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Posts Tagged ‘website development’
Sunday, January 15th, 2012
What’s the biggest threat to many small businesses in 2012? Most small business owners would probably point at their competitors. Others may point to the changes made to search algorithms and the effect it may have on their search rankings. Whilst these are threats that need to be dealt with, the biggest threat could come from hackers.
There has been a gradual shift in fraudulent activity in recent years with hackers slowly switching their focus away from big businesses and on to small businesses. Big business has the time, money and resources to guard against any hack attempts on their data. Small business has neither the time nor money, and in many cases, the know-how, to protect their data. This makes them easy targets for hackers looking for the personal details of customers, particularly credit card data.
Data protection is an area that small businesses will need to deal with in 2012. Any breaches could leave a business wide open to legal proceedings from customers, and we are talking about group claims here, not just one off claims. Protection of data needn’t be a costly exercise. You do need a very secure website, particularly when it comes to securing your data. This will be one area where the cost of protection for your site could outweigh the risks associated with an unprotected website.
A professional website development team can help to ensure your website is safe from hacking. The cost would be minute compared to the cost of a successful group law suit against either yourself or your business. Is your data safe? Could someone hack your website and then proceed to download all the personal details of your customers. If you’re not full protected, talk to a professional webstite development team.
Tags: online fraud, small business, website development, website security
Posted in website development | 2 Comments »
Saturday, December 24th, 2011
For most, it’s simple enough to understand that a small business needs a website. Alright, now that you have a website, how do you market it and what do you do with it? This question comes up a lot because it takes more than just having a website to make the site profitable to you.
You also hear a lot about search engine optimization. Once again, you understand it, but how do you do it? In order to drive more traffic to your website you have to continuously add content to the site. Even though you may be selling products, you don’t want it to just sit and become stagnant without visitors to the site.
Creating content, or information, or articles, or blogs, whatever you want to call it needs to be done on a regular basis. Talk about your business, talk about your products, give advice or how to steps about something that your business offers. Customers and visitors love information and will come back to you again and again if you have good content on a regular basis.
Social Media sites are wonderful places to market your business, but your website also needs your attention. You have spent a lot of time making it look nice and getting everything in its spot. It can be very depressing knowing that no one visits your site.
In order for the search engines to find your site, you have to have a lot of information on your site with good keywords. The more information you have, the easier it will be for the search engines to find you when someone does a search for something in particular.
You can always consult with internet marketers to have them help you if you are just not sure how to go about getting the right content on your website. Several are available. Just make sure that the right internet marketer is working for you and putting your best interests first instead of just taking your money.
Tags: blogging, content, internet marketing, SEO, website development
Posted in Small Business Internet Marketing | 3 Comments »
Friday, December 23rd, 2011
With the economy and the job market in the shape that they’re in, more and more people are learning to start their own small work from home business. The work from home business has been growing by leaps and bounds. No longer is it just about selling candles or crafts online. Many top businesses are hiring people to telecommute and others are building a business based on their expertise.
Many companies are now hiring contractors to work from home. That includes secretarial positions, writing jobs and email support specialists. In addition, computer website design, management and troubleshooting positions are available.
Instead of worrying where your next job is, take the initiative and start building your small business on the Internet. Start a website to market your expertise and start looking at job boards for available positions that are needing just what you have to offer. It may be slow going at first but many people are now earning a decent income simply by trying something new and becoming a success at it.
As with any job, there are good ones and bad ones. But, there are truly legitimate positions to be found on the Internet. A good rule of thumb is that if a website expects you to pay something up front, then it’s probably not going to be financially successful for you.
Build your website and brand. Use the social media to get your message and availability out there. Also, check out sites such as Odesk.com, Indeed.com and many others. Many are free to sign up for and search for available positions. Once you build your brand and name recognition, the days of worrying about a “job” will become distant.
Keep in mind that the pay structure is a little bit different working on the Internet, but when you compare the money saved by not driving to a job, money for meals, fuel and upkeep on your vehicle, you will basically be making the same as a traditional job. Check out the Internet today and look for something that you are good at. It beats sitting around worrying. You will at least know you are trying.
Tags: Branding, small business, Social Media, telecommuting, website development, work from home
Posted in Small Business Internet Marketing | 18 Comments »
Saturday, December 10th, 2011
How many times have we all gone to a website only to have a dozen things flying off the page at you or taking over your screen and you inadvertently click on something wrong? It happens a lot. A lot of people do not like these fly-in pages.
Not everyone is computer savvy and many people don’t even know what those pages are. Users want a clean, simple and user-friendly site. That will clearly state what the website is about and list some of the items that may be for sale if it is an e-commerce website.
Navigation is also key. Have clear, easy-to-read links to other pages within your website. This way, viewers can easily navigate from one page to the next. It is also important to make sure you have a clear place for reader comments. Be sure to read them and answer them. They may very well be a question about something they want to buy or maybe a suggestion about something. Interaction with online customers is just as important as face-to-face customers.
Making sure your links are working properly in addition to working shopping carts. This is the single most aggravating thing for a viewer. They have gone through the process, get to check out and the shopping cart is empty. Instead of going back and doing it again, they will just leave the site. You have then lost a sale. Another thing no one will wait on is page loading times. If your pages load too slowly because of the graphics, people will leave.
Take some time to visit your website and see what your visitors see. You will be able to determine where you need improvement.
Tags: internet marketing, link building, links, website, website development
Posted in website development | 4 Comments »
Friday, December 2nd, 2011
It’s wonderful to have small mom and pop stores in local towns. That is what defines the town. Most people will stay loyal to their local shops because that is what helps the community stay alive.
Sadly, a lot of those same mom and pop stores are closing simply because they don’t have enough business in today’s world. This is due to more people using the internet for their purchases. For some, it is much easier to sit at home, in front of a computer, and purchase whatever you want and have it shipped, instead of visiting the local stores.
This is why it is more important than ever for those same stores to get a website and add a few products to the site and let people purchase from the site. It not only boosts the business owner’s revenue, but it puts that same business owner in the driver’s seat as far as keeping their doors open.
No one wants to see the quaint little corner market or antique store close. These businesses have been the mainstay for many small communities to stay alive and there is a bit of history and nostalgia associated with local business.
A challenge to all small business owners. Start a website, build your presence on the internet and get your business rolling again. The internet is here to stay and you should just hop right on and take your piece of the pie too.
You don’t even have to be computer savvy to do it. Hire a web designer. That person will get a domain name for you and design you a website according to your specifications. You will be surprised at how easy it is. You can then still retain the old world charm in the store itself, but your pocketbook will thank you.
Tags: business, internet marketing, local business, Local Internet Marketing, small business, web design, website development
Posted in Small Business Internet Marketing | 4 Comments »
Friday, January 28th, 2011
Most small businesses, when they decide to go online and establish an Internet presence, just build a website then muddle their way through marketing that website online and off line. If they achieve any successes it is usually an accident, or a planned happy occasion. The real essence of their Internet presence is only ever considered as an afterthought. But I have identified 5 key questions to ask before you build your website or establish any kind of Internet marketing presence.
The 5 Essential Questions Every Small Business Owner Should Ask Before Building Their Website:
- Why Do You Want A Website? This might seem like a basic question and somewhat unnecessary, but I assure you it is very important. Do you want a website for branding purposes? Do you intend to use it for lead generation or take in subscribers for your newsletter? The purpose of your website will determine how it should be designed.
- Who Is Your Target Market? Your target market is important. Your website will be designed with your target in mind so be sure you define it accurately.
- Who Is Your Competition And What Are They Doing? Do you know who your competition online is? Your online competition may or may not be the same as your off line competition. But you need to know. And find out how they are marketing online. Should you follow them or search for a hole in their plan?
- What Is The Ideal Structure For Your Website? Yes, you’ll need to determine how many pages you’re going to need, how your site will be navigated, and so on before you build your website.
- What Keywords And Social Media Will You Target? Your website, just like your business, will need to be promoted. There are two primary channels of website promotion online – search engines and social media. You’ll need to research your keywords and determine how you will target your search engine marketing, then you’ll need to research social media channels to determine which channels show the most promise for your website’s promotion opportunities.
After you’ve performed the proper website planning, then you can start building your small business website.
Tags: Branding, internat marketing, search engine optimization, small business, Social Media, website design, website development
Posted in website development | 3 Comments »
Monday, December 6th, 2010
Should you have auto play media on your business websites? For example, music or video.
First, I think most people in business object to landing on a website with music automatically playing. This can be for one of several reasons.
- They don’t like your particular brand or style of music
- They could be listening to something else and your music is an interruption
- The music could annoy others within the same hearing vicinity as the person who just landed on your website
Auto play music is generally considered an interruption or an annoyance, particularly if your website visitor is in a professional setting. What if he or she is in the middle of a webinar and goes to your website to place an order only to find that your music interrupts their webinar?
While music does have its advantages (there are pros, in other words), I believe the disadvantages make auto play music less desirable for a professional website. But what about auto play video?
Video is less objectionable. After all, a well done video can be an interactive element that draws people into your site and gets them to stay longer. If someone does not want to see or hear your video, they can click the pause button and go on browsing or reading your content. The video, with its moving images, is more of a welcome entertainment factor that could also inform and, if done well, could keep your visitors on your site longer.
Auto play media should be considered according to your audience, your website marketing strategy, and the promised benefits to you if that media is favorable to your audience. Weigh the pros and cons before deciding.
Tags: media, music, video, website development
Posted in website development | 2 Comments »
Friday, April 16th, 2010
If you have been reluctant to use video on your small business website because of particular technical limitations related to embedding, sizing, SEO and video hosting then you’ll likely be excited to know that HTML 5 will change all of that. In its current incarnation, Web video is limited for most website uses. YouTube, and other video sharing sites, have paved the way for video popularity on the Web, but until now it has been rather impractical for most website owners to use video on their websites.
Most Web browsers require a plugin before a site visitor can view a video. Site visitors either need to download Shockwave, Flash or another browser plugin just to view a video and due to concerns for Web security many of them are reluctant to do so. That means there is a huge segment of your website traffic that you are not able to reach. HTML 5 will change that.
With HTML 5, webmasters will be able to upload a video to their server and display it on their website in the same manner as they can currently do with a photo. All it will take is a simple HTML tag that will tell browsers where your video is located and the styling elements involved. Anyone will be able to view the video in their Web browser.
The HTML 5 Poster Attribute
One unique aspect of the video tag in HTML 5 is the poster attribute. This attribute allows you to use an image placeholder that shows where a video will be displayed while it loads. The possibilities here are endless. You can show your branding logo, a Google AdSense ad, an in-house ad for an event you want to promote or sell the space to an advertiser. Whatever the case, your site visitors won’t be looking at an ugly black and white box or a spinning kaleidoscope as the video loads. You’ll have their undivided attention; you might as well put it to good use.
If you’re as anxious to see HTML 5 as I am then hold onto your breeches. There’s no release as of yet but it’s in been in development for a couple of years now so you can look for it real soon.
Tags: HTML 5, video, website development
Posted in website development | 1 Comment »
Thursday, September 10th, 2009
There are two people who are essential for your web development team. Do without one of them and you’ll almost ensure your website fails. The first person you should employ on your website development team is a web developer. I’m talking about a developer, not a designer.
While a web designer can be a good asset, a web developer is essential. The developer will have a more in-depth understanding and knowledge of website code than a designer. The designer is all about looking pretty. Your web developer is concerned about site attractiveness, but he is also concerned with functionality. If he is any good at his job, user friendliness is always at the forefront of his mind.
While your web developer is concerned about your site visitors’ experience, he may not understand SEO all too well. That’s his weakness. And it’s also the reason you need to employ that second person on your team. The SEO.
The SEO is very important because he is going to help your web pages rank for their important keywords. Occasionally, your SEO and your web developer are the same person, but if they’re not then they need to be able to work closely together so that they develop a website that is both functional and optimized for web traffic. Ideally, your website will meet these three objectives:
- Functional
- Attractive
- Well optimized
If it falls behind on one of these objectives then there is a weak link on your web development team. Where is it?
Tags: SEO, web design, website development
Posted in website development | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
Small Business online marketing is vital to a successful profit margin. The right website can push a small business over the threshold of “making enough to pay the bills†and into the often fantasized realm of “actually making a profit.†Because of this, most small business owners either throw up a website as quickly as they can to capitalize on potential profits now, or they blow their entire budget on flashy enhancements to make their site pop, only to find their online sales fizzle.
Building a website for a small business can be a simple, organic process if you take the time to think about some very key answers to some very key questions.
The first question is straightforward and classic, and yet without asking it, you risk failing from the start.
What is the purpose of your website?
The answer to this question will determine the direction that your small business will take on your website.
Will your website be used to:
- Provide Information about your business
- Sell products or services
- Generate a Business Brand and Reputation
- Generate Leads
A small business that offers local services will most likely not be using their website to sell products, but to provide information on the business and it’s services and to generate leads and quotes for customers interested in those services. In this case, the website must be used heavily towards those ends.
A small business that offers products for sale must rely more heavily on products, pictures and descriptions as well as a smooth process for sales, exchange of funds and purchase tracking purposes.
Building a website for the online presence of a small business needs to be tailored to the business purpose for successful online marketing.
Tags: online marketing, Small Business Online Marketing, Small Business Websites, website development, Website Marketing
Posted in website development | 3 Comments »
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