Monday, 7 December 2015
Tuesday, 1 September 2015
Be Consistent And Success Will Be Your Business!!!
Being consistent in any daily activity you wish to excel in is very important. Once consistency is achieved positive results and progress follow. Once you start getting consistent results you can identify where those results are coming from and start to optimize those campaigns by increasing your intensity, repetition, and your efficiency to really get your progress moving and to ultimate start freeing up your time so you can start using the same principles to start doing things and mastering things that you have always wanted to do.
What lifestyle are you passionate about?
Being passionate about something empowers a person to take consistent action. It is a natural response. That is really living a lifestyle. This is one of the ways you can tell if you are serious and passionate about what you tell yourself you want success with. If the reasons are not right then the actions consistent actions you take will reflect that. Quite often you can be enthusiastic about something because it may appeal to you on a materialistic level only or may just be wishful thinking but this may not be enough in the long term. Other times you may get caught in the trap of getting ready to get ready mode. Other times you may be dicing around with the idea that you want to do something but use an excuse why you can not do it today and that you will do it tomorrow. Being consistent with all these actions can expect the exact same consistent results. You must take consistent action to have any chance of gaining what it is you want, not just talk about it or get ready to do it or do it tomorrow or wish you could do it. People who succeed in life are people who understand time management and stick to schedules consistently. They also understand time principles. For instance, the 80/20 rule. This is an old rule my uncle taught me when I was cold calling years ago for his security company. I was not a natural salesman and if he did not explain this rule to me then I probably would have thrown the towel in after one week. The 80/20 rule basically means that the 80 percent of the ground work you do to build your business may only reap 20 percent of actual business. But if you are consistent then the other 80 of you business will come during the last 20 percent of your of your ground work. It may be better to just look at it as a ratio. I did learn a valuable lesson outside of this when I moved on because work was coming in for the next 6 months after I had already left.
So don’t ever be discouraged when building a business because all of your ground work comes back in business in a big way if you are consistent and are being consistent with the things that are going to ultimately free up your time. That is what I think real freedom is. It is time freedom and money freedom at the same time.
Dumsani Mabuza
DWD Solutions
http://www.dwdsoltions.co.za
What lifestyle are you passionate about?
Being passionate about something empowers a person to take consistent action. It is a natural response. That is really living a lifestyle. This is one of the ways you can tell if you are serious and passionate about what you tell yourself you want success with. If the reasons are not right then the actions consistent actions you take will reflect that. Quite often you can be enthusiastic about something because it may appeal to you on a materialistic level only or may just be wishful thinking but this may not be enough in the long term. Other times you may get caught in the trap of getting ready to get ready mode. Other times you may be dicing around with the idea that you want to do something but use an excuse why you can not do it today and that you will do it tomorrow. Being consistent with all these actions can expect the exact same consistent results. You must take consistent action to have any chance of gaining what it is you want, not just talk about it or get ready to do it or do it tomorrow or wish you could do it. People who succeed in life are people who understand time management and stick to schedules consistently. They also understand time principles. For instance, the 80/20 rule. This is an old rule my uncle taught me when I was cold calling years ago for his security company. I was not a natural salesman and if he did not explain this rule to me then I probably would have thrown the towel in after one week. The 80/20 rule basically means that the 80 percent of the ground work you do to build your business may only reap 20 percent of actual business. But if you are consistent then the other 80 of you business will come during the last 20 percent of your of your ground work. It may be better to just look at it as a ratio. I did learn a valuable lesson outside of this when I moved on because work was coming in for the next 6 months after I had already left.
So don’t ever be discouraged when building a business because all of your ground work comes back in business in a big way if you are consistent and are being consistent with the things that are going to ultimately free up your time. That is what I think real freedom is. It is time freedom and money freedom at the same time.
Dumsani Mabuza
DWD Solutions
http://www.dwdsoltions.co.za
Monday, 24 August 2015
3 Website Features You MUST Have Today!!!!!
Web design today has taken a variety of courses. One of these courses is DIY website design and if you’re not careful it can quickly cause you and your business a great deal of headaches. Even though some web design professionals warn against DIY web design, many first time website owners still prefer to use a FREE or low cost web design solution.
The truth of the matter is simple, there isn’t a way to trump professional edge, however there are some features you can include in your DIY website to improve its chances of success. Design protocol in the modern era falls into 3 major features, and if you don’t have these, your website will start to diminish reach through search engines today.
Custom Design
Let’s say that you go with a cheap or FREE website template. There’s nothing wrong with an affordable template, except for the fact that it will look like many other web pages online. If you find a great one, you’ll see that upwards of thousands of sites online and even some in your industry have the same website. That’s duplicate code structures, and even content. Duplicates are often dropped out of search results, and will cause you to deal with a variety of issues that will quickly reduce your online traffic to less than pleasing numbers. Custom design makes your site stand out, and establishes a certain professional edge that cheap website templates simply can’t match.
Responsive Website Design
In 2015 you will find that online users aren’t just surfing the internet via their desktop computers. Everyday people like you and I are using smartphones, tablets, and digital devices that utilise a variety of screen shapes, sizes and browser. This is very different to years gone by, and if your website doesn’t comply with the standards of today’s internet audience, it will be left behind. You want your website to fit on all screens, and ensure it is responsive to smaller devices. Delivering information to any screen in a fast, responsive manner is something that professionals like Web Design Warrnambool stake our reputation on.
SEO Friendly Structure
Here’s the kicker, if you don’t have code, content, and scripting that is compliant with the standards of the search engine optimisation algorithm, you simply will not get listed or ranked on the first page of a results page. You may get indexed, but you will not rise to the top of search results for your industry or niche. If you’re not moving up the listings, you will find it very difficult to get the amount of traffic to your website that you desire and that could end up causing your business to have a greatly reduced reach overall.
The 3 web design features you need today are just part of the overall picture required to succeed online. When you have these features enabled through the help of a professional web design company like us, you will gain leverage in any industry, and niche, guaranteed!
DWD Solutions
http://www.dwdsolutions.co.za
073-996-4696
The truth of the matter is simple, there isn’t a way to trump professional edge, however there are some features you can include in your DIY website to improve its chances of success. Design protocol in the modern era falls into 3 major features, and if you don’t have these, your website will start to diminish reach through search engines today.
Custom Design
Let’s say that you go with a cheap or FREE website template. There’s nothing wrong with an affordable template, except for the fact that it will look like many other web pages online. If you find a great one, you’ll see that upwards of thousands of sites online and even some in your industry have the same website. That’s duplicate code structures, and even content. Duplicates are often dropped out of search results, and will cause you to deal with a variety of issues that will quickly reduce your online traffic to less than pleasing numbers. Custom design makes your site stand out, and establishes a certain professional edge that cheap website templates simply can’t match.
Responsive Website Design
In 2015 you will find that online users aren’t just surfing the internet via their desktop computers. Everyday people like you and I are using smartphones, tablets, and digital devices that utilise a variety of screen shapes, sizes and browser. This is very different to years gone by, and if your website doesn’t comply with the standards of today’s internet audience, it will be left behind. You want your website to fit on all screens, and ensure it is responsive to smaller devices. Delivering information to any screen in a fast, responsive manner is something that professionals like Web Design Warrnambool stake our reputation on.
SEO Friendly Structure
Here’s the kicker, if you don’t have code, content, and scripting that is compliant with the standards of the search engine optimisation algorithm, you simply will not get listed or ranked on the first page of a results page. You may get indexed, but you will not rise to the top of search results for your industry or niche. If you’re not moving up the listings, you will find it very difficult to get the amount of traffic to your website that you desire and that could end up causing your business to have a greatly reduced reach overall.
The 3 web design features you need today are just part of the overall picture required to succeed online. When you have these features enabled through the help of a professional web design company like us, you will gain leverage in any industry, and niche, guaranteed!
DWD Solutions
http://www.dwdsolutions.co.za
073-996-4696
Friday, 31 July 2015
How Can A Website Benefit Your Business!!
How Can A Website Benefit
Your Business
1. Why should you
have a website?
In order to succeed
in today's world, you must have an Internet presence. More and more people log
on to the internet everyday; there are billions of users world-wide and there
are several reasons why one needs a web site. A website is a powerful first impression.
Placing your
business on the World Wide Web, gives your business the potential for global
exposure, no matter the size of your business – be it large or small; singular
or multi-national. To have your own website gives your business invaluable advantages,
which is illustrated in the answer to the next question, viz-a-viz:-
2. How can a
website be useful?
Website help you
leverage web services for streamlining data transfer to and from your
organization.
There are myriad
reasons for - How a website can be useful and why you should bring your
business online? Some of them are, briefly, mentioned below:
a. Enhanced
customer convenience
Your business
concern can be more easily and quickly reached, every time a potential or an
existing client searches for relevant businesses, products and services over
the Internet. Your customers can always keep in touch with you and your
business, just by knowing your web site address.
b. Greater reach
ability of your business profile:
Your business
profile can be accessible from anywhere in the world. No other ad medium
provides such global coverage. You need not depend on phone book entry or
restricted yellow pages and newspaper ad presentations, any longer.
c. Greater
possibilities for promoting your business portfolio:
People will not buy
your products or services unless they know that they actually exist. You can
tell your potential audience much more through a WEBSITE, than you could
possibly do via any print advertisements, Yellow Pages listings, or TV/radio
commercials. There are no limitations as far as space, time, nationality and
residency are concerned. You can say as many things as you want, to as many
people as you wish. And your business representation can be as resourceful as
is the Internet itself.
d. Efficient
low-cost advertising:
Your customers will
always be able to obtain thorough up-to-date information about your services or
products. Instead of having to rely on randomly aired TV or radio commercials,
they can simply browse through your website whenever they like.
e. 24/7
availability:
Website is
available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It will be
your hardest working employee, never getting sick, or taking a holiday. And you
can rest assured that your website is always there for you – to answer your
customers’ questions or to collect their feedback on your behalf.
f. Time-saving:
Prospective clients
can learn about you and your business at any time of the day simply by visiting
your website, so you won’t have to be present or involved with the process in
any way. Your precious time can be saved and invested in other activities that
can increase your profits and further enhance the scope of your business.
g. Cost -cutting:
You can save a lot
of money cutting your costs on print ads, brochures, coupons, flyers, specials,
newsletters or mailings. What’s more! It’s always quick easy and extremely
efficient to update real time information on your website; whereas regular
renewals of printed materials turn out to be very expensive and time consuming.
The fact optimized productivity at minimal cost is more valued in any business
and it is possible only through World Wide Web.
Web services
provide a standard way to implement a business function that can also be
managed remotely. It employs an effective exchange of information and
data-feeds between B2B and B2C portals, information warehouses, news providers,
shopping portals like e bay and search engines like Google, MSN, yahoo etc.
Your website must
work hard in today's competitive online environment — attracting visitors,
providing a rich user experience and converting them into loyal customers.
3. What makes a
site work successfully?
It’s a hotly
debated question – “What makes a website work well that will genuinely help
your business and attract more customers?”
A well designed
website can certainly lead to increased business. By following simple
guide-lines, it is possible to create a good-looking website that will really
give your business the best chance of being noticed.
For your online presence
to really count, your brand needs to exude credibility, confidence and
efficiency through your website. A well designed website can certainly leverage
your business processes. One can achieve this by blending strong design and
content, with seamless functionality, and expert support throughout - with time
tested processes.
Web Designing is “a
process of conceptualization, planning, modelling, and execution of electronic
media delivery via Internet in the form of Mark-up language suitable for
interpretation by Web browser and display as Graphical user interface” (ref-
Wikipedia)
Web Design can have
a powerful affect. Web Design is important and it must be right! The right
design kindles in a website visitor the right perception of your business. It
engenders confidence and trust in your business. Success online is vital to the
overall strength of your business.
It’s essential that
–
In an arena
saturated with billions of web pages, it requires innovation and expertise, to
represent your brand effectively.
Your site must be
easy to navigate and simple to use. If your users and potential customers can’t
find what they want, this will undermine your site’s performance, in relation
to your business goals.
Your web site
should, clearly and concisely, reflect your business, values and products,
since your web site is now the first point of contact for a new user or
potential customer.
A good and
innovative design ensures that the site is memorable and encourages the viewer
to explore beyond the home page.
The web
functionality and programming should use only standard, compliant, valid coding
and also provide an alternative programming, to ensure that your site is
viewable in any Browser and at any Screen Resolution.
Most Web design and
development companies possess skills in one or the other – rarely both. This is
where ImagiNET Ventures web solutions differ, as we understand how to design a
website that will most effectively present you, your business or organization,
with your products and services.
4. What are the
common mistakes of a website?
Let’s face it! If
visitors get lost or become confused while attempting to surf your website,
they might hit the back button, and look for a more user- friendly website.
People do not like to think, when it comes to finding their way around
websites. Don’t make them tick. You need to plan your website from stage to
stage, and make a difference between a very poor website and a very good
website.
Let us now see –
what are the pitfalls inherent in designing and setting up a website? You may
know some of them already, but by avoiding and correcting them, you can be sure
to keep constant flow of visitors entering and re-entering into your portal!
The list of most common errors is unending but invaluable for new designers,
web developers and content writers – who need a list for their website spot
check.
1. Site best
viewed:
New designers
usually use this “site best viewed” with a disclaimer statement regarding which
web browser or screen resolution they designed their site, for best viewing. It
does not impress the visitor. Instead, invest in skilfully designed website
that renders well in multiple browsers, and in any screen resolution.
2. Shabby lay-out
and glaring design:
Some sites are
totally unbalanced in their lay-out and overloaded design. The designs do not
match the page content and appears misplaced and misfit in the entire scene.
Give your pages a pleasing appearance, with just the necessary facts and place
your design out-lay with a professional touch. Always take screen shots of
designs in different resolutions, before uploading the appropriate one.
3. Horizontal
scrolling:
The horizontal
scroll makes it extremely difficult to read the content on your site, and often
your visitors will lose patience and leave. Check your website in a site
resolution viewer. A professional website can be viewed without horizontal
scrolling in; both, a smaller and larger screen resolution. User's find
scrolling from the top to the bottom of your pages, more clear to view and easy
to read.
4. Free Web
Hosting:
This is a common
web page mistake you definitely need to avoid. Often business owners claim that
the business is "just starting”, and that is why they have not yet moved
their site to a domain host. Do not use free web hosting if you want your
business to be taken seriously. It reflects on your image and credibility.
To resolve this
issue, you must choose and purchase a domain name if you, already, do not have
one. You also need to choose a professional domain host. There is no getting
around this one. If you want to run a successful online business, you
absolutely must have a reliable domain host.
5. Appalling Images
Don’t allow your
visitor view badly shaped or terribly cropped images and missing graphics
files. Optimize your images, using the best height and width. Keep your files
in the best formats - j peg for Photographs and gif for artwork.
6. Blaring and ghastly
colour schemes:
Avoid using ghastly
and loud colours that does not match your website concept and mission. Although
your text may be easy to read, overly-bright colours distract and repel the
reader away from your site's purpose. Your designs must reflect class and
designer quality, with state-of-the-art designs and pleasantly eye-catching colour
schemes for your web pages.
7. Slow loading:
If your page does
not download rapidly, visitors will quickly move on to find another site. Take
action now to reduce the "weight" of your pages. Each image on your
site must be correctly sized and optimized for web use. Keep your pages lean
and fast for the visitor to move on quickly, with interest.
8. Spell check:
Always spell check
the text, keeping it free of grammatical error, punctuations and spelling
mistakes. Without spell check, the site looks amateurish and shabby.
9. Ineffective Text
Content:
A major mistake is
to fill the pages with long text, without any headings and sub-headings. Do not
cram your web pages with loaded decorative words and hi-funda text. Readers do
not have time to fill their heads with all details.
Make your text more
effective. Keep your text simple, crisp and to-the-point. Use decorative words
in the right context. Your language should spell clarity, consistency and
coherence in content, style, structure and font. The pages should be easy to
read and simple to understand, with a smooth flow. The fonts should be rightly
used, with appropriate side-headings and the text needs to be phrased in short
paragraphs, giving a pleasing feel to the reader.
Your website must
provide a clear message with a goal-oriented direction, setting you apart from
your competitors. Your content should easily answer his question - “what's in
it for me?” The reader must be able to identify with your write-up and find you
as his 'partner' for addressing his solutions.
10. Absence of an
Email Subscription Form:
This critical
aspect is often neglected by most website owners. It is very important to have
a lead generation for your website via Email subscription form, for optimal
business returns. Having a mailing list gives you several advantages like
maintaining a visitors list who allow you to contact them, build a
relationship, and establish yourself as an expert for solving their problems.
11. Using a weak
message 'join my newsletter':
Your content,
design layout and solutions should be so user-friendly such that it compels the
reader to subscribe your mailing list. Do not use a weak message like – “join
my free newsletter”. The reader would wonder “Why?” and “If I subscribe, will
you give me a bonus or a free gift instantly, as soon as I join?” If your
design and text work impresses the reader for availing your services, you would
automatically get email subscriptions for a membership, from your visitors. It
speaks on your credibility.
12. No Contact
Information - Just giving your email id and the web address is not sufficient
for your readers – who may be prospective clients. Keep your detailed contact
information easy to find and easy to read. Inclusion of a site-map works
wonders for your business.
13. Advertising –
Advertisements provide huge revenue but it should be placed skilfully and with
reference to the current times. Appropriate advertisements should be placed -
reflecting the different verticals of your business. Do not overload your page
with ads, especially the big flashy banners. Well placed, well designed ads are
okay, if you don’t overload the page.
14. Prices –. Don’t
waste your time, hoping you will get email inquiries on your prices. The moment
a visitor sees your product or services, his prime question will be “what is
the price of this item?” Do not keep the visitor guessing the price; it will
give him an opportunity to jump into another website where the price is
mentioned and you may end up losing a prospective customer. You need to include
a price with the item description, if you sell something.
15. Under
Construction - Avoid having a “closed – under construction” or “yet to open”
website. Give your visitors at least a single page of content, with a notice -
when the whole site will be open.
16. Music: Include
a soft and soothing music or that which is relevant to the content. Do not
include music, if it is not needed. Music should not be out-of-control and keep
the control buttons easy-to-use. Music can turn one's mind on but at the same
time put your mood off, if it is not rightly timed, controlled and soft.
The list of common mistakes is
innumerable. The above general tips give you an idea of what to avoid and how
to resolve. By keeping your website design in good shape and ensuring your web
content writing is in good taste, you will find more people visiting and
enjoying your website!
DWD Solutions
Saturday, 18 July 2015
Start an Online Business, and Succeed
There is a proven
sequence of steps you can follow to guarantee your success when you're starting
a small business online. I've seen thousands of people start and grow
successful businesses by doing the following:
1.
Find
a need and fill it.
2.
Write
copy that sells.
3.
Design
and build an easy-to-use website.
4.
Use
search engines to drive traffic to your site.
5.
Establish
an expert reputation for yourself.
6.
Follow
up with your customers and subscribers with e-mail.
7.
Increase
your income through back-end sales and upselling.
Anyone, from
newbie to seasoned online entrepreneur, can benefit from this process in
learning how to start a
business online.
Step 1: Find a need and fill
it
Most people who
are just starting out make the mistake of looking for a product first, and a
market second.
To boost your
chances of success, start with a market. The trick is to find a group of people
who are searching for a solution to a problem, but not finding many results.
The internet makes this kind of market research easy:
·
Visit
online forums to see what questions people ask and what problems they're trying
to solve.
·
Do
keyword research to find keywords that a lot of people are searching, but for
which not many sites are competing.
·
Check
out your potential competitors by visiting their sites and taking note of what
they're doing to fill the demand. Then you can use what you've learned and
create a product for a market that already exists--and do it better than the
competition.
Step 2: Write copy that sells
There's a proven
sales copy formula that takes visitors through the selling process from the
moment they arrive to the moment they make a purchase:
1.
Arouse
interest with a compelling headline.
2.
Describe
the problem your product solves.
3.
Establish
your credibility as a solver of this problem.
4.
Add
testimonials from people who have used your product.
5.
Talk
about the product and how it benefits the user.
6.
Make
an offer.
7.
Make
a strong guarantee.
8.
Create
urgency.
9.
Ask
for the sale.
Throughout your
copy, you need to focus on how your product or service is uniquely able solve
people's problems or make their lives better. Think like a customer and ask
"What's in it for me?"
Step 3: Design and build your
website
Once you've got
your market and product, and you've nailed down your selling process, now
you're ready for your small-business web design. Remember to keep it simple.
You have fewer than five seconds to grab someone's attention--otherwise they're
gone, never to be seen again. Some important tips to keep in mind:
·
Choose
one or two plain fonts on a white background.
·
Make
your navigation clear and simple, and the same on every page.
·
Only
use graphics, audio or video if they enhance your message.
·
Include
an opt-in offer so you can collect e-mail addresses.
·
Make
it easy to buy--no more than two clicks between potential customer and
checkout.
·
Your
website is your online storefront, so make it customer-friendly.
Step 4: Use search engines to
drive targeted buyers to your site
Pay-per-click
advertising is the easiest way to get traffic to a brand-new site. It has two
advantages over waiting for the traffic to come to you organically. First, PPC
ads show up on the search pages immediately, and second, PPC ads allow you to
test different keywords, as well as headlines, prices and selling approaches.
Not only do you get immediate traffic, but you can also use PPC ads to discover
your best, highest-converting keywords. Then you can distribute the keywords
throughout your site in your copy and code, which will help your rankings in
the organic search results.
Step 5: Establish an expert
reputation for yourself
People use the
internet to find information. Provide that information for free to other sites,
and you'll see more traffic and better search engine rankings. The secret is to
always include a link to your site with each tidbit of information.
·
Give
away free, expert content. Create articles, videos or any other content that
people will find useful. Distribute that content through online article
directories or social media sites.
·
Include
"send to a friend" links on valuable content on your website.
·
Become
an active expert in industry forums and social networking sites where your
target market hangs out.
You'll reach new
readers. But even better, every site that posts your content will link back to
yours. Search engines love links from relevant sites and will reward you
in the rankings.
Step 6: Use the power of
e-mail marketing to turn visitors into buyers.
When you build an
opt-in list, you're creating one of the most valuable assets of your online
business. Your customers and subscribers have given you permission to send them
e-mail. That means:
·
You're
giving them something they've asked for.
·
You're
developing lifetime relationships with them.
·
The
response is 100 percent measurable.
·
E-mail
marketing is cheaper and more effective than print, TV or radio because it's
highly targeted.
Anyone who visits
your site and opts in to your list is a very hot lead. And there's no better
tool than e-mail for following up with those leads.
Step 7: Increase your income
through back-end sales and upselling
One of the most
important internet marketing strategies is to develop every customer's lifetime
value. At least 36 percent of people who have purchased from you once will buy
from you again if you follow up with them. Closing that first sale is by far
the most difficult part--not to mention the most expensive. So use back-end
selling and upselling to get them to buy again:
·
Offer
products that complement their original purchase.
·
Send
out electronic loyalty coupons they can redeem on their next visit.
·
Offer
related products on your "Thank You" page after they purchase.
Reward your
customers for their loyalty and they'll become even more loyal.
The internet changes so fast that one year online
equals about five years in the real world. But the principles of how to start
and grow a successful online business haven't changed at all. If you're just
starting a small business online, stick to this sequence. If you've been online
awhile, do a quick review and see if there's a step you're neglecting, or never
got around to doing in the first place. You can't go wrong with the basics.
Sunday, 12 July 2015
A Business Without A Website Is Like A............
A Business Without a Website is Like…
a (Business) Man Without a face!
A
business man without a face has no mouth to tell you who he is, how to
reach him, what times he is available, what services or products he has
to offer. His lack of any features and inability to communicate mean
that it will be hard to get know him or decide whether you can trust
him.
A business in the 21st century without an Internet presence is like that man. How will they know what you can do unless you have the ability to tell them? How will they know what you are like unless you can show them? How will they be able to find you unless you are able to direct them?
Big display ad in the Yellow Pages? Forget about it! Most people won’t cross the room to find the big yellow book in order to search through the arcane categories only to fail to find what they are looking for.
You’re phone number is in the White Pages, right? Surely, your customers can find you there. They can but they won’t! A majority of people now use a Search Engine to find the phone number of the the business that they already do business with, not a phone book!
In fact, half to two-thirds of the searchers who come to a business web site put the name of the business in some form or other into a Search Engine. They didn’t write down the number the last time they called it. They didn’t program it into their phone. Why bother with that when they can find a phone number in a few moments by searching the Internet for it ?
Of course, that assumes that when an existing customer or prospective customer comes looking for you by your name that you have a web site so it can show up and tell them what they want to know. They wanted something, your phone number, your hours, your location, details on your products or services but they didn’t get it! Not from you, anyway. So, if you don’t have a web site, and somebody want to get in touch with you but can’t, what will they do? Maybe they will find it somewhere else. In any event, you already have a strike against you. You’re still operating your business in the last century while most of your customers are living in this one. Think about it. Only a customer with perseverance will succeed in finding you when you’re operating in Internet stealth mode by not having a web site!
You, yourself, probably use Search Engines frequently to get information about businesses that provide products or services that you need. Everybody does…but if you have no web site to tell your story, they won’t find you!
The absence of a web presence in the Internet age is devastating. People are searching on the Internet for exactly what you do! How much are you spending to find new customers? What are you doing to help them find you? So, if you don’t have a web site, you need to get one! Any web site is better than none. Even a crummy web site will allow your existing customer’s to stay in touch with you but why stop there? It’s not very hard to have a good web site that will be found by prospective customers.
Bottom line: If you’re like a man without a face, your competitor’s may be attracting your customers away from you and also getting the new customers that you should be getting. It’s time that you start planning to find your voice, tell your story, let them know who you are and why they should give their business to you.
http://www.dwdsolutions.co.za
073 996 4696
A business in the 21st century without an Internet presence is like that man. How will they know what you can do unless you have the ability to tell them? How will they know what you are like unless you can show them? How will they be able to find you unless you are able to direct them?
Big display ad in the Yellow Pages? Forget about it! Most people won’t cross the room to find the big yellow book in order to search through the arcane categories only to fail to find what they are looking for.
You’re phone number is in the White Pages, right? Surely, your customers can find you there. They can but they won’t! A majority of people now use a Search Engine to find the phone number of the the business that they already do business with, not a phone book!
In fact, half to two-thirds of the searchers who come to a business web site put the name of the business in some form or other into a Search Engine. They didn’t write down the number the last time they called it. They didn’t program it into their phone. Why bother with that when they can find a phone number in a few moments by searching the Internet for it ?
Of course, that assumes that when an existing customer or prospective customer comes looking for you by your name that you have a web site so it can show up and tell them what they want to know. They wanted something, your phone number, your hours, your location, details on your products or services but they didn’t get it! Not from you, anyway. So, if you don’t have a web site, and somebody want to get in touch with you but can’t, what will they do? Maybe they will find it somewhere else. In any event, you already have a strike against you. You’re still operating your business in the last century while most of your customers are living in this one. Think about it. Only a customer with perseverance will succeed in finding you when you’re operating in Internet stealth mode by not having a web site!
You, yourself, probably use Search Engines frequently to get information about businesses that provide products or services that you need. Everybody does…but if you have no web site to tell your story, they won’t find you!
The absence of a web presence in the Internet age is devastating. People are searching on the Internet for exactly what you do! How much are you spending to find new customers? What are you doing to help them find you? So, if you don’t have a web site, you need to get one! Any web site is better than none. Even a crummy web site will allow your existing customer’s to stay in touch with you but why stop there? It’s not very hard to have a good web site that will be found by prospective customers.
Bottom line: If you’re like a man without a face, your competitor’s may be attracting your customers away from you and also getting the new customers that you should be getting. It’s time that you start planning to find your voice, tell your story, let them know who you are and why they should give their business to you.
http://www.dwdsolutions.co.za
073 996 4696
These are Tips for Designing a Business Website.
How
important are design trends when it comes to websites?
There are
two sides to web design: functionality and impact.
With
functionality, it's key that people know how to use your site. On a desktop
site people are used to seeing navigation at the top, or on the left. Putting
it somewhere else would be like putting the contents page of the book randomly
in the middle. With these sorts of things it's important to adhere to what
people are used to seeing. You can certainly add in extras, but the basics
should be obvious. With the move into various devices, adaptive or response
design is increasingly important. This is where the site actually looks and
behaves differently depending on the device the visitor is using. If your
visitors spend a lot of time browsing on their phone or a tablet device, you
need your site to feel right in this context.
When it
comes to impact, there are trends but you can also make yourself distinctive.
There's a trend, particularly in software as a service, for 'marketing' sites
(not the product interface) that's very clean, with one message, one video and
one button click.
Mailchimp
is a good example of this trend. It's up to you if you're a follower or a
trend-setter.
Images
are important. Getting people to have an emotional connection with your
business is a key factor in securing long-term sales. Imagery appeals to the
emotional side of the brain. Something real, human and impactful will always
help this. I'd also say you need to pick stock shots carefully, there are some
great images available, but there are also some that are so ubiquitous as to
become wallpaper. I tend to advise clients to have a primary and secondary
image style. Primary imagery should be bold and unique. Secondary imagery is
used on blog posts for example, and can be effectively sourced from stock
libraries, but even then I might crop, or colour, or frame in a way that gives
them your own style.
Rebecca Swift is the creative planning manager for iStockphoto
How
image-heavy should a site be?
I would
always advise that the size and number of images be considered as part of
branding discussions. How imagery is used signals a message to the target market.
For example, the travel industry relies heavily on imagery to sell holidays.
There are a lot of bargain holiday brands that load up their websites with
images used in small proportions to signal the economically minded customer
towards the different destinations or holiday types. The websites look like
supermarket shelves, lots of colour and detail.
However,
the luxury or more inspirational websites use few images but will invest in
using images that have strong emotional, conceptual and often artistic meaning
to add value to their product offering.
How can
SMEs source the best images for their sites?
You
should never use Google images unless there is a creative commons licence. Most
images that are free to use will have "CC" in a circle attached to them
in the details or in the case of Flickr.com, if you right click on the image.
Otherwise there are many stock sites available that offer images at prices that
are affordable to small businesses and use a royalty free licence to enable the
business to legally use the image on their website.
Gavin Cockerill is the managing director of Flyerzone
What's
the best way to start up a retail site?
A
template platform such as Shopify is a good starting point I think. There's a
lot you can do with sites like this. Of course it all depends on your budget
and what you're trying to achieve.
Everybody
would rather have a made-to-measure site built from scratch, but don't
underestimate what that means from a cost and a resources point of view.
If you
are going to go bespoke and get your own built, do you research about the
agency you're intending to use? Agencies offering the world for nothing aren't
always the best option.
Outsourcing
design can be a good idea – it gives a different perspective. You can get too
close to your own design and it's refreshing to get a third party take. But
good design (outsourced or not) often relies on a good brief. So spend time
thinking about what you want. I've heard "you're the designer, make it
look good" plenty of times, that won't get you anywhere.
How can
you make money from your website?
Discovering
your website "money terms" has to be key to a rapid return on
investment. Once you have discovered these terms you can then focus all your
efforts in those areas, a bit like traditional vertical marketing.
For
example, if your website sells bicycles for children simply drop some Google
Analytics tracking code into the order page on the website in question. At the
end of the month you can then see which terms people have typed into search
engines that have resulted in an order. It's usually just a handful. It might
be "safest bicycle for children", "children's bike shop London"
or "best bike for kids" and so on. Once you know your money terms you
can focus all you content efforts on the subject matter you know turns into
orders.
If you
have a new website with little or no traffic you can run a short campaign on
Google Adwords to discover your money terms and start from there.
Carla Gadyt is a consultant at SocialB
What are
the best hosting platforms?
For start-ups
I would recommend writing a list of requirements and then going on specific
forums to get web host reviews. Beware of those that are too cheap: you need
reliability and quality if your start-up has a chance of commercial success.
Using
platforms like Wordpress or Tumblr can be a good option. Wordpress has a
wonderful user-friendly CMS that someone can use to manage content on the
website on a daily basis without the need for a developer, which reduces costs.
And you can always make some changes to the template in order to accommodate
your needs.
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