How Did I Become an Internet Entrepreneur?

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I didn't set out to become an internet entrepreneur. I was happily selling my jewelry when my business mentor suggested (actually outright insisted) that I create a website for my jewelry business. My plan was to create a simple site that would serve as a virtual business card/gallery to promote my work to local customers, shop owners etc. I had no idea my research would take me on this amazing journey.

"As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live." Goethe

In the course of researching internet entrepreneur resources, I discovered Site Build It!, which is the set of all in one software tools I use to build and promote my site. At the time, I knew very little about online marketing, but the more I read, the more intrigued I became with the idea that I could add a new facet (yes, that pun's for the jewelry designers) to my business and become an Internet entrepreneur.

I realized that I could take all of my career counseling experience and combine it with everything I had learned in building my jewelry business to build a site that was a comprehensive business resource to support other professional craft artists.

But I was also a bit skeptical and wanted to make sure that SBI was the real deal and would deliver on its promises, so I investigated further.

Here's What I Discovered

You don't need any HTML or web design knowledge or internet marketing experience to build a great looking site that gets plenty of visitors. SBI is an all in one package that teaches you step by step in simple, non-technical terms exactly how to become an internet entrepreneur and build a professional looking site that gets plenty of free traffic.

I was thrilled with this all in one approach. I'm busy with my family and other aspects of my business. I don't have the time (or the inclination) to cut through reams internet marketing hype. I do, however, have time to write about a subject I love and to use simple guides and tools that direct me to exactly what I need to know to build my site.

I really didn't know anything about online marketing, but I did know that if I just bought a ten dollar domain name and put up a site, it would go nowhere. There are over 122 million websites online, so if people were going to find my site, I knew I would need access to tools, strategies and help to make that happen.

I was impressed by how transparent SBI is. Instead of just saying they have plenty of satisfied customers, they back up their words with examples of plenty of successful SBI sites that are ranked in the top 1% online.

SBI never promised me that I would "get rich quick" from my website. They note that you need to put in the time it takes to build a great site, you won't see profits immediately (you'll have to work for them) and you'll need to use your brains and motivation to build a viable online business. If they had said I would earn big money in no time, I would have run the other way.

I also found out that people who have SBI sites use a broad range of approaches to make money with their sites, and they are huge fans of the company. I really looked, and I couldn't find a single negative comment about SBI.

"First say to yourself what you would be;
and then do what you have to do." Epictetus

I launched this site in January 2007. As of this writing (June 2007), my site is still very new, but I'm already seeing great results.

• My traffic almost doubles every month.
  
  
• I've started to make some income through a few ads placed throughout the site.
  
  
• I have freelanced for a great craft magazine, A Needle Pulling Thread, because the editor-in-chief saw and liked my site.
  
  
• When a very dear family member fell ill and passed away this spring, my business was flexible enough that I was able to drop everything and be with her for an entire month.
  
  
• I work every day doing something creative that is uniquely my own, has great potential and is a great fit for my needs and values.

The income from this site is not paying the mortgage (yet). However, any reputable business takes time to build. I see results every day, and I am absolutely confident in the potential in this site. In fact, I even have plans to make some significant changes to my jewelry business so I can shift part of it over to the site.

The beauty of my site is that I can always leave it alone when I need to focus on other aspects of my business or my life. So, when I'm busy getting ready for an upcoming craft show, I just leave the site alone and focus on making jewelry. Once the show is over (and I've given myself a little break), my site is there waiting for me to keep building my online business.

It takes commitment to build a profitable site, but it's all completely worth it to me because I know that I'm building a solid foundation for something that is completely my own from the ground up.

If you think you might like to become an internet entrepreneur and you're interested in SBI, I'd recommend learning as much as you can to make sure it's a good fit for you. If you have any questions, you can contact an experienced SBI user. I'm thrilled with the tools and genuine help and support that I can access easily. My only regret about starting my SBI site is that I didn't hear about it sooner.

Most people visit Inspiri Art and Craft to learn more about building a business based on their own creativity, and in my opinion, SBI can really be a great match for that goal.

Whatever direction you do decide to take with your own business, I wish you all of the success, freedom and fulfillment in the world.

"You can't cross the sea merely by standing and
staring at the water." Rabindranath Tagore

 
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