Tollbooths On The Information Highway!
By Sonya Meyers   ©2004 All Rights Reserved

Information rules on the Internet, this is a hard and fast rule that is not likely to change. However, it was once, by and large, a free database for consumers to enjoy at will, but times have changed as they always do. Smart website owners are now realizing just what their hard earned information is worth. Specifically, cold hard cash. And the good news is that consumers are still as interested as they were when it was free. In fact, in some respects they are more interested. The time honored principle still holds true in this fast speed, highly technical age, that what we pay for we tend to appreciate more and we feel, in turn, that it holds more value. Quite frankly it does, simply because if we are being paid we are more likely to share the real nitty gritty insider secrets of our own personal mother lode of information.

The fact is that all those years of study, hands on experience, and tried and true wisdom is worth a hefty income when turned into the new online community. Communities that cost money to enter. Communities that not only bring together a group of people interested in a common topic but also provide value and insiders secrets that the public is dying to know about. So how do you jump on the new bandwagon barreling down the Information Highway? Start with the basics:
Don't follow the pack, create your own. Create a community around something for which you are passionate. Don't think strictly in terms of business. Look at extracurricular activities, hobbies that might be turned into a business if the people in your community just had enough knowledge on the topic. Think in terms of helping people turn what they love into a full time occupation. These are the elements that will make your online community indispensable. Try to stay away from the biz opp mentality simply because it is so fraught with competition. Everyone is jumping on this particularly overloaded wagon which will make getting attention for your subscription website that much more difficult. Think out of the box.
Plan the Information. Keeping in mind that you are creating a subscription website around a theme that you are already passionate about, it goes to follow that you will have tons of information on the topic. Take the time to begin organizing your information and the ideas for your website into a system that flows smoothly. Visit other subscription websites and get a feel for the layout. Decide how much basic information needs to go into the site to create a successful launch. Plan to continue adding information on a regular basis to keep the community alive and humming. Look past mainstream materials such as magazines and books toward industry trade journals and insider information. Begin speaking with leaders in your particular industry and ask if they would be willing to participate in exchange for exposure on your site.
Talk With A Web Designer Now is the time to begin discussing the idea for your website with a professional Web Designer. Take the time to locate a designer that has the time to listen to your vision and will be sensitive to your needs. The designer can also help you purchase a domain name that will be appropriate for your website.
Get the Word Out. Plan for the future of your online business. Although you are doing something near and dear to your heart don't treat it as fluff. Create a business plan and a marketing plan for the life of your online business and it will reward you with years of growth and stability. Statistics tell us that more than 50% of new businesses will fail within the first five years. Online those numbers are even higher. However, the good news is that nearly 87% of businesses that take the time to create a solid business and marketing plan succeed. So give you subscription website the best chance for success by planning for it's future. *** A subscription website is a combination of doing what you love and sharing your wealth of knowledge with those that will truly appreciate it. Now is the time to create a community that will allow you to live within your dreams and prosper beyond your imagination!

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SONYA MEYERS is CEO of the Subscription Website Publishers Association located at http://www.SWEPA.com. SWEPA offers it's members everything they need to run a dynamic and successful subscription website. Visit today.

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