Small Business Design Resources

Quick Tip: Use a Custom Domain Name for Your Blog

Quick Tip: Use a Custom Domain Name for Your Blog

When setting up your blog you want to be sure to buy a domain name and a hosting account. Having a blog on a subdomain on one of the free blogging platforms such as wordpress.com or blogger.com (yourblog.wordpress.com or yourblog.blogspot.com) gives all the search engine benefits to that blogging platform. All the hard work that you’re doing in creating great content for your visitors doesn’t help your website ranking for your business if you don’t have your own custom domain.

Using Social Media For Your Business

Have you been following the Celebrity Apprentice? On Season 8 Episode 6, the objective of the game was to create the best viral video. A viral video is one that is emailed from person to person, thus spreading the word about your product. In this case they were advertising laundry detergent. Before the dawn of the Internet, companies spent some percentage of their advertising and marketing dollars on TV, radio and magazine commercials and depended to some extent on “Word of Mouth” advertising. People use to say that if you impress a customer, they will tell 3 other customers and if you disappoint a customer, they will tell 10 other people. Businesses often used to, and still do today, offer additional discounts to existing customers when they bring in new customers. Word of Mouth advertising is a tried and trusted fundamental cornerstone of business marketing.

Word of Mouth Goes Digital

Today, the concept of Word of Mouth advertising has grown to advertising via any means of communication, especially electronic communication, and we call it social media. Websites like twitter, facebook, myspace and youtube, started out being the domain of young adults, especially college students, and now are featuring prominently in mainstream company website strategy. That’s because the networking opportunities that are empowered by social media are huge.

In the case of a viral video, imagine how this works. Most of us forward emails of this type to more than one person, in fact, many of us have ever-growing distribution lists. If you forward to a distribution list of, let’s say 10 people, and each of them forward to 10 people, in just 2 forwards the viral video producer has just reached 110 people. If each of those people forward to 10 people the video reaches 1100 people. You can see how the numbers grow exponentially to reach thousands in just a few forwards.

How does this help the small business owner?

Small business can leverage the same ideas in their discussion forums hosted on their site to generate useful discussions about their products and services, get customer feedback, and get new information out to customers. The trick is to make your site interesting so that users will get the word out by sending links, messages, etc. and draw their friends to your site. Many businesses, including big businesses, are also putting links to twitter and myspace and other sites right on their website. Of course, you need to sign up for each of these services, but they are generally free. All it takes is time.

In the case of facebook and myspace, and similar websites, users aim to collect as many friends as possible on their webpage. Then, whenever they post message to their site, all their friends will see it.

Not Just For Customers

Website forums are not just for drawing customers. They are also useful for networking with merchandisers and others in your industry. They can help you stay informed about what your competitors are up to, where your business is going and what direction you may need to take it in the future. As a business owner you should be engaging actively in social media for generating partners and affiliates as well as creating an environment in which your customers can participate on your site. Don’t just have your own. Join your competitor’s forums and see if you can find their twitter page or their facebook page.

You can start by following me on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/designleap

What is Blogging

A lot of websites these days use blogging as a way to draw customers. Blogging means posting a fresh article to your site every day, every week, or at some other interval that makes sense to you. Blogs can be useful to customers who may check out your website regularly to find out new information related to your product, your service or your company. New customers may be led to your site using keyword searches or by following links from other sites that reference your site, or from links you embed in other articles on your website.

The primary purpose of a blog is to provide fresh content for your website to keep your customers coming back. They want to see what new products you are offering, hear what’s new in your company, and see what additional services are available. A blog is also a great way to add fresh content to your site to keep it at the top of the search engines.

But what should you write in the blog? And how can you keep coming up with new ideas for blogging?

There are some definite advantages to blogging and once you get the hang of it you might just get hooked:

1. Writing helps you think. And thinking about your business is something you should be doing every day. You can use blogging as a way to explore new ideas for your website, your product or your business.

2. Blogging invites customer feedback. Create a blog with a comment block where blog readers can post their feedback. This is a great way to find out what your customers think. You can ask them questions directly, and use the responses to begin an email contact list. The best part about this is your feedback is coming directly from current users of your website. You can even take it a step further and start sending email articles directly to your blog fans. Can’t decide whether to branch out in this direction or that direction? Ask for customer feedback directly in your blog. Everyone loves to give their opinion.

3. Blogging is a catalyst for doing research. If you sit down once a week and come up with 7 topics for daily blogs, or sit down once a month and come up with 4 topics for weekly blogs, you will remain on your toes as well have new content to keep your website fresh. You can research the competition and find out what they are blogging about, or research a particular aspect of your business, describe the special features of an existing product or introduce features for a new product and motivate readers to give it a try.

4. Blogging is a great tool for stimulating your own learning. Because you will be on the internet, checking your competition, doing your research and finding interesting things to write about, you will be acquiring new knowledge constantly about your business field. Becoming an expert in your field is an absolute must for out-maneuvering the competition and your website is the perfect place to display your expertise.

To get started blogging, map out a few ideas, determine how many words you want to write in your blog (300 to 500 is plenty to begin, but don’t restrict yourself if you get on a roll). Don’t forget to create a few links in your blog to other similar articles on your website.

Brand Recognition: Creating a Custom Twitter Background

Brand Recognition: Creating a Custom Twitter Background

When you have a business, you want your brand to be recognized in everything that you do. Having your business on Twitter is no different. By creating a custom Twitter background you will instantly stand out, bring credibility to your brand and leave a lasting impression to your visitors.

There are no set rules on how your background needs to look or what size it needs to be, but here are some pointers on what to do to keep that professional image.

• Keep all-important information on the left-hand side of the page.
• Always include your logo.
• Include your actual photo, this way you bring more trust and can result in more followers.
• Use colors that are similar to your brand to keep consistent.
• Use relevant images/graphics.
• Do NOT hard sell!
• Do list links of your websites, blogs, and other networking site where you can be found.

How to determine what size to make your Twitter background

The best way is to look at your website’s analytics program and see what are your visitor’s browser screen resolutions. Take a look at the top two and based on that, you can choose what would be the best size for your background. Keep in mind that the smaller the resolution, the less space you have for design.

The best approach to designing a custom Twitter background

Create everything in layers (it’s easier to make changes when you’re working with layers). This does not mean that you need to have Photoshop to do this. There are many free alternatives to Photoshop that perform just as great. I am recommending the “Phoenix” by Aviary.com as it’s very similar to Photoshop.

• Your first layer should be the main image, color or gradient that will serve as the pallet for your design.
• Next few layers don’t have to be in this order. You can start with the top banner that’s where you can add another color or gradient. This is where the Twitter logo and menu will sit so keep in mind the visibility when choosing colors.
• The last and most important step is to add your information to the left-hand side of the page and it’s best if you place this on it’s own layer.

Use one of these templates as a guide on proper placement of your information

1024 x 768 Template	1280 x 800 Template

Quick tip: Do NOT place important information below 600 pixels in height no matter the screen resolution size. This is because some users might have extra tool bars on their browser window, which pushes all the information down.

After you download the background template, open it in the design program of your choice and use it as bottom layer to server as a guide for you to place your information. When you’re done with your design, delete the layer with template. Save your design as GIF, JPG, or PNG format. Then go to your twitter page and follow these steps:

• Select Settings
• Choose the Design tab
• Click on Change background image
• Upload your image
• Make sure that tile background is NOT checked
• Save changes

That’s it you’re done!

Twitter Tuesday: Free Custom Twitter Background Design

On random Tuesdays I send out a Tweet that I offer to design a free custom twitter background for one small business owner or start-up company. Follow Design Leap so you won’t miss your opportunity.

To enter: leave a comment on this post and include the following:

• your full name
• business name
• website address
• twitter name
• why I should chose you to design your twitter background

The chosen person will supply images and text and agree to have a small “Designed by and my logo” on their custom twitter background. One entry per person please.

Previous Free Twitter Background Winner Showcase:

Social Media Marketing Success – Three Steps on How to Maximize Your Efforts

Social Media.

Social Media Marketing.

THOSE 2 things has been written and talked about the last 2 years a LOT. But believe it or not, not a lot of small businesses or home businesses are using this powerful business and marketing “Zone” yet. Many people, because it is on the internet, shy away for it as if it were the plague.

“I am not a geek” people tell me. Well, we have “ungeeked the geek” for many small and home business owners, and made social media make sense to them

But there are exceptions.

I was talking with a business owner the other day and she made the comment, “I don’t go to those kind of sites. I don’t have time to do that as my business is struggling and I need to go and find more customers.”

That says it all.

That shows a total lack of understanding of what social media/web 2.0 is really about, and what it can do for the average small business and home business -even on a local basis. If people really “got it” about social media marketing, they would be running to the social media zone and staying there.

There is a lot of talk that it is not “proven” as it is too new and the jury is still out on it being a viable marketing process.

I totally disagree. The social media marketer is paving a path for those to follow through a jungle that has never been explored, nor walked. People like proof. People like results. But it is the social media marketer that will create the way that will birth new millionaires with business folks who do “get” the Web 2.0 world. It is not that hard to understand either.

If you can send an email, you can “do” social media marketing. You can master twitter, facebook, myspace, blogs, wikis, podcasts, article marketing, and all the other parts of the new media, if you can send an email. Yes, there is a learning curve, and yes, it does take a little effort-but what doesn’t? We have expanded our business tremendously with social media tactics, and everyday, we wake up with dozens of new leads for our training and consulting business in our email box. How would you like to have that happen to you?

You can. You can tap into an endless pool of leads that will just keep increasing, if you decide to jump into the Social Media zone. And we will be glad to teach you how to maximize for maximum Success with your Social Media efforts.

All you need to do is make a decision that you will take the time and study and learn social media a little at a time, and learn the culture, and the processes of each website.

Here are 7 websites that you must register with to get started in social media if you have a small or home business. Each have “help” tutorials or videos about how to use them properly, and also there is a LOT of information on the web as well on “how to”:

1) http://www.facebook.com
2) http://www.twitter.com
3) http://www.mashable.com (A GREAT website for learning generic social media.)
4) http://www.stumbleupon.com
5) http://www.digg.com
6) http://www.youtube.com

And then do three things after learning how the site works:

1) CONNECT.
2) COMFORTABLE.
3) CONSTRUCT.

1) CONNECT.
The main thing you need to do is connect with people on these sites, and become a friend with them. Most of these sites have a process to befriend folks. Follow their process. Sound easy enough? But there is a type of friend that we teach that you must become. An “Addition Friend.” This is simply a friend that ADDS to people’s lives, not takes.

On the social media scene, most people are looking to Add, Enhance, Increase, and Enlarge a part of their life. YOU must help them do that with connecting with them and showing them new information about what you do, and how what you do can help them and change them for the better. It MUST not ever be a sales pitch, but simply information that will impact them enough that they may want to connect with you further about that in their life.

If you are a real estate agent, give them info on the 5 Biggest mistakes made while buying a home. If you are a CPA, give them some info on the 3 biggest mistakes made on tax returns. If you are in skin care, give them the 7 best ways to keep your skin healthy. You get the idea. You can find this type of information all over the web. Just send them the web address (url) to the article or blog post with a short note saying you thought of them when you ran across this.

We call it “Connection Marketing” and it WORKS when you allow it to.

CONNECT with the person –> CONNECT with their goals –> then CONNECT them to valuable information that will help them achieve them. Then most of the people Will then connect with your interests and be willing to help you with yours.

2) COMFORTABLE.
You must get the people on the social media sites COMFORTABLE with you.

How?

Talk about them, and how you can help them reach their goals and dreams- either with what you do, or with what you know. We call it “Comfortable Conversation(TM).” You must hold online “conversations” with people and get them comfortable with you, and comfortable with staying connected with you. You do this by talking about what THEY are interested in, and then you PROVE to them you are serious about adding value to their life.

It is ALL about Value in the social media arena. People expect Value in your messages and communication, and if you give them things that will help them in their endeavors, (blog posts on their industry, articles on doing what they do better, etc,) they will get very comfortable with you, and even helping you with YOUR endeavors. They will be moving towards you quickly if you practice that focus in your social media efforts.

3) CONSTRUCT.

Simply, in Social media Marketing, you must Construct a bridge between you and the person that eventually leads OFFLINE and onto the telephone.

THAT is the secret to Success in social media marketing. We call it the “TIO Factor.” Take It Offline and let the personalization begin.

You have connected with the person- in person-at least in voice.

You have gotten them comfortable with you by your interest in helping them achieve their goals.

Now you must construct a path that allows you to say, “What is your contact number? I would love to chat with you for real over the phone.” Then just do that. It may take a few days or a couple of weeks. But if you could pick up 10 new customers with this conversation would it be worth it?

Of course it would be. And how would you do that?

Ahhh–That is another article on Social Media Marketing Success.

blessings…doug

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/marketing-articles/social-media-marketing-success-three-steps-on-how-to-maximize-your-efforts-620359.html

About the Author:
Doug Firebaugh is one of the top MLM Network Marketing Trainers in the world. Over a million people a month read his training ezine. He spent the last 7 years traveling the world speaking and training on Success. He lives in Birmingham Michigan, and you can receive a FREE subscription to his training ezine- The MLM Success HEAT- at: http://www.passionfire.com/pf_heat_4.html http://www.passionfire.com

Producing videos for your site just got a lot easier!

Producing videos is now something anyone with a computer can do.

How do I create videos to help my website? Everyone would like to know the answer to this question. First of all, use the ecard images that you can get from joining the EcardSystem.com. These ecards can be a part of your video. Make it short and to the point.

Submit your videos to the search engines, YouTube, Google and Yahoo Video directories and sit back and wait. You will begin to see all the traffic that you only dreamed of logging on to your site.

Think this is a pipe dream? Think again. With the right video, this can happen. When you begin producing videos that go viral, you be letting thousands, if not millions of people know what you have to offer.

One simple little video can be viewed literally thousands of times. When submitted to the major search engines such as Google and Yahoo, the number of people who may see them is unlimited.

While you try to keep it short, you still want it to be informative. If the person viewing your video does not get anything from it, the video is worthless.

What you are trying to do is get the most information in the shortest time into a video while still keeping it interesting.

If you are an owner of a website, you are trying to make a success of your site. The more traffic you can get to your site, the more money this will generate.

Do not get lost in the concept of creating a video. If your video is poorly constructed, you may as well not have one.

The idea is to make something that will have people saying, ”Wow, I need to check out this website.”

There are many good ideas for using a web video to get people to go to your website. When you begin producing videos that get the viewer involved in it, you will have their attention. When you get to this point, it is time to let your brain start working on ideas for what clients want.

Put yourself in the place of the client. What would interest you enough in a video to get you to go to the website for more information?

If you try to think as the client would think, you may come up with some really good ideas of what will make people want to find out more about your product.

If you think this is something you would like to know more about, you could download a report that will give you more information on how to succeed. The report is free and is short, with enough examples to get you ready to increase your sales in the shortest time possible.

Want to learn more about how to go about producing videos? Check out EcardSystem.com today.

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Richard Gorham is the founder and President of www.EcardSystem.com. He is also the author of the audiobook series, “A Leadership Series for Successful Living”. Gorham provides other free and low-cost tools and resources at his other websites, which include, www.Leadership-Tools.com, www.LeadershipAudio.com and www.Debt-to-Income.com.

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