My first real online project - your feedback?

[Andy H]

I am about to begin my first real online project and it is a big one!

I am going to be conducting a research project to determine the effectiveness of NLP in the selling profession. I am a certified trainer of NLP and a 20 year veteran of the selling profession and I have experienced excellent results in my own career and have seen my students make quantum leaps in their sales performance by utilizing NLP.

The goal of the research project is to empirically prove that the application of NLP in sales provides a competitive advantage for the salespeople and companies that utilize it. I also want to measure the effectiveness of each method to create a hierarchy of methods that are useful in selling and fine tune my NLP selling model.

I need help determining the best software and tools to quickly assemble and manage the online infrastructure necessary to conduct such a research project. I am NOT a professional web developer so it would be great if the tools I select naturally integrate with each other.

I will be offering instruction via downloadable documentation, audio and video files and via gotomeeting.com webinars. I will also offer conference calls if necessary. The instruction is scheduled to begin the first week of November so time is of the essence.

Here is a high level overview of what I will need to conduct the project. Could you please offer your input as to what tools might be best for the job, remembering that integration will be a major factor for me.

Once they arrive at the site of the project, victors will be presented a blog which will become the public face of the project. I would like to incorporate a prominent, high level description of the program and an opt-in form for visitors to receive more information along with a free, downloadable report/e-book/audio for those who subscribe at the site.

Subscribers will receive the download and will receive a series of autoresponder messages regarding the benefits of enrolling in the research project. Each communication will include a link to an online application form to be completed by the visitor to participate in the program. Although there is no cost to enroll in the program, I will be looking for people who are motivated to actively participate in the project and report the results of their application of the methods in their work.

Once I have selected the participants for the study, they will be granted access to a private section of the website where they can retrieve the course materials, participate in a forum and provide feedback regarding the result they are experiencing. I will be running two tracks simultaneously so it would be nice if I could assign each group to their own, individual forum where they get to interact with me and the other members of enrolled on the same track only.

It would be preferable to have a pass through login from the membership site through the forum. So that participants would log in once and gain access to all of the resources without being required to login again.

Another feature that I would appreciate is the ability to have more than one level in the membership site. This would allow me to create pay-for content/support options and even maintain a membership site after the formal research project has been completed.

So there you have it: A high level overview of what I think I need at this time. I would appreciate your comments and feedback.

Thank you in advance for your input.

Andy.

P.S: If you are a salesperson, entrepreneur or otherwise dependent on sales for your income, and would like to participate in the study at no cost, please send me a PM indicating your interest and I will be sure to include you in the project.

[zakiprofit]

I hope you'll success in your first real online project. The first one is the hard one. I believe you can do it

[rohim.k]

I would appreciate is the ability to have more than one level in the membership site. This would allow me to create pay-for content/support options and even maintain a membership site after the formal research project has been completed.