Your Website: Tips & Tricks – InovediaMarketing.com

3 Tips Keep Your Website and Facebook Fan Page from Getting Hijacked!

It goes without saying we all hire & partner with folks we trust. To take that a step further, often we even rely on friends & family for key services and, I know it’s tough to admit, but occasionally even the most trusted relationships get… well, complicated. So, since I do not want you locked out of your website and because I desperately want to avoid saying “I told you so” please do us both a huge favor and take these very simple precautions! Now I’m not professing to break any new ground here, BUT last week I did have to say “I told you so” twice.

Set up your domain name & web hosting account yourself! No matter how good, cheap or trustworthy your web “guy” is, please make sure you have complete access to your hosting account and also your domain name registration. You may not know any of that means, or what ftp is, or why you need it but, it’s a key to getting to your website’s infrastructure. Without account control you could be stuck with an out of date or otherwise problematic website should your web person take an extended vacation from eachother. If you have your domain name & web hosting account information! You’ll have complete control!

More than 1 admin on your Facebook page! If there’s only one and somehow that account gets banned, hacked or has password problems you’re up a creek!
Avoid flash websites: Flash sites are difficult to get properly indexed in search, they cannot be seen by iPone & iPad users and if you ever need a different designer to work on your website, you are limited to those who are Flash savvy. Plus, when you do find that new web person it will take them even longer to get up to speed and working on your new site just because flash is THAT complicated!

Got more tips & advice for owners of business websites? Even better, got horror stories? Please share in the comments!

Good luck!

@richardbouchez

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Good luck!

@richardbouchez

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Richard Bouchez is a certified Inbound Marketing professional specializing in Social Media Marketing & New Media content development. Richard’s web, audio & video work has been honored with Emmy, Promax & CBA awards.

"New Marketing" tactics, Small Biz Social Networking, Your Website: Tips & Tricks

WTF is Twitter?

…and why would (I) my business use it?

The same reasons that make Twitter so popular are those that make describing twitter problematic.

While that might not makes sense at first glance, once you realize that Twitter has no real product direction or single “primary use” you may begin to realize just how difficult it is to describe (and figure out) Twitter’s relevance as a businesses tool.

Here’s a parallel challenge:

Come up with one blanket statement that clearly describes what our existing land line phone systom does.

Why is that a challenge? Well, in your description you will have had to include all uses of consumer land line phones such as fax transmission, internet connections, VOIP phone line connections, 911 ermergency services, automated home alarm warning services, etc. So, that being said, please consider the technology of Twitter just as complex.

That’s all great, but WTF is Twitter?

The direct answer: Twitter is whatever you can make of it.

That’s probably disappointing, but its absolutely the reason people say things like “I’m still figuring Twitter out” or “trying to get used to Twitter” or “I don’t get it.” The unfortunate fact is, once you create your account you are stuck trying figure out what to do with little to no direction and that takes time most people don’t have. Fortunately there are a lot of folks, like myself, willing to spend way too much time writing stuff like this and trying to help out:-)

10 things you can do with Twitter (for free):

Connect with fans using Twitter by offering relevant information.
Provide updates on your product for active Twitter users (millions & growing).
Improve your website by posting updated information to your site via Twitter (RSS) fed widget.
Offer scheduled information to anyone interested. May included daily, weekly or random information to customers which could include specials, coupons,
Follow experts in many industries for fresh information as it happens.
Post last minute deals, specials, emergency information, etc. to customers or other interested parties (because users choose to follow you we can assume they are “interested”).
Update any RSS capable reader or product connected to the internet.
Get found in real-time keyword searches. *Google, Bing and other search engines are adding Twitter search results to their own first page results and further integration is ongoing.
Have your “tweet” reposted in the streams of organizations followed by tens, hundreds, thousands or even millions of passionate people.
Publicly comment on anything.

So why use Twitter?

First and foremost, because the simple act of posting information on Twitter significantly increases the chances of being found in search engines and because using Twitter as one of your marketing channels makes for a great introduction to using Twitter.

What did I miss? Got more ways to use Twitter? Do you disagree? Please add your thoughts and ideas in the comments.

If you like this explanation, please link to it in your blog posts > Twitter

Good luck,

@richardbouchez

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Richard Bouchez is a certified Inbound Marketing professional specializing in Social Media Marketing & New Media content development. Richard’s web, audio & video work has been honored with Emmy, Promax & CBA awards.

"New Marketing" tactics, About Us, How to, Small Biz Social Networking, Video & Multimedia, Your Website: Tips & Tricks

How can we help you?

Inovedia Marketing provides the following services, how can we help you?

Social Media Marketing

We provide training, monitoring, blogging & copy writing services which means we can just get you started or manage and build your social networking efforts!

Multimedia Production

Let us create your web videos! We have Emmy award winning talent and the know how to create high quality videos & podcasts on a budget. For bigger projects, our access and established relationships with full service facilities means the sky is the limit!

Web Design & New Media Development

Put the web to work for you! From tweaks to complete redesigns, we’ll transform your website into an engaging resource your ideal customers will frequent! Ask how we can deliver highly target-able audiences to your door through new media product development! We can extend your brand, drive traffic and multiply your reach!

General Creative Services

Copy-writing, design services, online and traditional marketing campaign development, contest creation & management. Ad creation including banner ads, print, radio, television, newspaper and direct mail.

Email: InovediaMarketing at gmail dot com

Twitter: @inovedia

Richard Bouchez is a certified Inbound Marketing professional specializing in Social Media Marketing & New Media content development. Richard’s web, audio & video work has been honored with Emmy, Promax & CBA awards.

Your Website: Tips & Tricks

Amazing Cheat Sheets for Anyone with a Biz Website

Your Website Tips & Tricks: Whether you’re a newbie or seasoned web guru you’ll find these cheat sheets extremely useful. Anyone with a business website should pay particular attention to Website Usability Checklist and the SEO Cheat Sheet.

30 Handy Cheat Sheets and Reference Guides for Web Professionals.

Now, truth be told told, I found this tidbit on Twistimage.com’s blog by Mitch Joel and if you’re a fan of well designed sites like I am you should definitely check it out. What about great information? Yep, it’s got that too! Six Pixels of Separation – The Blog

Got more reference guides, cheat sheets or blogs that are key to your web marketing arsenal? Please share in the comments!

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Good luck!

@richardbouchez

INJECT Twitter into you business! GET CUSTOMIZABLE stuff>>

Just “HOW TO” Examples You Can Do Too! (More Than Video)

Every website can benefit from a “How to” demonstration whether its created with video, photographs, an article, a power point presentation or an animation, simple or elaborate. Even the most basic demonstration can make a big difference.

Where should you start? What “how to” should you do?

Ultimately these questions should be answered by your customers, so ask them! Start with a list of your services and related topics your customers may be interested in and be sure to included other random ideas – anything goes! The idea here is to educate, entertain or somehow engage visitors with useful content. You don’t need to go all out with an elaborate video, a couple of photos accompanied by short explanations can work extremely well just ask Ikea!

Here’s an example using a simple list and photo layout and they’ve even included a video at the bottom of the page. “How to Make Cous Cous”

Simple descriptions & photos work well! — Simple descriptions & photos work! click to visit site

If you want to create a video, for your first one, narrow it down to only topics you’re extremely knowledgeable of that can be performed in a quiet, well lit area. Here’s a link to a great example of a video shot very close up, in one take. “How to Tie a Tie”

*Please note, these videos and photos are well lit and shot very close to subject of the video. Instructions should be clear and to the point. Keep in mind that with web video your audience is watching a pretty small screen, they’ll want to see what you’re showing them!

I’m not suggesting you do anything that will cause you to lose business or give away your family secrets, but the chances are that even if you did give away your award winning recipe noone could replicate it anyway! That being said, try to showcase your expertise and give useful information.

As a final suggestion, look for opportunities to link to existing demonstrations. For example: to enhance InovediaMarketing.com as a small business resource we use “Delicious” to bookmark useful “New Marketing” articles. You can learn about using delicious from this very creative video:

Here are some other sites you can peruse for “how to” examples:

-Richard

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"New Marketing" tactics, Video & Multimedia, Your Website: Tips & Tricks

Cheap & Easy Web Video You Can Do Too!

Creating videos for your website does not have to be a big expensive production in order to make a big impact on your visitors. From “How to” to “Viral Videos” here are examples that can be created “on the cheap” with little gear, no professional help and still manage to effectively get the point across.

HOW TO (Demonstration):

This video is a great example of what to do and what not to do! While the quality of this video is underwhelming, to say the least, the content is solid. The big take away for you: make sure there’s enough light! Before you watch this, keep in mind that this video has been seen almost 400,000 times in about 2 years. That’s right, four hundred thousand times. Just imagine if you were a piano reseller or teacher and your name was prominent throughout!

Have you ever watched someone make a paper airplane? You don’t get much more basic than this! What’s great about this video is that you can clearly see everything that’s happening and, anyone who wanted to, could easily follow along using the pause/play buttons to create create their own paper airplane. Is there something you do that can be showcased like this? This video has been seen over 1.5 million times!

A Unique Glimpse at What You Do:

Here is a fun way you may be able to highlight services you provide on your website, it may take some minor editing but the results are well worth it!

THE PERSONAL APPROACH:

This video is from Girl Arsonist, an “independent novelist,” who is trying to connect with her fans, build her audience and sell some books.

VIRAL VIDEOS:

These are videos intended to create buzz and drive views to your site. They are often very subtle and sometimes don’t even mention the products / services / company that created them, which I generally do not recommend. Here is a viral video example I created, using basic editing software, as an Olympic tie-in.

This is pretty amazing and kind of mesmerizing.

The final video is an amazingly successful viral video project by Blendtec. It is clever, hugely popular and “on brand.” The Will it Blend video is obviously of high quality and production but could certainly be done “on the cheap.”

For an extensive list of sites where you can find many different examples I highly recommend visiting this very thorough post: 37 Essential Viral Video Tips, Posts and Sites

For tips and advice on purchasing & using consumer video equipment I highly recommend Scott Bourne’s http://www.ConsumerVideoTips.com. Scott provides straight forward advice on a wide range of products.

Good luck!

@richardbouchez

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Your Website: Tips & Tricks

Make Your Small Biz Homepage Engage!

In the spirit of ending on an up-note, here are 3 “Don’ts” and 3 “Dos” that will immediately improve your homepage ten-fold, making it more effective in selling your services and bringing people back!

DON’T: Tell me all about your company on your homepage. This is the number 1 mistake I see on small business websites. No offense, but first impressions dictate your product must be showcased above all. Tell me “all about you” on a page called “about” so I can learn about your products and then choose to learn about you or at least move your “about me” paragraph to the very bottom or you homepage after your menu / list of services. (DO: Strategically placed “bits” of information that enhance your homepage but only if they add specific value to your product.)
DON’T: make visitors search for answers, try to give them what they’re looking for within 1 click. One way to gauge how easy it is to navigate your website is to walk someone who’s never seen it through it. If you have even the slightest bit of trouble taking them through typical scenarios your website may be too complex and you’re probably losing visitor’s interest fast!
DON’T: make your visitors work or wait! This is especially important when your visitors are on cell phones. Some of my pet peeves are: Long drawn out video introductions, pre-roll on video (please use post roll), large images that must load, clutter.
DO: Be sure “What you do” is clear and prominent! By simply glancing at your homepage I should know exactly what your business does, what differentiates you from others and how much it’s going to cost. Avoid blanket statements that mean nothing: “The Biggest Selection” …selection of what? If your slogan doesn’t reflect exactly what you do / have / provide / etc., it needs to take a back seat on your homepage to one that does. Play dumb if you have to and make it that obvious!
DO: Put your menu or list of services on your front page! The word “menu” or equivalent should be above the fold for quick identification and as a courtesy to mobile users who will have to wait even longer if they have to click to get there – key for restaurants, entertainment venues and other services!
DO: Post something weekly. New information gives a website energy and purpose. It shows you have something going on and you care enough to keep everyone in the loop. If you hit the right information you will start to get customers checking in with your website to see what’s going on. This could be a very good thing for your business! You don’t need to post some huge amount of information or make a novel out of it, it could even be one or two lines if it’s relevant. Consider something useful like specials, events, a new recipe, discounts for the week, shipments you’re expecting, schedule changes, when you won’t be available, when you will be available, etc.

If you found this, or any of our articles useful, Linkedin recommendations are greatly appreciated! To view my Linkedin profile visit: www.Linkedin.com/in/richardbouchez For help marketing your business or to learn more about me click here.

-Richard

You may also be interested in our article: 6 Random Rules for Owning a Website

Your Website: Tips & Tricks

6 Random Rules for Owning a Website

Your Website Tips & Tricks:

Own your domain name: Domains are cheap and even if you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re better off to own your domain name and have someone else manage it. Note: make sure you alone have access to the “password change” email to ensure you cannot be denied access to the domain (if you need to quickly switch web folks for whatever reason).
Own your web hosting account: Same rational as mentioned above. You absolutely need full control and access to your hosting account… you might give someone a spare key to your home, but you still need to be able to change the locks!
Use a large, well known, web hosting provider like GoDaddy: I learned this lesson about 10 years ago when I had a hosting account with an unknown, but very cost effective, hosting provider. They actually served my needs well for years and, without warning, my sites went down one day and the message boards were lit up with angry customers who lost their data and were struggling to get back online. I was fortunate to have owned my domain name so I could quickly switch to a new hosting provider and get my sites up quickly. I’ve been with GoDaddy ever since and, while I’ll admit that their UI (user interface) is cumbersome and confusing, I give them major kudos for their 24/7 tech support which is always prompt. Anyone you might hire to build or maintain your site can certainly work through GoDaddy or any other large provider. Let them gripe about it, I also advise against using small or unknown hosting providers and I highly recommend not using your “web service person” for hosting services.
Advertising tip: If you’re a plumber – phone book and basic website… if you’re a bar, drop the phone book and build a website that rocks. Then go crazy with social networking!
Blog “off your site:” using WordPress or Blogger (for example) you will increase your name & business ranking in Google because blogs show up higher in search results and as an added bonus your blog will now get marketed by the host you’re using (WordPress, Blogger or whomever) through all the other blogs as “related articles,” popular tags, etc. You will also link heavily from your blog to your main site helping to build your linking credibility.
Avoid an “all flash” website and big flash introduction: Although flash sites are now “searchable” most are not up to date and therefore may not be searchable which (as a small biz owner) should send you running. Flash won’t show up on many mobile devices, will take too long to load and many flash sites are often filled with unnecessary distractions such as sound effects, transitions, etc. Unless you are also running an identical mobile site, have an amazing product selection that requires an all flash, you’re a flash designer or you’re really really really confident I’m wrong… avoid the “all flash” website. I’m not saying don’t use flash components, when utilized properly flash can be an amazing asset for your site! If you have an all flash site, see the previous tip!

Comments are welcome, we appreciate advice, stories and other suggestions! Please share this article by clicking the + button below.

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-Richard

"New Marketing" tactics, Your Website: Tips & Tricks

“New Marketing” Tips 1- 6

Tips 1 through 6 in my “New Marketing” tips list for small businesses online. From changing your cell phone to finding interns these tips will help you keep it simple for cheap. While there are many services out there that perform same or similar services for free as well, these are my suggestions based on my own experiences.

1.Upgrade your Cell phone: When you have the right tools, everything is that much easier. You will be more inclined to follow up and follow through if you make email and web access as easy as possible. Get a Smartphone! Here your basically looking for accessible email, but as you get swept away with online marketing tools you may quickly find yourself taking / uploading photos and video or checking different websites and web statistics that mandate smart phone use. Cell phones that can do what you’ll need them to do, plus some, are available to you for around $100 bucks on Craigslist.com without a contract! You may also qualify for one through your carrier at a discount with a contract. I would look for a phone with a camera, a qwerty keyboard (purely subjective), internet access, POP3 email access and camcorder. Some great used phones that will work well for your social marketing purposes are the Motorola Q, Treo 650 or above, Blackberry Pearl or other Blackberry multimedia models and the iPhone. Please don’t’ think you’re limited to these; there are many other capable phones out there.

2.Get a Gmail account (the next slew of points refer to all Google apps / tools, but please note that similar services are also available elsewhere via Yahoo.com, for example).

3.Set Google alerts in Gmail: Setting up Google alerts for your business name, your name, your employee names, your competitors’ names and your supplier / area or important product names to keep tabs on what people are saying about you or for news you may need to know. Google alerts will regularly search the web, alerting you to key information as it hits the web. More importantly, news you can use to market or better connect with your customers.

4.Google Calendar: Share a Google calendar, mark your daily special & weekend events or anything else notable and encourage your customers as well as your employees to “share” your calendar. Make sure you keep it up to date! Google calendar modules can also be incorporated into your website and other’s websites fairly easily so also encourage others to embed your calendar into their website.

5.Use Youtube: Create Videos and Other Content! Search the web for examples of what other businesses are doing to create marketing or informational videos for their sites. Use youtube.com to host your video, it’s your most reliable distributor and the cost is perfect! There are many so many ways to embed your video and share it and, even more importantly, by using youtube you make it easier for “the masses” to stumble across your videos.

6.Multimedia Marketing Interns: Bring on an intern or two to work on marketing your business via the web and through multimedia projects. You should provide a computer, a video camera (rental or purchased) and a list of projects with expectations. Also schedule weekly meetings with your interns for updates exactly what they’re doing, make sure you have access to all sites (including passwords and usernames) and make sure you are very clear as to what is acceptable and what is not. While this will take some time and coordination it could pay off big for your business.

For tips #7 -14 click here

If you found this, or any of our articles useful please connect with me on Linkedin, recommendations referring to this site are greatly appreciated! To view my Linkedin profile visit: www.Linkedin.com/in/richardbouchez send me an invite using this email Richard@RABpromo.com. Please mention InovediaMarketing.com in your connection request.

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-Richard

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"New Marketing" tactics, Your Website: Tips & Tricks

“New Marketing” Tips 7 – 14

Reminder: These are based strictly on cost effectiveness and in the spirit of simplicity. While there are many services out there that perform same or similar services for free as well, these are my suggestions based on my own experiences.

7. Community Calendars: With just a little searching you will quickly find free community calendars available around the web. These are often found on local websites in your community including sites of local newspapers, chambers of commerce, television stations, churches, etc. Create a list and update each frequently with specials, announcements and events. Not only will you get out in front of potential customers for free, you will be found in searches more often.
8. On Your Site Advertising: Create a couple advertising opportunities on your own website, perhaps in a sidebar or other strategic locations within your menu of services.These ad spaces can be utilized for leverage in your co-op dealings, used as trade opportunities for advertising or discounts on products / services. Another possibility could be offering ad space as part of a customer loyalty reward program or even selling them for a little extra cash!
9. Use Craigslist and Ebay to sell products, used equipment, etc.You may also consider using craigslist to look for an “at home marketer” or to search for internet savvy interns.
10. Coupons: Create unique coupons that are printable / downloadable from your website, but don’t expect them to suddenly drive droves of customers into your shop. Use them as “information purchasing power” to get information from your customers and potential clients. Businesses that regularly offer customers deep discounts train customers to wait for the next set of discounts.Offer coupons that are good enough to persuade potential customers to give over their email and other information, not so good that they will interrupt business.This will open the door for you to communicate with customers directly! Coupons and contesting can be a cost effective way to stay in front of your customers, but don’t get carried away or take advantage because once they add you to their “spam” list you’ve closed a door you may not be able to open.
11. Occasional Contesting: Don’t give away t-shirts give away an iphone. That is to say, do something cool and different that relates to your business. Unfortunately, there is already an abundance of crappy t-shirts in virtually everyone’s closet but who wouldn’t trade their email for a shot at a free iphone? While this may sound like a very expensive proposition, it doesn’t have to be! I suggest purchasing a gift card with the current purchasing price of an iphone (199) plus a couple months of service cost. This means you could launch a very cool contest for around $500 that will create some buzz for your business and give a big boost to your new robust email address list. Digital cameras and video cameras also make great prizes that are cooler than t-shirts for around a couple hundred bucks and are sure to get noticed. Please research contesting or contact a lawyer before running contests as there state and federal laws to comply with as well as legal-ease to contend with that I am not addressing in this post.
12. Social Networking (and Professional): I’m not going to launch into a big thing on how you should be using Facebook and Linkedin.com and many of the other social networks for your business, I think I’ll leave that for another article but… you should. These sites will drive your name & company name to the top of search lists for free. More importantly, when used strategically, you can get real information, connect and strengthen your relationships with higher quality customers and even develop a following!
13. Email Blasts: With your newly found following on the different social networks combined with all of those emails you’ve been collecting from couponing and contesting, you are now ready to send email blasts alerting potential customers of your new services and reminding existing customers about your product offerings! Keep email blasts short and to the point with few, if any, graphics and most of all be as relevant as possible. Please research email blasts before sending to keep from being caught in spam filters and to comply with spamming laws.
14. Blog: To the “not so web savvy” there is still somewhat of a mass negative connotation for blogging.Some initial reactions may be “I’m not a writer,” “I don’t have time” and “What would I blog about?” Well, you’ve just read numerous ideas that you should begin adopting for your business, all with good potential to raise your online profile and profitability… start putting some of these ideas into action and blog about what you’re doing or simply talk about what’s coming up at your business, why you have made certain business decisions or how happy you are that big shipment many of your customers are waiting for has finally arrived! I assure you that you will be surprised at how much there it to say and how many folks are interested! Whatever your business is, there are certainly many topics to discuss and many motivations for blogging.At first I began blogging to add content to my portfolio site, now I blog to market myself to new clients. If you’re interested in Blogging, here are some “must read” tips on creating killer content by Chris Brogan.

For tips #1-6 click here

If you found this, or any of our articles useful please connect with me on Linkedin, recommendations referring to this site are greatly appreciated! To view my Linkedin profile visit: www.Linkedin.com/in/richardbouchez send me an invite using this email Richard@RABpromo.com. Please mention InovediaMarketing.com in your connection request.

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-Richard