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pizzatherapy.com is a website all about pizza.
Learn to make incredible pizza.
Subscribe to Pizza News, our free ezine.
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| Site Owner: | Albert Grande | | Contact Email: | webmaster@pizzatherapy.com | | Website Home Page: | http://pizzatherapy.com | | Location: | United States | | Month/Year Website Launched: | July, 1999 | | Initial Start Up Costs: | $350.00 | | Time Invested Before Launch: | 2 months | | Programming and Technical Work Done By Owner or Hired Out: | All site design and web site maitenance completed by owner. | | Time Invested Each Week Running Website: | 25 hours | | Niche Market Target: | Pizza fans from all over the world | | Products And Services Offered: | e-book, The Pizza Book, pizza and dough recipe, T-shirts, other pizza related products. | | Average Number of Monthly Visitors: | 12,000+ | | Number of Newsletter Subscribers or Members: | 4,700+ | | Estimated Monthly Revenue: | $500 | | Estimated Monthly Expenses: | $150 |
Interview By: Jeremy Gislason
Interview Date: 21-Nov-05
Q. Please tell us a little about your background.
I am originally from New England. I currently live in Hawaii, where I am a full-time high school teacher. I am a person who has a passion for making pizza and sharing that knowledge with others. I have been making home-made pizza and showing others how to make pizza, for about 20 years.
Q. What made you decide to start a website in the field?
My dad was really the inspiration behind my website pizzatherapy.com. When we were teenagers, my dad would make pizza for me and my friends. Whenever he created pizza, he created magic. I wanted to honor those times, and pizzatherapy.com, the website, is the result.
Q. What kind of research went into this niche area before building your website?
I conducted web searches for all pizza related web sites. When I started pizzatherapy.com (in 1999) there were just a handful of pizza sites. I contacted all of the websites for guidance and direction. Most of the pizza website owners were very helpful and supportive. I researched magazines and pizza books. I bought books about building websites. I learned basic HTML.
Q. How did you design and build your website?
I used Frontpage to design and update my website. My basic understanding of HTML has been very helpful.
Q. What software do you use to run your business?
I use Frontpage, Listbuilder, Paypal and Excel
Q. How does your website generate income?
My e-book, The Pizza Book, my pizza and dough recipe, t-shirts, and other information related products. Affiliate programs, banner and text advertising has also generated income.
Q. How do you collect payments for your products or services?
Pay-pal, direct deposit, checks, money orders
Q. What promotion methods do you use?
I have a mailing list called Pizza News. I have used Press Releases to generate publicity. (prweb.com) pizzatherapy.com was just mentioned in a book about pizza (that makes three books!) This has generated quite a bit of publicity. I have done newspaper interviews, and radio interviews about pizza and pizzatherapy.com. I have submitted articles to newspapers and other publications, always mentioning my website. I regularly submit pizzatherapy.com to search engines and directories. I have found, http://selfpromotion.com/, to be an invaluable resource. I also use Adwords.
Q. Which method has proven to give you the best sales results?
Consistently, my own mailing list, Pizza News.
Q. Which method of traffic generation has proven to be the best for you?
Submitting to the Search engines. Certainly being mentioned in books, and articles, about pizza, has had a positive impact. Visitors have mentioned this to me.
Q. What is your biggest challenge each month?
Developing fresh content for my ezine, Pizza News
Q. What's the biggest mistake you've made since starting your business?
When I started out, to generate traffic and publicity, I advertised a free pizza and dough recipe, if you sent me a Self Stamped Addressed Envelope. After one year, not one person responded.
I then started charging $2.00 (now $3.00) to send the pizza and dough recipe. I have, since that time, sold hundreds of recipes World Wide.
This was the exact same recipe, I tried to give away. People saw no value in a free recipe, but once I started charging, orders poured in.
My other mistake was not turning my recipe into an electronic-book, much sooner. For years I only offered a hard copy of the recipe. Once I completed my e-book, sales took off dramatically. This has really changed my marketing strategy.
Q. How has your lifestyle changed since you started your online business?
Not at all.
Q. How has your SureFireWealth.com membership helped you with your online business?
I have found invaluable resources and information, here. SureFireWealth.com has helped me remain focused and on target with the incredible assets available. I can’t thank you enough, Jeremy. You have done a fantastic job of assisting niche market owners by giving them a boost up. You really have leveled the playing field so that niche marketers can compete with the same tools as “the big boys”.
Q. What would you say to someone looking to start a website in the same niche as you?
I would say research, read, learn and do more research. If you need any help, please, feel free to contact me at webmaster@pizzatherapy.com. I will help you in any way I can. Pizza on Earth...
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Thanks Albert!
Warm Regards,
Jeremy Gislason
Webmaster
SureFireWealth.com
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