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.

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.

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Internet technology changes very quickly and you cannot afford for your website to be out-dated as this reflects on your company. Websites should be reevaluated every three months for content tweaks, images replacements, and links corrections. You can’t leave a website alone for a long periods of time as your website creates an impression of your business- positive or negative.

You should re-examine your website more often than not. If it’s been a year since your website had any changes, it is way past due for a revision.

Finally a website redesign should not not be about tweaking what you already have. It’s involves the same process as an initial design, aligning the website design with your business and marketing strategies plus the latest technologies. Websites should be constantly optimized for the search engines and social networking. All websites at any point in time, should be easy to navigate, be functional and contain web copy that would attract your ideal clients and customers.

My first question to them is, during the design process with their web designers, were their marketing plan goals aligned with the design blueprint? And more often than not, I’m told that they really just wanted a website that was beautiful and one that advertised what they could do.

Here are some important tips to focus on during and throughout the design and implementation process:

• How is your website going to fit into your marketing plan?
• How is your website going to work as a tool in bringing in substantial business?
• How are you going to invite potential clients to your network even if they don’t immediately buy from you?
• How can you instantly speak to your potential clients’ needs?
• How can visitors have a pleasant experience on your website?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a nice looking website but here are some other important factors to help make a website a strong marketing machine:

• Having a website that spoke to the potential client’s perspective in meeting their needs.
• Having a website that was completely functional.
• Having a website that reflected and paralleled your business and marketing plans and goals.

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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.

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.

1. A professionally designed website gives you an edge over your competitors.
2. To potential customers, your website is like a store and your business card.
3. Your website acts as an interface between your organization and the rest of the world, year round.
4. Critical points of building an online business presence is having an appealing, informative & interactive website.
5. Having a great website is an absolute first step in creating a marketing brand for your company.
6. Your website is a great way to communicate with potential customers.
7. Usability of your website can convert more people to purchase services from your business.
8. Well designed web sites work so that your company is well-presented in the business environment
9. Your website is a reflection of the way you do business.
10. Your website has the potential to give your business a larger customer base online.

For additional tips and to see how AI Virtual Solutions can help you get started on your website, do call or email us. Here are a few additional tips to consider as your website comes together:

1. Besides a having a great look, a website must be also be user friendly, easy to navigate, understand and find.
2. An attractive & professional looking website will give your business credibility & help strengthen your brand.
3. Visitors typically decide within seconds whether or not they are staying on a website aka buy from you!

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!

It’s our 3rd year anniversary today! Its been an interesting journey thus far. I’ve cried, laughed, being frustrated, worked through the day and night, looked like someone whose just getting out of bed at 3pm…but I’ve loved every minute of it.

I want to say a huge thank you to my husband, whose been a tremendous support and I truly appreciate his mad IT skills; My girls (9 and 5) who have become such young ladies and have made this journey easier; My team members for all their hard work and awesome clients for trusting me with their businesses.

Most of all, I’m thankful to my heavenly Father who has made this possible. I’m truly humbled.