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10 Entrepreneur Website Strategies

10 years sitten

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The number of website strategies you need to implement for an effective online presence is a enough to make your head spin. I found it easier to wrap my head around once I created a list of the most important. Focus on these one or two at a time. As you do, you’ll find the process of creating or recreating your web presence much less stressful. 1. Simplicity From the design of your website to the amount of content on the page, keeping things simple is one of the best things you can do to make life easier on yourself. A website with a clean design, simple navigation and ease of use is what will provide the safest solution to your web building dilemma. Not only will you save time, you’re also likely to save money. Even more importantly, your visitors will thank you. Use my “Uncle Leo” test method to find out if your website is user-friendly enough to use. This is where you find the least technically-savvy person you know (I use Uncle Leo), have them go to your website, and ask them to find a specific piece of information or to take a certain action. If Uncle Leo can do it, then you know you’re on the right track. And that means you’ve done your job well. 2. The Sales Funnel Your website exists to help you build your business. By seeing your website as a potential sales funnel instead of just a flashy online brochure, you’ll generate more web leads and more opportunities for new business. The sales funnel process begins with driving potential customers to your site, keeping them there with a professional look and compelling content, inviting visitors to join your email list (throughout your site), and finally – following up with them to build trust, authority, and a bond. Once you have the sales funnel process incorporated into your website, you’ll find more potential customers reaching out to do business with you. 3. Words That Connect One of the most frequent mistakes I see solo-preneurs and entrepreneurs make is creating web copy that doesn’t connect with real people. This happens most often with us business and marketing folks over 40. We have a habit of taking our old media thoughts on copywriting and applying it to new media. In other words, we are more likely to keep things a bit stiff and stuffy instead of writing our web copy in a conversational tone. The Internet is the ultimate personal medium, and it’s important to keep the copy we feature on our website a bit more casual and conversational. If you can pull this off, your website visitors will feel more connected with you, and thus… BINGO… do more business with you. 4. Make SEO Easy SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the key to being found online. Problem is, there’s information overload. People write books (really, really long books) getting into all the minutia of getting ranked higher in Google, Bing, and Yahoo!. The good news is that the 80/20 rule plays out big time with SEO strategies, and that means there are just a few things you need to do to achieve higher search rankings. This includes making sure your keywords are incorporated in your page title and your page description and are scattered at a 3-5% ratio throughout your web page. And if you’re targeting locally, always incorporate your city or town name as one of your primary keywords. Finally, take every opportunity to have your website linked to from other websites (and the bigger the better). Do just these items and your search ranking will make a huge leap. Need some pointers on SEO? 5. A Touch of Email Marketing Emailing your clients and prospects is a dance of moderation. Send your peeps more email then they expect and they’ll leave you. Don’t email often enough and they’ll forget about you. So, what’s the right mix? For most entrepreneurs, once to twice a month is usually the sweet spot. Just remember that the key is to always provide helpful information up front in your emails and keep the pitch as secondary. If you do want to send a specific pitch to your email list, never do it twice in a row. A little bit of moderation will go a long way. 6. Get Social Without exception, I can’t think of a single business that won’t benefit from incorporating social media into their website strategy. Facebook is excellent for many small businesses, especially when you’re wanting to reach a local audience. Twitter is excellent for connecting with those who spend more time than most online. And LinkedIn is a great connection tool for any consultant or B2B professional. Pick one and get started. 7. Blogs Really Helps You really should have a blog built into your website. A blog allows you to easily create single page posts about events, specials, tips, and company information to your website visitors. Not only do you get the benefit of keeping your website content fresh, you are also creating new content that search engines are on the lookout for. It’s a big win-win. A blog post every week is great for entrepreneurs, but once every two weeks or even once a month will still serve you well. 8. Google Tools If you don’t have a Google account, get one, it’s free. Yes, you’ll have to get a Google email address, but you don’t have to use it, except as your login name to get the other free Google goodies. Once you have a Google account, you can access some super important free tools that will help increase your website traffic. My faves include Google Analytics and Google Webmaster Tools. Even if you don’t know how to use these tools yet, go get your free Google account now, so you’ll be able to incorporate them soon. 9. Staying Connected The biggest problem those of us have that already have a solid website is staying connected with our website visitors and those that are on our email list. The best advice I can give you is to always stay connected enough so that you’re not forgotten. That comes back to creating new and engaging blog post content several times a month and distributing great email content several times a month as well. I can’t tell you how often I’ve received a new and repeat business because I always find a way to stay in touch with my clients and prospects every 2-3 weeks. And with the quick access of Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin, you can stay in touch with your social networking audience in no time as well. 10. Managing the Madness Once the website is done, the email marketing is rolling, the blog is being updated, and the social media is in place, you have to manage the beast. Don’t beat yourself up. The secret to managing your website and online presence is “chunking.” That means instead of going to your website several times a week to do little things that can wait, keep a list and do it all at once as needed. My list every week usually has 3-5 things I may want to update. When I do them all at once, it saves my time and gives me more peace of mind… and those are two things no website owner wants to be without.…

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How to Hire a Quality Webmaster

10 years sitten

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The jobs of website designer, website developer, website marketer and webmaster are not one in the same. But, if you had to choose one to keep on the payroll, it’s probably a webmaster. That’s because a webmaster should be able to manage basic updates and maintenance for your website, but can also interact with other specialists for the times that the skill set needed is not in your webmaster’s wheelhouse. How can you hire a competent webmaster? Here are five questions to ask: 1. Is Your Own Website WordPress? We recommend WordPress for 90% of small business websites. That’s because it’s the most popular platform and offers the most opportunities for finding qualified people to help you manage it. If your webmaster’s website isn’t a WordPress site, cross them off your list. If they do have a WordPress website, review it to make sure its quality is acceptable for your needs. 2. How Many WordPress Websites Do You (and Have You) Managed? Only managing their own WordPress website isn’t enough. If you want reliable help, your webmaster better have managed at least five WordPress websites. 3. How Long Have You Been Managing WordPress Websites? Experience comes through plenty of late nights. If your potential webmaster doesn’t have over a year of deep experience, you don’t want them managing your website. 4. Can You Provide References? If you’ve made it this far, your webmaster has told you they have managed at least five WordPress websites. If they can’t provide you a reference or contact information for those fellow business owners, they probably aren’t telling you the truth. 5. How Would You Grade Your Knowledge and Experience for the Following? The numbers below in parenthesis are the minimal grades I would accept. If your potential webmaster has made it this far in the process and seem “close enough” with the grades below, you will at least know their strengths and weaknesses. That way you’ll know when to hire a specialist to take care of particular responsibilities if needed. Updating Plugins (Minimum Grade: 9 out 10) Updating Themes (Minimum Grade: 9 out 10) Working with Web Hosts (Minimum Grade: 8 out 10) Website Security & Backups (Minimum Grade: 8 out 10) HTML and CSS Coding (Minimum Grade: 7 out 10) Google Analytics (Minimum Grade: 6 out 10) Google Webmaster Tools (Minimum Grade: 6 out 10) Graphic Design (Minimum Grade: 6 out 10) SEO: Search Engine Optimization (Minimum Grade: 5 out 10) Email Marketing (Minimum Grade: 5 out 10) Social Media (Minimum Grade: 5 out 10)…

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How to Find a Website Designer

10 years sitten

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When it comes to searching for a talented and competent website designer, I feel your pain. Been there. Finding an affordable pro who knows what their doing can be terribly difficult. Even though we now spend our days managing and redesigning websites , I once spent countless hours in your shoes, trying to finding talented website designers and reliable developers. In fact, often, those are two unique skill sets. A good designer has an eye for creating a clean and professional look, while a web developer handles the crucial and geeky side of coding websites using HTML and CSS. Finding someone who can do both well enough isn’t easy. So, what choices do you have? Web Design Freelancer? Often the best option (but, the one that requires the most luck) is to hire an independent freelance web designer. If you can find a good one (references, references, references), you should be able to make it through the process of getting a solid website online for $1,000-$5,000. If you go this route, what you’ll probably end up with is a professional looking, 3 to 8-page online business card. It will probably still lack the elements that we stress are so important here at Website Blueprint: online marketing elements, SEO (search engine optimization), email marketing, blogging, social media, and utilizing your website as a “sales funnel.” But, many small businesses have to take things in small steps, and getting a professional small business website online is step one. So, how do you find a freelancer? It could be a friend of a friend or you can find designers through services like elance.com. If you don’t have the time to build a website yourself (who does?) and don’t have enough money for a web development agency to do most everything for you (see below), an independent freelancer may be your best first step. Full Service Web Firm/Agency? If you can go this route, congratulations. You’re business should end up with a great web presence, and you’re going to save yourself both time and frustration. But, can you afford it? There are great design firms in most mid-sized and larger markets. I have no doubt if money weren’t an obstacle, you could set up an appointment with a full service web firm/agency and have them take care of nearly everything for you. What’s it going to cost? Without knowing your specific requirements, my best guess would be in the range of $5,000-$15,000. Now, if you’ve got the cash, you’re good to go. But, there are still elements of web marketing that you’re going to want to understand yourself. For many businesses, finding talented freelancers is the best option. Problem is, the search is often filled with disappointment once you’ve hired someone and discover they suck. Most often by producing crappy work or just plain ripping you off. Do it Yourself? If you plan on creating or recreating your website yourself, my heart goes out to you. It is a time consuming, frustrating and costly investment. Even with modern website platforms like WordPress. Taking the time to learn a web creation/editing tool is a nightmare. Believe me, you don’t want to try to build your own website. Unless you have a solid background in design, CSS, and HTML, you’ll never have a finished website that is professional enough to represent your business. There are services that promote themselves as DIY website builders, such as Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, etc… Unless you’re the smallest of small businesses with no budget, I recommend avoiding them. You will never be able to create a web presence with enough flexibility and professionalism without working with either a professional web designer (a freelancer) or a web design agency. What to do? Here are my recommendations: If you can find someone locally who you’re comfortable with, have produced other website you feel of the quality you need and they have references you respect, use them. It’s always better to have local help. Ask around. If a friend has a nice website and they have been happy with their designer or developer, consider giving them a shot if they have references. If you see a website you like, look at the bottom of the page (the footer) and see if the designer/developer has a link. Contact your local colleges. Find out if there are any working students who are talented and already taking on clients. Post a job online. My favorite source is www.elance.com. Others folks have found help at www.odesk.com, www.guru.com, and www.craigslist.com . Do a Google search for “web design *your town/city*.” You may find a small local design shop or solo-entrepreneur who can help you at a price comparable to a freelancer. If you need some recommendations for redesigning your website so you don’t get ripped off, contact us to see if we can help.…

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Small Business Website Checklist

11 years sitten

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There are two types of websites. Those that attract, persuade and connect with customers, and those that don’t. If your website includes the elements below, you’re on your way to an online presence that is a true modern marketing tool. The design and layout of our website is clean, professional and mobile friendly. Our navigation makes it easy to find what visitors are looking for. Test it. Have the most Internet-challenged person you know go to your site and locate certain pages/information. Every page of our website is Google-friendly . This means that each page title and page description is unique and contains the correct number of characters (up to 60 for page titles and 150-160 for page descriptions). We’re using a professional email marketing service to generate new web leads and build rapport with visitors. Your email signup form (or a link to your form) should be visible with a call-to-action on every page of your website. We have a blog as part of our website that we utilize to share company news or helpful tips for our customers. We have signed up for a free Google account and utilize Google Analytics (web stats), Google Webmaster Tools (several benefits) and have our (local) business on Google Maps. We are utilizing at least one type of social media to promote our business and website. More social media = more exposure. Our contact information is at the bottom of every page. Include your physical address for extra SEO benefits. Our website content/copy is written in a conversational tone. Don’t let your website feel too stiff and impersonal. Our web address is promoted everywhere we advertise and on every piece of stationary and sales literature.…

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7 Sins of Small Business Websites

11 years sitten

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How valuable is your website if it doesn’t generate new business for you? Today’s economy makes it more crucial than ever to maximize your business online. Most small business websites contain elements that make a site engaging to both visitors and the search engines (the two audiences you always want to keep in mind). However, there are dozens of mistakes that small business websites should avoid. If you can keep in mind these seven-sins, your web presence will be much more inviting and profitable. 1. Bad Navigation Ever gone to a website and been overwhelmed with the drop down menus and confusing navigation? Consider your customers when building or recreating your links or navigation. The process of finding anything a customer may need on your website should be no more than one or two clicks away. As a reference, find someone who calls themselves “tech challenged,” then ask them to go to your website and find a few items that would be important to your customer base. If your test dummy can’t find the information, it’s time to simplify the navigation process. 2. Outdated Information Every month, you should go through each page of your website to make sure that you don’t have any old information. Nothing can make you look less professional than having outdated content on your site. You may also want to have an employee do a run-through as well. Many times you may overlook something that they may catch. 3. Lack of Google Juice If your small business website doesn’t appear on the first page of Google for the proper search terms, you’ve got a serious lack of Google juice. There are many unscrupulous SEO (search engine optimization) companies that make all types of claims to get you on top of Google. Ignore them. Take care of the basics and you’ll do well. Make sure that you add your business to Google maps (for local search), that you have good content on your pages that include keywords that prospects would use to find you, and that your website has unique titles and descriptions in the HTML for each of your website pages. 4. Too Much Information Unless you run an e-commerce or news-based website, your online presence is simply a marketing tool that should be presented to further a sales process. That’s why you don’t want to overwhelm your visitors with too much information. Just provide enough so visitors get the basics of what they want to know, so they feel it’s necessary to contact or visit you for more information. If your web pages (and especially your home page) has a word count over 500, it’s time to do some editing. Make sure your copy is written in short paragraphs and bullet points wherever possible. 5. Not Enough Information A website isn’t a business card. It should be like a brochure on steroids. If you don’t offer enough basic information, the visitor may feel you’re not important enough to visit or call. In addition, you want to have enough copy so that there are enough keywords on your site to be recognized by Google and the search engines. I would shoot for a minimum of 250 words per page. Just remember the points you read in #3 and you’ll find the right balance of information for your customer or prospect. 6. Lack of Social Media Blogs, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, and Twitter are a few examples of social media that can build up your website presence. Best of all, they are all free to set up and use. No matter where you share information about your business and website address, it will help extend your brand and name recognition. You don’t have to be a social media maven, but it’s one of the free ways that you can get out the word and drive more consumers to your website, store, and business. 7. No Opt-In Email Marketing A website that does not include opt-in email marketing is just an online business card (not an online marketing tool). In order to build business with your website, you need to get visitors into a sales funnel. The only way to get prospects into that sales funnel is to persuade them to give you their email address in exchange for something of value – most often, a special report or piece of helpful information. When someone arrives at your physical location/business, wouldn’t it be great if you could find a way to stay in touch with him or her even after they leave? That’s the power of incorporating opt-in email marketing into the online side of your business.…

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