7/01/2008
Same-old, same-old: Web writing mistakes we see over…and over…and over
| Mistake # 1: No-no Navigation Navigation, in fact, must be so easy that visitors to your site shouldn’t even have to think about it. Your website navigation should immediately let someone know:
Mistake # 2: Putting existing print on your website. No, no, no. Do not take your brochure, product catalog, employee manual, whatever and simply put it on-line. Printed materials don’t work on-line; they’re two totally different species. Wouldn’t you be annoyed if you read a brochure, had your interest piqued, logged on to the site and found the exact same copy there? I would…and am quite often! Mistake # 3: Believing people care about you personally and your website. In the final analysis, nobody truly cares about your site. That sounds horrible, but it’s true. What people want is a solution. They want their problems solved and they want to figure out in as few seconds as possible whether you’re the one to do it for them. Labels: business writing, seo copywriting, web content, writing for the web |
6/27/2008
How to get your hands on a dose of marketing perspective?
 Here are my commandments on how to keep your eye on the big picture even as you are so focused on your own slice of the business world: » Read, read, read. When it comes to your market, your industry and what you know, there is no such thing as too much information, too much knowledge. » Know thy audience and know thy competitors. “Nuff said. » Don’t be 24/7/365. Take time, schedule it if you need to, to focus on something not related to your business. » Keep it humble. Don’t assume, talk to others, ask questions and always be prepared to change your mind and your plan. » Be real. You’re important and what you do is important but there’s a whole world of important people and businesses and causes out there. Labels: information marketing, marketing, marketing research, small business marketing |
6/23/2008
Got Marketing Perspective?
 You know when you’re so focused on something that you may lose sight of what it really is or of how important it really is (or isn’t) in the grand scheme of the world? I got a great dose of perspective the other day. My 8-year-old daughter has an e-mail address. Her e-mail is included on this subscriber list. Recently, she received an e-mail with tips on blogs and blog writing. She sent me back an e-mail that read like this: So….I guess BLOGS are IMPORTANT????? That gave me a good laugh. It reminded me that while what I do is important, and, I like to think, helps others succeed, sell more, realize their dreams and learn something new as much as possible, the truth is, most of us aren’t finding the cure to cancer. We take ourselves seriously, as we should, but it’s just too seriously at times. Taking a step back and drinking a big mug of perspective will make you much better and much more successful at what you do. So….remember….and this is very important: blogs are very IMPORTANT!!! Labels: blog, blog content, blog ghostwriting, blogging, marketing, online marketing, small business marketing |