Web presence for Unintentional Entrepreneurs
Transcript of Web presence for Unintentional Entrepreneurs
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Twitter/Flickr
Use #ueny
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My Entrepreneur Story
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Online Tools Used by Small Business
•Network Solutions – University of Maryland Small Business Success index http://growsmartbusiness.com
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Online customer service by email
Company website
Online advertising in industry/public directories
Shared network
Ability for employees to communicate with each other online
Ability to demonstrate products/services online
Ability for customers to order your products/services online
Search engine optimization plan
Online advertising that places ads on various sites
Security features on website
Ability for customers to pay for products/services online
Social media presence
Online customer service using chat capabilities
Area of website where customers can get info on transactions with your organization
Have now2 Year Potential*
Use of/Need for Various Internet Business Solutions (n=500)
% ChangeHave now
from Wave 1
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Shoppers search online before making a purchase on the web
• Can you be found?
• Search Engines
• Are there conversations about your business
• Google Alerts
• Word of Mouth >> Word of Mouse*
• Reviews of your business Yelp, Amazon etc
•Thank you David Meerman Scott
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Online Presence Strategy
Your personal brand Connecting with customers Community outreach Get new business
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Internet Technologies Check ListInternet Technologies Check List
Domain Name
Company Website:
Online customer service
Search Engine Optimization plan
Online advertising in public directories
Employees can communicate with each other online
Ability for customers to order service online
Ability for customers to pay online
Website security features
Social Media presence
July 28, 20096 Prince William County Greater Manassas Chamber
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The Right Domain Name Matters
• Distinguish yourself• Keep it easy to remember• You cannot teach your visitors to spell
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Time to outgrow your Avatar
• Still hanging on to your old college email?
• Customers may not buy from [email protected]
• While they trust reviews of strangers customers want transparency
Picture Credit : CC Flickrhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/minako_bracken/3096906279/
• Get Email with your Personal or Business Brand
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What is a Website ? Nowadays?
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And a 10yr old built this
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Websites
• Do it yourself − Learn Html, PHP, ASP, Cold Fusion, MySQL− Use a Web Site Builder tool− Use open source – WordPress etc
• Hire a professional Referrals Local Firms Marketplaces like Odesk, Elance, Guru.com
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Content
• What are your users looking for ?• Keep the navigation simple• Call to action – Buy, Subscribe• Update often• Catch up on trends
http://www.Google.com/trends http://Search.twitter.com
• Keyword research http://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/ www.keyworddiscovery.com/ http://quintura.com/
• Your own Sent mailbox
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Online Advertising: Open Doors to a Broader Audience
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Online Demos and Self Service Tools
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Where Do you Rank in a Google Search?
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Key Takeaway
• You should have your own branded web presence• Build on the web presence as your needs grow• Expand it by making use of other channels like Social media
Tips•Start early•Update regularly•User experience trumps anything else•Keep it simple
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Small Business Web Hosting - business in a box
• Domain name , email and website• Blogs, Community software, audio video podcast, Storage
space• Online Marketing, SEO & online stores• Monitoring tools & Analytics• Security Seals and Certs
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Surprise ! Network Solutions offers many of these products
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Tips: Analyze Your Website
• Free Tools to do it yourself:http://seotoolset.com
http://seomoz.org
http://sitening.com
http://tools.seobook.com (The SEO toolbar for Firefox)
http://pagerankbot.com
No time to do it yourself? Ask a Network Solutions expert for help.
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GrowSmartBusiness.com
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GrowSmartBiz Conference : Sept 29th
Join us on Tuesday, September 29, 2009, at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C., for a one-day educational conference and networking event featuring
renowned small business leaders and well-known industry
http://Growsmartbusiness.com/small-business-conference
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Questions ?
• Shashi Bellamkonda [email protected]• Small Business Success Index
http://GrowSmartBusiness.com• Network Solutions Blog : http://blog.networksolutions.com• Web Community Network : http://www.LinkTogether.com• Small Business Network : http://www.MySolutionSpot.com• Personal Blogs:
Technology & Social Media: http://www.shashi.name Digital Thoughts: http://readythoughts.blogspot.com Restaurant Reviews: http://www.carryoncurry.com