You probably have plenty to do without having to spend hours figuring out the Internet. Yet, the Internet is a huge and growing factor in future business growth. What is the solution?
We just need to cut through the BS and hype and get down to the fundamental issues.
People aren’t searching the Internet for entertainment if they are using key search terms related to your niche.
They don’t need flashy. They don’t need whiz -bang graphics. They have something specific in mind. Flashing and busy interferes. The right cogent information gets them to stop and pay attention.
What does this have to do with you? Everything. You don’t need an expensive site. Most Flash is worthless. Simple works. Pictures are great to add clarity.
Video is very useful. Simple video works fine. Studio productions look like commercials. Everyone avoids commercials. Concentrate on real. Concentration on helping people not showing off your best angles. You can always work up to video. And you certainly don’t need to hire talking heads to tout your business.
All these issues fall under effective content. We cover effective content in detail here.
I hope you own a website- if you don’t, you need one.
They don’t have to be elaborate or expensive or entertaining. At a minimum, it is your home base and how you are perceived when you get a referral or people look you up to evaluate whether to call.
If you don’t have a site, you are depending on other people describing your company. You probably won’t like what you see- or who you are associated with. Websites are not hard when you cut to the fundamentals. Here are some essential reasons you need one.
You probably don’t have a website, because you have done fine without one for years and what you have heard so far makes you think someone is trying to take advantage. I can understand why you say this. There is a tremendous amount of self -serving BS propagated at business owners. But you do need one.
People are moving away from the Yellow Pages and going on line to find information. If you are not there, you won’t be found. Maybe you get referrals because of great work. Well, most people who get a referrals, go on line to find out more information. You will not be found in any context that is attractive to you. Bottom line, you need a website.
Make sure you own your own domain.
Don’t use fill in the box websites. They are cheap, sure. They are easy to fill in the boxes, sure. They look like crap and most likely hinder search robots. They can be a mortal blow for good SEO. And your data is stuck right where you put it. Here is some perspective on web building technology.
People come looking for help. They come looking for answers to their questions. They want something.
They want some ideas on what they can do. Nobody knows your customers better than your great people who serve their wants and needs. Nobody knows their concerns and fears better than your great people. The true battle for viewers will be won by being able to capture the value your key people bring to their clients and sharing these insights with the market place. This is the battle for useful content.
Ever heard of search engine optimization?
This is the battle to be first in the search engine for information on the keywords related to your expertise. Someone has probably tried to sell you SEO before. SEO is important but people confuse it up with complexity and BS. The fundamentals are not that hard. You can jump ahead of the vast herd by concentrating on the strategic. So many people spend too much time buzzing about with trivia. SEO is a strategic issue. Click here for more SEO info.
There are several other fundamental issues with the Internet and technology which can be a serious stumbling block. Make sure you saw these.
Do you have questions or concerns not addressed here? Is there something you disagreed with? Is there something missing? Would you like a specific subject addressed? Leave a comment below, or feel free to call or email.
