The Full Circle

Attention Small Businesses - Use a Facebook Fan Page for your Business, Not a Personal Profile

2011-03-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

So many small businesses can benefit from Facebook.

There are now over 500 million active users on Facebook and 50% log into Facebook everyday.1

For consumer-based small businesses, Facebook is a fantastic platform for engaging your customers and creating personal connections with your fans. However, it is important to take the proper steps to set up your business appropriately on Facebook. Many businesses set up a personal profile for their business, instead of creating a "business fan page"

There are several reasons why you should not use a personal profile for your business:

Pages are public and may help your business in internet searches
Anyone can "like" your page, whereas, personal profiles require mutual acceptance
It is against Facebook's terms of service. In article 4.4 Facebook states: "You will not use your personal profile for your own commercial gain"
Pages allow multiple administrators
Personal profiles have a maximum number of 5000 friends. Pages have no such limits.
If you use a personal profile as your business page, you have access to a great deal more personal information about your "friends". Some people may have an aversion to becoming a "friend" of a business, knowing their personal information is readily accessible to the business.

If you have already set up your business as a personal profile, your best bet is to create a fan page and then suggest your new fan page to your current friends. You can create a fan page from the login screen at Facebook.com. Below the login section, go to the link to "Create a Page for a celebrity, band or business".

There is no easy way to transfer over the fan base. Your fans will have to "like" your new fan page and over time, you can get rid of the old profile, or convert it to your personal page.

For Small Business owners in Wharton County, I am teaching a class April 12, 2011 in Wharton on Facebook for Small Business, where you can learn the basics of setting up and maintaining a professional business Facebook page. For more information, click here to see the event on my Facebook page.

1. Source: March 2011 Facebook.com statistics

Scout's New Website

2010-10-06T11:21:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to announce the launch of a fun, kid-friendly, web site for Scout, the main character in Marilyn Sebesta's series of children's books. Scout is a lovable, chocolate lab that goes on exciting adventures with Susanna and Charley Pratt in the small town of Prattsville. I welcome you to browse around Scout's web site. Take a look at the neighborhood map, learn a little about the characters, and if you like, join Scout's Pals Club.

Marilyn is a terrific story-teller with detailed accounts of Scout's activities. She has one published book, with another to be in bookstores by the end of the year. Marilyn lives in Wharton, Texas, and is very involved in the community. Before writing, she worked as the Wharton County Agent in the Agricultural Extension Service (now known as Texas AgriLife Extension Service).

Please take a look at Scout's new site here: http://www.ScoutTheLovableLab.com. You can also find Scout on Facebook or read her blog here.

Exercise and Goals

2010-10-06T07:24:00.000-07:00

Exercise is great for your body and mind. Not only does it keep your heart healthy, but it can also improve your morale. I've recently been training to run a half marathon - my first. Unfortunately, I injured my piriformis muscle and had to take a couple of months off. But now, I'm back and feeling great!

I participated in my first 5K this past weekend in the Run Wild on the Prairie (benefiting the El Campo Museum) and proved to myself that I can set a goal and achieve it. I was happy with my run and now realize I can do just about anything, if I put my mind to it. I'm using this positive energy to springboard my business and personal goals and ideas into action. As well-known blogger, Chris Brogan says, set tangible goals and write your goals down. So here goes. I am starting with baby steps.

1. Blog once a week
2. Drop in and visit my clients (one a week)
3. Correspond with my clients monthly
4. Update my blog/website
5. Move forward with new company idea
6. Get involved in the Third Tribe Community

and a couple of personal goals...
7. Run and finish Half Marathon November 14
8. Lose 10 pounds by December 1

Now that these goals are written for the world to see, I'd better get busy! I'll let you know how I do.

A real life lesson in backing up your files

2010-08-23T03:54:00.000-07:00

If you've been thinking, "I should back up my files in case my computer crashes." Do it today! There is no time to waste! My husband, Lane Lauritsen is a very smart man and he has always suggested I back up my files, but for some reason, I always had something more important to do. Or I would think to myself, my "indestructible" Mac is so new and I am so busy, this can wait. I had a similar conversation with Paul Sherland, who is a Mac owner like me, back in April. He recently lost his hard drive and recommended that I back up my files. He mentioned that in his case (and in many similar cases), the Apple store technicians were not able to retrieve any files and going to a specialist, like Drivesavers can cost a small fortune. According to an article in the NYTimes, "recovery costs at DriveSavers range from $500 for the slowest service - five to seven days - and fewest recoverable files, to $8,900 for a rush job, which will begin the moment the drive arrives and continue around the clock until the data has been extracted." YIKES!

After researching the various online backup solutions, I recently started using Mozy Pro, and today I'm very thankful that I did. My 6 month old MacBook Pro crashed on Saturday, leaving me stranded. I tried all the DIY fixes recommended by Apple and any other site I could find, but with no luck. So, I made an appointment at the Genius Bar at the Apple store. After a short period of time, they were able to tell me my hard drive was dead and they couldn't retrieve any data. This left me feeling quite anxious!! I knew I had set up Mozy Pro and had an automatic backup, to but had never had to rely the probability of it actually working. For every last detail of my life, including years of photos and all my business data, was at the mercy of my online backup.

But thankfully, this story ends happily. Although it took about 30 hours of downloading and a few phone calls to Mozy, I was able to restore my hard drive and my life.

If I can stress one thing to you, there is NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT. Get your hard drive backed up today!

School's Out - 5 super local activities for your kids

2010-06-08T14:21:00.000-07:00

School's out for summer! If your kids are like mine, they are desperate for activities. Thankfully, our local community has an abundance of activities for kids of all ages. Here are a few events or camps happening in June in El Campo:

El Campo Bowling Center - The El Campo Bowling Center offers a youth bowling league that runs for an hour each Wednesday at 1:00p.m., starting June 16. This league is a great learning opportunity for kids of all experiences and ages. For just $5, you can bowl with friends and learn the proper bowling techniques. Call the Bowling Center at 979-543-9999 or take a look at their website.

El Campo Museum - Our fabulous museum offers an Animal Camp every Wednesday June 9th through July 28th, 10 am to noon. Animal Camp is for kids ages 4-10 and the camp includes crafts, games, show and tell, and fun facts about animals. Camp Fee: $65 for Museum members or $80 for Non-members. For details, see the website or call 979-543-6885

Additionally, you can come to the museum any day and make key chains for Father's Day.

Cedar Chest Quilt Shoppe - Cedar Chest is offering 2 kids camps this summer:
KIDZ CAMP I - For students entering 5th - 8th grade, this class consists of 5 hours of total instruction (2 classes of 2.5 hours each). Students will be making a "Layer Cake Quilt Top". Call for more information and sign up today as there are only 4 spots available. Class dates are June 15 and June 29, 10 am- 12:30 pm. 979-578-8929

"SEW FUN" CLASS - For students entering 2nd - 4th grade, this class consists of 2.5 hours of instruction. Each participant will be making a pillowcase. Call for more information and sign up today as there are only 2 sessions available. Session 1: June 15 2 - 4:30 pm, Session 2 - June 29 2 - 4:30 pm. Call 979-578-8929 or see the website for more info.

Showplace 3 - Our local movie theater offers $1 Kids movies on Wednesdays. Check the website for shows and times. 979-543-8182

El Campo Branch Library - The library is packed with summer activities. Enjoy Family time on Tuesdays at 10:15, Toddler time on Wednesdays at 10:15 , Movie time on select Thursdays at 3:00, and Come & Go Arts and Crafts on Fridays at 10. For more information, see their website or call 979-543-2362

Photo credit: El Campo Museum

Helpful hints: Presenting with Keynote and Mac

2010-04-01T16:51:00.000-07:00

I recently purchased a new MacBook Pro and love it! The graphics are amazing and I have never had so much fun laughing with my daughter in the iphoto booth, using the crazy features available. The MacBook Pro is worth every penny!

If you ever use your MacBook Pro in a presentation, there are some things to know before getting in front of your audience. In order to use an external projector, you will need to purchase a VGA mini adapter. Other versions of Mac have different sized ports, so don't rely on your friend's VGA adapter (note: this one is from experience).

Setting up the Presenter view is a bit confusing. First of all, you will need to open "Keynote preferences" and select "Slideshow". At the bottom, "present on secondary display" should be checked. Next you will want to select "Presenter Display" and check "Use alternate display to view presenter information". From this screen, you can also "Customize Presenter Display" and make the presenter display appear just as you wish. You can re-size windows and move windows around by dragging and dropping.

Once you arrive at the presentation, you will want to remove the "mirror" setting. I have heard of more that one horror story, where the Keynote presentation displayed perfectly on your Mac at home, in practice-mode. However, at the live presentation and connected to a projector, the audience saw the presenter display, rather than the slide show view. AKA, your worst nightmare! The Mirror setting forces both devices to show the same display, instead of allowing the presenter to see the presenter display and the audience to see the slide show. To change the mirror setting, connect the mini VGA adapter and go to the "Apple" icon in the upper left hand corner of your screen. Click on "System Preferences" Under the "Hardware" section, select "Displays", then "Arrangement" (this will only appear when connected to the external projector or monitor) At the bottom, uncheck the box that shows "mirror displays" and close the window. Now, you can have your presenter view on your computer and the slide show for the audience to view.

The little things you learn from "live" presentations!

image courtesy of Northside Education Center in El Campo, TX

Bauble-Head "Fabulosity"

2010-03-22T15:13:00.000-07:00

Brooke Hlavinka is a gifted elementary teacher and ultra fabulous jewelry designer. She taught my daughter in 3rd and currently teaches her in 4th grade at St. Philip Catholic School in El Campo, TX. She is absolutely adored by all the kids. The fun all started in 2009, when another teacher asked Brooke to make a pendant. Soon, she got many requests to make a special jewelry pieces and her new business venture was born: Bauble-Head.

The pendant business grew into full necklaces, matching earrings and bracelets. Within the first year of business, Bauble-Head designs were featured at the Nutcracker Market at the Reliant Center in Houston.

Bauble-Head prides itself on quality items at affordable prices and takes great joy in creating special customized jewelry. She can create everyday conservative pieces and super fun and trendy one-of-a-kind designs. Take a look at the "fabulosity" here.

Coming Soon to El Campo

2010-02-03T19:32:00.000-08:00

We are very fortunate to have an exciting new business in El Campo. Next Friday, February 12, 2010, Cedar Chest Quilt Shoppe will open its doors. Keri Graff and her staff have been hard at work, stocking the shelves with gorgeous premium cotton fabrics, notions, hand stitchery and more. We are lucky to have such a great assortment of fabrics in our own backyard.

Stop in and see the fresh and fabulous fabrics and meet the knowledgeable staff, you'll be glad you did!!

The store is located at 121 S. Mechanic in the historic shopping district of El Campo, next door to JBrew. You can reach them at 979-578-8929.

http://cedarchestquiltshoppe.com/

You can follow the new arrivals on facebook too, just become a fan.

Social Media: Start by Listening

2010-01-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

In the New Year, you may be considering whether or not to jump on the social media bandwagon. My suggestion is to start learning about social media by listening. Listen to what is being said about you, your business, and your competitors online. This is easily completed by setting up a Google Alert and reading your email.

Google Alerts allow you to monitor what is being said about any topic you can imagine. You determine if you want the alerts emailed to you daily or as the alert happens. My recommendation is to set up a Google Alert for your name, your company name, your industry keywords and your competitors' names. Utilizing Google Alerts in this manner, you will know what is being discussed online regarding your industry and your company and you can react accordingly. This is the first step in developing a Social Media Strategy.

El Campo Chamber Ambassador Recruiting

2009-12-27T17:59:00.000-08:00

The El Campo Chamber of Commerce Ambassador program is recruiting new members. The Ambassadors are the welcoming arm of the Chamber of Commerce. The Ambassador program in El Campo is relatively new; it started last year and has been a tremendous success. As an ambassador, your participation in various events will help your community and your Chamber of Commerce. The requirements are simply that you participate in as many events as you like. Not only will your participation help your community, it may also result in benefits to your business. Some of the events we participate in:

Annual Crawfish Boil
New Member Ribbon Cuttings
Chamber Golf Tournament
Business Blenders
Prairie Days Festival
Christmas Mall
Holly Jolly Jubilee

We hold quarterly meetings in the morning. When you participate in the various activities, you earn points and your points convert into Chamber Bucks. The Chamber Ambassador Program is terrific opportunity to participate in community events and help make El Campo an even better place to live. If you are interested in joining the program, contact me.

Website Announcements

2009-12-19T18:06:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-11T14:17:00.000-07:00

"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

2009-09-19T15:53:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-06T18:59:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-22T20:02:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-05T12:21:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-15T14:26:00.000-07:00

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

How and Why to Start Email Marketing

2009-04-14T07:06:00.000-07:00

Let's face it, email marketing is a cost effective medium to get your message out. When compared to printing and mailing costs, emailing is a real value. Not only is it less expensive to send emails, but some reports I've read suggest that for every $1 you spend on email marketing, you can make a $50 return on investment.

Emails are also great to get the message out fast. Having a last-minute sale? It can be tricky to get it advertised in the paper or printed and delivered via snail mail, but takes much less time to create and send an advertisement by email.

Additionally, email marketing is a terrific tool because it provides measurable results. With the newest technology available, email marketers are able to provide details on email openings, bounces, and click-throughs to your website. You can use these metrics, in addition to sales, to determine the success of the campaign.

Start by collecting email addresses. Where to collect emails:

Hold a drawing
At a trade show
Add a sign up form to your website
Call your best customers
From a prospect call
At point of sale in your retail store
Networking at your local Chamber event

Make sure you utilize a permission based service that allows recipients to opt-out of receiving emails. Spam email provides little to no value to the recipient. "Spam is the abuse of electronic messaging system to send unsolicited bulk messages indiscriminately"1 Alternatively, permission-based emails build relationships and over time convert prospects into customers.

Create content relevant to your audience. Also, include your logo, contact information and links to your website in every email. Be consistent in your timing. Try to send out emails on a regular basis: bi-weekly, monthly or quarterly.

You can set up your own email marketing campaign or utilize a full-service marketing company that handles the details for you. For more great email marketing ideas, check our website.

1 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Don't let your domain expire...

2009-03-18T18:44:00.000-07:00

Domains can be tricky to renew once they have expired! When a domain expires, there is a 30 day Grace Period to renew with the registrant. After this, it goes into a Redemption period of 30 more days whereby only the registrant can re-activate it and renewal may cost substantially more than a typical domain registration. I've heard of some renewals costing upwards of $150 dollars during the redemption period.

After the 30-day redemption period the domain enters a 5-day Pending Delete period. When a domain is in the Pending Delete period, no one is allowed to renew the domain and it can't be registered. After the 5-day Pending Delete period, the domain is released back into the public pool of available domain names enabling anyone to register it.

Another note, many of the BIG hosting companies are resellers that work with other companies to manage their domains. For example, Yahoo! is a reseller for MelbourneIT and Google Apps is a reseller for Godaddy or Enom. So, if you try to renew a domain after it has expired and it is handled by a reseller, you will most likely need to deal with the domain registrar directly. Also, many of these big hosting companies can be difficult to reach with domain renewal problems.

To avoid any trouble, DON'T LET YOUR DOMAIN EXPIRE!!

Starting at the beginning...selecting your domain

2009-03-01T20:17:00.000-08:00

Deciding on your domain requires careful consideration. While hopefully many visitors to your website will find your site via search engines and links, a good number of surfers will type your domain directly into the browser. Given this, there are some key points to consider:

Keep your domain short
Don't use easily misspelled words
Use keywords related to your business
OR use a catchy phrase

Using keywords in your domain name can help with search engine rankings and assist with understanding the nature of your business. High Search engine ranking or being on the first page of natural listings is not easy to achieve, and using key words in your domain can effectively improve your search engine ranking. For example, if your business is in "insurance" and you determine that this is the best keyword for you, you should probably include this in your domain name. Alternatively, a catchy or quirky phrase can be completely unrelated, but should be easy to remember. For example, Paypal's original website was accessible via x.com. Can't get much simpler than that to remember!! X.com is still utilized by Paypal, but is not their primary domain any longer.

Businesses should stick with a .com or .net address.

Also, make sure you decide on a domain that you plan to keep. Once you have established your domain, your timer starts. Google's search engine rankings rely on many variables, but one is the length of time the domain has been in existence. In order to maintain your Google rankings it is best to not to change your domain. Changing your domain after a period of time can penalize your Google rankings.

Contact me to discuss domain name ideas. In fact, I am happy to complete the domain registration process for you.