WELCOME TO THE WEB!

We love announcing new websites and we have three that have been launched this month:

Hockey’s Resource (center) at www.HockeysResource.com is a new website that provides hockey news and information from both amateur and professional leagues around the world. Aimed at the hockey industry, articles vary from general interest to game reviews, scouting reports, camps, tournaments, drafts and more.

Desert Security (right) is a home and business security monitoring and installation company. They also provide home wiring, automation systems, networking and audio-video services. Desert Security has been protecting Arizona home and business owners for over 17 years. They’re service is top-notch and price is hard to beat. Checking out the JDE-designed website at www.DesertSecurityMonitoring.com.

www.AllHomesArizona.com (left) is home to HUD Home specialists Alex and Matt, a team of REALTORS here in the Valley who primarily serve the HUD home buyers. Their new website provides up-to-the-minute listings of HUD homes around the Phoenix area. They have a questions-answers page with a ton of useful information on it, and they also provide comprehensive real estate services for non-HUD clients.

WELCOME TO THE WEB!

HOW DO YOU REFURBISH A WEBSITE?

When many people hear the word “refurbish”, they tend to think of electronics that have been rebuilt or repaired and then sold at a discount as “almost, but not quite new”. While this is one of the variations of the word, I prefer the dictionary definition (Merriam-Webster) for “refurbish”…

to brighten or freshen up

…especially when it comes to websites.

These are tough economic times, no disputing that fact. In addition, many small business owners or self-employed individuals are watching every penny. I include myself in this. As a web designer, I fully appreciate the decisions that people make to build a website. It’s an expense and a risk. One one had they know they need it, on the other hand there are no guarantees.

For others, however, there is a middle ground that I call a website “refurbish”. Simply put, it’s a clean-up and refreshing of an existing website. It’s not a rebuild, it’s an update. Here are several things that I do and you can do too:

• Update your photographs. Good quality pictures can make the worst-designed website look good. Bad pictures can ruin a well-designed website. Updating your photos periodically is like redecorating a room.
• Change your page colors. Web design color schemes seem to go in cycles. Many people are going back to a more simple, white-or-light scheme with the colors coming from the artwork.
• Take a look at some of your competition and see what they’re doing. I’m not condoning plagiarism of course, but there’s nothing with a little creative “window shopping”.
• Check the formatting and spelling of the content. Have someone else give you sincere feedback. Yes, the truth hurts, but wouldn’t you rather know the truth?
• Dynamic content. If you have a blog, does it “feed” into your website? Getting a “feed reader” from your blog plugged in to your website is, in most cases, very easy. It’s a great tool for search engines because when you update your blog, you website content is also updated.
• Get some basic SEO (Search Engine Optimization). You don’t have to spend a fortune on high-end programs. If you maintain your own website, you can do this yourself. If not, have a web designer update your “metatags”. These are pieces of code on each page that are used by search engines to index your page. Have him/her make sure your “headers” are correct. Headers are (usually) the big titles you’ll see in a page (ie YOUR WEB DESIGN COMPANY). Work with your webmaster to ensure that both your tags and headers are relevant to your business. Have them also check the image “alt tags”. These are pieces of text that display if a browser has trouble showing a picture on your site. They’re also used by search engines because search engines can’t “read” pictures. This basic SEO should NOT cost a lot!!!
• Make sure your website is in at least the “big three” search engines. These are Yahoo, Bing (MSN) and Google. You can see how your sites are being indexed by going to the home page of each search engine and typing SITE:[www.yourwebsitename.com].

These are a few things you can do that don’t cost an arm and a leg, or at least shouldn’t, but can make a huge difference to your online presence and hopefully help you feel brightened and freshened up.

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING? 10 THINGS TO CONSIDER…

The term "social media" has become so widely used (and abused) that the meaning behind it has become rather generic. But remember that the "social" in "social media" should be just that. It suggests interaction and communication…TWO way. There are many many many people out there standing on their little platform shouting out their message and never listening. While this might work for celebrities, in my opinion it’s probably a dubious marketing strategy. If you’re going to use social media, then use it the way it was intended.

1. Understand the terms and tools. Facebook is what I would consider true "social" media. Twitter is more a social commentary tool, little updates during the day. Blogging is more analogous to journaling, or commentary on a bigger scale. Social "bookmarking" means sharing found information with others…and so on. For each of the "classes" of social media tool are dozens, if not hundreds of tools to use. Need go get an idea of how many? Check this link out to AddThis.com.
   
   
2. Be prepared to spend resources. A "resource" is time, effort or money in this case. You’re not going to be able to sit back and do nothing, unless you have someone doing all your social media for you (in which case you’re probably paying them). You’re going to have to make an investment of some sort, but with a solid strategy, you can yield returns.
   
   
3. The tools. Pick the tools and stick with them, at least for a while. I see so many people who flit between products like a bee in a summer field; a bit here, a bit there. Yet they accomplish little to nothing. In this day of the web, trends come and go overnight. You’re not always going to be able or want to use the latest gadget. While I think new technologies and tools should be considered as part of a plan, picking the "latest" thing should not be the plan. Picking the right tools will also depend on what resources you can put into them. Take a product like Twitter. The way it functions, in my opinion, requires a little more "hands on" during the day that some of the less dynamic products such as Facebook or a social bookmarking tool.
   
   
4. Integrate. Bring your social media tools together. Integrate your blog with your Twitter, Facebook or website. Keep your look, personalities and message coherent among the products. There are so many ways to integrate social media tools that I will probably write another article on them.
   
   
5. Separate your lives. Keep your online personalities separate. Your business dealings should be kept apart from your personal dealings. You don’t have to "friend" all your clients on Facebook. If you feel you should, then set up a business profile or page and use that. Do you really want your clients or colleagues to know you "got totally wasted dude"?
   
   
6. A game plan. Sounds obvious doesn’t it? A plan isn’t just a vague idea along the lines of "hm, I think I’ll set up a Twitter account and tell people about my products." A plan includes a goal, milestones, a method for achieving them and a way of measuring success.
   
   
7. Be careful who you listen to. It’s easy to sit there and say "social media brings me 98% of my business and I mad $10,000,000 last year thanks to Twitter." It’s also easy to see that message and be disheartened by it. There seem to be more people who are successful online than there is money in the system, have you noticed? I’m not saying that people don’t have success using social media marketing, but if they’re so busy shouting about it…you get the gist.
   
   
8. Learn. Read blogs. Visit websites. There is so much information out there. Check out trends, not just in your industry, but others. Look for what people are doing out there and consider how you can adapt it for your social media plan.
   
   
9. Manage your time. 60 hours a week online might be overdoing in. Depending on what your tools and plan call for, plan to spend x number of hours a day or week online, and stick to it. Split your time between writing, reading and interacting (remember the "social" in "social media").
   
   
10. Give it time. Rome wasn’t built in a day. With a plan and realistic goals, set over a 3 or 6 month time frame, you can evolve your online presence. It is not going to happen overnight. You need to stick with it, which is why picking the right tools is important.
    
    

With the right tools, mindset and a plan, you’ll be amazed at what you can do. Just take your time and invest wisely. Feel free to email me at Dave@JDELtd.com. Emails are free I also offer training programs, marketing services and support.

Good luck!

(ALMOST) 2 BILLION AND STILL GOING UP!

Holy Internet Batman!

In January 2009 I wrote an article titled “1.5 Billion Internet Users…and Growing“, exploring the incredible development of the use of the web in recent years. I just happened to be (web) surfing this morning when I decided to visit the authority on Internet statistics, Internet World Stats…

…almost 2 BILLION! We’ll perhaps a slight exaggeration. The numbers at the end of 2009, a mere 11 months after I wrote my last were 1,802,330,457. That’s an increase of 400,000,000 users, or 26% of the world’s population.

In North America, the US is way out front in terms of number of users (220 million) but in percentages, it’s behind Greenland (90% but only 57,600 population). Canada has a 75% penetration which translates to 28 million users.

Asia still lags behind with 20% of the population having Internet access, but that’s an increase of 250 million people, almost as much as the entire North American continent. That number is primarily comprised of Chinese web users (384 million or 28% of the population), followed by Japan with 75% (96 million) of the population and India a close third with only 7% but 81 million users.

In Europe, the top three countries, number-of-Internet-users wise are Germany (54 million), the UK (47 million) and Russia (43 million). However, on the percentage scale, the leader is Iceland (93%), Norway (91%), and Sweden (89%).

Netcraft’s 2010 survey of websites reports that 207 million websites responded to their tests. Remember that these include sites such as WordPress which have “sub sites” below them, but this is still an increase of 20 million since my January post (187).

I could go on and on. Take a moment to check out the numbers for yourself. In conclusion, what this all means is that over a quarter of the planet is wired to the web. From an e-marketing and e-business standpoint, that’s an incredible ocean in which to go fishing and all indications are that the numbers are going to continue to go up. The ratio of users to websites is going up, which I guess is good for those of us who have sites, there are more users to go around.

Can’t wait to see how this all looks in another 12 to 18 months. Isn’t the World Wide Web an amazing place?

Reference sources
Internet World Stats at www.internetworldstats.com
Netcraft at www.netcraft.com

WELCOME TO THE WEB

The very best part of my job is “launch days”. That’s when all my work, and that of my client, comes to fruition and we set them on their maiden (or renewed) voyage into the world wide web.

A JDE website is an investment from not just the customer, but from us as well. From the initial concept (“I have an idea for a website…”) to the design (“whacha think…?”) to the redesigns (“were you listening to anything I said…?”), we’ve worked closely together for several weeks, or months to get to this stage.

As with any major production, there are last minute jitters (“did you remember to…?”) and changes (“What about changing the whole thing…?”), but she’s seathworthy and now’s the time to take her our (“all aboard and other nautical terms”).

From this point on, our strategy changes. We’ve built it, but we also need to get “them” to visit. Spreading the word, discovering new opportunities and marketing are now called for. Wherever our site may sail, however, nothing beats the launch day.

Welcome to the first two sites of 2010…

BiltmoreEtc.com is the new home for John Cunnigham of CV Realty here in the Phoenix Area. John specializes in the East-Central Phoenix Metro area, covering Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Central Phoenix. The site design was kept relatively monotone to allow the pictures to “do the talking”. The site features animation and a custom property match as well as Google maps integration to highlight areas such as the Biltmore, Arcadia and Fashion Square.

DesertSkyDevelopment.com is the newly-redesigned site of Desert Sky Development Custom Homes, an award-winning luxury home builder in North Scottsdale. The site was developed to showcase their incredible portfolio and awards. The site features a video slideshow,”flipping book” picture galleries, random images and quotes and pays tribute to a number of causes sponsored by the company.

Every day should be a launch day.

If you’re interested in seeing other sites in our portfolio, wander over to www.JDELtd.com

Dave Segrove is a Phoenix Small Business Web Designer and Marketing Consultant. You can learn more about Dave’s products and services at www.JDELtd.com.

10 REASONS TO NOT HAVE A WEBSITE

Here are 10 reasons to avoid getting out onto the Internet and joining the online community. These are all reasons we have heard from potential clients…

1. Websites don’t work or aren’t effective marketing tools)

A well designed website will work, at least from a technical standpoint. As a marketing tool, a website can be many things. It’s a 24×7 storefront, showcasing your business to the world when you can’t. There are over a billion computer users on the Internet around the world. That’s a lot of potential exposure. The right site, with the right marketing, both online and offline can be a very useful weapon in your marketing arsenal.

2. I won’t be able to find a web design company that I can trust)

There are good and bad web designers and web design companies. If you don’t have a referral, check out some web design companies online. Check their portfolios and speak to their clients. You’re the customer in the relationship. You should be allowed to ask any question you want, without any pressure or avoidance on the part of the designer. Also, shop around. We designers are a diverse bunch and you should feel comfortable with the one you choose.

3. I’m not technical so I won’t know what I’m getting into)

A good web designer should be able to speak to you in language that you understand. How else can they interpret what you want?

4. I (or someone I know) had a bad experience with a web design company)

Unfortunately this is often then case, but there are many very good designers and design firms out there. About half our clients come from other developers or webmasters, but they do stick with us

5. I won’t be able to find a web design company who will understand my business)

Good web designers learn. It’s how we build sites. We don’t always come into a project knowing too much, but we always know a heck of a lot when we’re done. In order to provide a site that suits your business needs, a designer has to understand at least a bit about what you do. (In my opinion) one size does not fit all.

6. My type of business doesn’t need a website)

Are you sure? Have you checked the search engines lately? You may not need a full-blown e-commerce site, but what about providing a list of services and contact information. Many web surfers use sites just for that. Also, though it may seem strange, many people use the web to verify that companies are legitimate. A website’s a good place to start.

7. Websites take too much time to update)

What is “too much time”? As a marketing tool, a website needs to be invested in to yield returns. You shouldn’t have to spend hours and hours updating your site (unless it’s really big or you really like doing web updates), but you will need to do some, just to keep it up-to-date and fresh. Some of our sites are updated by us. on behalf of the client, only once or twice a year.

8. I won’t know what to ask, so I won’t know what I need)

That’s where we come in. Good web designers know what to ask to get the ball rolling and help you determine what you need.

9. I don’t want to be pressured into something)

This should never happen and if it does, then our advice is “walk away”.

10. Websites are too expensive (to build and/or maintain)

A common misconception. Websites do not to cost a lot. Our custom websites (no templates here) are surprising affordable and hosting costs as little as $50 a year. Also, in many industries, a website can pay for itself very quickly in new business…

…in all cases, those potential clients became actual clients and are still clients today.

There are probably other reasons people can think of, and that’s okay. As a web design company, we hear a lot of concerns and rightly so. It’s a business investment decision and should be made wisely. Whateve the reason for not building a site, have you considered this…what’s the cost of not having one?

Check us out at www.JDELTD.com. Did we mention we’re a custom small business web design company and we love what we do!

Dave Segrove is a Phoenix Small Business Web Designer and Marketing Consultant. You can learn more about Dave’s products and services at www.JDELtd.com.

Blog or website…or both?

Several of my clients have raised the question of blogging recently. Concerns run the gamut from “what should I write about?” to “what it no one reads it?” Questions that I’m sure we’ve all asked from time to time and ones which I do my best to help them resolve.

One of my clients, however, asked me about whether he should bother with a site at all and perhaps just start a blog. He’s a business coach and the nature of his work and his communication frequency and style make the idea of a blog instead of a site (at least to begin with) something worth considering.

I found the “blog vs site” question a thought-provoking one. I could see some immediate benefits to the “blog only” approach, the first being the “free is good” factor, but also the flexibility and ease-of-use that the big blogging sites WordPress, Blogger, etc give someone who may not be very technical and wants the to “play around” with ideas. Plus, you can virtually build the remaining “site” components using many of the available gadgets that integrate with these tools.

On the flip side, a web site is (in theory) lower maintenance, more fixed than dynamic. There is somewhat more flexibility with customization, less “template”, more built-in “intelligence”(optional) and application support with a custom site, though some of the blog applications are challenging that theory.

Blogs take more commitment, time to manage and moderate, but they can engage the audience quickly and get a conversation going, essential if your business is communication.

I did some digging around the web and found that there had been some discussion on the issue a couple of years ago, when blogs were really just starting to reach the world at large.

Then I hit the jackpot, an article by Darren Rowse, aka @problogger. It’s titled “Should I Change My Website Into a Blog?” and for anyone considering that question or variations of it should read his post.

1.5 Billion Internet Users…and Growing

According to the World Internet Usage Stats website, the current percentage of the world population that uses the Internet is almost 22%. The approximate world population is in the 6.5 billion range and there are almost 1.5 billion Internet users out there. I can’t think of too many changes in the history of mankind that have impacted that many people so quickly, for better or worse.

Less than a decade ago, the numbers were vastly different, with only 360 million Internet users. That means a four-fold increase in less than 10 years!

When looking at “penetration”, the total percentage of a population with Internet access, as one would expect, North America leads the pack with about 75.5% of its population “connected”. The US is followed by Oceania (South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand) with almost 60% and Europe with 48%. Asia has only a 15% penetration, below Latin America and the Middle East.

Look at the numbers, and the picture changes dramatically. Asia, lead by China, has over 578 million Internet users. North America comes third on the list with 248 million, behind Europe (384 million). If China continues to grow in business and technology as it has over the past few years, that number will double or even triple in the next few years.

What most impresses me is the sheer number of people now connected and the potential for people who could never had met before now getting together, collaborating, sharing ideas, cultures, information and friendship.

It’s mind-blowing!

Counting the number of websites is a little more difficult. This is in part because the definition of website is somewhat vague. Does a Facebook “site” count as a separate one from Facebook itself? According to Netcraft’s 2008 December survey, they saw almost 187 million web sites.

As I said, the definition of a “web site” is a little vague. According to Royal Pingdom, the number is 162 million. Pandia estimates the number of pages (not sites) at between 15 and 30 billion). ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) say in their 2008 report that there are 163 million domain names and 1.4 billion users.

Take the ratio of sites to users and you have roughly 8.5 users to every site. That’s not a big ratio.Web sites come and go, as do users, but in the past 10 years, the ratio has been dropping. In 2000 it was 9:1.

What does this all mean to us, down here? Search engine optimization, good site content, frequent updates, site promotion using everything from social media to advertising and a solid marketing plan is vital if your online presence is going to be felt.

That said, the possibilities are endless too. Never has a business playing field been so level. Sure, there are the big companies that can spend a ton in advertising to attract visitors, but there is plenty of room for the smaller player too. Collaboration and innovation is possible in a local, national and worldwide level. Success is possible with little investment, a good idea and the means to get the message out.

I those 1.5 billion users visit (we’ll say conservatively) 10 sites a day, that’s 15 billion visitors to websites around the world.

Just 1,000th of 1% of those visits means is 15,000…a day. Heck, I’ll take a tenth of that…for now!

The Internet is an ocean. Let’s go fishing.

Dave

Information courtesy of Pingom (www.pingdom.com), Netcraft (www.netcraft.com), Internet World Stats (www.internetworldstats.com), Pandia (www.Pandia.com, Yahoo (www.Yahoo.com), ICANN (www.icann.org).