Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of Web site?
Is my business too new to have a Web site?
No, not at all. In fact, this Web site package is ideal if you’re just starting out in your business. It’s very flexible, so you can change it in the future if you add new products, change your services, and the like.
I already have a Web site. Will you teach me how to edit it?
No. I do know it’s a big problem that Web site owners get stuck with sites they can’t change. But that is part of the problem – the site isn’t built using a system that allows you to change it easily.
However, you can certainly use this Boot Camp to create a new Web site to replace the old one. In fact, you’ll have a big advantage because you’ll be able to copy and paste some of the content from that site.
I already have a Web site and I know how to update it myself. Is this Boot Camp still useful?
Yes! I can't help you with updating your site, but I can help you with strategic input and perhaps with making your site more interactive.
There are two ways you can get value:
- Attend the full Boot Camp, take in all the strategic input and guidance I'll give you; and use the skills you already have to implement this on your Web site. You'll have some advantage over other attendees, because you can focus on the site content, not the process of managing the site.
- OR Attend just the second day at a reduced price. See the next FAQ item.
Can I attend just the first day?
Yes. The Boot Camp has been designed so the first day is all about the basics and the second day is about adding interactive features. So if you want to attend just the first day, you pay the normal Boot Camp price but also get six months additional access to my eGurus Community. That will give you access to webinars and tutorials about the interactive features we cover in the second day of the Boot Camp, and you can also get some one-to-one help from me in adding these features to your Web site.
Can I attend just the second day?
Yes. The Boot Camp has been designed so the first day is all about the basics and the second day is about adding interactive features. If you already have a Web site and you're comfortable with updating it yourself, the second day will teach you some very useful things to make it more interactive. But if you don't know how to update your site yourself, it will be a waste of time!
If you want to attend just the second day, the price is 60% of the Boot Camp price. This also includes the pre- and post- webinars and other support for the Boot Camp.
I already have a blog. Is that good enough instead of a Web site?
A blog is excellent, and I highly recommend it in addition to a Web site. They go hand in hand. Think of your Web site as your "brochure" and your blog as your "journal" or "diary".
If you don’t have a blog, you can build one on your Web site. If you do have a blog, and it’s hosted on the most common blogging platforms (Blogger or Wordpress), you can import all your blog entries from your blog directly into your Web site. This means your blog looks exactly like the rest of your site.
My entire Web site is built in Wordpress. Do I still need this Boot Camp?
Probably not. If you have a Web site built entirely in Wordpress or some other blogging software and you're completely comfortable managing it yourself, then you probably don't need this course.
But there are two things to keep in mind:
- Managing a Wordpress Web site does require some technical skill, so it's not as easy as managing the site using the system I'll teach in this course.
- With a Wordpress Web site, you have to keep upgrading the software as they send out new bug fixes and security patches. This is fairly easy, but it is one more thing you need to do to protect your site from hackers and other baddies.
That said, Wordpress is a powerful Web site platform, so if you're completely comfortable with it, there's no need to change it.
Can I use this to create a membership site – like a private version of Facebook?
I will teach you how to set up a private password-protected section of your Web site. This is not quite as sophisticated as a full membership site, but it’s a good start. If you do want a membership site, I suggest you start with something like www.Ning.com.
Will this Web site help me create passive income so I can make money in my sleep?
No. I know a lot of Internet marketing courses do make this sort of promise. But it’s not as easy as they make out.
The biggest problem with the passive income dream is that you really need to run it as a completely separate business. It takes planning, time, energy, money and a lot of hard work.
That’s not the objective of this Boot Camp. My goal is to help you create a Web site that supports your existing business strategy. Don’t use it to make money on the Internet; make money with the Internet instead.
What about my other Internet marketing stuff, like Twitter, Facebook, webinars, YouTube, podcasting and so on?
To be honest, I love helping clients with all this stuff. And not because I'm in love with the technology (I'm not!), but because I can show you how to use it to make your business better.
But I also know that getting your Web site right is really important. So in this Boot Camp, we make that the top priority. Although I do touch on some of these things, it's not really the main focus of the Boot Camp.
It's amazing how much easier the other stuff is when you have a Web site in place. For example, when you create a special product offer on your site, you can instantly tweet it to your Twitter followers and mention it on your Facebook profile. With a Web site in place ready to take the orders, this is easy. Without that Web site, it's a lot of extra work.
Pricing
Why is my Web designer quoting me three times as much for creating my Web site if I can do it all myself in your Boot Camp?
It’s not unusual to pay $5,000 or more for a professionally-designed Web site (I run a Web design company as well, and that's typical). That’s not an unreasonable price, so you’re not being ripped off.
There are many reasons this Boot Camp doesn’t cost as much as hiring a Web developer - for instance:
- You don’t get an individual strategic planning session
- You choose your design from some templates (but very professional templates!)
- Mainly, you’re creating all the Web pages yourself (with my guidance, of course), so you're doing a lot of the work
- Because you're making all the decisions, it's much more efficient and cost-effective.
Why can’t I do it myself using FrontPage or Dreamweaver?
You can, of course. But there are two things you don’t get: Expert help in using the software; and my strategic input into your Web site content.
Why can’t I learn this at a TAFE evening course, or something similar?
These courses are excellent (I’ve run them myself!), but they usually focus only on the technical skills – using something like FrontPage or Dreamweaver, uploading files using FTP, using Photoshop to edit your images, and so on.
They tell you how to put stuff on your Web site, but not what to put there and why. In other words, you usually don’t get the right strategic advice to create an effective Web site. It’s like doing a course about Microsoft Word and expecting to learn how to write a novel!
Why can’t I do it myself using the Web services you’ll be teaching?
You can. But be warned that some of these services aren’t easy to understand at first glance. They are very powerful, and they are easy to use after somebody has explained how they work. But it’s tricky to get started.
You also have to know exactly which services to use. For example, if you’re taking credit card orders, should you use PayPal, Clickbank, StrataPay, an Internet payment gateway or your bank’s payment gateway? This isn’t the sort of decision you should be making. Leave that up to me!
Why can’t I use a free hosting service?
You can, but ...
First, what does “free” really mean? Some of them are advertiser-supported or sponsored in some other way, which means your Web site is cluttered with other people’s advertising. This is not a very professional look!
Second, free services don’t always give you the same level of support when you need it. Some of them won’t provide any assistance at all when you have a problem; others do provide this service, but not promptly; and others provide it for a fee.
Third, free services – because they’re free – aren’t as reliable, and sometimes go out of business without any warning.
So what’s the catch?
There really isn’t one. What you see is what you get in this Boot Camp. You invest two days of your time, and you walk out with a professional Web site and the ability for you to change it yourself in the future.
All the pricing is exactly as advertised here on this Web site, and there are no hidden extras. There are some optional extras, but they really are optional. Even if you don’t take them, you’ll still get everything as advertised.
What you need
Do I need my own domain name?
Yes. Strictly speaking you can get by without a domain name, but why would you? It's far more professional to have a domain name. If you're serious enough about your Web site to do this Boot Camp, you'll get a domain name.
There are many companies (known as "registrars") where you can register your domain name. Some are better than others, so when you sign up to the Boot Camp I'll give you my recommendations.
Do I need to install any software?
No, all you need is a modern Web browser. I use Mozilla Firefox, but Internet Explorer or Safari work equally well.
Can I use my own logo?
Yes. In fact, I recommend it because it helps to brand the site as yours.
Does it work on a Mac?
Yes. There’s no software to install – everything is done on your Web browser.
What equipment do I need to bring to the Boot Camp?
Please bring your own laptop (PC or Mac). I'll provide wireless Internet access at the venue.
If you don't have a laptop, borrow one, get a second-hand laptop from eBay or invest in a cheap netbook from somewhere like Harvey Norman or OfficeWorks.
Support
How much are the on-going fees?
The main cost is the hosting service, which charges you US$20 per month. You can get lower hosting fees elsewhere on the Internet, but remember that you're getting a lot more than just a place to host your site. You're getting the full system for managing it in the future.
For more, see the Pricing page.
Do I need lots of technical knowledge?
No, definitely not! The system I teach in the Boot Camp allows you to create high-quality Web pages without any technical knowledge. Here are a couple of video demos to show you how easy it is:
By the way, these are just two of the video tutorials I've set up as reference for you, so you can watch them after the Boot Camp to remind you how to do the most common things on your Web site.
What happens if I have technical problems later?
The Web host has a comprehensive Help system, with video tutorials, an on-line manual and answers to frequently asked questions. If none of these solve your problem, you can deal directly with their support team.
What if the Web host goes out of business?
There are two reasons this is unlikely to happen. First, they are a legitimate company, with a proven track record and lots of clients. Second, all their clients are paid clients, so they have a strong, sustainable business model.
Do I have to upgrade or maintain the software?
No, that's one of the beauties of using a fully hosted service. You don't have to worry about software upgrades, patches, bug fixes and the like. Leave that up to the Web host, who keep updating their software - and you automatically get the benefits of these upgrades.
Can I keep growing the site as my business grows?
Yes. You can keep adding pages, uploading more documents, adding pictures, and so on.
In fact, even if your Web site gets very big and very popular, the Web host will cater for it and will adjust automatically - unlike many other hosts, who will struggle with the increased load.
If my business changes, can I change the menu, look-and-feel and site content?
Yes, that's one of the advantages of using this Web host and its content management system. You're not locked in to a particular structure and layout, and you don't need to go back to a graphic designer to make these changes.
How do I know what to add to my Web site in the future?
I do offer an on-going membership service for $55 per month, which will help you with strategic advice in developing your Web site and on-line presence. This is optional but useful if you want on-going help with your strategy.
By the way, your Boot Camp registration includes two months complimentary access to this service, at no obligation.