Common sense says that it's a shockingly bad idea to have a free forum where people give away readings and information on a site where I'm trying to sell these things. Meng says things that are subtler than that, but also suggests it does me no good.

So the Dispersing (now of my readings journal) continues -

Question I asked Yi last month:

'What effect does this great free forum have on my business?'

Yi says 14.1.2.3.5 leading to 12.

This suggests to me that whatever good sense may say, this community has the potential to do wonders for Clarity. Also that it isn't doing so right now, because of 12-ish things (like my not being here enough - something I'm working on!).

Line 1

‘No intercourse with what is harmful,
In no way at fault,
Hardship is thus not a mistake.’

Line 2

‘A great chariot to carry loads.
With a direction to go, no mistake.’

Line 3

‘A prince makes a summer offering to the Son of Heaven.
Small people are in no way capable of this.’

Line 5

‘Your truth now communicates, now strikes awe.
Good fortune.'

I'm pretty sure line 5 is in the future. Also that although I asked for a description - what's going on, how is this working? - in fact I'm also getting some advice on what could be possible if... Ie not just what's happening, but what 'pivot points' there are for change.

I could use some outside perspectives on this - especially line 1. Thoughts?

Instead of the line-by-line approach, I actually see an inner-outer trigram interpretation. The inner trigram strikes me as rather descriptive of the participants of the forum, while the outer trigram seems to be describing its owner. But generally, I agree what Bruce/Meng says: the forum is obviously a resource (14) but it simply stagnates your business (12).

I'll come out and say I was one of those who benefitted from reading the forum enough that I was interested to get a subtler and more in-depth reading from Hilary. But how often does this happen?

As an occasional forum reader, I enjoy the more "academic" side of the discussion very much (e.g., Rosada's hexgram series) and would hate to see it go. But I also recall a discussion with a cousin of mine about free readings, she says, people simply don't value something as much if there's no dollar value attached to it.

Good luck.

Wilhelm translates 14.1 thus:
"No relationship with what is harmful; there is no blame in this."
I'm seeing this as a confirmation of Meng's observations, that the bickering that so frequently erupts here is very off putting especially to newcomers and no one should be expected to have to put up with rudeness and humiliation in order to be accepted as worthy of having an opinion.
"If one remains conscious of the difficulty,
One remains free of blame."
Perhaps this current money crunch is a head's up from the Universe reminding us this is not a private club that allows hazing of new members (or old ones!) The original intention behind onlineclarity was to promote the understanding of the I Ching. If our behavior here is not serving that purpose we lose the connection to Source.

Interesting the fan yao of this line:
50.1.
A ting with legs upturned. Furthers removal of stagnating stuff.
One takes a concubine for the sake of her son. No blame.
"Every person of good good will can in some way or other succeed," Wilhelm.

14.2
A big wagon for loading.
One may undertake something.
No blame.

I see the group energy as creating the Big Wagon.
If we can come together to support this site both spiritually, as in showing kindness to all posters, and money-wise as in donations to cover the cost, then having The Forum will not detract from Hilary's ability to make an income.

14.3
A prince offers it to the son of Heaven.
A petty man cannot do this.

Certainly this sounds like Hilary offering this site to us all. I wonder if this line is also encouraging her to continue to ask the I Ching for us all for guidance as to how we can all participate to keep the site viable.

14.5
He whose truth is accessible, yet dignified,
Has good fortune.

"Accessible, yet dignified"
Again the hint a bit of dignity here on the Forum wouldn't hurt.

Changing to Stagnation, so yeah, I think the I Ching confirms that Bruce is on to something.
However, I don't see this reading as saying the Forum should be eliminated. Indeed, 14.2 and 14.3 suggest the Forum idea is right in keeping with the spirit of IC. But the days of the free wheeling days of shoot'em up and shut'em up are fast coming to a close. We have been taking this gift for granted. Perhaps as we recognize we could lose it we will be inspired to take better care of it.

In addition to what’s been said, I think the reading shows a magnanimous effort to embody not only what you have to offer, but to what your forum and those who participate on your forum have to offer.

About line 3, In a sense, you give/offer the forum “to the gods” or to fate, to rule, as well as to those who later eat what the gods have left – typical of ceremonial feasts. So in an abstract sense, the forum serves gods and men.

Line 5 All good… however, does this serve to ‘let your own truth communicate or to strike awe’; and so is there the promise of good fortune?

What it is you are really selling, Hilary, is yourself, your knowledge, skills and personality. Based on 12, the forum – and quite possibly much of the free information you offer through your site – does not appear to further your business interests, no matter how genuine and rich your intentions for it may be.

Philippa, thank you for 'coming out'. Could you say more about reading this one with the trigrams?

Rosada, that makes sense. It's a great possession if and only if there's 'no mingling with what is harmful,' and some of the personal stuff that periodically flares up would certainly qualify. (Though I was under the impression that things had been good for some time... please for goodness' sakes pm me any time I'm missing something.)

This is where I need to take a long, hard look at line 3. A prince can make a summer offering to the son of heaven; a small person really can't do anything so spectacular, because she just doesn't have the resources. It's one of those line 3 decision moments. How big an offering is required from me to un-12 things, and (how) can I afford it?

I'm seeing this as a confirmation of Ming's observations, that the bickering that so frequently erupts here is very off putting especially to newcomers and no one should be expected to have to put up with rudeness and humiliation in order to be accepted as worthy of having an opinion.

Click to expand...

Well, this is a forum, not a temple. People that come here often (and I don't really classify myself as a 'typical' regular, some say I only come out when there is blood, lol) have their days, their moods, they are humans. And very few of them has never had an 'off' day, so to speak. Sometimes they talk 'business', sometimes they share, sometimes they just talk or other times they just want to have a laugh. But these are the same people that come out and keep the wheels rolling with their interpretations and their advice. So, how do you fix that? More moderation, perhaps?

I think more moderation defeats the purpose of the I Ching which encourages taking responsibility for one's self. Also, as you say lightangel, this is not a temple. By taking in some of the harsh comments I've had thrown at me and by allowing my own perspective to grow and to realize they were only harsh because of my response to them I've been able to become a more conscious person. So we can say this has all been part of the consciousness expanding process. However, the end result does seem to be that harsh comments, or just crazy posts, do deter participation and seemingly reduced revenue. I think if Hilary had a donation button here on the site she would not only get support from us, but also such a button would cause us to become more conscious that we are co-creating this site and perhaps pause a moment before we unload on a bad hair day.

Here's an idea: Hilary, if you install a "donate to this site" button, I will send a free handmade "I Ching on a String" * to the first ten people to donate $20 or more to the cause.

Rosada

*My son's name for the I Ching necklaces.

Hilary,

Does this forum boost your credibility as a wise and caring I Ching consultant? Yes! Does it take away from your business? Only if you let it, by not using a consistent strategy to convert your fame into fortune!

14 "The weak fifth line occupies the place of honor and all the strong lines are in accord with it. All things come to the man who is modest and kind in a high position." That's your modesty and kindness! The forum has many people with strong opinions, who honor your wisdom and gentleness!
14.1 You are not doing anything wrong. If you are cautious, you'll continue to do the right thing.
14.2 "Unloading the wagon" of the Yi's wisdom is a task so big it can be shared. You can charge for your own service to unload the heavy packages, while you and others offer free help with lighter questions.
14.3 "A magnanimous, liberal-minded man should not regard what he possesses as his exclusive personal property, but should place it at the disposal of the ruler or of the people at large." The wisdom of the Yi is a gift to humanity. Your own talent at interpretation is a gift from the universe to you, to be shared. Sometimes, your skill should shared in depth for a fee, sometimes, shared a little for free.
14.5 "People are being won not by coercion but by unaffected sincerity, so that they are attached to us in sincerity and truth."
The forum is a way to attract people sincerely interested in the Yi. That already happens. I believe this line is about your present, not the future.
"However, benevolence alone is not sufficient at the time of POSSESSION IN GREAT MEASURE." You need to convert some of the free forum users to paying clients. This second half of the line is the part this about your future. It is a warning about the risk inherent in the situation. The advice in this line is not to stop the benevolence, but to add profitable activity.

If you don't heed the warning, you will get 12: Stagnation of your consulting business.

And that would not be because of the forum, but because you didn't clearly invite forum users to become your clients. As my own field includes marketing consulting, here are some examples of some easy changes you can do right away, if you like, or that you could adapt to better suit your own message.

The "shared readings" forum headline should say, "Shared Readings: This is a community forum for sharing I Ching readings and asking for help with interpretation. These free readings are provided for community members to help each other learn more about the I Ching and to build friendships. Hilary sometimes participates as well. For an expert, wise, and caring I Ching reading 100% focused on your question for a full hour, click here to learn about Hilary's reading service."

At the top of EVERY page in the forum and the top of EVERY thread should be this message: "The I Ching forums are a free service of Online Clarity as a gift to seekers of wisdom. All discussions here are on a self-help basis and reflect the opinions of the individual forum members, not necessarily Hilary or the Clarity service. For your own personal, custom reading, click here to learn about how your host can provide a custom consultation."

In EVERY post you make to the forum, you should discard the cryptic signature "Toes" and add: "This forum post is a free service from Hilary to the forum community. To learn about my custom personal readings, click here."

EVERY time you go more than two or three responses deep into advising the same person, you should consider saying something like this: "It looks like you might have a need for some deeper advice here. I'd be happy to have you as a client for my reading service. If you prefer more free advice, I'll need at this time to leave that to anyone from the community who'd like to comment further."

If you do continue in depth with a conversation in the free forum, it is a favor. At any time, you can say, "I've enjoyed trying to provide some free nuggets that could help. I need to not let my time in the forum take away from the reading service, which lets me keep the server running. I'll need to step out of this thread for now. You're welcome to click here to learn how to schedule a paid reading with me. Meanwhile, there might be other forum members who have some other free ideas for you."

EVERY time someone asks about the basics of moving lines and could the I Ching help them, you should cut and paste a standard answer: "Thanks for joining the forum. As your host, I'd like to point out that you can click here for my free introductory book about the I Ching, click here to join my online class (it has a modest subscription fee), and click here to learn about my reading service which is the source of funds for this web site to stay online. Please enjoy the many resources here, remember that advice from the forums is from free volunteers, and let me know how I can be of service. I also pop in now and then to join the free discussions, but this only as I happen to have time."

I'd be happy to discuss other marketing ideas on the forum, if you like, or by email, if you like. My own advice would be free, of course, as I've already learned so much even before paying you for a reading. I'll likely pay for a reading in the coming months, and that's because of how inspired I am of what I've seen of you in forums. I really want to see your business thrive, and to see this online community thrive.

If the issue is the money for the server, not just your time, you can charge a subscription fee.

If you were to charge a modest membership fee, I'd pay it. I've paid in the $5 to $10 per month fee for other online discussion forums. Some covered metaphysical topics, some didn't. Some had a members-only area not visible to the public, some didn't.

If you put up a "closed unless you pay" sign tomorrow, I'd subscribe the day after tomorrow. I'd do this even though I'm trying to save money wherever I can, as I launch my own consulting business. My comments about keeping your forums free are not a ploy to try to save me money. They're about what makes more sense for your business.

I really want to see you succeed with your business, and also to see this community thrive. In my opinion, whatever the effect on the community, the "closed" sign would be bad for your business in the long run.

You could have a basic subscription as mentioned above, which would provide access to a special members-only area. You could offer a deluxe subscription package, say $15 per month which also includes a free reading with you. As for the readings, the pricing is uncertain for someone paying in dollars. It would be easier for clients if you would just pick a dollar price, say $100, rather than asking already confused people (they need a reading, after all) to figure out the currency conversion.

hilary said:

This is where I need to take a long, hard look at line 3. A prince can make a summer offering to the son of heaven; a small person really can't do anything so spectacular, because she just doesn't have the resources. It's one of those line 3 decision moments. How big an offering is required from me to un-12 things, and (how) can I afford it?

Click to expand...

You are not going to like this - it may sound negative but seems to me its not a question of how you can sell more - i feel you may have gone as far as you can (59.5) but a question of deciding what this is to you, how much you want to put in - or finish with - because I don't think there are many diviners out there making a living out of divining alone - whatever they do, however resourceful they are.

I think its a personal decision about your time and resources and what you want to do with them - no longer a question of what more you can do. Hex 14 says you already have it - you already have created this amazing website - the only I Ching site on the net
that there is always activity on, thats a great resource for everyone. I see the hex 12 as representing the very issue of money versus the larger possession of the site, they don't mingle. Someone gives a huge amount and doesn't get repaid as they need even though what they give is of huge spiritual worth - huh whats new ! I think 14.3 is about you already doing that - not referring to what more you have to do.

FWIW I threw 59.5 about this site when you put the paypal link up on a recent thread (after a comment of mine :bag: ) and I also saw 59.5 as you not struggling to build more but letting go what needs to be let go of, redistributing somehow.

The only practical step i can think of is to charge membership subscription fee but as Luis said that may not make much difference.

I can't really see how the free forum would detract from business - if there were no forum less people would visit. However i can see that visitors possibly might think what they see in the readings area is representative of what you do, simply because its your site and that might affect what they buy if they think its rubbish lol

BTW like Topal I don't think its embarrassing you bought this up publicly but a very good idea.

Hi Hillary

Please check your pm inbox

ben_s said:

In EVERY post you make to the forum, you should discard the cryptic signature "Toes" and add: "This forum post is a free service from Hilary to the forum community. To learn about my custom personal readings, click here."

.

Click to expand...

no no "Toes" is Dobros signature quoted from Hilary

rosada said:

. However, the end result does seem to be that harsh comments, or just crazy posts, do deter participation and seemingly reduced revenue.

Rosada

*.

Click to expand...

Rosada i think there is no evidence that 'harsh comments' decrease revenue here.

What is a harsh comment is such a subjective matter and whats more I think its likley the opposite effect is the case - just look at the 'view' ratings in, shall we say, 'lively' threads. I have to say I hardly think a little 'bickering' sends people scurrying away - more like they keep tuning in to see whats happening. Look around and you'll find very peaceful forums with no harsh comments - cos theres nobody there

Theres more participation on this forum that any other I Ching forum i know of,and my impression is participation hasn't dwindled but increased over time - but participation doesn't bring money in obviously. Well not unless everyone starts to pay a subscription that is.

Trojan:

no no "Toes" is Dobros signature quoted from Hilary

Click to expand...

Well, it's an in-joke that doesn't mean anything to a new participant. And it gives up the single most valuable real estate on the site that Hilary could be using to let people know there's a paid service available beyond the free forums. Since she expressed concern about the fun not paying the bills, here's one way to set aside a bit of fun to help pay the bills.

Hi trojan,
Note I said "seemingly" reduces revenue. You are right there is no evidence whether it does or does not, but in the context of answering Bruce's suggestion that it might, 14.1 does seem to me to be saying that it does.
As to reducing participation, although new members continually find this site and thus we could say over all participation has not decreased, the fact is that some posters have left and have told us very specifically their reason for leaving was not because they had lost interest in chatting about the I Ching, but because they were so uncomfortable witnessing the ego games.
Btw, folks, I am not in anyway advocating stricter outside regulation. Hilary has enough to do without having to play referee. I am suggesting that if people have an avenue to donate to the site and they do donate, perhaps this will also cause people to feel more connected with it, to energetically feel what happens when they post an unnecessary put down, to feel the pain they have unleashed and thus want to avoid doing that again in the future. This improved behavior would further the original intention of launching the site, which I'm assuming is something along the lines of promoting the virtues of the superior man, who does nothing to make himself feared.
Of course I am assuming that if people felt more connected to the site through putting their money where their mouse is they would then become more protective, more gentle, more lothe to scare people off, but maybe that wouldn't happen at all. Perhaps those who became donating members would feel even more free to blast away! LOL!
Anyway, I'm not saying clearing up the horseplay on the Forum is the final answer to the money issue. I'm saying I think 14.1 supports Bruce's intuition that it is something to be considered.

Incidentally Trojan, I think you have an unusual ability to state your own viewpoint without requiring others to agree with you. It's easy to read your posts and get your message without feeling threatened. Much appreciated!

Rosada

I'm fairly irritated rightly or wrongly by comments here made by Ben and Rosada so as i don't want to wreck this thread with irrelevant issues I'm heading over to open space.

I just don't think this thread was was intended to target blame at certain individuals and that is what it has turned into !

ben_s said:

Well, it's an in-joke that doesn't mean anything to a new participant. And it gives up the single most valuable real estate on the site that Hilary could be using to let people know there's a paid service available beyond the free forums. Since she expressed concern about the fun not paying the bills, here's one way to set aside a bit of fun to help pay the bills.

Click to expand...

I'll dare say that most of the people that has been frequenting the site for years, come here for the "fun" of sharing views and information about their Yi studies, yes. The only exception being those in such a desperate situation to publicly ask why their partner in life dumped them, and other such questions, somewhere along those lines...

BTW, as Trojan commented, that signature you mentioned does NOT belong to Hilary's posts but to Dobro's. Just as my dragon does to me. I would say that substituting everybody's signature files for a donation billboard would not be such a good idea...

I think 12 simply is your question, the forum is (financially) in a standstill and you asked what to do about it.

The entire lower trigram heaven changes into earth. I agree with Philippa that it represents the forum participants. They should change into earth.

And I also agree that line 5 is you yourself. "Her truth is then associating, then awesome. Auspicious.
A strong character is authorative when that is necessary, but just as easy she can be nice and sympathizing. For both one needs strength, and even more so for changing at the right moment."
It is a descripition of the perfect leader, and it makes fire change into heaven. So instead of the forum being heaven rofl: heaven??) you have to be heaven.

Umm, well, this is a lot of vagueness, you will have to make sense of it yourself. If I can think of anything less vague I will post again. But I am not renowned for practical solutions.

LiSe

hilary said:

Line 1

‘No intercourse with what is harmful,
In no way at fault,
Hardship is thus not a mistake.’

I could use some outside perspectives on this - especially line 1. Thoughts?

Click to expand...

"... Do the change with grace and elegance and remove what's obstructing communication ..."

I found the above Karcher commentary to line 1 in his danish translation. I think it's very interesting in this connection, because the text of hexagram doesn't mention communication?

lienshan

Trojan, I didn't intend any personal attack. I apologize if that's the way I came across.

As I mentioned, I'd like to see if there is a way the community here can help Hilary with a business plan that supports both her, and the community. If my comments don't help with those goals, I'd be delighted to learn how to say something that is more effective. Please let me know what I can do to communicate in a less irritating manner.

ben_s said:

As I mentioned, I'd like to see if there is a way the community here can help Hilary with a business plan that supports both her, and the community. If my comments don't help with those goals, I'd be delighted to learn how to say something that is more effective. Please let me know what I can do to communicate in a less irritating manner.

Click to expand...

Ben I posted a response to you about this on a new thread i started on Open Space as I didn't want to derail this one.

Hi Hilary
I agree with your interpretation in that if you work on the things that are obviously stagnant in your business then things will gradually move onto 14.5. As someone who is having mentoring with you it does seem as if you are "hard to reach" in certain areas, just basic nuts and bolts if you like. From my viewpoint I'm sure if you worked on these things, just basic marketing techniques, things could take a really good turn for the best.

megs

Hallo Hilary,

Only just that I saw this and the other Help question.

The answer 14 with 4 changing lines. When I have 4 changing lines I usually go quickly to the second hexagram. the first is so unstable that it is already changed before you know.

Then you get into 12. 12 I had once when I asked the Yi; What is consiousness. Never forgotten this. because the Father and the Mother where seperate here they could look from a distance, everything came to a standstill. Like in the video about the left and right brain hemesfere. But there is a connection between the Heaven and Earth here. Because the man lines are yin and yang and are part of the 63 one of the hexagram of becoming.

Then I usualy look to the first not changing line in the second hexagram, so the fourth line. Then 12 is changing into 20. A beautifull line I think, you can execute your own plans.
The only thing is do you know what your plans are or will be?.

Do you want to connect Yi fanatics all over the world?( with this you succeeded)
And do you also want to live from the Yi.
I would gladly pay a amount for each year to get into contact with all these people on this site.
But maybe you should ask everybody you is registed and also all the members if they want to pay something to join the forum.
But for this you have to sit a while in the tower above the website(together with some people you trust) to look how you can benefit also financiely. I will support you financiely and mentaly that's for sure.

All the Best from Frank

Megs, I'd love to hear more about how I'm 'hard to reach' and where I'm missing nuts, bolts, screws etc.

Frank - thank you. It's funny how many people are saying they would pay for what I'm providing for free! I don't want to do something like shutting the forum to those who don't want to/ can't pay... but I'm getting more ideas for what I could do. I think I'll put a quick poll up.

hilary said:

'What effect does this great free forum have on my business?'

Yi says 14.1.2.3.5 leading to 12.

Click to expand...

This free forum is a valuable possession in terms of your business, at the very same time that it obstructs your business. How so? It's a valuable possession because it attracts lots of action, and if anybody takes the trouble to nose around this site they'll quickly learn that you do Yi consultations at a depth and with a finesse that the shoot-from-the-hip readings in this forum don't begin to come close to. This forum's the 'loss leader', if you want to use an image from the world of retail sales. But at the very same time it's an obstruction because many people will be satisfied with the free off-the-cuff readings they get here, and will go no deeper. But ask yourself this - would those people ever have found you or sought you out if this forum and this site didn't already exist? I doubt it.

Hi Hillary,

What effect does this great free forum have on my business?'

Yi says 14.1.2.3.5 leading to 12.

Click to expand...

In Flux Tome perspective, your oracle would be: True Goaled (Gold) >> No Exit.

The complete lower trigram of ch'ien is expressing and exhausting itself bringing the overall organization or mental image to become a focus. The beginning stages of the process are pouring into the ruling and organizing place, developing a new process of moving on from the feelings and organization into the fruit, seedpod or transition to the next.

Hexagram 12 is a set of yang over yin line pairs in the heart (lines 3 &4), the will (2&5) and the environment ( 1&6) which is a questioning, developing, and challenging situation at all levels and in all ways.

Clarity establishes authority and a nexus of Yi studies on the web. That is an essential prerequisite to creating a suitable or profitable business. That transition however, is its own issue and its own question for the Yi. Looking at the Google stats on what folks type into their searches is not source of encouragement for making money from doing in depth and quality Yi analysis.

Like the book Stranger in a Strange Land by Heinlein where the Martian actually has the power to levitate his assistants, but few folks believe his act...he just isn't a great showman relying only upon quality and thinking nothing of marketing to the crowd.

I had one thought about how to intersect Yi oracles with general interest in entertainment divination. An oracle cast for a particular time...I use the planetary positions with the 12 zodiac signs taken 2 at a time to yield an Yi oracle, but it could be done just casting the oracle on the question what is it folks should pay to hear about this week?

The statement of the oracle in terms of hexagram, lines moving and resultant would be given and a description of what kinds of folks each line place describes and what they are experiencing--yin or yang, moving or stable, relationship to hexagram overall and other line places. This gives a range of things that might hook web surfers to feel this speaks to them and their issues this week. Then you can offer them various levels of interpretation or guidance at a schedule of prices.

Pareto's law states that 80% of revenues will come from 20% of the offerings but it is never clear before the market speaks which items will be the hot sellers. The idea is to generate as many items from standard analysis (hexagram meaning, line places and moving lines) as possible with a marketing description that allows folks to select for themselves what details seem to particularly catch their attention and then hope that this generates enough of a mix of minor interest at a pound or two, and major interest at higher prices, with a residual of folks wanting to get first crack at next week's insights for an ongoing contract at a suitable price... that the total averages out to a thousand quid per month.

From my brief and halting experience with the shared readings forum suggests there are many questions raised by just allowing an open space for folks to ask about an oracle they have cast without any context in terms of their clarity about their question, the I Ching or the nature and limitations of oracles.

At times the results are quite rewarding for all involved in any way. At times the results tell the age old story of seeking divination in hopes of getting the ideal romance from the magical that isn't happening in actual experience. Some times it shows how very much the questioner needs some basic study and background although no easy avenue for that is clearly available.

In any event, the open forum for folks to bring their personal questions and their oracle answers is good and useful on many levels. What isn't clear yet is the transition strategy--how do folks move on from that basic opportunity for oracle interpretation to other aspects of Clarity website and Hillary Yi practice.

Frank (Kegan)

LiSe wrote,

The entire lower trigram heaven changes into earth. I agree with Philippa that it represents the forum participants. They should change into earth.

Click to expand...

Like the sludge monster from "Star Trek?"

a well-trafficked and lively forum is a great possession.......many otherforums do not enjoy such daily activity, more like once very month someone posts.....clarity pulls in a large group of lookers and sayers and seers. Heavy traffic is a plus if you wanted to sell space to other advertisers.

but I say again, that if Hilary readings were offered from the front page via a "click here' to order your own indepth reading from Hilary", with a small sample as as example, I think many would go for it......easily accessible and priced very reasonably to begin with.

The front page of Clarity might be more about featuring HIlary, with a blurb about her fine and intuitive readings, her backgound and orintation to the study, results she has seen happen for her clients. Her life-coaching abilities.
then have the Click spaces where one can click on what they wish to order. In this way, Hilary becomes the site attraction, her readings,courses, cds, all the true products of the site. This needs to be evident all right at the start.

When people start to order readings there, then they might want to followup with more indepth help: Have an option where they can enlist you as their personal coach for a period of time to grapple with their lives and situations

the forum is secondary......shared readings on the forum are NOT comparable to the personal readings by Hilary. The forum is a place for people to talk and share opinions, helpful to the site, and fun for Yi freaks, but the actual site should be more about self-promotion. The First page is the crucial one; A title like "Let Hilary help you find Clarity in your kife, your major decisions, your realtionships" and then your picture and maybe a few endorsement quotes from clients

If you look at the sites of Life Coach's , the first page is about them, what they do, how they can help. Other information and help, and forums, are all secondary to promoting the product

listener said:

a well-trafficked and lively forum is a great possession.......many otherforums do not enjoy such daily activity, more like once very month someone posts.....clarity pulls in a large group of lookers and sayers and seers. Heavy traffic is a plus if you wanted to sell space to other advertisers.

Click to expand...

Yes the more i look at that reading 14 to 12 the more it seems to say "look at what you are doing with what you already have".

Repeating myself - my solution is to charge a fee for the use of the forum but, if so, also be more 'heaven' to the forum like Lise said in her fascinating post which deserves a second glance - see below

heylise said:

I think 12 simply is your question, the forum is (financially) in a standstill and you asked what to do about it.

The entire lower trigram heaven changes into earth. I agree with Philippa that it represents the forum participants. They should change into earth.

And I also agree that line 5 is you yourself. "Her truth is then associating, then awesome. Auspicious.
A strong character is authorative when that is necessary, but just as easy she can be nice and sympathizing. For both one needs strength, and even more so for changing at the right moment."
It is a descripition of the perfect leader, and it makes fire change into heaven. So instead of the forum being heaven rofl: heaven??) you have to be heaven.

Umm, well, this is a lot of vagueness, you will have to make sense of it yourself. If I can think of anything less vague I will post again. But I am not renowned for practical solutions.

LiSe

Click to expand...

Sometimes vagueness is also very practical