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Make cheap international calls right here, right now without the need for any pre-payment, registration or credit card. Dial from your home, work or mobile phone. Rates starts from as low as 1.5p/min. |
| Site Owner: | Benny Ong | | Contact Email: | bennyong@tele88.co.uk | | Website Home Page: | http://www.tele88.co.uk | | Location: | United Kingdom | | Month/Year Website Launched: | February, 2003 | | Initial Start Up Costs: | $$ 100 | | Time Invested Before Launch: | 48 Hours | | Programming and Technical Work Done By Owner or Hired Out: | Done personally. Money only spent on hosting at hostonfire.com. Website completely in PHP. | | Time Invested Each Week Running Website: | 2 Hours | | Niche Market Target: | International Calling Community in the UK | | Products And Services Offered: | Cheap international calls directly by dialing access numbers. No pre-payment or any credit card needed. Dial direct from almost any phone within the UK. Other complementing services includes mobile content downloads and soon to be launched mobile store. | | Average Number of Monthly Visitors: | 500-1000 |
Interview By: Jeremy Gislason
Interview Date: 27-Dec-05
Q. Please tell us a little about your background.
I graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Computer-Aided Engineering and hold a Diploma in Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering. I am currently studying for my MCSE and CCNA.
Q. What made you decide to start a website in the field?
When I was in school, I use to envy the cool gang from the Computer Club which won international recognition for a virtual classroom project. Fortunately, I was a close friend to one of the members who taught me the basics of HTML which I soon took to another level by self learning.
Q. What kind of research went into this niche area before building your website?
I was studying in the UK and decided that I need an extra income and saw lots of companies offer cheap international call solutions which are actually ripping off customers. Since UK is full of international students, I decided to start my own which really provides low cost rates.
Q. How did you design and build your website?
I designed it all by myself as I do have experienced designing. I was lucky to have a bit of a talent in designing.
Q. What software do you use to run your business?
I do not use any particular program. For the website, I would use FTP programs and scripts to run it.
Q. How does your website generate income?
It generates income when customers used the services by dialing the access numbers.
Q. How do you collect payments for your products or services?
I need to wait for a gap of two to three months before reciving my rebates from BT.
Q. What promotion methods do you use?
I used classic flyers, Google Adwords, Link and banner exchanges.
Q. Which method has proven to give you the best sales results?
Word of mouth
Q. Which method of traffic generation has proven to be the best for you?
Google Adwords and text link exchanges.
Q. What is your biggest challenge each month?
Trying to meet my own target in terms of how much the website makes.
Q. What's the biggest mistake you've made since starting your business?
Picking the wrong person to do the things for you. I have appointed a person to distribute the flyers for the website as I believe he is trustworthy as I have known him for years. Things did not work out.
Q. How has your lifestyle changed since you started your online business?
I have more free time and the extra cash to afford the little luxuries in life. I tend to go on holidays more often.
Q. How has your SureFireWealth.com membership helped you with your online business?
There were certain products which did give a better knowledge of the latest developments on the web.
Q. What would you say to someone looking to start a website in the same niche as you?
Good luck and contact me if you need any advice. However, you must have the passion and the drive for it. I am managing this business because I enjoy doing it. Try to run a website related to your interests. If you just think about the money, you will get nowhere.
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Thanks Benny!
Warm Regards,
Jeremy Gislason
Webmaster
SureFireWealth.com
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