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Caution: If you’re searching for a “Get-Rich-Quick” scheme, you’re in the wrong place, my friend. Let’s use some common sense here – it’s impossible. If you’re looking to create a massive online corporation, you’ll need a Webmaster and a team of programmers. But if you’re willing to put in the work to build a genuine small business that holds long-term value and profits, then you’ve come to the right place. This is the only place where the average small businessperson can truly establish a profitable online business.

We all have our own reasons for wanting to build businesses online. It depends on who you are, whether you’re a newbie or a marketing expert. It depends on what you want out of life and business. Do you crave freedom and self-reliance? Or are you seeking increased revenues from an existing business? Perhaps you desire growth and independence, or living life with passion. Maybe you’re in search of recognition and support, or you crave community and belonging. It could be that you desire the right skills and control, or you’re looking to generate additional family income and have more time. Whatever your reason, the ultimate goal is success. Unfortunately, only a select few have what it takes to achieve it.

Here’s the bitter truth – your website either makes the sale or it doesn’t. And guess what? Ninety-nine out of a hundred sites fail to secure that order. Now, many will try to blame the wary and skeptical web consumers. But here’s the reality – no matter what you’re offering on the web, your site MUST sell! Whether you’re selling digital goods like software or video games, or physical products like freezers or other widgets, your site’s ability to sell is crucial.

Think it’s impossible to sell hamburgers on the web? Think again. How about using your site to entice visitors to register for digital discount coupons for your monthly specials? They can print out the coupon and present it to the nearest restaurant. Boom – you’ve just made a sale!

Maybe you’re looking to expand your regional sales into global distribution. Or perhaps you want to generate leads for your OEM business. Maybe you’re thinking about adding an online profit center to take advantage of your existing offline store’s infrastructure. It’s a no-brainer, really, as long as you do it right!

Or maybe, just maybe, you’ve had your own profitable website as a dream for the longest time. Well, my friend, I’ve got news for you. Everyone is an expert on something! So take a moment to think and brainstorm. Can you offer world-class consulting services in your area of expertise? Maybe you could provide special travel services, like organizing bike tours through the Andes. Or how about creating unique info-products based on your knowledge from your job or hobby? It doesn’t matter if you’re a multinational corporation or an entrepreneur with a brilliant idea. Here’s the bottom line: YOU can make your site sell.

Just last week, my extended family gathered for a small get-together. As is customary on these occasions, everyone wants to know what everyone else is up to, and we all enjoy cracking jokes about the little things. I’ve always had a knack for capturing everyone’s attention with my outspokenness, kind of like a Bilbo in the Baggins family.

During dinner, we had barely taken a bite or two when my little niece turned to me and asked, “Can you help me make my site sell?” I was taken aback because I had no idea she even had a website or was attempting any online ventures. As it turns out, she had secretly spent all her pocket money for the past six months on paying for hosting and a domain. She had set up a shopping cart and tweaked it to perfection. But after eight months, she had only received 18 unique visitors and hadn’t made a single sale of her art pieces, despite pricing them at just $20.

I didn’t really have a choice – I had to help her. So I took her through a three-week crash course. In this article, I’ll try my best to summarize the process because I realized that there are so many people out there struggling with building a website and, even worse, failing to make money from it. Many people even go as far as purchasing resale rights products or books, and while there’s nothing inherently wrong with that (I’ve written some myself), if you don’t understand the fundamental principles of online business, you’ll fail and lose your hard-earned cash.

But first, let’s outline the problems my niece was facing. She mentioned several things, but here’s a summary:

1. Lack of traffic.
2. No sales.
3. Irrelevant domain name.

In life, everything we build should have a solid foundation, and it’s no different when it comes to building profitable websites. In our case, the foundation is C-T-P-M.

Content – Traffic – Presell – Monetize.

So, what does it all mean? Where’s the magic? Well, let me tell you, there’s no magic involved. It’s all about your “pre-customer,” the hundreds of millions of people who surf the net every day. These individuals use the web as a search tool, seeking credible high-value information or solutions to fulfill their wishes or solve their problems.

Success on the net begins with a critical shift in mindset. Forget the old offline strategy of “location, location, location.” Online, it’s all about “information, information, information.” No one stumbles upon your business while walking by and casually enters your website. Web surfers aren’t actively looking for you or your business. They’re searching for information and solutions. After all, if they knew you existed, they wouldn’t be searching. They would already be your customers.

On the internet, it’s your responsibility to generate your own traffic in order to thrive and be profitable. So, before you even think about making a sale or recommending something to a potential customer, your primary task is to provide the information, or content, that people are searching for. And you need to present it in a way that search engines like. In other words, give the people what they want.

A theme-based content site contains information centered around a main subject. Each page focuses on a single topic related to that theme. The collection of information across all your pages forms the content of your site.

These specific “topical pages” are known as “Keyword-Focused Content Pages.” They rank well with search engines, attracting targeted traffic to your site.

Through your high-value content, you “PREsell” visitors by surpassing their expectations and delivering what they came for – information. Visitors start to like and trust you based on what you write on your site. Your content-rich site builds credibility and trust, making the visitor view you as a knowledgeable expert. This credibility creates an open mindset for buying or hiring. Now, the process of monetizing becomes just a click away, as the visitor can easily access affiliate links, order pages, contact forms, Google ads, your online store, eBay auctions, or any other means of monetization.

This proven process of CONTENT – TRAFFIC – PRESSELL – MONETIZE truly works. It doesn’t matter how you plan to monetize your site; whether it’s by representing merchant-partner sites as an affiliate, having an order page for your own products, utilizing a contact form for inquiries about your services or business opportunity, setting up an online store, selling non-competitive products or services for referral fees, or any combination thereof. Visitors who have been PREsold are more likely to convert into paying customers, which is exactly what your online business needs to grow and succeed.

In contrast, a visitor who lands on a sales site without any inspiring, relevant, and editorial content will be less likely to make a purchase. Without a brand or a relationship established with the visitor, your chances of selling are slim to none. Think about it – who would you respond to? A stranger with a sales pitch or a knowledgeable friend or expert making a recommendation? Become that knowledgeable friend or expert.

Great content encourages visitors to see you as a friend or expert rather than a stranger. And if you create a site rich with information, you’ll become a trusted expert, sharing your wealth of knowledge. Essentially, you’ll create your own brand – your “brand of one.” People prefer buying from someone they know and like. They resist sales efforts from strangers. That’s why 99% of small businesses fail online.

Selling shouldn’t be your site’s top priority. Instead, focus on providing valuable content. Build trust and credibility with your visitors. Once you’ve established that relationship, the sales will come naturally.

So, my friend, are you ready to make your site sell? Let’s get started on building that profitable online business.
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Ihab Salloum