Should More Websites Mean More Hassle?
A internet marketer or web entrepreneur having decided to pursue their goals by taking the path of developing a large number of niche websites, instead of concentrating on just one or two super sites, will eventually face the dilemma “should more websites mean more hassle?” Is the chosen web design software capable of easily managing 50, 100 or more websites, or is the task of managing and updating your portfolio of websites going to be far too much to handle?
Regrettably, many niche marketers are already well down the road before the problem arises and starts to have a significant affect on their business. They could possibly have 10 or 20 websites up and running before becoming aware that a problem exists. Once they know, they then have to ask the question “Should I keep going, or switch all my sites over straight away to another software?”
There is no single easy solution. The original software was chosen tailored to the need to build and manage a large number of websites as well as their intended method of maintenance on an ongoing basis. Changing existing sites over to another application may be way beyond their capability so they should stick to what they do best.
If it is intended to continue maintaining their growing portfolio by themselves, they should consider software such as XSitePro which is more than up to the task in hand. It is cheaper than, say, Dreamweaver and the learning curve is far less daunting. Although the included templates are not all that inspiring, there are much better ones available to purchase and it is quite easy to adapt template graphics to suit personal requirements.
To manage a large number of sites in XSitePro is relatively easy. The software can keep a check of Adsense information as well as multiple affiliate accounts, thus making it perfect for internet marketers. Changes to a site can be published by simply clicking the mouse. The built in reporting functions and SEO tools are very useful, saving much time and cutting out costly errors.
The XSitePro is, however, placed at a disadvantage with the growing popularity of social bookmarking sites and Web 2.0 as it is not built to design sites with the required functionality. Joomla and Wordpress excel in this arena, and have the additional benefit of making collaboration and user created content very easy, although managing several Wordpress or Joomla sites would present quite a challenge.
The XSitePro is also not equipped for blogging. However, there is an inexpensive, even free, option definitely worth consideration for managing many websites and this is Blogger. Even though Wordpress has become the choice of blogging tool for many internet marketers, Blogger allows the creation and hosting of unlimited blogs for free, managing them all from one place, the Blogger Dashboard. Blogs can be hosted on hosting accounts if held, whilst all management can be carried out from the Dashboard.
One further option and probably the easiest if not the cheapest way to manage a large number of websites is to simply pay someone else to do the job!
Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of Be Successful News, a site that provides information and articles on how to succeed in your own home or small business. http://besuccessfulnews.com/
Get Awesome Traffic To Your Website
The onset of the Internet Age has compelled large corporations and small businesses alike to jump on the bandwagon and take full advantage of the financial benefits of an online presence. It is quite true that the internet has been around for more than a decade now but, it is only recently that companies have recognized the potential of internet marketing and advertising.
However, there have been companies that folded eventually because of the false notion that their mere presence on the web is enough to increase sales.
IT’S ALL IN THE SITE
The first thing you have to carefully study is what you want to convey to your niche market through your website. From your core focus stems out the look, the feel and the overall impact of your site. In addition, targeting the right and most profitable niche is paramount. When people use the internet, they are very specific in their search terms and expectations. Placing your website in front of the right people at the right time will ensure your success.
1. Touch on the aesthetic sense of your audience. Let’s face it, the first thing a surfer will notice is not your tag line, it’s the way your website looks. Is it pleasing to the eyes?
Are the colors coordinated in such a way that anyone who looks at it will not get a headache or be repulsed taking in all the clashing colors? Is the text easy to read and do you funnel the users through your website in a way that will help them better understand what the website is about?
2. Content. Make your content in such a way that anyone who reads it will understand right away what you’re trying to tell him. Make your tags catchy and informative. Be sure to write your tag line in a way that just by reading one sentence, the surfer will already have an idea what you’re all about.
3. About Us. I know this is part of the content but emphasis should be given since without it, people aren’t going to trust you. You have to tell them who you are, where you started, how you work and possibly, the entire team that promises to deliver.
4. Navigation. No matter how good your site looks and how you believe that people really need your products/services, they’re not going to stick around to find out about it if you don’t know how to lead them in the right direction without getting them confused.
Have you tried navigating a site that lets you click on different links to get one question answered? Don’t be like that to you site visitors. Providing good service is naturally first on your list; and remember to keep your navigation as simple as possible, your look pleasing to the eyes and your content informative.
5. Search Engine Optimization. Use search engines such as Google, Lycos and Yahoo to lead surfers to your site. There is a plethora of information about search optimization available on the internet and a few small changes to your site can mean the difference between 100 visitors a month and 10,000 visitors a month.
Regardless of what you are selling or what information you are providing, doing it in the correct manner will always put you a step ahead of your competition.
Joshua Watson is the author of http://www.adcentiveswest.com/business-promotional-items.php http://www.safehavenlc.com/how-much-is-my-policy-worth.php http://www.urhowto.com/Guides_Business/Insurance/how-to-get-insurance-with-a-current-medical-condition.php
Designing Websites for iPhone Viewing
How would your website look on a hand held device? Is it easy to navigate? Is the most important information readily available to your visitors? Is your website “mobile Web” ready?
Ten years ago most small business owners didn’t have a website and probably didn’t see the need for one. Now, a business without a website is considered second rate at best. A website is a necessity for doing business in the 21st century. Also a necessity in the 21st century is a website that can be easily viewed on a hand held device.
According to the latest statistics, only 11% of Americans are getting their news and information using the browser in their mobile phone. That doesn’t seem too impressive until you look at the enormous popularity of Apple’s new iPhone and realize that “the times, they are a changing.” In the next few years, the popularity of surfing the net on your mobile Web is going to skyrocket.
Hand Held Devices Are the Future
Mobile devices are the future of the Internet. According to a November 27, 2007 article in the New York Times, “More than 30 companies have signed up for the Open Handset Alliance from Google, which aims to bring the wide-open development environment of the Internet to mobile devices.” If Google is getting involved in this effort to broaden the use of the Internet on hand held devices, you can be sure that this is not just a passing trend.
The incredible popularity of the iPhone is leading the way to a new website platform for businesses. As the Web technologies for mobile devices continue to improve, more and more people are going to be using their iPhone or Blackberry to connect to the Internet. However, even though the improved Internet navigation capabilities of the iPhone make it easier for users to connect to the Internet, there is still one big problem with mobile devices. Small screens make for difficult viewing.
Most Websites Look Terrible on a Mobile Device
Unfortunately, shrinking a website to fit on the screen of an iPhone or a Blackberry usually leads to difficulty viewing and finding information. A smart business owner will make sure their website can be viewed easily on both a desktop and a mobile device.
Here are some pointers in getting your website mobile ready:
*Don’t use flash. The screen is too small and flash is just plain annoying. Besides, the iPhone browser doesn’t support flash.
*Get a .mobi extension for your website. Available since September 2006, over 500,000 .mobi domains have been registered. Go Daddy and Network Solutions both offer .mobi registration (and mobile specific site building tools).
*Use easy to read fonts. Make sure your website uses Verdana or Ariel fonts. Also use black fonts on a white background; the greater contrast makes for easier viewing.
*Keep it vertical. On a mobile device the user can only move up and down, not sideways. Your website content needs to be set up so that most important information is centered within the website.
*Keep the costs down. Unfortunately, using a mobile Web is not a flat rate in most situations, so users are looking for information quickly. Help them out by using informative headlines, subheadings and bulleted lists. Don’t make them go deeper into your website to get answers.
*Design for simplicity. A small screen is difficult to read, so you may need to reconsider the look of your website. A graphic dominant website is probably not a good choice for a small screen. Streamline the look of your website and concentrate on the message. Zero in on what specific information your customers need and give it to them.
*No second chances. On a regular website, you can move around with a back or forward button. On a hand held device you only have a stop button. So, you need to get it right the first time and make sure your website has the right answers.
Conclusion
Getting a website mobile Web ready may include redesigning the current site or completely building another site just for the mobile devices. Each business owner needs to evaluate the situation and make choices depending on what they want to accomplish. But whether you make changes or not, the Internet is moving off the desktop into the hands of your customer. Now is the time to get a jump on the competition.
Michelle Howe, MBA, president of Internet Word Magic, specializes in writing irresistible copy for websites. Transform the way you do business. Visit her website at http://www.InternetWordMagic.com for a FR^EE chapter download of her new book “Turn Browsers into Buyers”.
Business Web Directories Generate Good Business
There is probably no living soul who does not know the power of the Internet, and its business potential. Functions necessarily thrive on sponsorships in order to be successful, since operating costs can get quite significant. Since the web costs money, it is customary for sponsors to bear a share of the expense.
The community of the great web is similar to other media. The web is practically a sprawling fair ground for thriving and established businesses, in an effort to stake their share of the user’s attention, and hopefully generate good business in the process. With numerous corporations sprawled all over and across the vast area of open cyberspace, it’s but natural for a user to be hindered by limitations when searching for a particular product or service, unless he knows the particular domain which the company has taken on.
That is why business web directories seem to be indispensable.
Business web directories function very much like every other search engine: the user types a query or keyword which is related to a particular topic in mind, and the search engine processes all content within its database which has any relation to the keyword.
. Business web directories differ since they focus mainly on topics of business and financial content. For example a query keyword of ’stock’ may bring results containing the word of varied topics in a general search engine, but with a business web directory, the list would only contain topics which leans to the business context of the word, such as ’stock options’ or ’stock market.’
Business web directories have a database containing numerous business articles which may be of assistance to the user who may be looking for content of specific nature, or for those who are still unsure of what to look, for but may have a vague idea concerning a topic.
When one is talking about business articles, one is talking about a wide range of things — right from setting up a business to naming a brand. Users can also browse business documents of varied content, some are available free of charge while some require a viewing or download fee. Content can be anything from documents of rights acquisition to a copy of a corporation’s in-house policies.
Business web directories generate a substantial part of their income from paid advertisements and sponsorships, as well as paid links which are published on the site. .
When a surfer comes across a page on a business web directory, they will quite likely encounter sponsored ads first. Regular advertisements are also a main source for income, since companies pay high premiums in having their company ad posted on the header or sides of a page.
Sponsorship could be on the basis of impression, clicks, or it might be based on the time that the ad will remain on the business directory page. Some advertisers might even offer a share of their profits. Such arrangements are called affiliate ads.
A friend runs a Business Directory at http://www.bizfive.com/ In it she has Business Articles at http://www.bizfive.com/bsection/articles/ and Business Documents Templates at http://www.bizfive.com/business-document-templates/ Do visit and check it out.