1. Does my company really need a web site?
2. What is the cost involved?
3. I already have a web page on someone else's website. Why do I need two?
4. I don’t sell merchandise on-line. Why would I need a web site?
5. I don’t even use a computer. I can't maintain a web site.
6. Our customers like the personal touch and most aren’t computer users.
7. I have a cousin who can make web sites. I’ve promised him that he can do ours.
8. Our upcoming advertising commitments will use all our marketing money.
9. A website seems so sterile and impersonal. It won’t add to “our kind" of customer base that was built on personal relationship.
10. I wouldn’t know what to do with a web site if I had one.

The answer to this question could be “yes” or could be “no.” Only the business owner can answer it.

Recently I went to a popular restaurant in a tiny Virginia town to try and sell the owners a website. The restaurant was located right on the waterfront overlooking Chincoteague Bay. I went just before lunchtime in the dead of winter on a weekday. I figured business would be slow and I could chat briefly with the owner.

The owner was gracious and allowed me to run through the basic benefits giving me her full attention – even taking a few notes. I figured I had a good chance of closing this deal. I finally said, “Do you think a website is something you’d be interested in hearing more about?”

This was her reply: “We opened this place as a bait and tackle shop. Then people wanted coffee so we provided that. Then some asked for sandwiches, so we provided that. Later they wanted a few tables where they could sit and chat while they ate their sandwiches, so we got tables and chairs and began doing lunches. That led to dinners. Then we didn’t have enough room so we added the screened in porch for the summer. People loved the porch so much that we winterized for the colder months. Now that it’s January, we thought we might be able to close one day a week and get some time off. But we can’t. We’re too busy. We’ve never advertised and we’re tired. If a website is going to bring more people in here – no thanks!”

This business does not need a website.

Only you can determine if your company needs a web site. While making the determination, you want to consider that a web site is multi-functional, and is a communication tool – not an advertisement. If your business is organized, all of your clientele is local, and you have a back-log of customers waiting to be serviced –and you can handle that service effectively – you may not need a website.

If you often wish you could communicate effectively with a broader range of clients / customers, publicly post answers to frequently asked questions, attract new customers, break in to new markets and take the market share from your competitors – then a website is a MUST!

A web site is like your giant public bulletin board where people can get information on how to find you, where you are located, what you have to offer, why your service is unique, and what’s new in your company. It also is easily updated and changed frequently, and is a communication forum through which your customers can communicate back to you with questions, concerns and feedback on their needs.

QUESTION 2: What is the cost involved?

Having a website involves three basic costs: The development of the site itself, hosting the site, and registering the domain name.

The development of the site is the actual "building" or putting the graphics, text, links and codes all together so you have web pages that look good and are informative when you see the site on the computer. This is the largest of the three costs and can ranch in price from $500 to $2000 typically. However, the cost of getting a functioning website is generally the same as putting a color ad insert into your local paper once or twice a year. That ad is seen and then gone. The cost of your website is a one-time investment for a tool you own and can continue to use for communication and marketing indefinitely. It is always up - and always accessible.

Hosting the site means the website files are put on a large server so the general public can access your site by clicking through the Internet. Hosting costs vary but average around $20 to $50 per month, based on the website functionality and the hosting provider. Service varies widely as well. The ideal host will offer several services bundled together for one affordable price. Look for these services in a hosting package:

• The space provided for your site on the server should have ample room for high traffic (bandwidth). When a site doesn’t have enough bandwidth, the web visitor finds the site slow loading and difficult to access.
• The hosting package should have at least one email address that can be accessed through the web.
• The Hosting package should have a reliable track record of maintaining high dependability. When your server goes down, your web site and associated email is unavailable. Registering the domain name involves reserving a unique web address where users find your web site - such as www.writingthevision.com. This is done through a public registry service and the cost is typically $35 per year.

1. Email services with multiple email accounts.
2. Internet marketing services – researching how best to promote your site and get the maximum visibility, draw
   3 Ways for Driving Traffic to Your Website
   You need targeted internet traffic and sales for your online business to survive. Here are three ways through which you can increase traffic and boost sales to your website.Your website is ready. It sits there while you wait for anyone to come to your site, check your products, and yes, hopefully, to order something! However, it has been months and you are getting really frustrated. Your products are not selling and you are losing money.What you need is some internet traffic. Sadly, internet traffic doesn’t just come without you working on the advertising and marketing aspect of your e-business. If you would just keep on waiting for any traffic, your website would end up buried by your competitor’s websites.Your ultimate goal is to generate targeted market traffic. You are aiming for gaining your target consumers’ interest and drive them to your website. There are many ways that you could use to generate traffic. Below are three ways that you can employ.Number 1: Search Engine OptimizationIf people search through major search engines, type in natural keywords and your website comes up, chances are you could expect more website traffic than you could handle. This is your ultimate goal -- ranking heavily on every search engine in the internet.However, this does not happen overnight. It takes a lot of time and effort in order to achieve this objective. Your aim is to make your presence felt and known in the internet by becoming one of the top sites in the results page when a keyword query is made. As such, you could try filling your website with articles reflecting the relevant keywords.Remember though that SEO takes time. It is advisable, therefore, to employ multiple methods to generate more web traffic. However, you could always try buying traffic from vendors to generate website hits. You could buy traffic with Google’s and Yahoo’s pay-per-click program. What you do is determine and identify your target market’s possible keywords and bid for these words or phrases. This may be costly but it would generate hits. Of course, it doesn’t end the
   a website. The restaurant was located right on the waterfront overlooking Chincoteague Bay. I went just before lunchtime in the dead of winter on a weekday. I figured business would be slow and I could chat briefly with the owner.

   The owner was gracious and allowed me to run through the basic benefits giving me her full attention – even taking a few notes. I figured I had a good chance of closing this deal. I finally said, “Do you think a website is something you’d be interested in hearing more about?”

   This was her reply: “We opened this place as a bait and tackle shop. Then people wanted coffee so we provided that. Then some asked for sandwiches, so we provided that. Later they wanted a few tables where they could sit and chat while they ate their sandwiches, so we got tables and chairs and began doing lunches. That led to dinners. Then we didn’t have enough room so we added the screened in porch for the summer. People loved the porch so much that we winterized for the colder months. Now that it’s January, we thought we might be able to close one day a week and get some time off. But we can’t. We’re too busy. We’ve never advertised and we’re tired. If a website is going to bring more people in here – no thanks!”

   This business does not need a website.

   Only you can determine if your company needs a web site. While making the determination, you want to consider that a web site is multi-functional, and is a communication tool – not an advertisement. If your business is organized, all of your clientele is local, and you have a back-log of customers waiting to be serviced –and you can handle that service effectively – you may not need a website.

   If you often wish you could communicate effectively with a broader range of clients / customers, publicly post answers to frequently asked questions, attract new customers, break in to new markets and take the market share from your competitors – then a website is a MUST!

   A web site is like your giant public bulletin board where people can get information on how to find you, where you are located, what you have to offer, why your service is unique, and what’s new in your company. It also is easily updated and changed frequently, and is a communication forum through which your customers can communicate back to you with questions, concerns and feedback on their needs.

   QUESTION 2: What is the cost involved?

   Having a website involves three basic costs: The development of the site itself, hosting the site, and registering the domain name.

   The development of the site is the actual "building" or putting the graphics, text, links and codes all together so you have web pages that look good and are informative when you see the site on the computer. This is the largest of the three costs and can ranch in price from $500 to $2000 typically. However, the cost of getting a functioning website is generally the same as putting a color ad insert into your local paper once or twice a year. That ad is seen and then gone. The cost of your website is a one-time investment for a tool you own and can continue to use for communication and marketing indefinitely. It is always up - and always accessible.

   Hosting the site means the website files are put on a large server so the general public can access your site by clicking through the Internet. Hosting costs vary but average around $20 to $50 per month, based on the website functionality and the hosting provider. Service varies widely as well. The ideal host will offer several services bundled together for one affordable price. Look for these services in a hosting package:

   • The space provided for your site on the server should have ample room for high traffic (bandwidth). When a site doesn’t have enough bandwidth, the web visitor finds the site slow loading and difficult to access.
   • The hosting package should have at least one email address that can be accessed through the web.
   • The Hosting package should have a reliable track record of maintaining high dependability. When your server goes down, your web site and associated email is unavailable. Registering the domain name involves reserving a unique web address where users find your web site - such as www.writingthevision.com. This is done through a public registry service and the cost is typically $35 per year.
   I tell clients that getting a website is like getting a telephone. They both have similar cost structures. The website cost is like the cost of the phone and installation. You pay one time and the equipment is yours. The hosting cost is similar to your monthly phone bill - you own the equipment but you pay for the service of being able to use it. The domain name registry is like the phone number - a unique way to get in touch with only YOU. Additional Costs – can include:
   1. Email services with multiple email accounts.
   2. Internet marketing services – researching how best to promote your site and get the maximum visibility, dra
      Videoblogging (Vlog) – The Next Internet Craze
      Ok, so by now we all know what a blog is and many of us run and operate a blog of our very own. But have you heard of a vlog? If not, no worries, it’s something that has been around for less than one year. A vlog, or video blog, is a weblog which uses video as its primary presentation format. It is primarily a medium for distributing video content. Vlog posts are usually accompanied by text, images, and additional meta data to provide a context or overview for the video. Vlogs or videoblogs are created by vloggers or videobloggers, while the act itself is referred to as vlogging or videoblogging.So as you can see, it’s a branch off of a blog but instead of writing content like I’m doing now, users present their information through some type of video format. This new version of blogging is intriguing to many because users find it more interesting than reading through pages of content. They would rather spend 10 minutes watching a video of someone rather than read an article. I myself like both blogs and vlogs. To me it depends on the topic that is being depicted. If the topic is how to bake chocolate chip cookies (mmmm), then I’d rather watch a vblog of someone actually making the cookies and talking me through it. However, if it’s a topic on how Google just launched their new news archive search, then I would rather read a blog then have to watch and listen to someone talk about it for 10 minutes.If you are interested in making your own vlog, then Freevlog.org explains how to videoblog for free and Feevlog.org explains how to videoblog for a fee. Also, Typepad.com and Blip.tv are simple turnkey solutions to consider. If you’re interested in watching and commenting on other people’s vlog works, then you can subscribe to FireAnt.com or Mefeedia.com.I’m very interested to see where vlogging takes us. I’m quite sure in the next year or two we will see a few vlogs become famous because of their content. We’ve seen it happen with blogging. Many sites such as Fark, Tech
      ebsite.

      Only you can determine if your company needs a web site. While making the determination, you want to consider that a web site is multi-functional, and is a communication tool – not an advertisement. If your business is organized, all of your clientele is local, and you have a back-log of customers waiting to be serviced –and you can handle that service effectively – you may not need a website.

      If you often wish you could communicate effectively with a broader range of clients / customers, publicly post answers to frequently asked questions, attract new customers, break in to new markets and take the market share from your competitors – then a website is a MUST!

      A web site is like your giant public bulletin board where people can get information on how to find you, where you are located, what you have to offer, why your service is unique, and what’s new in your company. It also is easily updated and changed frequently, and is a communication forum through which your customers can communicate back to you with questions, concerns and feedback on their needs.

      QUESTION 2: What is the cost involved?

      Having a website involves three basic costs: The development of the site itself, hosting the site, and registering the domain name.

      The development of the site is the actual "building" or putting the graphics, text, links and codes all together so you have web pages that look good and are informative when you see the site on the computer. This is the largest of the three costs and can ranch in price from $500 to $2000 typically. However, the cost of getting a functioning website is generally the same as putting a color ad insert into your local paper once or twice a year. That ad is seen and then gone. The cost of your website is a one-time investment for a tool you own and can continue to use for communication and marketing indefinitely. It is always up - and always accessible.

      Hosting the site means the website files are put on a large server so the general public can access your site by clicking through the Internet. Hosting costs vary but average around $20 to $50 per month, based on the website functionality and the hosting provider. Service varies widely as well. The ideal host will offer several services bundled together for one affordable price. Look for these services in a hosting package:

      • The space provided for your site on the server should have ample room for high traffic (bandwidth). When a site doesn’t have enough bandwidth, the web visitor finds the site slow loading and difficult to access.
      • The hosting package should have at least one email address that can be accessed through the web.
      • The Hosting package should have a reliable track record of maintaining high dependability. When your server goes down, your web site and associated email is unavailable. Registering the domain name involves reserving a unique web address where users find your web site - such as www.writingthevision.com. This is done through a public registry service and the cost is typically $35 per year.
      I tell clients that getting a website is like getting a telephone. They both have similar cost structures. The website cost is like the cost of the phone and installation. You pay one time and the equipment is yours. The hosting cost is similar to your monthly phone bill - you own the equipment but you pay for the service of being able to use it. The domain name registry is like the phone number - a unique way to get in touch with only YOU. Additional Costs – can include:
      1. Email services with multiple email accounts.
      2. Internet marketing services – researching how best to promote your site and get the maximum visibility, dra
         Complacency and Fear are Sales Busters
         Prospecting is the engine that propels anyone in sales. Without consistently initiating contact with prospective customers to talk with, your sales will plummet and everybody loses. Studies confirm that 80% of all salespeople fail in their first year because of the fears associated with prospecting. 40% of veteran producers with more than five years -- experience severe sales slumps due to fears associated with prospecting.Fears are productivity busters that drain our energies and makes sales prospecting emotionally difficult. Fears most commonly recognized in the sales world are fear of rejection, fear of loss, fear using the telephone, fear of not be prepared, group selling and a host of others. All of which jeopardize existing relationships with customers and stand in the way of acquiring new customers -- resulting in loss revenue for companies and loss income for salespeople.Eliminating those fears is something that is easy to overcome. But sales managers and trainers who tell sales rookies and seasoned professionals to do the things you fear most and it will go away -- haven't a clue of what harm is being done. The person who is motivated, has sales goals and is reluctant to cold calls, self-promotion, selling to groups or any other forms of call reluctant is legitimately fearful. Forcing that person to make cold calls on the telephone is only imbedding the fear deeper. It is like pounding a nail into a person's leg and at the same time telling them to think positive and it won’t hurt.Fears are feeling establish when we allow ourselves to, mindlessly, recite self-limiting thoughts. To overcome distressful gut wrenching feelings we must replace fear producing self-talk with non-fear-producing statements.Sales, is a stressful business causing negative mind chatter in a person to conjure up all kinds of unpleasant thoughts. When prospecting, it is not at all uncommon for the salesperson to check out momentarily by going into a state of self-hypnosis reciting counterproductive, contorted and self-defeating talk. When that occurs, you need to replace it with self-enhan
         he domain name.

         The development of the site is the actual "building" or putting the graphics, text, links and codes all together so you have web pages that look good and are informative when you see the site on the computer. This is the largest of the three costs and can ranch in price from $500 to $2000 typically. However, the cost of getting a functioning website is generally the same as putting a color ad insert into your local paper once or twice a year. That ad is seen and then gone. The cost of your website is a one-time investment for a tool you own and can continue to use for communication and marketing indefinitely. It is always up - and always accessible.

         Hosting the site means the website files are put on a large server so the general public can access your site by clicking through the Internet. Hosting costs vary but average around $20 to $50 per month, based on the website functionality and the hosting provider. Service varies widely as well. The ideal host will offer several services bundled together for one affordable price. Look for these services in a hosting package:

         • The space provided for your site on the server should have ample room for high traffic (bandwidth). When a site doesn’t have enough bandwidth, the web visitor finds the site slow loading and difficult to access.
         • The hosting package should have at least one email address that can be accessed through the web.
         • The Hosting package should have a reliable track record of maintaining high dependability. When your server goes down, your web site and associated email is unavailable. Registering the domain name involves reserving a unique web address where users find your web site - such as www.writingthevision.com. This is done through a public registry service and the cost is typically $35 per year.
         I tell clients that getting a website is like getting a telephone. They both have similar cost structures. The website cost is like the cost of the phone and installation. You pay one time and the equipment is yours. The hosting cost is similar to your monthly phone bill - you own the equipment but you pay for the service of being able to use it. The domain name registry is like the phone number - a unique way to get in touch with only YOU. Additional Costs – can include:
         1. Email services with multiple email accounts.
         2. Internet marketing services – researching how best to promote your site and get the maximum visibility, dra
            Make Teamwork and Customer Service Childs Play
            They bicker, want your approval, fight for your attention, ignore your nagging, and defy you when you preach at them. No, I'm not talking about your kids; I'm talking about your employees. The two things employees want the most is for their boss to listen and respect them. However it's difficult to listen and respect them when they act like a bunch of spoiled kids."We're all adults" translates to "I wish you would quit acting like a child." Forget about it! You can threaten them, discipline them or even fire them but what's the point? The time spent disciplining could be utilized to solve problems and firing them is a temporary solution that increases turnover and hiring costs.Managers who want to raise performance and productivity must learn how to make teamwork and customer service child's play: Make it fun, create story time, make it their idea, brag on them when they improve. Make it fun If you want to make it fun you have to engage them. The way you engage them is to start a ritual of weekly meetings where you discuss the current issues at hand. Your meeting must be structured and you must use tools such as open discussion. Adults learn by participating not by preaching. Another effective tool for discussing touchy subjects is what I call story time. Create Story Time If you are familiar with the Bible, you already know that Jesus used parables to make his learning points. Parables are interesting, paint a picture, and have several rich morals or learning points. Sharing a story (case study) about poor customer service is more effective than pointing your finger and blaming them for their poor customer service habits. Everyone knows what it's like to get poor service at a restaurant, get ignored at a retail store or be treated badly at the grocery store. When you invite your staff to read a similar story and share their insights, now they are engaged. From their point of view, it's easier to point out customer service mistakes when the mistake belongs to someone else. Make it their idea My grandmother used to say if
            tor finds the site slow loading and difficult to access.
         3. The hosting package should have at least one email address that can be accessed through the web.
         4. The Hosting package should have a reliable track record of maintaining high dependability. When your server goes down, your web site and associated email is unavailable. Registering the domain name involves reserving a unique web address where users find your web site - such as www.writingthevision.com. This is done through a public registry service and the cost is typically $35 per year.
         I tell clients that getting a website is like getting a telephone. They both have similar cost structures. The website cost is like the cost of the phone and installation. You pay one time and the equipment is yours. The hosting cost is similar to your monthly phone bill - you own the equipment but you pay for the service of being able to use it. The domain name registry is like the phone number - a unique way to get in touch with only YOU. Additional Costs – can include:
         1. Email services with multiple email accounts.
         2. Internet marketing services – researching how best to promote your site and get the maximum visibility, drawing more visitors to your site.
         3. Maintenance services – updating the site continually, making changes, adding pages, delivering web statistic reports, and more.
         QUESTION 3: I already have a web page on someone else's website. Why do I need two?
         

         If you have a web page with your Chamber of Commerce or with a listing service in your industry or parent company, that is a GOOD thing! However, that is not a web site. It more than likely only offers contact information and a brief description of what your offer. It lumps you into a wide category that generally includes your competitors, and in many cases, it doesn’t offer the interaction with the public that your own website would offer. Finally – you don’t own the site or have control over it.

         Your web site brands you as unique and reveals your identity. The good news is that having that page with the Chamber or other listing service will enhance and empower your new website. It will drive more traffic to your site and put you one step ahead of the marketing game.

         Think about it. If a visitor is looking for a florist on Teleflora and finds five listings close to home – and one of the listings has a link to its own website – that visitor is going to go “one click further” and click on that florist’s website. When scanning a list, people always want to know more. Your link gives them that opportunity.

         QUESTION 4: I don’t sell merchandise on-line. Why would I need a web site?

         You may not sell merchandise on-line, but do you sell something special that people are looking for? Do you ever have a customer say “I came here because you sell ________.” For example, a store that sells a line of products or brands that are highly sought after by a faithful following, (e.g. Dept. 56, Boyd’s Bears, Hallmark Cards, Red Wing Shoes, certain lines of animal products, clothing and accessories, tools) is going to have potential customers that search the Internet to find out who sells those brands in their local area. Will you be on the search results? Will your competitor be?

         The same applies to restaurants and lodging. People are visiting a certain area. Over 70% of travelers in the United States and Europe use the Internet to set travel itineraries – and those itineraries include restaurants, accommodations, and shopping. Will you be among the choices found when they search the Internet?

         If you offer something that people are looking for, a large portion of people (perhaps a market unknown to you thus far) will search the Internet, because it’s fast, it’s easy, it’s global and it’s private. A web site will put you in the running with others on the Internet.

         QUESTION 5: I don’t even use a computer. I can't maintain a web site.

         Using the computer is like playing the piano. You can play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” or a Sonata by Chopin. Either way, you’re getting a tune out. To maintain a web site you should have a computer, and you – or someone in your company – should be able to send and receive email. Your web developer can help you with maintenance, changes and updates, which is generally simple and affordable.

         QUESTION 6: Our customers like the personal touch and most aren’t computer users.

         Your current customers may not use the computer much – that is possible.

         A worthy concern should be about the potential customers that do use the computer and CAN’T FIND YOU. Statistics prove that 65% of the population in rural areas uses a computer at least once per week, and 85% in metropolitan areas use a computer. These percentages have NEVER decreased. It is likely that they will continue to increase. A website keeps you in sync with this trend.

         Another interesting statistic:

         The fastest growing sector of the American population getting computer literate is between the ages of 50 and 75. This sector also includes those with the highest percentage of disposable income. A website helps you target that using population.

         Another thing to think about …. 75 years ago, the American population felt that the telephone was an expensive luxury and not crucial to business growth. That sentiment continued for 30 years. As social communication trends changed, and expenses decreased – businesses changed to insure profitability. Use of the Internet will only increase in the next ten years.

         QUESTION 7: I have a cousin who can make web sites. I’ve already promised him that he can do ours.

         Is your cousin a qualified web developer? If so, you’re the lucky one. Be sure to impart a sense of urgency in getting the site completed. If he or she makes websites as a hobby, you’ll want to consider the following:

         1. A website can be compared to modes of transportation. You could ride a bicycle or drive a Mercedes – either way you can get around town, but one is more efficient, will take your farther faster, and will be a more comfortable ride.
         2. The flashy graphics and catchy text you see on websites is only about 20%