Archive for the ‘promotion’ Category

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Show Notes
Podcast episode 067 entitled Tips Defining Website Goals provides advice for planning a new web design or the upgrade of an existing website. If you’re already online you may not have considered the need to freshen up your website or upgrade to XHTML. Listen now and you may change your mind. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Introduction to the Web Design Plan
• The Planning Phase of Web Design
• Website Owners Ultimate Pet Peeve
• Simple Marketing Plan for Success
• Quick Tip of the Day – Why Your Website Needs an Annual Budget

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Tips Defining Website Goals
0:05:55 Quick Tip of the Day – Why Your Website Needs an Annual Budget
0:07:10 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:07:40 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 067

Referenced Links
Intro to XHTML by W3C, the standards authority for web design code

According to the W3C “XHTML is a stricter and cleaner version of HTML”. When evaluating a new or existing website design, my advice is considering XHTML which has been my standard for years. The advantage is code that is forward looking to perform well now and into the future. Follow the W3C referenced link above to the article comparing both before deciding to have your site created in older HTML.

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Show Notes
Podcast episode 050 entitled Backlinks and Web Design SEO explores the web design strategy of backlinks and seo, or search engine optimization. While backlinks to your site are like votes when found by search engines, the value of your linking strategy for web design seo requires care. Natural methods work. Schemes will backfire. Here’s the outline for today’s program:

• Web Design SEO Value of Backlinks
• Links from Related Niche Authority Sites
• Backlink Format and Search Engine Optimization
• Link Scheme Negatives and Natural Linking Compared
• Ignore Those Dear Webmaster Link Exchange Requests
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Visitor Stats for Evaluating Backlinks

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Backlinks and Web Design SEO
0:12:22 Tip of the Day – Visitor Stats for Evaluating Backlinks
0:15:04 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:15:34 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 050

Referenced links
Web design and SEO report downloads of free PDFs

The topic of the value of backlinks and web design SEO has changed, and gaining backlinks proactively can be very time consuming. The tip of the day for using visitor stats for evaluating backlinks allows owners to compare link strategy to actual visitor traffic. Measuring the effectiveness of links can help in web design decisions including how much time to spend acquiring those backlinks.

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Show Notes
This podcast episode 035 entitled DIY Desktop Blog and Ping provides listeners with an exciting zero cost method to announce new blog posts with a desktop blog and ping software application. This allows bloggers to directly ping blog tracking services instantly without needing a middleman. Here is the outline for today’s program:

• Basics of Blog and Ping Blog Post Promotional Services
• Research of Blog and Ping Online Service Trends
• Overview of PDF Tutorial Download for DIY Blog and Ping
• Review of Free Software for a DIY Desktop Blog and Ping Application
• PDF Tutorial Review and Step by Step Blog and Ping Service Setup
• Website Quick Tip of the Day – Creating Categories using Labels in Blogger

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – DIY Desktop Blog and Ping
0:22:53 Tip of the Day – Creating Categories using Labels in Blogger
0:25:10 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:25:40 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 035

Referenced links:
DIY Blog and Ping PDF Tutorial to view online or download now
Wayne Horkan’s weblog: eclectic with FAQs and blog/ping software download

The free do-it-yourself desktop blog and ping pdf tutorial is 35 pages fully illustrated and includes a custom list of 8 top blog tracking services, plus the default list of 72. Listeners may want to download the 35 page pdf before launching this podcast episode, and then listen to the audio while viewing just the illustrations as I take you step by step through the process of easily creating a free desktop blog and ping application.

Kudos and a big thanks to Wayne Horkan of Sun Microsystems for his custom “free as in free beer” blog and ping software application that he released on 22 April 2008.

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Show Notes
Today’s podcast Episode 008 entitled Add an Integrated Website Blog presents the advantages of adding an integrated blog to your small business website. The aging period required for new sites to get attention from the major search engines may be shortened if you have a blog.

Listen to learn about case studies of new small business website blog integration, and the positive results others have experienced from this advice. The blog of a recent custom small business website launch that I designed made Google page one in 1 week. Here’s the outline for this podcast episode:

• Website blogs and the value of fresh content
• Case studies of clients who followed my advice
• Why I recommend an integrated website blog
• Why small business blogs help conquer the competition
• Website quick tip of the day

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Add an Integrated Website Blog
0:11:16 Tip of the Day – Broadcast Resource to Promote Your Blog
0:12:24 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:12:54 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 008

Referenced links:
A fun search engine optimization article entitled “Google Crawlers and Stray Cats”
Blog your way to fresh content free SEO PDF report about blogging
Blog promotion broadcast service at www.Pingoat.com for one-click promotion

Starting a blog should not be taken lightly. As presented in today’s program, the owners of 75% of all new blogs quickly abandon their project within 90 days. This podcast episode explains the benefits of keeping up a blog, and includes some incredible search engine traffic results that should not be missed.

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Show Notes
Today’s podcast Episode 005 entitled Mass Mailing Website Promotion presents advice that saved one client $1000 on a 5000 piece small business post card mailing to promote their business and website. Decisions about the size of printed marketing materials for mass mailing should include evaluating the cost factor of postage.

Additional topics in today’s show mention bulk mail rates and outsourcing your mailing campaign to subcontractors. The real point of the advice is helping do-it-yourself small business owners cut costs for website promotion. Here’s today’s outline:

• Total Price by Size for Mass Mailing 5000 Post Cards
• Artwork Based on my Published Design Rates
• Printing of 5000 Flyers Based on my Recommended Printer
• Tax and Freight for Inbound Printing for 5000
• Postage for Outbound Post Card Mailing for 5000
• Website Quick Tip of the Day

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Mass Mailing Website Promotion
0:09:50 Tip of the Day – Why Less is More in Your Ad
0:11:50 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:12:20 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 005

Referenced links:
US Postal Service Website to search for rates or bulk permits
Post Card Dimensions for Bulk Mailings to learn size requirements
My 5 Second Rule for Small Business Owners about first impressions in print or online

Additional Notes by the Numbers (to save listeners from taking notes):

Total Price by Size for Mass Mailing 5000 Post Cards
(This includes artwork, printing, inbound freight, outbound postage.)
$1700 TOTAL for a 4 x 6 post card flyer
$2575 TOTAL for a 5 x 7 post card flyer
$2750 TOTAL for a 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 post card flyer

Artwork Based on my Published Design Rates
$150 for 4 x 6 post card flyer
$150 up for 5 x 7 post card flyer
$250 for 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 half page post card

Printing of 5000 Based on my Recommended Printer
$150 for 4 x 6 full color, uv coated post cards
$300 for 5 x 7 full color, uv coated
$350 for 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 full color, uv coated

Tax and Freight for Inbound Printing for 5000
$50 for 4 x 6 post card flyers
$75 up for 5 x 7
$100 for 5-1/2 x 8-1/2

Postage for Outbound Post Card Mailing for 5000
$1300 for 4 x 6 ($0.26 each up to 6 x 4-1/4 max.)
$2050 for 5 x 7 ($0.41 each)
$2050 for 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 ($0.41 each)

By comparing the cost of postage for your next Mass Mailing Website Promotion, and then deciding if a 4 x 6 flyer meets your needs, your overall savings could easily be $1000 on just one post card mailing. Email me with questions or to learn about standard size and custom flyers that worked well for other clients.

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Show Notes
Today’s podcast Episode 003 entitled Analyzing Competitor Websites teaches small business website owners how to compare the design of their website to top competitors. Whether your site is established or you are just starting out, knowing the search engine optimization techniques of your direct competition is worthwhile. Here’s today’s outline:

• Key factors for top search engine results
  1. Keywords in the Page Title
  2. The META Description
  3. Keywords in the H Tags
  4. Keywords in Text Links
  5. High Quality, Original Content
  6. The Size of Your Website
  7. The Age of Your WWW Domain
• Making a list of your search keywords and key phrases
• Doing a search in Google and Yahoo
• Details for analyzing competitor websites
• Website quick tip of the day

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Analyzing Competitor Websites
0:11:58 Tip of the Day – Revealing the #1 Website SEO Factor
0:13:40 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:14:12 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 003

Referenced links:
Google search
Yahoo search

This strategy goes beyond search engine optimization. If one of your goals is top listings in search results, there’s no better way to discover what works than to search for key phrases and then analyze each site design of the top listings. Do not copy content or code verbatim from any website. You may face the risk of legal action, so learn from others but be very careful to keep your design completely original.

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Welcome to the launch of the Small Business Website Mailbag podcast, a new feature for readers who prefer listening to small business advice rather than reading it. Each show features the same theme song used in my custom video productions on YouTube for a consistent and familiar market identity. The word “mailbag” chosen in the title simply means that advice is based on feedback from customers and listeners to this podcast.

Show Notes
Today’s podcast Episode 001 entitled Small Business Podcast Intro announces the launch of this new multimedia feature of the Small Business Resource Center website. The main theme in each show will be advice for small business website owners with what it takes to get online, manage, plus promote a website, blog, or podcast. Here’s today’s outline:

• My reason for starting this show
• The podcast content and outline
• Options for listener interaction
• My qualifications for offering advice
• Website quick tip of the day

0:00:00 Podcast Theme Music and Introduction
0:00:45 Main Topic – Small Business Podcast Introduction
0:09:38 Tip of the Day – Writing for Blogs versus Websites
0:11:01 Podcast Outro Theme Music and Credits
0:11:32 End of Small Business Website Mailbag Podcast 001

Future shows will each focus on websites for small business and may include topics about blogging, podcasting, seo, plus news and reviews, and of course help learning about websites. Stay tuned to hear more expert advice already proven to educate as well as save time and money.