Content 2.0 for Questions and Answers

I've used SBI! 2.0's Content 2.0 in a number of ways, including allowing visitors to upload funny videos, ask questions, and contribute tips. This has resulted in the creation of over 210 additional pages on my site.

One of the most effective uses of C2 by far, however, has been the creation of a questions and answers section focused on a very common situation for cat owners: litter box problems.

I usually answer each question myself, and then other visitors can add their answers and comments as well. This is far better, and far more popular than my previous method of answering questions by email. Email discussions are never seen by anyone else, can't be indexed by the search engines, and don't benefit the public.

An unexpected benefit of this was that the questions and some of the answers showed me where I had big holes in my content. I thought I had already explained many of the issues that were being asked in the questions, but it became clear that I had not. This fresh view of my site prompted me to revise my existing pages, add a few more as well, and restructure my site a bit.

So, C2 directly accelerates the growth of my site by adding visitor created pages with new topics and subtopics I didn't even know I needed. In addition, it indirectly shows me how I can make my site better. Since I'm now certain which content my visitors crave, I can quickly and easily create or edit my pages with the confidence that I'm addressing the exact points that my visitors need.

Kurt

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Content 2.0 for Questions and Answers

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Just to follow up
by: Kurt

@Jan,

I believe you're right about the authority and trust factor. Only a small percentage of visitors will normally contribute content. There are always tons of lurkers, though, and they watch what you do.

@Blythe,

One advantage that large companies have over small ones is the ability to gather huge amounts of data on their market. For a small website, gathering questions can be almost as good as surveys. For every visitor who asks a question, there are many more with the same or similar question who don't ask.

You'd never know about these questions if you didn't give people the chance to ask them. For every question that's asked, a number of sub-topics usually pop into my head that I realize I have not covered, and it starts a whole new brainstorming session.

Another aspect to this is Seth Godin's idea of giving people a place to market to each other, and then getting out of the way. That's the basic premise behind eBay, PayPal, Adsense, and flea markets.

Wherever crowds gather, the money will follow. In my case, I simply run ads from third parties and make the occasional product suggestion. One of my best "sales" pages, in terms of click through and conversions isn't a sales page at all. It's a visitor created page where I made a simple product suggestion.

How Q & A Helps Business
by: Jan

Hi There!

I can't speak for Kurt (so feel free to chime in, Kurt :-)), but I can speak for myself and for what I've observed with others.

One of the biggest factors in making sales on the Net is obtaining the trust of your visitors.

The Question and Answer format is used by many SBI!ers who employ Content 2.0 on their sites. There have been many reports of how answering questions and providing information increases one's visibility as an authority and not just with those whose questions you answer.

People who don't necessarily interact, but visit and read how you handle the questions and deal with the public. They observe your knowledge in action and get a good sense of your competence. This instills trust.

Over time, people start to rely on you as the authority on the subject and as a result, your sales increase. Sales like this also tend improve/increase as time goes by, as well.

Hope this helps!

How Does that Help?
by: Blythe

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Summary

SBI! delivers a proven process and a the only complete suite of tools that convert your knowledge/passion into a profitable e-business.

Your knowledge and life experiences are unique. Use SBI! to tap into your interests. Connect with like-minded people. Grow a profitable e-business that can make this the first day of the rest of your life.

SBI! has long been the best way to achieve e-business-building success. No other product has its proven track record of success.

With SBI! 2.0, we took the best and pushed it an entire level higher. C2 turns your visitors into willing content-contributors. SBI! + C2 = SBI! 2.0.

SBI! 2.0 pushes way beyond blogging, where you still create all the content and where only a few (the same few, if any) visitors leave short comments, often just to get "link love."

SBI! 2.0 is true Web 2.0 for the small e-business person. Visitors create full Web pages because they want to, because they share your passion. Others comment. Viral spread happens.

To learn more about SBI! 2.0, click here.

Important Disclosure

This site was started by SiteSell.com (creator of SBI!) to showcase the all new SBI! 2.0.

The vast majority of pages on this site are from submissions by real SBI! owners who want to share their stories with you.

They receive no compensation of any kind from SiteSell.com. Their stories are true.

Feel free to interact with any of them with your questions or comments. Use the Comments section at the end of each story.

You will notice a common thread here... These people simply do it. They have "BAM"...

Brain (knowledge of something) Attitude (positive) Motivation" (willing to work).

BAM is the key ingredient that you must add to SBI!. To elaborate...

"Brain" does not mean "brainy." It means they have, or have developed, knowledge in a niche (perhaps from a hobby, job, other life experience).

"Attitude" means they are positive, optimistic people who work well with others (this is why the SBI! Forums are unmatched in the small e-business world).

"Motivation" means they want to build a business and take control of their lives enough to sacrifice some leisure activities.

We point this out because we do not want to falsely raise your expectations. SBI! 2.0 does not deliver "automatic success." Nothing can.

Your degree of success depends on your own level of "BAM," upon how much time you devote to building your Web business, and upon following the process correctly (every successful SBIer will tell you, "Follow the Action Guide").

SBI! 2.0 does deliver what it promises... your best chance at e-business success. SBI! 2.0 works... if you work it.