Inspiring Blogs
Posted by: Beverly on: February 2, 2011
Inspiring Blogs. Neither blog or website I developed, but I appreciate and enjoy them for different reasons, and in different ways.
So, I’ve got two inspiring blogs today, and both are blogs for designers. Even if you have no relationship with the design world, perhaps you could visit one or both, and glean something inspiring for yourself.
The first is Maria Killam.
maria killam
Isn’t this image wonderful?
I’ve been following Maria Killam for I don’t know how many months, and every time I experience her blog, I am inspired in new and wonderful ways to get better.
The second inspiring blog I have for you today is Kandrac & Kole, of Atlanta, Ga.
Now, something interesting is going on with Kandrac & Kole. It’s their graphics on their website. They are custom. And so thoughtful.
In addition, when you check out their blog, they are engaging and, to me, so highly relatable, that I really “got” some of the core of who they are as business women, through their blog. That is a big win, in terms of blog effectiveness, because by the time I met these two ladies, I felt I already knew them, partially, so we were able to not fumble through sometimes time-wasting pleasantries, and get down to business … very much my own style.
kandrac kole Interior Designs, Inc.
Isn’t this graphic devine? I love the custom graphic from both Maria Killam and Kandrac & Kole.
So, there you have it. Two inspiring blogs for today. Check them out. And if you’d like to talk about your own blog, and how you can make it better, leave a comment, and get in touch, and have a terrific week!
–Beverly Mau
Blogger Versus WordPress: Blog as Main Website
Posted by: Beverly on: February 1, 2011
This morning, I was checking out my friend Chi Chi Okezie’s Website (businesswoman here in Atlanta) – and I noticed she implemented some changes on her website. NOTE: I did not develop Chi Chi’s website. I am a web developer, and I like finding examples of good work online…
Changes that are emblematic of trends that I think are good decisions, if you are a business owner, and want to maximize your website for your audience.
Here’s what I noticed that Chi Chi did – and what I also recommend for my own clients: she has launched a blog as her main website.
Smart.
Here’s a screenshot of the top part of her website:
Chi Chi Okezie, The Champion Networker
Why is having your main website be a blog a great idea? Because blogs have unique advantages to benefit you from a Google perspective, as well as a human perspective. There’s technical mumbo jumbo talk about what this means. The summary is this: using a blog as your main website is a terrific solution to keep costs of websites down and to self support.
Here’s a screenshot of the bottom half of Chi Chi’s homepage:
Chi Chi Okezie, the Champion Networker
For Chi Chi’s site, she is using Blogger – however, WordPress is the number one blogging platform right now. That being said, if you are more comfortable using Blogger, then by all means, go with Blogger.
There are reasons to go with one or the other, and sifting through those reasons may be above and beyond the scope of your knowledge/interest. If this is the case, I’d say, get a professional opinion.
If you’d like to feel more confident every time you think about your businesses IT support, then contact me!
Style with Aplomb – Atlanta Website Design/Development Example
Posted by: Beverly on: January 31, 2011
Here’s a screen shot of a site MAU Web Studio launched in Jan 2011:
Style with Aplomb
There’s so much to talk about regarding this website – it’s a good example of what we can achieve here at the Studio.
I will say that it feels really good to have custom images created by my given the thumbs up by the client.
Creating something original takes a collaboration – an effort that is the result of a very good fit between me – the web designer/developer and client.
What colors stand out to you?
If they are the light lavender/purple – then that was the intent by the client. This light lavender/purple is important to weave throughout the site, for purposes of properly branding and creating a certain feel in alignment with the business itself.
If you would like to take your web presence to the next level of success, contact me, Beverly Mau – your Internet Designer / Developer.
Why are IT people so Expensive?
Posted by: Beverly on: January 30, 2011
I was talking with my cousin the other day, and she liked the analogy I came up with, when talking about what it is we IT people do behind the scenes, so I thought I’d write it down.
What is it that IT people do, anyway, and why is it so expensive?
The answer is as varied and unique as our DNA – so the answer isn’t a quick one.
If you want to make this easier on yourself, the answer is counterintuitive: talk with each IT person or IT team, and you’ll discover the strengths and weaknesses.
For me, when I build a website, it is similar to a house you live in. You didn’t build the frame of the house, and, in fact, the frame won’t change every year or every other couple of years, right?
That’s because the frame of the house is similar to the architecture of your website. The ones I build are, anyway. So, when I build the architecture of your website, once it is approved, that is going to remain fixed.
Now, you decorate your home. You bring in chairs that look a certain way, and you hang pictures on the wall. This is similar to the design of your website. With the design of your website, change is a little easier. We can swap out colors, pictures, and the placement of everything on your site relatively easily.
That doesn’t mean change happens with the quick click or two of the mouse.
I am a developer, and I don’t work with templates, I hand code. What this means is that what I do is a craft. I’m not working with software that tells me what to do. My education and experience and my brain tells me what to do – and that is what costs so much money.
The advantage of working with a developer to develop your website is that I can think through problems and come up with custom solutions that fit your unique circumstances. If you work with someone who can’t think through a problem, then you’re going to get a site that doesn’t really fit your needs, represent your business. It’s not going to work.
The disadvantages of working with a developer such as myself is probably this: takes longer to develop a site. Customization takes time. If client and I aren’t able to communicate effectively, then the whole project takes longer – or worse – the project never finishes.
So, if you want solutions that are custom to your unique needs, then leave a message or visit me at my business website here.
Thanks for stopping by and reading!
Blogging Tip: Tell a Story
Posted by: Beverly on: January 26, 2011
I think one of the reasons why Obama won the Presidency is that he has a story – and the majority of U.S. citizens related to that story.
What story did Obama have? Well, his father is from Africa. That is a story. Obama was raised in beautiful Hawaii. That is a story. Obama is an intellectual. That is part of the fabric that is his story.
And how did he convey that story? Most effectively, he conveyed it through technology. Before Obama’s campaign, nobody really thought Facebook and Twitter could be leveraged to the extent that his campaign leveraged it, for success. Obama’s people conveyed his story through the internet and through television – and radio and in person. But how Obama reached the greatest number of people, and how he kept the buzz alive, was through the internet, no doubt.
Now the Republicans have their social media strategy. And the republicans have put in their play book how to leverage technology.
Let’s have technology on our side as well. As business owners, let’s leverage technology – put into action a plan, for success, to spread the message of your own company.
That’s how stories are conveyed these days. Technology.
Blogging Element of Success
Posted by: Beverly on: January 25, 2011
So, there are multiple elements that work in concert to create your successful, effective blog.
One element that stands out to me today is the concept of “legacy”. What this word means is that the longer you post blog posts, the greater your legacy of writing. Each blog post, in this example of legacy, adds strength to your overall legacy.
How the concept of legacy adds to your blogging effectiveness success is two-fold. First, from Google indexing perspective, the more you blog, the greater the opportunity for Google to crawl and index your words. This adds to your strength.
Second, from a human perspective, your legacy either runs broad, or horizontal, or deep – vertical. If you have a lot of different tags or categories in your blog, then your writing runs horizontal – very broad. The risk with running too horizontal is that your message may be too dilute. The advantage of running horizontal with your writing is that you are probably showing more of “your story” – or your humanness. This is very relate-able and likeable. You can bring people into your blogging world by running horizontal.
Go vertical when you want to establish yourself as an expert. Very focused writing reaffirms you know your stuff. The disadvantage with writing vertically is that it will not work unless you differentiate your message – your writing will just be added noise on the internet. There are a hundred million gurus – how are you different? Your differentiation is memorable. Also, with writing vertically, you exclude all other topics, and in so doing, you may exclude a population of readers who want a more diverse topic set.
If you want more confidence in your business website, contact me at bevmau [@] gmail [dot] com
2011 Web Rank Trends
Posted by: Beverly on: January 24, 2011
If you want to learn more about building your online presence, google “long tail keyword phrase” and “inbound linking strategy” is hot right now, as well as listing your business in paid and non paid directories, and continued blogging.
If you’re into Facebook, then the “like” button is an emerging trend. Scout Mob, Groupon, and Twitter are good for generating short bursts of activity.
I still recommend having a “template press release” on hand, and filling in the blanks and sending to press anything press worthy that happens with your business, a name change would be worthy of alerting the press. I would talk about how changing your name is one of a number of things you’re doing to better align with delivering value to clients.
I would still add a connection or two every month in Linkedin – and then when you have something to say regarding your business, then you can blast the info via LinkedIn.
If you’d like to feel more confident about your business IT support, send me a note. I’m a professional website developer for business owners, and I support my clients remotely to achieve their online goals.
Thanks for reading!
Blogging Effectively
Posted by: Beverly on: January 23, 2011
Now that the U.S. is coming out of The Great Recession, let’s revisit what we are doing with our time – and if it’s working.
Because I am remote IT support for my own clients, I have over 2 years experience in the trenches, so I suspect my experience can help a lot of people. (If 2 years doesn’t sound like a lot, then there is also the little thing I used to do in Analytical Chemistry R&D, for 10 years, but that’s another story. Suffice to say, I’m a numbers nerd).
Anyhow, I blog. And believe that blogging is a big asset in the arsenal of business owners who want to leverage the web, to support their online presence, and, ultimately, their sales, as a result of online work.
But blogging effectively will take initial planning, and then trial and error.
With the initial planning, I’d say it’s important to identify why you are blogging. Once you identify that reason, blog to support that reasoning. And stay on task. For example, if you’re in business to sell microwaves, and you blog to support your business, then don’t blog about your kids first tooth falling out, unless you can weave that story into relevance to microwaves.
Trial and error is important, and I have a lot of experience to illustrate its importance, from my work as a chemist. It’s my opinion, that if you’re in business for yourself at all, you have a certain kind of thick skin and willingness to submit to the volatility and “open ended questions” that you must address (almost daily) to have success.
Unlike an engineer or a construction worker, a business owner is similar to a research scientist, in that it takes a certain level of inquiry and willingness to experiment to find the best answer. If an engineer experimented with her answers, we’d have new bridges collapsing and manufacturing processes running amuck.
What I’m trying to get at, in a cumbersome kind of way, is that trial and error is essential to blogging. Look at the metrics. If one post brings in 40 new visitors, then try and figure out why that one single post was so successful. And weave the ingredient that made that one single post so successful into future posts. (This is called A/B split testing, by the way, and is also related to multivariate testing).
If you’d like to have joy and confidence in your life, as it relates to your IT team, then contact me, Beverly Mau, for your first, initial consultation.
Bevmau [@] gmail [dot] com
Go Daddy Versus “1 and 1 Web Hosting”
Posted by: Beverly on: January 22, 2011
Clients ask me, “who should I choose for a web host?” And I tell them who I have used for over 2 years, “1 and 1 web hosting.”
And clients usually tell me they either want Go Daddy, only know Go Daddy, or some other such statement.
My question is this: just because Go Daddy has permeated the market pretty well, are they the best fit for your needs? Signing up for Go Daddy “just because everybody else is doing it” makes about as much sense as going to a certain college because all your friends are going there.
Investing just one conversation with someone who has experience with a lot of web hosts is worth your time, because once you make your decision, you’re probably going to have to live with that decision for 2-5 years, (in my experience).
I’d take pause and invest a little time before signing up for the company who provides for the masses, just to make sure they are the best fit for your needs.
Successful Clients Move Forward: Fulton Forsyth Chemdry
Posted by: Beverly on: November 12, 2010
Hello,
Happy Friday,
If you’d like to experience one of MAU Web Studio’s successful client’s web strategy in action, check out:
If you have any carpet questions, leave Connie and Patrick a message/comment – and, of course, feel free to leave a comment on this blog, as well.
Have a terrific weekend,
Beverly
Web Developer
Computers are Dumb
Posted by: Beverly on: November 11, 2010
Computers are dumb. They do what we tell them to do. People have the potential to be smart.
Heard on a news show the other day that the U.S. is graduating 7% of students with higher level math skills. The U.S. is ranked something like 33 out of 54 industrialized nations with higher level math skills.
And this percentage is not related to race – because the study (Pew) looked at whites only and blacks only – and found the number to be the same. The implications, long term, is that the United States will not be able to produce any scientists or engineers, compared to the rest of industrialized nations, because we don’t have the skills.
Higher level math is essential for living. Especially with the proliferation of use of computers. I am not saying we all need to be programmers; however, there is a trend for the general conversation to be “computers know better than us what to do”
Hogwash and Dangerous to Say Such Things!
Computers are dumb.
Computers do what we tell them to do. i.e.: computers do what we program them to do, and for that, we all need some higher level math. I would argue that parents are NOW PRODUCING CHILDREN WHO ARE FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE IN MATH BECAUSE PARENTS KNOW NO BETTER – AND PARENTS CAN DO NO BETTER, BECAUSE, THEY, TOO, ARE MATHEMATICALLY ILLITERATE. If this argument were not true, the United States would be graduating the brightest engineers on the planet. The best scientsts on the planet. But that is not the case. We graduate too few scientists and engineers.
Smart Phones & Artificial Intelligence – Why Do We Call Computers with Such Esteemed Language?
With phrases like “Smart Phones” and “Artificial Intelligence” – it’s no wonder that we are thinking that computers are smarter than us – a mass marketing ploy is rotting our brains. Phones are not smart. And computers are not intelligent. To buy into such marketing would be similar to eating McDonald’s 24/7 because the commercial told us to do so.
Design Video – 3 Minutes of your time
Posted by: Beverly on: November 8, 2010
Check it out:
Atlanta Web Development
Posted by: Beverly on: September 20, 2010
If you need a website built for your business, or want a redesign, there are plenty of choices. From hiring out a web company, to building your own site, there really aren’t many limitations. The wide variety of choices comes with a very wide range in price points, too, so if you’re on a budget, then you will be able to sift through the choices and find what you’re looking for.
Be careful, though, if you do have some money to spend. Just because a web design company has a high ticket price doesn’t mean they know what they’re doing, will deliver what you need, or are the best fit for you.
Unfortunately, with all these choices comes the responsibility of you having to spend time to find the right fit. Not taking your time to find the best website solution may mean you will lose money down the road, will be frustrated, or feel taken advantage of.
If you are a business owner in the Atlanta, Ga area, and are looking for a website to be designed for you, or need a fresh redesign, why not get in touch with me, a web developer? My name is Beverly Mau and I “do” the Atlanta market.
Here’s my website: http://www.mauwebstudio.com
Now, there are web developers and there are WEB DEVELOPERS. I happen to be very good at what I do, but I am not for everyone. My strengths are in a very high level of custom design and development and ability to write copy like nobody’s business, and have a smart ability to put on the table some marketing and advertising strategies that most clients adore.
What’s the downside of working with me, at MAU Web Studio? Longer turnaround time. If you want a 24 hour turnaround for a website, then you’re out of luck with me. If you want a free website, then I’m not for you. And if you want a cheap website, then I’m not the best fit for you.
So, stop on by my site, and drop me an email, too, and let’s have that first phone conversation. I’ve been doing this for a number of years now, and there hasn’t been a conversation with a potential client where I didn’t drop some goodies that made their head spin.
Thanks for stopping by!
Beverly
Weebly, GoDaddy, HostGator, 1&1, Web Host Uptime: it matters
Posted by: Beverly on: September 20, 2010
Here’s the behind the scenes, inside scoop. If you’re reading this post, you’re probably not a web or software developer such as myself. You’re probably a blogger, a business owner, someone who wants to leverage the web to their advantage.
So, what do I know? And does it matter to you? Yes. And yes.
Here’s the inside scoop about web hosts: it matters who you choose. That little guarantee, when you pick and sign up for a web host, that says, “guaranteed uptime 99.9%” – that statement is really important, and my work last night is a perfect reminder.
I was uploading data to three different sites, for 3 different clients, who use two different web hosts, and one web host was failing me. Worse, because this one web host was having problems with their servers, I couldn’t upload critical new data for this one client.
Won’t tell you who the web host is. Doesn’t matter, does it? What does matter is that you choose wisely who your web host is, because that choice will impact your website. If the web host is unable to guarantee a very high percentage of uptime, you’re paying for a service that you aren’t actually receiving, and money is going down the toilet.
And money down the toilet is a personal pet peeve of mine.
Because I represent fantastic clients, who are serious about their business, server downtime is ridiculous. OCCASIONALLY, this happens, but occasionally means once in a blue moon, or once every couple of years, at the most, not an annual occurance.
If you’re not sure how to pick the best web host, then contact me, Beverly Mau, of MAU Web Studio, and let’s get talking about how we can make your website better – and visible, 24/7.
Thanks for reading!
Beverly
email: bevmau @ gmail dot com
atlanta web development
Posted by: Beverly on: September 18, 2010
Hi, Beverly here, and it has been a very busy third quarter here at MAU Web Studio.
Here’s a quick update:
We’ve really ramped down the total number of clients accepted, to better focus on client individual needs. This really reflects the direction I want MAU Web Studio to move: to a highly customized, boutique level web studio.
One of our most valued clients, Altoona Ridge Lodge – the project has been closed. If you’re travelling to Montana, and want the very best of “off the grid” adventure – in America’s truest sense, then give Denison a call, (the owner of Altoona Ridge Lodge).
We’ve opened up our business to select pro bono work, for non profits. We’ve expanded our in-house graphic design services. We’ve grown our capabilities to include (caution: geek speak coming up) JQuery, more php, and the beginning stages of Drupal design and development. We’re now offering WordPress set up and support as well as general desktop support.
There’s too much to write, but for now, we’re just plugging along.
If you’re a small business owner in the Atlanta market, and you need custom support, why not give me, the owner of MAU Web Studio a call?
(404) 227 – 1851
6 SEO Content Writing Tips
Posted by: Beverly on: August 6, 2010
SEO is a buzzword. It stands for search engine optimization. Some companies pay big big bucks for SEO Content Writers for their websites. I say: nobody knows your products and services better than you, and to hire out something as important as content, well, is a bad idea.
Write your own content!
I do not say this lightly, due in part to the fact that part of my own business is optimized content writing, so, you might say I am shooting myself in my own foot.
Well, not necessarily. Writing optimized content for the web is a process, not a one hit wonder. i.e.: it is a process that needs to happen regularly, like checking in on your bank account regularly, to make sure everything is on the up and up.
So, here’s the top six SEO Content Writing Tips:
- Content is King
- Stay Focused
- Be Relevant
- Compel with Headings
- Keyphrase List
- Keyphrase Frequency
Nothing trumps it. Don’t let sexy marketers, IT gurus, make-it-rich-quick shmoes, tell it to you differently. Make yourself known for your products and services via your original content.
Writing content for the web means not rambling on and on about things that aren’t related to the website. You will need to write a couple of drafts, either in your head or on paper or on the computer, and revise several times.
And the more you do this, the better and faster you will get, but you need to go through the proper process a couple of times, and that includes drafts & editing.
When you speak to your readers through your content, does what you say matter? Why? If you cannot answer those two questions, then go back and rewrite your content.
Headings are important. And if they don’t convey your message in the first three words, then you’re going to lose a majority of your audience. Think it’s impossible to convey your message in the first 3 words of your heading? Then you haven’t practiced and edited and reworked your work enough times. Go back to the drawing board and get rid of all the fluff language that we don’t care about. Strip your words down to the bone, and then sex it up. You’ll get there.
this is a list of 7-14 keyphrases that matter most to your selling products and services on the web. This is the list that sits on a piece of paper next to you as you write your optimized content for the web. If it isn’t sitting on a piece of paper, then it needs to be blazed on your computer somewhere, staring at you like a hungry dog, or burned in your head: the keyphrases that you’ve selected to focus on is the scaffolding from which the content will be built.
And the reason why I say “keyphrases” and not “keywords” is because the trend of users (the visitors to your website) likelihood of typing in a single word, or a keyword, into the search bar, is very low. Most searches are in combinations of two to three words, if not more. Search is getting niche, and specialized.
What this means, is that of the keyphrase list you created in the last step, you will want to weave those keyphrases in your content a certain number of times. So, for each paragraph that you write, a couple of those keyphrases ought to appear between 2-5% of the time. What does this mean? Count the number of words in the paragraph. Then count the number of times one keyphrase shows up. Now, let’s do a simple math equation. Put the number of times the keyphrase shows up in the paragraph in the numerator, and put the total word count in the denominator. And divide. And multiply by 100. The answer is the percent frequency that keyphrase shows up for that paragraph. If the percent frequency is less than 2% or greater than 5%, then you have some adjusting to do.
Go Daddy Website Tonight
Posted by: Beverly on: July 31, 2010
- In: Go Daddy
- 2 Comments
Go Daddy continues to be a big player for business men and women who are just beginning their journey on the web.
I think Go Daddy advertised during the most recent Super Bowl. What I think about that, is that while so many advertisers pulled out of the million dollar ad slots for the Super Bowl, Go Daddy is getting plugged in, ramping up business sales.
Is the typical viewer of the Super Bowl, while they drink a beer, eat some chips, and enjoy one of America’s greates past-times, in this beginning stage of web development – apt to take the plunge into the online world of commerce?
Perhaps.
Bottom line: I get asked a lot what I think about Go Daddy Website Tonight. Personally, I don’t particularly care of for them, I think their interface is too simplistic for the direction of the clients I serve; however, I do appreciate the simplicity for those who self support.
Also, with Go Daddy’s advertising during the expensive Super Bowl ad slot, my thinking is that they are more interested in volume of their own sales, than in providing better service for the clients they already have.
And I know that Go Daddy is constantly trying to upsell services that, in my opinion, people don’t need. I can’t tell you how many times I have spoken to clients who said, “I just bought this and this from Go Daddy. Now what do I do?” Or: “I bought this and this from Go Daddy, and I pay an annual fee for these things that I bought, but I’ve never used this stuff.”
Hmmmm.
Go Daddy isn’t the only mammoth company that does this to the people I speak with. Buyer beware.
Hey, if you liked this post, then why not leave a comment?
Thanks!
Search Optimisation Search Optimization
Posted by: Beverly on: July 29, 2010
Here’s your Higher Performing Website Tip for today:
You know the importance of keywords, right? MAU Web Studio has a proprietary system for you to follow, if you wish, to make your life easier, and to maximize keywords.
Anyway, make sure to include in your keyword list (I actually refer to it as keyphrase List, because Keywords are very, very low on the priority list. (For more info on what I mean, email me at Bevmau@gmail.com and I will answer your questions). – Make sure to include in your keyphrase list mis-spelled words.
So, if I am a carpenter whose market is in the Atlanta, Ga area, part of my SEO List would look like this:
- Altanta Carpenter
- Atlanta Handyman
- Build Custom Shelves Atlanta
Did you notice in the first phrase, the word Atlanta is mis-spelled? Mis-spellings happen all the time when users enter a query in the Google search bar.
I don’t care if you’re Einstein, even really bright people make typing errors, and/or are just BAD at spelling.
So, in your SEO Keyphrase List, make sure you cover mis-spellings, because if you want to increase the likelihood of your website being found on the web, you’ve got to know that people are looking, even if they don’t enter the correct spelling of your products and services.
Like this blog post? Leave a comment!
The Search Engine Optimization and Content Guide
Posted by: Beverly on: July 28, 2010
Content is King. No amount of frill will replace it.
Come up with a list of 7-14 words that are what you do, who you are, and what market you are going after. They can be single words, or two or three words put together in a phrase. I wouldn’t go longer than 3 words unless there is a good reason for doing so. Leave out the prepositions (?) such as “a,” “the,” “and” etc. For the purpose of this exercise, those are fluff words.
If you want, look at your competition. What are they talking about on their website? Where are the geographical areas you want to sell more?
To the people who you want to sell to more, what are they searching for on the computer? How are they going to find you?
Above all else, use your gut instinct when creating your list.
What do we do with this list? Once the list is made, then I think it is easier to blog and to write content for your static pages. The list will focus you. And then, when Google crawler crawls your text, it will notice these keyword/keyphrases, and “index” those keywords/keyphrases for your site. Then when Jo Shmoe goes to Google.com and types in “a couple of words from your list” – the likelihood that your content shows up in the search results goes up.
Remember this formula: between 2-5% total word count of all content that you write ought to be these target keyword/keyphrases.
- If your list is too vague, you dilute the probability of your content showing up in the top ten of Google search results for a search query.
- If your list contains highly competitive keyphrases, then the likelihood of your content showing up in the top ten of Google search results goes down.
- If your list is really specific, but qualified leads never search for those specific keyphrases, then we are wasting our time.
Write content around this list.
How can we support the list with even stronger writing?
You can’t capture all that you are and all that you do in that list, but you can make a second list, and include synonyms. The synonyms, I think, are the supporting words that need to show up in your content, in reasonable doses that make sense.
Web content is written 60% for human eyes and 40% for the Google crawler.
Google “John Carlton” – he has a certain way of writing that I used to study A LOT. If you STUDY patterns in his blog, I’ll bet you’ll think it was time well spent.
Hey, if you liked this blog post, then why not leave a comment!
And thanks!
How Google Works
Posted by: Beverly on: July 28, 2010
Hey, check out this video, by Google, to help you improve your knowledge on how Google works. Then visit my web development website, where you find out why MAU Web Studio is so good at delivering higher performing websites and online marketing and advertising strategies for small business.
OK, you watched the video, and get a little bit more about how Google works. Unless you are personally interested in this technical mumbo jumbo, you’re going to need a good web guru on your team.
So, why haven’t you checked out MAU Web Studio yet? We’re really approachable.
Brian Tracy: Current Sales Model that Works
Posted by: Beverly on: July 28, 2010
- In: sales
- Leave a Comment
Brian Tracy is a guru sales guy who trains the salesforce. He is a veteran in sales and has seen the transformation of how good sales happens in the U.S.
When my Dad was growing up in the 1950s, how salesmen (most of them were men, right? Unless it was the Avon lady) the typical sales pattern included the mantra “Always Be Closing.”
Today, the sales model is completely different. It is based on value and a good fit and not forcing anything, but letting be known the products and services, and guiding the conversation toward the close.
How refreshing.
Selling on the web for long term growth is similar, I think. Designing your website with the end in mind: not trying to “get” as much as you can out of visitors, but rather, establishing relationships and connections with the audience or market that you are designed to cater to.
Websites don’t broadcast to every market, they are tailored to your niche, to the groups who will benefit most from your products and services.
Although I did not learn anything about technology from Brian Tracy, what he speaks about during his workshops (which I had the pleasure of attending here in Atlanta a few years back) is absolutely relevant and can be applied to designing optimal business websites – your business website.
The Humble Homepage
Posted by: Beverly on: July 27, 2010
The time has arrived: if your homepage reads like it did a year or two ago, then it is time for late Spring cleanup.
I am falling asleep reading your homepage! It is boring. It looks how it did a year ago, and I’m not seeing the benefits of it, so I will click away.
That is what your valuable visitors are thinking, when they experience your homepage.
Redesign your homepage. Bring in more qualified visitors. Get down to the business of converting.
Here’s how:
- Make sure you have name/email capture on every page, above the fold
- In your Header, ask a question, and make it provocative. Do a top ten list in your area of expertise. Write about the biggest mistakes people make. Talk about how to save money, get better, live more happily.
- Spice it up with a bubble with recommendations
- Set up a contest or vote and offer a free giveaway.
- Check out http://www.refresheverything.com/ for an example. Don’t be afraid if you’re not a big corporate mammoth, setting up a landing page and launching a contest can be accomplished with the proper IT assistance on your team
Do these tips confuse?
Did this blog post raise some questions?
Leave a comment!
And thanks for reading,
Beverly
Quick Tips For Better Blogging
Posted by: Beverly on: July 27, 2010
Blog Titles:
Blog titles are important because the title becomes a keyphrase and are indexed by search engines.
So, if you want more clients in Buckhead, Ga, then have in the title of your blog post the word “Buckhead” – because that is a keyword that a potential client would include in her search.
Your blog post is also probably going to be picked up by something called “directories” – directories can be automated indexing and listing entities. Needless to say, the blog title is important for human eyes, (we want to be engaged, informed, entertained, yadda yadda) – but we can’t forget that the web uses the blog title in special ways.
The first 3 words in each blog title are the most important.
To catch human eyes, try these blog title starters:
“How to …”
“Insider’s Secrets to …”
“Top 5 reasons why …”
“10 ways to …”
“What everyone should know about …”
Try this:
Ask a question in the title.
Paragraph Lengths
Vary the lengths of each paragraph so my eyes don’t fall asleep. And big chunks of text aren’t good. Break it up. It’s OK to have a question be a paragraph. Blogging is more casual than writing a paper in school. Think short, focused, choppy paragraphs.
Bold Text
Why should you use bold?
Because it catches the reader’s eye and draw the eye down to where you are going to ask for the sale.
Focus:
Each blog post is your asking the reader to part with precious time and invest in reading your words. What is the benefit for the reader in reading each blog post, as it relates to your business? If you’re not having the words converge upon the single point, and that is: you are an expert and this is a business blog, and you are really fun and terrific to work with, and let’s get to the next step, which is asking for the sale.
Ask For the Sale
At the end of each post, ask for the sale. Here’s an example from Maria Killam’s blog:
“If you would like your home to fill you with happiness every time you walk in, contact me for on-line or in-person consultations,” Maria Killam.
Here’s a Beverly Mau close at the end of a blog post:
“If any of these tips are confusing, we need to talk. Contact bevmau@gmail.com right away to blow your competition out of the water.”
“I am your IT source. I build, redesign, and execute higher performing websites and online marketing and advertising strategies. My rates are 60% less than the competition, and my clients love me.”
Writing for the web is similar to the ballerina who works hard until her feet bleed, but when she is on the stage, the audience does not know any of her pain. The audience feels wonderful! Be you, but, blogging and writing for the web certainly does take work, to get YOUR UNIQUE message across, and to get it to perform for you.
Atlanta Fun
Posted by: Beverly on: July 26, 2010
So, I almost always begin my Mondays participating in Empowered-Enterprises.com Monday “Power Call” – info on the call at end of post – but today, I needed to focus on other things. Thankfully, there is always a recorded audio posted by its leader, Means Davis of Empowered Enterprises, within about a half hour of the completion of the call.
So, being in the Website Creation Business, this makes me smile. Because in the world of the internet, we have these choices, technology allows us to reach so many, and for those who can’t participate, we can catch the archive. Additionally, Means Davis has all his audios in his library, totally free, absolutely open to the public.
Love that.
So, our websites can be leveraged to make our lives easier, to archive important data, that is meaningful for our clients. And IT is designed to make our lives easier, when we strategize and execute appropriately.
Anyhow, that’s my two bits for today.
Here’s Means Davis’ Empowered Enterprises info, jump on the call if you’ve got the hour on Mondays. And the call is global, not just local Atlanta fun.
218. 862 1300 x816870
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST
Drop a comment if you liked this post and thanks for reading!
