Where I got the idea and how it just grew :)

How this all started is a long story, with a few gaps in between the years that passed. Basically I just thought of the concept when my eldest was 7 years old and a struggling reader. During those times I was always on the lookout for books that can help him. But well, we lived in the province in 1995 when there were no books or materials that can really help. And believe me, I think I bought all the pre-school books that were labeled "For 3-5 year-olds" and still it didn't work out. So to help my eldest in his learning, I think this is unusual of me - I wrote all the sight words and words with the same phonograms to fill one notebook just so he could practice reading and eventually read well!

That alone didn't work so I searched more from the teaching resources in the libraries and some bookstores. There were plenty of articles to choose from, but mostly I would get tips from the non-conventional teaching and Montessori methods. The write-ups from the parenting magazines were a great help too. I compiled all of those write-ups, most of which back up the studies of teaching experts that phonics is still the simplest method in learning to read and is best suited for children between the ages of 3-5.

I saw this on a parent's viewpoint and thought of the idea that if the method was simplified then it would be easier to learn reading.

This is the story of how I, with the help and advice of my teacher-friends, came up with the reading concept of this material.

A quick welcome :)

Want to know more about the material and how selling it online was developed? Please read my previous posts.

I willingly share all the things I experienced in online selling of this book /ebook. In here you will find all of the tips I'm sharing; the websites and ideas that helped; the other websites I have in selling (especially now that Geocities has closed); the feedback of satisfied parents, even the only one bad feedback that I received- though it wasn't true; the person who attempted selling this ebook without authorization- and at a much, much lesser price - and how I blocked the piracy; the odd times I went through but thankfully the cheques kept coming in the mail; I also would like relate how "too dedicated" I am in attending to my duties of delivering books and ebooks on time no matter what happens.

Hey, did you know that I stubbornly attended to my business up to the day I was having labor pains? (I was on the family way with my 5th in 2005) ... I now laugh at that, really, as I look back to those days! Read that story soon here. The story - and more- are just to show how I put the parents/clients first and in a way assure everyone that I'm a very honest person when it comes to my "small business".

I care a lot for the feedback I get from the people who purchase from me. Hours after I receive confirmation of their payment, I get down to facilitating their order (because that is how I am - client's satisfaction first).

And I'm happy that since I've started in 2001, I've maintained this small business and continue to receive purchases/orders through word-of-mouth and social networking; what's more, I also accept orders from parents outside the Philippines, that's how the internet has done wonders for me... so I hope you come back often and read more of what I would like to share.

Basically, this is my little way of encouraging anybody, that if an ordinary person such as myself can earn online... then so can YOU!

Cheers!

Where I first started with my website at Geocities

This was screenshot of the website at geocities. It used to be found at http://www.geocities.com/book_wagon/teach_reading

It's what I call my "bread and butter website" because it's one of my online selling websites where I sell so well and I take joy in it for it has helped my family since 2001.

I came a long, long way in selling. As I may have mentioned before in my previous posts, it had it's ups and downs because of my trial-and-error strategies.

Hardly believe that it's still doing well despite all the odds and to think that I just gradually developed it by just visiting other leading websites where I got more ideas. Who would believe that back then I didn't have my own computer and merely worked on this thru my frequent visits to the internet cafe in town? Yes, I spent hours and hours online, thinking how I can improve the website - and my online selling skills (which,honestly, I'm not really good at.) But thank God, the time I spent paid off.

I thought of putting up this website on Geocities (because it's also free!) so I can accept orders easily and at the same time give instant information to the interested parents/ teachers. That way they won't need to text or email just to inquire more about it, unless truly necessary, because it's all there.

Also, since I'm offline most times, I added an automatic order form which they can fill out in a jiffy. I got it from Createforms. This, too, is free. Purchasing customers can fill in their Name, Address, Email Address, Preferred payment method and book format. Two order forms are necessary to fill out and complete the purchase:

ORDERFORM1 and ORDERFORM2

This way, no request or inquiry is missed and every customer is attended to.

How I began selling online, the "a-ha!" moment

I was still so new in the business of publishing and in dealing with book traders. Admittedly, I felt I was stuck in a rut as my dealings with store owners were dismal. Either someone would ask for a 40% from my sales or someone would take longer to collect receivables from. The private schools were good to me though and they helped me a whole lot better in promoting the product. But, sad to say, I was near my giving up point. Before all else would fail, my knowledge of the internet revived me. Simply browsing websites, checking emails and posting my personal thoughts on forums gave me the idea that I can possibly earn here. Here's how the a-ha! moment came up...



I've been an active member of alumni.net and a regular visitor at that. On one of the alumni webpages I spotted the bulletin board where former schoolmates get updated with alumni news.

I also posted a "find a classmate" bulletin when I realized I can try posting an advert since it was also allowed. I posted about 5 bulletins on each school I came from. Days later I was surprised when a few parents replied to my ad and emailed me to order. It brought good results, and it was fairly easy doing so. Most especially, I no longer needed to pay for expensive ads at the local daily!

Yes, I agree, it just brings a few customers to purchase but the results are far better than with advertising on the newspapers. The most advantage I get is that it's free and I can post on as many sites or forums as much as I'd like!

It was a lot of help from posting ads at alumni.net, then later on other satisfied parents posted ads for me too on other forums and email groups. Since then this book gained sales thru free advertising.

know more on my next post...

Looking back... the letter adverts I used to mail and hand out