Three New Classes To Tell You About

May 23, 2009

Virtual Assistants, check out the first-ever VA Certification in the website builder: just $39. THIS WEDNESDAY.

Thinking of starting your own business?
Teleclass with my business coach, Wendy Barlin (CPA) of Barlin Business Solutions on Thursday, June 11th. More info/registration.

And you can finally get out of overwhelm with Internet marketing with my four-week webinar series starting Monday, July 13th. Details here.

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Posted by deborahgallant

Webinar on eCommerce

May 22, 2009

On Thursday, May 21st, I ran a webinar that explained everything you ever wanted to know about how to accept credit cards and conduct ecommerce.  Missed it?  Click here to access the recording.

Want to contact my friend Diann Butler at Practice Pay Solutions to see if she can help you get up and running?  Call her at 800-326-9897.  Tell her I sent you!

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Posted by deborahgallant

Wealthy Bag Lady Expo

April 30, 2009

I am writing this from the floor of the Wealthy Bag Lady Expo in LA. Getting toward the end of the day, powerful speakers that all reinforce much of the messaging and concepts I proselytize all the time.

The wonderful exuberance of these energetic women entrepreneurs is like a tonic. Great speakers. All about authenticity, understanding your value to your prospective clients. And Linda Hollander is the glue that holds it all together.

Some of my best takeaways: Taryn Rose (the shoe lady) challenged all of us to define our core values and ensure that everything fits with it. Nick Romano: Let your clients lead innovation. Fran Harris: You’ve got to be strong and bold to become a celebrity. Susan Levin: Make sure your speech topics are compelling to your target audience. Linda Hollander: Envision your ideal client.

And now Michelle Howe of Internet Word Magic on Web 2.0. More soon.

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Posted by deborahgallant

And What Shouldn’t Go on the Front Page of your Website

April 9, 2009

So the last post covered what should go on the front page of your website. So, the logical follow-up…what should you avoid?  These recommendations assume that you are in business and want your website to market or otherwise promote your products or services in order to sell to more clients.

Here are some things that should not go on your front page:

  • Music.  Annoying as all get out.  If you’re a musician or need to showcase music, make it optional with a Click to Play button.
  • Flash Animation.  In most cases, this substantially slows down load time (remember, you only have 8 seconds) and can’t be seen by the search engines anyway.  And if you absolutely must must must have flash animation, give the user a way to “skip” the intro and also write the code so that once a person has seen it once, it doesn’t play on every visit.
  • All text.
  • Dark background with white letters.
  • Teeny tiny type that no one over 40 can read.

What else do you think should NOT go on the front page of a website?  Suggestions, contributions welcome!

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Posted by deborahgallant

What goes on the front page of your website

April 8, 2009

One of the questions I get asked most frequently:  What should go on the front page of my website?

You only have 8 seconds (though I didn’t research or verify this much-circulated factoid, it seems about right) to grab a web visitor’s attention.  That is not very long.  So here are my top tips on what you should have on the front page of your website:

  • Your phone number.  You want to make it really easy for people to contact you so they can buy what you are selling.  If they can’t find the phone number, they won’t call.
  • A sign-up box.  A web visitor in and of itself is worth $0.  But a web visitor who gives you permission to market to him/her is really worth something.  Because then they are in your sales funnel.  But…most people won’t just give you their email address without “getting” something in return.  Which is why you need…
  • An offer.  A something that is downloadable and catchy and cool and showcases your talents and knowledge in your area of expertise.  And makes them willing to give you their email address (see above.)
  • Big fonts, bullet points, easy-to-read explanation of what you do.
  • Some graphic elements, images, colors, fonts, pictures that convey your USP (Unique Selling Proposition) in a very easy to understand (8-seconds) way.
  • If you can only sell your product or service in a localized area (like you are a chiropractor or therapist) then make sure the front page of your website announces your location FRONT AND CENTER.  Don’t waste time enticing people who cannot actually buy from you because you are too far away.
  • Got other ideas/suggestions?  Send ‘em along!

Next post:  What SHOULDN’T go on the front page of your website.

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Posted by deborahgallant

Don’t confuse your website with your business.

April 2, 2009

I had two different prospective client meetings today where this topic came up, so I thought I’d blog on it to elaborate a little.

Your business is how you make money.  In most cases, your website is a tool to achieve that goal.

GOT A STARTUP BUSINESS?
One woman is starting a new business on her own and the only person who is consistently advising her is her web designer. While I love the work her web designer is doing, wonderful design sense, strong colors, messaging, clear navigation….I am worried that the tail is wagging the dog. When you start up a new business, you need to make mission-critical business decisions that include strategy, business model, USP (unique selling proposition) and where you are going to start—your target market and their needs. You absolutely, positively cannot go and build your website until all that stuff is sorted out. Because the website is meant to be the public face and outreach for your business. In most cases, the website is not the business itself. Don’t get confused. Let the business decisions and direction drive the website….NOT the other way around.

ALREADY IN BUSINESS, THINKING REVAMP?

The second client meeting was with a husband & wife business that wants to go from Good To Great.  Again, many people have been advising them to redo the website.  My counsel was different.  First…how are they going to build their business:  what products, what is the new positioning?  And then…how should we reflect that with a web presence and a new search optimization strategy.

What do you think?

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Posted by deborahgallant