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My Review of SBI! from SiteSell & How it Changed My Life

Jill at the Golden Gate Bridge

by Jill Loeffler  •

My name is Jill and I've been an avid user of SBI! from SiteSell since 2009. So many of my friends and family have asked me about my online business and how I've been able to become successful, so I thought it would be easier to write a full review of how I got here and how SBI! (Site Build It, now called Solo Build It) offered me the tools to get there.

In the Beginning

A picture of me and what I wanted to do when I grew up! This is from 8th grade!!

In 2008, I was working in a high paying corporate job. I loved the pay and my coworkers. However, I wanted to live out my dream of traveling full time and having more independence.

This is something I've wanted to do my entire life--way before 2008. In fact, as you will see from the picture to the right, I've always wanted to travel and meet new people.

Yes, yes...this picture is of me in the 80s. Can you tell from my hair? It was taken when I was in 8th grade.

I was interviewed by our school newspaper. They wanted to know what we wanted to do when we grew up. This was what I said.

Finding SBI! from SiteSell

Late 2008 was when I started to search for real opportunities to make money online. It took some time as most "make money online" systems are not real. You might earn a few dollars here and there, but most of these sites make money from YOU buying their "make money online systems." In other words, if you buy their system, but can't sell it to your friend and family, you won't make money. Few of these sites teach you how to make money online in any other way but to sell you their "unproven" systems.

In early 2009, I was continuing my research and stumbled upon a company called SiteSell and their product called SBI!. I was excited, but guarded when I first heard of them. I wanted to make sure it was a product that would help me build a real online business.

I spent a couple of months reviewing their system and the successful sites built by their customers (you can see some of them here...including my successful site). I found rave reviews and some others that called SBI! from SiteSell a scam. Coming from a corporate job, I knew that information is worth its weight in gold and I wanted to know everything about this company before I purchased anything.

The rave reviews gave me a great look at what it would take to really build a successful online business (either with or without SBI!). I also realized that many of the reviews claiming that SBI! was a scam were mostly people that had not actually used the system. They seemed canned and robotic, which make me think they were probably not reliable or honest.

In February 2009, I decided to take the plunge and signed up with SBI!.

Here are just a few of the reasons why I selected SBI! from SiteSell vs the other products on the market.

  • SBI! Action Guide: SBI! had done all of the research needed for me to build a successful site. Their Action Guide offered me a step-by-step process to build a site. After a lot of research, they were the only ones that I could find that would help me set up a site as a profitable business.
  • Support from Other SBIers: I was also very impressed with the level of support other SBIers gave each other. I knew from the beginning that I would get my questions answered and the support I needed in order to build a real business.
  • All in One System: The final piece that really sold me on SBI! is that everything I needed to build a business was included. I wouldn't need to worry about finding and adding widgets or other pieces once I got started. I didn't need to register my site in one place and then add on hosting from another. I knew exactly what was included and how much it would cost up front. There were no hidden fees and everything was in one place. This meant I could focus on the business and let SBI! from SiteSell take care of all of the technical stuff behind the scenes for me.

My First Site

When I first started, I was SO excited to register my site and get rolling that I just jumped right in. I thought I already knew so much about building a site and making it successful that I didn't follow the Action Guide as much as I should have.

This was a mistake and one of the reasons I could not get my first site to do as well as I had expected. Everything I needed was there for me, but I didn't follow the process. This was my fault and a common reason why other people have failed with SBI!.

My Second & Successful Site

I quickly learned that I had gone down the wrong path with my first site. After reviewing SBI's Action Guide for a few weeks, I knew I needed to take my time. I decided I didn't know enough about my first topic (and it was WAY too broad), so I selected a new topic and started to move forward with this new site, slowly, as I followed the process laid out in the Action Guide.

I'm so glad I did.

What was that site? The one you are on right now.

Working on My Site Full Time

Over the next two years, I slowly worked through the process. I was still working full time and couldn't give my new online business more than just a couple of hours each week. Also during this time, I had some health issues and ended up spending even less time on my new site for about a year.

My site was moving slowly, but I had learned SO much about what it would take to build an online business. In the spring of 2011, I decided to take the plunge and work on my business full time. But...before I did that, I decided to spend 8 months traveling the world and getting my head around what I wanted to do with my business and how to make it successful.

At the end of 2011, I returned home and began to build my online business. Instead of making the same mistake I made before, I decided to spend a little more time on the Action Guide. I wanted to make sure to refresh myself on the system so I could move forward on the right path.

My Success with SBI! from SiteSell

I've dedicated my time to working on my site full time since late 2011. Okay, maybe "dedicated" isn't the right word, as I've had the freedom to travel during this time also. I've visited many countries over the last few years. I also don't have to run through them in a week or two. I get to spend my time in each one to really get to know the culture, the people, and the history.

While I travel, I work on my site. Today, my site makes me a full-time income. I work hard on my site and that hard work pays off. At the same time, I get to spend time traveling and plenty of time with my friends and family.

In fact, this is just one of the photos from my visit to Greece. This is me working away on the ferry as we head from Athens to Mykonos.

Working in Greece

My San Francisco site is one of the most visited sites in the world. It's currently ranked in the top 300K of the total 170M (yes million) active sites in the world and continues to grow each day. Remember, many of these sites have been around for 10, 15 or even 20 years with a full-time staff.

I've only been doing this since 2011. And I don't have a team working for me since I am my ONLY employee. I'm also my only boss which is very important to me.

How Has SBI! from SiteSell Helped Me Succeed?

In the short time since I've had my site, I've learned so much, started to make a living full time online, and have the freedom to travel where I want, when I want. SBI! from SiteSell is part of the reason my site is successful today.

How have they helped me succeed? Here are just a few reasons I love working with SBI! from SiteSell.

  • They helped me build a business mind-set. Even though I came from the corporate world, I still didn't have a strong business mind-set when it came to online businesses. Their Action Guide gave me, what I call, an "MBA in Online Business Building." They taught me how to build traffic, how to increase traffic, how to investigate what was the best moves for my business, how to find ways to make money online, and how to please and help get repeat views (and sales!) from my visitors.
  • They have a very supportive staff and owner. One of my concerns with building an online business is that I would be alone and wouldn't know where to go for support. SBI! from SiteSell has done an amazing job being there for me when I need help. Their support staff responds quickly and does everything they can to fix an issue. Ken, the owner, is also available to help. He's always on the forums, answering questions, giving us inside information on SBI!, telling us how to handle changes in the online market (search engine changes, etc.). I know it sounds cliché, but I truly feel like I'm really a part of a family and not just working with a hosting company.
  • I am able to meet and interact with other successful site owners (all SBIers also). This is another really cool part of SBI! from SiteSell. They have a VERY active forum community. I'm not a "techie", so if I have questions that need to be answered, I can jump on the forums and ask other SBIers to help me out. Within minutes, I usually get an answer to my question so I can continue to move forward. I'm also able to now help others that have questions. I've met dozens of people through the forums (and, now, a few in person too during my travels). Sometimes it can get lonely building an online business and/or find others that understand what you are going through. So, it's nice to be able to reach out to others either through the forums or email to discuss new ideas, problems, etc. Again, it's another reason I look at SBI! from SiteSell as being part of a family. If it is a technical problem, I can get immediate support from SBI's team when I need it.
  • They keep their eye on the trends and report to us as soon as possible. It can take a lot of work and time to stay up-to-date with the latest changes in the online industry. Search engines make changes more often than you can imagine. New social media companies open up, and close down, almost every day. Online trends change. I don't have to keep up with these (and my business) on my own. SBI! from SiteSell and the community keep up on these things for me. They also help me understand what is just noise and what is important. This allows me to stay focused on my business and not worry too much that I might be missing something big.
  • They manage the technical side. This is a big one for me. I never have to worry about my site being up or crashing. I never have to find an engineer to help me fix any technical issues. They do this all behind the scenes. In the time I've had my site, I can only remember my site being down twice. This is from 2009 until now. Both times, the company was attacked and they took our sites down to protect us. In both cases, my site was down for only an hour or two. Being that this is a travel site, with a worldwide reach, you can see why it is so important to have SiteSell keeping me, and my site, safe from any attack. And they do.

Would I Recommend SBI! from SiteSell to Others?

I would absolutely recommend SBI! to anyone looking to build a SERIOUS online business. It takes time, hard work, and dedication, and SBI! will take you down the right path to success. They will give you the tools and support you need to build a business where you can make a good living online or add to your current income.

Here are a few fun case studies about others that have also succeeded with SBI! and SiteSell.

Will Everyone Succeed with SBI!?

No. Not everyone will succeed with SBI!. They are not a get rich quick system and this is what many people are seeking. You need to be dedicated, know your topic well, and keep your visitors engaged to be successful. Ask yourself this: Have you been successful in everything you've tried? I sure haven't and I'm guessing you haven't either. However, I'll bet the things that you have been successful at in have certain qualities: You've found good teachers, you've purchased quality material and you didn't give up easily.

The Internet is a competitive place. You need to find a niche that allows you to make money and allows you to win it by being specific and finding your specialty. You need to "dig deep into your topic. Most likely, you won't win a niche with just a handful of pages. You need to really work hard and fight to win each niche.

I always say that building a site is both an art and a science. SBI! from SiteSell provides the science. You then need to layer on your art and creativity (i.e., new spin on a niche, deep understanding of a topic, writing that draws in your audience, etc.) for it to succeed. I'd love to tell you that you can take the easy road and just have it all fall into your lap, but I can't. You will have to read the Action Guide, do your research and work to win your niche. I am proof positive that if you do what I've done, you will succeed.

What Others Say About SBI! from SiteSell

It makes me sad and frustrated when I see negative reviews of SBI! from SiteSell. 

It's been such a life changer for me and I would love for others to have successful online businesses as well. I want you to have the freedom I have. I want you to achieve your dreams. Yes, I work hard, but that pays off and I no longer need to worry about how many days I have off this year or how I'll swing spending time with family and friends on special occasions.

Doesn't that sound like a good balance between work and home life? It sure works for me and I wouldn't give it up for anything.

I truly respect that SBI! from SiteSell is also very open about their most successful sites. They have nothing to hide since they want you to see what is possible, and what is not possible, before you put your money and time into building your online business. You can find more details about successful business people using SBI! from SiteSell on their blog here. Take a look at these case studies and see what you think. These people didn't become successful overnight, but studied the Action Guide and have been able to apply their knowledge and creativity to build their now successful sites.

Here are a few more resources to learn even more about SBI! (Site Build It, now called Solo Build It) from SiteSell.

Questions?

I get questions from my friends and family every day about my life and how I'm able to have the freedoms I have. I love talking about my online business and my success. If you have a question about my business, about SBI! from SiteSell, or anything about my story, please feel free to reach out to me and/or leave a comment below through Facebook commenting.

Conclusion

I could go on and on about how SBI! from SiteSell has helped me create the life I've always wanted. If you are feeling stuck, want to make a change, or just want some extra income (who doesn't?), I highly recommend looking into them. 

If you are like me, you will be glad (no...wait...THRILLED) that you did!

Comments? Questions? Suggestions?

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It's a great place to interact with me and others who know the area well.

You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!

Come join the fun here!

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