| I like to think that my approach to business is 1 | | | | savvy. Unfortunately, we all know it is not a |
| part experience, 1 part research and 2 parts | | | | perfect world. You must make your site as |
| common sense. I know my business; that's my | | | | user-friendly as possible.I spent a lot of time |
| experience. I read as much as I possibly can to | | | | designing my website. I put a lot of thought into |
| strike a balance in my efforts between tried and | | | | what I wanted to say, how I wanted to say it |
| true and newer methods of business planning and | | | | and how I wanted it to function. Those are all |
| marketing. But to me, the most important, and | | | | important things to consider and steps that must |
| often lacking in my opinion, is the common sense | | | | not be skipped. However, shortly after launching |
| part of running any business, especially online.I do | | | | the site I discovered what I could improve.The |
| not claim to be an expert in SEO or SEM or any | | | | first thing I did when I uploaded the site was to |
| of those acronym concepts. In fact, I'm not sure | | | | inform all my friends and family. I knew within |
| who legitimately can claim to be. In my | | | | two days that I needed to make things a whole |
| observation, the rules to those theories seem to | | | | lot simpler! I had not taken into account that I |
| change daily if not more often. However, like | | | | have grown up in the internet age and things that |
| most online entrepreneurs, I do try and pick up as | | | | I take for granted like knowing how to navigate a |
| much as I can from all sources in trying to | | | | site via a site map or navigation bar are not |
| market and run my business.In working on both | | | | second nature to everyone. I got the best |
| my own business and my client's, I have found | | | | feedback from my 91 year old grandfather who |
| that too often I can get too focused on the | | | | really wanted to see the whole site and know |
| technical aspects of my website and business. We | | | | what it was all about. He tries so hard to keep up |
| are constantly inundated with tips, tricks and | | | | with the technology, but using the internet is not |
| techniques for getting more traffic and finding | | | | his cup of tea.After speaking with him and a few |
| new leads. Please don't think I'm discounting any | | | | other relatives, I sat down and took a hard look |
| of those or disparaging those giving advice. On | | | | at my site. I went through and made two ways |
| the contrary, I think it is necessary to take in as | | | | to get to every single page. I tried to simplify |
| much information as possible in determining your | | | | things as much as possible. I didn't change the |
| own strategies. The problem, in my eyes, lies in | | | | copy because I had made a point to write copy |
| getting too involved in these "new" concepts and | | | | that was inviting to potential clients from any |
| losing sight or doubt your innate sense of how to | | | | background. I used my keywords as much as I |
| do things.I am not suggesting any hot new modes | | | | felt comfortable doing without sounding like a |
| of marketing, nor am I guaranteeing any way of | | | | broken record.Albert Einstein once said, |
| making thousands of dollars a week! I am merely | | | | "Everything should be made as simple as possible, |
| suggesting that before, during and after | | | | but not one bit simpler." In our excitement to |
| implementing any new techniques, you always | | | | boost our search engine rankings and generate |
| take a look at your website and all your materials | | | | traffic, I think it's important to remember those |
| from your customer's point of view. Better yet, | | | | words. The more people who can use your site |
| have someone else take a look.Make sure that | | | | and hear your message; the more customers you |
| you have designed your site and written your | | | | will have!Dana Wallert is the owner of an online |
| copy in a way that is accessible to both ends of | | | | virtual assistance company. She has many years |
| the spectrum: the techies and the technically | | | | experience in sales and marketing, as well as |
| challenged alike. In a perfect world, each visitor to | | | | office management. |
| your site would be very computer and internet | | | | |