Basics of Small Business Websites in 2010

The Basics of Creating a Great Business Website

In 2010 . . .
Your Website Should be the Hub of all of Your Marketing Efforts

The Internet Levels the Playing Field

Where Do I Begin?
Domain Name
Your unique address on the web that you type in a web browser address bar to go visit a Web Site..

How to Choose a Domain Name
Choose a name easy to write and remember.
Don’t use hyphens or underscores.
Don’t use unusual spellings.
Keep them short as possible.
Choose name the same or similar to your business .

How to Choose a Domain Name
Which to choose .com, .org, .biz, .info, .me?
Just because you have the .com doesn’t mean someone else can’t take the .net or other extensions.

Where Do I Begin?
Domain Name
You are not buying the domain name you are purchasing the right to register it and use it for as long as you continue to pay for it. Auto-billing is your friend.

Domain Name Registration
You can register a domain name with any domain registration company.
BlueHost.com will give you a free domain name when you buy web hosting for as long as you have hosting with them.

Finding a Home for Your Site
Your site ( a group of files) needs to have a home ( web-server).
This home base is called a web-host.
A Web Host is a Business or Individual that has a server that rents space to you to house your web files and serve them up on the Internet when someone types your address.

Web-hosting 101
What will I need to get hosting?
What will it cost?
How do I choose a webhost?

Web-hosting 101
http://bluehost.com
http://hostgator.com

3 Major Types of Websites
Brochure Style Sites
Flash Animation Sites
Content Management Sites

You are in Luck!
Out with the Old
Brochure and Flash Style Websites
Must mock up completely before beginning to code in html and css.
Once coded they hard to change the style.
The content remains, once someone visits they don’t come back.
And search engines do see or come back.
There are templates out there easy to set up – They look like it.
Even web designers don’t go back to their static sites to update.
www.newtricks.me

In with the New……
We WordPress!
Content Management Style Websites
Built on a Data Base.
Iterative Design Process.
Once completed easy to change.
The content changes, people come back and even subscribe.
Search engines love the visits and linking.
There are templates out there, easy to set up – They look like it.
You need a professional to set it up then YOU maintain it.
www.newtricks.me

Content Management Websites
Static vs Dynamic
Web 2.0
Built on a database
Text & images are filed
Archives older content
Interactive –Allows 2 way

Static Brochure Style Websites www.newtricks.me Header Text goes here More Text goes here Footer Themes Categorized for the Archive

Static Brochure Websites www.newtricks.me Header Text goes here More Text goes here Footer NO ARCHIVE

Content Management Sites SEO Easy to update Easy to build

Content Management WordPress Site www.newtricks.me Header Text goes here More Text goes here Footer Themes Categorized for the Archive

Content Management Websites Hybrid Front Page

- Social Media
-Catalog content
-Search content
-Subscribe to site
-Comments

Static Front Pages or …

Blog Front Page

Front Page: sticky above the fold/blog below
http:www.standupguys.biz

Five Elements of a Great Website
Design
Structure
Content
Optimization
Maintenance

Design
Looks matter. First impressions. The halo effect. If it looks good
we broaden the scope to other characteristics deciding it is
good.

2. Structure
Don’t make them think.
Too many choices stop action.
Guide them to take action.

3. Content is King
Educate prospects and builds expertise.
Blogs/Articles, Videos, Podcasts
Lifeblood of search engines

4. Optimization
Internally with valid code.
Making sure search engines read your site and read it right for the results you want.

5. Maintenance
You can’t just let it sit there.
Like having a store you never update or freshen up.
You must add content.

ACT M ethod for On-line Marketing
Attract
Convert,
Transform
Measure

ACT M ethod: A is Attraction To attract means to get attention or stand out. Practically, this means attracting traffic to your website—your main online marketing tool.

ACT M ethod: C is Convert Conversion happens when you turn a stranger into a consumer or customer. And there is a difference between the two! A consumer may take in your information or even sample your product, but he or she may not always buy. Over time, that consumer may become a customer. Consumption of Valuable Content + Time = Client

ACT M ethod: T is Transform
1. Do a great job,
2. Use your Success to attract more success.
Testimonials
Case studies
Audio Interviews
Pictures

ACT M ethod: M is Measure Google Analytics HubSpot WP Stats Mailing List Conversions

WordPress Websites Business should have full self- hosted version. - your own domain - customizable, - full functionality - all plugins - all themes - e-commerce
WordPress.com
Site up in ten minutes
Free
Limited themes
Limited plugins
Limited Customizabiltiy

Basics of Small Business Websites in 2010

by New Tricks on Aug 24, 2010

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