Name of your website?Treating- bipolar- and- anxiety- without-meds.com
Your name?
Sarah Raulerson
Your Location (city, etc)
Vancouver
Please give us a short summary of your website?
information about bipolar disorder symptoms,anxiety, several treatment options,and my personal experience living with both disorders,plus why and how I am managing without medications.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
I was diagnosed with bipolar and anxiety disorders about seven years ago. Medications for these disorders not only did NOT help my symptoms, but caused severe side effects that put me in the hospital more than once! I have created this website to educate and empower those who suffer from these disorders. Hopefully it will keep someone else from going through the things I did!
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
This is my first website.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
The name I chose fit the description of what my site is about.
What makes your website different from other, similar offerings?
Most of the other websites I have seen on this topic, are either written from the perspective of a medical professional rather than someone who actually has experience with bipolar and anxiety, or they are centered around some medication or product that claims to "cure" bipolar and anxiety. My website is more about educating others from the perspective of my personal experience, and sharing how I am now managing these disorders without any pills (neither prescribed nor holistic/herbal) or "special programs" or devices. Instead my website outlines and focuses on the techniques that I learned during therapy and my spiritual journey to manage my disorders. I have also included basic information about symptoms of both disorders.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
Right now I would just like to make it available to the public. I would like to keep it for future income as well
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
Success with this website for me would be to know that I have helped others avoid the horrible experience I had with medications and psychiatrists that prescribed them to me.
Eventually , I would like to make a living with this website , so that I can devote all of my time to it.
If that happens , my investment of time and money will seem very minimal.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
I would advertise my site on television during a talk show where I (or someone else) would talk to others who have overcome their mental disorders, christian counselors, and alternative doctors to provide help to people with mental disorders.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Since I am currently not selling any products, that would not be a problem. The only thing I could foresee selling of my own is maybe an E-book or two. So I don't think it ever will be a problem.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
The only extra costs that have come my way are for advertising. Other than that, my main problem has been getting good ranking with the search engines.
What has been your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge so far has been drudging up all the information I have from my memory to create this website! Also the information I have gotten for other sources has to be presented in an organized fashion and in my own words. For someone with bipolar and anxiety disorder, this can be quite difficult to do, and has proven to be a stressor even with the symptom management techniques that I employ daily.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
So far , word of mouth (mostly through social sites like MySpace) has been my best promotional ally.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
Creating and sharing a website is far more complicated than it would seem. There are hidden obstacles (such as getting your site seen) that can be difficult to overcome.
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?
I have had it up and running for about a month now. I would like to keep it running for the rest of my life.
Do you have plans to create another website in the future?
probably not for myself. But my daughter (10 years old) is an excellent writer, and someday I would like to put her stories and comic strips on the web. After my site has become a success of course. :)
What is your website address?
www.treating-bipolar-and-anxiety-without-meds.com
