Lesson 3: The Quick and Easy Website Setup

Hi :

Once you’ve got your domain name  and your holiday description, it’s time to set up your holiday website.

Just like there’s more than one way to skin a cat, there are many ways to set up your website.

** If you are NOT technical at all, you may want to leave this part up to a professional.

I recommend Amy Bleser, from http://virtualservices4u.com. Not only does Amy have the skills to set up your site, but she has been trained by me to create list building holiday websites the RIGHT way, so you won’t be paying for a learning curve.

She’ll even give you a discount on her services if you tell her you are taking my List Building Promotions Program.**

Before I go into the two different ways to build your website, there is something you need that’s essential any way you create your site.

Website hosting. I know this is sort of a ‘Duh, no kidding’ thing, but it’s still a good reminder. If you already are using a webhost that allows your to have multiple domains on your account, you’re in luck. Simply make sure your domain name for your holiday is hosted or redirected to a file on the webhost server.

Now if you don’t have a web host or the hosting you have is limited to one domain only, you’ll need to purchase hosting.

I use Bluehost as my web host. For $5.95 a month, I get unlimited domains and space on one account. Plus, I love their customer service: good, helpful people. Check them out at http://www.ShannonRecommends.com/webhost

What’s also great about Bluehost is that they will provide you with video tutorials of how to redirect or set up new domain hosting right in their control panel. So if you are unsure how to do it, they’ve got you covered.

Now that you have your domain and hosting settled, let’s get into the basics of the website. You can create your site as a typical html coded website or you can also use wordpress to set up your site.

Either way, you’ll need to create 5  pages:

  1. Home page, where people will opt-in. This is basically what’s called a ‘squeeze’ page or opt-in page. You’ll need to write good sales copy to attract prospects to sign up.
  2. About page, where people will find out more about you. You want to explain on this page why your are the one AND only expert who could have created this holiday.
  3. About the holiday page, where you can put more info about your holiday (including press releases & proclamations).
  4. Contributors page, where people will learn more about other contributors. This page will not be complete until you have your JV partners in place. (More on this in another lesson.)
  5. Upload page, where people, once they opt-in to you list will get their gifts. (This won’t be visible on your menu on your website.) This page will list the other gifts available and how to access the gifts.
  6. Contact page, how people can contact you.

You can see how my holiday website is set up by going to http://www.beheardday.com. Obviously, depending on the time of year, I would have different content on my home page.

And you can’t see the upload page, since it has to be during the holiday and you have to opt-in to get it.

ASSIGNMENT!

Start mapping out your design and creating your holiday site, even though it will be incomplete. The sooner you get this started, the easier it will be.

In a few days, I’ll be sending you an additional surprise… software that will help you write and create your squeeze page. So be on the lookout for another email from me soon.