Website Marketing: Use SEO or You’re SOL!

Since I tend to focus on marketing and branding, people often ask me to recommend a web designer who can design a beautiful website.

They are usually entrepreneurs who are ready to move on to their second or third website. They have learned what makes them unique. They have found a target client that they work best with, and now they want a new site to announce their new position to the world.

What most people don’t understand is that you MUST have not only good design, but also search engine optimization. If you don’t have both good design and SEO you are SOL!

There are so many crappy websites out there. They are poorly designed, based off a template, or one those “build it in an evening” sites.

These sites will do NOTHING for your business.

Suzanne’s Golden Rule of The Day “If you want clients who will pay you your highest fees ever, you must hire a professional designer to give you your best look ever.”

In addition to good design you need someone who understands search engine optimization. If you can’t find someone who has a good understanding of SEO, you may have to learn it yourself so that you can guide your designer.

Because if you don’t have BOTH good design and SEO, no one is going to find you online. There. That’s my diatribe for the day!

Suzanne Muusers

Grow Your Business & Prosper!

Business Coach for Entrepreneurs and Financial Advisors

http://www.prosperitycoaching,biz

Your Domain Name Versus Your Business Name – What’s an Entrepreneur To Do?

Most of us know that an URL means a Unique Record Locator. A Domain Name is the same thing – it identifies your website and can serve as a branding tool as well.

But did you know that once you pick a domain name, go to all the trouble of researching and writing your content, and uploading your site, that you would be wise to stick with that name? (see referenced article below).

Your Business Name on the other hand is usually written in stone. Once established it doesn’t change. But should it? As you change, learn, and grow, the original focus of your business may change. If so, you may need to change your business name.

Let’s say you started your business as Ted Jones Financial Advisors in 1998. You were focused on basic financial services at the time, but now you’ve earned several credentials and are more of a wealth manager. (WARNING: This is a trick question) Do you change your name to Ted Jones Wealth Management?

Think long-term. Do you have an Exit Strategy? If not, now is a good time to start thinking about one. The typical bright young upstart financial advisor will be reluctant to buy your firm if your personal name is on it. Now would be a good time to create a business name that implies a “team approach”, not a “star advisor approach”. This would also be a great practice management strategy (ask me why).

Before you make the business name decision, it would be wise to do some research utilizing the following points.

Your business name should:
1. Be easy to say and remember – two to three words is optimal
2. Say what you do.
3. Imply your unique niche
4. Create a strong brand
5. Create a strong trademark

Your Doman name should:
1. Be easy to remember
2. Utilize dot com rather than dot net or dot biz
3. Contain one to two industry key words

For a detailed discussion on how to select a domain name, see an article I wrote: What's in a Name? Domain Names Do's and Don'ts for High SEO

I hope this helps to solve the Business Name versus Domain Name puzzle. Being that I made some missteps in my choice of business domain name (see above article), I feel qualified to suggest alternatives.

Grow Your Business and Prosper!
Suzanne Muusers
Business Coach for Entrepreneurs and Financial Advisors
http://www.prosperitycoaching.biz

Hey Entrepreneurs! Design Your Website for Your Clients, Not for YOU

I attract my fair share of inquires almost daily from entrepreneurs about how to design a good website. The email or phone call usually starts off with “What information should I include on my website?” when the question should really be “How do I design a website that my clients will love?”

These days, if you don’t have an online presence you either are brand new in business or you just never got around to it. If you’re at the stage where you realize how important it is to have a website, this is a good blog entry for you.

First off, you need to think like your TARGET CLIENT. What do they want to see on your website? Probably not huge photos of you all over the place. If you’re stumped as to what they want here’s a handy list:

Services - What are you selling? How can you help them? What are the benefits of your product or service? Don’t lump all your services on one page. Give each service a separate page so that you can give as much info as possible about each area you focus on (this will also be good for your search engine optimization).

Resources – What tools and tips can you provide to help your visitors? You can write articles detailing solutions for common problems experienced by your target client. You can provide case studies telling visitors how others have received benefit from using your product/service. What tips sheets can you give freely? Are there great books you can recommend in a Suggested Reading area on your website?

Events – What’s going on in your business? Are you giving any seminars? Holding any networking events? How can your clients experience meeting you out there in the business world.

FAQ – This is really important. You need to provide the answers to questions you most commonly receive about your business. This will cut down on unnecessary communication.

Pricing – According to MarketingSherpa.com, the number one piece of information that visitors MOST WANT to see on your website is HOW MUCH? Put yourself in their shoes. How frustrating is it when you spend a lot of time on a site learning about the business but nowhere can you find out how much it costs. This is common in the coaching industry and it’s VERY annoying. I have my pricing listed right on my site. It serves to separate the serious enquires from the “just kinda wanna know”.

Your Company’s Background – Put this page as far away from services as possible. Although visitors will want to know the history of your business, that’s not their first concern. They first want to know HOW you can help them. Then they want to know if you’ve got what it takes to help them. See Bio below.

Your Bio – Let your target client know about your personal background. I have a challenge for you however – try to word your bio so that it shows how your experience can help them. What’s in your background, credentials, and training that will give them what they want?

Your Photo – Visitors DO want to know what you look like. Please get a professional photo taken of yourself. The one that Aunt Edna took 12 years ago on a family outing won’t help you here. You need to be dressed professionally and have a pleasant expression on your face. Make it trustworthy while you’re at it.

I could go on and on but it’s getting late so I’ll end here. The one piece of advice I have for entrepreneurs everywhere is to think like your target client. What can you give them that they most want to know?

Grow Your Business and Prosper!
Suzanne Muusers
Business Coach for Entrepreneurs & Financial Advisors
http://www.prosperitycoaching.biz/