7 Things Highly Productive People Do by Ilya Pozin

You have more important things to focus on than, um, focusing. Get back on track with these tips.

You probably don’t want to admit it but you love distractions. In fact, just like monkeys, you get a shot of dopamine every time something pulls you in another direction. Why do you think you check your email so much?

Want to be more productive and get your focus back? There are no secret tricks here… do one thing at a time. Stop multitasking—it’s just another form of distraction.

Easier said than done, I know.

Continue reading at Inc.com

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.

Do not hesitate to contact us for your coaching or therapist custom application needs.

Our e-zine templates are designed to fit seamlessly into 1 Shopping Cart, Aweber, Constant Contact, iContact and more email marketing clients.

See our portfolio of E-zine & Newsletter templates.

We have designed over 100 WordPress websites since 2007

See our portfolio of coaches and therapists WordPress wesbites

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

Update: September 2, 2011 – As of this morning, I haven’t completed my goal of 50 miles…I’m at 25.59 miles, so I’ll continue walking and soliciting your support. And this still gives me the opportunity to raise more money:).

Thanks to everyone that has contributed to my effort and helped me raise $190 thus far. I really appreciate your supporting my little effort with this project. I look forward to getting more donations before the walk-a-thon tomorrow morning.

About Walk for Wells

Walk for Wells’ mission is to spread awareness of the world water crisis as they raise funds to supply clean water to rural areas of Africa, specifically in the countries of Kenya, Nigeria & Liberia; while promoting physical fitness in our local community. This is their 1st annual event. The Walk for Wells benefits the JHB Hope Foundation (jhbhopefoundation.org). The JHB Hope Foundation is a non-profit organization that restores hope and implements humanitarian projects that positively impact the lives of others. These projects focus on providing access to clean drinking water, quality healthcare, educational resources and feeding programs. This global outreach ministry is dedicated to sharing an unprecedented message of love, compassion and hope to the less privileged.

Health Impact: At any given time, half of the world’s hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from a water related disease such as typhoid and cholera. 1.8 million children die every year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation. This amounts to around 5000 deaths a day (UNDP). The simple act of washing hands with soap and clean water can reduce diarrheal diseases by over 40% (UNICEF). Water-related diseases are the second biggest killer of children worldwide, after acute respiratory infections like tuberculosis (UNDP).

Educational Impact: More than 150 million school age children are infected with water borne parasites. 443 million school days are lost each year due to water-related diseases (UNDP). Teachers also lose school days from being sick from water related diseases.

Walk for Wells in conjunction with the JHB Hope Foundation will provide the basic humanitarian need of pure drinking water by building more wells.

Agnes’s Goal: The walk-a-thon is 5k (3.1 miles) and scheduled for September 3rd. I plan to walk an additional 50 miles between July 3rd and September 1st.

Please support my efforts by making a generous donation.

THANKS!!!!

For more info about this project, visit the Walk for Wells website.

Here are the top five mistakes that bloggers make and how to avoid them:

1. Thinking “What do I want to write?” vs. “What does my audience want to read?” It’s okay to include a few personal details or stories every so often. But keep in mind that your target market doesn’t care too much about your new car or your kitten’s celiac disease – unless it has a direct bearing on their life or the niche you’re writing about. If your website is about natural health cures for pets, then include the gory details of Fluffy’s gastrointestinal distress. Otherwise, focus on your readers’ biggest worries and problems and how you can solve them. Save the chit-chat for your therapist or your spouse.
2. Taking “informal” too far. One of the biggest mistakes many bloggers make is to get carried away in their efforts to be informal, with the result that they appear downright unprofessional. By their very nature, blogs tend to be casual, based on conversation and interaction. Just don’t get sloppy. Be sure to check spelling and grammar, and capitalize words where. Think about it… Would you trust a brain surgeon who can’t be bothered to capitalize and punctuate properly?
3. Becoming undependable. You don’t have to blog daily if you don’t want to, though you do have to blog consistently. If you blog fifteen times one week and then disappear for a month or two, you’ll appear flaky and disorganized. Instead, use the scheduling function on your blogging platform to set up a regular posting routine. If you want to sit down just once a month to write, that’s fine. But be sure to set up your posts so they appear on a regular schedule.
4. Ignoring the interactive element of blogging. Blogs should be dialogues. You throw out the conversational ball, and your readers catch it and toss it back in the form of comments, e-mails, and even responses on their own blogs. If you write but don’t listen or respond, you’ll seem distant and unapproachable. It’s important that you care what your customers and readers have to say, or at least appear that way.
5. Making your blog read like a press release. Customers love blogs because they believe they’re getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse at your business. If everything you post reads like a corporate press release, no one is going to stick around. After all, they might as well read your annual report.

This doesn’t mean you need to air your dirty laundry in public, but you do need to give the occasional “behind the curtain” scoop. Share what you’re working on, the challenges you’re facing and how you’re overcoming them, and details about your process. Occasionally, you might even want to ask for advice on how to solve a minor business problem. Asking people to provide input helps them feel like part of the team and increases brand loyalty.

As you can see, these aren’t difficult concepts to grasp. You don’t have to write Pulitzer-winning prose or answer complex “meaning of life” questions. Instead, just be yourself – your best self! – and keep your readers’ interests in mind.