You Have Creatd Your Blog - Now What?

When you build a blog you are on the right road to promoting you, your web site, your services, your products, etc. But just creating a blog is not enough.

First Step
It is becoming increasingly more important that your blog is customized, not just a template that you can use, but customized to show you and your message. See some examples here:
http://www.jbcr-virtualsolutions.com/portfolio.html#Blog

Second Step
Post often! Your post doesn't have to be long, in fact you can, and should, send your readers back to your site to read more on the topic. Not only that but your site will have more varied and useful information that will benefit your readers.

Third Step
Register your blog with as many blog directories as possible. Most of your readers will come through these directories (though they will come through search engines as well).

Fourth Step
Ping everytime you have updated a post. One of the services I use is: www.pingomatic.com

Happy Blogging!

Jan

Marketing Tactics - "All Is Fair In Love and War"?

In my business I talk to many clients about different aspects of marketing. They also ask me about all sorts of different marketing strategies they have read about, heard about, or been advised to do, in one form or another.

We all know the saying "All is fair in love and war", well that seems to be true in marketing as well. It seems to me the more I hear the more I realize that 'many' marketers actually don't care too much about the client nor do they care about the client's customers. They are only trying to market their 'line'.

Examples:

* Font type (Ariel versus Verdana) can make or break a sale

* Price (9.99 versus 9.97) can make or break a sale

* Bold the first sentence of every paragraph or bold the first sentence of every other paragraph (which one can make or break a sale)

Read more of this article here:
http://www.jbcr-virtualsolutions.com/tips-and-articles.html#Fair

Jan

A New Wave In Marketing - Second Life

Marketing In Second Life - Yes It Is Happening And We Are There!

Second Life is growing as a very unique area for not only meeting people but also for marketing products and services. There are stores, malls, billboards marketing products, such as clothing, with company logos and information that can given away or sold as promotional material.

Who will be involved in marketing promotions? Of course clothing manufactures, but also artists (visual and musical) as well as companies and schools from all sorts of different areas of online companies.

We have started our Second Life marketing campaign. Come see our visual examples here:

http://www.jbcr-virtualsolutions.com/marketing.html#Second

Want to join Second Life? Click here and do look me up when you get there!

Are You Watching Your Page Rank Jump Up and Down?

Google is going through another algorithm change right now. It's propogating across the datacenters, and for the last week it has been going up and down. From what I can see it isn't settled, so don't panic - yet.

Jan

Did You Know Vistors Have A Short Attention Span?

I was reading an article that said that you have about 10 seconds to catch a visitors attention before they leave your web site. That is less than what I read previously and more than some articles state. So what can you do in a such a short period of time to keep folks on your site and hopefully purchasing.

1. Present a quality web site. If you want people to buy a 'quality product' then make sure your web site looks 'quality' as well.

2. Ensure the load time of your web site is quick. Flash may look 'cool' but load time is a problem. Keep images to a minimum, or at least ensure they are optimized so loading time is less. Flashing arrows, audio that comes on when visitors land on the page, etc., do not help loading or keep the customer stay longer.

3. Easy navigation is critical for customers. If they can't find what they are looking for, quickly, they will go some place else. Have top navigation, condensed bottom navigation and important links to inner pages from your home page.

4. If you really want long copy on your web page have the most important copy 'above the fold'. If your heading takes up all the space in your screen trust me your visitor won't even take the time to read anything more. Space text to add readability

Think of what you would like to find in your shopping experience and give it to your visitor / customer!

Jan

Virtualoso Newsletter - March 2007

I am very happy to announce my March 2007 newsletter is now available.

I provide articles, resources, tips, etc., cover some basic computer information, web design tips, Search Engine Optimization information, graphic tips, and updated business information and marketing tips.

This month:

1. Invisible Text - or - Tiny Text
2. Selling Products -AIDA
3. Short Attention
4. Funny Video!
5. A Cat, Fish and Marketing?!

Just sign-up in the form at the side and I will get the latest issue off to you!

Jan

Mercury is Retrograde AND It's A Full Moon

Mercury has been retrograde (meaning - it appears to slow down and almost stop, like it is going backwards) since February 13th and ends March 7th. Have you noticed things have been off - that you have been dealing with communication problems, at the very least? Ah, the wonders of Mercury in retrograde.

To add to that, tonight, Saturday March 3rd, is a Full Moon. Many strange things happen at a full moon, not just the day of the full moon, but a couple of days before and a couple of days after. You may wonder why, but think about it. The moon affects tides (higher than normal) and so much of us are liquid, so of course we would experience changes.

So what do these mean for business?

1. Do Not start new projects
2. Do Not assume what you say or write is understood. Confirm everything
3. Do Not sign important documents
4. Do Not rush anything, take your time

It is important that during this time we listening to our inner voice. We all feel the effects, yes, but it is just a matter of trusting what we feel and actually not being ruled by these outside influences.

What should you DO?

1. Take care of unfinished tasks
2. Clean up clutter (your desk, your computer files)
3. Make plans for the future

It will get better, just try to ride the wave instead of fighting it ;-)

Jan