A website may be one of the first things you think about when building an online business.
I know that's where I started, because it's what people recommended to me when I had a draft of a book that I was interested in publishing and wanted to get the word out for others to know about it.
I had invested $2,000 in some online training and attended a weekend workshop for authors and other experts to learn how to build an online business, and then I went home to start building one.
And like everyone recommended at the time, I built a website with WordPress.
I discovered pretty quickly that a website by itself wasn't going to provide what I was looking to create for an author's online business.
Doctor’s Notes
What Are You Really Trying to Build?
It doesn't take too long for most authors to discover that it's hard to make a living selling books only, because the price point of a book is just too low.
Unless you're selling thousands of copies every month, it's difficult to generate enough revenue from book sales alone to create a sustainable business.
Most authors need to have something to sell at a higher price point to bring in more revenue, e.g., in-person or virtual weekend seminars, live or recorded online courses, coaching, etc. In fact, the training I took included a book written by the seminar leader.
Having an "information" website to tell people about your book, or your coaching, or your consulting, or any other subject you're an expert in just isn't enough to create an online business.
I discovered that instead of starting out designing the pages on a website, it's better to start with the experiences you want to create for the people you want to serve.
How will someone first discover you? What can they do if they're interested, but aren't ready to schedule a call? How will you stay connected and continue providing value? And how can that relationship naturally progress toward becoming a client?
Those questions will shift your thinking from building a website to designing a customer journey.
And that's a critical distinction, because to create those interactive and engaging experiences, you definitely need more than a website.
Online Profits Insight
Your Online Business Is More Than a Website
An online business needs to do much more than provide passive information about what you do and what you offer.
It needs to support a platform for delivering content, supporting online marketing, handling online sales, delivering purchased products and services, and providing ongoing community activities.
So what do you actually need to support all of that, without making your online business unnecessarily complicated?
That's what I explore in this week's Online Profits Insight.
→ Read and Watch: Your Online Business Is More Than a Website
Read the full Insight article here...
Kajabi Korner
One Platform Can Do More Than Build Your Website
One of the reasons I use and recommend Kajabi is that it was designed to support much more than a website.
Within one integrated platform, you can create a website with a video blog, a newsletter, landing pages, capture leads, manage contacts, send email, sell products and services, deliver courses and other digital content, and create an online community.
That doesn't mean Kajabi does everything you might ever need. It doesn't.
But it does do a lot to support an online business, and it does minimize the tools you need to learn and support for your business. And this saves you both time and money.
Sprint to Success!
Look Beyond Your Website
Take 15 minutes this week and look at your online business from the perspective of someone discovering you for the first time.
Start with your website and ask:
◆ What can someone do besides read about me and my services?
◆ Is there an easy way for someone to take a small first step without scheduling a call?
◆ If they raise their hand and say they're interested, what happens next?
◆ What products and services do you offer, and how do you deliver them?
◆ How do I stay connected and continue building the relationship?
You don't need to fix everything this week.
Just identify one place where you could create a more engaging next step in your customer journey.
Community Updates
Online Experts Roundtable
Once you start thinking beyond the website, the next question becomes: How does someone actually progress from discovering you to becoming a client? Join us on Friday at the
Online Experts Roundtable
September 4, 2026
1:00 pm Pacific
How Does Someone Become Your Client?
The Five Stages of Building Customer Relationships Online
We'll look at how you can develop online relationship with your audience, from someone who has never heard of you through the stages that can ultimately lead to becoming a client and, eventually, an advocate.
Join us Friday at 1:00 pm Pacific for the presentation, discussion, and Q&A. The first half hour will include the weekly topic presentation and initial takeaways, and the second half hour is the optional Q&A and discussion about any online business topics you're interested to get more information or input for things you're working on.
Thank you for being here.
I’m excited to continue building this community together.
To your online success!
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