Q&A: How do you get people to volunteer work for your money-making on-line business without complaint and with consistent, quality performance?
Question:
How do you get people to volunteer work for your money-making on-line business without complaint and with consistent, quality performance?
Answer:
My experience has shown that when people care about something, they will often put in the time to make it a success. Convention presenters have known this for years, and are often run by volunteer staffs in the hundreds, all working towards a common goal of a successful and entertaining event. Many of the same reasons apply when looking for staff for online communities. Treat your people right, stand behind them, give them guidance so that they know what is expected of them, and train them in how to do their job well. Don't treat them like slaves, or free help. Let them know when they are doing well, and show the your gratitude. A little appreciation shown can go a long way towards keeping god people happy. All of that however is useless, unless you have a purpose for which they will put in the time and effort. Make your enterprise one that people can feel a part of, that they can feel ownership of, and a part of, and you will find good people willing to help you build your dreams, together.
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Bob Hubbard, is the CEO of SilverStar WebDesigns Inc. and an Administrator at MartialTalk.com and KenpoTalk.com. He can be reached through those sites.
Showing posts with label advertising. Show all posts
Showing posts with label advertising. Show all posts
Friday, March 27, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
3 Basic Features Every Web Site Should Have By Bob Hubbard
3 Basic Features Every Web Site Should Have
By Bob Hubbard
Look around the Internet, look at 100 different websites, and you’ll find 100 different mixes of features. No two sites are exactly alike. Nor should they be, for each site has a unique purpose. But there are some features that every site should have. In this article, I will introduce you to XX of them.
#1 Every site should have a copyright statement.
While US Law states that a work is copyrighted at creation, there are a significant number of people online today who are sadly ignorant of the law, and who believe if it isn’t marked, it’s free to use as they wish. By including a well formatted copyright statement, you will stop some people, and have better chances should you ever need to go the legal route.
At the minimum, use something like this : “Copyright © YEAR – NAME - All Rights Reserved.” Where YEAR is the current year, and NAME is your name, or the name of your organization.
#2 Make sure there is a complete address, and phone number.
Too often I’ll run into a site that assumes that the visitor knows where they are. They list a street address, but no city, or no state. They say things like “We’re located in the Widget Mall”, yet Google shows 15 different “Widget Malls” around the world. They list a phone number, but no area code, forcing you to guess, or do more research and hope for the best. Use a complete address and phone number to maximize contact.
#3 Check all your pages for a working TITLE Tag.
Ever been to “Unknown”? It’s a common website. Estimates are that anywhere from a third to half the web page out there re using the default title tag. Make sure yours identifies your site, and gives a little bit of a description on what’s on that page. Don’t just say “About Bob”. Bob who? Where am I? Why should I care about Bob? “About Bob Hubbard, Owner of SilverStar WebDesigns Inc., a web site design and hosting company specializing in affordable solutions for martial artists.” Is a much better title tag.
There are a lot more features that a web site should have, but to me these are 3 of the most important ones. Of course, proper proof reading of all of your site’s content and testing of email addresses and links, while not specifically features, are also crucial.
Use these tips, and you’ll see a better return on your web site investment.
===
Bob Hubbard is an administrator of the popular martial arts portal site MartialTalk.com and president of SilverStar WebDesigns inc., a web site design and hosting company specializing in affordable solutions for martial artists. Bob can be reached at webmaster@martialtalk.com
Article Copyright © 2009 - Bob Hubbard - All Rights Reserved. This article may be reproduced provided all text, the author bio and these terms are kept intact.
By Bob Hubbard
Look around the Internet, look at 100 different websites, and you’ll find 100 different mixes of features. No two sites are exactly alike. Nor should they be, for each site has a unique purpose. But there are some features that every site should have. In this article, I will introduce you to XX of them.
#1 Every site should have a copyright statement.
While US Law states that a work is copyrighted at creation, there are a significant number of people online today who are sadly ignorant of the law, and who believe if it isn’t marked, it’s free to use as they wish. By including a well formatted copyright statement, you will stop some people, and have better chances should you ever need to go the legal route.
At the minimum, use something like this : “Copyright © YEAR – NAME - All Rights Reserved.” Where YEAR is the current year, and NAME is your name, or the name of your organization.
#2 Make sure there is a complete address, and phone number.
Too often I’ll run into a site that assumes that the visitor knows where they are. They list a street address, but no city, or no state. They say things like “We’re located in the Widget Mall”, yet Google shows 15 different “Widget Malls” around the world. They list a phone number, but no area code, forcing you to guess, or do more research and hope for the best. Use a complete address and phone number to maximize contact.
#3 Check all your pages for a working TITLE Tag.
Ever been to “Unknown”? It’s a common website. Estimates are that anywhere from a third to half the web page out there re using the default title tag. Make sure yours identifies your site, and gives a little bit of a description on what’s on that page. Don’t just say “About Bob”. Bob who? Where am I? Why should I care about Bob? “About Bob Hubbard, Owner of SilverStar WebDesigns Inc., a web site design and hosting company specializing in affordable solutions for martial artists.” Is a much better title tag.
There are a lot more features that a web site should have, but to me these are 3 of the most important ones. Of course, proper proof reading of all of your site’s content and testing of email addresses and links, while not specifically features, are also crucial.
Use these tips, and you’ll see a better return on your web site investment.
===
Bob Hubbard is an administrator of the popular martial arts portal site MartialTalk.com and president of SilverStar WebDesigns inc., a web site design and hosting company specializing in affordable solutions for martial artists. Bob can be reached at webmaster@martialtalk.com
Article Copyright © 2009 - Bob Hubbard - All Rights Reserved. This article may be reproduced provided all text, the author bio and these terms are kept intact.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tip Of The Week : Your Website Doesn't Close The Sale, You Do!
Your Website Doesn't Close The Sale, You Do!
People send hundreds of thousands of dollars on fancy, feature rich, deep content websites, then wonder why they are poor. The truth is, while a website can do a lot of things, it can't close the sale.
People still prefer to deal with other people, and a website is no substitute for the human touch. Prompt follow up and follow through by live people still is what makes a business a success.
Use your website as one of the tools in your sales kit, but make sure you add the human touch. Prompt reply, good service, and great communications are what's needed to succeed today.
- Bob
People send hundreds of thousands of dollars on fancy, feature rich, deep content websites, then wonder why they are poor. The truth is, while a website can do a lot of things, it can't close the sale.
People still prefer to deal with other people, and a website is no substitute for the human touch. Prompt follow up and follow through by live people still is what makes a business a success.
Use your website as one of the tools in your sales kit, but make sure you add the human touch. Prompt reply, good service, and great communications are what's needed to succeed today.
- Bob
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tip Of The Week : Follow Up and Close More Sales!
Poor Follow Up Leads to Poor You!
If you want to shock your prospects, follow up with them the same day, or better yet within an hour of receiving their inquiry! Doing so will put a very good impresion in place with them. When you do this, you'll often hear them proclaim you're the first to reply, and they'll be impressed.
Doing this can help you close 30-50% more sales than your competition who puts things off for days or weeks.
- Bob
If you want to shock your prospects, follow up with them the same day, or better yet within an hour of receiving their inquiry! Doing so will put a very good impresion in place with them. When you do this, you'll often hear them proclaim you're the first to reply, and they'll be impressed.
Doing this can help you close 30-50% more sales than your competition who puts things off for days or weeks.
- Bob
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tip Of The Week : Leave it to the Experts
Leave it to the Experts
I often hear from prospects and clients that they are considering doing it themselves, or handing it over to a student or junior family member. 'IT" is a lot of things. Design of their site, upkeep, marketing, etc.
The problem with this is, while it might be short-term cheaper, it can cost you more over the long haul.
For example, if the septic system in your back yard caves in, you could call your buddies, shore it up with plywood and cover it in dirt. Eventually however, you'll end up knee deep in, well, you know. For something serious like this you call the professionals.
Why would you trust the marketing of your business with someone who is just learning? Unless you have the experience and training, you should leave your website design and marketing to the experts. They can guide you around the pitfalls and traps, and free up your time to do what you are good at, which is the business.
Take off a few hats, and leave it to the experts.
- Bob
I often hear from prospects and clients that they are considering doing it themselves, or handing it over to a student or junior family member. 'IT" is a lot of things. Design of their site, upkeep, marketing, etc.
The problem with this is, while it might be short-term cheaper, it can cost you more over the long haul.
For example, if the septic system in your back yard caves in, you could call your buddies, shore it up with plywood and cover it in dirt. Eventually however, you'll end up knee deep in, well, you know. For something serious like this you call the professionals.
Why would you trust the marketing of your business with someone who is just learning? Unless you have the experience and training, you should leave your website design and marketing to the experts. They can guide you around the pitfalls and traps, and free up your time to do what you are good at, which is the business.
Take off a few hats, and leave it to the experts.
- Bob
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Tip Of The Week : Don't Ask For Email if You're Not Going To Answer It!
Don't Ask For Email if You're Not Going To Answer It!
Has this ever happened to you? You visit a website, you click the "Contact Me" link and send in your inquiry, only to never get a reply? Have you ever then after a few days or weeks called them and gotten the "Oh I never check that" remark?
How'd that make you feel? Like maybe they didn't care? Or that they weren't really professional?
Why would you purposefully ignore contact from someone who is interested in putting cash into your pocket?
If you aren't going to read it, stop asking for it. All you do is hurt your business.
Take your email address off, and put up a phone number and ask them to call you instead. Don't ask for it and leave them in limbo wondering what's going on.
--Bob
Has this ever happened to you? You visit a website, you click the "Contact Me" link and send in your inquiry, only to never get a reply? Have you ever then after a few days or weeks called them and gotten the "Oh I never check that" remark?
How'd that make you feel? Like maybe they didn't care? Or that they weren't really professional?
Why would you purposefully ignore contact from someone who is interested in putting cash into your pocket?
If you aren't going to read it, stop asking for it. All you do is hurt your business.
Take your email address off, and put up a phone number and ask them to call you instead. Don't ask for it and leave them in limbo wondering what's going on.
--Bob
Friday, November 14, 2008
Q&A: How do I advertise my school or organization on MartialTalk and it's related sites?
Question:
How do I advertise my school or organization on MartialTalk and it's related sites?
Answer:
Advertising on MartialTalk is handled through SilverStar WebDesigns Inc.
A list of advertising options, ad specifications, and more is available at http://www.silverstarsites.net/scn/
How do I advertise my school or organization on MartialTalk and it's related sites?
Answer:
Advertising on MartialTalk is handled through SilverStar WebDesigns Inc.
A list of advertising options, ad specifications, and more is available at http://www.silverstarsites.net/scn/
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