mind your own business (website)!

27
Ray Mitchell @SixFourWeb WordCamp Raleigh 2013

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WordCamp Raleigh 2013 presentation covering best practices for developing Small Business websites. This "User" track presentation describes the 5 Key Components of a Small Business Website, along with guidance on selecting themes and plugins, and performing WordPress installations and content updates.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

Ray Mitchell@SixFourWebWordCamp Raleigh 2013

Page 2: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

About Me Designer/Developer/Consultant at

SixFour Web Design SixFour Web Design specializes in

helping Small Businesses and Non-Profits maximize their Web Presence

We Believe “Even Small Businesses Deserve a Nice Website”

Page 3: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

Why Mind Your Own Business (website)? It's not that difficult to do if you're willing to be hands-on You can make changes quickly when needed You can manage your development and maintenance

costs...but, don't fall into the trap of working on your website instead of working on your business

WordPress brings web publishing to the masses and empowers people all over the world to get their messages out.

Page 4: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

So, Why Do You Want a Website?

?

Page 5: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

So, Why Do You Want a Website? Demonstrate Expertise? Educate or Entertain? Generate Leads? Sell Something? Substitute for Bricks and Mortar?

Page 6: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

The Real Reason To Have a Website Your website should answer your site visitor's questions,

and help them decide whether your business will meet their needs.

Your website's design and content will help them make that decision.

Don't help them choose your competition.

Page 7: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

5 Key Components of a Business Website HOME – “Am I in the right place?” ABOUT PAGE – “Are you right for me?” PRODUCTS & SERVICES – “Do they have what I need?” TESTIMONIALS & SOCIAL PROOF – “Can I trust what

they say?” CONTACT INFO - “How do I get in touch with them?”

Page 8: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

HOME Your HOME page should give visitors a good

understanding of what you do?“OurCo provides emergency Heating and Cooling Repairs

in Wake County”

“We Repair Cracked iPhones and iPads”

“With our new system, your child will learn to read in a weekend” What does the use of photos, or lack of photos say about

your site? Site visitors will judge a book by it's cover. Is your site “Big

City Slick” or “Down-Home Country”?

Page 9: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

What Does This Home Page Say?

Page 10: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

Or, This One?

Page 11: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

Or, This One?

Page 12: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

ABOUT Other than your mother, who cares about your company?

Page 13: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

ABOUT Other than your mother, who cares about your company?

NOBODY! Your ABOUT page is where prospective customers go to

try to form a connection. The about page is not about your business, but what your business can do for them.

Page 14: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

PRODUCTS & SERVICES Here's the place to show your wares. Provide customers with enough information to make a

decision. Where appropriate, use quality images and video that

highlight your products. Good copy will help entice your customers to take action.

Page 15: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

Testimonials, Endorsements & Social Proof Until your brand is well known, use testimonials and case

studies to demonstrate expertise and credibility. Display meaningful credentials and endorsments –

professional association badges, chamber of commerce logos, etc.

Your social media efforts can be leveraged too (Facebook Likes and Facepile, Google +1's, social shares, etc.)

Page 16: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

CONTACT PAGE Let your customer know where, when

and how to get in touch with you. Be sure to include phone numbers,

business hours and physical or mailing addresses as appropriate.

Make it easy for customers to find your location by embedding a map. Google makes it easy

Using a contact form will allow you to receive emails with directly giving out your address.

Page 17: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

Getting Set Up Websites are like Recreational Vehicles With most hosting companies, WordPress can be installed

automatically.

Page 18: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

Getting Set Up Manual installations aren't difficult and can be more

secure. Installation files can be uploaded using a free FTP/SFTP

program like Filezilla, or your hosts File Manager. Basic edits can be made using a text editor like Notepad The Codex is your friend. Full instructions for installation

can be found at http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress

Page 19: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

Selecting Your Theme Your theme should reflect your business' character. Look for features that are relevant to your business Bootleg themes aren't worth the hassle. Use one of the

2,140 free themes in the WordPress Themes Directory, or purchase a theme from a reputable vendor.

Not sure which theme companies are reputable? Ask.

Page 20: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

Blog vs. Website While WordPress started as a blogging platform, it's

commonly used as the basis for many of the Internet's most popular websites

Your website's homepage can either be “dynamic” or “static”

You can adjust the front page display in the Reading Settings area

Page 21: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

Adding Content: Copy & Photos Adding copy to your site is easy. Create your copy in

Microsoft Word or Notepad, and paste it into the Post Editor. Look for the clipboard icons.

Page 22: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

Adding Content: Copy & Photos Photos add interest to your website Avoid lawsuits. Use royalty-free stock photos or your own

images. Attribute photos as required Optimize photos before uploading them to help your site

load quickly. Use a photo editing program, such as Pixlr, to size them appropriately

Page 23: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

Capturing Leads and Building Your List Stay in touch with site visitors by obtaining their contact

information. Offer downloadable information such as White Papers,

Special Reports, or Coupons in exchange for their email address

Capture their information using an Opt-in form provided by your email marketing vendor

CHEAPSKATE POWER TIP: Get started using MailChimp. You can build a list of up to 2,000 subscribers and send 12,000 emails per month for FREE!

Page 24: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

Secure Your Site Don't risk your business by not protecting your website.

B Backup Strategy A Avoid Unnecessary and Unauthorized Access N Never Take Candy – or Themes From Strangers K Keep WordPress and Plugins Updated

Page 25: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

Shameless Pandering

This is time in the presentation where I pause to let you send the following tweet to your followers:

Ray Mitchell, @sixfourweb taught me how to Mind My Own Business (website) at #wcraleigh

We now return to our regularly scheduled presentation

Page 26: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

Enhance Your Website With Plugins Contact Form 7 and

Contact Form 7 HoneyPot JetPack All in One SEO* Floating Social Bar PhotoDropper

Google XML Sitemaps WordFence Google Authenticator GravityForms** Backup Buddy**

* Free and Paid Versions** Paid Versions Only

Page 27: Mind Your Own Business (website)!

Thanks!Ray Mitchell @sixfourweb plus.google.com/+RayMitchell linkedin.com/in/raymundmitchell www.SixFourWeb.com