Name of your website?Peaceful Living
Your name?
Alison Benedict
Your Location (city, etc)
Akwesasne
Please give us a short summary of your website?
My vision for the Peaceful Living website is to be a place of connection, growth and empowering people to make better choices. We are the planet and the planet is us. We are connected to all that is seen and unseen. Without recognizing this relationship, we cannot make better choices for ourselves, all of our relations or our planet. We can make a difference! Hopefully this webplace will be a catalyst to foster positive emotional, social and environmental change.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
Over the course of counselling people who have experienced trauma, I`ve found that people are their own worst enemies. They are quick to believe all the lies they were told as children or adults about their worth. They have no value for themselves. They believe they are worthless, some less than worthless. The Golden rule tells us to do unto others as we would have others do unto us. When people have no value for themselves, they have no value for others. My inspiration comes directly from the people I`ve worked with who have changed their beliefs and changed their lives. We need to believe in them and they will begin to believe in us. It`s a good circle. A healing circle. People need to see that there are places where we can foster peace. I`m hoping that my website will make a positive difference in an ocean of negativity.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
Initially, my business was called Peaceful Transcendence. I really liked the idea of moving beyond, transcending. It is an inspiring thought. Unfortunately, most people can`t spell transcendence and many people, sadly, don`t know what it means. So, I changed the business name to Peaceful Living and changed the url to myplace4peace.com.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
In order to simplify, I decided to go with Peaceful Living. It really sums up the goal of being connected not only to one another, but to all beings in Creation. Being Mohawk, there is an incredible responsibility to care for the planet. Our ceremonies and culture center on caring and on peace.
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
My belief in the inherent value of each and every person I meet. I see their strengths and truly believe in them. They are not a disorder or a label. They are the expert on their own lives and experiences. Reading this, I actually hope that it makes me similar to other offerings. Some people believe that counselling is filled with tears. I believe counselling is the joy and laughter that comes from letting go of old outdated beliefs and living a life of truth and presence.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
World peace, a healthy planet and much love. Then, my work will be done and I`ll play on the beach:)
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
When I was doing front line work, I was on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The pay was low and I had a difficult time making ends meet. If I work as passionately for myself as I have for others, I should be very successful. My goal really is to continue making a difference, not only, without sacrificing myself, but living life to the fullest.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
I would get the new website up and fully running. Right now, I`m using an adaptation of the original site. But, I have a whole new look coming soon. There will be lots of new sections and places to connect. Plus, I am in the process of getting some products developed and a kids section. This is such an exciting time in the process!
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
At the peak of my old site, I was getting about 10,000 hits a month. It was really great, but it wasn`t translating into business. My goal has been to really have something to sell. I think I just needed time to really clarify my vision. Now, if the site got really big, I`m prepared.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
Most costs have been expected. Actually, nothing really comes to mind when you ask that question. What has surprised me is how difficult it has been to get things done from finding a website designer+developer, graphic designer and recording studio. When you look on my site, you`ll see, some things are still coming soon.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Finding the right people to work with. But, I have to admit, it was totally worth the wait.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Links from other sites to mine. Plus, I have my url on my car window and pass out tons of business cards. I`ve paid for some advertising on the radio and on another website. The website didn`t really generate any more traffic than the free links.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
I thought I would learn faster than I have. It is more challenging than I originally thought.
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
It`s been up about a year. Once the newest rendition is launched, I plan on keeping it up indefinitely. If it doesn`t get enough traffic or generate enough income, I`ll have to examine what I`m doing wrong in terms of products and services and respond to the market. It`s important to be flexible.
Where can I go to find out more about you
You can visit my website. There is an ``about me`` section that provides details on my education and training.
To whomever reads this, for some reason the characters on my keyboard are working right just on this site. Is there some way of checking it for example: Ééé`` I don`t have a french keyboard.
What is your website address?
Peaceful Living
