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I'm sure many will wonder why I haven't done it already. These updates have always served the same purpose as a blog and so I didn't think it was necessary. Plus, I have to admit, we all resist change and I am no different. :) But now, I think it will be much easier to send you quick notes about new tips and recommendations as they cross my desk instead of waiting until I have a whole newsletter full of information for you. So, Ladies and Gentlemen, this will be the last formal ONE STOP Member Update. I plan to leave the archive on the site because many issues contain valuable information that is easily accessible via the search function inside the Members Area, but from now on, I will use a blog to stay in touch with you. Look for notice via email when it is up and running.
The
Purpose of a Blog Your blog is an adjunct to your web site. Basically it is meant as a way to convey quick bits of information to your subscribers and is beneficial from a content point of view. What you post should be related to your topic. For example, if you sell nutritional supplements, your business blog might consist of posts that provide links to good articles or your own tidbits of information that might interest your health conscious readers. If you want to write articles, but don't want to produce a regular newsletter, your blog would be a great place to announce them with a link to a page on your web site where they can read the whole thing. (If you're interesting in doing a newsletter, you'll probably want to save your articles for those and just post quickie tips, experiences and/or resources in your blog.) Here's how they work as a marketing tool: Think of it like this, you have a business web site that you promote on a regular basis. With a blog you now have a second place where you can direct people for up-to-the-minute information from you personally without having to go to the trouble of really editing your web site. Promoting it can look like this:
Be sure to include a link to your main web site in the navigation of your blog. The idea is this, if someone is interested in the information you provide on your blog, they will either check out your main page, sign up to be notified when you update your blog, or both. As long as your posts provide helpful information and stay on target, your blog can generate leads, help you stay in the minds of those leads and even improve your standing with search engines by producing more and more keyword rich content.
Don't... - Don't expect web site viewers to get excited about your offer when the first thing you talk about is you and why you created your site or got into your business. This kind of information is nice to include, but it really belongs on your "About Us" page. - Don't yell at your visitors with a lot of exclamation points and hype. Internet users are becoming more and more immune to hype. Being honest and straight forward will instantly command more attention. - Don't dazzle their eyes with lots of different fonts and moving graphics. Be professional. Yes, it's possible to add all kinds of fancy doo-dads onto a web site, but professional sales sites don't use most of them because they detract from the sales message. If you don't want to stand out as a beginner, don't use them. - If you're selling a tangible product, don't make visitors hunt to find photos. Offline stores have known for years that, sometimes, all it really takes is for the customer to see the product. An effective sales site is more than just copy, be sure to include high quality pictures of your physical products. Do... - Always lead with words that clearly and honestly convey the benefits of using your product or service. Prospects are not interested in who's selling a particular product until they are interested in buying it. The first thing your copy needs to do is tell people what's in it for them. - Speak to your customer as though they were sitting in front of you. Of course, I don't mean to use a lot of slang, but it is important to relate to prospects as a real person. You don't have to be formal or 100% grammatically correct so long as your prospect can easily grasp what you're trying to say. Read your copy out loud to be sure it flows. - Use simple language. This does not necessarily assume your prospects have below average intelligence, but it does assume that they are busy and easily distracted. In today's world, who isn't? Visitors will appreciate the simple and straight forward approach. - Don't forget to tell your readers what to do next. If you want them to subscribe for something, be sure to say so, otherwise, send them on to the buy page clearly. Sprinkle several links to the buy page throughout your copy, especially if it's really long, so potential customers will never be frustrated by having to search for the "buy" button.
Who
says framed web sites are a bad thing? I completed my latest framed web site project a few months ago and believe it or not, the main page was indexed within four weeks. Further adjustment of the "no frames" text allowed the other pages to be indexed soon afterward. (Webmasters, be sure to include the full URL's for your linked pages in the no frames text.) How can this be? The truth of the matter is framed sites do require a little extra attention when it comes to search engine optimization, but once you're following the rules, there's nothing to keep your site from being indexed normally. Now you know, you can have a truly beautiful web site and still have it function as a powerful marketing tool. :)
Here is a resource that will show you exactly how to do it, too. Once you've made a graphic, there's just one bit of code that will add it to your site.
Dr.
Leah Jackman-Wheitner
then I strongly recommend Dr. Leah Jackman-Wheitner as the woman who can help you through it. She'll give you the confidence and advice you need to get yourself on the right track to career fullfilment. Be sure to use coupon code CW010 to receive a discount as a Member of ONE STOP Internet Business Services!
Cathy
Wagner --------------------------------------------- |
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