Posted by martyn on February 25, 2010 – 2:28 pm
I’m loathed to create or optimise a website for someone who doesn’t have a clear need or for someone whom I cannot demonstrate any return on investment
When it comes to a website for your business, it’s there to help generate additional revenue. Pure and simple.
Its tough to justify the return on investment for some businesses though – like one man consultancy firms for instance. They get virtually all their business through referrals.
So why spend money to have a website? It’s unlikely to generate any extra business and is a tough one to optimise for search engines. No return on investment.
The answer in many cases is down to vanity. Everyone else has one so let’s have an even better looking one.
However a smart consultant would save £298 of the £300 by buying a £2 domain and creating a free www site on weebly or blogger. It’s just as functional if you’re happy to use template designs. Then upgrade to the fancy website later.
More important than getting a website for a consultant is being in all the important directories, which is free, but is often overlooked.
Posted by martyn on February 24, 2010 – 8:51 am
Yesterday I met with a local design company who work to a defined pricelist The Design Mechanics
They’ve been very successful, employ 6 staff and have recently passed their 1,000th customer.
They keep life simple and operate from modest offices. No travelling to clients. Under promise over deliver. They don’t bother advertising much as referrals are huge.
Their approach of a set price list rankles with their competition who have put up hate websites to damage them. This actually is an underhand compliment. They have been told they are causing waves in the market taking their approach. Which pleases them.
But customers love this approach. Without doubt it is the correct way to operate.
I’ve been moving in that direction with Pule Consulting and the meeting helped me to crystallise a few ideas. Over the next month or two I’ll be making the services I offer totally transparent with a price list for everything.
Posted by martyn on February 22, 2010 – 1:25 pm
Everyone can write blogs. Some have style. However, others don’t.
Some like writing. Others don’t
Not everyone enjoys writing blogs.
Consider writing a blog yourself if:
- You know the topic inside and out and have a passion for it.
- Spelling counts. Grammar too.
- You can step away from the story and be objective.
- Good job! People comment favorably on your writing or you have been published
Consider hiring a writer if:
- You just don’t like to write.
- Time is money.
- It’s all Greek to you – English isn’t your first language
- Your writing skills are so-so.
Oh and keep it simple, concise and don’t bore the pants off the reader.
Posted by martyn on February 20, 2010 – 8:48 pm
We’re all told users scan and don’t read webpages and spend no more than 10 seconds on average on a page.
Research from Jakob Nielsen says that this doesn’t apply to 48% of the population – lower-literacy users.
Lower literacy is different than illiteracy: people with lower literacy can read, but they have difficulties doing so.
The most notable difference between lower- and higher-literacy users is that lower-literacy users can’t understand a text by glancing at it. They must read word for word and often spend considerable time trying to understand multi-syllabic words.
The main and most obvious advice is to simplify the text: use text aimed at a 6th grade reading level on the homepage, important category pages, and landing pages. On other pages, use text geared to an 8th grade reading level.
Posted by martyn on February 19, 2010 – 9:16 am
I was talking to a video producer yesterday. We got into viral marketing. This is where you post on the internet and it spreads like wildfire.
You will’ve seen stories of lurid emails and the subsequent sacking of the sender by the employer.
But what if you had a product which derived a passion from a wide group of people?
A short clip of the 70s cult childrens Saturday morning show “The Banana Splits” has had almost 2 million views.
So what if your product had the same nostalgic passion?
Well my video producer friend was getting very creative and excited. All that remains is for me to find the product. And I know just the one!
BX679PY757N9
Posted by martyn on February 15, 2010 – 11:04 am
There is little doubt that affiliate marketing is the new darling of the internet, driving £3bn worth of revenue in 2007, and experiencing 45 per cent growth in 12 months . According to Jupiter Research, affiliate sales are predicted to grow at an average compound annual growth rate of 13 per cent between 2009 and 2013, despite the economic downturn being experienced across the globe.
As such a valuable part of the marketing mix, it is easy to see why it should play a fundamental role within any retail company’s digital marketing strategy. But an affiliate programme driving user traffic to your site is pointless unless they make a purchase. Unless your website has been built to be friendly to affiliate marketing you risk reducing conversion rates and souring relationships with the affiliates essential to growing your online business due to lost commissions.
Posted by martyn on February 12, 2010 – 6:40 pm
Google Buzz is a brand-new social network tool that facilitates Gmail users to share updates, links, images, videos, and more with their friends. GoogleBuzz is designed in a manner that Gmail user can use their existing social contacts to carry out their online social activities. You can start discussions about the things you find interesting with your contacts and also can comment on them. Buzz will also recommend things you can like based on your contacts activities. Your updates will also be shown publicly through Google real-time search if they are relevant to search.
Posted by martyn on February 12, 2010 – 10:05 am
You’ve got a visitor to your webpage through good use of keywords and search engine optimisation.
Next step is to ensure they remain.
You need a compelling title and opening message that is both relevant and grabs their attention.
On average a person visits a webpage for 8 seconds.
You need to persuade them to scroll down beyond the initial message.
Make sure there is a Call to Action (e.g. Click For More) above the fold or text links to another of your pages.
It’s been said the content needs to resemble an inverse pyramid – I think of it as an upside down iceberg with 90% above the waterline – or 90% of the key message shown above the fold (before the visitor needs to scroll down).
Which means the content / design / images below the fold are a lot less important as are the positioning and use of keywords
Posted by martyn on February 10, 2010 – 11:40 pm
When you get the results in Google, anyone noticed the “Show Options”?
There are some really neat features to expand your investigations
I particularly like “Related Searches” i.e. people who search for x also search for y
Also “Wonderwheel” which creates a tree of options from the one you selected
