest you create another one with a random selection of numbers and letters if you are promoting any ClickBank merchant. |
