3 Ways to Jumpstart Your Web Presence
Written by Deb Dorchak - February 7, 2011 0 Comments
Starting a business of your own is a very exciting time in your life. There’s so much to do! You need business cards, logos, a website, an ezine, freebies and so much more. It’s very easy for the first time start-up to fall into a state of overwhelm, with so much stuff to do you don’t know where to start.
Everyone tells you, you need a web presence. So, that means you need a website first, right? But what if the thought of managing a website is more overwhelming than all the other things on your list? We know how daunting it can be to consider finding the right hosting, having your site designed and installed, filling it with content and whether or not to blog.
Well, the good news is there other options out there than going whole hog on a full-blown website. And the best part? These steps are easily incorporated into your website when you’re ready to take that leap further down the road.
The first step is Facebook. Facebook is no longer a place for idle chatter or finding old high school friends. Businesses large and small have both realized the value of a Facebook page and some go to great lengths to establish some high-end looks. If you watched the Super Bowl over the weekend, you may have noticed that nearly every big company that advertised had its own Facebook page.
Over the last couple of years, Facebook has become the ultimate water cooler for small businesses. At one time, communities were built on a website’s comment section. People would read the posts and add their thoughts at the end of it, conversation would ensue, and a site’s community would grow.
Recently the trend has been one where comments have drifted off site and more people are using Facebook as their forum of choice for discussion.
The real beauty about Facebook is it costs you nothing to set up a page. You can have a personal page for family and friends if you want it, but it’s not mandatory when you set up an account. What you want is what Facebook calls a “fan page” for your business.
Branding your page can be as simple as a small logo or graphic for the profile picture in the left hand column of the page, or using the Facebook Static FBML application (FBML app).
This FBML app enables you to use basic HTML code to design a more personalized look for your Facebook page. It’s like a mini-website for Facebook.
Creating a Facebook page is an excellent alternative if you’re working with a tight budget or a tight schedule. While there is still some coding involved, it is only a fraction of what would be used on a whole site. You can begin to build your following and still work toward the goal of having a full-fledged website later down the road.
Ezines/Newsletters
Another recent trend that people are going with is the ezine. An ezine (also known as a newsletter) is a regularly scheduled email you send to a list of subscribers. This is delivered directly into a person’s email and many people find it much more convenient than going to visit a blog.
An ezine usually consists of personal notes about you, about your business, client testimonials, special offers, tips and an informative or inspiring article pertaining to your business.
Ezines do require a little more time and investment than a Facebook page. First, you’ll need a subscription email client like AWeber, Constant Contact or Mail Chimp. These clients provide you with the means to create sign-up forms and a way to build and manage your list of subscribers.
They also give you the tools you’ll need to create a visually pleasing ezine. As with a custom Facebook page, ezines are built on HTML the same way the pages are. Once again, they’re little mini-web pages delivered right into your subscriber’s inbox.
This is where your Facebook page comes in handy. You can create a sign up form and put the code right into your custom Facebook page. Want to see an example? Click here.
Sweetening the Deal
Everybody likes free things. One of the best ways to get people to subscribe to your ezine is to offer a little freebie with every subscription.
Your freebie doesn’t have to be a huge, two-hundred page dissertation. In fact, the simpler, the better. A freebie is a product that gives people more of a taste of what you do, whether it’s an ebook, a video, or a small bundle of graphics.
Building your web presence doesn’t have to break the bank. Using these simple tips allow you to create a place for potential clients to land and get in contact with you, while giving them plenty of value in return. Any one of these you can do on your own, or you can give us a call, we’re always here and happy to help!
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