Website Announcements

I am happy to announce we've added two new websites to add to our portfolio: Ricebirdfan and City of El Campo Economic Development Corporation.

Ricebirdfan is an information rich website featuring everything El Campo Ricebird sports. Mike and Leigh Ann Johnson own the site and update it regularly with scores, information from coaches, photos, videos and Ricebird merchandise. The website accompanies their newest retail venture, The Screen Stop, located at 109 W. Jackson, El Campo.

City of El Campo Economic Development Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to job creation in our community through the attraction, expansion and retention of businesses. Chandra Spenrath is the Executive Director and is leading the movement to generate buzz about El Campo. The website is chock full of information about our community and features a Job Portal, where businesses can post their open positions and job seekers can easily submit a resume'.

Stay Tuned for a few more websites that will go "live" in the next few weeks...

My Pleasure

"My Pleasure". Chick-fil-A employees are trained to relay these two simple words following every transaction. "My Pleasure", rather than "You're Welcome", conjures up a vision of visiting an upscale establishment. This phrase is used by all employees, a little unexpected in a fast food restaurant, but it works! These little words differentiate Chick-fil-A from their competitors and leave a lasting positive impression on the experience.

How do you differentiate your business in an environment where products and services offered are similar across several competitors? In this high tech era where we rely heavily on digital processes and immediate satisfaction, it is so important to remember the basic, fundamental element that keeps customers coming back: excellent customer service.

I'd like to mention a few establishments that, in my opinion, really understand what excellent customer service is all about. Here are a few places where I have experienced superb customer service:

• Hugo's Cellar, Las Vegas


• Chicos, Sugar Land, TX and Las Vegas


• Prairie Rose, El Campo TX
  


• Modern Cleaners, El Campo, TX
  


• Chick-fil-A, numerous locations

Where do you get great customer service? Mention your favorite spots in your comments.

Why you shouldn't use a FREE email service for your business

In my experiences helping businesses with their marketing efforts, I find many companies using FREE email services from companies like Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, and other internet service providers like Sbcglobal, Comcast, AOL, etc. These tools are great for personal use! However, while this may seem like an inexpensive or easy way to establish an email account for a new business, it may not be the best for you and your business.

Free email services tend to lack credibility and professionalism. New businesses are desperate to prove themselves. Using a free account may come across as "cheap" or "cost-cutting" and your customers may wonder if you are in business for the long-haul or just giving it a go to see if it works.

Additionally, these free or isp email accounts do nothing to build your brand. Your new company needs all the brand recognition it can get. Your business can easily register a domain for only a few dollars per year and you can use your domain address with your company name in it as your email address. Using your domain as your email address will build your brand recognition and your company's credibility.

If you have questions about how to accomplish this, send me an email and I will be happy to assist you.

Sonic and the Car Hop Flop

On the way home from Austin on Saturday, we were hungry after a fun-filled day, taking in the first college football game of the year. With much anticipation of a delicious hamburger, we stopped in at a Sonic restaurant on our drive home. As we all selected our order, a car hop stopped at our open window to say, "Sorry our intercom system is down. We can't take your order." Rather than taking our order manually, we were turned away from the restaurant. We were all perplexed and wondered why this Sonic was open. They could have saved a great deal of money and confusion on the customer's part, by turning off the lights and sending the employees home. What a waste.

Who is running your ship and how will they handle minor bumps in the road? What is your customer's perception of how the situation is handled? In the end, it is your customer's perception of the experience that really matters.

How Twitter Helped My Business

Last Monday, I was working on an email newsletter for a client. I utilize several tools to manage my email marketing, including icontact. My deadline required that the email go out that day. This is a typical arrangement and the newsletter was complete, so I simply needed to go to the icontact website and send it out.

As I attempted to access the icontact website, I soon realized it was not functioning and ultimately was down all day. After several attempts to get on the site, I wondered if perhaps icontact might be on twitter. As you may know, twitter provides "real time" information and my thought was I might find a solution with a tweet from their company. I performed a search on twitter and fortunately I found the CEO of icontact on Twitter . He posted several tweets that day about a hacker comprising the site and provided an alternative url to access the site in the meantime. I have now added icontact to my list of twitter followers.

Twitter saved me time and money. I hope more and more organizations realize the potential of providing real time information and the benefit of having conversations with their customers and join the Twitter revolution.

If you want to join the revolution, you can follow me on twitter.

9 Steps of Web Design Process

An effective website design process includes nine essential steps. I hope to provide some guidance for those of you considering a new website. Each of these steps is important and necessary to develop a site that effectively markets your business.

1. Know your target audience.Your target audience is that group of people you are trying to reach. Are they teenagers or retirees? Oilfield or office workers? Where do they live? Do they have high-speed internet or dial up? You want to consider all these factors and design your site so that it meets the needs of your target audience.

2. Define Goals. Ask yourself, why do you want to create a website? What is your mission statement and the overall goal of the site? Here is a list of some common goals. Your site may contain several from this list:

• Providing Information
• Building Trust
• Conducting E-Commerce
• Finding Leads
• Reducing Customer Service Overhead
• Building Your Brand
• Reducing Mailing Costs
• Recruiting
• Increasing Advertising Revenue

3. Study the Competition and Other Sites. Take a look at your competitors' websites and other sites within your niche. Also, consider the look of corporate sites and how their sites are configured. When reviewing other sites, take note of the things that you like about their site and what things would you change. Consider the functionality of the site. Collect examples of the sites you would like to emulate and take notes. Simplicity and organization are key components in retaining traffic on your site.

4. Select a Domain Name. I discussed domain name selection in an earlier post. Take your time when considering your domain name. It is an important step given that your domain is a long-term commitment.

5. Select Hosting. Hosting refers to a company that "rents" you space on their server. The server stores the files that comprise your site. All websites are hosted somewhere. A basic website can be hosted for about $10/month. Take a look at the uptime percentage of the hosting company and make sure it is 99% or better. Also, consider the hosting packages and what is included vs a la carte. What kind of items will you need (email accounts, transfer urls, parked domains, etc. )? Do you need SSL certificate for e-commerce. Most often an SSL certificate is an extra charge. Circle L Digital Media offers hosting packages.

6. Create an Outline. Layout your ideas in outline format to create a plan for the functionality of your site. This acts as a roadmap to building your pages. Creating an outline will help determine the total number of pages and the overall complexity of your site.

7 Design Your Site. This is an extremely important step that needs much attention. I am going to dedicate a future post to this idea. This post is coming soon.

8.Test, Test, Test, Test, Test Your Site, then Upload. Before uploading and going live, it is important to check your site in the most popular browers because all browers were not created the same ant thus interpret data differently. This can effect how your site is displayed. Encourage your friends and business associates to review your site and make recommendations. Check your site in these browsers:

• Firefox
• Internet Explorer
• Safari
• Opera
• Netscape

9. Update Regularly. Once your site is created and uploaded, it is important to maintain it. Keep all the information current: emails, pricing, phone numbers, copyright, etc. Adjust and add content as needed.

I am happy to guide you through the process. Contact me if I can be of assistance.

8 Key Marketing Elements for New Businesses

Starting a new business is both exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. There are many intricate details involved, from filing formation documents to setting up utilities and hiring and training employees. Certainly, you want to succeed and success can be dependent on the first impression of your business. While it may seem logical to shortchange the marketing budget when money is tight, studies prove that effective marketing from the outset will enhance your image and improve the likelihood of success. When planning your new business, keep in mind these 8 key marketing elements that can set you apart from a "fly by night" new business. And here is the best part, some of these are FREE!

1. Logo
Create an identity. Your logo defines what your business is all about. Using your logo consistently across all your marketing materials will distinguish your company and aid in building your brand. Make sure to include it on your business cards, brochures, website, front door, signs, email signature, advertising and yellow page listings.

2. Business cards
Use your logo and your color scheme on your business card. Avoid using "freebie" business card sites that offer you "free" business cards. Many of these sites add their logo to these "free" business cards. This does nothing to build your credibility or your brand. Also, consider the backside of the business card. The current trend is to add some additional information about your business to the back of business cards, such as calendars, appointment information or even how people can contact you via social networks, like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

3. Website and/or Blog
Create a website or write a blog for your new business. Even if you start with a one-page information-only site, you can market this "online brochure" relatively easily and inexpensively. Your website needs to be consistent with your overall look, colors and logo. Additionally, you can start with a blog. Setting up a blog is easy and free. Write tid-bits of information about your business that others will consider helpful. Remember, you are the specialist in your field - write about it (just make sure you fix any spelling or grammatical errors before posting).

Create an email account with your new website address. Don't use free email accounts, these tend to lower your credibility. Also, stay away from accounts associated with your internet service provider. These companies have been known to change and when they do they leave businesses scrambling to let all their customers know their email address has changed. This happened with Time Warner, for example. The houston.rr.com email addresses disappeared when Comcast purchased selected Time Warner ISPs. You can avoid these hassles by creating an email using your new website domain.

4. Signage
Once again this should be consistent with your overall message. Your signs should contain your logo with your color scheme. Keep your signage simple. If you clutter your sign with too much information, you will not generate the same impact as a clean, crisp sign with your logo. Here again, you logo is working for you to create awareness and build your brand message.

5. Join local networking groups
Join the Chamber or other local industry specific groups. These are great networking groups where other business people can learn about your business. Oftentimes, the local chamber will perform a ribbon cutting at your grand opening and may provide an opportunity for some free PR via newspaper or radio coverage. Other industry-related groups can provide resources for marketing and developing your business.

6. Write a press release
Start by writing a press release announcing your new business. Send it to your local paper and radio stations. This is a great free way to advertise your business. In fact, written articles may even provide more credibility than a paid ad.

7. Sign up for your FREE local listings
Many companies are not aware that the local listings in Google Maps, Yahoo Local, Merchant Circle, etc. are FREE! Not only are they free, they are great tools for members of your local community to find your business. You simply have to create an account online and create your free business listing. These listings will appear in search engines when someone in your local area searches for your business type. Also, you can link your website or blog, giving your prospective customer additional insight into your company. Add your logo, and here is another opportunity to build brand awareness.

8. Join Online Social Networking Groups
FREE! Join LinkedIn, the professional networking group, join Facebook, the social networking group and join Twitter the newest messaging group. These groups will help you re-connect with old friends and co-workers and allow you to network with new business prospects. Social networking is the new face of marketing. Start your business with some social networking tools and your business may have an early advantage over your competitors!

Hopefully this serves as a guide to start your marketing initatives. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of marketing elements for new businesses, but a list of considerations when planning your marketing strategy. Invest in your marketing and your branding from the beginning and your will reap the benefits in the long-run.

For more Free Ways to Market your Business, click here