5 Ways to Give Your Web Site a Big-Company Look and Feel
We all DO judge a book by its cover, and the same saying goes for Web sites. I've seen many entrepreneurs offer great information on their Web pages, but compromise their image dramatically with a few amateur mistakes that can be VERY unforgiving.
If you want to attract high quality clients and customers, and convey that you're a legitimate, credible, and sought-after business, these five points are a great launching pad to give your site that "big company" look and feel.
1. Start with a high-quality LOGO.
The one your kid created for you doesn't count! I'm talking about paying a designer to do one for you, and it doesn't have to cost in the thousands. If you don't have much of a budget, consider the following options:
For my E-zine Queen site, I used an online logo service called "1800MyLogo" (http://www.mylogo.com). At the time they charged only $199 to design a professional logo based on my business, style, and personal preferences. The whole process only took about two weeks and was conducted entirely over the Web. (To see the final result, take a quick peek at Ezine Queen (http://www.ezinequeen.com.)
I've also heard good things about GotLogos.com, where you can get a quick Web site logo for only $25!
2. Get your own business DOMAIN NAME.
It's just a fact that folks will feel safer shopping at a site with its own domain name.
For example, if you were shopping online for a circular saw, would you be more likely to purchase from a hardware site called "...bobshardware.com" or the one whose URL is "...geocities.com/3339/bobshardware'? (This is a fictional example, by the way.)
Having your own domain name implies you're a "real" company, and not Uncle Bob working in his kitchen at night (even though you my very well be ; )).
There are several places to buy domain names at good prices, but one of my favorites is WebLaunching.net (http://www.weblaunching.net). (Only $12 per year.)
3. Get (and use) a business E-MAIL ADDRESS.
Nothing screams "amateur" like sending out professional e-mail from a handle like "fuzzybear4u@hotmail.com." Once you get a domain name for your Web site, have your hosting company set up a professional e-mail *alias* for you.
Let's go back to Bob, for example. Suppose Bob's e-mail has always been "BobSmith000002@earthlink.net." Now that he has his own domain name, he can instead use "bob@bobshardware.com". He still KEEPS his Earthlink address, because that's where he'll actually receive his mail. But he should only GIVE OUT the new one on his Web site, business cards, etc.
If you use Outlook or a similar e-mail program, you can set it up so that your e-mails ONLY show your e-mail alias and your personal e-mail address. (To do this in Outlook, go under the "Tools" menu. Then choose "Accounts." Then select the account you use, and click "Properties." Enter your e-mail alias in both the "e-mail" and "reply address" fields.)
4. Get a professional-looking Web site DESIGN.
This can mean either hiring a designer to do a custom site for you, OR designing it yourself. Unless you're both trained extensively in HTML and have a background in design, it's well worth the money to hire someone.
Find prospective designers who work with small businesses, ask to see samples of their work, and be upfront about your budget. If their rates are higher than you can afford, ask them if they have any pre-designed Web site templates they can just insert your information in, cutting down tremendously on design time and cost.
Whatever design you choose, make it CONSISTENT on every page of your site, by using the same design elements such as borders, fonts, and colors.
If your budget is next to nil and you'd like to choose from a variety of templates that you can customize, check out Ken Evoy's new "Site Build It"! This innovative tool lets you create your own site very easily, and it has some of the most professional-looking templates I've seen. The affordable package (less than $350 USD) also includes hosting, a list service, and more. (http://www.sitesell.com/websellsecrets.html)
5. Tell us WHO YOU ARE and HOW TO REACH YOU.
Most of us (and rightfully so) are leery of purchasing online from a company we've never heard of before. To alleviate our fears, put contact information on every page if you can, with a physical mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address.
If you're uncomfortable posting your home address, lease a box around the corner and use that address. Avoid using "P.O. box" in your address if possible, which can appear suspicious. Real companies have real addresses!
Also, get a *Toll-free* number if you can - it says "big company" and "customer service." I got mine from my long distance provider, 1Com (http://www.1cominc.com), because they charge no setup fee or monthly fees - I only pay for the incoming calls at my usual great long distance rates.
(c) 2002 Alexandria K. Brown
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," is author of the award-winning manual, "Boost Business With Your Own E-zine." To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at http://EzineQueenTutorial.com/
 Google News Updated : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:05:30 GMT Jesse Jackson hospitalized for stomach pains - Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune - By Jeremy Gorner | Chicago Tribune reporter Rev. Jesse Jackson was being treated Thursday in Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after falling ill. Video: Rev. Jesse Jackson Hospitalized Jesse Jackson hospitalized after stomach pains Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:00:48 GMT Tropical Storm Hanna aiming for Massachusetts - Boston Globe
Boston Globe - By Andrew Ryan and Martin Finucane, Globe Staff Tropical Storm Hanna is expected to churn up the Atlantic coast and lash Massachusetts this weekend with winds gusting up to 50 mph near the coast and up to four inches of rain. Video: Hanna Nears US, but Stronger Ike Looms Area departments gearing up for Hanna's arrival Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:23:14 GMT House committee widens probe of Vytorin safety - International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune - AP TRENTON, NJ: A House committee investigating the safety and effectiveness of the popular cholesterol drug Vytorin and one of its components is turning up the heat on the drug's makers. Many Questions About Vytorin Drug Scare Shenanigans Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:32:18 GMT Arthritis Drugs Linked to Risks From Infection - New York Times
New York Times - By AP WASHINGTON (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration ordered stronger warnings Thursday on four medications widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other serious illnesses, saying they can raise the risk of possibly fatal fungal infections. Deaths Heighten Arthritis Drugs Warning Nation Digest 4 arthritis drugs get tougher warnings Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:38:34 GMT Stocks: A Terrible Thursday - BusinessWeek
BusinessWeek - Major US indexes each tumbled nearly 3% as worries intensified over the health of the economy. All eyes are on Friday's jobs report Market players were probably wondering Thursday why they bothered to come back from their summer vacations. Stocks Are Broadly Lower Tracking Falls on Wall Street Stocks slide on economic worries Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:53:27 GMT UN warns of Haiti flooding crisis - BBC News
BBC News - Several hundred thousand people need help in Haiti, which is suffering severe flooding after being hit by a series of tropical storms, the UN says. Attempts to Aid Desperate Haitians Hindered by Floodwaters Storms line up to slam western Atlantic, southeastern US Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:05:26 GMT Kilpatrick's rise and fall - Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press - BY BILL McGRAW • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • September 5, 2008 Kwame Kilpatrick entered the mayor's office with extraordinary gifts -- charisma, savvy, flair, pedigree, connections, ambition and chutzpah -- everything a 31-year-old needed to make a ... Video: A Timeline of Detroit Mayor's Text Scandal Detroit’s Mayor Will Leave Office and Go to Jail Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:27:50 GMT Web Site Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... After a friend was bitten by a spider, I decided... Read More It is easy to focus on what remains outstanding and... Read More In a previous installment, we spoke about how to come... Read More Do Crucial Market Research For Free, On Your OwnIs market... Read More While focused, strategic networking is usually the most efficient way... Read More I would like to introduce you to one of my... Read More I don't mean you, I mean the YOU that is... Read More No matter if you're publishing your first book or producing... Read More All small businesses can benefit from inexpensive off the shelf... Read More There are many ways to reach out and find the... Read More December is a month in which many organizations make plans... Read More There are four parts to a marketing system and they... Read More Joint Venture marketing has become a highly popular way for... Read More "Brochure" is French, and it comes from brocher, meaning to... Read More The importance of pricing can not be underestimated as incorrect... Read More Most people mistakenly assume that when you talk about marketing,... Read More 1. Examine your clientele and define your ideal client. Of... Read More Guerrilla Marketing is using time, energy and imagination to market... Read More So you've made a sale. Great!Now what? You're not just... Read More ©2004 Jeffrey DobkinThere are two types of lists, determined by... Read More My 6 year old daughter Emily knows exactly what she... Read More I nearly panicked recently! Well, maybe a slight exaggeration but... Read More Voice Mail is a classy name for "answer Machine". Problem... Read More Do you have a website? A Web Newsletter? A mailing... Read More If your company doesn't have a direct marketing program in... Read More
Adsense
websites
Flesh Eating Spiders And Other Marketing Horrors
When You Need More Than Magic To Keep Your Marketing Going
Developing a Contact List- Part Two
Why Market Research Will Help Your Business
The Top 10 Ways to Market your Business or Professional Practice Without Networking
Networking Basics Turn Yourself Into A Profit Making Giant
The YOU Factor
The Marketing Funnel: Simple, Effective Marketing Strategy
Off the Shelf Small Business Mapping Software
5 Great Ways to Reach Your Target Market
A Common - Yet Easily Avoidable - Marketing Mistake
The 10 Cornerstone Principles of Marketing
The Five Most Common Joint Venture Marketing Mistakes To Avoid
The Mighty Marketing Brochure
Small Business Pricing: Setting A Price For Your Product / Service
Strategic Marketing and Tactical Marketing Know The Differences And Profit
The Six-Step Process That Grows Your Business
Guerrilla Marketing in Action
Walking Talking Advertisements
Twelve Places to Buy a Mailing List
Lessons From a Six Year Old
Give me a Referral any Day - the Power of Networking
Voice Mail Can Be Your Buddy
Direct Mail
Direct Marketing ? Brand Identity Guru Tips
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Tips For Developing An Effective Questionnaire
Developing the questionnaire is undoubtedly the most important part of... Read More
To Be Successful Sell to Wants not Needs
My mother used to tell me, tongue in cheek, that... Read More
Mortgage Marketing - How to Earn More Business From Realtors®
Is your marketing strategy getting the results you desire?Mailing postcards,... Read More
Everybody Loves Raymond....You Should Too!
Popular TV Series Provides a Powerful Marketing LessonSmall Business owners... Read More
10 Start Up Marketing Tips
This list has been compiled as a result of years... Read More
Go Guerrilla
Jay Conrad Levinson coined the term guerrilla marketing, which I... Read More
Ten Effective Ways to Capture Market
1.Evaluation of Existing Products / Therapies2.Assessment of New Products3.Market assessment... Read More
Make Your E-Mail Signature File WORK for You!
You're probably familiar with e-mail signature (or "sig") files -... Read More
Twelve Places to Buy a Mailing List
©2004 Jeffrey DobkinThere are two types of lists, determined by... Read More
Nine Must-Do Positioning Steps
Every professional or consultant knows that clients typically hire people... Read More
Fertilizer For Your Grassroots Marketing
Looking for a great way to drive traffic to your... Read More
15-Minute Marketing: Lots of Results in Little Time
Do you think you don't have enough time to market?... Read More
Shine a Spotlight on Your Professional Service Firm
As a life-long dancer, I know a bit about the... Read More
How to Handle Jargon at Your Web Site - and Why
If you sell a technical product or service, you probably... Read More
The Secret to Good Writing
Skilful business writing involves getting your message across simply and... Read More
5 Tips to Grow Your Business Globally
Entering into Global markets is a great way to organically... Read More
Network Your Way to Success- 12 Tips to Jumpstart Your Business
Lots of people network but few reap the rewards of... Read More
12 Lessons I Picked Up from Attending Seminars
So you just dropped a tidy sum to attend a... Read More
Mission Statement Impossible
Dant dant da da dant dant da da. Dant dant... Read More
7 Tips to Grab New Clients
As a business professional, you probably realize the value of... Read More
Marketing on the Cheap: Write? Right!!
We all know the value of writing articles for promoting... Read More
Image is Key to Your Marketing Success
In virtually any business first impressions are lasting impressions. Most... Read More
The Money Making Secret of The Toll Booth Position
I'm a marketing consultant and at one of my client-companies,... Read More
Matrix Web Sites - Scam or NOT?
While I am not talking about the movie "Matrix", you... Read More
To Web or Not to Web?
Do I need a web site? That is the question... Read More
Marketing |