This statement is commonly made by specialty shop owners and real estate agents. Real estate agents will add “I already invest high dollars in space advertising.” This is probably one of the most frustrating objections for me because the business owners that say this are some of the nicest people I've met - and are usually sound business people. They know how to treat a customer or client with special care.

However, they don’t understand that all kinds of people use the internet to access information. The internet, unlike advertising mediums does not target a set demographic. Magazines, Newspapers, Television, Radio – are all demographically based. Family Circle will always target women between the ages of 25 and 35 that have young children. Country music radio stations target a specific audience as do Cable news programs or shows like Sesame Street.

The Internet gives everyone access, targeting no one in particular. The Internet user chooses where to look, just as they choose what newspaper to buy or what television program to watch. If your business is not there, it won't be found.

There are over 8 billion web pages indexed in the Google search engine. The top three commercial markets on the web are Technology, Real Estate and Travel. Technology businesses know they need a website. If you’re in real estate (even an individual agent) YOU NEED A WEBSITE. If your business markets to travelers accommodations, restaurant, specialty shopping, tickets, travel wear, recreational products, travel gear, animal care, children’s activities) YOU NEED A WEBSITE. Statistics show that 7 out of 10 people will go to the internet for information before they purchase real estate or set a travel itinerary.

A website usually is rather impersonal – and that’s a good thing. When people use the internet they want information not a personal relationship. The information will bring them to you. You create the relationship.

A website gives you a higher number of potential customers to create a relationship with. If internet users don’t find you on the web, they’ll seek out your competitors who have websites.

QUESTION 10: I wouldn’t know what to do with a web site if I had one.

In addition to the information above, understand that Internet users find you - you don't find them. They will either search for you because they've heard your name, or search for a product you're selling. If your business is not listed, it doesn't exist to Internet user.

Your web developer is a trained professional that will assist with maintaining and handling the website.

SUMMARY

A website is a marketing tool that costs you ONE TIME and continues to pay you back. It expands your customer base, enhances your advertising and marketing efforts and gives your business a mark of credibility.

A website at its basic level tells millions of Internet users:

• Who you are, how you began, successes you've had, your reputation in the community.
• What your company has to offer – products and services
• How to find your location.
• The different ways to contact you (phone #’s, FAX, email, physical address)
• Special offers and upcoming promotions, new addi
  Ultimate Insider Secrets To Generate Traffic And Leads Series 2 Part 2
  Pay Per Click Marketing or PPCThe Internet has paved the way for new business models, new industries and new business practices since its inception. As its popularity grows, better and better methods are developed that save money, time and effort. One of the newest additions is in the Marketing realm. It’s called Pay Per Click Marketing. It’s a great way to boost traffic, including paying traffic to your site.Pay per click marketing or pay per click advertising, is a method that allows businesses to target their advertisements to a particular type of person. This type of advertising works like an auction. I bid a certain amount for every person who clicks on my ad. The amounts range from $0.01 to $0.50 and sometimes much more for extremely popular words on extremely popular search engines. Let’s say that you and I own a baseball Internet store. The goal is to get people who type the word “baseball” into a search engine to see our ad. The ads we buy through ppc advertising are displayed in a list, sometimes at the top, sometimes on the side. But, whose ad will be at the top – yours or mine? Well, if you’re willing to pay $0.48 cents every time someone clicks on your ad, but I’m willing to pay $0.50 every time someone clicks on my ad, my ad will be placed above yours.Why PPC? Now you know what Pay Per Click Marketing is. Let’s see why you can’t afford NOT to have it as part of your marketing strategy.First, it’s just a simple fact that more and more money is being spent on the Internet every year. People aren’t just going online for information anymore. Literally billions of dollars are spent on sites as popular as Walmart.com to sites as unknown as the little trinket place called “dansgarage.com”. So, if you’re not doing business online, you need to get set up as soon as possible. Then you need a strategy to drive targeted people to your site.That’s where PayPerClick marketing comes in. Because you bid on words related to your site, only people who are looking for something similar to your site will SEE your site. Here’s another great thing, let’s say they type in “baseball”
  After years of helping small businesses in rural Maryland plan marketing strategies, I'm amazed at how many do not have websites. Here are the ten of the most common questions and concerns small business owners posed about getting a website.
  1. Does my company really need a web site?
  2. What is the cost involved?
  3. I already have a web page on someone else's website. Why do I need two?
  4. I don’t sell merchandise on-line. Why would I need a web site?
  5. I don’t even use a computer. I can't maintain a web site.
  6. Our customers like the personal touch and most aren’t computer users.
  7. I have a cousin who can make web sites. I’ve promised him that he can do ours.
  8. Our upcoming advertising commitments will use all our marketing money.
  9. A website seems so sterile and impersonal. It won’t add to “our kind" of customer base that was built on personal relationship.
  10. I wouldn’t know what to do with a web site if I had one.
  QUESTION 1: Does my company really need a web site?

  The answer to this question could be “yes” or could be “no.” Only the business owner can answer it.

  Recently I went to a popular restaurant in a tiny Virginia town to try and sell the owners a website. The restaurant was located right on the waterfront overlooking Chincoteague Bay. I went just before lunchtime in the dead of winter on a weekday. I figured business would be slow and I could chat briefly with the owner.

  The owner was gracious and allowed me to run through the basic benefits giving me her full attention – even taking a few notes. I figured I had a good chance of closing this deal. I finally said, “Do you think a website is something you’d be interested in hearing more about?”

  This was her reply: “We opened this place as a bait and tackle shop. Then people wanted coffee so we provided that. Then some asked for sandwiches, so we provided that. Later they wanted a few tables where they could sit and chat while they ate their sandwiches, so we got tables and chairs and began doing lunches. That led to dinners. Then we didn’t have enough room so we added the screened in porch for the summer. People loved the porch so much that we winterized for the colder months. Now that it’s January, we thought we might be able to close one day a week and get some time off. But we can’t. We’re too busy. We’ve never advertised and we’re tired. If a website is going to bring more people in here – no thanks!”

  This business does not need a website.

  Only you can determine if your company needs a web site. While making the determination, you want to consider that a web site is multi-functional, and is a communication tool – not an advertisement. If your business is organized, all of your clientele is local, and you have a back-log of customers waiting to be serviced –and you can handle that service effectively – you may not need a website.

  If you often wish you could communicate effectively with a broader range of clients / customers, publicly post answers to frequently asked questions, attract new customers, break in to new markets and take the market share from your competitors – then a website is a MUST!

  A web site is like your giant public bulletin board where people can get information on how to find you, where you are located, what you have to offer, why your service is unique, and what’s new in your company. It also is easily updated and changed frequently, and is a communication forum through which your customers can communicate back to you with questions, concerns and feedback on their needs.

  QUESTION 2: What is the cost involved?

  Having a website involves three basic costs: The development of the site itself, hosting the site, and registering the domain name.

  The development of the site is the actual "building" or putting the graphics, text, links and codes all together so you have web pages that look good and are informative when you see the site on the computer. This is the largest of the three costs and can ranch in price from $500 to $2000 typically. However, the cost of getting a functioning website is generally the same as putting a color ad insert into your local paper once or twice a year. That ad is seen and then gone. The cost of your website is a one-time investment for a tool you own and can continue to use for communication and marketing indefinitely. It is always up - and always accessible.

  Hosting the site means the website files are put on a large server so the general public can access your site by clicking through the Internet. Hosting costs vary but average around $20 to $50 per month, based on the website functionality and the hosting provider. Service varies widely as well. The ideal host will offer several services bundled together for one affordable price. Look for these services in a hosting package:

  • The space provided for your site on the server should have ample room for high traffic (bandwidth). When a site doesn’t have enough bandwidth, the web visitor finds the site slow loading and difficult to access.
  • The hosting package should have at least one email address that can be accessed through the web.
  • The Hosting package should have a reliable track record of maintaining high dependability. When your server goes down, your web site and associated email is unavailable. Registering the domain name involves reserving a unique web address where users find your web site - such as www.writingthevision.com. This is done through a public registry service and the cost is typically $35 per year.
  I tell clients that getting a website is like getting a telephone. They both have similar cost structures. The website cost is like the cost of the phone and installation. You pay one time and the equipment is yours. The hosting cost is similar to your monthly phone bill - you own the equipment but you pay for the service of being able to use it. The domain name registry is like the phone number - a unique way to get in touch with only YOU. Additional Costs – can include:
  1. Email services with multiple email accounts.
  2. Internet marketing services – researching how best to promote your site and get the maximum visibility, drawing more visitors to your site.
  3. Maintenance services – updating the site continually, making changes, adding pages, delivering web statistic reports, and more.
  QUESTION 3: I already have a web page on someone else's website. Why do I need two?
  

  If you have a web page with your Chamber of Commerce or with a listing service in your industry or parent company, that is a GOOD thing! However, that is not a web site. It more than likely only offers contact information and a brief description of what your offer. It lumps you into a wide category that generally includes your competitors, and in many cases, it doesn’t offer the interaction with the public that your own website would offer. Finally – you don’t own the site or have control over it.

  Your web site brands you as unique and reveals your identity. The good news is that having that page with the Chamber or other listing service will enhance and empower your new website. It will drive more traffic to your site and put you one step ahead of the marketing game.

  Think about it. If a visitor is looking for a florist on Teleflora and finds five listings close to home – and one of the listings has a link to its own website – that visitor is going to go “one click further” and click on that florist’s website. When scanning a list, people always want to know more. Your link gives them that opportunity.

  QUESTION 4: I don’t sell merchandise on-line. Why would I need a web site?

  You may not sell merchandise on-line, but do you sell something special that people are looking for? Do you ever have a customer say “I came here because you sell ________.” For example, a store that sells a line of products or brands that are highly sought after by a faithful following, (e.g. Dept. 56, Boyd’s Bears, Hallmark Cards, Red Wing Shoes, certain lines of animal products, clothing and accessories, tools) is going to have potential customers that search the Internet to find out who sells those brands in their local area. Will you be on the search results? Will your competitor be?

  The same applies to restaurants and lodging. People are visiting a certain area. Over 70% of travelers in the United States and Europe use the Internet to set travel itineraries – and those itineraries include restaurants, accommodations, and shopping. Will you be among the choices found when they search the Internet?

  If you offer something that people are looking for, a large portion of people (perhaps a market unknown to you thus far) will search the Internet, because it’s fast, it’s easy, it’s global and it’s private. A web site will put you in the running with others on the Internet.

  QUESTION 5: I don’t even use a computer. I can't maintain a web site.

  Using the computer is like playing the piano. You can play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” or a Sonata by Chopin. Either way, you’re getting a tune out. To maintain a web site you should have a computer, and you – or someone in your company – should be able to send and receive email. Your web developer can help you with maintenance, changes and updates, which is generally simple and affordable.

  QUESTION 6: Our customers like the personal touch and most aren’t computer users.

  Your current customers may not use the computer much – that is possible.

  A worthy concern should be about the potential customers that do use the computer and CAN’T FIND YOU. Statistics prove that 65% of the population in rural areas uses a computer at least once per week, and 85% in metropolitan areas use a computer. These percentages have NEVER decreased. It is likely that they will continue to increase. A website keeps you in sync with this trend.

  Another interesting statistic:

  The fastest growing sector of the American population getting computer literate is between the ages of 50 and 75. This sector also includes those with the highest percentage of disposable income. A website helps you target that using population.

  Another thing to think about …. 75 years ago, the American population felt that the telephone was an expensive luxury and not crucial to business growth. That sentiment continued for 30 years. As social communication trends changed, and expenses decreased – businesses changed to insure profitability. Use of the Internet will only increase in the next ten years.

  QUESTION 7: I have a cousin who can make web sites. I’ve already promised him that he can do ours.

  Is your cousin a qualified web developer? If so, you’re the lucky one. Be sure to impart a sense of urgency in getting the site completed. If he or she makes websites as a hobby, you’ll want to consider the following:

  1. A website can be compared to modes of transportation. You could ride a bicycle or drive a Mercedes – either way you can get around town, but one is more efficient, will take your farther faster, and will be a more comfortable ride.
  2. The flashy graphics and catchy text you see on websites is only about 20% of what goes into developing the site. Behind all those pretty pages are codes and tags, specifically written to attain a higher placement in search engines, make the pages load faster and be more user friendly. Most beginners and hobbyists lack knowledge in the proper usage of codes, scripts, tags and search engine optimization. If you have a pretty web site, but no one can find it, you lose enormous marketing power.
  QUESTION 8: Our upcoming advertising commitments will use all our marketing money.

  It is important to recognize that a website is NOT an advertising investment. It compliments and empowers your advertising efforts. Ads are the property of the advertising vendor, and are a revolving cost to a company. You buy an ad for a specific amount of time – and then the ad is gone.

  A website is a marketing and communication tool that belongs to you. You control it and you can use it continually. It is a company asset similar to a telephone or fax machine. You buy it one time and only pay for the service to use it. Websites reach a growing customer base that up until now has remained hidden to you. It also services your current customer base, giving them more options to communicate with you.

  Once you have a website, you can include your web address on all of your advertising, offering potential customers and clients an opportunity to find out more. A website in today’s world is also a stamp of credibility to the public that hasn’t yet met you.

  The following quote is an excerpt from Small Business Magazine – October Issue 2003.

  “Customers and other people who come in contact with your business expect to find a reputable businesses on the Web, so don’t risk your credibility by not being present.”

  QUESTION 9: A website seems so sterile and impersonal. It won’t add to “our kind" of customer base that was built on personal relationship.

  This statement is commonly made by specialty shop owners and real estate agents. Real estate agents will add “I already invest high dollars in space advertising.” This is probably one of the most frustrating objections for me because the business owners that say this are some of the nicest people I've met - and are usually sound business people. They know how to treat a customer or client with special care.

  However, they don’t understand that all kinds of people use the internet to access information. The internet, unlike advertising mediums does not target a set demographic. Magazines, Newspapers, Television, Radio – are all demographically based. Family Circle will always target women between the ages of 25 and 35 that have young children. Country music radio stations target a specific audience as do Cable news programs or shows like Sesame Street.

  The Internet gives everyone access, targeting no one in particular. The Internet user chooses where to look, just as they choose what newspaper to buy or what television program to watch. If your business is not there, it won't be found.

  There are over 8 billion web pages indexed in the Google search engine. The top three commercial markets on the web are Technology, Real Estate and Travel. Technology businesses know they need a website. If you’re in real estate (even an individual agent) YOU NEED A WEBSITE. If your business markets to travelers accommodations, restaurant, specialty shopping, tickets, travel wear, recreational products, travel gear, animal care, children’s activities) YOU NEED A WEBSITE. Statistics show that 7 out of 10 people will go to the internet for information before they purchase real estate or set a travel itinerary.

  A website usually is rather impersonal – and that’s a good thing. When people use the internet they want information not a personal relationship. The information will bring them to you. You create the relationship.

  A website gives you a higher number of potential customers to create a relationship with. If internet users don’t find you on the web, they’ll seek out your competitors who have websites.

  QUESTION 10: I wouldn’t know what to do with a web site if I had one.

  In addition to the information above, understand that Internet users find you - you don't find them. They will either search for you because they've heard your name, or search for a product you're selling. If your business is not listed, it doesn't exist to Internet user.

  Your web developer is a trained professional that will assist with maintaining and handling the website.

  SUMMARY

  A website is a marketing tool that costs you ONE TIME and continues to pay you back. It expands your customer base, enhances your advertising and marketing efforts and gives your business a mark of credibility.

  A website at its basic level tells millions of Internet users:

  • Who you are, how you began, successes you've had, your reputation in the community.
  • What your company has to offer – products and services
  • How to find your location.
  • The different ways to contact you (phone #’s, FAX, email, physical address)
  • Special offers and upcoming promotions, new addit
    Finding Your Ideal Home
    Finding your ideal home takes some work. Do you want a single-family home or a condo? How big a home and in which neighborhood?Let’s begin by talking about different types of homes. Single-family homes are typically detached houses on a single lot. The owner is responsible for all aspects of the property, including the interior, exterior and landscaping. A condominium, on the other hand, is a real estate project in which the individual owner holds title to a particular unit in a building. Most condos have a monthly Homeowner’s Association fee that may cover expenses such as exterior building insurance, landscaping, pool and recreation area maintenance, trash, water and a reserve for future capital improvements to the property. Town houses are legally classified as condominiums, usually share at least one common wall, but are generally situated in rows so there are no units above each other.You’ve probably heard the old real estate adage, “Location, location, location!” The location or neighborhood you choose will have the biggest impact on the price of the property. Whether you’re aiming for an exclusive blue-chip neighborhood or a lower-priced, emerging community, be sure to evaluate the area’s shopping and business services, entertainment, park and recreational facilities, public transportation, traffic congestion, noise levels, and the general ambiance. While some of these factors, such as the quality of the school district, may not be important to you, they could significantly impact the home’s resale value.Speaking of resale, the longer you stay in a home, the better chance you have to make money on your investment. Generally, it takes at least three to four years to recoup buying and selling costs. Depending on how long you plan to stay in your home, make sure the home has the amenities that your family requires. For example, a two-bedroom cottage may be perfect for a young couple with no children; however, before long, the couple could quickly outgrow the space.Smart buyers know that one of the keys to finding your ideal home is to prioritize your needs and your wan
    ou, where you are located, what you have to offer, why your service is unique, and what’s new in your company. It also is easily updated and changed frequently, and is a communication forum through which your customers can communicate back to you with questions, concerns and feedback on their needs.

    QUESTION 2: What is the cost involved?

    Having a website involves three basic costs: The development of the site itself, hosting the site, and registering the domain name.

    The development of the site is the actual "building" or putting the graphics, text, links and codes all together so you have web pages that look good and are informative when you see the site on the computer. This is the largest of the three costs and can ranch in price from $500 to $2000 typically. However, the cost of getting a functioning website is generally the same as putting a color ad insert into your local paper once or twice a year. That ad is seen and then gone. The cost of your website is a one-time investment for a tool you own and can continue to use for communication and marketing indefinitely. It is always up - and always accessible.

    Hosting the site means the website files are put on a large server so the general public can access your site by clicking through the Internet. Hosting costs vary but average around $20 to $50 per month, based on the website functionality and the hosting provider. Service varies widely as well. The ideal host will offer several services bundled together for one affordable price. Look for these services in a hosting package:

    • The space provided for your site on the server should have ample room for high traffic (bandwidth). When a site doesn’t have enough bandwidth, the web visitor finds the site slow loading and difficult to access.
    • The hosting package should have at least one email address that can be accessed through the web.
    • The Hosting package should have a reliable track record of maintaining high dependability. When your server goes down, your web site and associated email is unavailable. Registering the domain name involves reserving a unique web address where users find your web site - such as www.writingthevision.com. This is done through a public registry service and the cost is typically $35 per year.
    I tell clients that getting a website is like getting a telephone. They both have similar cost structures. The website cost is like the cost of the phone and installation. You pay one time and the equipment is yours. The hosting cost is similar to your monthly phone bill - you own the equipment but you pay for the service of being able to use it. The domain name registry is like the phone number - a unique way to get in touch with only YOU. Additional Costs – can include:
    1. Email services with multiple email accounts.
    2. Internet marketing services – researching how best to promote your site and get the maximum visibility, drawing more visitors to your site.
    3. Maintenance services – updating the site continually, making changes, adding pages, delivering web statistic reports, and more.
    QUESTION 3: I already have a web page on someone else's website. Why do I need two?
    

    If you have a web page with your Chamber of Commerce or with a listing service in your industry or parent company, that is a GOOD thing! However, that is not a web site. It more than likely only offers contact information and a brief description of what your offer. It lumps you into a wide category that generally includes your competitors, and in many cases, it doesn’t offer the interaction with the public that your own website would offer. Finally – you don’t own the site or have control over it.

    Your web site brands you as unique and reveals your identity. The good news is that having that page with the Chamber or other listing service will enhance and empower your new website. It will drive more traffic to your site and put you one step ahead of the marketing game.

    Think about it. If a visitor is looking for a florist on Teleflora and finds five listings close to home – and one of the listings has a link to its own website – that visitor is going to go “one click further” and click on that florist’s website. When scanning a list, people always want to know more. Your link gives them that opportunity.

    QUESTION 4: I don’t sell merchandise on-line. Why would I need a web site?

    You may not sell merchandise on-line, but do you sell something special that people are looking for? Do you ever have a customer say “I came here because you sell ________.” For example, a store that sells a line of products or brands that are highly sought after by a faithful following, (e.g. Dept. 56, Boyd’s Bears, Hallmark Cards, Red Wing Shoes, certain lines of animal products, clothing and accessories, tools) is going to have potential customers that search the Internet to find out who sells those brands in their local area. Will you be on the search results? Will your competitor be?

    The same applies to restaurants and lodging. People are visiting a certain area. Over 70% of travelers in the United States and Europe use the Internet to set travel itineraries – and those itineraries include restaurants, accommodations, and shopping. Will you be among the choices found when they search the Internet?

    If you offer something that people are looking for, a large portion of people (perhaps a market unknown to you thus far) will search the Internet, because it’s fast, it’s easy, it’s global and it’s private. A web site will put you in the running with others on the Internet.

    QUESTION 5: I don’t even use a computer. I can't maintain a web site.

    Using the computer is like playing the piano. You can play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” or a Sonata by Chopin. Either way, you’re getting a tune out. To maintain a web site you should have a computer, and you – or someone in your company – should be able to send and receive email. Your web developer can help you with maintenance, changes and updates, which is generally simple and affordable.

    QUESTION 6: Our customers like the personal touch and most aren’t computer users.

    Your current customers may not use the computer much – that is possible.

    A worthy concern should be about the potential customers that do use the computer and CAN’T FIND YOU. Statistics prove that 65% of the population in rural areas uses a computer at least once per week, and 85% in metropolitan areas use a computer. These percentages have NEVER decreased. It is likely that they will continue to increase. A website keeps you in sync with this trend.

    Another interesting statistic:

    The fastest growing sector of the American population getting computer literate is between the ages of 50 and 75. This sector also includes those with the highest percentage of disposable income. A website helps you target that using population.

    Another thing to think about …. 75 years ago, the American population felt that the telephone was an expensive luxury and not crucial to business growth. That sentiment continued for 30 years. As social communication trends changed, and expenses decreased – businesses changed to insure profitability. Use of the Internet will only increase in the next ten years.

    QUESTION 7: I have a cousin who can make web sites. I’ve already promised him that he can do ours.

    Is your cousin a qualified web developer? If so, you’re the lucky one. Be sure to impart a sense of urgency in getting the site completed. If he or she makes websites as a hobby, you’ll want to consider the following:

    1. A website can be compared to modes of transportation. You could ride a bicycle or drive a Mercedes – either way you can get around town, but one is more efficient, will take your farther faster, and will be a more comfortable ride.
    2. The flashy graphics and catchy text you see on websites is only about 20% of what goes into developing the site. Behind all those pretty pages are codes and tags, specifically written to attain a higher placement in search engines, make the pages load faster and be more user friendly. Most beginners and hobbyists lack knowledge in the proper usage of codes, scripts, tags and search engine optimization. If you have a pretty web site, but no one can find it, you lose enormous marketing power.
    QUESTION 8: Our upcoming advertising commitments will use all our marketing money.

    It is important to recognize that a website is NOT an advertising investment. It compliments and empowers your advertising efforts. Ads are the property of the advertising vendor, and are a revolving cost to a company. You buy an ad for a specific amount of time – and then the ad is gone.

    A website is a marketing and communication tool that belongs to you. You control it and you can use it continually. It is a company asset similar to a telephone or fax machine. You buy it one time and only pay for the service to use it. Websites reach a growing customer base that up until now has remained hidden to you. It also services your current customer base, giving them more options to communicate with you.

    Once you have a website, you can include your web address on all of your advertising, offering potential customers and clients an opportunity to find out more. A website in today’s world is also a stamp of credibility to the public that hasn’t yet met you.

    The following quote is an excerpt from Small Business Magazine – October Issue 2003.

    “Customers and other people who come in contact with your business expect to find a reputable businesses on the Web, so don’t risk your credibility by not being present.”

    QUESTION 9: A website seems so sterile and impersonal. It won’t add to “our kind" of customer base that was built on personal relationship.

    This statement is commonly made by specialty shop owners and real estate agents. Real estate agents will add “I already invest high dollars in space advertising.” This is probably one of the most frustrating objections for me because the business owners that say this are some of the nicest people I've met - and are usually sound business people. They know how to treat a customer or client with special care.

    However, they don’t understand that all kinds of people use the internet to access information. The internet, unlike advertising mediums does not target a set demographic. Magazines, Newspapers, Television, Radio – are all demographically based. Family Circle will always target women between the ages of 25 and 35 that have young children. Country music radio stations target a specific audience as do Cable news programs or shows like Sesame Street.

    The Internet gives everyone access, targeting no one in particular. The Internet user chooses where to look, just as they choose what newspaper to buy or what television program to watch. If your business is not there, it won't be found.

    There are over 8 billion web pages indexed in the Google search engine. The top three commercial markets on the web are Technology, Real Estate and Travel. Technology businesses know they need a website. If you’re in real estate (even an individual agent) YOU NEED A WEBSITE. If your business markets to travelers accommodations, restaurant, specialty shopping, tickets, travel wear, recreational products, travel gear, animal care, children’s activities) YOU NEED A WEBSITE. Statistics show that 7 out of 10 people will go to the internet for information before they purchase real estate or set a travel itinerary.

    A website usually is rather impersonal – and that’s a good thing. When people use the internet they want information not a personal relationship. The information will bring them to you. You create the relationship.

    A website gives you a higher number of potential customers to create a relationship with. If internet users don’t find you on the web, they’ll seek out your competitors who have websites.

    QUESTION 10: I wouldn’t know what to do with a web site if I had one.

    In addition to the information above, understand that Internet users find you - you don't find them. They will either search for you because they've heard your name, or search for a product you're selling. If your business is not listed, it doesn't exist to Internet user.

    Your web developer is a trained professional that will assist with maintaining and handling the website.

    SUMMARY

    A website is a marketing tool that costs you ONE TIME and continues to pay you back. It expands your customer base, enhances your advertising and marketing efforts and gives your business a mark of credibility.

    A website at its basic level tells millions of Internet users:

    • Who you are, how you began, successes you've had, your reputation in the community.
    • What your company has to offer – products and services
    • How to find your location.
    • The different ways to contact you (phone #’s, FAX, email, physical address)
    • Special offers and upcoming promotions, new addi
      Seven Keys to More Effectively Leading Teams
      Maybe you find yourself in a new team environment and leading a team for the first time, or maybe you have been working with and leading teams forever. Either way, the keys in this article – whether as new information or a fresh reminder – can make a world of difference in morale, productivity and results from teams. Help the team identify its purpose. People work more effectively when they understand the goals they are trying to achieve. As a leader it is your job to help the team see the desired outcome of their efforts and help them set specific goals and milestones along the way. Set the scope and boundaries. Teams need to know what they should tackle and what is “too big” or not their responsibility. By helping teams manage the scope of their work you will keep them more focused and on target to reach the goals more quickly. Show your belief. If you don’t believe in the team concept, you won’t effectively lead teams. If you do believe both in the concept and in a particular team’s potential, you need to let them know that. Show through both your words and actions that you believe in them. Once they have purpose and goals and your belief, they are on their way to success. Define your role. Your role is to lead, not to do the work or make all of the decisions. Let the team know what you role is and isn’t. Help them see how you are relying on their experience, knowledge and intellect in the completion of the team’s work. Be a supporter. Support the team with your actions. Don’t just delegate the work to the team and be gone. Teams will experience obstacles and road blocks and it is your job to remove those roadblocks, find additional resources, and generally provide support. It is like a hike. If you are in front of a group on a hike, you will do your best to remove impediments that might slow down or injure those that follow. Your role on a business team of any sort is just the same. Be a facilitator. Help the team succeed. Provide gu
      with your Chamber of Commerce or with a listing service in your industry or parent company, that is a GOOD thing! However, that is not a web site. It more than likely only offers contact information and a brief description of what your offer. It lumps you into a wide category that generally includes your competitors, and in many cases, it doesn’t offer the interaction with the public that your own website would offer. Finally – you don’t own the site or have control over it.

      Your web site brands you as unique and reveals your identity. The good news is that having that page with the Chamber or other listing service will enhance and empower your new website. It will drive more traffic to your site and put you one step ahead of the marketing game.

      Think about it. If a visitor is looking for a florist on Teleflora and finds five listings close to home – and one of the listings has a link to its own website – that visitor is going to go “one click further” and click on that florist’s website. When scanning a list, people always want to know more. Your link gives them that opportunity.

      QUESTION 4: I don’t sell merchandise on-line. Why would I need a web site?

      You may not sell merchandise on-line, but do you sell something special that people are looking for? Do you ever have a customer say “I came here because you sell ________.” For example, a store that sells a line of products or brands that are highly sought after by a faithful following, (e.g. Dept. 56, Boyd’s Bears, Hallmark Cards, Red Wing Shoes, certain lines of animal products, clothing and accessories, tools) is going to have potential customers that search the Internet to find out who sells those brands in their local area. Will you be on the search results? Will your competitor be?

      The same applies to restaurants and lodging. People are visiting a certain area. Over 70% of travelers in the United States and Europe use the Internet to set travel itineraries – and those itineraries include restaurants, accommodations, and shopping. Will you be among the choices found when they search the Internet?

      If you offer something that people are looking for, a large portion of people (perhaps a market unknown to you thus far) will search the Internet, because it’s fast, it’s easy, it’s global and it’s private. A web site will put you in the running with others on the Internet.

      QUESTION 5: I don’t even use a computer. I can't maintain a web site.

      Using the computer is like playing the piano. You can play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” or a Sonata by Chopin. Either way, you’re getting a tune out. To maintain a web site you should have a computer, and you – or someone in your company – should be able to send and receive email. Your web developer can help you with maintenance, changes and updates, which is generally simple and affordable.

      QUESTION 6: Our customers like the personal touch and most aren’t computer users.

      Your current customers may not use the computer much – that is possible.

      A worthy concern should be about the potential customers that do use the computer and CAN’T FIND YOU. Statistics prove that 65% of the population in rural areas uses a computer at least once per week, and 85% in metropolitan areas use a computer. These percentages have NEVER decreased. It is likely that they will continue to increase. A website keeps you in sync with this trend.

      Another interesting statistic:

      The fastest growing sector of the American population getting computer literate is between the ages of 50 and 75. This sector also includes those with the highest percentage of disposable income. A website helps you target that using population.

      Another thing to think about …. 75 years ago, the American population felt that the telephone was an expensive luxury and not crucial to business growth. That sentiment continued for 30 years. As social communication trends changed, and expenses decreased – businesses changed to insure profitability. Use of the Internet will only increase in the next ten years.

      QUESTION 7: I have a cousin who can make web sites. I’ve already promised him that he can do ours.

      Is your cousin a qualified web developer? If so, you’re the lucky one. Be sure to impart a sense of urgency in getting the site completed. If he or she makes websites as a hobby, you’ll want to consider the following:

      1. A website can be compared to modes of transportation. You could ride a bicycle or drive a Mercedes – either way you can get around town, but one is more efficient, will take your farther faster, and will be a more comfortable ride.
      2. The flashy graphics and catchy text you see on websites is only about 20% of what goes into developing the site. Behind all those pretty pages are codes and tags, specifically written to attain a higher placement in search engines, make the pages load faster and be more user friendly. Most beginners and hobbyists lack knowledge in the proper usage of codes, scripts, tags and search engine optimization. If you have a pretty web site, but no one can find it, you lose enormous marketing power.
      QUESTION 8: Our upcoming advertising commitments will use all our marketing money.

      It is important to recognize that a website is NOT an advertising investment. It compliments and empowers your advertising efforts. Ads are the property of the advertising vendor, and are a revolving cost to a company. You buy an ad for a specific amount of time – and then the ad is gone.

      A website is a marketing and communication tool that belongs to you. You control it and you can use it continually. It is a company asset similar to a telephone or fax machine. You buy it one time and only pay for the service to use it. Websites reach a growing customer base that up until now has remained hidden to you. It also services your current customer base, giving them more options to communicate with you.

      Once you have a website, you can include your web address on all of your advertising, offering potential customers and clients an opportunity to find out more. A website in today’s world is also a stamp of credibility to the public that hasn’t yet met you.

      The following quote is an excerpt from Small Business Magazine – October Issue 2003.

      “Customers and other people who come in contact with your business expect to find a reputable businesses on the Web, so don’t risk your credibility by not being present.”

      QUESTION 9: A website seems so sterile and impersonal. It won’t add to “our kind" of customer base that was built on personal relationship.

      This statement is commonly made by specialty shop owners and real estate agents. Real estate agents will add “I already invest high dollars in space advertising.” This is probably one of the most frustrating objections for me because the business owners that say this are some of the nicest people I've met - and are usually sound business people. They know how to treat a customer or client with special care.

      However, they don’t understand that all kinds of people use the internet to access information. The internet, unlike advertising mediums does not target a set demographic. Magazines, Newspapers, Television, Radio – are all demographically based. Family Circle will always target women between the ages of 25 and 35 that have young children. Country music radio stations target a specific audience as do Cable news programs or shows like Sesame Street.

      The Internet gives everyone access, targeting no one in particular. The Internet user chooses where to look, just as they choose what newspaper to buy or what television program to watch. If your business is not there, it won't be found.

      There are over 8 billion web pages indexed in the Google search engine. The top three commercial markets on the web are Technology, Real Estate and Travel. Technology businesses know they need a website. If you’re in real estate (even an individual agent) YOU NEED A WEBSITE. If your business markets to travelers accommodations, restaurant, specialty shopping, tickets, travel wear, recreational products, travel gear, animal care, children’s activities) YOU NEED A WEBSITE. Statistics show that 7 out of 10 people will go to the internet for information before they purchase real estate or set a travel itinerary.

      A website usually is rather impersonal – and that’s a good thing. When people use the internet they want information not a personal relationship. The information will bring them to you. You create the relationship.

      A website gives you a higher number of potential customers to create a relationship with. If internet users don’t find you on the web, they’ll seek out your competitors who have websites.

      QUESTION 10: I wouldn’t know what to do with a web site if I had one.

      In addition to the information above, understand that Internet users find you - you don't find them. They will either search for you because they've heard your name, or search for a product you're selling. If your business is not listed, it doesn't exist to Internet user.

      Your web developer is a trained professional that will assist with maintaining and handling the website.

      SUMMARY

      A website is a marketing tool that costs you ONE TIME and continues to pay you back. It expands your customer base, enhances your advertising and marketing efforts and gives your business a mark of credibility.

      A website at its basic level tells millions of Internet users:

      • Who you are, how you began, successes you've had, your reputation in the community.
      • What your company has to offer – products and services
      • How to find your location.
      • The different ways to contact you (phone #’s, FAX, email, physical address)
      • Special offers and upcoming promotions, new addi
        Don't Let Yourself Become A Spammer
        What was that about? Three messages in a row from people I had never heard of asking me to stop spamming them amidst the usual pile of spam. I never sent any spam messages. Or did I?Unfortunately it is quite possible, even quite easy, to fake the sender of a message. While the simple techniques will not fool a serious inquiry, they can certainly make it look at first glance as if it is you that is sending out these spam messages by the hundred. It's a rather annoying variation of a "Joe Job Attack". This is, if you like, Joe Job Spamming, and it works as follows:Regular spammers build up a massive list of email addresses and spam them at will. The derivitive of this is not only to use these addresses in the to: line, but also in the from: line. It's like 2 for the price of one spam. If the address is incorrect or invalid it bounces back to another spam attack address, often with the initial message intact.So, what can be done to stop this form of spam? There's really not a huge amount that can be done inside the current framework. What IS required is an overhaul of the framework. Without getting into a complete history of email it started with companies/universities being able to use an internal messaging system. In these environments abuse was rare and usually easily located. For convenience sake these institutes started linking their systems so you could send email not only to your colleagues at the same location as you, but to nationwide branches also. Like the internet, email protocols grew out of a number of smaller nets linking together. It was not so much designed, as it happened.Perhaps it is time to overhaul the system completely. One thing is certain and that is that the ability to send e-mail anonymously has a single benefactor - and that is spammers. If we want to get serious in fighting spam - we must remove the ability to anonymously send email.
        tages have NEVER decreased. It is likely that they will continue to increase. A website keeps you in sync with this trend.

        Another interesting statistic:

        The fastest growing sector of the American population getting computer literate is between the ages of 50 and 75. This sector also includes those with the highest percentage of disposable income. A website helps you target that using population.

        Another thing to think about …. 75 years ago, the American population felt that the telephone was an expensive luxury and not crucial to business growth. That sentiment continued for 30 years. As social communication trends changed, and expenses decreased – businesses changed to insure profitability. Use of the Internet will only increase in the next ten years.

        QUESTION 7: I have a cousin who can make web sites. I’ve already promised him that he can do ours.

        Is your cousin a qualified web developer? If so, you’re the lucky one. Be sure to impart a sense of urgency in getting the site completed. If he or she makes websites as a hobby, you’ll want to consider the following:

        1. A website can be compared to modes of transportation. You could ride a bicycle or drive a Mercedes – either way you can get around town, but one is more efficient, will take your farther faster, and will be a more comfortable ride.
        2. The flashy graphics and catchy text you see on websites is only about 20% of what goes into developing the site. Behind all those pretty pages are codes and tags, specifically written to attain a higher placement in search engines, make the pages load faster and be more user friendly. Most beginners and hobbyists lack knowledge in the proper usage of codes, scripts, tags and search engine optimization. If you have a pretty web site, but no one can find it, you lose enormous marketing power.
        QUESTION 8: Our upcoming advertising commitments will use all our marketing money.

        It is important to recognize that a website is NOT an advertising investment. It compliments and empowers your advertising efforts. Ads are the property of the advertising vendor, and are a revolving cost to a company. You buy an ad for a specific amount of time – and then the ad is gone.

        A website is a marketing and communication tool that belongs to you. You control it and you can use it continually. It is a company asset similar to a telephone or fax machine. You buy it one time and only pay for the service to use it. Websites reach a growing customer base that up until now has remained hidden to you. It also services your current customer base, giving them more options to communicate with you.

        Once you have a website, you can include your web address on all of your advertising, offering potential customers and clients an opportunity to find out more. A website in today’s world is also a stamp of credibility to the public that hasn’t yet met you.

        The following quote is an excerpt from Small Business Magazine – October Issue 2003.

        “Customers and other people who come in contact with your business expect to find a reputable businesses on the Web, so don’t risk your credibility by not being present.”

        QUESTION 9: A website seems so sterile and impersonal. It won’t add to “our kind" of customer base that was built on personal relationship.

        This statement is commonly made by specialty shop owners and real estate agents. Real estate agents will add “I already invest high dollars in space advertising.” This is probably one of the most frustrating objections for me because the business owners that say this are some of the nicest people I've met - and are usually sound business people. They know how to treat a customer or client with special care.

        However, they don’t understand that all kinds of people use the internet to access information. The internet, unlike advertising mediums does not target a set demographic. Magazines, Newspapers, Television, Radio – are all demographically based. Family Circle will always target women between the ages of 25 and 35 that have young children. Country music radio stations target a specific audience as do Cable news programs or shows like Sesame Street.

        The Internet gives everyone access, targeting no one in particular. The Internet user chooses where to look, just as they choose what newspaper to buy or what television program to watch. If your business is not there, it won't be found.

        There are over 8 billion web pages indexed in the Google search engine. The top three commercial markets on the web are Technology, Real Estate and Travel. Technology businesses know they need a website. If you’re in real estate (even an individual agent) YOU NEED A WEBSITE. If your business markets to travelers accommodations, restaurant, specialty shopping, tickets, travel wear, recreational products, travel gear, animal care, children’s activities) YOU NEED A WEBSITE. Statistics show that 7 out of 10 people will go to the internet for information before they purchase real estate or set a travel itinerary.

        A website usually is rather impersonal – and that’s a good thing. When people use the internet they want information not a personal relationship. The information will bring them to you. You create the relationship.

        A website gives you a higher number of potential customers to create a relationship with. If internet users don’t find you on the web, they’ll seek out your competitors who have websites.

        QUESTION 10: I wouldn’t know what to do with a web site if I had one.

        In addition to the information above, understand that Internet users find you - you don't find them. They will either search for you because they've heard your name, or search for a product you're selling. If your business is not listed, it doesn't exist to Internet user.

        Your web developer is a trained professional that will assist with maintaining and handling the website.

        SUMMARY

        A website is a marketing tool that costs you ONE TIME and continues to pay you back. It expands your customer base, enhances your advertising and marketing efforts and gives your business a mark of credibility.

        A website at its basic level tells millions of Internet users:

        • Who you are, how you began, successes you've had, your reputation in the community.
        • What your company has to offer – products and services
        • How to find your location.
        • The different ways to contact you (phone #’s, FAX, email, physical address)
        • Special offers and upcoming promotions, new addi
          Marketing Strategy - Look Before You Leap to the Pricing Pressure
          One of my clients recently got pressured by customers to drop their prices because a competitor had done so. The first thing we asked for was proof that the customer had been offered the price. (Without proof, a claim such as this is hearsay, and you never put the profitability of your business on the line based on hearsay.) The customer showed us a written quote that, sure enough, offered comparable product at a lower price. So it was time to go "undercover" and see whether this was really a problem before my client reacted to the pricing pressure.So the client and I set off to go mystery shopping. A drive by the competitors showroom 6 times during the following 48 hours showed the place was deserted - other than the staff, there was no-one there. There were no customers, no activity by the loading bays, no trucks rushing in to unload their wares. All was very quiet. Too quiet.So we phoned up and asked about the product, and it turned out the product was a discontinued line, once the existing stock had run out, the competitor was exiting the product line. (It also turned out the competitor was exiting the industry because of poor sales so was selling off everything at ridiculously low prices.)Thankfully, all of this was discovered before we reacted and shifted on price.So the moral of the story is this: Before you leap off the pricing precipice, check it is a jump you need to make first. Don your cloak of mystery and hit the streets. You might be surprised what you uncover.
          f customer base that was built on personal relationship.

          This statement is commonly made by specialty shop owners and real estate agents. Real estate agents will add “I already invest high dollars in space advertising.” This is probably one of the most frustrating objections for me because the business owners that say this are some of the nicest people I've met - and are usually sound business people. They know how to treat a customer or client with special care.

          However, they don’t understand that all kinds of people use the internet to access information. The internet, unlike advertising mediums does not target a set demographic. Magazines, Newspapers, Television, Radio – are all demographically based. Family Circle will always target women between the ages of 25 and 35 that have young children. Country music radio stations target a specific audience as do Cable news programs or shows like Sesame Street.

          The Internet gives everyone access, targeting no one in particular. The Internet user chooses where to look, just as they choose what newspaper to buy or what television program to watch. If your business is not there, it won't be found.

          There are over 8 billion web pages indexed in the Google search engine. The top three commercial markets on the web are Technology, Real Estate and Travel. Technology businesses know they need a website. If you’re in real estate (even an individual agent) YOU NEED A WEBSITE. If your business markets to travelers accommodations, restaurant, specialty shopping, tickets, travel wear, recreational products, travel gear, animal care, children’s activities) YOU NEED A WEBSITE. Statistics show that 7 out of 10 people will go to the internet for information before they purchase real estate or set a travel itinerary.

          A website usually is rather impersonal – and that’s a good thing. When people use the internet they want information not a personal relationship. The information will bring them to you. You create the relationship.

          A website gives you a higher number of potential customers to create a relationship with. If internet users don’t find you on the web, they’ll seek out your competitors who have websites.

          QUESTION 10: I wouldn’t know what to do with a web site if I had one.

          In addition to the information above, understand that Internet users find you - you don't find them. They will either search for you because they've heard your name, or search for a product you're selling. If your business is not listed, it doesn't exist to Internet user.

          Your web developer is a trained professional that will assist with maintaining and handling the website.

          SUMMARY

          A website is a marketing tool that costs you ONE TIME and continues to pay you back. It expands your customer base, enhances your advertising and marketing efforts and gives your business a mark of credibility.

          A website at its basic level tells millions of Internet users:

          • Who you are, how you began, successes you've had, your reputation in the community.
          • What your company has to offer – products and services
          • How to find your location.
          • The different ways to contact you (phone #’s, FAX, email, physical address)
          • Special offers and upcoming promotions, new additions to products and services
          • The Latest NEWS about your company
          • What others are saying about you - Client / Customer testimonials.
          When you consider the continual growth in numbers of Internet users and the growth of companies that are on the Internet, some of which may be your competitors, it could cost you NOT to have a web site.