Does your marketing message POP?

It's not enough to just say "we're the best", or "your leading supplier" anymore. Sure those statements make you seem like the authority but what company isn't saying that? You need to make your message bold, and different. You want people to say "oh that's clever" or "cool, you've got my attention".

How do I make my marketing message POP?
It's time to start thinking a little outside the box. Think of the most unique thing about your company, product, service etc. Now take that a start to think of ways in which you could slightly embellish that. We're not talking about totally exaggerating, but a slight expansion of the facts is fine. For example if you sell green products and the most unique thing is that you sell them from a solar powered house, why not use "Buy from a the first solar powered store, and be truly green!". OK, so you aren't really sure if you are the first, but who else is going to know? You don't necessarily have to be the first person to do something, you just have to be the first person to say you are doing it.

Should I concentrate on just one marketing message?
At first I would say start with one and target the market that fits that message. Once you have your feet wet and have a better idea of how to make a more powerful message then you can create one for each target market or segment. So if you are selling green products you might target one message at the residential user, while targeting another message at the janitorial industry.

Do I have to hire a marketing team to figure out the right marketing message?
NO! I know this may sound odd coming from a company that does online marketing, but in the economy we are in I think it's important to save where you can. Marketing messages are nothing more then brain storming and good ideas. Gather some or all of your staff and setup a brainstorming session. Explain what the goal is, who the target market is and then start writing down every idea (even the ones that might seem silly) that comes up. Usually a large white-board works so people can start seeing the ideas and spinning off new ideas based on what they see.

Remember: Marketing isn't about being the best, it's more about being the most clever!

--------------
Ignite MediaLLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization
Website Packages Now Available!

Is FREE now a four letter word?

Have all of the uses of the word FREE started to make it sound more and more like a four letter word? Have we been bombarded with so many offers that this once alluring word is now a warning sign? Wary buyers are now more than ever skeptical of even the most honest deal and unfortunately one word has become the victim. So what do you do about this and how do you still give away something for "free" without using the word?

Let people see the value in "FREE"!
Since you can't just market your item as free, you need to give it some form of value. So for example instead of writing a headline such as "Free widget with the purchase of another", try something like "Get more value with the purchase of your next widget". So now it's not that you are getting something for nothing, you are getting more for your money. With a simple change of language, you have made people think differently about your "FREE" item.

It comes down to a matter of semantics. People have been programmed to think that anything "FREE" must be cheap and worthless. You have to let them see the light, by rethinking your approach, even if it's just a simple altering of language.

What if it's just one item I'm giving away?
OK, so you only have the one item and you are giving it away for free to a certain number of people or to a certain demographic. How do you combat the negative "FREE" connotation? You can try demonstrating it and leaving "samples" for people to take. Remember, just because it doesn't say free doesn't mean people don't understand what you mean. Sample is a word that has become almost a synonym for free; use it to your advantage.

Put time and money into your free item/service:
If you want people to feel that the item/service that you are giving away for free is valuable, you have to make it look like you took the time to give it value. You know when something was done on a whim and when something was taken seriously and had a lot of thought and effort put into it. Just because you aren't making immediate money doesn't mean you shouldn't spend a little to make things "pop".

Remember: Choose your words wisely and you can get people to think about something in a whole new way.

--------------
Ignite MediaLLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization
Website Packages Now Available!

A picture is worth 1000 words; Or is it?

The saying goes that "a picture is worth a 1000 words", but is that really the case? Do pictures really give everyone and everything the understanding that you are trying to convey? Or are we betting on the fact that we understand the image, than everyone else must? Lets take a minute to discuss how images can sometimes be less effective then some properly used words.

What the search engines see, isn't what you do...
When you look at a website you see text and images arranged in some fashion so as to look appealing. There is a header, a logo, some navigation links a paragraph and maybe a photo along with contact information at the bottom.

What the search engines see on the other hand is code and text. That picture that is taking up your entire site, they don't even know what is just that it looks something like this to them '< src = "images/image.jpg">' - not exactly the pretty picture you were seeing right? The search engines see numbers, symbols and letters which makes up the display that you as the user sees on the front end. So although images are good when used in the right places, they can be harming your ability to be seen by the search engines.

It's not always as apparent as you might think...
Another common mistake that people make is using representative images in place of something more direct. Take for example the bulls eye that is often used in marketing when you are trying to convey that "we hit the mark". Sure most people might get that one, but what if they don't? Is it really worth the cute image to sacrifice a few people understanding the message?

Everything has a time and a place - images included...
Images are great for logos, product shots, demonstrations, etc. I'm not so sure that images are great for relaying an important marketing message, unless used in conjunction with words/phrases. Don't just put the picture of a black sheep among white ones, put a message on it that says "Ever want to stand out from the crowd?". Now they are associating the meaning with the message.

Remember: You can never be too straight forward when it comes to marketing.

--------------
Ignite MediaLLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization

Clients, Visitors, Customers - Whatever you call them, they come first!

I just finished reading a really interesting blog post entitled "The Power of Accidental SEO: A Case Study", which tells about a women who was so into her business that SEO was something that happened because of her, not by her. I encourage you to click the link and take a read, it will be well worth it I promise.

So what does "the accidental SEO" mean to you?
At the very least it should show you that although SEO is important, what is more important is that you engage your customers/clients/visitors. Having a site just because it's what you needed, or running a blog because it's what everyone else is doing will greatly decrease your chances for success.

We at Ignite realize that not everything can be done through passion and pure love, but there needs to be at least a little of each in order for other people to 'buy-in" and take hold of what you are presenting. Whether it be through writing, talking, or actions people can tell if you are really into what you are presenting.

Should I stop my SEO than?
No, and I'm not just saying that because it's a service we offer. If I thought SEO had lost its luster I would stop offering it as a service and make sure I preached to all my clients that they didn't need it anymore, but as of right now that is not the case. SEO is important and will help, but you the client also need to get involved and give your site/blog/article something extra, something that makes people realize you really do understand their needs and care about what they want/need.

Remember: SEO is not the cure-all, it's merely one of the ingredients in a well thought out marketing plan.

--------------
Ignite MediaLLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development

Make the Holidays Bright.

That's right, we are just around the corner from Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. The scary part is, the economy isn't looking too favorably on having a good financial holiday season though. So what is a business, whether it be online or off, to do to make things the best they can be?

Marketing Starts Now!
That's right, and some may argue the train should have already left the station for your marketing. Make sure you are in front of the people you want shopping from you as often as you can be. Go out and purchase banner ads, advertise on the radio, put an ad in a magazine or two, get an article in the paper, etc. Just remember to be smart, don't pay for ad space that you feel is too expensive, remember the company you are buying the ad from is probably not doing well either so you might have some room to bargain.

You can never market enough, especially when the economy is not in your favor. The more people know about you, and the more they see your name the better chance you stand of having them stop at your store. Don't give them any reason to look for another source, be in their face without being too annoying (yes it's a fine line, but you know when you've gone too far, just be smart about it.).

Smart Pricing
Smart pricing is pricing your products so you still make a profit, but you look like a better bargain then your competitor. Sometimes taking less profit can actually increase sales and increase your bottom line. If you are working on 50% mark-ups, why not cut that down to 40% or 35% if you can afford it? You don't want to undersell your items, but you also don't want to be the most expensive shop in town.

Good Customer Service = Referrals
This may seem like a given, but it's one of the most important things. Make sure that anyone and everyone who has contact with a customer from your company (whether it be phone, email, face-to-face) does it in a positive way. One bad experience from a customer can equate to many lost sales from people they know. On the other hand, a truly positive experience will most likely have that customer coming back and usually they'll tell or bring a friend.

Remember: Just because the economy is slow, doesn't mean you should be.

--------------
Ignite MediaLLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development

Pay Per Click - Is it right for me?

I'm often presented with the question "Is Pay-Per-Click really worth it?". Surprisingly the answer is both yes and no (it's never easy is it?!!).

Why is it both you may ask? Well for the simple reason that depending on what you are referring to, it may or may not be worth the time, cost, effort, etc. Lets take for instance a highly popular term like cars. Lets say you are the number one car distributor in your area. I would say in this case, it may be worth it to use PPC to come up when people search for general terms like car dealership, new cars, cars for sale, best cars, used cars, and more. The reason being, those are typically highly competitive terms and would be extremely hard to get natural rankings for with the top 2-3 pages. So using PPC will allow you the opportunity to have a presence closer to the top of the search engines (depending on your budget of course!).

On the other hand if you are trying to be visible for a phrase such as "used red corvettes in dayton", you may stand a very good chance of being found close to the top of the search results. Why? Well if you do the simple process of adding a couple of pages about "used red corvettes in dayton" and the years you carry, you most likely will have no problem showing up under this term in the top search engines, without having to pay. That's right I said without having to pay.

Pay per click is a highly effective tool when used appropriately and in conjunction with a well planned, and thought out natural search engine campaign. It takes a little time and evaluation of results to perfect your campaigns, but it will be well worth the effort in the end.

Remember: Think. Plan. Promote.

--------------
Ignite MediaLLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development

Networking - time to go offline!

Real life networking is something that many people have given up over the years because they feel that being online, and in social networks is more than enough. Perhaps in some cases this can be true, but for most of us, a little networking every now and then could do wonders.

Where can I go for networking?
Anywhere really. Try going down to your local coffee shop, or newspaper stand and chat up some people. It doesn't always have to be a formal networking event, just make sure you aren't that weird guy who everyone runs away from!

There are also speed networking events, which are just like speed dating events where you meet with a dozen or so people for a few minutes at a time. This is a great scenario because you get a chance to meet more people in less time than a traditional networking event such as a social. It also gets those shy people to feel more at ease in a one on one discussion environment.

What am I looking to gain from a networking event?
That really depends on you. Some people are happy to walk away with a half dozen new business cards, while others will be happy with a new lead or agreement with one of the other attendees. Before you go to the event be sure you know what you want to get out of it. If you just show up and say "I wonder what will happen", you will never know if it as worth going or not.

On the other hand if you decide before you get to the event that you want to get 5 business cards to follow up with, than you have a definable goal. You will know at the end of the night just by looking at the cards if you achieved your goal and if the event was worth attending.

What type of business is networking for?
Any business really. Whether you are selling widgets at a town store front or working as a B2B business, networking never hurts. You may meet someone who knows people that would love your product, or that you can team up with to sell things together. There are really no limits to what you might find when you get out there and start talking to people.

Remember: Its not always just about your product or service, but also about who you know and meet.

--------------
Ignite MediaLLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development

Ignite has a home on Facebook

That's right, Ignite Media has started a Facebook profile! Although a work in progress, we invite you to a take a look and share with your friends. Check back often as we plan to keep updating and sharing information from our new page as well.

What do plan for the Facebook page?
We plan to keep the page updated with news and events related to not only what Ignite is doing but also what is going on in the search engine community. We invite you to share your thoughts and contribute to the page in anyway you feel comfortable.

Should we be on Facebook too?
Facebook is a great marketing tool if you plan to stay on top of it. With social networking sites like Facebook you have to keep things fresh and up to date otherwise the interest from viewers will fade away. Social media is all about what's going on now, not what happened 3 months ago.

How do I get started on Facebook?
You can either go to www.facebook.com and read the tutorials and articles about starting a personal profile or business page, or you can give Ignite a call and we'd be happy to discuss and work with you to get started on Facebook.

Remember: Networking and socializing are the new forms of marketing.

--------------
Ignite MediaLLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization

Remembering the people!

I recently read a really good blog post over at SEOMoz entitled "Social Media is People". The post was written by 'feedthebot', who is pretty active at SEOMoz and who's writing style is fun and easy to read and understand.

The whole point of the post is to remind people that at the end of the day any marketing efforts, especially social media marketing in this case, is not about what you have where and how many but rather who you know and how you can reach out to those you do not know yet. The people, real true life, flesh and blood people are the reason we build websites and communities, not to obtain tons of links.

As marketers and business owners we often forget what the true objective is, and are always trying to keep up with our competition. We're so worried about being on this directory and that directory and having this new thing added to our site and that other thing taken off that we lose sight of what is really important - THE PEOPLE!

I encourage you to read this post by 'feedthebot' and really take to heart what he is saying. We have to start thinking about who we want at our site and how we can get our name and site information in front of them, rather than just worrying about being on various sites and hoping that the right people see it.

Remember: Going back to the basics isn't always a bad thing.

--------------
Ignite MediaLLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization

Ignite Gives Back!

Ignite Media has started a new innitiative to give back to those in need or less fortunate. Ignite Gives Back, is our program to donate 1%* of all sales to a deserving charity. "Every little bit helps" is what we strongly believe and we feel confident that the money we donate will help, if even in the smallest way.

There is no deadline, we will be doing this for as long as we can. Any project that comes through our doors will be helping a charity. The only thing that will change is the charity that we send to. Every couple of months we will decide on a new deserving charity so we can help as many as possible.

Do you have a specific charity in mind? We'd love to hear your thoughts on a deserving charity so we can put it on our list of ones to donate to. There are hundreds of thousands of deserving charties and we want to help out as best we can. If you recommend a charity please give us as much information as possible (name, website, cause, etc) so we can be sure if we do decide to donate to that charity that it goes to the correct place.

>> You can read more about Ignite Gives Back and see which charity we are currently donating to by clicking here.

Remember: Even a penny can go a long way; yes even in today's economy!

*URL Registration and website hosting are the only two services that will not be part of the Ignite Gives Back program

--------------
Ignite MediaLLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization

Summer Slowdown Leads to Fall Pickup...

Many companies see a slowdown in orders, production, etc during the summer months. It is typically the time of year when people take extended vacations, plants close and companies are working shorter days. Who wants to think about the fall during this time?

You should! That's right, you need to think about the fall during this time. Marketing now is the perfect time to grab those customers that will start turning up the pace come fall. Make sure you are the one they remember when they need what you do. Don't be left in someone elses dust because you decided to slow down everything during the summer.

How do I market to them now?
Anyway you can really! Send them an email blast, mail out postcards, put a special on your website. Anything and everything you can think of would be a good idea. How about a special promotion where if they order by August 31st they get a special discount? This helps get orders in for the summer as well as increasing production for the fall. People love to save money and if you give them savings they will most likely respond well to them.

Don't let the summer slip away.
Now is the time to act, not tomorrow, not next month. The summer goes by very quickly so you don't want to be standing there on September 1st wondering where all your orders are. Also, don't panic if you don't hear a response right away, it is the summer after all and they may call in September asking if they can get that deal - go ahead, give it to them, what do you have to lose but the customer if you don't!

Remember: The early bird gets the worm - it's not just a clever cliche.

--------------
Ignite MediaLLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization

Should I build multiple websites to attract more customers?

Many people are under the impression that building out several websites for the same product/service will give them a better chance on the search engines. They think that even if the sites have the same content, there are more of them for the search engines to find and in turn they can get more listings. Unfortunately this is rarely the case.

The search engines are looking for sites with unique and authoritative content. When they find several sites that are the same they will most likely either list only one of the sites and/or none of the sites, or list all of them but deep within the search results. So you have effectively devalued your sites, which is exactly what you were trying not to do.

Build "IT" and they will come
The saying is not "Build them and they will come", or "Build many and they will come", it's Build IT and they will come. That's right, build one very well written, well constructed website that concentrates on gaining as many authoritative inbound links as possible. It may take some time to gain the traffic you are looking for, but this approach will always win out in the long run.

Link building is better for one
Another drawback to building many websites for the same service/product is that when you start acquiring inbound links, what site do you point them to? You'll be hard pressed to find authoritative sites that will link to all of your websites if they are all the same thing. They know the value of the link they are giving you and they want to be sure they won't see any backlash from sending people your way.

How do I keep up with it all
One last thing that you should consider is that having multiple websites means you have to keep up with multiple websites. That price change for all your products now has to be done in more than one place. That new product that is coming out next month has to be added to all your sites. After a while this could prove to be a pretty daunting and annoying task. One site, means one update, one addition and better quality control.

Remember: More isn't always better.

--------------
Ignite MediaLLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization

Show your visitors some fireworks!

I don't mean literally put some corny fireworks animation on your home page. What I mean is give them a deal, start a promotion, have a weekend long sale, etc. The holidays often times are looked at as dead business days because everyone is out celebrating. With a sale or discount of some kind the holidays can be a cash cow for some!

Recurring customers get even more!
What better way to drum up business than to offer an even better deal to people who have ordered in the past week/month/year? If you can figure out a way to give these people an added incentive to shop, you may find that business picks up even more then anticipated.

Leave no stone unturned
A sale or discount can be to anyone for anything. New sign ups can get a different discount then someone who just wants to purchase without signing up. If they buy more than one of a certain item they can get a special deal. There are tons of ways to give your shoppers a little something extra, and the holidays aren't the only times either.

Shoppers love deals and the more they feel that you are open and willing to give them a deal the more likely they are to come and shop with you.

Happy 4th of July and we at Ignite hope you have a profitable holiday weekend!

--------------
Ignite MediaLLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization

Should we have a slogan?

There's a lot to be said for a well written, well marketed slogan. Just think about some of the great ones "Reach out and touch someone", "Drivers wanted", "Have it your way", "Don't leave home without it", "The quicker picker upper", etc. All you have to do is say these lines and people will typically know what product you are referring to.

A really good slogan will not only be catchy but it will also relate to what you do. "The quicker picker upper" is a perfect example. Paper towels are meant to pick up spills and the quicker the better. So not only do you have a catchy slogan, but you are telling people what your product/service does all at once.

How do we come up with a slogan?
It's certainly not as easy as it may seem. A good slogan requires thought, research (to make sure no one else is using that line), and creativity. Take for example our slogan "Ignite Your Site™". We wanted to incorporate our name and also that we build websites that will help increase business. Typically someone who is having a good streak, or doing really well at something is considered to be "on fire". So we took all of that and come up with "Ignite Your Site­™".

There are companies out there that specialize in slogan development. There are also freelancers that you can hire temporarily to help bring in some fresh, creative ideas.

What do we do once we have a slogan?
Very simply, start using it everywhere. Put it on your packaging if you have it, your business cards, your stationary, etc. Make sure everyone in your office knows what the slogan is, and knows the reasoning behind it. It's important to have company buy-in with the slogan. You certainly don't want one of your employees on the phone telling someone about the slogan and then snickering about it with them.

Your slogan can and should become synonymous with everything your company does. Are you attending a trade show, or hosting an event? Your slogan should be incorporated as much as possible (without going overboard).

Remember: A slogan can be like a salesperson, the more people know it the more it will help sell your products/services.

--------------
Ignite Media LLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization

Standing Out from the Crowd

I've recently been reading a book entitled "The Big Moo", odd name but very good read. The book is all about being remarkable, not just ordinary or good, but truly remarkable. It is actually a collection of thoughts/ideas/stories from some very powerful and successful business people.

So how do I make my website stand out from the crowd?
There are many ways, you just have to put the same energy you had when starting the company into differentiating your company. It's not good enough anymore do just do sales, or specials, you have to really connect with your clients. You have to make them feel like they are getting more then just a product or service they are getting an experience.

The internet has made everything easy to get and at the cheapest price, but yet there are still people selling things for top dollar. How is this possible? Well more then likely they are not selling on price but rather something even less tangible. Perhaps they are selling on the craftsmanship, the quality, the durability, the personal service, etc. Whatever it is, they know they have it and they cherish it, and therefore draw in the customers.

Where do I start?
Where ever you feel you can be most inspired to be creative. Take a day off, go on a company trip, have a brainstorming session. Whatever it is that you do doesn't matter as long as you are thinking differently then you normally do and you are seeing things in a new light. It's easy to become stagnant and run the same rat-race every day, but it takes a true innovator to really break the mold once in a while.

Do I have to do it on my own?
Are you kidding? Absolutely not, bring as many people as you need. Other people will help you to realize things you never saw or thought of before. The best people to have around are people that you know do things differently then you. These people will let you see another angle that was always there but just never calling out to you.

Start today, take some time to brainstorm, or have a company lunch where everyone shares a thought about what they would like to do with the company. You'll be surprised with what you might discover from your very own employees.

Remember: It's not about gimmicks, it's about connections. Connect with your clients like no-one else is.

--------------
Ignite Media LLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization

---------------------------------

SEO Rules - Do they exist?

There are no hard and fast rules of SEO (search engine optimization). There are many people who believe that they have a pretty good idea, by testing and researching, of what the search engines are looking for from a good website, but only the search engine algorithm creators really know. This research and testing has lead to some industry accepted best practice guidelines, but in reality if the algorithm changes, these guidelines will have to as well.

Does this mean we shouldn't SEO our site?
Absolutely not! A well optimized website will most often do much better then a website that is created without the guidelines and best practices of SEO and usability. SEO should be done as naturally as possible. A good SEO'd website in our humble opinion should go through at least 5 things:

Keyword research: the agency you hire should do their homework and find out as best as possible what phrases people are actually using to find your products/services.

Site Review/Usability Review: an objective review of your current site, or a solid plan before starting a new site is key. You need to know that the efforts you put into optimizing your site will stand the best chance of succeeding and good website that is usable is the only way that is possible.

Natural Inclusion of Phrases: the list of phrases that you choose to optimize your site should be naturally worked into the site. Ideally there would be a page for each phrase. If this is not the case, don't just use the phrases anywhere. Really put some thought into how those phrases are used and be sure that when a visitor reads that page it still makes sense.

Quality Content: your website needs to have quality content. Quantity is good, but quality is better. You and eight other people could be selling lounge chairs, but if your content is better, more informative and keyword rich, you will stand a better chance of not only being found but keeping that visitor and converting.

Good Code and Structure: You might have the best content in the world and from a visitors perspective the most usable site, but if the spiders cannot get through the code to get to that content, you will have a hard time being found in the search engines. Good, clean code will go a long way in making sure you stand the best possible chance of being indexed.

There are many more things that are important (right now) to optimizing a website, but these are some of the very basics that should be kept in mind. Just because you don't know how to optimize your website doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to ask the "experts" working on your site if they've done their job thoroughly.

Remember: When having your site optimized ask yourself this "If I didn't have to worry about the search engines would I take that approach?", if the answer is no then don't do it.

--------------
Ignite Media LLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization

Email Blasts - Do they work?

Email blasts are usually thought of in one of two ways. 1) A great marketing approach that is easy to implement and measure results or 2) Spam that people think of as a headache!

Sure, email blasts are certainly both of these things, but you ideally want people to think of your email blast as the first not the second. Done correctly email blasts can keep your customers informed and help increase business while not annoying them.

5 suggestions to keep in mind when sending an email blast:

1) Short and sweet:
Email blasts should not be filled with text about your company or anything else for that matter. They should be straight forward and to the point of the special or deal that you are pushing at that time.

2) Use a service:
DO NOT try sending out an email blast from Outlook or another email program on your own machine. Typically when you are sending out email blasts they are to more then 10 or 20 people and this can be caught in spam if not done correctly. Services such as Constant Contact are great for sending them

3) Light on the graphics:
With spam filters checking very little bit of an email these days you don't want to leave any room for error here. Images can be good, but should be used sparingly with an email. You also do not want to rely on the image being your entire message. Text is best with email, images should only be used to support, not to convey!

4) Stick to one or two offerings:
Don't fill your email with tons of savings and offerings. One or two really good specials will be more appealing. This way the email is focused and you can even segment your customers to those who have bought this type of item before.

5) Follow the Can Spam Act:
Using a service as mentioned above will most likely keep you in compliance with this act. You have to make sure people have the option to OPT-OUT and that they wanted the email to begin with. You will usually see a better response with people who wanted your email anyway.

There are certainly more things you can think about when sending an email blast, but these should get you going in the right direction.

Remember, think of how you receive emails and what you open and what you don't.

--------------
Ignite Media LLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization

Content is King. But who's job is it to get the content?

We have all heard the saying that "Content is King" when it comes to building a website and marketing it for the search engines. It makes perfect sense, the search engines index content and if you have more content on your site then you have a better chance of showing up for specific terms/phrases. But who's job should it be to get that content together?

I believe it should be a joint effort from someone that works for the company and the optimziation/marketing company that has been hired. This approach will ensure that you are building content that is relevant to the company at hand. Yes content is king, but relevant content is the supreme ruler!

Why a joint effort?
Who knows more about your business then people who work for you? Yes a search engine marketer should be able to pull information and learn about your company, but they still will not know everything. An employee can tell the search engine marketer what differntiates you from your competitor, a new product/service that is coming down the line, the largest segment of your business, and so much more. Why leave it to the search engine marketer to guess at these things when you could have more impactful content by providing them with this information?

Once that information is given to the search engine marketer then they can work their magic. They should be able to sell that product/service, and make it interesting to read about. They should be able to create keyword/phrase specific pages and sections of the website.

Remember, good content is only as good as the source from which it came. If you leave it all up to your search engine marketing company you may not be as happy as you would be if you worked with them to build out that content.

--------------
Ignite Media LLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization

Beyond Your Website...

Internet Marketing should go well beyond your website. There are various ways to promote your company using the internet without them ever having to have gone to your website. Below are a few ways that you probably have heard of, but just never tried and we urge you to try:

Blog Writing

Ok so this one is usually connected with your website, but people will find your blog in various ways. If your blog is run by blogger you will/can show up in their blog lists. People can also subscribe to your RSS feed, and therefore not have to go back to your website or blog unless something interesting peaks their curiosity.

Press Releases

The days of contacting hundreds of editors and trying to find their correct phone number are over. Today there are few sites that you can submit your press release too and they will do the syndication for you. Sure they cost a little money, but your time is cut down drastically so you can concentrate on your next task.

Email Blasts

You probably have a contact/client database somewhere. If you have email addresses in that list you can start an email blast campaign. We do not suggest that you use Outlook or any in house emailing program, but rather use an email blast service as they can provide statistics as well as keep you Anti-Spam compliant.

Link Building

Go out and find websites that would make sense to have a link to your website and maybe even you having a link to them. It can be an association, distributor, informational site, etc. As long as you can see a natural connection between the two sites then the link will be beneficial.

These are just a few ways that you can utilize the internet to help promote your company and website. If you stop to think beyond the confines of your website you may find there is a whole world of possibilities on the web.

--------------
Ignite Media LLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization

Egg Hunt Anyone?

Hopefully you answer no to this question! An egg hunt is great for little kids and parents around Easter time, but it's certainly not what you want people to think of when searching for something on your site. You don't want to make people run around your site looking for what they need; you want to make it readily available.

Multiple points of entry (MPoE), is the name of the game. Many times people say "why do you have a link to widgets in two places, isn't that redundant?". Yes it is, and for very good reason. Would you have noticed the link to widgets if it was only in one place and that one place was at the bottom of a list of other links? Probably not. Sure it may seem a little redundant, but wouldn't you rather be redundant and have people find what they want then be conservative and have them "hunt for eggs"?

Now don't get me wrong, I think that there is a fine line between being positively redundant and negatively redundant. You certainly do not want to start making every word in every sentence on your website a link. However, appropriately done, a little redundancy can be a positive thing.

Take for example www.target.com - they have multiple ways to get to the same thing. What they did however is use different wording each time. So if I wanted to get some bedding I can click on 'Bed and Bath' on the top nav bar, or 'Bedding' on the left nav bar, or further down there is 'Bed and Bath' as a text link on the left nav bar. Three ways on one page to get to the same area of the site, but it works and it doesn't feel like they are yelling at me to get there.

Take some time to look at your site. When you are on the home page specifically or any landing page you should have at least two ways to get to the same place (for the most important sections at least). Have one way be a nice navigation button/link and another be a content bucket or ad/button. I think you'll like the results you see.

--------------
Ignite Media LLC, Ignite Your Site™
http://www.ignite-media.com/
Website Design & Development eCommerce Development Search Engine Optimization