Home Wealth Project
Extensive Research On How To Build Wealth From The Comfort Of Your Own Home.
Website Marketing: Domain Names and Landing Pages
Jan 9th
If “Professor Maps,” Mike Blumenthal, is correct — and I believe he is — then setting up and owning your Web presence is one of the core Internet marketing functions for your business. And when it comes to your website, you have to address a few key areas including the domain name, landing pages and ways to remain inspired and creative (of course that’s good for your business in general).
Co-branded domain names
To me your website is your online home, and the better you take care of it, then the better it takes care of you. But what about those beautiful, well-laid-out, but co-branded websites? Does having a domain name like mysite.blogspot.com or yoursite.weebly.com matter?
I think it does. I recently met a small business owner who does a great job at creating local buzz through live events, postcards and relationship marketing. But when I was ready to tell others about her and send them to her website, it was co-branded. A Google search of the exact event name produced five other co-branded sites, and none of them was hers.
It’s easier to say yoursite.com than yoursite.blogspot.com. And when you’re trying to spread the word, easy matters. Plus yoursite.com can easily outrank yoursite.weebly.com (with a few tweaks). Besides, why build up weebly’s or blogspots’ brand? They have an awesome following of their own. Drop the co-branding and market your name instead.
In “Why You Need Multiple Domain Names,” Ivana Taylor says to “look at owning domain names like owning digital real estate.” If that’s the case, then using yoursite.blogspot.com is like renting: It’s easier to move in, but no matter how much you pay, you will never own it.
Content and the pages users land on
Another key element to your website is the landing pages.
According to Copyblogger.com:
“A landing page is any page on a website where traffic is sent specifically to prompt a certain action or result.”
The goal is a targeted page with no distractions. So usually a landing page has no sidebar and includes a simple header. This page is designed to solve a specific problem for the reader and get a specific response from him or her.
For a list of cool tools to create landing pages in a flash check out Ivana’s article at American Express OPEN Forum.
To learn more about what a landing page is and how to make the most of it, check out how landing pages turn traffic into money at Copyblogger.com. You will see a landing page in action and find a tutorial that will help.
Creative thoughts and ways to keep them flowing
Ideas are the jewels of business. Once you have an idea you have to chisel it into something that catches the light and does exactly what you want it to do.
The “chiseling” is what business is all about. It’s the process. If you can keep your head and trust your heart, then you can create something beautiful. But what about those diamonds? How do you keep the ideas flowing?
The creative process is intriguing. Anita Campbell highlights 3 websites that will get your business creativity flowing. Check them out.
I have to say I became caught up in the ideas on these websites and found myself lost on a tangent that helped me solve a business dilemma I had been contemplating for weeks. Go figure.
Your business and your marketing are driven by ideas, so create space for them to flow.
Domain Photo via Shutterstock
Website Marketing: Domain Names and Landing Pages
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
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Jan 7th
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5 Website Resolutions to Put on Your List for 2012
Jan 3rd
We’re in the New Year and the time for making resolutions about health, wealth, family and oddball bucket lists. Don’t forget about making resolutions about your online presence as well. Your website 2012 resolutions should include content, communications, community, conversations and conversion. The secret of successful small business owners is that they spend more time “on the business” than “in the business.” One of the tools for spending on your business is your web presence.
Small businesses are great at customer service and realize that their next customer will come from a current customer – Word of Mouth. In the digital world word of mouth is “word of mouse” a powerful tool to gain new customers. A new era of marketing is unfolding and digital marketing helps you in your objective to influence behavior to change positively towards you. The audience who need your product and services are increasingly searching for them online. It is interesting to see how the communication tools are coming together.
We hope you are convinced that even your brick and mortar business needs to be on the web. Guess what - “92% of online adults use search engines to find information on the Web” according to a May 2011 Pew Internet Survey (PDF).
Without further adieu, here are some 2012 resolutions you should include in your business list. Five “C” online resolutions for small business:
Content
- Not having a website for your business is not an option anymore. A website or a blog all count as establishing your web presence.
- Resolve to update it constantly. Once a day, week or even a month as long as you are consistent.
- Show your thought leadership through content. Publish your thoughts on your industry, peers, products, good news about your community.
- Education through content – provide tips to your customers, answer the most asked questions on your website or blog.
- Fresh and updated content is a good way to ensure search engines are indexing your site often and your chances of appearing in search results will be better.
Communications
- Email Marketing is still a top performing marketing channel for businesses. Embrace it and use it to flourish.
- It is important for you to get email branded with your business name showing consistency and credibility.
- Communicate with your customers to solve their problems with your product rather than selling your product.
- If you are sending an email newsletter you should try to use software like Constant Contact, Exact Target, MailChimp or other professional tools. Many of these tools make it easy for you and also guide you to succeed in email marketing.
- Food trucks use this medium very well to let customers know their location.
- Last minute availability of appointments at doctors, saloons.
Community
- Every business should nurture their customer communities by providing them with tools to spread word of mouth.
- Customer appreciation days
- Special offers for regular customers
- Formal or informal meetings with customer advisory boards
- Asking customers for ideas to improve products or suggest new product features
- Provide easy ways to give you feedback or review your business
- Attend local events
- Business networking and educational events
- Set aside time and budget to attend and learn ways to increase your business
Cutting edge Technology
- While investing in technology evaluate the benefit to your organization and avoid any impulse buys.
- Upgrade your Internet speeds if you feel it will increase the speed of your customer transactions.
- Get a new smartphone if you are away from your computer a lot and your business depends on emails and orders from customers through the web.
- Invest in a tablet if you would like to carry an electronic portfolio to show customers.
Conversion: All your resolutions should lead to your objective of growing your business.
- Make sure you spend your time on activities that help your business grow.
- Social tools can be distracting. Consider them as communication tools and allot enough time to nurture your communities there.
- While only talking about sales in a social context is sometimes in poor taste, look for opportunities where you answer peoples questions and offer to help.
- Definitely use analytics programs to see where your traffic is coming from and which keywords they are using to find your business online.
- If you are a brick and mortar business like a restaurant, try to ask your customers where they found you.
Remember you don’t have to do all these tasks yourself. Weigh the time you would spend with the cost of hiring people to tell your story and concentrate on what you do best – working on your business. What did you add to your New Year business resolution?
New Year Resolutions List Photo via Shutterstock
5 Website Resolutions to Put on Your List for 2012
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
How to Give Online Shoppers Confidence in Your Website
Dec 19th
We’ve all been to those websites of dubious origin. You know the ones. They look cheesy … fly by night. They’re the online equivalent of the guy selling video DVDs or “designer” handbags out of the back of a van in an alley.
And then there are the sites that don’t exactly look suspicious (and may in fact be legitimate). But still … you don’t have enough information to be sure. No big brand name backs the site to give you confidence. The site has no contact information on it. And there’s nothing to indicate who or what company is actually going to fulfill your order or performt he services.
You’re not the only one who doesn’t trust these sites. In fact, lack of trust may be wider spread than you think.
Kikscore, a company that has created and provides an online trust seal for small business websites, recently conducted a survey. The survey found that a whopping 90% of online shoppers have abandoned a shopping cart at one time or another, because they were worried about being defrauded on a site.
According to Rajeev Malik, CEO and Co-Founder of Kikscore:
“[People] hear almost monthly about large data breaches, they hear stories of ID theft, credit cards being stolen and service providers scamming customers. As a result, there is really a culture of fear that shoppers need to get over prior to either buying online or trusting information about service providers enough, to call them.”
Another interesting point from the Kikscore survey: ”… over 60% of website visitors are more likely to buy from a site that posts information and details about the management of a small business.” So those About Us pages should be more than an afterthought.
What should you do if you have a website and want to instill credibility? Here is a checklist of elements to give your small-business website credibility to online shoppers:
- Company full name (not just your Web domain name)
- Your own domain name – Don’t have your website reside as a subdomain off a bigger site (e.g., NOT: companyxyz.cheapwebsites.com). Instead, you want your Web address to be something like: CompanyXYZ.com.
- Complete address and phone number – Ideally this information should be at the bottom of each page.
- Contact Us page or form
- About Us page – This should contain enough information so that it is clear yours is a business here for the long haul. When possible, include the founder’s or owner’s name. Show your business is REAL. For more information, read: 5 Must Haves for Your About Us Page.
- Photos – Include high-quality photos of some of your products. Or, if you’re a solo professional such as a consultant or Web designer, then a picture of you.
- Description of your business, products, services – Be crystal clear on what your business does and products/services you provide. The clearer and more specific you are, the more you convey that you know what you’re doing and your business is competent. And remember — shoppers research before they buy! Even if they’re “just looking” that’s the first step toward buying.
- Customer testimonials – Even one testimonial from a real customer is helpful. If you have just one, put it right on the home page. Over time you can add more as the business generates a track record.
- Trust seals and seals from industry associations – Trust seals (Kikscore, Truste, Trusted Business, McAfee Secure) and Web seals from associations such as the Better Business Bureau, are a further sign that yours in a credible business. Make sure you have permission to use any seals.
- Media mentions – Mention any publicity your company has had. Also, publish your own press releases on your site, in a section called “Media” or “Press.” A company that publishes press releases shows that it expects to grow.
- Lack of typos / grammatical errors – Proofread your site’s copy! Twice!
- Logo – While you don’t need the most beautiful logo in the world, having a logo (even just professionally drawn text of your company name) says your company has brand value.
- The best design or template you can afford – Let’s face it: you only have a few seconds to make a great impression. If your website appears amateurish, confusing or unprofessional, what does that suggest about the attention you give to the rest of your business?
- Social media follow buttons – If you have social accounts such as Twitter and Facebook, put follow buttons on your website. It’s proof of social validation when they see your followers and see you interacting with the public.
[Editor's Note: The above list adapted from a Q&A session the author did on the D&B Credibility Insights blog, on the topic of website credibility.]
Online Shopping Photo via Shutterstock
How to Give Online Shoppers Confidence in Your Website
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
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Dec 10th
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Launching Your Small Business Website
Dec 8th
Getting your Website in shape can be as grueling as launching your business in the first place. Don’t get overwhelmed. This roundup includes a guide to help you get started plus information on small business debt management and more. Read on!
Your Business
Launching your small business Website. Gaining a Web presence does not need to be complicated. Here’s a comprehensive guide to get you started now, complete with suggestions from Small Business Trends founder Anita Campbell. SiteFox
Your own personal debt crisis? Mounting debt can be a huge problem not just in personal finance, but in business as well. Debt cuts into profit and robs your business of cash flow you need to keep going. Here’s a graph showing more. Business Rescue Service
Success Stories
Does a passion drive your small business? Latest BizSugar Contributor of the Week Tom Drake started his first Website, Canadian Finance Blog, out of an interest in personal finance issues. Several years later, he operates a fleet of sites built around the topic. BizSugar Blog
Have an idea for the next Vampire Diaries or Gossip Girls? This business idea may be for you. Meet author Laura Schechter and enter the wonderful world of book packaging. The only real startup capital could be imagination. Bloomberg Businessweek
Tips & Advice
Alienating friends and followers: a how-to guide. Not that you’d want to intentionally do any of this stuff, of course, but as kind of a negative example, here are some things that will not help your social media standing. If you do any of the above, it’s time to change your ways. Small Business Trends
Starting your own pop-up shop. Brick and mortar locations don’t have to be a long-term commitment. Meet the pop-up shop, a not-so-new idea enhanced with the latest technology to create an alternative to more permanent retail outlets. Inc.com
Tools
Want to boost sales in 2012? We’re gonna guess your answer is “yes,” so here are some tools that should help you do it. Have any more to suggest? Please leave your comments below. Marketing Matters
Using LinkedIn to your greatest advantage. If you’re missing the opportunity to leverage this incredible resource, you may be missing out on other important business opportunities as well. Resonance
Other Ideas
50 home business ideas (no joke!) As you think about options for your home business, why not give this list a glance? Ideas for a home business can be quite simple and start around a product or service you can provide. Financial Highway
Have you checked out this blog monetizing option? If your main business happens to be a blog, then you may want to check out this simple monetizing tool. An alternative to AdSense or larger affiliate marketing programs, here is a way to let you sell your own ads on your Website today. Riches Corner
Launching Your Small Business Website
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
Dangers of a Mediocre Website
Dec 1st
The dangers of a mediocre Website must be taken seriously. In this roundup, we look at Web presence and a variety of other factors in your small business success. How do you improve your small business today?
Web
Dangers of a mediocre Website. Often your Website is the first impression people get of your business, at least in the online world. So whether your strategy is to appeal directly to customers or to influencers who, in turn, will bring those customers to you, the procedure is the same. Your Website must impress and effectively communicate your message. You’re the Boss
15 ways to boost Website sales? Making sales of your products or services is what online marketing is all about and why you have a Website in the first place. But even if you have a great site, it may not be doing all it can for you. Here are some suggestions. BusinessInfoGuide.com
Entrepreneurship
Getting your site ready for the Holidays. We’ve just gotten through the Black Friday shopping weekend here in the States, but the fact is there are many special days and holidays which may be important to consider when updating your online presence depending upon the country where you do business and the customers you serve. BusinessZone
Using online tools to grow your business. Meet Ivan Widjaya, a Webpreneur, consultant and small scale Web developer who was interviewed recently for this post on why/how he uses online tools like our sister site BizSugar.com to follow trends, promote content and learn more about attracting customers. BizSugar Blog
Marketing
What marketing and bread have in common. More than you might at first think actually. Jackie Purnell breaks it all down for us in this great blog post. Having a new perspective on marketing will help you better understand your company’s business model and how to make improvements. Respectfully Disobedient
What will marketing be like in 2012? Here is a blog post and infographic about this rapidly changing frontier. Marketing, especially online, will remain critically important to small business owners who can use the low costs and global reach to their advantage. WebSuccessTeam
Advertising
Managing online advertising. If you currently own a site or sites, one business model is to sell advertising there, depending upon your niche and audience. But the process of setting up and selling ads yourself can be daunting in the beginning, so here is one simple alternative. Riches Corner/Money Talks
Sales
Getting lost in the buying process. You may think that getting the customer to say yes is the most important part of the sales process. While it can be a challenge, there are other issues that can also arise creating serious problems when steering a sale to its final conclusion. Partners in Excellence
Sales vs. branding: Which is more important for your small business? Well, obviously sales are what keep your company going and are the ultimate goal of any business large or small. But, some experts argue that nurturing your brand will lead to sales that much faster and that these ideas are not in conflict. GrowthUniversity
Networking
Is your small business on Google Plus yet? Here are some reasons you should be. Sure it’s hard to keep track of all the social media networking platforms out there, but the tool created by the planet’s most popular search engine is too big to ignore. Entrepreneur.com
View full post on Small Business News, Tips, Advice – Small Business Trends
Six questions for analyzing a website
Nov 7th
It’s tempting to believe that any website can become a perpetual motion machine of profit. But before you start one, invest in one or go to work for one, a few things to ask:
- What’s the revenue per visit? (RPM). For every thousand visitors, how much money does the site make (in ads or sales)?
- What’s the cost of getting a visit? Does the site use PR or online ads or affiliate deals to get traffic? If so, what’s the yield?
- Is there a viral co-efficient? Existing visitors can lead to new visitors as a result of word of mouth or the network effect. How many new visitors does each existing user bring in? (Hint: it’s less than 1. If it were more than 1, then every person on the planet would be a user soon.) This number rarely stays steady. For example, at the beginning, Twitter’s co-efficient was tiny. Then it scaled to be one of the largest ever (Oprah!) and now has started to come back down to Earth.
- What’s the cost of a visitor? Does the site need to add customer service or servers or other expenses as it scales?
- Are there members/users? There’s a big difference between drive-by visits and registered users. Do these members pay a fee, show up more often, have something to lose by switching?
- What’s the permission base and how is it changing? The only asset that can be reliably built and measured online is still permission. Attention is scarce, and permission is the privilege to deliver anticipated, personal and relevant messages to people who want to get them. Permission is easy to measure and hard to grow.
Do the math on successful companies online and compare it to those that are struggling and these six metrics will help you understand the difference. For example, if the RPM is less than the cost of getting a new visitor, you’ve got trouble. If the site is relying on fads and occasional PR but isn’t building a permission base, that’s trouble too.
The good news is that each of them can be changed if you’re alert and willing to do surgery on the business model and structure of the site.
The ideal structure is a business that’s a platform, not merely a place to stop by. Once people move in and become members, they’re hesitant to leave, they share permission over time, they tell their friends, their RPM goes up and the cost of acquiring and hosting members goes down. The real question is: are you on that path?
View full post on Seth’s Blog
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Oct 15th
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