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.

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!

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

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.

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.

I am compelled to write this article because several clients of an unnamed web design company asked me to.  I cannot mention these people's names because there is a GAG on their free speech.

Let me explain...  These people purchased web sites and signed a terms of use that restricts them from voicing any complaints they might have regarding the services they paid for!  In fact, they can be sued for $2500.00 plus $100.00 for each person that reads this complaint.  IT DOES NOT MATTER if this unhappy person is telling the truth or not.  Amazing, isn't it?

I have only truly become frustrated with one company in the last five years of providing web sites to my clients.  THIS is that very company. This same company has received over 300 BBB complaints in the last 18 months, over 5000 negative posts in ripoffreport.com, forced to change their name, and supposedly kicked out of the Better Business Bureau!  I did not know you could be kicked out of the BBB??

Here is the legal wording to watch out for…

Please read...

43. Negative Comments/Slander
Client specifically agrees not to engage in negative comments or slander regarding HWS, including but not limited to publishing, or causing to be published, complaints or derogatory comments regarding HWS in any format, including but not limited to, print, newspaper, television, radio or on internet complaint sites, blogs or other public internet forums.  Should there be a breach of this condition HWS will be entitled to liquidated damages in the amount of $2,500.00 for each publishing or posting.  If said breach occurs on an internet complaint site each hit to that website will be considered an individual breach of this condition, and subject to additional liquidated damages of $100 per occurrence.  Further, HWS shall be entitled to litigate this matter, and obtain the money damages together with injunctive relief.  The prevailing party to that litigation shall be entitled to an award of attorney's fees.

For the full Terms of Use please go to; http://tinyurl.com/cgnj87

I know they offer the lowest prices on the internet to build websites, but the lowest price does not make them the best Website Design Company.

When they say they can do everything we can do and offer a CHEAPER price, they can not. They can only offer a CHEAPER Price and Product.

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

Amy

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Most of the medium-large companies have moved to software similar to WebsiteForge. The reason is it's ease to add other software in the future and keeping cost low. A web master used to make $200K a year just 5 years ago, now a person making $30K can do the same thing with newer technology. There are still companies using the old methods, but they are still paying the high cost of updating their sites as well.