An introduction to web content development
Web content development is the process of generating material that supports and promotes your online presence.
Throughout the course of developing your web content, you will brainstorm, plan, research, organize, and create content for online publication. And then you’ll publish it.
For a small business owner, this content should be designed with one purpose in mind: to advance the goals of your business.
It usually starts with your website, but web content can include any online content that represents you or your business. It consists of text, images, audio, and video that are accessible on the Internet. Read More >>
Social media marketing for small businesses
We’ve already defined social media marketing. Now, let’s look at some best practices for small business owners who want to leverage social media to reach their customers.
With all the buzz about social media, many small business owners are setting up social media profiles and trying to use these networks to market their products and services.
Some are seeing great results: an influx of traffic, connecting with existing customers, and getting those customers to promote their products and services online, which draws new customers. Indeed, the benefits of an effective social media marketing campaign can be far-reaching. Read More >>
How to choose SEO keywords for your small business website.
The English language is incredible. There are hundreds of different word combinations that can be used to communicate a single idea. And every combination is a possible SEO keyword phrase for some website. Maybe yours.
So how do you decide which words and phrases to use when you’re optimizing your website to increase search engine traffic? Do you choose keywords with the highest search volume? The ones that you’re already using on your site or that are already drawing traffic? Do you pick keywords with the least competition?
All of these questions must be addressed through the course of developing a comprehensive SEO plan. But for a small business website, one question rises above the rest: Which search terms are your customers using? Read More >>
Online marketing levels the playing field for small businesses
When I was a kid, there was this little Mexican restaurant in town. It sat right next to a movie theater, and it was a hot spot. Those folks made a mean burrito! Kids always stopped in on their way home from school for nachos, and whenever we went shopping or to the movies, we’d grab a bite. It was cheap, tasty, and popular. My favorite dish was their wet bean burrito. Delicious!
But apparently, this little restaurant wasn’t popular enough for the owners of the shopping center, because in 2003, when a big-box store wanted to move in and take over the space, both the restaurant and the movie theater (plus several other small businesses) got knocked out to make way for a chain store.
Rather than relocate and start over from scratch, the restaurant owners closed their doors and walked away after being in business for 30 years. Read More >>
Choosing a domain name for your website
These days, many entrepreneurs look to the Internet when it’s time to decide on a business name. Because the web has become a key force in marketing, it’s nice to have a domain name that matches your business name.
Unfortunately, there’s a good chance that your number one choice for a domain name won’t be available. In fact, I can almost guarantee that if you don’t already own your ideal domain name, it’s taken by somebody else. Read More >>
Niche marketing and doing business online
Today’s businesses are learning to harness the power of niche marketing, and many modern small businesses are being built entirely around niches.
This smart strategy puts small businesses in a position to target a smaller and more well-defined pool of customers.
Niches are effective for business models in the brick and mortar world, but they’re even more effective when you’re doing business online. Read More >>
Who's writing your home page?
You can write your own home page. After all, how hard could it be?
You can also hire a website copywriter like me to write it for you. Either way, you should know exactly what goes into crafting a home page that is purposeful and effective.
Think for a moment about the role your website has in contributing to the success of your business. Think about how your site works toward helping you achieve your goals. Your home page is your store front, your magazine cover, business card, brochure, and television commercial all rolled into one. It is your number one marketing tool, and it has an enormous job to do. Read More >>
Blog your way to business success
Every day, more and more business owners are finding out that business blogging can do wonders for their websites and their businesses. But that success requires more than launching a blog and publishing posts.
A successful business blog is strategically planned and executed in a meaningful way.
Before launching a business blog, it’s helpful to understand the benefits that your company can reap through business blogging. Then, you’ll be able to develop a plan specific to your business needs. Read More >>
Monitoring and Assessing Your Website
Most small business owners and independent professionals invest considerably in their websites. They pay good money for design and content, and in return, they expect the site to perform well.
But what does that mean? How do we measure website performance? And what are the benefits of website performance monitoring and assessment?
Some website owners track their statistics obsessively. They log in to their statistic tools several times a day to see how many visitors they’re getting. We’ve come to think of website performance purely in terms of traffic. How many hits? How many pageviews? Then we go out and try to increase these numbers, forgetting that a proper assessment is far more involved. Read More >>
Add a website manager to your team
Every small business needs a website. We all know that.
But what many small business owners don’t realize is that without a website manager, a website can quickly become outdated and ineffective.
A website manager will keep your site clean, updated, and working properly and can track your website’s performance, so you know exactly how it’s contributing to your business. Read More >>
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