Improving Your Website

Creating a productive website does not require more flash or more pictures.  A great website requires simple navigation and great content.

Content that is interesting to your visitors, and eye catching for search engines.  The challenge is to find a balance between the two different audiences.

Search engines like lots of copy, containing key words, repeatedly if possible.   You readers, with serious attention deficit want you to get to the point quickly.

The key is to be sure you know the very best phases. One tool you can use to find a starting point for word selection in your copy is the keyword tool from Google Ad Words. Simply type in a phrase you believe clients will use when looking for your type of business and the tool will provide a series of phrases, and how often they are used when by consumers searching for you.

For example:  I selected “small business marketing” and discovered “marketing strategy” was searched significantly more often – on average 201,000 times a month, and “small business ideas” a phrase I have never deliberately used, is searched more than 20,000 times a month.   While not the most popular, it has a steady following, and would be interesting to add to the mix!

The lesson for you?  Take the time to reserach the best key words, and include them  in your writing.  Don’t over do it with text which reads like this: Small business marketing strategy should include novel ideas for small business owners, which expand their current small business marketing activites. While the engines will love it, your readers won’t!

Need help with your website?  Roundpeg offers great starter sites as low at $950

Warning: Shameless Self Promotion

In April, when we launched the new roundpeg website we included the blog: Business Notes as a way of driving traffic, sharing good content, and occasionally pimping what we do. To be fair to our readers, I am telling you in advance this particular post is about pimping what we do. So, be warned, and if you aren’t interested in samples of our work, skip this post!

Now that we have narrowed down the audience: We really wanted to show off some of the websites we have been working on. Built on a WordPress platform, we are really excited about how much variety and personality we have been able to build into these simple sites. And the best part? They are easy to maintain, so our clients, (small business owners) can have an affordable, vibrant and dynamic site.

Check out: www.sunnymoondj.com, www.chefjj.com, www.gomomfitness.com ( this one is very pink), www.aballstudio.com, www.turningpoint-consulting.com, and www.makeroomnow.com.

Need help with your small business web site?  Call Roundpeg today!

Creative Partnerships for Small Business Developement

One of the fastest ways to establish your small marketing business is to establish a partnership with other small businesses, says Duct Tape Marketing blogger John Jantsch.

His ideas for like minded partnerships as well as outside the box partnerships can be found here.

For more information on this subject consider ordering a copy of Lorraine’s book : Confessions of a Networking Junkie

Build Relationships with Good Use of Web 2.0 Tools

Small business marketing is a different animal than marketing for a large corporation. As a small business you don’t have a budget to reach the masses, so to compete you need to have a more personal relationship with your clients.

Web 2.0 tools such as Blogs, e-zines or newsletters allow clients and prospects to get to know you as the first step in building a trusting relationship.

Not sure how to get started?  Which tools make the most sense for you?  Check out my Seminar: Web 2.0 and Why Do I Care on October 30. It is being offered as part of Rainmaker University.