Actual for You - Internet and Businesses Online

Know Your Financials Like The Back Of Your Hand
You know what I find funny?Most people start a business so they can enjoy the benefits of the ‘extra’ money and wealth that owning a business can create.Yet many business owners have no idea about understanding their own financial statements. And that’s where their money is!To me it’s such an irony.And it’s something that I definitely rectify with every client I work 1-on-1 with.By the time they’ve finished with me – they know their financials like the back of their hand… in fact they showing their accountants a thing or two…Over the years I have noticed that most small business owners don’t look at or understand their financial statements.This can be for any number of reasons.Maybe your accountant hasn’t tak

ow browse your site and watch how they navigate it. It is an exercise that will provide you with valuable information on how easy your site is to navigate.

7.Thou shalt not look like an amateur.
Probably the greatest quote I have ever heard about website development was, “A website has the ability to make a million dollar business look like its run out of a basement – but it can also make a business that is run out of a basement look like a million dollar business.” Which kind of site would you rather have?
Broken links, outrageous color schemes, and strange font-types and sizes will make you look like an amateur. But crisp, clean, professional design can make your home-based business look like a well oiled Fortune 500 power.
Business Ethics: How Some Businesses Use Networking Events and Violate Business Ethics and Values
Once again, I experienced why ethics is so critical for today's small business owners and why many small business owners just don’t get it.The other day I was invited to a networking event from someone whom I had just met at another networking event. He said that there would be some time for us to get to know each other better, information presented about his company and there would be opportunity to meet some potential prospects. I asked two very direct questions that I advise all my entrepreneurial and small business clients to ask: Would those in attendance be in my target market of small business owners of $1 million to $10 million in sales? Is this a multi-level marketing event? I was told emphatically Yes<

1.Thou shalt not make me wait.
If you make me wait more than 10 seconds for your page to load you might as well replace it with a nice goodbye message. Go easy on the graphics, optimize their size, and make the focus of your site the content you provide.

2.Thou shalt not make me work.
If it takes me 5 minutes to locate your contact information (or worse to figure out what it is you’re selling) - I’m leaving. People visit websites to get information quickly. There’s a reason why we don’t use the yellow pages anymore or spend hours searching classified ads in the Sunday newspaper. The general public is lazy and impatient. Don’t make a user work to find the information they’re looking for on your site.

3.Thou shalt not kill me with flash overload.
Flash is a great tool. It can add visually pleasing elements to your site and make you look like you’re up-to-date with current technology. That said - I don’t want to hear the same techno song over and over while I browse your site or get a headache from the laser show on each of your pages. A short and crisp flash message gives off the impression of professionalism and keeps you from violating Commandment #10.

4.Thou shalt not provide me with useless, stale information.
Have you ever been looking at a site, reading the content, only to realize that it’s referring to a years old event as if it occurred yesterday? That might be the fastest way to get people to leave your page. Do not promote sales offers that have expired weeks ago on your site. Rich, updated content is the key to a visitor’s heart – not to mention one of the most important aspects of search engine rank.

5.Thou shalt not forget to offer me something.
I love when people give me things. It doesn’t much matter what it is, but if it’s free I have no reason not to take it. You should offer visitors to your site something useful right away. If your website promotes a service offer an e-book or a newsletter that highlights free tips and information relevant to your service. If you sell products offer special coupons or free offers for submitting an email address. In each case the goal is to build a targeted subscriber list filled with people you already know are interested in what you have to offer. You’d spend countless hours and thousands of dollars with direct marketing agencies to develop targeted marketing strategies of this caliber.

6.Thou shalt not frustrate me with unclear navigation.
This goes hand in hand with not making me work but it’s so important it deserves its own commandment. Navigation should be consistent. Don’t make me go searching for a way to go from page to page. Pick a horizontal or vertical layout for your primary links and stick to it. If you intend on using a second-tier navigation system as well for things like external links, news, and other detailed information make sure it is also consistent from page to page. A quick tip: Have someone you know browse your site and watch how they navigate it. It is an exercise that will provide you with valuable information on how easy your site is to navigate.

7.Thou shalt not look like an amateur.
Probably the greatest quote I have ever heard about website development was, “A website has the ability to make a million dollar business look like its run out of a basement – but it can also make a business that is run out of a basement look like a million dollar business.” Which kind of site would you rather have?
Broken links, outrageous color schemes, and strange font-types and sizes will make you look like an amateur. But crisp, clean, professional design can make your home-based business look like a well oiled Fortune 500 power.
Become The Squeaky Wheel and Watch Your Business Skyrocket!
Providing high quality customer service is a must for any business to survive.Following up on all contacts and leads is also crucial in order to increase your sales and client base.If I had a nickel for every time I have had to remind a new client about the importance of following up...The truth is, life can be hectic. A typical business day can evolve around numerous telephone calls, deliveries, new orders and so on which can make following up on your days contacts rather difficult.Add to the mix having to read and respond to email and you compound your daily stress.Life does not have to be this stressful. There is wonderful technology available to help ease your business workload and enable you to follow up on all of yoo find the information they’re looking for on your site.

7.Thou shalt not look like an amateur.
Probably the greatest quote I have ever heard about website development was, “A website has the ability to make a million dollar business look like its run out of a basement – but it can also make a business that is run out of a basement look like a million dollar business.” Which kind of site would you rather have?
Broken links, outrageous color schemes, and strange font-types and sizes will make you look like an amateur. But crisp, clean, professional design can make your home-based business look like a well oiled Fortune 500 power.
The Internet's Potential
The internet’s potential is greater than any other single technological concept ever. The ability to push and pull data at high speeds while giving access to essentially everyone in the world is astonishing. Considering our race has been on this planet for a couple million years and only fifty years ago we still had to physically travel to purchase everything, or see something worth seeing, the only thing we could do long distance was have a basic telephone conversation. Now we have many options for conversations on the internet, messenger programs, voice conversations, even the futuristic video conversations. Most of the software that provides these features is free and the more time passes the more will become free.The internet is still a baby in termthe fastest way to get people to leave your page. Do not promote sales offers that have expired weeks ago on your site. Rich, updated content is the key to a visitor’s heart – not to mention one of the most important aspects of search engine rank.

7.Thou shalt not look like an amateur.
Probably the greatest quote I have ever heard about website development was, “A website has the ability to make a million dollar business look like its run out of a basement – but it can also make a business that is run out of a basement look like a million dollar business.” Which kind of site would you rather have?
Broken links, outrageous color schemes, and strange font-types and sizes will make you look like an amateur. But crisp, clean, professional design can make your home-based business look like a well oiled Fortune 500 power.
Get Your Foot In The Door: Having Trouble Getting An Employer To Give You A Chance?
Trying to get your foot in the door of a company is often the only thing preventing you from kick starting your career or finding your dream career.Have you ever applied for a job that you really wanted and thought to yourself “if only I could convince the hiring manager that I’m the right person for this job, I’d REALLY show them what I am capable of.”In other words, it sometimes seems that getting the job – getting your foot in the door – is the hardest part. You know that once you got the job though, you’d be fine!What can you do to get your foot in the door of a company you are interested to work for especially when you’re having trouble moving forward? Here are a few suggestions: 1. Depending on your financial situation, your lest filled with people you already know are interested in what you have to offer. You’d spend countless hours and thousands of dollars with direct marketing agencies to develop targeted marketing strategies of this caliber.

7.Thou shalt not look like an amateur.
Probably the greatest quote I have ever heard about website development was, “A website has the ability to make a million dollar business look like its run out of a basement – but it can also make a business that is run out of a basement look like a million dollar business.” Which kind of site would you rather have?
Broken links, outrageous color schemes, and strange font-types and sizes will make you look like an amateur. But crisp, clean, professional design can make your home-based business look like a well oiled Fortune 500 power.
Maximise Your eBay Business by Cross Promoting With Other Sellers
Did you know I have 10 eBay members advertising and promoting my auctions? Did you know you can do exactly the same? It's called cross promoting and eBay lets you cross promote with up to 10 eBay sellers. What happens is when you sell an item the buyer sees items from your cross promotion partners, and when they sell something they show your items. It's so simple it's brilliant. And as you don't advertise your partners items till you sell something you can only increase sales.So how do I cross promote with other sellers? First of all browse eBay and look for sellers selling the same items as you, it's best to keep the items being cross promoted relevant. As I sell eBooks what I did was look for eBook powersellers and high volume sellers. Write down 10 userow browse your site and watch how they navigate it. It is an exercise that will provide you with valuable information on how easy your site is to navigate.

8.Thou shalt not believe in the “Field of Dreams” phenomenon.
Have you seen the movie Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner? If you haven’t I suggest you rent it, watch it, and then take the theme of “if you build it they will come” and throw it out the window immediately while planning your website. You can’t just build a website and hope that people will just show up and buy. Like the development of any business it takes time, effort, and (some) money. Plan an internet marketing strategy that separates you from your competition so that you can build traffic and as a result, your business.

9.Thou shalt not forget to plan for the future.
Once you build your site and promote it your business will change. How do you plan to evolve with it? Have a plan in place from the start with future goals. If there’s one thing I’ve learned while consulting for small businesses it’s that those who set specific targets have success (even when they fall short) while those who operate on a day by day schedule struggle. Set realistic goals and even some far-fetched ones. You’ll notice a difference in your progress when you have something to work toward.

10.Thou shalt not think me to be an idiot.
Forget the gimmick lines like “guaranteed to make you millions” – “never have to work again”. They don’t work and they scream, “SCAM”. Be professional and earn the trust of your visitors. Offer them useful information that is reliable. The customers you want are the ones who keep coming back. Show them you’re worth their time and don’t undermine their intelligence. Gimmick businesses like that are plentiful on the Internet but if you plan to stick around awhile build your business the right way and you won’t need the scam strategies.

Follow these 10 Commandments when building and developing your website and you’ll be on the path to Internet business salvation. If you have any questions about this article or how to start planning for your site contact us today for a free consultation.

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Does your business need a boost? What about your spouse? Can they really help our businesses succeed?

As we all know business cards are an excellent marketing tool and strategy. So why not boost that strategy with your very own custom business cards?

There are various tools available in the computers, for your web designing and writing. One of them is the tool, Microsoft Powerpoint. This powerful tool is used to create professional looking presentations and slide shows from scratch or by using its easy wizard. By using the PowerPoint software, you can make any form of background you may need for your program. Using different values in the program, you can get animated backgrounds, music backgrounds and even Christmas and religious backgrounds.

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