Last week, I promised you a story about a thief. There are some extraordinarily lazy people out there who would rather steal the carefully-crafted text from your site and put it on their own, rather than do the work on describing their own services and products. Think it doesn't happen or won't happen to you? Think again. Back in 2004, I wrote …
Want to Turn Off Website Visitors? Don’t Include Your Prices
According to Jakob Nielson, a website usability expert, one of the most important things that prospective customers are looking for on your website is pricing. Yet so many service businesses do not include their pricing on their site. This is understandable if your service is customized for each client and there's a proposal process to bid on a …
Want to Turn Off Website Visitors? Don’t Include Your PricesRead More
Will Facebook Terminate You? Facebook Strategy Tips for the Small Biz Owner
If you're seriously interested in using Facebook for marketing, you may be heading for trouble. The solution is easier than you think. If you make class announcements, offer products or services, or in any way do marketing for your business on your personal profile, Facebook could remove your account completely. According to the Facebook …
Will Facebook Terminate You? Facebook Strategy Tips for the Small Biz OwnerRead More
Be Daring – Ask People to Unsubscribe
Today I'm sending an email to my entire mailing list, asking them if they're receiving two emails from me -- and suggesting that they unsubscribe from one (or both!) in order to help them deal with email and information overload. Here's how it happens: someone signs up for your mailing list by registering for a free class. Next month, you offer a …
How to Choose a Website Designer: 17 Tips
When you’re a small business owner, it's important to choose a website designer carefully. It's a crucial strategic decision, as a good website can bring you more business and a bad one can drive away prospective customers. Since this decision -- and your website -- are foundational to your business success, selecting the right website designer is …
When Social Media Really Works
A few months ago, I posted a note on my Facebook page about how our cat brought a dead mouse into the house, got chased around by us (looking like idiots), and eventually dropped the dead mouse in the cat toy box alongside her catnip toys. My peeps loved that note and shared so many stories of the cool things their cats have done (with and …