Here are my top 10 things people won’t tell you about your website:

1. Your website looks home-made.
2. Your website does not speak to your market
3. Your website has many spelling and grammatical errors
4. Many links on your website aren’t working
5. The images on your website are not of great quality
6. Your website is difficult to navigate
7. Your website does not have any “call to action”
8. Your free gift is not set up correctly
9. Your website is too cluttered
10. You should take down empty pages

The reason why people won’t say anything is because you haven’t asked them to. It’s so much easier to give positive feedback than negative feedback especially when your opinion has not been solicited.

You might almost have a panic attack when you ask for feedback about your website/business from someone that you value their opinion and know that they would give you honest feedback. But ask all the same.

A while ago, someone mentioned that I had a stock photo on my site that had a watermark on it. I was so glad that she said this because I had asked for feedback. The watermarked photo on my site had been on my home page for almost a year and I’d missed it! We had put some text over the photo instead of the purchased version, so you could easily miss seeing the watermark if you didn’t look at it long enough and I saw the photo almost everyday! This is one of the reasons why you should ask more than a few people to review your website because everyone sees some different.

You have my permission to review my website but please be kind in your feedback delivery. I would rather have feedback that would be helpful than bury my head in the sand. We should use feedback as opportunity to correct errors, enhance our brands and grow our businesses.

Also don’t hesitate to ask me for feedback about your business website…I would be kind in delivering my constructive criticism and better yet, positive feedback if that is the case – won’t you love that!  I won’t just be giving  feedback but would also work with you in fixing the problem areas…only if you Ask.

Contact me for your complimentary website review and don’t hesitate to schedule a Branding and Marketing Discovery Session for your business.

Also don’t hesitate to download my free gift to you, a blueprint/guide Is Your Website Holding You Back? 7 Easy Ways to Attract and Retain Customers on Your Website. This guide is jam packed with valuable information that you can use immediately to enhance your website and business.

I just read a blog on Entrepreneur.com and there were very valid comments that people had made on the post “Five Reasons Why Websites Still Matter“:

@VolcanoHost said “Don’t forget that many corporate IT departments block facebook and other “time wasters” to keep employees on task. If you want to reach other businesses, you need a website.”

Agnes comments: I never thought of this POV, so true!

@Domainate said “Businesses are built upon websites. Social might help bring customers in, but they should ultimately be fed into the website. Even a company like Zynga, who has massive success thanks to Facebook, understands the benefits of having website homes for their games.”

Jessica Osman said “The web site is the flagship of any company’s online strategy. I just don’t understand those who believe it is no longer important. As a web copy writer and editor I have noticed that demand for great web sites (and excellent content) is increasing, not waning. Thanks for this article.”

@ExcelAssist said “Your last paragraph sums it all up—”…you lead first with your website.” Well said. It is, for the lack of a better term, your storefront.”

yasmike said “Our website does all of these things for us, and it has helped us grow our business.Our brand recognition is growing, we have an excellent platform for delivering content, our site can be found in search engines for many key industry terms, and our analytics show us how to improve our site and marketing efforts. I always tell my clients that their website needs to be the hub of their marketing strategies and this article will help me prove my point.”

@refreshKTG said “Website are so important they give a company in the middle of no where a chance to compete and beat out companies in NYC, or Silicon Valley.

They are the great equalizer.”

It’s so important as business owners to make the most of every available marketing arsenal but we have to decide for ourselves which marketing tool and strategies to focus on and also when.

Need A Strategic & Professional Designed Online Business Presence ?: AI Virtual Solutions works with clients to determine what strategies to implement and how to do this. We are a full service web marketing firm and we use a combination of web design, application development, internet  & social media marketing, content marketing and search engine optimization to get our clients in front of their target market and we’ve successful done this for over four years.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you are a therapist, coach, speaker and author. We’ll work with you to get you on the right track in your business.

Use Social Media and Social Bookmarking Websites. Social Media websites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter are beneficial network and marketing websites. Social Media websites can prove to be valuable in marketing your website and the services that you offer to potential clients.

Social bookmarking sites such as Digg, StumbleUpon, and Reddit, are simple; yet profitable when wanting to drive traffic to your website. These websites will aid you in establishing your brand and encourage traffic to your website. There has been an increased trend with internet based business owners; therefore, implementing a strong marketing platform will improve your website’s traffic and your
client base.

Use Blogging. Blogging is another website in the form of social media. A blog combines commentary, images, and/or links to your website. A blog allows you the opportunity to keep an online “diary” of your thoughts, progress, events and articles that pertain to your website and business. Additionally, your blog encourages user participation and allows your readers to comment on the information posted in your blog. Furthermore, several social bookmarking sites will allow you to link your blog to your social bookmarking account; which will increase your targeted audience.

Use article marketing. Writing articles for publication is an effective tool for driving traffic to your website. Websites such as Ezine Articles and Aweber allow you to share your knowledge, expertise, wisdom and in return you can receive traffic back to your website. Many article publishing websites allow you to post a profile of yourself, your business and your website at the end of each article; which will promote your business and build increased traffic to your website and/or blog.

Describe your services offered accurately. Your website is your blueprint for the service that you are offering to potential clients. When listing your services you want to be accurate and precise without becoming too wordy. Using keywords to give a description of the services you offer will amplify your potential client contacts.

Offer discounts for those who book your services through your website. Promote your services and make use of your website traffic by offering online discounts and/or specials. Also, rewarding your current client base for referring friends, family and colleagues is an attractive incentive and will increase client retention.

Provide testimonials from current or past clients. Posting testimonials on your website is an effective tool in gaining prospective clients. Potential clients will relate their business needs with your current client base. Therefore, reading testimonials from current or previous clients provides potential clients with a history of your work ethic. It will entice prospective clients to contact you.

About Us/History Page. Listing your experience, expertise and/or education will provide your potential
clients with an outline of your background. Your experience, expertise and/or education will lay a foundation for you and your new client to build upon.

Staying one step ahead of your competition is essential when marketing your website and business. Consider implementing the tools listed above and you are already on the course for success.

This is even more important if you’re using social media and other kinds of marketing to drive traffic to your Website or blog (and you should be!). Because if it isn’t designed strategically your site is going to keep costing you far more than it makes you. Not a good thing.

Unfortunately, too few Web designers and developers know enough about sales and marketing to do effective Website planning. And too few entrepreneurs know enough to realize they aren’t getting a site designed to make sales and grow their business.

To help you get a business-building, money-making site, below are six common yet costly mistakes and how to fix them. Resolving even one of these can dramatically increase your results!

Your Banner is Too Big

If your banner (i.e. the graphics at the top of your Web page) takes up more than four inches, shrink it. You’re wasting some of your most valuable marketing space. And chances are visitors won’t scroll because they won’t realize there is anything worth seeing below.

Your Navigation is Confusing

When someone lands on your site, they typically spend maybe four seconds figuring out if you have what they want. So navigation that’s clear and consistent is key. That means having no more than nine main navigation options… Making them easy to find… And choosing names that make what you’ll find when you click crystal clear. Because few people have time to search around or randomly click links just to see what’s there.

No Call to Action

Every page of your site should ask the visitor to do something: go here for more info, buy now, register, call, watch a video, whatever. You must tell people what to do next, and make doing it simple and obvious, or there’s no telling what they might do. But it probably won’t be what you’re hoping for.

Not Enough Information

You can’t make anyone take action until and unless they’re ready. So you always have to consider exactly what information they need in order to confidently take that action. At a minimum that means answering all their questions and dealing with all their objections. Typically the lower the cost of the action, the less info you need to share. Keep in mind, however, that even clicking to a new page means the visitor is paying you in their valuable, irreplaceable time. Ditto asking for space in their already overcrowded Inbox—even if your offer itself is free.

Too Much Information

Every page of your site—even your home page—should be focused on one topic only. The goal of the info on your home page is to let visitors know they’ve landed in the right place, tell them what you offer and to whom, and get them interested in learning more. Then help them find the specific info they want in two clicks or less. If you sell three services and five products, don’t list them all on the home page. You’re only going to confuse people. Instead make your home page an overview and/or use it to promote your free offer. Then, use navigation links, content links or buttons to help people find what they’re after quickly.

Your Site Is Egocentric

Is your site all about you, your services or products, your company, your history, your experience, etc? If so, then you’re like the guy at the party who only talks about themselves—repellant. Instead focus your site on your ideal client or customer. Talk about their wants, needs, problems or goals, and how you can help. Show how they’re going to benefit by choosing your products or services over the competitions’. Then there’s a good chance they actually will.

Source: Stacy Karacostas
Practical marketing expert and business lifestyle architect

Read Post:

I’m often asked by my Virtual Assistant clients, “I submit articles, I tweet on Twitter, and post on Facebook, I publish an ezine – do I still really need to blog?”

Yes, you do! And here’s why:

Connect on a personal level: A blog is a way to start a conversation about a particular subject – in this case related to your business and the issues surrounding it. By inviting your readers to join the dialogue, you create an opportunity to engage your readers – clients and potential clients — on a more personal level than in a website or even an ezine. Your posts reflect your thoughts and ideas on certain matters, making deeper connections with your readers’ ideals, values and needs. Readers can comment and commiserate on issues, offering you the chance to offer solutions. This is relationship building – taking you a step further toward creating clients for life.

The consistency of your topics is key to building and keeping an audience. Readers turn to blogs for specific information, news, ideas and conversation about a topic that is important to them. By keeping your posts consistent, you become an expert and the source of what they are searching for.

Search Engine Ranking: Fresh content is the steam that fuels search engines. And as we all know, steam rises! Again, the key is consistency in your posts. When your posts contain related keywords and phrases time and time again, search engines, like Google, put you higher in the rankings. Don’t let your blog sit idle. Post regularly and send your search engine ranking skyward!

Fewer people are subscribing to ezines: I’m one of them. I can now count on one hand the number of ezines I receive in my inbox. People are becoming overwhelmed with email and fewer are signing up to receive ezines. More people are signing up for news feeds to receive new information from sources they know and trust- blogs. If your readers are signing up for your news feed, you’re delivering fresh, timely information to them every time you post.

Not everyone is on social media: On the flip side, there are some people who are not on social media, who may prefer to receive information by e-mail. Blogs generally offer either an RSS feed or an e-mail digest. Or, with applications like Google’s Feedburner, you can create e-mail newsletters from your RSS feeds, and track the usage of your subscribers.

Reliability and control: A month or so ago both Facebook and twitter were ‘down’ for a substantial amount of time. That was a wake-up call for us to be equally active on platforms that we can control, such as a blog. Who knows what might happen to Facebook or twitter – but I know nothing will happen to my own site/blog – and therefore I make it a priority to be active there also.

Remember – there is no single magic pill in Online Marketing. Just because Facebook and twitter are so popular, doesn’t mean you should neglect the other areas. Having a blog can be an invaluable way to build a following, brand yourself as an expert, and rise in search engine rankings. Having a presence on multiple fronts (blogging, social media, website, ezine…) will put you in front of more readers, and give you the optimal return on your time.

Author: Donna Toothaker is CEO, founder and coach of Step It Up VA Coaching, http://www.stepitupva.com.

PS: We design custom blogs to match your website and seamlessly merge your existing website with your new blog. Contact us about how to get you blogging in 2011. WordPress CMS is our number one choice for blogging and web design applications. Check out our portfolio for our very extensive examples of WordPress blogs and websites.

Firstly, writing articles is one of the few ways to show that you are an expert in your field or market. So providing valuable information to your audience on a particular subject area or topic helps in developing a connection with  potential clients or customers by giving them a quick snapshot of what you do and how they can gain from it.

Submitting your articles is a gift that continues to give for a long time, and here are some of the reasons:

• It increases traffic to a website, giving a lot more people the opportunity to find you, your services, products, etc.
• It sends one way traffic back to your website from other valued ranked sites (if your articles are submitted to the highly ranked sites).
• This does not involve link exchange with other websites that do not complement your business, vision or goals.
• Your article could be re-posted on other blogs and websites by people who found them to be of value.
• Your article could be tweeted about and re-tweeted many times over, and fed through all the many viral marketing avenues.

Also, here are a few tips on article writing: Be specific about your subject area, kept your article short and informative, proof read for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes and give a straight-forward title that is attention grabbing.

Have you really looked at your content? Have you really really read through your website with a fresh pair of eyes? It would be worth your while to ask for a second opinion.

Your website might just be what is holding you hostage.

Here is my litmus test for you. If you answered Yes to 2 or more of the questions below, you need to connect with a professional copy writer to write fresh, targeted website copy for you.

1. Are you a professional website content writer?
2. Did you write your website copy yourself?
3. Are you afraid that hiring a copywriter would be more than you can afford?
4. You are not getting the right kinds of projects from online prospects?
5. You are afraid to ask someone to review your website content?
6. You spend too much time during your consultation explaining exactly what you do?

Here are some things to look out for when searching for a website copy writer:

Look for someone who writes using clear, easy-to-understand language while also incorporating keyword phrases that satisfy search engines without turning off readers. A copy writer that has excellent grammar, spelling, and punctuation skills, research skills, someone who understands your business and its goals also an understanding of your customers and what their needs are.

Also important, your copy writer should be skilled at writing from the point of Search Engine Optimization and Internet Marketing.

Remember, there is no point to having a beautiful website that does not work towards meeting your vision and business goals.

Beautiful + Functional + Interactive + Informative website= SUCCESS!

Are you ready to get a result oriented website? Contact our full service web design firm to review your website copy and design if you are ready to do something different, something that works. Doing or having the same thing always gets one the same results…nothing more.

Other forms of search engine marketing (SEM) target paid listings. In general, the earlier (or higher on the page), and more frequently a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine. SEO may target different kinds of search, including image search, local search, video search and industry-specific vertical search engines. For more information on the history of SEO, visit the SEO Wikipedia page.

Our SEO activities at AIVS include:

• Site Activity Analysis
• Keyword Analysis
• Search Engine Analysis
• Link Building Campaigns

We believe firmly in link building activities and for a huge part it involves web directory submissions, because it works for us and our clients. Which is also the reason why we also own two quality business web directories: Sengalist.com and GreatCoachesDirectory.com.

Web Directory submission is the process that involves submitting websites to web directories. Web Directory submission is important because it helps increase websites rankings on the search engines. The higher a website ranks on the search engine, the more sales a business owner gets as their websites come up higher in search results.

Web Directory submission enables websites to get a lot of backlinks. When a site has a high amount of quality backlinks, the website gets to rank higher in the search engines. Backlinks are neccesary in ranking websites on the search engines. Without backlinks, websites will not appear in the search results.

As business owners, we know the importance of having an attractive, functional, informative and interactive website. But not having an optimized website defeats the purpose of having one at all; as no one will find it when they do their Google, Yahoo, Bing or any other search engine inquires.

We have various SEO packages and customized solutions to meet your business needs and budget. Contact us about how we can strategically and effectively make you websites visible in the major search engines, attract the right customers and grow your business.

It’s quite sad when a business owner pays their hard earned money to an SEO company for link building campaigns. And what these so called SEO experts do is make ridiculous and generic comments at the most inappropriate places; which by the way never get approved or published. I’ve reached the point where I close comments on new posts after a short while because I get the silliest comments.

Here are examples of comments I’ve gotten in the last 2 days:

• Appreciate the info!…I’m always looking for more information for my Denver Search Engine Optimization company.
• Thanks for the info. I love reading about subjects like Why Hire A Web Designer | Web Design Connecticut: Web Development, Internet Marketing & Search Engine Optimization. Keep up the good work!
• I think their are some great social networking scripts out their right now. I have tried phpFox, Elgg, Dolphin, and SocialEngine. Out of my experience with these scripts, I have to say that phpFox and SocialEngine are awesome for building your own network.
• Good post, nevertheless I feel you could potentially supplement all of this text-based content utilizing some tutorials and pics much like they are doing in various different blogs I’ve spotted
• I’m grateful for you because of this wonderful information. You truly did make my day :
• Staggering! This specific is all I can think just for a post on the blog like this important. This unique is really a surprisingly revealing post. You need to know a lot about this kind of
• Truly genuinely beneficial website publish which has got me considering. I never looked at this from your point of view.
• Wonderful blog post bro. This excellent is just a extremely nicely structured blog post, just the tips I was looking for. Cheers
• Hi there may I use some of the information here in this post if I provide a link back to your site?

Links and Relationship Building should be a labor of love and be done with the utmost integrity. Blog owners see through these automated and generic SEO activities…we will not be fooled!

To Readers: Do share with us some of the ridiculous comments that you’ve been getting on your blogs.

To Business Owners: Are you thinking about Search Engine Optimization for your websites? Are you looking to have quality ranked relevant websites linked to and from your websites? Let us work with you to strategically develop an SEO campaign that would effective promote and grow your business.  Contact us to get you on the link building path to success.

So you say to yourself why would you need the services of a trained web designer, if you can get it done on your own.

Sooner or later, it gets to the point where you need your business website to reflect your commitment to your business.

Do not think that the well informed potential client would have a positive impression when they view your website as “homemade”.

Here are some of the assumptions that they will form:

• You are new in business: Being new in business should not be perceived as negative but truth be told, people would be reluctant to want to buy from a person that is just starting out. You should not blatantly promote that a potential client would be your first client. You should promote your expertise and previous experience.
• Your business isn’t making any money: If people see a “Free website by Blah Blah” on the footer of your website, they would think “Can’t afford a paid-for website”.
• You don’t have clients and/or customers: People want to deal with businesses that have a proven track record.
• You are not committed to the business: This means that you can pack up shop tomorrow and not finish their project or provide after sale care.

Did you know that these conclusions would be drawn in less than a minute? All of these assumptions would take them to your competitors, period.

These are some of the reasons to hire a professional web designer:

• Many are business owners themselves
• They understand what gives a positive or negative impression
• They provide more than just web design
• Many are trained not only in web design but web development, search engine optimization, internet marketing and more; and have in depth knowledge and experience in these areas
• Many don’t charge an arm and a leg, they have affordable services packages to meet the needs and budget of a potential client

A very important thing that I continue to see in successful business owners and I’m privileged to continue to connect with many; is that they delegate to experts in fields that they don’t have the a background or in depth experience in.

Remember, First Impress Counts! and Anything Worth Doing is Worth Doing Well!