Websites In 2019 Do You Need One

Are Websites Necessary In 2019

This is a come around question. Meaning we have been here before.

There was a time when websites were the only way to do business online and there was a time when you didn't need a website.

Squeeze pages were the thing. Usually directing straight to the source or website, whatever your model was.

Today we have moved to a refined squeeze page.

Now we call it a landing page, which grabs info and narrows down the field.

Let's take a look and see.

What Is A Landing Page

Think of a landing page as a landing zone.

It's technically a web presence but not a web site.

It's a funnel, in you go, fill in the info and bang you get an automated email, in the simple form.

Usually, it starts with an offer of the subject at hand, let's go with FBA or something:

The offer ( Free Ebook)
The ask (email)
Follow up with the download link for the book
Offer a Facebook Group (FBA stuff)
Eventually set the sell (courses, coaching, shirts, mugs)
Email list (more offers)

You can see the funnel develop in the words alone right. its targeted at a specific audience, looking for something, ready-made list and users, sort of auto-vetting.

You can reverse the funnel if you want to, it all works, funnels are really about upsells.

What Does It Have To Do With Print On Demand

If you think that through you can see the benefits of a single landing page. This landing page can lead to your Instagram or Pinterest accounts.

After that, your particular setup will take them to your POD store, which is usually free with the platform, or straight to Amazon in the case of Merch products.

You can also in the case of more adaptive platforms set up a sale on those, let's say, buy this shirt get a coupon for half price or such postcard while having other coupon deals or offers funnel through the email setup.

Even a digital product can be run through LZ`s as long as your files for download are hosted on a secure server.

Social Media And Landing Pages

These types of pages are really great at driving traffic for social media sites like Facebook.

You seek out your intended audience, capture the info on your LZ and then send them a FB link to your cleverly disguised (As a free help community)group page.

Kidding aside the FB groups though used as sales tools are actually a fantastic resource for free and paid info.

If you give, people like to reciprocate so small offers can usually net a few bucks for your efforts, or build subscriptions for anything you have to sell.

$10 bucks a month from 100 people = $1000 right, and really you can just sell them the info you are looking for yourself, a month later of course ;)

Who Needs A WebSite

I can think of quite a few scenarios where even POD members may want their own websites.

If you are building a brand, you would definitely want a physical long term presence, not a flash in the pan LZ or squeeze page.

I believe a website gives a brand the authenticity it needs, also you would want to eventually be buying and having your own products printed.

You would also want one if you set up specific tools (like design, keyword finders etc) as a part of your POD business.

I know of one site where the owner actually got it early on and has built a good brand for himself selling online subscription-based tools and info etc... A great idea that has not been replicated, yet.

How Do You Build A Landing Page

Building the page is easier than you think.WordPress is great for building these types of pages.

I haven't played with WP for a couple of years now, but if I remember correctly there is a theme or template just for that.

Write your offer up and play with the presentation. For POD I would probably be looking at bright, splashy, modern depending on your niche audience.

A lot of funnels come with LZ`s attached, but funnel templates can be really pricey.

There are also plugins for landing pages and email responders etc, I think you can see, if I was building a funnel I would definitely turn back to WP to do so.

A Word About WordPress

I may write an article on this later, but thought I would just touch on that a bit here.

WP is really versatile and really cheap (free to download and build on your box at home) or work with a cheap hosting company and build your site online.

Though It can get really clunky and slow, there are steps you can take to make sure you are always optimized, of course, the rest would be up to the host and plan you are using.

It is super easy to learn and has the major plugin free Woo-Commerce and online e-com ready store, that is in itself not difficult to configure.

You can purchase or update themes for more functionality, though I never did and everything ran the way I expected and wanted.

Remember when trying to think of funnels,, visualize that Walmart or other stores initial offerings, as you enter move through the sections you need stuff in, and what the checkout looks like, the checkouts are, in my mind's eye, the closest thing to seeing a (micro) funnel as you get.

As you can see websites, and I have stated this in earlier articles, for POD designers is not a super important part of your plan unless you are building a brand.

You don't have to build a brand, but honestly, it would make sense if you were serious about your future as a print on demand business, perhaps branching out as to what you offer.

If you are building business under an LLC or Corp etc its not important, as you could still sell the business later if that was in your plans.

Always look for exits ;) even if the cow is giving you a healthy amount of milk, you may change directions down the road.

Well, I hope this helped you a bit in deciding which way to go in your future as a POD designer.

But remember trends change, so just be versatile.

Leave a comment or question I am always happy to hear from people

All the best and The VERY best in following your dreams
EJ

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