A Not-for-profit Business

by Richard

Lake Powell Country and The Grand Circle is a Not-For-Profit website.

It wasn’t intended to be that way, but, unfortunately, that is the way it has turned out.

When I started this website in February of 2011, I thought it would be a great way to supplement my income:

I would place Google ads on my pages and would receive a few cents for every time someone clicked on the ad.

In addition, I would associate myself with various organizations, such as Sea Eagle, REI, Cabelas, ProBass and Amazon.com, that offered Affiliate programs, and I would make a commission on any sales originating from my site.

This is as it should be. I am a small business owner and my website is my place of business.

But, like any business, it is dependent upon visitors arriving at the business and making purchases; or, in my case, clicking on the Google ads or making a purchase from one of my affiliates.

My First Dilemma for 2013

In February of 2013, I was faced with a dilemma: renew my contract for another year with my Web Host, SBI, or forsake all the hard work which had gone into my website and go out of business.

What made the decision difficult was the fact that I was not getting a lot of visitors and consequently not getting many “clicks” and affiliate sales.

Help is on the Way

One of the great things about SBI is the Forums where other SBIers willingly and freely share their knowledge and offer help and website critiques to anyone who seeks it.

It has always been difficult for me to ask for help or for someone to critique me, but I swallowed my pride, went to the Forums and asked for a site evaluation.

Additionally, I paid for a one-on-one session with an SBI coach.

The results were reassuring: if I were to make a few changes there was still hope for my website.

I won’t keep you in suspense any longer. I decided to renew!

Social Media

One of the things that was suggested was that I make use of Social Media, such as Facebook and Tweeter.

Social Media has become a worldwide phenomenon.

It has replaced the old Bulletin Boards and Meeting Rooms as a means of getting a message out to friends, special interest groups and even internationally.

Sometimes I feel like Rip Van Winkle who awoke in the 21st Century after having been asleep for fifty years.

At the age of 76, soon to be 77, I find myself overwhelmed at what my grandchildren take for granted: iPhones, iPads, iMacs, Wi Fi, lap tops and Kindle.

Everything seems so foreign to me, and I am having a difficult time adjusting. I never would have dreamed that I would have a Facebook page.

However, both out of necessity and in trying to keep up with the times, I am finding myself opening accounts with some of these popular sites.

I have added an AddThis.com Sharing Bar on the left side of most of my pages; I have omitted it from such pages as Privacy Policy and Disclaimer for obvious reasons.

With this bar you can share any page you like with friends on Twitter, Facebook and Tweet or e-mail or print the page.

Also, at the bottom of each page is an 8-pack bar which lets you share with Facebook, My Space, Yahoo Buzz and others.

Amazing!

OK, I’ve done my part, now it’s up to you.

Thanks for sharing!!

Any comments would be appreciated