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Success_Stories_ _12_Doers_Share_Their_Secrets_Interview_with_Milana_Nastetskaya
| Success Stories - 12 Doers Share Their Secrets: Interview with Milana Nastetskaya
This week we have another great interview - the third in the
series - with a lady who is taking the Internet by storm. Milana
Nastetskaya is the author of the highly regarded ebook "65
Instant Web Design Answers!".
Milana currently lives in Central Pennsylvania, quite close to
Harrisburg, but originally came from the Ukraine. She recently
changed her name to Lechinsky at her U.S. citizenship ceremony.
Although eligible for citizenship in 1997, a combination of
factors, including lost paperwork delayed the ceremony until
June 2001.
"By the time I had my ceremony (June 2001) I felt completely
"American" already. Watching Friday night sitcoms over a box of
pizza is not exactly a Russian thing!" She says.
BizE-zine: How did you first get involved with the Internet?
MN: In my "past life", in Ukraine, I was teaching music to
children and never thought I would do anything else. But after a
year of trying to choose my new path in America, I decided to
major in Computer Systems. What a huge change from music, I
thought! Computers leave no room for imagination whatsoever...
That is, until I discovered web design and was absolutely blown
away by the creative possibilities it offers.
Now, I am a professional web developer, a web coach, a workshop
leader, and an author of web design manuals for beginners.
BizE-zine: Tell us about your first experience of the Internet?
MN: In 1997 I took my first "Internet Development" class in
college and fell in love with it ever since. I remember my first
web page was a collection of bright yellow buttons linking to
other sites, but I was proud of it anyway :-)
BizE-zine: You are certainly building a good reputation for
yourself online at the moment - how did your current online
venture come to be?
MN: I came across the so popular "Make Your Site Sell!" by Ken
Evoy and spent the next 6 weeks reading it. By the time I was
done with it, I was filled with excitement and anticipation to
start my own online business. Not sure what to sell yet, I
decided to offer web site critiques on my HelpingFoot.com.
I remembered that Ken Evoy promised to send a free book to
anyone who sent him a useful comment, and I wrote a 1-page
feedback about "MYSS!", asking if he could send me his "Make
Your Price Sell!" but instead he sent another book.
It was a little disappointing at the time, so I filed it
somewhere on my hard drive and forgot about it. A few months
later, after not making too much progress with my site
critiques, I read somewhere that you can make money with writing
and selling e-books. A book was recommended to learn how to do
it. I was thrilled to recognize the title of the book - the one
that Ken Evoy sent me a while ago and I never bothered to read
it! It was called "Make Your Knowledge Sell!" and it inspired me
to create my "First Business Web Site in 10 days!"
BizE-zine: Do you still critique people's sites?
MN: Yes I do, but only now as a bonus to my "First Business Web
Site in 10 days!" customers. When they complete their web site
after following my manual, I look it over and give them my
feedback.
BizE-zine: I couldn't agree more about Ken Evoy's products. I
have both books you mentioned and think they are both in my 'top
5'. As an aside, if anyone would like a free trial copy of 'Make
Your Site Sell!2002', it can be downloaded at: http://www.BizE-
zine.com/files/Sitesell ryMYSS!2002.zip
BizE-zine: I know you are a very open person, but can you share
with us what % of your income now comes from the Internet?
MN: Oh, I never hide my income - perhaps it's because I was
raised in Ukraine, where people are free to ask how much you
make, how much your house cost and how much you paid for your
car :-)
When I started writing my first e-book, I was hoping for at
least some extra cash - $500 would be nice. But what happened
next has blown me away. Between February, 2001 and January 2002
I have made a little over $26,000, working only 4 hours a day.
BizE-zine: That is pretty impressive. How long did it take you
to start making a profit?
MN: I completed my "First Business Web Site in 10 days!" on
January 26, and received my first order on February 2nd, a week
later. I remember the customer's name, how much I received, and
how high I was jumping around the house with excitement. That
was an absolutely unforgettable moment.
BizE-zine: Have sales been steady over the year, or is your
business accelerating? Also, did September 11th have a
significant impact on you business?
MN: I became a little worried after the September tragedy
happened - I was absolutely positive that this is the end of my
business. But October ended up to be my best month ever!
Since this was my first holiday season since I started the
business, I was surprised (and scared!) to see just how slow the
sales were in December. But now that I know this, I will be more
prepared and able to plan ahead next holiday season
BizE-zine: Your book "65 Instant Web Design Answers!" is getting
a lot of attention. How did it come to be? What sparked the idea
off?
MN: Well, I had to create a 2nd product - one just wasn't
enough, I still had a lot of web design skills and ideas that I
haven't shared in the 1st book. The idea of easy-to-follow
tutorials on how to do specific things on your web site (like
password-protect it, or create a simple feedback form)
immediately felt like a winner.
With a 130-page manual behind me, the "65 Instant Web Design
Answers!" seemed less of a challenge now. I completed it within
weeks, and since I already had a payment system and a mailing
list in place, launching this 2nd product was a lot easier than
the first one.
BizE-zine: Have sales been good?
MN: Personally, I have sold over 300 copies since it came out in
July 2001, but since I sold reprint rights to this book (and I
am able to track the sales), I know it has been downloaded at
least 1,000 times.
BizE-zine: What kind of affiliate program have you put in place?
MN: Boy, I am going to get really embarrassed here, Martin. I
know affiliate programs work, ONLY if you work on them. I sort
of let mine grow on its own, with the help of the easy-to-use
set up from ClickBank. Anyone can join, and anyone can make as
much as they want referring customers to my web site, but I
haven't been working hard enough to attract new affiliates.
There is only so much you can do as a business owner, and the
affiliate program has not been my focus.
BizE-zine: Apart from Ken Evoy's books, have you bought any
other ebooks or courses on online marketing that you would
recommend?
MN: My next purchase was the "Amazing Formula" by Marlon
Sanders, and had a great blueprint for success in front of me.
While not revealing any shocking secrets, Marlon's book had
confirmed what I already learned from visiting Internet
marketing forums and gave me a clear marketing plan to follow.
What I discovered about buying Internet marketing products is
that no manual will give you a "magic bullet". They will all
teach you about the same things - how to bring traffic to your
site, capture your visitors e-mails and follow up with them
asking for the sale. The rest are details.
BizE-zine: Of all the information available free online, what do
you read the most?
MN: I used to read a lot of e-zines, but after reading about 10
from "cover to cover" for months, I found that most of them
contain similar information and advice.
What I do read is interesting forum posts and articles I receive
through the e-mail discussion groups. This not only helps me
learn about other people's experiences, but helps me make new
business contacts and joint ventures.
BizE-zine: How do you go about attracting traffic, and what has
been your most successful tactic?
MN: The number 1 traffic generator for me has been my free
e-book, "The Absolute Beginner's Guide To Starting a Web Site"
which I submitted to ZDNet. After it got listed on their web
site, I receive at least 150 visitors a day from people who read
that e-book.
Other traffic generators for me are writing articles on a
regular basis, search engines and my wonderful affiliates.
BizE-zine: You mentioned online forums. Which ones do you use
most?
MN: No doubt, it's the Anthony Blake's marketing forum.
http://www.ablake.net/forum/
I don't post there as much as I used to, but do read it weekly.
There are so many different people out there, with completely
different personalities and opinions! Before you post, hang out
there for a while to make sure your posts are appropriate. Never
get into a flame war; you will only hurt yourself and your
business.
BizE-zine: Up to now, what has been your biggest mistake in
business?
MN: Hmmm... that's a hard one. Probably spending too much time
on online forums and taking everyone's comments close to heart.
That took up a lot of my time and energy, and sometimes
discouraged me from going on.
Thanks to a few people who supported me through the tough times,
I am still in business :-)
BizE-zine: What software do you use most to help you run your
business, and which one would you most hate to be without?
MN: My best friend is the WorldMerge mailing list software that
allows me to import and personalize a list of subscribers, in
whichever format I have them in. There is a free version of this
software at ColoradoSoft.com.
BizE-zine: What are your business plans for the future?
MN: I always have plans! The trouble with entrepreneurs is that
sometimes we have too many ideas to implement. I think in the
past 12 months I have started at least 10-15 different ventures,
and only 4 of them were implemented and proved to be a success.
I have recently launched a new web site, MyCoachingWebSite.com,
created specifically for coaches, consultants, writers, speakers
and other professionals. There is a whole different set of
strategies a service provider should include in his or her
marketing strategy on the Internet, and that's what this web
site is about.
As I mentioned before, my number 1 traffic generator is my free
e-book. After starting my new web site, I absolutely had to
develop a free e-book :-) "How To Market Your Practice on the
Internet", can be successfully used by any professional who
provides services (download at http://www.MyCoachingWebSite.com)
I am also publishing my first booklet this month titled "59 Ways
To Grow Your Practice on the Internet". It will be available for
sale at My Coaching Web Site, as well.
BizE-zine: What advice would you give to someone who is just
planning to start out?
MN: Commit yourself entirely to succeeding. Don't ever think,
"What if I don't make any money?" Always think "I will do
everything possible, and work hard until I start making money".
I am incredibly afraid of personal selling over the phone. In
fact, I am not looking forward to calling companies and media
offering my new booklet at all!
But I also know that if I don't do it, my dream of becoming a
completely independent entrepreneur will not realize. So I will
just keep going until it does.
About the author:
Martin Avis is a management and training consultant. To get your
unfair advantage (and 6 free gifts) in Internet marketing,
business and personal success, subscribe free to his weekly
newsletter, BizE-zine. mailto:subscribe5@BizE-zine.com or visit
his information-packed website at http://www.BizE-zine.com
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