Planning Your Web Site

by James Fowler
www.mywebsource1.com

Proper planning is the key to success for your web site. It may be difficult to overcome the first impression of disorganized information, a terrible user experience, or the drivel of poor content. Will your web site visitors return to you? By planning your web site out, you will have the right elements to keep people coming back to your web site again and again.

There are several things you must prepare if you want to have a successful and timely web site. The following can be used as a check list to help you be on your way.

DOMAIN NAME
This is the first thing you need to start your web site. A domain name is a unique name that identifies your site on the internet. For example, www.mywebsource1.com is a domain name. You typically buy a domain name for one year or more. It is suggested that you buy the domain for a minimum of 3 years, however, because search engine spiders look favorably on web sites that plan to be around longer than a couple of months. By buying ahead, you help yourself with the search engines.

HOSTING
Hosting is the next thing you will need. You have your web site name, now you need a place to “host” the web site. Hosting is basically keeping your web site on an external server that connects itself to the internet. Good hosting companies offer special services like a free blog, an email with your web site name, and enough space to hold all of your information.

THE WEB SITE
Finally! What you have been waiting for! Gathering everything you need to build your web site. It is time to come up with a web site strategy and some objectives. What is your web site going to accomplish? What will bring people to your web site? What will you gain from your web site?

Styles of Web Sites: What is your web site going to do? Is it an informational piece that is just an extension of your business card and literature? Do you want to sell something by using eCommerce? Maybe you want to interact with your customers and collect data so you can better assist them?

All of these are viable web sites. What is most important is to stay focused on what you are trying to do. People do not want to be confused. If you confuse them, they won’t come back to your web site. One thought. One page.

Think about the colors that you want to use on your web site. Does it look good with your logo? Do you have a logo? If not, you should really get one and use it on all of your marketing materials.

Information to Customers: This could be your contact information and store hours. It can be interactive in the way of a form. This way, you can collect information through a database so that you can market information to your customers. Keeping a close contact with your list is essential to ecommerce success.

Pictures and illustrations: A picture says a thousand words, right? This holds true on the internet, as well. People are visual beings and good, eye-pleasing graphics will attract people’s attention. You can take the pictures with a digital camera and upload them to your web designer. Pictures can also be found on the internet, need to be purchased. Just because they are out there, doesn’t mean you have carte blanche to use them. You can obtain them through a variety of web sites that sell images or if you see a picture you like, contact the web site owner and ask them to use the picture. This works particularly well if you are adding product to your web site to sell. Manufacturers want you to use their pictures to sell more product.

Web Site content: What are you going to say? The truth of the matter is that how you say your words are more important than anything else. Search engine spiders (those little programs that find your web site on the internet) love text. They’d love if you wrote a book on the page topic. However, most people don’t want to read volumes of text. Make sure you are concise about what you say and use plenty of keywords so that someone will read it.

Products to sell: Decide what you to sell and how you want to present the items. Typically, you will need a name, a picture, a price, and a unique ID number for the product. Think of things like shipping and handling costs. Know the policy you will follow for international orders (if you plan on shipping out of the country) and the costs associated with this. Think about what you want to use as a merchant account or do you want an online merchant account, such as Paypal?

Marketing your web site: This is the hardest part for most people, but the most vital aspect of your web site. A web site has to be kept up to date and the information has to get out to your potential and current customers. How do you do this? There are plenty of ways including writing a blog, trading links with other businesses, and writing articles. If writing isn’t your thing, try going onto bulletin boards or other places where you can comment something and make sure you add your web site address to your signature.

Another way to market is sending out an email to people who visited your web site. You can find out these names by requesting this information on your web site.

If you want to have a successful web site, you should follow these steps. They are a good basic starting point to complete your goal of a web site and it is something that you should have in place when you meet with your designer. It will make the entire project move along smoothly and you will be happier that you have more control over your web site.

Making the Most of Your Garage Sale

by James Fowler
http://www.mywebsource1.com/

It’s summer time. Children are playing out in the yard, the smells of burning charcoal fill the air as people grill their steaks and hamburgers, and everywhere you look, there are garage sales.

Garage sales are a type of small business. Granted, you are only open for two days out of the year, but why not make the most out of those two days? My neighbor is having a garage sale right now. She spent all day sitting out in the hot sun yesterday selling the “stuff” she no longer wanted. As I sat on my patio working on web sites, I didn’t notice many people stopping by, so I thought I’d do the neighborly thing and take a walk over. It was about 4:00 and I asked her how it was going.

“Not great” she replied. “I’ve been out here since eight this morning and I think we’ve made fourteen dollars.” (That’s $1.75/hour without a lunch break.)

Looking around, I could immediately see the problem. I bought a twenty-five cent item that I didn’t need and walked back home. I was going to offer her some advice, but it was already too late for this garage sale. Maybe she’ll read this blog and make the most out of her next one.

An 8-Step Guide to Selling More at Your Next Garage Sale

1. Plan Ahead. If you are going to have a garage sale, plan ahead. Don’t just throw a bunch of junk into boxes or onto tables. Make sure everything is easy to see and accessible. You wouldn’t walk into Kohls or Target and see items just piled up on tables. Don’t let your store look like that, either.

2. There is a Time and Place for Order. If you go into any store there are rows of items that belong in categories grouped together. The Men’s section, the Women’s section, the Shoe section, etc… So why do we go to garage sales and see children’s clothing next to a rusty grill and used fishing equipment? Organize items to sell. Guide people through the products of your past.

3. Make sure everything is clean. Don’t put out dirty or clothes that need ironing. Dust off the games, pieces of furniture, or electronic equipment. If you want to sell something, present it in a way that makes it appealing and doesn’t look like you dug something out from the back of your junk closet.

4. Put a price tag on everything. For the most part, people like to avoid confrontation. Many are afraid to be social, let alone confrontational. If you don’t have a price tag on everything in your garage sale, you are missing out on money. Some people will not ask for a price if they don’t see it and will just walk away. Remember, no one goes to a garage sale because they NEED something. They go to a garage sale because they WANT something (most of the time they don’t even know what it is) at a deal. You are still going to get the “professional” hagglers, but if you have a price tag on something, you’ll have a place to start. Have a price tag on everything.

5. Showcase the Stuff People Want. Let’s say you have a mini-fridge your kid used in college. You want that to sell, so you put a $45 price tag on it. Don’t put this item in the back of your garage with your old twenty-five cent Monopoly board on top of it. This is something that should be seen from the road. Showcase it! Put a big yellow sign on it that says, “Mini-Fridge: Gently Used, Works Great! Perfect for a Dorm Room or your Garage! $45.00” Don’t have a yellow sign? A package of construction paper and a marker are cheap to get at the dollar store. Get those big items out front where people can see them.

6. Show People it Works. Are you trying to sell that radio or 6” television? Put it in a place next to an electrical outlet and plug it in. People want to make sure that the radio they are buying for $5 is actually going to play. They want to know your junk isn’t actually junk but an unrealized treasure.

7. Market Yourself. Why don’t people know how to do this? My neighbor has (3) 8.5x11 store-bought, black and white signs promoting her garage sale. One is in her front yard and the other two are taped to telephone poles at the one end of our street. She also put a $15 ad in the newspaper saying “Come to my garage sale”!

The ad, obviously, didn’t work.
No one read it.
I didn’t.

She should have saved herself the $15 and made some big yellow signs with bold letters that directed traffic to her door. One on each end of the street, facing both sides of traffic, and a HUGE one in front of the house. Additionally, she should have put signs at all of the major intersections in her area. There are often places where you can post your garage sale for free online such as the local media. Google those resources, as well.

8. Talk to People. Once you get the people in the garage, talk to them. Greet them, say “HELLO”. Strike up a conversation…Now, I am not saying I want you to bull rush them at the door.

Just say “Hello.”

NEVER SAY: “Can I help you?” That is the wrong thing ever lead with because the answer is always “No, thank you, I am just looking.” The conversation is lost and you’ve lost your sale. Just talk and strike up a conversation. Tell them about all the fun little Tommy used to have playing on that Big Wheel. “Bryan Adams’ “Everything I Do, I Do It For You” was playing on that very tape deck when I met my wife...” Talking will get people to be more likely to buy from you.

Following these eight easy steps should help your garage sale immensely. What’s more, there is an added bonus with these tips: You’ll probably make more money. More people will come to your sale, they will know how to find your wares, they will know the price and you will talk with them to ensure that they get what they are looking for and come back in future years. Good luck with your garage sale and I hope you sell a bundle!

WHO COULD USE SOME MORE MONEY?

COULD YOU USE SOME EXTRA SPENDING CASH?

We live in troubled times where gasoline is over four dollars a gallon, grocery prices are going up. People need a little extra cash. There is little altruism left in this world, but I would like to change that. If you think you could help me, I’d like to help you.

How would you like me to give you ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS?

That’s right. I want to give you a hundred dollars for helping me out. All you have to do is introduce me to someone who would be interested in building a web site. If they decide to have my company build them a web site AND they tell me that you were the one who suggested it, I WILL GIVE YOU ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS.

There are no strings attached. You don’t have to sell the web site. You don’t have to do ANYTHING else after I sell a web site to your friend except collect ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS.

1. Introduce me to a person/company/business in need of a web site.
   
2. Have them tell me that you told them about myWebSource1.com when they buy a web site from me.
   
3. I’ll give you ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS upon receipt of their paid web site through my company, myWebSource1.
   

I am only offering this to you because you know me in some way. It is either through being a friend, a reader of my blog, or a member of one of my social networking web sites.

This offer is valid for only one person, per web site. The money will be given to the person whom the web site owner states that gave me their name. No one else will get the money.

If you know someone who is interested, pass their name along to me via my email address at info@mywebsource1.com.

So let me give you ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS. Send me a name of a company that needs a web site along with the person in charge and I will contact them. Everybody knows someone who owns a business or company. Why not make this work for you!

James Fowler
www.myWebSource1.com
info@mywebsource1.com

High Gasoline Prices Turn Consumers To Online Shopping

by James Fowler
www.mywebsource1.com

Do you sell a product or service? Are you looking for a way to make money with a hobby or business idea? Maybe you should look to selling your business online. Even if you aren’t looking to have an ecommerce site, people are going online to find your business. If you do not have a web site, this is something you may want to consider.

The high price of gasoline does have one positive effect for consumers: As gasoline prices rise, people forgo driving their SUVs out to their local malls and start up their PCs to shop online.

As prices of gasoline threaten to peak over $4.00 a gallon across much of the United States, online sales are beginning to rise. According to Drapers.com, a website dedicated to the international fashion market, online clothing and shoe sales rose 38% in the past year. In fact, internet sales now are responsible for almost 2% of all sales made in the United States. This may not sound like a lot, but that number is over $50 billion dollars in US sales – almost double from the $24 billion dollars spent online in 2004.

This number continues to grow at a steady pace. Free shipping, discounts and ease of ordering over the Internet are also attributed to attracting customers. The war with Iraq and fear of terrorism are other reasons some Americans state as to why they are now shopping online.

In a recent survey from Shopzilla.com, 40% of internet shoppers say they have increased their web purchases to save on gasoline. With gasoline rising on a daily basis and people moving away from driving to the store and looking for products online, maybe it is time to build your web site.

Losing the Safety Net...

Today was my last day at work. For those of you that do not know, I have been Director of Marketing for Acor Orthopaedic for the past seven years. We parted on good terms and I wish them nothing but the best. Even still, saying goodbye to my friends was bittersweet. I met a lot of great people there over the years. I keep in contact with some of them and some of my past co-workers have become clients. Today, I walked in and was surprised by a table full of food and drinks. My co-workers had thrown me a surprise going away party, which was great of them. I will miss them, but it is time to move on.

Today is also the first day that I become a full-time entrepreneur. I have been working on my business – www.mywebsource1.com – for almost two years now. We do internet marketing and web design for small businesses, local governments, and non-profits. I have four people working for me and now I have cut loose my safety net. Part of me is elated. The other part is scared to death. From everything I have read and from every business owner I have questioned, this is how I should feel and there is something wrong if I do not.

So, I am taking the weekend off to gather my thoughts (as if I haven’t been thinking about this) and Monday morning I am getting up at my regular time, getting ready for work, putting my shoes on and making my twelve foot commute to my home office. Think of the gasoline I am saving?

I am happy about my decision. I am happy that everything has occurred the way it did at Acor. I didn’t want to end it with a hassle and it went smoothly. That is the way things should be.

Supporting the Troops While Killing Zombies

Supporting the Troops While Killing Zombies
By James Fowler

Strange title, isn’t it?

I am a strong proponent of supporting charitable functions. When I started my business, one of the main mission points was to ensure that we gave back to the community and to other charitable endeavors. I am proud to say that this has carried through with all of my business dealings.

On May 23rd, www.NorthCoastNero.com , a live action role-playing franchise that I am part of, will be hosting Zombie-thon 2008 to raise money for the USO to give phone calling cards to our troops overseas. Our goal is to raise as much money as possible and have a lot of fun doing it in the meantime.

So what is Zombie-thon 2008?
Basically, it is an all-night event for men and women ages 14-adult to come out and kill zombies that have infested the woods in Northeast Ohio. The zombies are 100 volunteers that we have obtained for the entertainment of the participants.

How do you kill a zombie?
Zombies can be killed by either using a safe, NERF gun or boffer weapon. A boffer weapon is a sword or club made from safe open celled foam with a PVC core. These weapons are all ensured safe by our marshals. You must bring your own NERF gun, but if you don’t have a boffer weapon, one can be provided for you.

So how can this make money for the troops?
A portion of each entry fee - $30.00 – will be given to the troops. Additionally, participants are encourages to gather sponsors to give them a set amount for each zombie they kill! One hundred percent of all the sponsored money goes to our troops! For more information on this, please feel free to contact me at info@northcoastnero.com

When and where is the event?
May 23rd, 2008
Great Trails Girl Scout Camp
Malvern, Ohio

Directions to the camp can be found on our web site at www.northcoastnero.com

Is there anything else?
Of course! Pizza and beverages will be provided during the night of the event. Prizes will be awarded. And, as a special bonus, if you have never tried NERO – which is a fantasy live-action roleplaying game, you are more than welcome to stay for the weekend – a $20.00 value! For more information on this and our NERO events, please contact us at info@northcoastnero.com or by phone at (330) 807-2013

What is Tweek-IT™?

What is Tweek-IT™?
By James Fowler
www.mywebsource1.com

The core of my business is working with local businesses in hometowns across the United States. The owners of these businesses typically work on a tight budget with little room to do things such as updating their web site on a regular basis.

This is where we got the concept of Tweek-IT™. With Tweek-IT™ the business owner can control the content of the web site, make changes how they want, to what they want and when they want it done.

What is best, Tweek-IT™ is simple to use! If you are familiar with popular software like Microsoft Word, you can use Tweek-IT™ to change your web site! Simply type, change links, or add pictures!
So what web site is the best candidate for using Tweek-IT™?

• Businesses that have daily, weekly, or even monthly specials!
• Organizations with an ongoing activity calendar.
• An Announcements Page
• A place to highlight important parts of your web site
• Anywhere you want to make frequent changes!
  

Tweek-IT™ saves you money AND makes more money for you!As everyone knows, time is money. With Tweek-IT™, you save time because you no longer need to call someone to make the changes to your web site. Simply sign in to Tweek-IT™, make your changes and -minutes later – your edits are on your web site!

Be first with breaking news or specials when you want them because you have the power of Tweek-IT™! If you want to make changes on your web site, contact myWebSource1 for more details.