Take the Wheel - Drive Customers to your Website

by: Lori Quaranta

So you own a small business and you have made the decision to build a simple website to gain internet exposure. Or maybe you already have a website that no one visits? You can be the proud owner of the slickest website you have ever seen, but if you aren’t getting any traffic because it’s not properly optimized you have wasted a good chunk of change and a lot of your valuable time. Weather you are building a site from scratch or tweaking one that already exists, consider these web hosting and marketing tips to help drive traffic to your website:

For Web Hosting:

1) Start with keywords - Think about terms potential customers would use to find you in a search engine. What would you type in if you were looking for your business?

2) Use a keyword selector tool - Type your keywords into a keyword selector tool to see how many people have searched on the term in the last 30 days. Look for terms in the 2k-10k range that are relevant to your site.

3) Use domain names which match your keywords – My client advertises products that are geared toward leadership skills development. In addition to leadingonedge.com he also has leadership-skills.info and a handful of others.

4) Use keywords throughout your web pages - Put your keywords in the title, description, keywords, graphics, and written text.

5) Use a keyword density analyzer - Check your website against a keyword density analyzer to see how frequently a specific keyword is used. Shoot for 3-15% density.

6) Slick and sexy doesn’t get you traffic - Don’t waste your money on slick graphics or things that fly across your screen. Most visitors find them annoying and search engines don’t care for them.

7) Use Google AdSense on your website - Whenever someone clicks on a Google ad in your website, you get revenue. And the ads are relevant to your content. My websites now pay for themselves with ad revenue alone.

Advertise Amazon books and products on your website - Set up an Amazon Associates account and put relevant books and products on your website. When someone buys a product you get referral revenue.

9) Consider using a website starter package - If going it on your own, think about using a website starter package which can have you up and running quickly.

10) Decide where you want to spend your time - In any business, time is money! Small business web hosting is very doable, but it does take time. Decide if you want to do it yourself or have a professional help you.

For Marketing:

1) Get an automated eCommerce system - These can be really good, very comprehensive and very inexpensive. The good ones can do everything from customer base management to product management to shopping cart to newsletter broadcasts.

2) Get a cheap and reliable merchant account provider - You can get merchant account providers that do both the merchant account and internet gateway for you.

3) Put a link back to your website in your email autosignature - This doesn’t need to be obnoxious, just a simple link that email recipients can click on to reference your website.

4) Do selective link trading - Link trade, but make sure the content on the other websites is similar to your own. Don’t touch “link farms” with a ten-foot pole; search engines hate them.

5) Write articles and include your website address – Every business owner has something to say that someone would love to read about! There are a number of article databases out there that are researched for website content. Find some article databases which house content similar to yours and write a few articles. You’d be amazed at where your articles show up!

6) Write newsletters - Allow for customers and visitors to subscribe to a newsletter to get regular visibility to you and your company. This is also a great way to compile a customer email data base for your business.

7) Consider using a search engine submission services - These services submit your site to multiple search engines & directories. This can be helpful particularly if your website is new.

Set up an affiliates program - Allow for others to promote your products on a commission basis. Again a good eCommerce system should already have this built in.

9) Download the Google Toolbar – I am a Google toolbar fanatic! The Google Toolbar has a nifty feature which shows you the page rank (0-10 scale) of every site you visit; the higher your page ranking the higher your placement in search engines.

10) Set up multiple websites - Got three services you perform? Set up three different websites with domain names that match your keywords. Super cheap to do and can be very effective.

Lori Quaranta
http://www.consetta.com
http://www.consettapr.com

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To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.onlinebusinessresource.net
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Changing With The Times

One of the most important aspects with any business is changing with the times. You want to be sure that you are able to change with the times, and that you are able to make these changes without a big problem. All too often, people get set in their ways, and when this happens they are unable to see that they aren’t helping their business any by refusing to change with the times. It is often hard for many people to change. Sometimes it is simply the idea of doing something differently than they have been doing it, and sometimes it is the fear that change will cause more harm than good. If you don’t like to change, for whatever reason, you should know that you might be hurting your business. Change can be very good, and in fact, in order to compete with the other businesses, you have to be able to change with the times. This is the only way that you can make sure you are able to take control of your own business and to do what you need to do in order to be a success.

There are several things that you can do to make sure that you are changing in a way that will allow you to compete. First of all, keep your eyes open and watch what your competition is doing. Don’t just look at the major competition, either, look at the little guys, and those that are just starting out. See what everyone is doing that is different or the same as you. If there is a technology that everyone is using, and it seems to be working for them, you want to seriously consider doing it as well. Remember that unless you have a good reason for doing things the old way, you will lose clients if someone has a newer and better way of doing things that you don’t offer already.

That said, remember that when you change to meet the demands of the time, you are also going to want to be sure that you never lose the things that set you apart. If you have always prided yourself on your customer service, be sure that you are never losing that, no matter how much you change. If you keep the things that make you unique, and still keep your eyes and ears open to what everyone else is doing, you are going to know when you should change and when you should keep your old ways. Also remember that you want to keep thinking of the future, and gradually changing for the better. Don’t try to change all at once, make it as gradual as you can.

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To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.onlinebusinessresource.net
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Capitalism and Why it Works

For the last ten years (and frankly, for years before that), the debate has raged between those who feel like capitalism is the strongest and best form of a country’s marketplace system, and those that would prefer a form of strict, true socialism. Though it exists today in truncated form, socialism has never been fully in place in any country. The true, Lenin and Marx version of the venerated institution has never come out to play in the utopian society that it supposedly promises. And therein lays the problem. Though nothing is stopping a system like socialism from flourishing and creating the ideal society, it has simply never worked. Capitalism, on the other hand, while not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, has worked and continues to work in many of the world’s strongest nations. Why is this?

First, let’s examine what capitalism is. It is basically a free market. Nothing (or as few things as possible) is generated or paid for by the government, and thus is free of most government restrictions. With this system, competition becomes king. When the state doesn’t mandate a certain service be used, there will naturally be a fight for the service. In theory, the consumer winds in this situation. Lower prices, better service, and on and on. Of course, it doesn’t always work out that way, but it does tend to work out in the favor of the consumer. Sometimes, however, there is disagreement over what the consumer wants most. But that is another benefit of a free market system. There may have to be a king, but that doesn’t make the king the only game in town (and when it does, the government usually will step in). There will always be the benefit of choice. Don’t like the prices or service at Best Buy? Circuit City is just across the street.

This is, of course, a simplification, but the advent of capitalism and a free market world has led to a dramatic increase in the Gross National Product of many countries around the world. This is, of course, proof in itself that the system works and is the best system in place today. Like democracy (or a republic, as our system really is), there may be better systems out there; we just haven’t found them yet.

Of course, that’s not to say that capitalism isn’t without its fair share of detractors, and not to say that these detractors don’t have some reasonable things to say. There are even religious concerns with some tenets of capitalism. Some forms of religion, for instance, look down upon and forbid the lending of money with interest, a key component of out capitalistic society. Others look at a widening gap between the have’s and the have-nots and see something that is seriously out of whack. But the opportunity, proponents argue, is there for everyone. With the right entrepreneurial spirit, the best ideas, and a strong hide, anyone can make themselves a success in a capitalistic society. This is not the case in even the best case scenario for socialism. That is why, perhaps, capitalism will continue to thrive while the other systems fail. No matter how flawed, it is the centerpiece of the American dream. The thought that, no matter where you’re from, if you have the brains and the determination, you can make your life anything you want it to be. Point to something from socialism that’s even half that inspirational and you’ve got it.

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To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.onlinebusinessresource.net
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Suggestions For Choosing A Proper Business Name

When we hear the word “name” we most often thinks of a person, perhaps a friend or family member. Maybe we think of our own name. Names are important to us since they provide identity, meaning and uniqueness. These same details about personal names are included in business names. If you were planning to go shopping for shoes and you passed a store that was called “ The Big Red Tomato”, would you think that was the place to shop? Most likely the answer is no. Consumers look for business names that are appealing, familiar, and generally to the point. These are some of the factors that you as a business entrepreneur should keep in mind.

If you are trying to choose your own business name then open your eyes wide to be inspired by things around you. You can generate ideas from the dictionary, books, magazines, street signs and nature. You do want a name that is interesting as well as a name that is built on the qualities that your company is being built on. Your business name should communicate what you are about and what services or products that you offer. A business name should be recognizable and memorable. Think of some of the business around you. Name a product and most likely you can name a store famous for selling that item. An example would be a paint store, toy store or grocery store. A name is sure to pop into your mind. This is what you want for your own business. You do have to be wary of choosing a business name. Be sure to search for trademarks and registration before you settle with your name choice. You wouldn’t want to suffer legal hassles in the future.

If it seems like to big if a hassle or you aren’t feeling very creative you could find help at an ad agency. An ad agency could assist you with your ad campaign. They could assign a name consultant who would do all of the above work for you. They would be able to find a business name that would place value, expertise and uniqueness into your name. This is effective but pricey. It can cost anywhere up to $35,000 just to develop a name. If you have enough money in your budget this can be a prime way to selecting a name, but if your business budget is tight you could always recruit your friends and family to spark an ingenious business name. Just be patient and take the time to find a name that suits your company in every way. Your business name could be the next well-known store or restaurant or so on. Take your time and have some fun choosing your business name.

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To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.onlinebusinessresource.net
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Blogging for Dollars

There have been a lot of different articles written over the last couple of years about the concept of blogging for dollars. Many people believe that it can be done and in fact have done it and there are many others that believe that the people making money from blogging are an exception to the general rule that nobody can truly hope to make money. Regardless of who is wrong and who is right, if you look at the concept of blogging for dollars from a theoretical standpoint, it is definitely one that makes sense. This is because the blog has the packaging of all of the different things that you need in order to make money.

First and foremost, blogs have a built in content management system. This allows you to easily post new items to the blog, have your viewers read them and even have them comment and start an interesting discussion regarding any of the posts that you might have made. In the content business it is all about getting people to come back to you repeatedly so that you can make money off their page views and the blog is an easy way to keep people coming back by constantly offering them fresh content.

In addition to that, it is very easy to customize blogs. While it does require knowledge of HTML and PHP, for the most part there are easy things to learn that you can use to get started right away. It is impressive to think about that, because when you consider the construction of a content website from scratch, what you are going to find is that the people that construct it have to labour very hard in order to get everything up and running. If you don’t mind using someone else’s design, with a blog you can be up and running in moments and save yourself all that hassle and trouble.

Also, because it is so easy to customize blogs, it is also easy to add multiple revenue streams to them. If you are interested in revenue streams for your blogs aside from Google AdSense or a similar product, running them is going to be quite easy for you to do in a blog. You might have to completely change the layout of a content website to get the same thing done, but a blog can have them integrated in minutes. It is really a fantastic thing to do.

So all in all, the theory behind blogging for dollars is quite sound and indeed if you want to make money with a blog it is certainly something you can try. Blog about something you’re interested in, because if you don’t then you might have difficulty continually filling up your blog with content

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To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.onlinebusinessresource.net
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Business Accounting

With the start of any new business, the matter of accounting will go hand in hand with success. While there are some small businesses that can get away without having an actual CPA on hand, it is critical to know at least a little about balancing the books before getting into the business arena. Far too many businesses can find themselves in the red without knowing it if they do not have a firm grasp on where the money is going, and how much of it is coming in. This includes making sure the books are balanced, keeping a close eye on accounts receivable and accounts payable, and making sure payroll is where it should be. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what the small businessman needs to know about accounting before venturing forth with his or her business.

One of the first things that can put a stop to any new businessman is the sheer weight of the terminology. Without a degree in accounting, and with little real business knowledge other than that of a great idea and a firm grasp of salesmanship, the prospect of learning the foreign language can be a bit daunting. But it need not be. If you have the skills and intelligence needed to start your own business, you will have the requisite ability to learn the field of accounting terminology. If you find you do not have these skills, your choices are two: find another field of employment, or hire someone to do the books for you. The second choice has its own perils, however. Unless you hire someone you can assuredly trust, handing the books over to a stranger can be a dangerous move. It is advisable to learn all you can about accounting even if you do intend to let someone else handle the day to day grind. That way, you’ll be able to tell if you’re getting ripped off.

It’s also important to understand that accounting doesn’t stop with facts, figures, and cash flow. It extends to every aspect of your business. Accounting is a part of figuring out trends in your customer’s buying activities. Accounting is a part of finding which of your customer’s buy which products and at which times of the years. Without these numbers, you’re going on instinct, which is never a good thing. The best salesman in the world usually makes the poorest purchasing agent. This is because those down in the field, among the people, usually have the worst ideas about long term buying activity. They might sell one widget in February and another in August and be under the mistaken impression that this is a hot selling item. Proper accounting will tell you the truth in cold numbers.

Accounting has always been, and always will be one of the most important components of a successful business. Neglect its importance at your own peril. Accounting helps keep everything afloat and lets the small business owner know where his capital is, where his profits are, and what the trends show for the future. Without this information, the owner is adrift in a sea, lost without a map. And that is not a recipe for success.

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To find the best home based business ideas and
opportunities so you can work at home visit:
http://www.onlinebusinessresource.net
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