My SBI Story

I say website building business because that's truly what I've done with Book Club Queen! But back in 2007, right after having my first child, I would never have dreamed that I would be where I am today, telling you about how I got here.

Before we go any further down memory lane...

I want you to know that I am excited to share my SBI story with you because it has changed my life and opened up so many windows of opportunity, that I have to pick and choose which one I want to jump through first!

I'm going to tell you all about SBI websites, and why I am such a firm believer in the product.

If you've spent any time with me at BCQ, then you already know I "tell it like it is." What this means is a no-nonsense, no "sign up for this get-rich-quick" scheme, in your face discussion (I reserve the soapbox for my book reviews ) where you will be able to learn about how I built this website and turned my hobby into a passion-driven business.

My goal is to let you know that you, too, could be sitting on your own unleashed potential.

And I like to talk so my SBI story page is not for the faint of heart, rather, it's for those who are serious about finding out more!

Without further ado...

That's exactly where I was sitting when my mom came home and barrelled down the stairs waving a piece of newspaper at me. "I've got it!" she exclaimed, blonde hair flying in all directions. "Hi Mom, how was your trip? Glad you made it back safely" was my response as she'd just gotten off a plane from Alabama after having been gone for two weeks. "I've figured out how you can stay home, have something to keep you busy, and make lots of money!" Of course I was interested, but obviously skeptic.

She pulled out an article from The Washington Post about different "hobby" websites who were making thousands of dollars every month. The article featured a few sites, one about recipes, one about do-it-yourself work around the house, and the other about bee keeping. I couldn't possibly understand how these people were making money...all the article mentioned was "pay-per-click" advertising.

I decided to do my own research. I spent two full days on the computer (while little Max was napping) researching "build a website" "pay-per-click ads" and "make money online." In my exhaustive searches I found plenty of sites willing to help me "make a quick million" but I knew those weren't right for me.

While surfing, I came across a website dedicated to "getting flat abs" which I found amusing as I couldn't see how it tied in to my queries. Turned out, the site was "Powered by SBI" and upon further clicking, I quickly learned that SBI, or Site Build It! was the website building program of a company called SiteSell.

Here's where it gets even more interesting

I immediately googled "SBI" and found their homepage. I started reading...and reading...and reading. I couldn't get enough of the stories, information, and insight into the web building world that this company offered. I had no website building experience but they made it seem like a real possibility that with hard work and passion (which I later found out is called the "BAM!" -- Brains, Attitude, and Motivation -- in the SBI Action Guide) anyone could build their own business online.

And the thing was, it could be a site about bees, or flat abs, or sewing, or roses....the only limit was my own imagination!

I was floored. I knew, immediately, that my site would be about book clubs and reading. My greatest hobby from the time I can remember had always been reading and I knew I could do something good for other readers/potential book clubbers by starting a website.

How did I convince my husband to get on board?

Obviously I knew something this great would come with a price and I FULLY expected that price to approach the thousands. I was shocked and delighted to find out that the cost was only $299/year for a complete, one-stop-shop that would teach me how to build my own website. What's more, there was a 90-day "money-back" guarantee if I wasn't completely satisfied with the program. Currently, SiteSell has implemented a low monthly payment option of just $29.99 for those who don't want to or can't pay the total up front.

SBI offered an Action Guide including videos for every step of the way, programs to help research my site, "keywords" I would use to build traffic, forums full of other website builders where I could "help and be helped" along the way, and a zillion other things that made no sense to me at the time but I knew would become important once I actually got started.

So, I went to my husband. I told him how important it was for me to have something of my own, something that kept me feeling like part of the adult world, and that might potentially make an income one day for our family. His interest was peaked but his only stipulation was that I do a little research on other website building programs available to find out how SBI compared.

I agreed quickly.

So what did I find out about the competition?

I found out there WAS NO COMPETITION.

It took me all of thirty minutes to google "website building programs" and come back with virtually nothing that even came close to the model SBI offered. I could pay ten dollars with a number of "hosts" and then what? I'd have my URL but absolutely NO knowledge whatsoever about where to begin. I'd not have the support of other people building websites with similar questions to mine and a whole host of already successful webmasters willing to answer those questions. I knew, without a doubt, that SBI was it for me.

I went back to my husband and told him "there's no other option, pony up the dough." He took a leap of faith ($299 was a big deal to us at the time, with only him working and a new baby to boot) and we sat down to order.

What happened next?

Well, that part's easy to describe - I became totally, over-the-moon, obsessively, in-love with SBI. I'm not kidding.

My husband, mom, and dad would have to literally drag me away from the computer and even when they managed, all I could think about (and therefore talk about) was building my book club site. Consequently, I was always allowed to go back!

My overstuffed green armchair became my "website building chair" and my family still jokes about walking past the steps to the basement and seeing me at the end of those steps, in my chair, computer in my lap, furiously typing away.

That was 2007; now in 2011, I have two successful websites with plans for two more in the wings just waiting for their debut. Book Club Queen has surpassed any and every expectation I could have possibly dreamed up when I first read that newspaper article all that time ago.

How do I measure the "success" of Book Club Queen?

Book Club Queen is my baby. I've nurtured it and watched it grow into this beautiful thing that brings me thrills of joy. I'm sure you're wondering at this point, "alright already, do you make any money?!" and the answer is YES!

But here's the thing -- SBI is not a program that promises you a get-rich-quick scheme so if that's what you want, this isn't the place for you.

SBI's mascot is the tortoise. Think of the old saying "slow and steady wins the race." That's us SBIers.

I've spent all my time dedicated to building the best website, with the highest quality content that I can offer to like-minded visitors, and the rest of my "snowball" (a term reserved for SBI use!) is just rolling all on it's own. In other words, I do make money, now. Of course I didn't put up the site and start cashing in my checks. I put in the BAM! and it paid off. Now, through the use of pay-per-click advertising, affiliate programs, and specific services I offer, Book Club Queen has a real future in becoming my only job. The addition of my second website is only icing on the cake. My third and fourth sites will be the same. But what's more is that I measure my success by the way Book Club Queen has changed my life.

On a daily basis I chat back and forth with authors, major publishing houses, publicists, and readers. I review books, I interview authors, I am asked to judge book award competitions. I speak at conferences about the love of books and reading. I help local book clubs get up and running. I even help book clubs in Dundee, Scotland connect!

Book Club Queen's influence has been noted by various PR agencies in an upward trend in book sales for their authors, and we continue to receive requests for reviews, help, advice, etc., daily. I am running a business right here as I sit and type to you from my kitchen counter!

Is SBI right for you?

I can't speak for your particular situation but I do know this -- if you've ever had the dream of doing something on your own, if you have something you are passionate about and feel that other people would benefit from your knowledge, if you are willing to put your nose to the grindstone (as Queenie B always says) and learn something new, then SBI is worth checking out.

It's not my job to give you all the specifics about the program, I'm going to leave that to Dr. Ken Evoy, founder of SiteSell and inspiration to any internet-based business. But I am certainly available to talk to you about my SBI story and share any advice, tips, or techniques that I have learned along the way. I'm going to provide the necessary links below, so that you can make your own informed decision.

One last thing before I go

You may be thinking "well this all sounds great but I just don't know if I would love working on a computer or building a website."

I can assure you that SBI offers much more than that. It offers a chance for you to take the knowledge in your brain and share it with the world. And it offers you the chance to meet new people who are doing the same thing. Perhaps the most invaluable tool SBI offers is its forum area, where all members come to chat, rant, rave, and have fun. There is nothing you can't or won't learn from the help that is always right at your fingertips!

Thanks for allowing me to share my SBI story with you! Cheers to your upcoming success! Be sure to find me in the SBI forums!

Now here's those links I promised!

Meet Ken Evoy, founder of SiteSell and SBI

Info about getting started with SBI

Return from My SBI Story to Home