Are You Making These Website Mistakes:21 Website "Don'ts"

I think you would agree with me that Websites are valuable tools. They help establish a business and brand identity, attract new customers/clients and are used for communication.

A website is certainly a useful tool for marketing. Your home page should be well done and if it is not, it is basically worthless. Visitors will just move on to the next site of interest.

Have you ever come across a website that just makes you wonder...What Were They Thinking? Have you ever heard the saying that 'Less can be More'? It also is true with Websites. Keeping a Website Simple and straight to the point will do more for the person who is visiting than having Flash being overused, or bouncing icons or too many large pictures, etc...

Below is a List of Website Don'ts you may want to consider.

1. Don't try to say too much
2. Don't be too trendy
3. Don't pretend you are someone you're not
4. Don't chose to use images over content
5. Don't let your design overwhelm content
6. Don't use text and background colors that are hard on the eyes
7. Don't use busy or distracting backgrounds.
8. Don't use text that is too small to read
9. Don't allow your text to stretch across the entire page
10. Don't use paragraphs of type in all caps, bold or italic
11. Don't underline text that is not a link
12. Don't use links that are not clear about where they will take you
13. Don't use links that will take readers to useless pages
14. Don't use links that are not underlined
15. Don't have 'dead' links on your website
16. Don't use large graphics that take forever to load
17. Don't use meaningless or useless graphics
18. Don't use blinking text
19. Don't use animations that never stop
20. Don't use overly complex navigation
21. Don't have orphan pages. All pages have to lead you back to where you came from


Stumble It!


Source: The Non-Designer's Web Book

GIVE or GET FREE ADVICE

I wanted to bring your attention to a website that offers many opportunities. You can GET advice on various topics and at the same time, if you are knowledgeable in a particular area, you can GIVE advice as well. Keep in mind that this website is FREE if you register as a Advice Network user who wants to get or give advice. As a user, you can also write and submit articles using targeted keywords.

There is a samll fee if you are a vendor who wishes to join this network. BUT... this is a small price to pay if you are looking to market your business, product, service or blog.

Deluxe: Starts at $20/month:
Radius is Nationwide
Lead Cost:$3 (50% off Standard cost)
Search listing is Prioritized above Standard listings

Standard (Free)
Radius is Up to 20 miles
Lead cost: $6
Search listing is Ranked below Deluxe listings

What this means is to you:

1) Find a pro or vendor and get advice or answers to the questions you may have
2) Submit advice to reach others seeking answers
3) Bring additional traffic to your business, product, service or blog
4) Rank higher with search engines
5) Connect directly with targeted audiences
6) Writing articles is definately one important way to get your name out there and market your business, product, service or blog

Some topics already established on AdviceNetwork.com are:

* Business and Professional Services
* Real Estate
* House and Home
* Weddings
* Events

Advice Network is a free online advice service that gives businesses the opportunity to directly connect with customers looking specifically for businesses within their industry. Advice Network gives businesses: the opportunity to directly reach their target audience, multiple ways to promote their business, exclusive sponsor benefits that generate business, and better search engine rankings

Let's face it...We're always asking for advice or seeking answers to questions we might have. Here is a perfect way to receive those answers in one place by experts.

And FREE, you can't go wrong...

I have even included a couple coupons to use if you think this is a good opportunity to inexpensively market yourself.

20 Off Coupon
2008-10-07 - 2008-11-30
$20 off coupon, good for 1 free month subscription of Deluxe Vendor.
COUPON CODE Advice 20
expires November 30

Receive Your Comlimentary SEO Analysis

Are you happy with your Brand Strategy and Marketing Goals?

If you are beginning to start a new brand or want to build on an existing one, your marketing plan needs to deliver your companies message clearly, establish your credibility, connect with your target prospects, motivate the buyer and create user loyalty.

In case you need clarification on what is a Brand, it is defined as a name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination that identifies the goods and services of a seller.

Your brand should stay on the minds of your customers, clients, and prospects. You need to have your customers or prospects see your company as the only one that could help them or provide a solution to their problem.

If you decide to use a Marketing Company, make sure it brings all the necessary components together that will reflect and support your intended brand. By doing so will increase profits, build a valuable relationship with your customers and increase brand value.

Brand Identity Guru offers a free test on their site that you can take to see how well you score on a scale of strength and how strong your brand is.

They also are offering an unbelievable no obligation, complimentary SEO Analysis. This will include SEO Content ,SEO Architecture ,PageRank Evaluation ,Backward Links Evaluation ,Competitive Analysis ,Key Word Penetration ,Content Evaluation Competing Web Pages and Strategic Linking Structure.

Take advantage of these free resources by visiting Brand Identity Guru

Entrepreneurs...What Happens During a Recession?

Many businesses perk up during a prosperous economy.They're willing to take risks when the chances of success are high. But what happens during a recession?

Well, if you are an entrepreneur, this is your time to get a plan in motion and succeed.

A lot of business owners handle a recession by working harder. They seem to believe that lowering their prices is the way to go. They may also cut their marketing and customer loyalty budgets. These are possibly the wrong things to do in a recession.

Most entrepreneurs understand and realize that you need to follow-up and be consistent. Following up with all your prospects and customers is very important.

You need to analyze your customers to see who is buying and what marketing messages are working best for you.

Keeping accurate contact records so you can do your follow up.

Look to your partners and affiliates to keep your sales growing. Provide assistance whenever and whenever possible.

Build better relationships with prospects and customers and provide superior customer service

During a recession, most business owners are in caution mode and fear losing their sales and even possibly their business.

As an entrepreneur, be serious about your growth potential.Stop worrying about what the economy is doing and develop your marketing plan. Don't immediately drop prices on your products. Remember to follow up on all prospects.

Set yourself apart from the other business owners...

Just Another Tip for Affiliates

As I search the web, drop cards with Entrecard and search for products and/or services, I find one thing abounds....Affiliates.

A lot of people want to help you make money online, some even show their profits on their blogs. Some share tips, bring about awareness of new items, promotions, companies, services etc...

With that being said, I guess I am no different. Awareness brought on by someone else can help you succeed in where ever your interest lies.

I found an affiliate site that is backed by the WCCL Network. What is this? It's a network that promotes self development tools, window utilities and products for writers and artists utilizing affiliated sites.

The company the WCCL is behind is MyHelpHub.com, a dedicated support site. They provide up to 50% commission of their niche marketing tools. You are allowed to purchase products for yourself using your affiliate number to earn the commission. If anything, this is a way to save some money on the products you are interested in, buying for gifts etc. You receive the percentage back on the sale via PayPal after 35 days.

Their products and/or services are grouped as:

Internet Business Tools

Privacy Tools

Self-Development

UK Products

Windows Utilities - Software Street

Writers & Artists

Light at The End of The Tunnel

We have all heard the bad news. The real estate market is suffering. More than two million adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) are to reset at much higher rates in coming months, worsening the housing market.
The mortgage crisis rippled into the nation's economy and the average price of a home is on a decline.
Foreclosures are at a record high and will only worsen. It is a sad state of affairs.

Based on that news, it has many people worried. The national news we hear may not be reporting what is actually happening in your area or how it is affecting the state you live in. You may have noticed the interest rates have come down, which will allow more interest in home buying, but do you know what is happening in or around your local area?

I came across a blog that points to 'light' shining on the real estate market. Are we just hearing all the bad news and the good news is being left out of the reporting? I believe sometimes that is true. It seems the bad press surrounding Cincinnati Real Estate is not exactly true. The stats for this area are showing:

* Buyers' or Sellers' Market: About 50-50
* Average Time on Market: 60-90 days
* Market Trend: No Change
* Compared to last year: Up 0-5%
*Only 5% of homeowners have a non-prime or sub-prime borrower with adjustable rate mortgages

Those are pretty good stats. When you have an experienced professional reporting information in your area, you can rest a little bit easier when looking into buying or selling a home. I found that Amy B believes it is her job to inform and educate the people in her area. This is one realtor that loves what she does and it is projected in her performance and services she offers. Her blog, provides motivation and information regarding her local real estate market.

I found http://www.amybsells.com to be a very professional and easy to navigate site, which offers a grand list of resources available. One of the services she offers provides Home Staging. That is key for a home seller. She plunges in immediately with her marketing and creates a custom plan appropriate for each client.

Using MLS, Internet Marketing, upgraded advertisement, virtual tours, electronic lock boxes for safety, incentives for the seller/buyer, I'd say she goes above and beyond her call of duty. The team working with her strives to provide a smooth transaction. She wants her clients to feel supported, so she offers herself 24/7.

More real estate professionals should take the time to educate as Amy is, while providing services which will allow buyers and/or sellers to be successful.

Be sure to stay informed on what is happening in the market surrounding your area.

*Advertisement

Learn How to be a Super Affiliate

Do you belong to many affiliate programs? Are you making money? If yes to both of those, are you satisfied with the money you are earning from referrals? Are you satisfied with the service you receive from the advertiser themselves?

As I surf the Internet and browse through many, many blogs, I see affiliate programs are the most common advertised. I wonder how many of you are actually 'in touch' with the company you are advertising.

At the top of my blog I have posted:

Why learning is important..."It is critical that a company create the kind of environment in which people really believe they can learn, grow, and prosper. The focus has to be on developing people."

I believe in that.

With my own company affiliates, I keep a close connection. Using emails, even the phone, we are able to discuss and share any concerns, questions and ideas, so we can make more money. After all, it is my job to help my affiliate. Can you say the same about the companies you are affiliated with?

Are you bored, tired and less motivated to promote the service or product you are affiliated with? Do you want to do more than putting a banner on your site?

I belong to a few outside affiliate programs myself and I know I can't say that those companies keep in touch with me at all. Although their client base must be huge, I still believe it is up to the company to find some way to motivate and help their publisher. Sometimes is not about quantity, it's about quality

Let me tell you about a new approach in affiliate marketing. Pepperjam Network knows what it takes to make an affiliate program work. Not only for the publisher, but for the advertiser as well. They understand what is lacking in other programs are the tools necessary to be successful. Understanding that educational materials must be available to help publishers become super affiliates. They have even introduced affiliate chat, so you can instantly feel connected.

Pepperjam Network is empowering the advertisers to get involved and to build a relationship with their publisher. If it weren't for the publishers bringing in the referrals, how successful would their product be?

Joining Pepperjam Network is free. If you want an opportunity to take your affiliate marketing to the next level and learn how to grow and prosper, join now.

Below I include a press release from PepperjamNetwork

Pepperjam Announces Launch of Next Generation Affiliate Marketing Network

Pepperjam, a two-time Inc. Magazine fastest growing company and industry leading full-service internet marketing agency, today announced the launch of Pepperjam Network, a proprietary next generation affiliate marketing network.

If you are an advertiser or affiliate and would like to sign-up for Pepperjam Network please visit www.pepperjamnetwork.com.

“Pepperjam Network represents an evolution in affiliate marketing. The creation of Pepperjam Network represents eight years of research and development and the combined ideas, feedback, and intelligence of hundreds of affiliate marketers and advertisers. Pepperjam Network will forever change the face of affiliate marketing by putting power back in the hands of affiliates and advertisers to build long-term, profitable partnerships through better communication tools and transparency,” said Kristopher B. Jones, President & CEO of Pepperjam.

Among a variety of affiliate marketing enhancements, Pepperjam Network addresses the two primary shortcomings of other existing affiliate networks, namely (1) poor, unreliable communication tools and (2) lack of affiliate transparency. With Pepperjam Network, affiliates and advertisers can communicate in real-time via Pepperjam Chat™, thereby providing a reliable communication system to build stronger, more profitable partnerships. Pepperjam Network also provides advertisers with an unprecedented measure of affiliate transparency, which helps to establish trust, protect brand integrity, and lays the groundwork for open, long-term, profitable relationships.

Pepperjam Network also introduces pepperjamADS, which is a first-ever affiliate marketing widget that affiliates can use to serve customized contextual ads from one or multiple Pepperjam Network advertisers at the same time.

Pepperjam Network was designed to make the experience of affiliate marketing profitable and educational, with the goal of allowing affiliates and advertisers to truly understand and maximize the critical affiliate marketing channel.

Unlike the traditional networks, Pepperjam Network uses Web 2.0 technology to provide affiliates and advertisers with an easy-to-use, cutting-edge interface designed to facilitate and optimize the affiliate marketing process. For instance, Pepperjam Network offers industry leading source-level tracking and reporting - this robust technology is especially beneficial to search marketing and sophisticated super affiliates that want to take advantage of the most up-to-date technology available to track commissions at the keyword level.

Here is just a sample of what many industry experts are saying about Pepperjam Network:

“Even after all these years using Commission Junction on the merchant and affiliate side, I still find it terribly clumsy to find what I want. With Pepperjam Network it is quick and easy. Pepperjam Network is what an affiliate network would look like if it were built from a wish list from both the affiliate and merchant perspective,” said Shawn Collins, Cofounder of Affiliate Summit.

“As both an advertiser and a affiliate, I am on the lookout for affiliate marketing systems that meet all our company’s needs. Pepperjam Network is without a doubt the most comprehensive, practical and useful affiliate marketing system I have seen to date. Pepperjam Network demonstrates that it is possible to combine style with substance in a network that provides site owners and advertisers with tools and resources to increase their bottom line,” said Joel Comm, New York Times Best-Selling author and CEO, InfoMedia, Inc.

About Pepperjam:

Pepperjam is an industry leading full-service internet marketing agency offering marketing services and advanced technology in the areas of pay-per-click, search-engine optimization, affiliate marketing, and online media planning and buying. The company was founded in 1999 by internet marketing expert, accomplished speaker, and published author Kristopher B. Jones. Pepperjam has received numerous awards and achievements, including recognition by Inc. Magazine for two consecutive years as one of the fastest growing privately-held businesses in the United States. Learn more at www.pepperjam.com.

Join Revenue Sharing Boom

I am sure many of you have read success stories in the entrepreneur business world. Why not become one of these successes?

Now with Giblink, you can. You can promote, advertise and expand your business with the use of a business social networking opportunity also known as Web 2.0. This site will allow entrepreneurs and businesses to connect, share thoughts, ideas and also bring to life a business plan, all while helping each other. This is a new concept in online marketing that will allow you to succeed.

Here's some of the benefits to Giblink:

Everyone that Joins after you will be on YOUR Team.
You will get online continuing education!
Full phone support from two top earners!
You'll get taught a proven "passive marketing"
strategy that works.

Web advertising is growing in astounding numbers. There are millions being made by corporations. Are they sharing their revenue with you? NO

GoDaddy produced $100 million in revenue last year, Google reported a whopping $1.6 billion. What about other sites that you know are generating large sums of money...MySpace, You Tube?

With Giblink being the world's first revenue sharing community, they will be sharing 70% of the revenue back to their community members.

We've all heard the saying...you must be in the right place at the right time. Well, I believe the right time is now.

A Business / Social Networking site such as this, while offering a share in the revenue to it's members, is undoubtedly going to cause a huge global income generating wave.

Catch the wave! Click Here For More Information!

Smart Marketing and Branding

Do you have an idea, product or service you want to market? Do you know what steps you should take that would be effective in reaching your potential clients?

You can incorporate drip marketing as your strategy. This means doing something each month to keep your name in front of your current or potential clients. These clients need to see your marketing message continually.

Once you've developed your plan, you then need to figure how to execute this plan. Decide who your target market will be and develop your company's slogan or phrase.

In doing research on marketing strategies, I came across an article on Kolbrener. This company offers a unique Brand Evolution Process that will deliver superb results and increase your company's revenue. Their strategy includes: Interactive, Direct, Television, Radio, PR and Non-traditional.

It is necessary to have a company like Kolbrener that is sales-smart with special expertise to succeed.