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lifetips.com - FAQ |
On August 8, 2001, Byron White, our President, answered the following questions. Send questions or feedback to [email protected].
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What is Lifetips?
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We are a community of guru managed web sites that offer topic specific tips, links recommendations, weekly newsletters, reviews for books, products and magazines, chat, answers to questions and more. Our gurus create and approve all of the content on their sites, and earn 30% commission for their effort and community support. All services are free to Gurus and Users.
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How many gurus are involved in Lifetips right now?
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In the past year alone, over 10,000 writers have applied for Gurus status on our sites, and only a few hundred have been approved and screened for site launch in our network. Over 150 sites are active in our network at this time. And we recruit approve new gurus daily.
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What is the text link promotion opportunity?
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Each of our Gurus sites features a special Sponsor Text Links area for your targeted promotions. You�ll select appropriate sites and we�ll rotate your placement with the other sponsors. Only six sponsors per site, first-come, first served.
View Sample Text Link
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What is the newsletter opportunity?
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Each of our Gurus creates a weekly Opt-In TipZine newsletter that features one hot tip of the week. We�ll run your text promotions (HTML coming soon) to opt-in targeted members. Only two advertisers on each newsletter, top placement, first-come, first-served.
View Sample Newsletter Promotion
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What is the banner advertising opportunity?
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On every Guru site, we run only five 88 x 31 banners above the fold, and one 468 x 60 banner ad. All six sponsors rotate the larger banner spot and the position of their smaller banners. It�s first-come, first-served.
View Sample Banner Promotion
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How do you generate revenue?
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Revenue is generated by advertising fees, content licensing fees and commission fees generated on books, magazines and products recommended by our gurus.
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What are your growth plans, and how are you doing?
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In August of 2000, we re-launched our site, with significant improvements learned by studying user habits and listening to Guru needs. We recently revised our site and channel list, in addition to our technology infrastructure, which will enable us to launch 500+ new sites in the next 6 months. We are on track for slow, consistent growth with revenue, content development and technical infrastructure. And most importantly, our strong community spirit will enable us to continue our growth.
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What do your gurus actually do?
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Our gurus create and maintain content for their sites. Content includes writing tips, articles, site recommendations, book reviews, product reviews and more. Their mission is to create great content that educates and improves the lives of their readers, users, members and opt-in subscribers. Gurus also support their community, answer member questions, host chats, support message boards, teach free on-line classes and much more. Finally, and best of all, our gurus learn from each other (and from special training classes) wisdom and skill necessary to become on-line entrepreneurs.
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What do your gurus get from Lifetips?
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Gurus receive their own web site, powered by our real-time content development technology that enables them to publish and edit content in minutes, without any knowledge of HTML. Lifetips enables Gurus to promote their knowledge, talent, skill, proficiency and even their personal sites to the world. The Lifetips staff helps promote each Gurus site, managing search engine submissions and optimization. And we offer free on-line payments services, hosting services, technical infrastructure, advertising management services, and much more. Finally, we offer a growing stream of user and member traffic that feeds gurus sites.
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Why are you going to be around in a year from now?
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Our determination and guru community is the answer.
The climate has changed considerably in the last few months, and the pure ad model seems unlikely to support large corporate infrastructures that demand significant profit for survival.
Our model is different. We have quickly diversified into content licensing and other areas that are exciting. And our interest and mission is pure, not motivated by money alone. I have personally funded and fueled this interest, and now worked with a great team that helps build this new model of business ethics.
We employ a very learn staff of full time employees. And, we've empowered over 25 volunteer Guru managers that help manage Lifetips. Our network essentially supports itself. Gurus support each other's needs. And our users needs always come first. Problems are solved effectively and efficiently.
The spirit of our users, members, subscribers and Gurus has proven strong enough to endure all early stage growth pains. And as we move into a new chapter with the launch of our new site this month, I believe our chances for long term steady growth, financial reward for our effort, and overall success in the long term are fantastic.
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What do our services cost your gurus, or users?
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Zero. All of our services to members and users are free. In fact, we actually pay our gurus 30% of all revenue generated on their site, across the board.
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How do you control the quality of your content?
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It has taken us almost two years to learn how to monitor and improve the quality of content on our Gurus sites. Our first secret is to offer gurus feedback and quality ranking of tips and articles by users directly. Gurus revise content accordingly. Our second secret is to offer internal ranking of all tips and articles by Channel Leaders or Topic Specific Content Managers. CL's, we call them, mark tips red, yellow or green, and Gurus revise accordingly with this friendly feedback, which is welcome. Finally, we hire only the best content developers and professionals in the marketplace. This takes time and patience.
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How much money do your Gurus make?
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Gurus income is determined by many factors, including the quality of content, popularity of topic, support time devoted to the community, promotional savvy of the Guru and the market interest. Our model is at the infant stage of development. Our gurus are not motivated by monitory reasons alone. Instead, they believe that our vision of sharing concise, easy to read knowledge in our unique business model could some day impact the world, and generate lots of revenue.
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Is there an application fee to become a Guru?
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No. There is no fee. We welcome all applications. And qualified applicants that meet our standards will get a free 26-page web site and link in the Guru friends section of our sites, even if one of our sites is not available.
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Do your Gurus work remotely?
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Yes, our gurus all work remotely. And a few have opportunities to visit with us when they are in the Boston area.
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Do your Gurus work Part Time or Full Time?
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All of our Gurus are independent contractors of Lifetips. Gurus determine themselves how much time to put into their sites and community. Lifetips asks all gurus to support the needs of their community, which can vary depending on the popularity of their topic area.
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Who are your gurus?
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Our gurus are all Internet entrepreneurs, experienced professionals within their industry, and savvy on the web. And a majority of them are professional writers that have experience servicing online users and communities. We recently launched a new Guru Bio feature for each guru that creatively highlights their interests, work experience, credentials, awards, professional recognition, interest, tricks of the on-line publishing trade and more. A majority of the gurus are professional writers, publishers, reporters, scientists, licensed specialists or other professionals.
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Do you view Lifetips as a content publisher?
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No. Our gurus are content publishers. We are technical and web enablers of their talent and proficiency. And we are marketers of their savvy.
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What is your mission?
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Our mission is to offer free Living Improvements for everyone, and to improve the quality of people lives.
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More Questions and Comments?
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For questions or comments, send an e-mail to [email protected] and we will direct your question to the appropriate contact person or department.
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Contact Us?
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Hail, snail or chat, we're happy to hear from you!
E-mail:
Advertising information: [email protected]
Guru Information: [email protected]
Technical Problems: [email protected]
Comments and Questions: [email protected]
Press information: [email protected]
Investor information: [email protected]
Snail mail:
Lifetips.com, Inc.
2 Tree Farm Road
Newbury, MA 01922
Phone Chat:
978-465-9800
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