Email 101: How to Utilize Email to Propel Your Small Business Website Forward

You may simply think of email as a means of communicating with family and friends or sending funny jokes and pictures. If you are a small business owner and this is your mindset, then you are missing out on a big marketing potential. Email is an excellent tool for marketing your small business website and keeping your customers abreast of your latest activities.

Email – Relationship Building Tool

Use email as a means of forging a relationship with customers by communicating with them and keeping the line open for feedback.

Promotions/Specials – Let your customers know when your small business website is having a new sale or promotion by sending out an email announcement. Customers will likely feel valued that you are notifying them and keeping them in the loop of new deals that may interest them.Newsletters – Informing customers of your specials is not the only form of email marking for your small business website. You can also regularly touch base with your customers by sending out newsletters, whether they are weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. These newsletters can contain information about changes to your small business website, industry news, a reiteration of sales and/or anything you want to share with your customers.Surveys – You can also utilize emails to send out surveys seeking direct feedback from customers to discover what they like/dislike and want to see on your small business website.

Email – Key Structural Elements

As for the emails themselves, there are certain elements that should be included in each of them.

Subject Line – The subject line of the email should be catchy and clearly stated because you want the customers to be intrigued enough to open the email.Introduction – Once it has been opened, the first line of text should be an attention grabber so they will be drawn in and continue reading.CTA – Each email should have a call to action (CTA), which will get the customers to “do something” – fill out a form, make a phone call, click a link to your small business website, etc.Social – Lastly, each email should include links to your social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Google+) so your customers can become followers, thus expanding your methods of reaching out to your customers.

A major thing to keep in mind when embarking on email marketing is that you do not want it to come off as being spam. Nobody likes spam, and if you are sending out unsolicited messages, your small business has a tendency of being viewed in a negative light. Additionally, if you are sending emails for your business, you should familiarize yourself with the local laws and regulations when it comes to contacting customers via email. Any email campaign should target those who have directly requested information from you and/or expressed interest in future news while making a previous purchase.

In addition to the email blast tool available to Webs users within the Members App, there are a number of affordable email marketing services out there that can effortlessly guide you through the process of creating an email marketing campaign for your small business website. Poke around and see which one best suits your needs. Good luck!

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Greening Your Business for Earth Day

Unless you live under a rock, you are surely aware that global warming has become a growing concern all around the world. The proof is right before our eyes in the daily news: heat waves, drought, freak storms, polar ice caps melting, etc. Most of us are not scientists who can find a magic remedy for global warming reversal, but there are some smaller things each of us can all do to shrink our carbon footprints in an effort to make a difference. The same can be said for your small business website and the environment in which you run day-to-day operations.

While everyday should be treated as Earth Day, we here at Webs.com are observing the official Earth Day 2012 with some tips for “greening” your small business. Some of these may be more ambitious than others, but every little bit helps in preserving our planet, and your small business can help make a contribution for the good of things.

Recycle, recycle, recycle. As a kid, you may have collected bottles and cans hoping to make a quarter or two, but these days recycling has become a part of everyday life. Your small business can make a difference simply by recycling paper, ink cartridges, bottles and cans.Use recycled products. Using productsmade of recycled materials for your small business supports recycling efforts and continues to keep our landfills from overflowing.Drink filtered water. Install a filter on a regular water tap or use water pitchers with filters instead of drinking from small water bottles. If you still want to use small water bottles, make sure to recycle them when emptied. Another option is to employ the services of a water cooler company that recycles their large water jugs.Energy Star. Reduce the electricity usage of your small business by getting Energy Star products, like computers and appliances. Learn more about the Energy Star program by visiting www.energystar.gov.Sleeping computers. Taking the time to power-up a computer every morning can be a pain, thus many people simply leave them on 24/7. Your small business should make a policy of setting all computers to auto-sleep mode. Logging back on will be quick and the energy wasted will be greatly reduced.Alternative energy. If feasible, your small business can consider other energy options, such as wind or solar power.Telecommuting. Consider allowing the employees of your small business to telecommute a few times a week. This will reduce your energy usage and cut back on exhaust emissions created by the driving commute to the office.Teleconferencing. In another attempt to reduce exhaust emissions, consider conducting meetings via phone calls or video chats instead of traveling to another site. This would also eliminate the time spent en route, thus allowing more time for productivity in the office of your small business.Electronic communication. Lean on your email system for communicating with your customer base.There is no need for a small business to use snail mail to communicate, wasting paper that is often discarded in a receptacle not intended for recycling.Don’t leave the light on. We have all seen buildings illuminated at night, and what a sight they make. But that sight is also wasted energy, as most of those lit windows belong to an empty room. Last person out – turn off the lights.

These are just a small handful of things you can do to make your small business green. A simple web search can produce a myriad of green tips for making this a healthier planet. Being green is not just an individual effort… your small business and those involved with it can band together and collectively reduce your global footprint.

What do you plan to do this Earth Day?

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Example Site Wednesday: Special Earth Day Edition

Happy Example Site Wednesday Everyone!

With International Earth Day just a few days away, we thought it would be amazing to showcase one of our websites that is helping to save our beautiful earth!

Our Example Site Wednesday comes from Simply Birgit that provides organic, raw and fair trade skin care products.  Let’s take a look at their website, because the simplistic yet sophisticated beauty of this site is extraordinary.

Simply Birgit does a great job of showcasing their products by proudly displaying images of top products front and center on the homepage. This simple action allows visitors to quickly understand what the website is about and sets expectations of available products and their look. The skin care products found on this site are raw and natural, so to capture that essence Simply Birgit created a simple website that, like her products does not feature any unnecessary ingredients that throw off the main objective. We also love the ‘Call-To-Action’ message on the homepage; it is clear, straight to the point and invokes a specific reaction.

The most important reason why we all should start using eco-friendly products is because of the devastating effect of harmful gases, non-biodegradable materials, and dangerous gases which pollute our environment. It is our responsibility to take care of this planet, and we all should do our part to help make Earth a better place not only for ourselves but the animals as well. We commend the job Simply Birgit is doing by providing organic products that come wrapped in 100% biodegradable packing materials.

Earth Day is a reminder that we ALL need to work together to REDUCE pollution, REUSE paper and plastic and RECYCLE our wastes.

Thanks for checking in!

Tune in next Wednesday

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Tips for Authentically Branding Small Business Websites

All businesses, big or small, greatly benefit from creating a strong brand. Not familiar with what branding is? The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a “name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of other sellers.” In a nutshell, you will want to brand your small business website so that customers think of you and your goods/services when they need something.Piece of cake, right?

Branding a small business website isn’t necessarily that simple, but there are steps you can follow to get you on the road to creating a successful branding campaign.

Naming you small business website. This is a no-brainer, but your business name should reflect the goods/services that you provide. For example, if you sell dog toys, it would make no sense to call your small business Fran’s Cat Emporium. How to find a memorable domain name.Devise a catchy tagline. A cleaver and memorable tagline will assist customers in recalling your small business. Fran’s Dog Emporium could use a tagline such as, “if they’ll fetch it, we’ve got it.” Some humor and relatable; that will go a long way in branding a small business website.Create a memorable logo. All the major businesses have logos that are instantly recognizable. Your small business probably won’t achieve global acclaim, but a great logo will help your branding efforts on a smaller, more local level. Additional logo designing tips.Use favicons in the URL of your small business website. What is a favicon? It’s a small graphic in the URL field that precedes the “http.” Ideally, this image has some relevance to your small business and/or your logo. For instance, the Webs.com website utilizes a “W” favicon. This will personalize your small business website and help it stand out from the others. Discover how to add a favicon to your website.Budget for advertising. There are lots of resources available online for you to help create buzz around your brand. If fiscally possible, get the word out through advertising.

The above suggestions more-or-less represent the “physical” aspects of branding a small business website, but there are also branding elements that involve some brain power. Sit down to take a few moments to determine the vision and purpose of your small business website. What are your goals? Who is your target audience? What are your core strengths? Who is you competition, and how do they differ from you? If you can pinpoint an answer for each of these questions, you will develop a solid base for branding your small business website. If you are looking for more guidance, take a look at 3 steps to developing a popular and authentic brand.

Developing your branding message and making sure it is clear and consistent will keep you well on your way to growing your small business and keep it thriving.

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Example Site Wednesday: Boogiebabys + Tips to Enhance the Appeal of Your Products

Happy Example Site Wednesday! This Wednesday we are bringing to you a delectable website that features a successful family oriented business that strives to make the world a beautiful place with each creation. Boogiebabys makes personalized hand-crafted, wedding cake toppers, decorative figurines, wall letters, name plaques and keepsake decorative greeting cards.

The site owner does a great job of providing clear information on the services the website offers and the quality of materials utilized to create their products.  Additionally the website offers special promotions,  FAQ’s page and much more.  Attention to such little details is what helps to enhance the overall website visitor experience.  Looking to improve your website experience?

Be The Customer:  In order to provide value to your customer, you must put yourself in their “shoes”.  When coming to your website, what are customers looking for? What type of information would help them make the purchasing decision? What could showcase your product better? Simple questions such as these can help you figure out ways you can improve HOW website visitors/potential customers view your products. Quick Tip: Think of ways you can organize your products into organized categories to help customers find what they need on the go. Make sure that your pricing and shipping information is easily located and descriptive of what is and isn’t included.Special Offers: Creating a page where you advertise special product discounts can help push conversation rates with customers who are in limbo about whether they should purchase from you or not. You can also utilize a blog or a forum page to bring attention to relevant news pertaining to the products you offer. Information t hat is updated on regular basis  can be a great way to keep customers checking in on your website just to see what new deals you are unraveling.Strong Foundation: Make sure that you utilize the correct pages offered by Webs to enhance your products and help your customers find out everything they need to know before making a purchase. Here is some information on pages that are essential for a successful small business website.

Quick tweaks to your website can make a big impact on its overall look and feel.

See you NEXT Wednesday!

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Example Site Wednesday: Adventure Maine + Website Enhancement Tips

This Wednesday we are going to be featuring an adventurous website that shows how you can utilize inbound links to drive your website traffic. Our featured website is Adventure Maine, where you can go to find out the many attractions Maine has to offer.

This website is chock full of information about the many things to do in Maine, and today we would like to offer a few suggestions to take this website to the next level:

Simplicity can help drive interaction. While a lot of relevant content is important for a website to rank well in search engines, it is important to strike a balance between content and usability. As you look at the homepage, you can see a lot going on and it can be hard for site visitors to know where to go. Discover few tips on how to simplify your homepage.Alignment can help improve readability.  Did you know that a simple step of ensuring that items are aligned and easy to view on your website can improve your website readability? Thus our next tip for this website would be to ensure all content is centered and spaced correctly. Clear content can help to make your website call-to-action stand out more.  Learn how to build a call to action that can boost conversion rates.Intuitive navigation can boost retention rates. If website visitors can’t quickly and easily locate specific information they are more likely to leave your website and head for the nearest competitor. Deter this from happening by simplifying your navigation bar. 3 Tips for a more intuitive website navigation.

Take today as a reflection day to look over your website one more time to see if you can apply the above mentioned tips to improve your website interaction, readability and retention rates. Think your website has what it takes to be showcased next week? Comment below!

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How to Handle the Audit of Your Small Business [Infographic]

Posted by Irina on April 3, 2012 | 1 Comment »

Small businesses in the United States always have to make sure that they file taxes in a correct and legal manner. According to the latest data, the odds of being audited if you are a small business owner are against you. Small business owners are 30% more likely to be audited today than they were in 2005.

Click on the image to view full-sized
Click on the image to view full-sized

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How to Use Pinterest to Promote Your Small Business

Posted by Ryan on March 30, 2012 | 5 Comments »

Don’t look now but there is another hot shot social media site out here. Pinterest is the name and pin-boards is its game. The beauty of this service is its ability to bring many diverse people together not through words but visual boards. Users on Pinterest rave about the ease of use, the ability to be creative and the advantages of the organizational tools of the site.

Many Businesses are also using Pinterest to drive web traffic, according to Shareaholics latest referral traffic report: Pinterest has sent more referral traffic to other websites than twitter in Febuary. So if your business thrives off of website traffic to generate leads and sales, Pinterest is definitely a platform your company needs to take advantage of.  This article will show you how you can use this social media platform to increase your brands awareness while generating leads and website traffic.

First things first, you need to be introduced to the language of this new site:

Pins: Images, articles or videos uploaded via PC or found anywhere on the web, that are added to Pinterest.Boards: Just like a poster board, or collage these are where you place your pins. Boards are sorted into categorgies or subjects like food, sports, or ‘products I like’ etc.Like: Just like Facebook, you choose to “Like” a pin and Pinterest conveniently places your Likes into the ‘Like Section’ of your profile.Re-Pin: When you add an image you find on Pinterest onto your board, when you Re-Pin the user who pinned the image first is credited.Pinner: A user on Pinterest.Follow: You can follow Pinners that interest you, and you can receive their latest updates on the Home feed of your profile.Mention: You can mention other Pinners in the comments of your pins by using the “@” symbol and adding the username of the Pinner.

To see an example of a Pinterest board, check out Webs Pinterest account.

Use twitter hashtags and keywords to drive SEO rankings in pin captions.Remember to add the “Pin It” button to your website, right next to your Facebook ‘Like’ button and your Twitter “Tweet” button. Here is an article by Pinterest on how to do this (http://pinterest.com/about/goodies/)Make sure that you create a detailed description of your business and be mindful of the keywords that you use for SEO purposes. Don’t forget to make sure the button that says “Hide your Pinterest profile from search engines” is turned off.Add your website URL to the pins you post on your boards so that you can increase web traffic.Sync your Facebook & Twitter accounts to allow for your Pinterest content to post on these networks; this is a great way to let your followers know you’re on Pinterest so they can follow you.If you are Pinning a product, add a “$” or “£” followed by the price of the product in the description of a Pin. This will allow for your products to be displayed in the ‘Gift’ feed and this is where pins are grouped into price ranges.Follow: Follow Pinners and Pin-Boards that are within your industry and that interest you; doing so will provide additional exposure for your brand within your niche.Quality Content: Pin distinguishable and exotic content so that you can stand out and attract audiences you normally would not have the opportunity to influence. If you are pinning pictures of your products or services make sure that you use images that are high quality and vibrant so users can repin and like your products.Consistency: The Internet is full of vibrant and beautiful images that can help paint your story and taste of your brand. Make sure you use that to your advantage and Pin often and consistently so users can expect fresh content from you on a regular basis, this is how you increase your followers and increase your opportunity of being found.SEO Captions: Make sure that you are narrating your captions on your Pins so they are SEO friendly, many users search on Pinterest for content all the time. This heightens the chance that your content will be found and it can help you increase your unique visitor traffic.Re-Pin: Pinterest is built around sharing content between users, re-pinning is a great way to engage with others that have the same interests as you.

Pinterest allows for all of your virtual ideas to come to life, so get creative and think of ways to add personality to your board to help your brand’s image stand out.

Your History: Create a board of the things that you feel influenced your brand and think of things you can add that have sentimental value to your business.Show Your Expertise: Create a board that highlights some of the newest things in your field or books that you have read that you suggest others in your field should take a look at.Emotional Connection: Show your commitment for a cause and devote a board that brings awareness to the cause. Include a charity you support and the different ways in which other can help out and support.Personality: Take some high quality photos of your employees and yourself behind the scenes. Let your businesses personality shine through and have fun, let others know that you’re human as well.Create A Contest: Entice your followers to re-pin a particular image from your business and offer a prize.Compliment: Create a board that shows the many products that compliment your brand, so if you sold smoothies it would be a good idea to have a board that shows creative looking straws to enjoy your smoothies better.Favorite Foods: Food seems to be one of the most popular boards searched for on Pinterest, see if you can create a board that shows your favorite meals to prepare at home.

Keep in mind that Pinterest is a community of people, so be respectful in all comments and conversations. Pinterest has conveniently listed out a set of rules to keep the playing field even and to allow for users to uphold a positive atmosphere (http://pinterest.com/about/etiquette/). We suggest taking to take the first day on Pinterest to get familiar with browsing the site, looking at what your competitors are doing and following things that interest you. Don’t forget to always be creative; this website was made for your organic creativity to shine.

Please comment below and tell us all the ways you are using Pinterest to ignite your business and create quality leads for your products!

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Example Site Wednesday: The Bead Place + Tips to boost your e-commerce website

Posted by Ryan on March 28, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

It’s WEDNESDAY and that means…. (HMMMMM…) YES you guessed it!  Example Site Wednesday! Today we present to you http://www.beadplace.net/ , where you can always find the perfect accessory for every occasion.

 “More than seven out of 10 internet users are online buyers” –EMarketer.com

What makes The Bead Place such a wonderful website is the simplicity and usability of their online store. The homepage header includes the logo (placed in the left hand side) as well as a large and clear title. The main image shows a picture of the inside of their store, showing some of the most popular products they have to offer. The background contrasts smoothly with the main content of the site and creates a creative and serene mood for users. If you take a look at the navigational links you can see that “shop” is the first link under the homepage, inviting users to go there first. They use the video section of their website to upload videos of tutorials for customers to learn new innovative techniques. The calendar section shows all of the upcoming classes, which are available for users to comment and view. There is also a Guestbook section that allows customers to leave testimonials and reviews of the store and the products.

Tips on how to give your e-commerce website a little boost:

Simplify Product Description: Using simple to read product descriptions can help improve your conversion rates as opposed to providing only manufacturers description of the product. Additionally, including tips in your product description, like telling users if they would need any tools to better use your product, can help to set expectations of potential customers and decrease customer service inquiries.Improve Image Quality: Using high quality vibrant photos can help to make your products look enticing and attractive to potential customers.  Discover other ways graphics can help enhance your website.Create a Clear Site Flow: Providing potential customers with clear paths to helpful how-to videos/blog posts can help to elivitate common question and help to build your site credibility. The Bead Place, for example deals with customers who may not know how to sew or create jewelry. So they included many media resources that show potential customers how they could use their products. Learn 6 Essential Characteristics of a Business Website.Customer Service: Make sure that you give accurate and clear details about your business. The easier a customer can contact you, the easier it is for a customer to purchase from you. Create a relationship with your customers as well; try to form a system where you can follow-up with them 3-4 days after product arrives. Find out if the product matched the description that you gave them and if there were any stages of confusion as they moved around your website. This shows that you prioritize your customers and can help you learn more about the way you customers operate.

The world of ecommerce is growing at a fast rate, according to eMarketer “From 2010 to 2015, nearly 30 million consumers will join the ranks of online buyers”. With so many people buying products online, the importance of a simplified buying process that accurately showcases products is becoming more important. The Bead Place is an excellent example of how to use your website to relate with your customer and increase sales.

Do you have a great looking website? Post below for a chance to be chosen as our next week’s example website!

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About Us page: checklist for a successful website

Posted by Irina on March 23, 2012 | 1 Comment »

The “About Us” section of your website should provide in-depth information about yourself, the website creator, and the purpose of your small business (if applicable). According to SmashingMagazine.com, “the about me page is one of the most overlooked pages in development, but highest ranked page on many websites”.

Since this page gets so much online visibility, it is important to utilize it to its full potential. Let’s start by first identifying why a site visitor might come to your about us page:

Curiosity about the website creator and/or the businessLooking for key contact information

Thus, a good About Us page should clearly satisfy both of these needs in a useful and effortless manner. To help you get started in writing/ reviewing your “About Us” page, here is a small checklist of items that should be covered by this page:

Your name and qualifications – Who are you? What qualifies you to run this website?Business Information – What does your website/small business offer?Unique selling proposition – How is your small business different from competition? Learn more about what is a unique selling proposition.Business history – How long have you been in the business? How did you get started? What drives your passion for the business?Contact information – Do you have a phone number customers can call? Store location? Do you have a map with easy directions to follow?Social media links – Link to your Facebook, Twitter, and other social pages

Think of the “About Us” page as your virtual business card. Your about information should be easy to find and should not be hidden. Providing key information elements will help website visitors to feel more confident about you and your business.  It might make the difference between a sale and “just browsing”.

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Entrepreneurs in Today’s World [Infographic]

Posted by Irina on March 20, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

The landscape of business owners has changed drastically over the years. The following infographic provides a historic snapshot of this change from 1960s to present day.

Key Trends:

75% of America’s private sector workers is made up of small businessesBusiness ownership is no longer confined to a specific  age groupWhile degree is not necessary to start a business, over 72% of small business owners have a college degree or higher.Click on the image to view full-sized View full-sized

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Example Site Wednesday: Rags to Riches Dog Spa + Product/Service Credibility Tips

Posted by Irina on March 14, 2012 | 2 Comments »

This Wednesday we present you with a well organized site that exemplifies how to effectively leverage the quality of your product/service. Rags to Riches Dog Spa is a professional mobile dog grooming service started by Kelly, an avid animal lover. Kelly felt that every dog client should have her UNDIVIDED attention, leaving clients feeling satisfied with the service she provides. Her passion for the business translates into the design and feel of the website.

Rags to Riches Dog Spa website clearly communicate its purpose. Furthermore, the color scheme of the website utilizes 2 primary colors that blend well creating a unique brand identity without distracting visitors from the main content. When it comes to the psychology of colors, purple means royalty and yellow tends to represent cheerfulness so what better color scheme to represent her slogan “Your Dog Is Treated Like Royalty”.

Another thing that the website owner does well is the ability to communicate her strong product knowledge and dedication to services offered.

Here are some tips that can help your small business website showcase your product/service superiority:

Theme Is Key – Make sure you take a look at the psychology of colors and find out what emotions and traits colors mean. Figure out which colors coordinate best with the subject of your website that run congruent with the personality of your business. Do not use more than three main colors as a color scheme; the key is to set the mood not to distract your visitors. Setting the mood is very important because it allows visitors to feel comfortable, which means they’ll stay on your website longer. Discover other design elements that impact the quality of your website.Quality photography - A simple way to increase visual appeal is to use high quality photography for your products/services. You can also use pictures to go along with your content to help you drive your point better, be mindful not to overload pages with too many photos that take away from the main content. Learn how to use graphics to enhance your website.Simplicity - Be clear and direct when you talk about your services, don’t try to impress visitors with overwhelming animations and huge words. When you think of your web content try to think of the EASIEST way you can word your services so that anyone can comprehend your site with ease. Simplicity can help you add additional value to your website.Personal “About Me” - A personal “About Me” page will help you to connect with visitors on an emotional level that gives insights into who you are, your interests and visions for your business. This emotional connection builds trust, loyalty and confidence in your skills as well as your product or service.Brand Strength - Make sure you are keeping current with your website and updating your site with reviews and awards that your business receives. Everyone can rave about themselves, but having others praise your product and service helps to establish the strength of your online brand. 5 tips to market your new website.

Take time to create an image of your ideal customer and keep them in mind when mapping out the flow for your website. Be sure to include information that is beneficial to your website visitors and potential customers and helps to relay information about products/services you provide.

Happy Site Building!

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3 Tips on How to Use YouTube To Help Your Small Business Grow

Posted by Irina on March 13, 2012 | 3 Comments »

Small business owners often encounter difficulties when it comes to creating interactive ways to bring new customers to discover their websites. An often overlooked marketing channel that small business owners can take advantage of quickly and inexpensively is by creating a how-to video for their website.

Just think, how many times have you gone online for questions on how to create or repair something? Would you rather read instructions on how to solve your issue or WATCH a tutorial that had easy to follow steps?

Here are a few tips that will help you reach YouTube success!

Before your business becomes a viral sensation, there are a few YouTube channel options you should check out:

 Featured Video – Set-Up your channel to ensure featured video starts to auto-play as soon as a user lands on your channel. This can be achieved via the options available under the ‘Featured’ tab of your channel.

Latest statistics reveal that on average there are over 50,400 hours of content being uploaded on daily basis to YouTube. Thus you have to take extra steps to increase the likelihood your video stands out and comes up in searches.

Location Tagging – Don’t forget to tag your business location after uploading your video. This allows your video to be uploaded to Google Maps and Google Places, allowing it to be included in those search results.Captions and Subtitles – Just like adding SEO rich keywords into the description of your channel, the title of your video and captions impact the search engine ranking of each video. Thus, choose your words wisely.Thumbnail – Make sure the thumbnail you choose for your video is interesting and stands out, something that pulls a viewer in without being deceitful. Your thumbnail will be an excerpt from your video, so choose a thumbnail that shows action.Video Reply – Try submitting your video as a “video reply” to industry related videos, this allows for your video to be posted on to the same page of the video you are replying to.  Your video will be placed directly above the comment font box, so if you make a video reply to a high traffic video you are increasing your visibility.Related Video – Another great way to gain visibility, is to be featured in the ‘related videos’ section when a user is viewing a relevant video.  Related videos are chosen based on video categorizations. If you have a printing business, you do not want to be categorized as a restaurant, you want to come up as a ‘related video’ to videos dealing with printing or printing supplies. So make sure your Channel Tags, Video Tags and Video Titles are all relevant to each other, this gives you a better chance of being categorized correctly.

Once your video has been uploaded, don’t stop. Think of creative ways you can engage with your potential audience to drive community fellowship. Growing your follower list on YouTube will help you to gain social validation regarding the content value and gain potential new clients.  Here are a few suggestions on how to grow your new YouTube network:

Add users as friendsSubscribe to other video channels that relate to your businessSubscribe to channels you find entertainingPost regular bulletins to provide channel updates via the “Feed” section of your channelReply to posted feedbackAsk for advice or comments for future videos

Now it is your turn to give us some feedback. When was the last time you tested using videos to drive traffic to your website? What are the top lessons you learned from such videos.

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How to Make a Website: Building a Small Business Website – A to Z

Posted by Irina on March 9, 2012 | 2 Comments »

You have a small business and want to expand your reach and exposure. You want to enter the land of the Internet, but you don’t know how to make a website. When deciding to make a website for your small business, there are a number of aspects to consider in order to ensure that it is as successful as possible.

Here is a list of factors that will help guiding you in learning how to build a website.

A – “About Us” page. This is the area of your website where you provide in-depth information about your small business, like history, employees and contact information.

B – Blogging. A blog is an excellent means of providing fresh information for your customers, giving them a reason to make regular, return visits to your small business website.

C – Content. When making a website, content that is pertinent to its mission and engaging for the audience is of vital importance.

D – Design. The design of a small business website should be visually appealing, and at the same time, not so “busy” that it is off-putting, making it difficult to located wanted information.

E – Email. Provide an email address for customers to easily contact you should they have questions or require more information.

F – Font. Employ a font style on your small business website that is easy to ready by all site visitors.

G – Google. It’s all about getting a good ranking in Google and other Search Engines.

H – Home page. This is the first part of your small business website that potential customers will see, so it is vital to make it informative and appealing.

I – Images. Images and graphics are great tools for making a website more visually appealing, as well as breaking up chunks of text so the content is easier to read and grasp.

J – Justify. Create a justified/aligned website that is easy to digest and navigate.

K – Keywords. Content rich with search keywords will help improve search engine rankings of your small business website.

L – Linking. Cross links throughout your small business website, as well as link sharing with other sites, is another SEO tool that should be utilized.

M – Main website title and address (URL). Make your main title (the name of your small business website) something simple and easy to remember. The URL for the site should match the title as closely as possible for recall purposes.

N – Navigation. Simple and functional navigation will help customers find the information they are seeking without an extensive effort. If they cannot quickly find what they want, they will go elsewhere.

O – Optimization (SEO). Utilize search engine optimization tactics and tools to increase the exposure your small business website will get in web searches.

P – Paragraph structure. Do not crowd your website content in large paragraphs. Keep it simple, employing line breaks to provide information in small bites that is easy to digest.

Q – Questions (FAQ). Provide your customers with a Frequently Asked Questions page. This is a one-stop shop for finding desired information about your small business website. Customers are likely to learn what they want, thus eliminating the need to contact you directly and clog the lines of communication.

R – Retail (Store). If your small business website involves the sales of merchandise, it will need a retail/store area where customers can add and manage items.

S – Social Media. Use social media entities like Facebook and Twitter to promote your small business website, announce special deals, and open a line of dialog with your customers.

T – Topic. The content of your small business website should stay on topic with your mission and not go off on tangents. Also, if you are writing a blog, make sure the topics are in line with the main function of your website.

U – Updates. Frequently update the content of your small business website to keep it fresh and give customers a reason to make repeat visits.

V – Vision. Create a vision and purpose when making a website for a small business… and stick to it!

W – Web competition analysis. Take a look-see at the competition to see what they are doing. There may be elements you want to use on your small business website, and you may discover a niche that has not been tapped into, which you can get in on first.

X – X Factor. No, not the TV singing competition. X factor as in giving your small business website that extra something that the competition is not offering.

Y – YouTube. Create videos and use YouTube as another media channel for promoting your small business website. These videos can also be shared on your website, making it more attractive to search engines.

Z – Zero to fear. Making a website for a small business may sound daunting, but there really is nothing to fear. It is better to have a rudimentary site than it is to have none at all. Improvements can be made at any time as you get a better feel for things.

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Example Site Wednesday: Scarab Pictures + Website Personality 101

Posted by Ryan on March 6, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

When you are walking into a building for the first time, you automatically begin to think about your feelings about the establishment. Websites work in the same way, when visitors come to your site they are formulating an impression of you or your organization. In order to land a strong impression your website has to display a sense of pizzazz and style that can keep visitors interested in the main content of your website. This week’s Example Site Wednesday belongs to Scarab Pictures, a delightful website made by an artistically intuitive freelance photographer named Claire. Claire has created a website that not only showcases her talents, but does it in a way that is very innovational and original.

“I’ll make an image out of anything, everything can be beautiful if you look at it a little differently.”
- Claire

Claire has created a website that not only showcases her talents, but does it in a way that is very innovational and original.

The homepage message is clear and direct to the overall purpose of the website. The navigational links are personal and positioned neatly. The ‘About Me’ and ‘Contact Me’ links have been changed to ‘Who I Am’ and ‘Write To Me’ to not only stand out, but place a personal touch to the website. Doing so helps to invite users to explore. The ‘Links’ page extends external links to her colleagues within her profession; this is a great way to establish a back linking relationship that can help your site receive more hits. The color scheme for her website sets a calm and serene atmosphere that openly welcomes you into further navigating through her website.  If you take a look at her blog, you can see that Claire keeps her blog relevant and with each post Claire uproots a deeper beauty of life.

Personality is very important in not only making your website stand out, but in establishing a personal relationship with visitors.

Tips to help add/showcase personality to your website:

Passage- Try to improve the passage, in which a visitor navigates throughout your website, you do not want a homepage that pulls users into too many directions. Offer a clear message of your purpose and lead them to the next destination of your site.Supporting Cast- Backgrounds for your site are not meant to be the highlight of your website. Try to make sure your background does not distract visitors and take them away from the main content of your site. A good background sets the mood for your site and makes sure your visitors eyes are easily directed to the main content of your website.Revise Other Web Content- Looking at other competing websites is a good method of gauging your website’s creativity level. Give your competitors an honest creativity review; figure out ways you can customize your website to be different from your competitors.Storytelling- Try to compose your web content on your pages like a story, like all stories there is a beginning, middle and end. Make sure that the beginning draws your visitors in, the middle effectively covers your main objective and your end has a clear ‘Call to Action’ message.Atmosphere- Build a good atmosphere so first time website visitors can experience an amazing first impression when they enter your site. There are certain elements that can help you build a good atmosphere such as, text font, colors, organization and unique content. Think of a great atmosphere that runs parallel to you or your organization, a good atmosphere can increase the time a user stays on your site.

The blueprint to becoming creative is to be yourself, whether you own a business, group or own a website for personal reasons. There is no better determining factor of creativity than uniqueness, so do not be afraid to do what it takes to stand out.

Until Wednesday rolls around again,

HAPPY SITE BUILDING!

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Example Site Wednesday: Bows for Hope + How to Improve Website Usability

Posted by Ryan on February 29, 2012 | 2 Comments »

This week’s Example Site Wednesday comes from a beautiful website dedicated to selling adorable duct tape bows to raise money for a cancer charity foundation, Bows for Hope. This website provides an excellent example of how a simplistic homepage can help you capitalize on your unique web traffic.

“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler.”

-Albert Einstein

Bows For Hope is an organization started by Lauren Chelenza, a 13 year old, who was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in 2009. She sells bows made of duct tape that come in many creative designs for $1.50, and all proceeds are donated to the Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation. Lauren first started out selling her bows in school, and to date she has raised thousands of dollars for her cause.

Within seconds of visiting Bows For Hope, you are greeted with an warm angelic design that directs you to the main content of the site. The content is straight forward and allows visitors to comprehend the objective of the site instantly. Right below the main paragraph is a ‘Call to Action’ message that is a personal statement directly from the founder of the site. The navigational links are placed on the left side of the site, and the links are precise and easy to read.

Whether you have an e-commerce or personal site, it is very important to improve the visitor experience of your site. Here are some reasons why a SIMPLER site will improve website usability:

Accessibility: Think about the visitors who come to your site who may be using a special tool or program to view your site. There will be users who may have trouble seeing, or maybe blind and they utilize a tool to read aloud your site. A simple design will make it easier for your site to be accessible by anyone.Speed: Having fewer things to load makes your site much faster, and we all know how important page loading is in the overall user experience.Improved Navigation: Make sure that your menu is easily accessible and well organized; users should be able to effectively find exactly which page they are looking for without opening unnecessary links. Try to place navigational links either as the top header or on the left side of your site, those are the first places where users look. Make sure the links are in order by most popular to least popular, and that they are easy to understand.Clear Message: Users come to your websites for a purpose, and if they cannot meet their objective in a reasonable amount of time they will leave. Your homepage needs to have a direct message that tells your users they will meet their objectives on your site. It may be beneficial to ask a question about your website or company and answer it with a clear short paragraph. If a user has to analyze a confusing homepage to find out the clear message, more than likely they will be gone within the first 10 seconds of coming to your site.Mobile Access: A simpler design means that Smartphones will be able to access your full site features.

Lauren has been given a second chance at life and takes great pride in knowing that she has generated thousands of dollars for the Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation, an organization that is near and dear to her heart. We invite you to view her website and check out her beautiful bows and learn more about her story.

Until Next Wednesday,

HAPPY SITE BUILDING !

View the original article here

6 Key Elements to a Good Website

Posted by Irina on February 28, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

The following information was presented during our last webinar as a guide to help website owners  take their site to the next level. Webinar was intended to be a quick 30 minute guide to provide simple to follow tips from the Webs pros regarding the top 6 key elements that make up a good website.

Key Elements covered:

Good Visual Design– Design is an all encompassing word for all the visuals elements of your website – logo, font(s), white space, theme/template, layout and colors.
Using a theme that relates to the topic of your website can help to keep you/your content on track. When it comes to design it is important to remember to use white space and think about color usage and meaning.Content– The key to a good website is providing relevant content that your readers want.  Content should answer the question “what’s in it for me?”Navigation– Navigation is the “GPS” of your website. Navigation or Nav Bars are the buttons that get your visitors where they need to go to get information or do certain things. Usually this bar is along the top, as we in this one, or along the left side of the site.Should be simple to use and uncluttered. It is always a good idea to group like pages under the same topic to streamline navigation.Call to Action – The Call to Action is a set of words that urge your website visitors to take an immediate action on your website.  There is no magic formula to a good Call to Action. The key is to continuously test what works best for your website and your audience. Test the placement, size and color of these…make sure you use actionable words.Credibility – A good website instills trust from visitors. Good website design takes this into consideration by incorporating items that help identify that you are a legitimate resource. One way you can do so is by utilizing
verified links, clearly stating your identity and contact info,  good grammar and employing social proof.Mobile site – More and more people are looking at your site from a mobile phone or web enabled device. It seems like anything with a screen and a microchip in it is capable of getting on the internet these days. Make sure your site is viewable on a mobile internet enabled device. Quick note: Webs websites are automatically converted into a mobile friendly site when you build it.

Webinar also covered 5 mistakes that could spell disaster for a website:

Stale Content – Don’t let your site go dormant. Visitors and potential visitors will skip over your site when content is old and out of date – not to mention the effects this has on your search results.Too much content –  This is worse than not enough content. The more people have to read through narratives and long drawn out chunks of information,the quicker they are going to leave your site. Leave the long-windedness to your blog entries.No Photos –  Using no imagery makes your site boring and dull. Today’s web readers expect some amount of content mixed with pictures or logos and icons.Looking illegitimate – Customers when visiting new sites will come in with their guard up – especially if they have been the victim of internet fraud before.The lens of the tainted viewer is always going to err on the side of “shady site”, and even more so if the site looks like one. Organizing your content, using consistent colors, employing a theme that stays the same from page to page, along with landing pages that match email campaigns (if you’re doing email marketing) are key to making a site look legit.Being Bland – You started your business because of some sort of drive, and a story there. You spent all this time putting together a business plan and starting your company – let your site convey your personality. If you have a business where you great everyone by name, smile and are generally happy, pick a theme and convey that. Avoid color schemes and writing that is “boring”. You have to keep your visitors attention and a bland site will get some one to leave very quickly.

Do you have an idea for the next topic we should cover in the Webs webinar? Post below for chance to be selected.

View the original article here

Grow Your Business with Mobile

Posted by Jessica on January 17, 2012 |

Okay, so you’ve taken the plunge and created a website but have you thought about Mobile?  Smartphones and tablets are everywhere and people are using them to find information and to make purchasing decisions for products and local services. According to CTIA-The Wireless Association as of June 2011, for the first time in history the number of wireless subscribers in the United States (322.9 million) has surpassed the population (315.5 million). Moreover, the wireless network data traffic had a 111% increase to 431.2 billion megabytes!  What are you doing to capitalize on this traffic?

The good news is that if you have built your website with Webs, you have also created a mobile site! We have integrated our mobile site application so all sites created on Webs display properly on smartphones. It also automatically synchs with your website so you only need to make changes in one place. Read more on how to customize your mobile website.

Mobile is a new shopping channel, more and more people are making purchases through their smartphones and you don’t want to miss out on that traffic. If you run an online store, you may want to consider putting some of your advertising budget into mobile search.

Mobile is a great tool to acquire new customers and build relationships for a traditional brick and mortar store. You can work with coupon sites like Groupon or Living Social to acquire new customers, plan carefully to make sure that you aren’t operating at a loss or being overwhelmed with too many coupons in one day.  If your customers are looking for you on their phone, make sure they can easily find your physical location, hours of operation and any other information necessary to do business with you.

Foursquare is a great way to interact with your customers. No matter what type of business you are, if you have a storefront you should claim your business. You can create your own specials at no cost to both attract new customers and keep loyal customers happy.

There are lots of opportunities for you to grow your business through a mobile site and mobile applications. This should be a part of your marketing plan for your business.

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Example Site Wednesday: How Webs Users are Taking a Stance Against SOPA & PIPA

Posted by Irina on January 18, 2012 | 2 Comments »

January 18, 2012 will now be known as the day internet companies took a stance in the largest internet protest against SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) bills. Today we would like to showcase how some Webs.com users are taking their freedom of speech to express their points of view on these bills:

Creators of pinkmoonwebdesign.com decided to redirect their website today to http://sopastrike.com/:

While the creator of AG Lovers has put up a tombstone over their website:

Some are taking a less aggressive stance by posting custom made banners:

Learn more about these bills and how you can take a stance.

View the original article here

Writer’s Block – How to get your inspiration back

Posted by Kirk on February 7, 2012 | 11 Comments »

You know that it is important to update your website on regular basis and post blog updates often to maintain and improve your search engine ranking (SEO). You sit down in front of your computer/laptop but nothing comes out. You want to post an insightful update and just can’t come up with a good idea. It’s a problem that strikes us all, especially when it comes to writing – the dreaded writer’s block.

Don’t fall victim to procrastination or fear of the blank page. There are plenty of things you can do to get you on the right track towards posting:

Start with looking at your competition: what kind of information are they providing their guests?Look at websites you like and determine what it is about them that you like.Look at sites you don’t like (not just your competition). What is it about them that you don’t like – do they over share? Do they provide information that you need or is it just words on a page?Ask people/fans/customers what they would like to see posted on your site.Keep a notepad near you while you work that is just for web-ideas. When you think of something write it down and keep it on your “to-do” list.Follow social media. There is a wealth of intentional or unintentional information available on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and even Pintrest.  Use these portals to discover new trends and interesting information relevant to the topic of your website. It is also a good idea to save your favorite articles for future references.  Reading such articles can help spark your inspiration.

The simple fact is that inspiration can strike from anyplace or anything. Just be open to it and remember it’s sort of like lightning, that it often strikes when you least expect it and rarely ever strikes twice.

Do you have another great way to find inspiration? Share it below in the comments section.

View the original article here

How to Build a Call to Action That Can Boost Conversion Rates

Posted by Irina on January 20, 2012 | 4 Comments »

Regardless of the purpose of your website, you always want your website visitors to stick around and perform specific actions. These actions can vary from being something simple as viewing your online portfolio, discovering your product offering, signing up to receive regular email updates or making a purchase.

While website design and good layout can get the visitors to stay on your website and browse around, it doesn’t mean that they’ll click or purchase. This is where a good call to action comes in.

What is a call to action?

According to BusinessDictionary.com, call to action is a set words that urge the reader, listener, or viewer of a sales promotion message to take an immediate action, such as “Write Now,” “Call Now,” or (on Internet) “Click Here.”

When it comes to a good call to action, every element matters and has impact contributing to your website’s conversion rates. Here are some things to consider and test when it comes to Call to Action treatments:

Is it a link or a button?Look of the buttonSize of the textPlacement on your website pageColors used

What can you do to make your call to action stand out?

Testing is the name of the game. There is no magic formula, what works for one website might not work for another, that’s why you should always be testing. Here are a few suggestions on what you should consider for building a good call to action:

Size – You do not want your call to action to get lost amongst all the other copy. If you are using a button, this button ideally should be the largest element on the page to emphasize its importance.Color – Colors have the ability to evoke emotions, thus choose a color for your call to action that suggests a positive reaction (this is the reason why a lot of “next buttons” are green and “cancel buttons” are red). In addition make sure to select a high contrast color scheme that helps the call to action stand out from the other elements on your page.Placement – Each website is unique and you will need to play around with various positions where your call to action can live. However some studies have shown that placing a call to action above the fold can increase conversions. You also should provide enough space around your call to action to allow it to create a powerful impact. Regardless of the position you choose for your call to action, make sure that it is prominent and doesn’t get lost amongst other elements on the page.Copy (Text) – The language you use in your call to action should be clear and straight to the point. Do not try to fool your visitors by using misleading language, be upfront and tell them exactly what to expect. It is always a good idea to test various text versions to discover which one resonates most with your website visitors.

This list is by no means a complete list of things that will or won’t work when it comes to calls to action. It’s important to test and to see what works best with your audience. If you’re reluctant to test, then look at your competition and see what they are doing. If you have a site for a particular demographic, look at other sites that are aimed at that audience too and see what they are doing – are they using buttons, are they using links, or are they using pure text.

There is no set formula and no definitive answers, the experts all say something different. But you’re the expert on your site, so start thinking about what is going to resonate best with your audience.

Happy site building!

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Writer’s Block – How to get your inspiration back

Posted by Kirk on February 7, 2012 | 11 Comments »

You know that it is important to update your website on regular basis and post blog updates often to maintain and improve your search engine ranking (SEO). You sit down in front of your computer/laptop but nothing comes out. You want to post an insightful update and just can’t come up with a good idea. It’s a problem that strikes us all, especially when it comes to writing – the dreaded writer’s block.

Don’t fall victim to procrastination or fear of the blank page. There are plenty of things you can do to get you on the right track towards posting:

Start with looking at your competition: what kind of information are they providing their guests?Look at websites you like and determine what it is about them that you like.Look at sites you don’t like (not just your competition). What is it about them that you don’t like – do they over share? Do they provide information that you need or is it just words on a page?Ask people/fans/customers what they would like to see posted on your site.Keep a notepad near you while you work that is just for web-ideas. When you think of something write it down and keep it on your “to-do” list.Follow social media. There is a wealth of intentional or unintentional information available on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and even Pintrest.  Use these portals to discover new trends and interesting information relevant to the topic of your website. It is also a good idea to save your favorite articles for future references.  Reading such articles can help spark your inspiration.

The simple fact is that inspiration can strike from anyplace or anything. Just be open to it and remember it’s sort of like lightning, that it often strikes when you least expect it and rarely ever strikes twice.

Do you have another great way to find inspiration? Share it below in the comments section.

View the original article here

Business Idea, check; Website, check; Logo….What logo?

Posted by Kirk on February 16, 2012 | 6 Comments »

You’ve taken the plunge and decided to work for yourself. Congratulations.

In the midst of doing your business plan and filling out articles of incorporation, you launched a website that you’re pretty proud of. But, did you take the time to create a unique graphic identity?

A graphic identity is a fancy way of saying Logo. Your logo is a symbol of your company. The greatest brands of the world have logos that just about anyone can recognize without even seeing the company’s name.

When you sit down to start thinking about a logo, you should ask yourself these questions:

What do I want my logo to be? The logo you choose for your business should have a tie into your “brand” or the products/services you provide. Think about the great logos that are out there right now, how do they symbolize the company that they “work for”?What shape do I want for my logo? Should you use an abstract shape? What about the geometry of your logo – round or square? Your logo should be memorable and should correlate with what it is you do. For example, if you’re a dog walker, your logo might be something as simple as your name but with a collar and leash replacing a “round letter”.  Keep in mind that your logo does not always have to be a physical shape.What color should my logo be? Selecting the right color can make or break your logo. When first designing your logo, start out using gray scale. Once you have settled on the shape you feel passionate about, experiment with colors.  Not sure which color to select? Do some research: what are your competitors doing, how do your customers feel about certain colors?

Your logo shouldn’t be something that doesn’t connect with your or your customers. Your logo should be simple, recognizable and communicate a message to the public. Additional tips on how to create your own logo.

Not sure about where to start? Check the LogoGizmo App that can help you create and design your own logo.

It’s very important that you invest time into the creation process of deciding upon and designing your logo to make sure that it reaches the audience you want to reach and has the right impact on your business.

View the original article here

Example Site Wednesday: Pimp My Cake with Mama Rhu + Guidelines for Showcasing Your Business Personality

Posted by Irina on February 1, 2012 | 15 Comments »

Our weekly tradition dictates a showcase of another awesome Webs website. Today we are showcasing a fun website from the UK:  Pimp My Cakes with Mama Rhu. What makes this website stand out above the rest this week is the website owner’s dedication to not only showcasing their products, but also her letting her personality and enthusiasm for her business shine through on every single page on the website.

What can you take away from the creator of this website? As a small business it’s perfectly acceptable to showcase your personality to help you and your business stand out from the competition. For this site, “Mama Rhu” lets her site visitors know she’s serious (but has a good time) about her cake decorating business.

Guidelines for Showcasing Your Business Personality

Your business personality should support your business growth both externally and internally.Don’t get too personal, but do show your enthusiasmShowcase your passion for what you do.Be yourself.Show how much you are dedicated to  customer satisfaction

View the original article here

Why Content is Important for SEO

Posted by Irina on January 31, 2012 | 10 Comments »

When you think of SEO, do you think of content marketing? You should. Discover why the information you put on  your website, your content, matters and how it can impact your search engine ranking.

According to the following infographic compiled by Brafton News, continued escalation in competition between available search engines to present the most relevant information is going to continue to place additional emphasis on the type of information websites contain. More specifically, emphasis will be placed on original content and its quality.

Click on the image to view full-sized

View the original article here

Example Site Wednesday: Alpha Wrestling League

Posted by Irina on February 22, 2012 | 7 Comments »

Today’s Example Site Wednesday goes to an action packed, adrenaline filled website that exemplifies how to keep your website interactive and fun. The Alpha Wrestling League is an online role playing website dedicated to fantasy. The strength of this site is the interactive engagement which allows for anyone across the globe to combine creative energy to produce an amazing user experience.

This site is entering their 2nd month of existence and already has accumulated an amazing and loyal following. AWL’s forum has over 2800+ posts and is home to over 50 members. If you would like to gain similar gains in user interactivity, it is important that you make your site as user friendly as possible.

Here are some tips that will help to keep users glued to your site and grow your site activity:

Don’t Be A Stranger: Open up a forum post that offers users a place to voice their opinions or suggestions to make your site better, give all of your users a sense of ownership to your site.  Furthermore, you can encourage forum interactions by responding to posted issues/comments and asking thought provoking questions.Be Consistent: Keep your site updated with new media, blog or forum posts on a consistent basis. Give your users a reason to check your website on a daily basis. New content will not only give your visitors reasons to keep coming back, it will also provide a way for site visitors to get to know you better. The more they feel comfortable on your site, the more willing they are to become interactive.Keep it Simple: Make sure your layout is neat and organized; the key is to allow users to navigate your site with ease. So make sure your header links are accurate and are easily visible and your layout is consistent throughout your site. You can simplify and improve your website navigation by utilizing drop-down menus. Make your content easy to read by using bulleted lists and short paragraphs.

There are many tricks that you can pull away from AWL to keep users buzzing about your content. Interactive content with positive atmosphere can help you go a long way towards success when it comes to website building.

No matter what kind of website you are creating, there are many features that are available for you to use to make your site easy and fun to use. Website hospitality goes a long way in ensuring a relationship with tremendous longevity between you and your website visitors.

As always,

HAPPY SITE BUILDING!

View the original article here

Are You Missing a Huge Potential Audience?

Posted by Kirk on February 21, 2012 | 5 Comments »

Smartphones, everywhere you go now, it seems like everyone has one! People aren’t just using the internet while at home or at the office anymore. These devices are also changing the way small business can attract new customers. Have you asked yourself recently if you could be missing out on potential customers because your mobile site isn’t up to par?

Your customers and potential customers aren’t just using their devices for Angry Birds and to Facebook. They are using them as mini computers. They browse the internet; they get directions, even conduct price comparisons right there in your aisles. Think about the potential you’re missing without a mobile friendly version of your website.

A mobile optimized version of your website allows customers and prospects to reach your web presence on their phones. Just last week, someone may have come by your store, remembering the name, but not the address. Today, they are back in your neighborhood, What’s the first thing they’ll do? Google your business-name. They’ll find you, but your site doesn’t render well on their smaller screen and takes forever to load. They can’t find your location, or a telephone number and you’ve just lost a potential sale. But if you optimize your site for mobile readers, it’s really easy for them to navigate and find you.

Luckily with a Webs website, your site is automatically converted to a mobile version. It’s a win/win situation for you and customers – your site stays up to date, and in sync with what is on your full-sized version and your customer can locate you easier.

So what does it really mean – having a mobile website? Simply put, you’ve got to present a lot of info in a tiny space. The real estate of a Smartphone is a lot less than that of a computer monitor – think New York City micro-condo versus estate.

Content is king! Present information that people are looking for first. The number one reason why a potential customer could be searching your mobile website is to locate your contact information. Ensure that you prominently display your telephone number and/or your physical address location. Put that information front and center. Use good content, and white space (it helps with the spacing on smaller screens), especially around links – mobile users don’t have the pin-point accuracy of a mouse and cursor, most users are using fingers to tap around your site. Placing multiple links on top of each other can make it frustrating for readers to navigate your site.

But what if you want it to do more?

Premium users get cool features like:

Click to Call: people can reach you from their mobile device simply by tapping your telephone numberIntegrated with Maps: Show your business address on mobile maps, making it easier to physically find youGain Insight: Get stats for who is visiting your mobile siteThis is in addition to being ad-free.

View the original article here