Five Tips for First-Time Website Owners

Administrator — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:55:00 GMT

It's no secret the Web continues to explode as a resource for consumers and businesses, and Web traffic is only going to grow. In fact, global Internet traffic is projected to quadruple by 2015. If you're a business, getting your company online has never been more important for growth and success. Yet surprisingly, 75% of U.S. businesses do not have a website.

For this reason, OfficeMax and Go Daddy teamed up to offer create five tips for first-time website owners.

1. Name Wisely - Choosing a name for your Web address is a critical element, as it is the foundation of your online presence. Select a short, easy to spell and memorable name that clearly reflects your business, products and/or services. If your ideal domain name is already taken, don't panic. Try adding a transition or generic word like "the" or "company," consider a different top level domain (e.g. .net, .org or .info) or backorder the domain name in case the current owner does not renew.

2. Make a First Impression - Create your website with the end-user in mind. Make it visually pleasing and easy to find information and navigate the site, since most users only spend 10-20 seconds on a page. Categorize your Web pages by topic and provide clear and logical navigation with a toolbar that runs horizontally or vertically on each page. Use language that is direct and easy to understand and reinforces your company mission and values. While it may look creative or exciting, try not to go overboard with animation, videos or other special effects, as it can increase the load time of your site and be distracting, which may deter visitors. Your website may be the only interaction a customer has with your company, so make the visit useful and worthwhile.

3. Be Accessible - Provide opportunities for potential customers to contact you without jumping through hoops by posting contact information on the main page of your site. Surprising, 60% of small business websites do not include a phone number on their homepages. While there are likely multiple ways to reach you from email to fax or Twitter, focus on contact methods that you want people to use and ones you monitor regularly. When it comes to your email, share one that you use for public inquiries, as it's possible spammers will find it, and keep your personal email addresses separate.

4. Go Mobile - With more than 44% of U.S. consumers using smartphones to shop and research, make sure your website is also configured and optimized for mobile use. A whopping 93% of small business websites are not mobile friendly, which can result in lost business. If you find consumers visiting your site frequently from mobile devices, consider creating a mobile app for your business to better serve these customers.

5. Optimize It - Drive traffic to your site through search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines use algorithms to determine when and where your website comes up in search results. Major factors that improve SEO include the frequency and prevalence of keywords on your site and "tagging" select terms. SEO can be a rigorous process, so engage an expert or use a step-by-step website builder to help increase your website visibility.

Now with this in mind, go ahead, take the plunge and put your company online. You'll be glad you did and so will your customers.

Five Smart Back-to-School Affiliate Programs

Linc Wonham — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 19:00:00 GMT

It’s mid-July and much of the country is sweltering in temperatures near 100 degrees, which means it is time to be thinking about back-to-school deals. For affiliate marketers, that means partnering with the retailers that give them the best chances to rake in substantial commissions from now until Labor Day.

We’ve done our homework on the subject and below are five programs that make the grade:

Macy’s
Few retailers are pushing harder to become the go-to destination for back-to-school shoppers than Macy’s is right now. They’ve just announced several new initiatives offering exclusive fashion brands, family-oriented activities and charitable partnerships with Reading is Fundamental, DoSomething.org and the new online Web series, Wendy. Macy’s affiliates earn generous commissions with the average online purchase value being $120, and the program is run through LinkShare.

Wet Seal
This hip clothing retailer is a favorite among young women for having its finger on the fashion pulse and also for its generous discounts. Whether returning to high school or college, millions of girls will be turning to Wet Seal for the latest styles at prices a student can afford. The company knows its way around the Web and social media marketing, and its affiliate program is run through the Google Affiliate Network.

Sephora
If Wet Seal provides a good fit for your site, many of the same shoppers will be visiting Sephora next. The JCPenney property carries hundreds of top brands in makeup and accessories, as well as a full line of men’s products to help returning students start the semester in style. The affiliate program is run therough the LinkShare network, and offers tiered commissions from 5 to 7 percent.

Apple
Apple’s back-to-school promotions are legendary, and the most recent one is going on right now through September 20. Students buying a qualifying Mac product will receive a $100 Back to School Card to redeem at the Mac Store, App Store, iTunes Store or iBookstore. Apple affiliates earn tiered commissions by selling widely used products such as the brand new Macbook Airs that are sure to be on millions of students’ back-to-school lists this summer.

Office Max
Whether it be simple supplies such as paper and pens, a stockpile of accessories for that new Apple product or office furniture for the dorm or bedroom, few students are able to avoid shopping at Office Max when the summer winds down. Run through the Google Affiliate Network, the program offers commissions ranging from 4 to 6 percent.

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Five Tips for First-Time Website Owners

Five Smart Back-to-School Affiliate Programs