NMT - Web Sites, Software Development and Graphic Design in Huntsville, Alabama

Lately, we've been getting a lot of calls from people who want us to "fix" part of a website or "give them new features." So it made me think: "What are the sure signs that you should scrap your current website and rebuild from scratch"?

This'll be a humorous (but absolutely true) look at what comes through our doors and indicates you will be better off financially and aesthetically if you just yell "Do-Over!"

5. You have a "hit-counter" on your "home page" Um ... it was cool when it was miraculous that someone across the country could actually fire up an internal modem, hear the little beeps and squeels and then finally hit your website, but today the fact that you have had 103 visitors doesn't impress anyone. So ... of course you can remove your embarrasing hit counter but chances are it's just an indication of the way the rest of the site functions. *We, of course, suggest robust statistics/analytics tools you see - not your visitors.

4. You need new functionality and your site was built using FrontPage. This probably means your site was built 6 years ago by someone who swore they were a "Web Master." For any web company to "add" interactive features such as password-protected areas, easy-to-update text etc ... there will have to be a considerable overhaul (read as: deleting all code)

3. You have a "Splash Page" Please, please, please don't make your visitors wait to get into your site. It's honestly like having to wait in a fast-food line. If your wait is too long - you assume it's badly run, and that what's inside is likely subpar as well. Not to mention the fact that most Flash animation "splash pages" are super-horrible to boot.

2. The price you paid to have your original site built was based on "number of pages" Today, you should absolutely be using a content management system if you run a website that has more than a couple "pages" of content. That means you'll be able to add an infinite amount of text, photos and multimedia yourself. No need to be a "Web Master" (see #4). NMT's SmartSites allow you to do just that: keep your site up-to-date with news, changing information - all through an easy text editor.

1 . You have called every web design house in town and they all giggle/ cough/ put you on hold - when you tell them the url of your current site. The lesson here: Use resource sites like these to size up your current website design against what is current. You'll see pretty quickly there is a great divide in new web design & its communication and sales potential vs. the old style of "putting text and pics" on a page.

If any of these hit too close to home, stop counting your "hits", call NMT and start counting your blessings. 256.704.2324

Are you taking advantage of the internet's FREE marketing potential? There are likely vibrant community forums (with large national readerships) for the interest your business serves. Those communities are made up of lively participants WHO YOU NEED AS YOUR CUSTOMERS.

What better way to let them know about your products / website than to post a bit about it on that forum? Well ... here's where a bit of ingenuity comes in:

If you heard how great a business is from the business owner (think: used car salesman in plaid pants yelling into badly-produced local commercial) - you will will likely pay little attention.

However, if you hear from a satisfied customer who posts on the forum you are reading often, well that's another story.

Tips for Guerilla Marketing via Forum sites:

NEVER sign up and post about your site immediately if you want to be believable. Most sites indicate how many posts you have made as a member so ... again with the credibility factor ... if it looks like you are a first time poster and you post a glorious post about your business and include a link to your site - few folks will bite. DO join the group, browse the forum and make some posts about things you know/care about. Then - make your move. Seems like a lot of work, I know but it's marketing via 3rd party testimonial which is powerful stuff. Plus, if you're on a high-traffic forum, you may get 1000s of hits from that one post.

DO use a different name and email address that username "jimswidgetworld" and email jim@jimsbigwidgetworld.com - Common sense, sure, but we see it all the time and it's inneffective and insulting.

OK, now you're off to search google for "insert industry name here - forum" - SJ

OK, here's the boiled-down skinny on having folks link to your site:

One of the best ways (and FREE) to rise in search engine results is to have folks with high site ranks linking to you. It's like they're vouching for you saying "oh yeah, him ... he's with me."

But ... link exchanging has been around since the beginning of the internet and folks are TIRED TIRED TIRED of being nagged about "adding my link." However, if done right, personally and for pertinent reasons - exchanging links could be what helps you float to the top of Google search rankings.

Here's another video by Sage at WebMarketingWatch.com - he talks through some of these things in plain, and sometimes a tad sarchastic, language. Enjoy, but we take no responsibility for his attitude :) - SJ

Here's a youtube video that talks a bit about the FREE marketing you can leverage for your company. Warning: the guy in the video is either a Ben Stein fan or is about to fall asleep. At any rate, if you're a first timer to Flickr, this is an informative video for brainstorming how you can use Flickr (or other social networking sites for that matter) to promote your business / products for free.

So, you've heard your niece jabbering on about MySpace ... you may have even set up an account to browse. But have you ever considered the marketing potential of a MySpace page?

If you are selling products or services, MySpace can be a priceless, clever, FREE avenue for direct marketing. Imagine being able to search for through a HUGE community of folks - sorted by their interests and location - then send them a message to visit your MySpace profile (which should, of course, have great art, prominent links and teasers to your official web site)

This is shy banner advertising's outgoing little brother. Sure it's a bit time intensive, but hey ... it's FREE.

Go See Clark's MySpace Profile for a few ideas on leveraging Social Networking sites for your business.

MySpace Tips:

OF COURSE ... MySpace is all about "adding friends" - after you search for and find friends, a little courtesy and common sense goes a long way.

DO: search by interests, groups, hometowns to identify potential customers and add them as "friends"

DON'T: "add" mass amounts of random friends - unless you have a completely random products that is of interest to everyone (some revolutionary toothbrush or something) However, most businesses have more niche products and services and you'll do better to identify the most likely friends - who will see your "friend request" as usefull rather than bothersome.

DO:  FOLLOW UP: A quick personal message to your new friend after he/she adds you will really improve the likelihood they visit your profile, see your wonderful marketing message etc ... and click through to your web site.

At the end of the day, MySpace can be used as a brand-building and advertising vehicle - with potential exposure to mass, targeted customers. However, a personal touch is crucial as you are competing with millions of others on MySpace. 

Clark (See above) sends notes like this to friend s after they "add" him.

"Dearest batterman1976, I found you here and saw that you LOVE Yankee baseball. Well, I wrote a book I think you'll love as well. It's a sales book based on baseball's winningest strategies and it's called "The Perfect Pitch." I'd be pleased if you'd visit my profile and give it a look. Thanks! - Clark"

Of course it takes a minute to paste the comment / message in but ... the likelihood of that friend visiting Clark's site has gone up exponentially from a day ago when all they did was click "OK" to add him as their friend. 

 

- SJ