Read More... http://www.dmnews.com/state-tax-laws-restrict-major-players-in-e-commerce-arena/article/208144/?DCMP=EMC-DMN_iMktingNewsDaily

1) Paid Search 39%

2) Affiliate Marketing 13%

3) E-mail 11%

4) Comparison Shopping Engines 7%

5) Behavoral Targeting/Remarketing 7%

6) Traditional Portal Deals 7%

7) SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and Natural Search Methods 3%

8) Social Media 1%

9) All Others 12%

As I tell everyone, a very small amount of business owners are using SEO. They just don't understand the importance of SEO and how it can help them get their site to the top of the search engine or if they do understand it they don't want to pay for it.

With WebsiteForge SEO coding comes with every package. If you're not seeing the full benefit of it, call me!

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant
Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208

Sporting Goods and Accessories 32%

General Merchandise 28%

Apparel, Accessories and Footwear 20%

Beauty and Personal Care 7%

Home 5%

If you didn't make money with your e-commerce web site, call me!

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant
Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208

• 70% of the U.S. population regularly use the Internet
• Over 1 billion people in the world are online
• The average adult spends 3 hours more a day online than watching T.V.

These are all encouraging statistics for small business owners. It means you have a very large target market, and as long as you have a website, you have a better chance of being found online than in a phonebook, flier, or other advertisement.

But...

• There are over 400 million active websites &
• The average person only gives a website 10 seconds before deciding whether the site is worth their time.

Which means, you've got ten seconds (or less) to:

1)    attract the viewer
2)    declare your message &
3)    get them to take action

A challenge for sure! But it's not impossible. To make the most of your website, you simply need to know a few basic psychological tricks.

Maximize the Focal Point: Most online viewers can only focus on one thing at a time. So although you may have a bunch of great stuff on your site, find the focal point and make sure it's declaring your message loud and clear.

Make the Message Count: If it takes 2-3 seconds to read a sentence, that sentence better matter to the reader. Does your main message apply directly to the needs/wants of your target market? Don't be clever, elusive, or try to reach everyone. Focus on your target market and speak directly to their emotions.

Give Them Something to Do: Most viewers are searching for a site they can DO something on. Provide them with forums, blogs and other ways to connect with you and like-minded consumers. And don't forget to offer something free in exchange for their contact information.

Give Them a Reason to Return: Keep your site up-to-date and full of interesting, valuable information. When your viewers realize that you are constantly updating your site, they are much more likely to return.

Ten seconds is all you have to attract and keep prospects online. So, whatever else you do, be sure to collect lead information off your site. Even ten seconds gives you enough time to start building that relationship with your prospects. 

If you are interested in learning what a supercharged website can do for your business, you can call me at (888) 558-2446 x 208 and I will be happy to help you.

Thanks,

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant
Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064

Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

How could something so small make or break an email marketing campaign's success? Because many recipients use the email subject line to decide whether to open or delete an email.

Because so much is riding on your email subject line, we came up with 10 rules for crafting a good one.

10 Tips to Write the Email Subject Line Right
 

Tip 1: Read the newspaper.
If you want to write a better email subject line, pick up your local paper. The headline usually highlights a story's most important fact in a limited space. A subject line, in turn, should clearly state what your reader can expect from your email message, what's in it for them or what you want them to do as a result of the email. However, there isn't enough space to do all of them all the time. Look at the newspaper headline to see how it interplays with the story.
 

Tip 2: There is no sure-fire formula.
What works in one email campaign might bomb with the next. A discount offer should be worded differently from an up sell, and both are different from a breaking-news announcement.

Even if you are sending out email messages to promote similar campaigns, you shouldn't recycle an email subject line from a past campaign. You need to stand out each time, yet be familiar to the reader, too. How do you find out what works best? See Rule 3.

Tip 3: Test, test, test.
Test continually to determine trends and styles that appear to work. Add a day to your campaign-creation schedule to give you enough time to try out different email subject lines.

Tip 4: Open rates don't always measure subject-line success.
Look at the subjects associated with the highest number of conversions, such as registrations, clicks to view newsletter articles, sales or downloads. If you drill down into your web analytics, you might find some anomalies, such as an email with a relatively low open rate but a high sales-per-order rate. That could mean something in the subject line strongly appealed to a narrow segment of your email list and could point the way to a more lucrative segmentation. Remember, your end goal is not necessarily high open rates, but to have email subscribers take a specific action. Focus on your end goal.

Tip 5: Urgency drives action.
Set a deadline: "Order by midnight tonight;" "Last day to ensure Xmas delivery." Use urgency and deadlines as part of a planned series of emails as well. For example on Monday incorporate: “5 Days Left…” and then on Thursday follow it with: “Only 24 Hours….”.

Tip 6: Watch spam filters.
There's a fine line between "catchy" and "spammy." Run your email copy through a content checker to identify any spam like words, phrases or construction. The content checker will tell you which phrases to avoid.

See subject line specifications here:

Subject line must not be all in upper case.
Subject line must begin with a capital letter.
Subject line, words with more than three letters must have first letter capitalized.
Subject line must be more than a single word.
Subject line should be a description of the e-mail.
Subject line cannot use "RE" or "FW".
Subject line can not contain punctuations marks.
Subject lines can not contain website address.
Subject line can not contain e-mail address.
Subject line can not have any special characters.

Subject line can not use the following words or phases:

► breaking news

► breaking
► your own boss
► levitra
► call now 

► loans
► cash bonus

► make money
► cialis 

► multi level marketing
► click here

► notspam
► Dear Friend 

► numerical digits at the end
► don't delete

► online degree
► earn extra cash 

► online marketing
► easy terms 

► online pharmacy
► eliminate debt

► alert
► extra income

► apply now
► fast cash

► as seen
► financial freedom

► as seen on Oprah
► free access

► as seen on TV
► free gift

► act now
► free info

► all words that relate pornography
► free instant

► promised you
► free offer

► refinance
► free samples

► reminder
► friend

► satisfaction
► g a p p y t e x t

► search engine listings
► get out of debt

► serious cash
► god

► sex
► get out of debt

► Sunday morning alert
► hello

► teen 
► herbal

► undisclosed recipient 
► Hi

► valium 
► hidden

► vicodin 
► home based

► winner 
► hot

► work from home 
► information you requested

► xanax 
► instant

► your family 
► insider

► Your own 

Tip 7: Lead, but don't mislead.
Don't stretch the truth in the subject line or promise more than the email can deliver, or make grand claims that readers will find hard to comply with in order to get a special offer or benefit. Readers will distrust you (and reach for the report-spam button) if your subject line doesn't reflect the email content.  
 

Tip 8: Write and test early and often.
Writing the subject line is often the last and most hurried step in email campaign development. It should be the other way around. As you plan the email marketing campaign, start thinking about what will go into the subject line. That will help you sharpen your campaign's focus and may even change or tweak the offer or article focus.
 

Tip 9: Review subject-line performance over your last several campaigns or newsletters.
See which email subject lines delivered the action you wanted – the most conversions, the highest average sale per order, the highest click-through rate, etc.
 

Tip 10: Continue the conversation.
Sending email more frequently than monthly or quarterly helps you create a conversation with your readers. Your tracking reports should show you what their crucial or hot-button issues are, what topics get them opening and clicking more vigorously. Feature those keywords or issues prominently in the email subject line where appropriate -- first or second position -- to capture readers' attention.

Douglas,

What I need is to be Ranked in the First Page of the First Few on the Search Engine Pages Google , Micro , Yahoo . . I don't want to make another website I have too much time in the one I have. Can you Help? Please Reply 

Thank You  

Joe Wood

www.theoldcuriositystore.com

REPLY>

Hi Joe,

Here is an example of the huge problem with your website.

When you do a search for a product you sell in Google it's not found..

"1996 1st Anniversary Silver Legacy $10.00 Silver Strike issued by the Silver Legacy Casino & Hotel Resort , Reno , Nevada .... This is for the Rare ! marked .999 Fine Silver on Brass Rim ! Shipping w/USPS Delivery Conf $5.99"

Search Results...

http://www.google.com/#q=1996+1st+Anniversary+Silver+Legacy+%2410.00+Silver+Strike+issued+by+the+Silver+Legacy+Casino+%26+Hotel+Resort+,+Reno+,+Nevada+....+This+is+for+the+Rare+!+marked+.999+Fine+Silver+on+Brass+Rim+!+Shipping+w/USPS+Delivery+Conf+%245.99&hl=en&start=0&sa=N&fp=9d63b61ca9166abe

Your site is not found.

Unfortunately your site was never set-up correctly to be found in the search engines. This problem exist with 99% of all the sites I come across.

To fix the issue would cost most people up to $50K to enhance your site the right way.

It's like converting a Hugo into a Lamborghini.  The most economical way would be to hire us to redo the site using the lasted Search Engine Optimized website code available.

We update the code every Sunday directly to your new site and cost range from $500-$5000 depending on how much Design and Setup you want us to do.

Most people have a huge investment in their website and hate to think they wasted money on it, so they keep on investing money or what I say, throwing their money down a rat hole or good money after bad.

You have have to think of it this way... the vehicle you have used will only get you so far if you want to go even further and make more money, you'll have to buy a new vehicle to do it with, and that is what I offer you.

Right now you have an old clunker that gets 1 mile to gallon if that. WebsiteForge has a vehicle that will get you unlimited miles. Anytime that vehicle needs something replaced, WebsiteForge does it for you at no cost other than your Monthly Managed Services & Hosting Fee.

WebsiteForge invest over $250,000 back into your website code so you don't have to. What other company will do that?

WebsiteForge would love to help you make money online like our other 4000 clients. Call me and I'll explain more about what we can do for you.

Thanks,

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant
Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064

A huge advantage Website Forge has over other Ecommerce Web Designers and Ecommerce Shopping Carts is that the owner of the web site can actually change the appearance of the Shopping Cart themselves without costly programming other companies charge.

Coren Cosmetics was able to change the way products were displayed, background and page colors, the ability to load new images to the site, change the shopping cart location and much more!

If your Ecommerce Shopping Cart can't do this, then call Website Forge Today! 1-888-558-2446 x 208.

2 of the Keywords they wanted to be found for were Magnesite Turquoise Bracelet & Custom Handmade Jewelry. They were not in the first 30 pages in the search engines for those Keywords.

In just 1 week here are the results...

Magnesite Turquoise Bracelet - NOW #15 in Google!

http://www.google.com/search?q=Magnesite+Turquoise+Bracelet&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS378&start=10&sa=N

Custom Handmade Jewelry - NOW #1 in Yahoo!

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AhvWZx6.XQpcJSsMNTwTmgCbvZx4?p=custom+handmade+jewelry&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-701

I welcome you to stop by SimplyCharmingJewelry.com for their custom handmade jewelry and check out some of their sterling silver, swarovski crystals, freshwater pearls, semi-precious stones, swarovski crystal pearls, turquoise and other glass beaded jewelry.

You will find necklaces, earrings, bracelets, watches, anklets and much more.  If you just happen to be shopping for a friend or family member you are sure to find that one of a kind gift for that special someone.

Also, leave a comment about the website here. I'm sure Rose & Greg would love to hear it.

Thanks,

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant
Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208

During last month, the luxury category posted a 15.5% year-over-year increase, paralleling its 15.2% jump in February. Electronics sales increased 8.5% year-over-year in April 2010, while women's apparel saw a 4.1% decline and men's apparel dropped 0.5% during the same period.

“The recession has been e-commerce's best friend,” said Fiona Dias, EVP of strategy and marketing at e-commerce firm GSI Commerce. “If you look at [fourth quarter] 2009 for retail stores, retail started to cut costs. They took associates out of their store; they took inventory out.”

She added that retail will eventually recover, “but not at the same pace as e-commerce.”

Mike Berry, director of industry research at MasterCard SpendingPulse, noted that “in many sectors of the retail marketplace, e-commerce is the only major growth sector.”

“The retailers who are growing are the ones who are growing e-commerce traffic,” he said. “Many of the drivers of the e-commerce space are pure e-commerce players. They don't even have a bricks-and-mortar presence.”

The “Internet Transactions Resolutions Program,” a result of several months of dialogue between the state and e-commerce merchants, is available to “any e-commerce retailer that has operated an affiliate program at any time in the state of North Carolina,” said Beth Stevenson, director of public affairs for the North Carolina Department of Revenue.

Retailers that successfully complete the program will not be assessed tax penalties or interest prior to September 1. The state will also not try to obtain consumer information from retailers to collect tax liabilities prior to the same date. Tax penalties will not be waived for retailers who fail to participate in the program.

The state recently demanded in a federal lawsuit that Amazon.com provide the names and addresses of buyers for tax purposes. Numerous states, many of them cash-strapped as a result of the recession, are considering ways to tax out-of-state e-commerce purchases.

The state will contact “at least 350 retailers” for participation, according to Stevenson. Retailers that fit the eligibility criteria must register to participate by June 30.

E-commerce retail sales will jump 12.7% in 2010, according to a forecast released last month by eMarketer. This projected growth dovetails with a recent Census Bureau's report showing that online sales grew by 14.6% during last year's fourth quarter.

"We think it's unconstitutional," said Jonathan Johnson, president of online retail giant Overstock.com.

Retailers are questioning whether this Colorado law, which became effective May 1, violates the 1992 Quill Corp. v. North Dakota case in which the US Supreme Court ruled that retailers who do not have a physical presence in a state do not have to collect and remit sales taxes there.

"We think it's problematic for several reasons," Johnson said. "They're imposing a burden on an out-of-state retailer that has no footprint in the state of Colorado. Secondly, the costs are significant to us. We're going to mail out at the end of the year a notice to each of our Colorado customers and a list to the state. That's a burden that no [bricks-and-mortar] retailer doing business in Colorado has."

Chris Bradley, president and CEO of Cuddledown, a Maine-based e-commerce company specializing in home furnishings, said his company will comply with the law but expressed concern that future legislation could invade consumer privacy.

"We sell pretty pedestrian stuff — no one should be embarrassed that they get pillows — but there are a lot of companies out there that people buy from because they buy through the mail and don't want anyone to know about it," he said. "If we do it in Colorado, what happens with other states if they're successful? It seems to be a very problematic law from everyone's standpoint."

"Clearly the interstate commerce will be something that we're going to be using as grounds [to challenge this law]," said Jerry Cerasale, SVP of government affairs at the Direct Marketing Association.

The DMA sent members a call for contributions to fund a federal lawsuit seeking a preliminary injunction on April 30, saying that "a suit in federal count is the next reasonable course of action."

In addition to concerns about the constitutionality of the law, most online retailers and direct marketers believe that the tax is part of the state's strategy to replenish its cash-strapped coffers, he added.

"The law itself was included in a budget package that was passed by the [Colorado] legislature and signed by the governor," Cerasale continued. "It's all part of the economic situation that all of us are finding ourselves in. It was likely the trigger for this law."

In a letter dated April 27, Hamilton Davison, American Catalog Mailing Association president and executive director, implored members and non-members alike to make monetary contributions that would fund litigation against the state of Colorado.

"What's worse than having to pay sales taxes in every state?" he wrote. "Having to report to every state every purchase your customers have made so the taxing authorities can start chasing your customers down and ordering them to pay back taxes."

Davison told DMNews that the law, which he says Tennessee and California are watching closely to possibly emulate, is "an opportunity to get revenue for the state without making the constituents angry."

"It's basically the government putting us against our customer. It's a dangerous precedent and an unfair tax," he said. "It's an egregious burden, and it is just very wrong on every level. It has to be opposed quickly and challenged quickly."

His plea has generated sympathy from Johnson, who said he not only will support the fight against the tax, but "we will participate in the funding of the DMA lawsuit."

"We'll be compliant with the law that's on the books but we'll fight to show it's not constitutional," he continued. "As more states [enact similar legislation], we are likely to see that we have no nexus in those states so we have no affiliates there, which is hurtful to the local businesses who are employing people there."

To strengthen its legal stance against the state of Colorado, the DMA has hired George Isaacson, a senior partner in the Lewiston, ME law firm of Brann & Isaacson, to act as attorney.

Davison added that the Multistate Tax Commission, an organization that coordinates state government policies on interstate commerce, is citing the Colorado law as a model for other states to consider. Tennessee and California, both of which are suffering fiscal difficulties, may follow suit with similar legislation, he said. North Carolina's Department of Revenue launched a program on April 23 that urged Internet retailers to collect sales taxes on products sold online in order to "resolve issues of tax liability."

The "Internet Transactions Resolutions Program," the result of several months of dialogue between the state and e-commerce merchants, is available to any e-commerce retailer with an affiliate program in the state. Merchants that complete the program will not be assessed tax penalties or interest prior to September 1.

The Colorado tax bill's sponsor, State Sen. Rollie Heath, a Democrat, told the Associated Press that "there's no new tax."

"We're just collecting what's already on the books," he told the AP.

Monica Smith, CEO of Marketsmith, a marketing services company, said her firm is advising clients to consult with attorneys on the issue and formulate a state-by-state strategy for dealing with potential future taxes.

"Colorado's got through, but a company shouldn't just focus on Colorado. It should focus on the fact that each state needs to generate revenue," she said. "You should be prepared to manage e-commerce in each state."

Smith noted that the Colorado law also affects eBay sales, commonly used by both companies and individuals.

The organization's Ninth Annual Merchant Survey found that 59% of respondents plan to invest more in their e-commerce web sites in 2010 than they did last year. At the start of 2009, 36% said they would increase e-commerce web site investment.

With the economy in recession last year, e-commerce web sites, though a bright spot on the broader retail landscape, fell 2% to $209.6 billion, marking the first yearly decline for the category, according to ComScore figures. Nonetheless, 92% of those surveyed predicted their 2010 e-commerce web site revenues would increase from last year, with 33% predicting growth of between 6% and 15%.

“Seasoned sellers, emerging retailers and manufacturers are all positioning themselves for growth as the economy rebounds,” said Lauren Freedman, president of The E-tailing Group, in a statement. “Results of our Ninth Annual Merchant Survey find retailers taking a laser-like focus on performance where results dictate category-centric demands and solid execution sets the tone for incremental revenue.”

Keyword search, cross-sells, seasonal promotions, sales or specials and e-mail remain the most valuable tactics, but merchants continue to improvise new ways to sell.

Online conversion rates remained at 3% or lower, according to the survey. To increase engagement and profitability, merchants are relying on analytic data such as conversion rates, but they also plan to increase targeted e-mail (79%), refine onsite search (72%) and enhance merchandising (70%). Other popular improvement tactics for 2010 include usability or A/B testing (58%), videos (48%) and social networking efforts (58%).

Merchants also mentioned social networking efforts considerably more than last year (44%). More respondents also added blogs, customer reviews and community features such as forums and share-by-social to their sites as well. Facebook fan pages ranked as the top social tool for merchants, though 80% also will employ Twitter in the next year. In addition, nearly 40% plan to use mobile to improve e-commerce performance, compared to 19% last year.

The Chicago-based consultancy surveyed 152 merchants in the first quarter of 2010.

To find out how we can increase your E-commerce web site sales online call me today!

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant
Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064

Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

"E-commerce giant Amazon.com reported a 68% year-over-year increase in first quarter net income to $299 million from $177 million.

The company's US and Canadian Web sites combined for a 47% increase in quarter-over-quarter sales. International sales were up 45% from the last quarter.

Among the two product classifications broken out in Amazon's earnings report, “media” sales increased 22% quarter-over-quarter, to $1.6 billion from $1.3 billion, while “electronics and other general merchandise” sales were up 73%, to $2 billion from $1.2 billion."

A key factor to increasing sales is using an Internal Site Mapping File System like Amazon and WebsiteForge.com uses.

To find out how we can increase your E-commerce web site sales online call me today!

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant
Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064

Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

Sales to increase 12.7%
 

According to eMarketer forecasts that after two years of subpar growth, 2010 US retail e-commerce sales (excluding travel) will climb to more than $152 billion, up 12.7% year over year. This follows the US Census Bureau’s release showing online sales in Q4 2009 grew by 14.6% over a year earlier—the biggest gain in eight quarters.

“In 2011, growth will go on at the same pace, as the economy continues to recover and consumers loosen their purse strings,” said Jeffrey Grau, eMarketer senior analyst.

So timing is perfect to get your E-commerce web site up and going!

For more information on how WebsiteForge.com can help make your business web site successful, call me today!

 
Thanks,

 
Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant
Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064
Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

Check Out My Other Blog Articles On Web Site Design & Search Engine Marketing!

Of course your site has to be optimized for the search engines such as Google.com, Yahoo.com and Bing.com to really see the full potential your web site can bring as far as qualified leads.

For more information on how WebsiteForge.com can help make your business web site successful, call me today!

 
Thanks,

 
Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant
Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064
Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

Check Out My Other Blog Articles On Web Site Design & Search Engine Marketing!

You know what they say, "Proof is in the pudding", right, well I say proof is in the Web Site Design Company and if you want your web site to make you money, then you need to consider these facts...
 

FACT 1 - The average WebsiteForge client makes $65,400.31 in sales.
FACT 2 - 9.38% make over $100,000 in sales.
FACT 3 - 2.65% make over $500,000 in sales.
FACT 4 - 1.22% make over $1,000,000 in sales.
 

If your web site is not hitting those kinds of numbers, then you need to call me today!
 

I have many people ask me what are the best producing sites to have. The answer is ANYTHING! As long as your site is marketed correctly and is able to be found in the search engine results, you can make money with any kind of business.

 
Here is a small sampling of sites that produced over $100,000 in sales...

Battery Sales
Clothing
Fitness/Supplements
Baking Supplies
Gold Silver Coins
Lawn Mower Parts
Diving Gear
Printing Services
Spy Camera Equipment
Wholesale Food Products
Clothing
Lingerie
Tractor & Mower Parts
Aluminum Performance Radiators
Candles
Marine Electronics and Boat Supplies
Sanitation
Nursing School
Firefighting Equipment
Truck Hitches
Gun Parts
Bedding Supplies
Audio Sales
Sport Clothing Accessories
College Student Services
Tool Sales
Vitamin Sales
Makeup
Electronics
Coffee Sales
Fishing Tackle
Medical Supply
Solar Supplies
Personal Gifts
Construction
Real Estate

 
If you did not see your industry listed above, do not think for a minute you cannot make money. We have hundreds of successful sites in every industry.

 
Every successful web site we have has one very important person behind it, "The Owner of the web site". We provide the tools necessary to be successful and it is up to the Owner of the web site to use those tools or pay us to do it for them.

 
A successful website just does not happen it's forged together with technology and sweat equity!

 
For more information on how WebsiteForge.com can help make your business web site successful, call me today!

 
Thanks,

 
Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant
Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064
Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

Check Out My Other Blog Articles On Web Site Design & Search Engine Marketing!

Search Engine Optimization will drive traffic to your Web site, but if customers can't find products they wish to purchase, they'll go away disappointed. Here are five sure-fire Ecommerce strategies for you to use.

First, know your customers and anticipate their needs. Never forget that as an Online Ecommerce Store Merchant, your goal is to find products that suit your customers likes and wants, not yours. Think about what and how they purchased and for whom. If you know your shoppers are older Men, a tee shirt that says "I love Knitting" is not as good as one that says, "I have the best Grandchildren in the world!"

Next, understand that you're selling more than a product in your Ecommerce Store; you're selling a solution to a problem. Whether the problem is a better TV, disorganized closets or new blinds, before and after images create an effective visual solution to a customers problem. When you combine powerful images with ad copy that drives the problem-solving aspects home, you'll sell more product from your Ecommerce Site.

Also, mix and match products repeatedly and creatively in your Ecommerce Store. If men's hats can be placed under both "apparel" and "hats", then position them in both places. Don't forget to cross-sell by rotating additional merchandise that the shopper may also like; ie. If you like this hat you may want to buy this belt with it. Keep it interesting for the customer by using a good selection of products and price points.

Also, take the time to search for products on your site to make sure your customers can find them easily. Let's say you're selling Jewelry and you want to find a diamond necklace for $50 or less, search "necklace" and "great gifts for under $50." Presumably, the diamond necklace will appear with other necklace or diamond related items. If they don't, then more synonyms and keywords need to be integrated into your site's search.

Finally, try to do the thinking for your customers. No one has time to search your Web site to find just the right present. Create gift-buying categories, such as "hard to shop for", "gifts under $50", "Outdoorsman" or "Hard to buy for Teens" Also, create categories by price point. If you integrate your merchandise in a meaningful way, your customers can cut to the chase and spend money with you instead of the next site that does!

If you want to know what can help make your site better, give me call today!

Thanks,

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant
Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064

Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

- Tony Miller

A> I hear from a lot of people that due to the economy they are not going to spend any money to improve their website.

But, what you really need to do is improve your websites ability to get more clients or customers.

You should Recession Proof Your Business Website!

A Recession doesn't mean stop what you're doing.

Here's what happens:

Economist start saying we're in a Recession. Your customers start getting nervous and then start tightening their belts. They still spend money, but now they are pickier about how they spend it.

If you sell a product or service that your customers deem nonessential then your sales may start to slow down.

Before I provide the answer look at these facts:

The National Unemployment Rate in 2009 was 9.3% and in 2010 it's at 9.7% compared to 1982 when it was 9.7% and 1983 when it was 9.6%.

What's that tell you? It happened before, right? And, people lived through it and made money. We're not talking about a 60% unemployment rate here. For the last 40 years the unemployment rate has been between 2.9 and 9.7. Right now we are at a high, but it doesn't have to affect your business.

It's simple math, if you can only get more customers you can make it through this economic slow down and further ahead in the good times.

The question is how do you get more

 people to buy your product or service?

Ready for the SECRET!

You do this letting more people know what you do and what you have to offer!

Simple, right?

If you need to let 1000 people know what you do to make 100 sales and due to the economy you're only making 50 sales right now... then you need to let 2000 people know about what you do and you'll make 100 sales.

It's all about simple math we learned in grade school.

Okay... I know you're reading this saying to yourself, "Right, but how do I get all these extra people"?

Ready for the SECRET to getting customers!

The only way to do this is by Advertising! If you do not get your business in front of the people you might as well set up shop in the middle of the jungle if you like warm weather... and for those who like the cold weather I would recommend Antarctica.

Seriously.. You have to Advertise. Advertising takes all shapes and forms and some Advertising is expensive while other methods are inexpensive. Regardless of the method you use, you always want to get a "Return on Investment" (ROI). If you spend $100, you should make $200 back. If you spend $100 and only make $50 or nothing back, then dump it.

Your Website should be considered an Advertising Expense and it should give you a "Return on Investment", if it doesn't you need to dump it or find a way to make it give you a "Return on Investment". Otherwise, it's just a cost.

Ready for the SECRET

to getting customers to your website!

I hear a lot of people say, "A website, is a website, is a website.", which is untrue. The correct statement is, " A website without true search engine optimization is just a website that does not drive traffic and is no better than a brochure sitting on dusty counter. A website with true search engine optimization is a traffic driving machine!"

I have spent 20 years in Marketing & Advertising and a website with Search Engine Optimization will yield you a higher return on investment than any other form of advertising. TV does a 2:1, Radio 3:1, Print is up to 10:1 and Search Engine Optimization does 20+:1 ratio.

A website from WebsiteForge that uses an Internal Site Mapping System that automatically updates itself is the highest form of optimization a site can have. Most people can experience a 20+:1 RIO. Keep in mine, you still need a product or service someone wants to buy, but the traffic will make a dramatic difference.

You site needs to be a Revenue Stream Builder!

Let me ask you a simple question: Why in the world would you want a website if no one couldn't find it?  The answer is just as simple: You wouldn't, and you don't have to!

For years everyone and their brother have been building websites. With all the simple website building software on the market today you can even hire a kid to make you website. But they can't make a Professional site that will create a Revenue Stream for your business. That part takes an Expert in the field of Search Engine Optimization. If your neighbors kid could do it, he would be a millionaire and thousands of companies would flock to him to build their website.

The fact is, just like anything in life, if you want it done right, you have to hire an expert to do it. And I'm not talking about a person who has done it once, but thousands of times.

At WebsiteForge we have created over 6000 successful websites in the past 18 years and we are the most experienced company that offers the most comprehensive search engine optimization solution in the industry that is automatically included in our website platform for no extra cost.

Our clients are experiencing huge returns on their website investments. We have clients doing hundreds of thousand to millions of dollars in sales a year from websites that only cost them a tiny faction of that amount.

WebsiteForge is not in the business of just building websites.

WebsiteForge is in the business of developing the tools to make your business successful online.

So my answer for you Tony is, invest your money with a company that knows how to make their clients money and Recession Proof Your Business Website!

Call WebsiteForge Today!

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant
Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208

Q> What does SEO stand for?  Would you basically list it with google, and other search engines?

Brent

A> SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization which is the process used to attain higher ranking in the search engines like; Google, Yahoo and Bing.

Search Engine Submission is the method used to get the site on the search engines. The benefit of doing a Search Engine Submission is, it will let people type in your Domain Name Address or URL in the search field so hopefully they can find your website.

Most people won't know your Domain Name or URL when doing a search and will try to find a company like yours by using Keywords to locate you.

By Optimizing your site for the Search Engines you will be found in the top % of the sites instead of the bottom. Most people don't know or understand this important fact or are misled by companies that just build and design sites and don't specialize in Search Engine Placement.

Let's say you need brain surgery, would you want to go to the Family Doctor or a Brain Surgeon? The Family Doctor will cost a lot less but your chances of survival is slim. The Brain Surgeon has a huge successful track record but cost a little more. Who would you want to perform the surgery? That answer should be obvious, right?

Your website should be treated the same way. If you want a successful website, you need a company that specializes in developing successful websites that are found high in the search engines, otherwise your website could just be sitting at the bottom of the search engines, brain dead.

If you don't want a brain dead website, then let's discuss how WebsiteForge can help you.

Thanks,

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant
Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064

Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

1. Build Awareness
Facebook offers very affordable, targeted cost-per-click advertising options that can be targeted to the city you do business in or a larger geographical area. You only pay per click, so costs are minimal. Also, a Facebook page or group can be created to help get the word out about your organizations products or services.

2. Distribute Information
Businesses can affordably communicate events, news, products and services. Facebook allows you to leverage your personal and professional contacts to share information and for free which is the best part.

3. Create Community
Social networking serves to bring people together. Your business can brand, build, and boost business. This allows your community to become your best sales people and free focus group. Read the conversations and post and learn how you can better your organization and the products or services you offer.

4. Offer Additional Customer Service
Through Facebook, you can answer questions, receive free feedback, promote events, and provide news to be of additional service to your audience. Facebook gives your prospective and current customers an additional web option to find and connect with you.

5. Boost Sales
Businesses have to fight harder than ever to survive in this tough economy, but your business can have a competitive edge with Facebook. Tapping free social networking tools like Facebook to build awareness, share information, educate, build community, increase connection, and enhance customer service will all work in unison to make sales.

When used with the right intention and managed regularly, Facebook can be a no-cost marketing tool to help your local businesses gain a competitive edge. Converse directly with your clients or customers, create a community of conversation, learn, share, and connect all in a fun way.

Facebook has over 350 million users; I am willing to bet that your audience is waiting.

More than one-half of smartphone users checked out websites of a company before doing business with them online with their phone according to "Q3 2009 Smartphone Intelligence Survey" as cited in a press release January 4th, 2010.

If your website is not compatible with mobile technology and upgraded with new updates like what WebsiteForge offers it's clients, then your site runs the serious risk of not being able to be viewed by potential buyers of your product or service.

More and more people are using smartphones like Blackberry, Droid and the IPhone instead of there computer. Research also shows the people who use their phones to shop and collect information with are in the demographics most business websites want to reach.

This first quarter, WebsiteForge plans on spending $50,000 back into our core coding to ensure our clients are always able to be found. The question is... are our competitors doing the same for their clients?

For more information on how WebsiteForge builds better business websites, please send back an email with a time or call me, otherwise I hope you enjoy your week!

Thanks,

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant
www.websiteForge.com
E-mail - dougmarks@websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064

Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

One of the most important factors about a web site is its presence and positioning in the search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN's Bing.

The industry's term for this is called Search Engine Optimization which is the method used in getting you higher placement in the search engines free listing.

It makes no sense to have the best designed web site in the world if it does not have a good position in the search engine listings and have no one find you in a natural search for the keywords and key phrases you need to be found for.

What's the difference from being on page 1 to being found on page 1,000,000? Could be $1,000,000 or more in sales revenue!

Good search engine ranking and placement is extremely important because typically it's the number one way potential customers will find you on the internet.

Search Engines are a free and effective advertising tool, but only if your web site is setup correctly for this to happen. At WebsiteForge we know how to develop your web site to get you at the top of search engines by making your site search engine optimized from the bottom up, the way the search engines want to see your site built. This is the most effective way to insure top rankings for your web site.

Most web site design companies won't tell you that they really don't have a clue about how search engine optimization really works. If they did tell you the truth, you would not buy a website from them because your website would never be found in the search engines for the keywords and key phrases you want to be found for.

Most companies tell you they will submit your website monthly to the search engines, then don't, not that it matters anyway because unfortunately, that's not how you gain ranking in a search engine anymore. It has not been that way in over 10 years and any Search Engine Optimization Expert will tell you that.

Today search engines use robots and spiders to search your website when someone request keywords in a natural search selection. If you do not have any of those words on your site, then you do not appear in the search listing. It's that simple.

Here at WebsiteForge our websites are designed and hard coded with Search Engine Optimization software that makes every web page and word show up in the search engines unlike 95% of the websites being built using Microsoft FrontPage, Dreamweaver and a lot of other website building software.

To say every website design company is the same is almost true, except WebsiteForge. We take it to the Next Level when it comes to getting your website found in the Search Engines.

It not only took WebsiteForge over $150,000 and over 5 years of development to get where we are today, but it takes over $45,000 in updates & upgrades to our core software to ensure you get the latest in Search Engine Optimization Technology which will help keep your web site high in the search engine rankings.

When you purchase a web site package from WebsiteForge we also provide you with a FREE Consultation with a Search Engine Optimization company called www.thenetcorp.com with an Expert "Kevin Gannon", who will consult with you, set-up and submit your site included in the price of our website package. No other company offers you that!

If you have any additional questions, please contact me.

Thanks,

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant
Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064

Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

 

[ NOTE: Before you select a company, ask them what you can expect them to do for you to Optimize your site for the Search Engines. If they are not Hard Coding your website with an internal site mapping system that links every page and automatically creates a site value instead of a page value, chances are you will not get found in the Search Engines! Meta Tagging your Home page or any page will not ensure you will be found at the top of the search engine either, only that you will be found somewhere, most likely at the bottom.]

Web Site By WebsiteForge Converts 90% More Business and Increases Sales by 28% in the first 3 Months!

TO: Potential Ecommerce Web site Buyers,

We decided that our ecommerce web site needed a facelift.  After researching different solutions, we chose to have WebsiteForge.com build a new site.  With our input, they built a new site with a brand new design that was much more professional looking and user-friendly than our old site.

The result was a 90% increase in conversions and a 28% increase in gross sales in the first 3 months.

The staff at WebsiteForge is knowledgeable, helpful and easy to work with.  They responded to every question and request promptly and professionally.  Even after the site was online, they have continued to offer outstanding support and guidance.

I would recommend WebsiteForge to anyone seeking a professional ecommerce website.

Jim Fisher

www.BestWarningLights.com

Hi Everyone,

I have to say... there is a lot of confusion about Hosting vs Managed Services which is what WebsiteForge offers and others do not.

Hosting of a website is no more than providing space for your website to reside. It also only allows so much space and traffic to that space which is called Bandwidth. Typically if you go over the alloted Bandwidth limit you are charged more money just like cellphone service otherwise your site can not be viewed.

Some hosting companies provide other services like Backup Services. Backing up your website is always recommended so you don't lose your data. Hosting companies differ, some only allow you to do the backup and it's not automatic, while others will automatically backup your site every 7 or 30 days or some set period of time.

Website Hosting can run anywhere from $4.95 - $10K a month or more depending on the services you purchase.

There is also a lot of confusion so always ask the company that is doing the hosting, "What is included in this price"?

With WebsiteForge we provide the following Managed Services including Hosting http://www.websiteforge.com/48.html?m20:cat=managed-services-hosting.

If you have any questions about the services we provide, please call me!

Thanks,

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant
Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064

Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

I got an email today from Alex who is looking at having a professional web site design created.

This is what he said...

Read my Blog on Why Hire A Professional Web Site Designer by clicking on the following link http://www.websiteforge.com/48.html?m20:post=why-hire-a-professional-web-site-designer

These days, building a new web site takes considerable expertise and training.

With the rapid pace of technology you need a professional web site designer who understands the importance of building your website to be found high in the search engines.

If the code you site is built on is old, as many companies use, then you are setting yourself up for failure before you ever begin.

WebsiteForge updates it's technology on a weekly basis and is always found in every search engine, browser, platform and hand held device.

What Are My Choices?

There are several choices as to how you can build your web site. You could always build it yourself if you have the necessary skills. Or you could ask a friend to build your web site to save some costs.

WebsiteForge does offer a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) solution for those trying to keep your cost down with updated technology so you are found in every search engine, browser, platform and hand held device. So if you are looking to have a friend or family member build you a low cost site, please call us to discuss this option.

Build Your Own Web Site

A few years ago, it was much easier to build your own site if you were technically inclined, and had some graphical design skills. However, now it is very difficult to do so since the technologies have gotten so complex, and change so rapidly. Sure you can still build your own site, but you may not be building it to a level that more professional web site designers can achieve.

The graphical design plays a crucial role to the success of your web site. If you do not have the skills to create a professional looking graphical design, then you should not be building your own web site. Without the professional look and feel, your site will not have the success of other sites with a more polished graphical design.

Have A Friend Build The Web Site

You can probably save some money if you have a friend build a web site for you. Of course, the same limitations as above apply. If your friend is not a full time web designer, and has not kept pace with the latest technologies and standards, then your web site may not turn out as good as you hoped.

Review the web sites that your friend has built for other clients, and evaluate how good the work is. If it is substandard, then are you okay with having a substandard web site for your business? Sure you’ll save a few bucks, but what are you doing for your bottom line?

Once again, WebsiteForge does offer a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) solution for those trying to keep your cost down with updated technology so you are found in every search engine, browser, platform and hand held device. So if you are looking to have a friend or family member build you a low cost site, please call us to discuss this option.

Hire A Professional Web Site Designer

Hiring a professional web designer may be your best option. Sure, you’ll have to pay for it, but at least you will know that you are getting a web site designed by a company that specializes in web site design.

The web site designer should be fully versed in all the latest standards and technologies. The designer should have a large portfolio of web sites they have designed for other companies. They should be excellent graphical designers that are able to build a professional quality web site for you. They should have the technical expertise to build any web applications or features that you may need.

Most web site design firms are not one-stop shops that can handle your entire project from start to finish. In a recent survey 98% of web site designers admitted they do not build there web sites with Search Engine Optimization in mind. In fact once they built their web sites they either did nothing or referred you to another person for optimization or even expensive pay per click advertising. This is NOT the case with WebsiteForge.

At WebsiteForge we are one of the few companies that want to see your business succeed the first time so we help optimize your site to be found high in the search engines results for the keyword or keyphrase you want to be found for.

Conclusion

Even though you may be tempted to build a web site on your own, or through other resources, it is almost always better to let a professional web site designer handle the job for you. If you do use a friend or family member, please use our software to do it with.

If you have any questions about this blog please call Doug Marks at 1-888-558-2446 x208.

Why Host With WebsiteForge.com?

Hi Everyone,

I get this question a lot

Q> I already have a hosting company and don't want to move my site to WebsiteForge to host. Why would I want to switch hosting companies?

A> I understand you currently have a hosting company, but what does your hosting company do for you?

Do they provide you with a True Content Management Tool to make changes on your website like a web programmer can?

Do they drive traffic to your site so you make money?

Do they Search Engine Optimize your site so you are found higher in the search engine for your Keywords & Key Phrases?

Do they add $250,000 in New Website Technology to your site?

Do they keep your site updated in the Browsers, Computer Platforms, Search Engines, Hand Held Devices and Cell Phones like the IPhone?

Do they Maintain your site with 1 hour of editing time per month?

Do they Monitor your site every 5 minutes to make sure your site is running correctly?

Do they Back-up your site changes every 4 hours?

Do they provide you with Unlimited Support with your website needs?

Do they provide you with a 5 Tier Locked Down Code at the Site and Server level that will prevent a Hacker from destroying your site?

Are you set up on a 7 Clustered Redundant Server so your site will never be down?

Do they provide you with an On site Technician 24/7/365?

Do they provide you with a High Security Data Center?

Do they offer you Unlimited Storage and Bandwidth?

Do they provide you with POP-3 E-mail accounts that have Spam Control, Virus Scanning, Online Web mail Access and Grey Listing?

Do they offer a EV 256 Bit SSL Security Cert?

Do they provide Password Protection on selected pages?

Do they provide you with Unlimited Training Webinars, Online Documentation & Support, Help Files, Video Tutorials, Customer Support, Technical Support and Remote Hands?

Do they provide a Website Hit Statistics Tool?

Do they provide a way for you to create unlimited Forms on your site?

Do they provide a Newsletter Sign-up & Creation Tool?

Do they provide a way to do Mass E-Mail Marketing?

Do they provide a Pop-Up Marketing Tool?

Do they provide a Copy Protection Feature for your pages and images so people don't steal them off your site?

Do they provide a way to insert Google Analytics into your account?

If your hosting company is not providing you the services all businesses need and you're just paying for Hosting a site. It's like storing your most prized possessions in a cold, tin shack in the middle of the field that throws everything in a giant room and not locking the doors.

What does your hosting company do for you that would make you not want to switch to a company like ours?

Thanks,

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant
Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446  Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064

Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

Check Out My Blog on our Community Page!

I got a lot of people writing back to me saying, "How can you say WebsiteForge is the only company that offers Search Engine Optimization?"

So.. here is the paragraph I wrote and included in a bunch of emails I sent out last week...

"WebsiteForge is the only company that offers our Proprietary Search Engine Optimization SEO that will get your site listed higher in the Search Engines than what any other company will do for you at no extra cost. We provide the Set-up, Submission and a Consultation with an SEO Expert with more than 10 years experience in getting websites ranked in the top pages."

Let me clarify...

FACT 1: WebsiteForge is the only company that offers our Proprietary Search Engine Optimization SEO Software. It's code built into the site. It normally cost thousands to have a site set-up the way we do for the search engines.

In the summer of 2004 Google sent a notice to Website Development Companies stating they were changing the way their Search Engine Robot & Spiders were going to Index sites using what was called their NEW & IMPROVED Googlebot. The Googlebot was like a super bot or spider which would read your entire site better than the previous Robot & Spiders. If your site is correctly coded for this new Googlebot, it could dramatically increase the positioning of your website over other sites that are not.

WebsiteForge immediately started working on this new way of coding the backend code of the website to allow the Googlebot to thoroughly index the site the way Google wanted it done. We made the decision to spend the money and convert website building software to conform to the way Google wanted it done and we contacted Yahoo and MSN as well to make sure we built the code to conform to their standards as well.

WebsiteForge has invested over $100K into the software so far and runs us about $35K to maintain every year. This is not just a Meta Tag that has been slapped on your Homepage as other companies do. We worked directly with Google, Yahoo and MSN for 3 years developing an underlying code that could be managed by WebsiteForge without hand coding the site and spending thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars to correctly code each site.

In August 2007, WebsiteForge Beta Tested the new Search Engine Optimization code as instructed by Google and developed by Kevin Gannon from TheNetCorp.com (SEO Expert for over 10 years).

This is one of the examples of success we experienced.

Client: ShopBakersNook.com

Orders from January 2007 to the end of July 2007: 2500+

Order from August 2007 during the Beta Test: 2600+

In just 30 days, ShopBakersNook.com was able to out perform their entire year to date orders. The went from the 6th page of Google to the 3rd page of Google in just days for major Keywords & Phrases. Now ShopBakersNook boast of doing more than 18,000 orders a month and says they lost track of how many times they are found on the 1st page for Keywords & Phrases they want to be found for. They also claim their competition spends thousands of dollars to an SEO Expert per month while they don't have to.

FACT 2: Your site will get listed higher in the Search Engines than what any other company will do for you at no extra cost. Meaning other companies can not do what we do for FREE. They can tell you they do, but they do not. We have not found a company yet that does. If you think you have found a company that does let me know so I can call them. All companies so far that we have spoken to have back tracked on the quote "Search Engine Optimization" they offer compared to us and have retracted those statements once we ask for proof in the coding of the site.

FACT 3: We provide the Set-up, Submission and a Consultation with an SEO Expert with more than 10 years experience in getting websites ranked in the top pages. (Kevin Gannon with TheNetCorp.com)

I know other companies tell you they do the same thing as we do, but they don't. The only way for other companies to do what we have done is for them to have an SEO Expert redo the work they do and code the site correctly by hand and spend 50-650 hours depending on the type of website you have to do it. Most companies charge $100-$150 for software programming, so do the math. It's expensive to hand code websites and there is no software program on the market today that does, except our software that we don't resell.

Some companies are building sites in Search Engine Friendly software and calling it Search Engine Optimized because they have a Meta Tag on the Home Page or on every page of the site. It does not mean they have the same Search Engine Optimization Code we use and spent $100K to develop and maintain.

Here is a good example:

Let's say WebsiteForge builds cars, and you are shopping for a car, and Company XYZ's sales person says, "We use the same metal WebsiteForge uses for their cars." Does that mean Company XYZ's cars are built the same way WebsiteForge's cars are? Absolutely Not! Company XYZ may be selling you a HUGO and WebsiteForge is selling you a Formula 500 Racing Car built specifically for the Super Internet Highway not the junk yard.

So don't let those other companies make you think you're getting the same thing that WebsiteForge is offering you. WebsiteForge is the only company that offers our Proprietary Search Engine Optimization SEO Software and RESULTS that come from using it!

Thanks,

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant

Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446 Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064

Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

John Casey

http://www.okcs.com/

A website page can contain as much text, images and links as you want on it. Most people have roughly 1/2 of a word document size page which is 250 words, but you can have as much as you want on a page with WebsiteForge.

What is a Custom Graphic Design

Is a Unique One-Of-A-Kind Custom Graphic Designed Site. Get the look & feel you want with Unlimited revisions until you are 100% satisfied.

Regardless of the style you may want to choose, we will do unlimited designs and revisions until you are 100% satisfied. 

Here are a few more examples of a Custom Graphic Designed Web Site:

One way to keep your website cost down and still have a unique site is to go with a Custom Web Site. A Custom Web Site has no Graphic Design it's just a custom shell. You can have an outside border color, inside border color, menu bar color and function, header and footer area.

to a Professional Website

WebsiteForge Makes Being On The Internet Easy & Affordable! It's As Simple As 1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. Live!

Step One: Purchase
Within 24-48 business hours after you have purchased your website a Web Coordinator will contact you and send login and password information to your website membership area and the Project Management System.

You will be able to select a Temporary Design to use as a COMING SOON site. Once your Custom Graphic Website is Designed we will swap it out.

Step Two: Gather Text and Images
Your Project Manager & Web Coordinator will help you to gather the information needed to complete your site. You will be given all the time you need to submit all text, images, music, etc. that you would like to include in your website. These items will be submitted through our Project Management System.

Step Three: Development
Once WebsiteForge has all of the information needed to complete your website the Project Manager & Web Coordinator can quickly have your website live. Most websites can be completed in just 2-6 weeks.

Step Four: Publish Live
When your Project Manager & Web Coordinator has completed your website it will be published live on the internet. You can also have a "COMING SOON" site prior to your site being completed and you can start using your e-mail account right away.

eCommerce Shopping Cart Solution

Customer Support M-F 9AM-7PM EST - Online & Phone Support provided to you for any questions you may have and assistance/help editing your website.

Technical Support 24/7/365 - With WebsiteForge, you don't have to worry about technical details. We manage the hosting for you without costly hourly or per-incident charges. WebsiteForge also adds over $250,000 of updates and upgrades to your site in the form of Browser Compatibility Issues including hand-held devices such as PDA's and Phones like the IPhone and BlackBerry allowing your clients/customers to always have access to your website.

Remote Hands - 1/hr/mo (12/hr/yr) of anything you need edited to the site. The time you don't use is rolled over to the next month and you can cash-in unused time towards a new design, additional graphics, flash, etc. (Valued at $600/yr)

[We give you the ability to edit your own site with our True Content Management Tool, but some clients like to give us the work they don't want to do as we may be able to do it faster.]

Training Webinars

Online Documentation & Support

Help File

Video Tutorials

Our typical turn-around time is 24-48 business hours for editing.

For more information about Remote Hands please call me.

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant

Business - (888) 558.2446 Ext. 208

WebsiteForge is the only company that offers a "True Content Management Tool" where you can edit your site just like we can. This is a simple to use Web Based Editor similar to Microsoft Word but with more features and functionality.

add/delete/edit content pages

change text, font, size, symbols and colors

add background images

add/delete/edit products

insert video, audio and graphics

add a photo gallery

add a slide show

insert your own flash files

insert tables and graphs

create and add your own forms

make secured pages

add unlimited pages

search engine optimize every page and product

create and email newsletters

create and manage email campaigns

create pop-up ads

upload files and attach them to your site in seconds

backup your site

website statistic tool

add url links to your site

create a membership area

create login/password protected pages

drop in html or java codes

and much more!

 View Demo

(The WebsiteForge Content Management Tool is not compatible with MAC software only the Ecommerce Software. If you own a MAC it is recommended to purchase Bootcamp so you can use Internet Explorer v.6 or higher.)

Actually all the sites we have seen outside of the US and Most inside the US do not have SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and are not being found high in the search engines in a natural search. While the design may be good, the sites are not structured the way Google wants to see them.

For years prior to finding WebsiteForge myself I had over 20 websites and the biggest problem was always getting my site found in the search engines. The problem still exist today unless you use a company like WebsiteForge or hire a Search Engine Optimization Expert for thousands of dollars to make your site correctly.

Ever since WebsiteForge added it's SEO Software back in August 2007 all the companies now say they do SEO as well. Saying and Doing are two different words. We DO....

If you have any questions about our SEO software, please contact me.

Thanks,

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant

Website - www.websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446 Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064

Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

----------------------------------------

Jeremy,

WebsiteForge will be the PERFECT FIT for you! You will be 100% Satisfied with WebsiteForge. You are exactly the type of person who will be very successful with us. Like our motto says, "The Last Website You Will Ever Buy" because once you see what we offer you'll never buy a site from anyone else.

Thanks,

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant

E-mail - dougmarks@websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446 Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064

Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

Fill out the information on the following pages and sign the receipt. You will be asked if you would like to continue into the Member's Area, if you do you will see the tools we use on the back-end to build your site. Please keep in mind there is nothing for you to do in there, as we design and set-up the entire site for you initially. You will see several messages, just ignore them, they are for the Project Manager. You can logout of that area once you've gone there.

Within 24-48 business hours our Project Head Kevin Ledezma (x203) or his Assistant Jeri (x207) will contact you to answer any questions you may have and to assign your Project Manager & Team. If you feel your project is not moving in the direction it should or if you have any issues with your Project Team please notify Kevin or Cindy (Assistant Project Head x 214) as soon as possible so he can make sure you remain one of our many satisfied clients.

If you are paying by check, once you get to the credit card information page please exit out of the screen and fax a copy of your check to 517-338-5064 made payable to WEBSITE FORGE LLC.

If paying by Paypal, on once you get to the credit card information page please exit out of the screen and click on this link https://secure.wf-api.com/support.websiteforge.com/29.html  enter your payment reason as "Just purchased site and wanted to use Paypal". Give us your URL name as well.

It is important to have clear communication with the Project Manager. Typically we can have your design ready in 2-3 weeks with good communication from both parties. Once the design is ready we enter all your content and set-up your site which takes about 1 week for an Informational site and 2 weeks for an E-Commerce site. (3-6 weeks total)

You should have your first draft design in 3-5 business days after the Project Manager collects your design specifications. Once you view it you can Reject it or Change it as many times as you want until you Accept it. We give you unlimited revisions on the design so you'll always be 100% satisfied.

If you have any questions, please call or e-mail me.

Thanks,

Douglas Marks
Website Marketing Consultant

E-mail - dougmarks@websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446 Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064

Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

Q> As an Ecommerce website I'm concerned about keeping my advertising cost down - What can WebsiteForge do for me?

A> Ecommerce website owners are all asking me this question. E-tailers are all trying to keep their cost down.

Number 1 - Exposure.. How are you driving traffic to your site?

I see a lot of Ecommerce websites out there paying for PPC (Pay-Per-Click) like Google Ad Words and spending hundreds if not thousands to generate traffic to their sites while not concentrating on Search Engine Optimization (SEO). I think this is a huge flaw in their thinking.

I think this flaw stems from lack of good information on why you need Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and what kind of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) your site really needs.

What kind of Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Already I can hear some people saying "WHAT??? You mean there is more than one kind of  Search Engine Optimization (SEO)???"

The problem with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is, it all depends on the persons definition.

I get hundreds of people saying that they were told by another company their site will be submitted to the top 20 search engines every month for their Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This is a clear sign that a company does nothing for your site and they are FLUFFING you! That's not Search Engine Optimization (SEO) that's Search Engine Submission, and you only have to do that once. It's like going to Post Office and telling them you still live at the same address every month.

WebsiteForge actually works directly with Google, Yahoo, MSN and other Search Engines to develop and maintain code for your site that will help your keywords get ranked higher in the search engine listings along with providing you a consultation with a real SEO Expert with more than 10 years experience. This SEO Expert will show you everything you need to know to be successful in the Search Engines without the huge cost of PPC and Google Ad Words.

A great example of how Search Engine Optimization (SEO) vs PPC can change your Ecommerce Website experience is Michael Giordano with www.knowyournanny.com whom was spending up to $5,000-$6,000 a month on Pay-Per-Click Advertising using a sub-standard Ecommerce Website before WebsiteForge made his site.

Most times after spending all that money, Mike wouldn't even make back his advertising investment let alone the cost of the product he sold.  I spoke with Mike for years before he finally invested his last bit of savings with us.

After WebsiteForge launched his site, it took 1.5 weeks to be found in the Search Engines. In the first 30 minutes of being found he had already paid for the website using the FREE Search Engines. No Pay-Per-Click (PPC) was used.

In his first month with WebsiteForge Mike actually made over $6000 instead of spending it. Now just over 1 year later he's making $60,000-$70,000 per month with out advertising his site.

Now that's a success story!

Thanks,

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant

E-mail - dougmarks@websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446 Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064

A> I believe it has. I think consumers want more value and they are doing more price-checking. Consumers are spending more time shopping to make sure they are getting the most of what they buy. They are also looking for deals, coupons and rebates.

The advantage WebsiteForge has for our clients is, there sites are being found higher in the Search Engines so they are getting more views. More views means more sales.

Also, WebsiteForge's Ecommerce Shopping Cart has the ability to add gift certificates, coupons, discounts and much more. All are great tools to increase sales.

Thanks,

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant

E-mail - dougmarks@websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446 Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064

Doug,

I was really impressed what I heard from you about WebsiteForge.  One of the things we are going to offer is downloadable items for sale, is there a protection tool (if that is the right phrase) that will allow an item to be downloaded only once.  

---------------------------------------------------------

Hi Sharon,

WebsiteForge is one of the few companies that offer "Downloadable Item For Sale". We do have a Protection Tool that will only allow them to Download it once, x amount of times or you can set the parameters for days or even allow them to only view it in a secured Members Only Area.

We also have a way to prevent software from grabbing items off your site as well, it's called "Copy Protection" or once again, you can put it in your Members Only Area and restrict everyone from seeing it except those who are Paid/Free Members.

Thanks,

Douglas A. Marks
Website Marketing Consultant

E-mail - dougmarks@websiteforge.com
Business - (888) 558.2446 Ext. 208
Fax - (517) 338-5064

Business Hours: (Monday - Friday) 10 AM - 6 PM Eastern Standard Time

US business-to-business (B2B) companies are increasing marketing spending.

According to Outsell, while 13% of B2B companies with over 1,000 employees are increasing spending, 26% of B2B companies with fewer than 100 workers are.

In the aggregate, large firms plan to cut overall marketing spending by 9.7%, whereas their smaller counterparts are cutting only 0.4%.

Online spending, however, will go up for both groups, with the small B2B companies increasing digital spending the most—by an average of 8.2%—and the large B2B companies increasing by only 0.4%.

In a Borrell Associates study, small-business owners claimed certain marketing tactics had proved effective—particularly online. E-mail was judged most effective 80.4%, followed by search 56.8% and display advertising 42.1%.

Currently, 96.6 million US Internet users read a blog at least once per month, representing 48.5% of the Internet population. By 2013, 128.2 million people, or 58% of all US users, will take part.

The numbers of bloggers is also rising. In 2009, 27.9 million US Internet users have a blog they update at least once per month, representing 14% of the Internet population. By 2013, 37.6 million will update their blogs at least monthly.

Most US economic indicators were down in Q1 2009, but online sales were the exception.

According to a survey by Forrester Research and Shop.org, US online retail sales rose an average of 11% in the first three months of 2009.

Of the 80 companies studied, 58% saw online sales increases compared with the same quarter last year.

Looking further into the findings, 44% of the e-tailers reported increases of over 10%, 14% showed increases up to 10% and 13% reported flat sales.

In the survey, about 70% of both consumer brand manufacturers and multichannel retailers reported online sales increases.

“It seems that consumer confidence is getting better,” a Forrester analyst, told Bloomberg News.

Looking ahead, Citi Investment Research projects that US retail e-commerce sales will grow 4.4% in 2009 to $141 billion—and jump to 16.5% growth in 2010.

This is a perfect time to get an Ecommerce web site with WebsiteForge!