Many Small Business Owners say that they want a website, but don't know why they want one---or don't know what kind of website they want. This presentation giving at WordCamp Raleigh in 2015 provides an overview of the types of websites used for business and useful WordPress plugins that make these sites better.

1. ray mitchell • sixfourweb.com • @sixfourweb

2. About Me
● Designer / Developer / Consultant
at SixFour Web Design
● SixFour Web Design specializes in
helping Small Businesses and
Non-Profits maximize their web
presence
● We believe “Even Small
Businesses Deserve a Nice
Website”

3. What I'm Going To Talk About
● Websites
● Business
● Websites for Business
● Why WordPress Is The Best Thing Since Sliced
Bread (“Submit and be assimilated”)
● Tips and Tools

4. A Familiar Conversation
● Working with start-up's, non-profit's and first
time website owners, there's a conversation
tend to I have quite often...

11. Why Is This So Hard?
Confusion comes from two places
– Not understanding the website's objective or
purpose, and
– Not knowing what functionality is needed, or the
vast universe of possibilities available

12. What Is The Objective Or Purpose?
● So, What Does Every Good Business Website
Have In Common?
(this includes non-profit & charity sites too)

13. What Is The Objective Or Purpose?
● So, What Does Every Good Business Website
Have In Common?
(this includes non-profit & charity sites too)
THEY SELL
SOMETHING!

14. What Is The Objective Or Purpose?
● Regardless of price, every effective business
website is selling something

15. What Do Websites Sell?
● Tangible Items
– Sell Bicycles
– Sell Books
– Sell Knitted Frog Cozies
● Intangible Items
– Sell Ideas & Opinions
– Sell Political Ideology
– Sell Community
● Things In-between
– Sell Information

16. What Is The Objective Or Purpose?
● Regardless of price, every effective business
website is selling something
● The key to having an effective business website
is using the right kind of site to make the “sale”

17. The Power of WordPress
Alternate Title:
WordPress: Time to Drink the Kool-Aid
Alternate Title #2:
WordPress: It's Big Word Time
● u·biq·ui·tous – adjective Present, or found everywhere
● ex·ten·si·ble – adjective Able to be extended; extendable
● scal·abil·i·ty – noun The ability to be expanded as needed

18. Dealing With The “Haters”
● Myth – WordPress is just for Blogs. I need a
website
● Myth – WordPress is not secure or safe for
Large Businesses
● Myth – WordPress is slow and can't handle a
lot of traffic
● Myth – WordPress is too hard to use

19. Mitchell's Field Guide to Websites
● There are millions of websites, but they fall into
a few big categories
● The categories are not exclusive; some sites
may include features from two or more
categories
● Remember, business websites that have a
clearly defined purpose have a higher chance
of success

20. ● Blog
● Brochure
● Landing Page
● Directory
● Social/Community Site
● E-Commerce
Common Website Families*
*Web Design ain't Westminster – mixed breeds are allowed

21. Blog
● Main Function:
Communicate Experience or Expertise
● What It Sells:
Information and Vicarious Experiences
● Things to Remember:
– Consistency is important
– Focus on your audience and their needs

22. Blog Plugins/Tools
● Editorial Calendar (wp)
● Better Click to Tweet (wp)
● Jetpack by WordPress.com (wp)

23. Brochure
● Main Function:
Promote Product, Service Provider or Cause with the
intent of motivating action
● What It Sells:
Confidence in the provider's ability to deliver on what
is promised
● Things To Remember
– Strong Call to Action
– Social Proof can help build confidence

24. Brochure Plugins/Tools
● Contact Form 7 (wp)
● Contact Form 7 Honeypot (wp)
● Testimonials Widget (wp)
● Facebook Like Box (wp)
● Gravity Forms (Rocketgenius)

25. Landing Page/Sales Page
● Main Function:
Capture Leads or Sales
● What It Sells:
Anything that isn't nailed down
● Things To Remember
– A very clear message is important
– Long-form still works, but there are other options
– Expect to A/B Test

26. Landing Page/Sales Page Plugins
● WordPress Landing Pages (wp)
● Gravity Forms (Rocketgenius)

27. Directory
● Main Function:
Provide Visitors With Information From Listings
● What It Sells:
Information
● Things To Remember
– Planning is critical. Think through listing categories,
and strategy for ongoing maintenance

28. Directory Plugins/Tools
● Business Directory Plugin (wp)
● Gravity Forms Directory (wp)

29. Social/Community
● Main Function:
Provide environment for gathering around common
interests
● What It Sells:
Belonging
● Things To Remember
– Define User Roles Carefully
– Require Strong Passwords
– Oversight and moderation take time

30. Social/Community Plugins
● BuddyPress (wp)
● bbPress (wp)
● s2Member Framework (wp)
● simple:press (simple:press)

31. E-Commerce
● Main Function:
Process Sales For Physical Or Digital Goods
● What It Sells:
Tangible or Intangible Items
● Things To Remember
– Planning Categories/Departments is important
– Research your shopping cart carefully and plan for
growth
– Accept Credit Cards? PCI Compliance may be an issue

32. E-Commerce Plugins/Tools
● iThemes Exchange (wp)
● Cart 66 lite (wp)
● WooCommerce (wp)
● Easy Digital Downloads (wp)
● PayPal (paypal.com)
● Gravity Forms (Rocketgenius)
● Stripe (stripe.com)

33. Business Website Must Do's
● Make sure that you check your spelling
● Make sure that you have a call to action
● Make sure that they have a way to get in touch with you
● Make sure that you check your links to make sure they work
● Make sure that you uncheck the "Discourage Search
Engines" checkbox
● Make sure that you set up your analytics software code
● Make sure that you back your site up
● Make sure that you back your site up!

34. Remember, it's not just a website!
THANKS!
ray mitchell
sixfourweb.com
@sixfourweb
linkedin.com/in/raymundmitchell