A quick note, know your clients or visitors.
I always tell people that one of the first things you need to do when you set up your web store or website is to determine who your target market is. You want to set up a website with them in mind. What do your visitors want to see on your home page? What is their purpose for visiting your site? Does your target market have a specific style or feel about them? You aren’t going to design a website consisting of victorian flowered wallpaper motif for a store that is trying to draw in the 20-something trend setters.
This also is true in other areas of your web presence. How about marketing? Where are you going to place your ads? Whether they are online or off line you want to spend your time placing ads where your target market is. Don’t exchange links just to exchange them. Don’t place an ad just because its cheap. Do your homework and find out where your customers hang out. Are your customers moms? Find parenting groups and other parenting websites that you can advertise on. How a bout a specific type of mom? Then refine your ad placement even further. You want to get the most bang for your buck.
What I said should be common sense, but I’m finding that more and more people are not researching their potential customers ahead of time. Why this little note today? I had an experience yesterday that really illustrated how many companies are detached from their clients. I’ll share for your entertainment.
I’m out with my kids taking a break from the day and I receive a call on my cell.
Caller: “Is this Kristine D?”
Me: “Yes”
Caller: “Hi Kristine, I’m x-y-z from a-b-c. (I was only half paying attention, lol) I offer web design and hosting services. Are you going to be doing any web development soon?”
Me: I’m very surprised at where this conversation is going and manage to say “Uh, No”
Caller: “So you won’t be redesigning your website anytime soon?” (So she knows I have a website, did she READ my website? lol)
Me: “Well, I AM a web designer.”
Caller: “So you won’t be redesigning your site?”
Me: “I design websites for a living.”
Caller: “So you don’t need web services?”
Me: “Uh… no.” It was incredibly hard not to burst out laughing.
I can only imagine that the caller did not do any customer research before making the call. My point is: don’t try to sell ice to the Eskimos.
Technorati Tags: website, design, web, web design
(2) commentsGetting motivated
As small work at home businesses it’s easy to fall into the same routine day after day. It’s great that we get to work in our pjs if we choose and can laze around working on our own schedule. The downside is it is also easy to fall into a routine that starts to drain us down! It is time to get motivated!
“I don’t HAVE to get dressed, why should I?” Ever tell yourself this? One of my favorite things about being a work at home mom! Duh! My creative mojo starts to dwindle and I start to get cranky. It’s time to get motivated and refreshed! My challenge this week is to change up your schedule and find something that get your juices flowing again.
Now that the weather is turning nicer you’ll find me outside far more often. Gotta love that wireless internet! I grab my laptop and work in the yard with the kids. I sit at the patio table or lounge in the hammock. The fresh air is great! I love to start my mornings off with a outting as well. I load my youngest into a jogging stroller and strap on the rollerblades. We wheel around town doing our morning errands and it’s a great way to kick start my body for a day of work. Yeah, sometimes I don’t want to come back in to my office, but I have a lot more energy when I do!
You don’t have to devote half your day to spicing things up. We’re work at home moms! But take 10-20 minutes to do something different each day. Go for a spontaneous walk. Swing with the kids. Or simply take your work outside. Just break that routine for a bit and see if it helps you feel refreshed!
Technorati Tags: businesses, motivated, work at home mom
(0) commentsNew look!
Web Savvy Mama and the Web Mama Blog have a new look. I love change and decided it was time for more color and a new layout.
You’ll probably notice that the main website and the blog now have the same look and navigation. I hope this helps my visitors get around my site and find what they need. Watch the chat bubble at the top of my website for updates and any specials I am running.
I am currently accepting new blog topic ideas to post here. I’ve been terribly busy and very slow at putting out posts here. I apologize! If you have a topic you’d like to see covered here just ask! If I choose your topic I will include a link back to your website… a bit of free publicity!
(0) commentsWhat to expect when working with a web designer….
Recently I chatted with Michelle Waters on Product Seller’s Radio about working with a web designer.
You can hear the interview online here: top 3 tips to building a productive relationship with a web designer
Picking a designer that suits your needs.
- Look at sites that you like and see who designed them.
- Get references from others in your field if possible. Ask the designer for client references if needed.
- Look at the designer’s portfolio to see if their style meshes with your own.
- Also look at time frame and prices, but realize you may have to pay more or wait longer to get what you want. But don’t let that deter you! Read More…
Technorati Tags: Michelle Waters, working with a web designer, web design
(0) commentsJust starting out…
So you’ve just set up your website, now what? You’ll want to know the basics for updating and maintaining it right?
Whether you are using HTML alone or using my Web Mama e-cart (or other affiliated carts) this online manual will give you a spring board to start from. The manual covers, basic tags, links, images, the e-cart and more…
http://websavvymama.com/pages/manual.php
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