There is no doubt, our economy is in bad shape. I don't believe we're seeing a temporary phase or a short slump....this is a new economy. The economy overall is making a long term adjustment to many years of wasteful spending and too many unnecessary buying options....and it's not over yet. I think the true survivors will be those who have been making sound financial decisions all along and understand how to spend practically under difficult financial times.
So how does this affect your website?
I always thought having a website is one of the best investments one could make. Websites have been, and continue to be, much more affordable than traditional advertising such as newspapers, magazines, television. Why spend $300 a week or month on newspaper advertising when you can spend a fraction of this price on your website? At least your website doesn't have a shelf life or expire, like newspapers or magazines.
Spend $300 on a magazine ad and within a month that magazine has expired and likely in a trash can. Spend $300 wisely on your website and it can continue to generate leads and increase profits for years to come. The difference is staggering.
Think about it - your website is available for anyone to see 24/7, 365 days a year. What other types of advertising have the same profit potential, particularly the cost?
The bottom line - consumers are still actively using the web to search for products and services. It's no coincidence that brick and mortar stores are either closing or experiencing very tough times while online retailers like Amazon.com continue to report record sales in late 2008.
This is a good time to boost your web presence by either getting a website, revamping it or using Google to maximize targeted click-thrus to your online business.
In future posts I will give specific details on how investing in your website can maximize profits for your business.
Anthony
Web Feat
http://www.webfeatworks.com/
Support: http://www.webfeatsupport.com/
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Who Really Owns Your Domain Name?
When it comes to domain names, there are certain things you (as the owner) need to be aware of. It is so easy nowadays to buy a domain and have it online within minutes. Sounds great, doesn't it? For the short term it is.
The problems I've seen with domain names have nothing to do with how much they cost or the website behind them. The real price you pay for a domain comes when it's time to renew, or worse, when you want to move the domain to another host or registrar.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when buying a domain is using the wrong contact information. For example, a restaurant owner has their web designer register the name "familyrestaurant.com". The designer buys the domain and adds THEIR name to the registration information instead of the owner. Big mistake. Why?
Well, if the restaurant owner and designer part ways for whatever reason the domain name is legally owned by the designer. Even if the owner and designer part on good terms, it could be a headache for the owner to renew or move his domain name. Let's say the designer moves across the country and changes careers - needless to say he may become hard to track down in order to administer the domain. If the owner and designer part on bad terms it could be extremely difficult or impossible for the owner to get his name back.
One thing to remember...if you have a domain name, it is VITAL to have your name associated with it right from the start. In order to do ANYTHING with your domain, your name must be associated with it otherwise the registrar won't even deal with you.
Registrars will ONLY deal with the person listed in the contact information for the domain. I have witnessed firsthand the "horror stories" of clients who either lost their domain or experienced extensive downtime while they attempted to figure out who actually owned their domain. If the contact information had been correct from the start there would have been no problems at all.
If you would like to know who owns your domain, a good place to start is here: http://www.whois.net/. Enter your domain name in the "Whois Lookup" field. The very first thing it tells you is who's providing the registration service. Then you can see all the contact information associated with your domain.
The Registrant and Administrative Contacts are the most important ones check. If these two contacts do not have your name and you are (or should be) the owner of the domain, I recommend fixing this now while time is on your side instead of waiting for a crisis (which will happen eventually).
Should you need any assistance with this, please let me know!
Anthony
Web Feat
http://www.WebFeatWorks.com
Support: http://www.WebFeatSupport.com
The problems I've seen with domain names have nothing to do with how much they cost or the website behind them. The real price you pay for a domain comes when it's time to renew, or worse, when you want to move the domain to another host or registrar.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when buying a domain is using the wrong contact information. For example, a restaurant owner has their web designer register the name "familyrestaurant.com". The designer buys the domain and adds THEIR name to the registration information instead of the owner. Big mistake. Why?
Well, if the restaurant owner and designer part ways for whatever reason the domain name is legally owned by the designer. Even if the owner and designer part on good terms, it could be a headache for the owner to renew or move his domain name. Let's say the designer moves across the country and changes careers - needless to say he may become hard to track down in order to administer the domain. If the owner and designer part on bad terms it could be extremely difficult or impossible for the owner to get his name back.
One thing to remember...if you have a domain name, it is VITAL to have your name associated with it right from the start. In order to do ANYTHING with your domain, your name must be associated with it otherwise the registrar won't even deal with you.
Registrars will ONLY deal with the person listed in the contact information for the domain. I have witnessed firsthand the "horror stories" of clients who either lost their domain or experienced extensive downtime while they attempted to figure out who actually owned their domain. If the contact information had been correct from the start there would have been no problems at all.
If you would like to know who owns your domain, a good place to start is here: http://www.whois.net/. Enter your domain name in the "Whois Lookup" field. The very first thing it tells you is who's providing the registration service. Then you can see all the contact information associated with your domain.
The Registrant and Administrative Contacts are the most important ones check. If these two contacts do not have your name and you are (or should be) the owner of the domain, I recommend fixing this now while time is on your side instead of waiting for a crisis (which will happen eventually).
Should you need any assistance with this, please let me know!
Anthony
Web Feat
http://www.WebFeatWorks.com
Support: http://www.WebFeatSupport.com
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Web Feat and Web Site Maintenance
In addition to web hosting, Web Feat provides many other services - one of those is "Website Maintenance".
Keeping the content on your website fresh and current is a good way to increase and keep traffic coming to your website. When it comes to updating their websites, people ususally...
1) Do it themselves.
2) Hire a professional to make regular updates.
Using a professional is the best way to go because they will make it their job to ensure your site is updated and/or provide you with the tools needed to update your own website.
That's one of the things I like about helping clients maintan their sites - we can build a web-based control panel giving clients the ability to update their own site. So, although they set out to hire a professional, they are actually getting to "do it themselves" - a best of both worlds scenario.
Having the ability to update your own website is the best way to go. It may cost a little more upfront, but once your site is built, you can make changes without incurring any extra costs.
On the other hand, there are those who simply don't want to make their own changes - and we can help them too. Once we understand how and when the content on your site needs to be changed we can customize a maintenance plan to your needs.
If you have any questions about how Web Feat can maintain your website, don't hesitate to let me know, help@WebFeatSupport.com.
Thanks,
Anthony Vita
Web Feat
http://www.webfeatworks.com/
Keeping the content on your website fresh and current is a good way to increase and keep traffic coming to your website. When it comes to updating their websites, people ususally...
1) Do it themselves.
2) Hire a professional to make regular updates.
Using a professional is the best way to go because they will make it their job to ensure your site is updated and/or provide you with the tools needed to update your own website.
That's one of the things I like about helping clients maintan their sites - we can build a web-based control panel giving clients the ability to update their own site. So, although they set out to hire a professional, they are actually getting to "do it themselves" - a best of both worlds scenario.
Having the ability to update your own website is the best way to go. It may cost a little more upfront, but once your site is built, you can make changes without incurring any extra costs.
On the other hand, there are those who simply don't want to make their own changes - and we can help them too. Once we understand how and when the content on your site needs to be changed we can customize a maintenance plan to your needs.
If you have any questions about how Web Feat can maintain your website, don't hesitate to let me know, help@WebFeatSupport.com.
Thanks,
Anthony Vita
Web Feat
http://www.webfeatworks.com/
Monday, September 15, 2008
Through The Storm
With Hurricane Ike having recently pounded Houston, TX there were some concerns here at Web Feat since we have a few servers in that location.
However, the datacenter and it's staff were more than prepared to handle the storm. When the power went out, backup generators kicked in and it was business as usual. While utility power has yet to be fully restored to the datacenter, everything should return to normal within a few days.
So far there has been no downtime as a result of the hurricane and we owe it all to the excellent and dedicated staff in Houston. This is the main reason why we have our servers hosted with a reliable datacenter instead of trying to handle it locally, on our own.
Web Feat prides itself on peronalized customer service and support and we feel totally comfortable dealing with clients on any issues involving their website and email. When it comes to datacenters, Internet backbone providers, facility security, etc. we leave that to professionals who feel comfortable delivering that service.
In the end, our clients receive excellent support all around, while keeping the price very reasonable.
Thanks,
Anthony
Web Feat
http://www.webfeatworks.com/
Support: http://www.webfeatsupport.com/
However, the datacenter and it's staff were more than prepared to handle the storm. When the power went out, backup generators kicked in and it was business as usual. While utility power has yet to be fully restored to the datacenter, everything should return to normal within a few days.
So far there has been no downtime as a result of the hurricane and we owe it all to the excellent and dedicated staff in Houston. This is the main reason why we have our servers hosted with a reliable datacenter instead of trying to handle it locally, on our own.
Web Feat prides itself on peronalized customer service and support and we feel totally comfortable dealing with clients on any issues involving their website and email. When it comes to datacenters, Internet backbone providers, facility security, etc. we leave that to professionals who feel comfortable delivering that service.
In the end, our clients receive excellent support all around, while keeping the price very reasonable.
Thanks,
Anthony
Web Feat
http://www.webfeatworks.com/
Support: http://www.webfeatsupport.com/
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Surviving the Google Sandbox
Anyone serious about their website wants it to rank high in Google. However, if you desire high search engine rankings and your site is brand new, it's important to know about the Google "Sandbox".
Basically, Google ignores new websites for up to a year. The reason is because it needs time to see if your site is relevant. Google does this by keeping an eye on traffic to your site and how many other "relevant" sites are linking to it. Once a year has passed, the more "popular" your site, the better it will fare in the search engine ranks.
Think about it...Google is THE premiere search engine on the web. It didn't get that way by showing you every single website possible. Some websites will be published tomorrow, only to fizzle out within months. Google is a great search resource because it always shows you the most relevant sites according to your search terms. If they didn't "sandbox" new websites they wouldn't be effective as a search engine.
So how does a brand new site survive on Google while in "limbo"?
By using Google AdWords you can bid on keywords and drive targeted traffic right to your website. For example, if you sell life insurnce in Chicago you can bid on "life insurance Chicago" so whenever someone enters it into Google a link to your site appears.
When it comes to bidding on keywords it's important to strike a healthy balance between low cost, effective words and little competition.
If there are 100 others bidding on your keywords, chances are you'll pay a hefty price for them. When you consider that keywords start out at only 5 cents per click, it's important to find ones that not many others are using.
In summary, the Google sandbox will keep your new website hidden for many months, but Google AdWords can drive targeted traffic to your site. This will increase it's popularity (or relevance), something Google will value highly once it finally begins indexing your site.
If you want to learn more about Search Engine Optimization, let me know and I'll be glad to help you.
Anthony
Web Feat
http://www.WebFeatWorks.com
Support: http://www.WebFeatSupport.com
Basically, Google ignores new websites for up to a year. The reason is because it needs time to see if your site is relevant. Google does this by keeping an eye on traffic to your site and how many other "relevant" sites are linking to it. Once a year has passed, the more "popular" your site, the better it will fare in the search engine ranks.
Think about it...Google is THE premiere search engine on the web. It didn't get that way by showing you every single website possible. Some websites will be published tomorrow, only to fizzle out within months. Google is a great search resource because it always shows you the most relevant sites according to your search terms. If they didn't "sandbox" new websites they wouldn't be effective as a search engine.
So how does a brand new site survive on Google while in "limbo"?
By using Google AdWords you can bid on keywords and drive targeted traffic right to your website. For example, if you sell life insurnce in Chicago you can bid on "life insurance Chicago" so whenever someone enters it into Google a link to your site appears.
When it comes to bidding on keywords it's important to strike a healthy balance between low cost, effective words and little competition.
If there are 100 others bidding on your keywords, chances are you'll pay a hefty price for them. When you consider that keywords start out at only 5 cents per click, it's important to find ones that not many others are using.
In summary, the Google sandbox will keep your new website hidden for many months, but Google AdWords can drive targeted traffic to your site. This will increase it's popularity (or relevance), something Google will value highly once it finally begins indexing your site.
If you want to learn more about Search Engine Optimization, let me know and I'll be glad to help you.
Anthony
Web Feat
http://www.WebFeatWorks.com
Support: http://www.WebFeatSupport.com
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The Best Way To Send A Newsletter
If you are thinking about starting a newsletter or already have one, here are some things to consider.
Go with a professional newsletter service. Yes, there are many newsletter options out there from software to mailing list programs provided by hosting accounts.
The bottom line is - you have an important message and want it to reach the intended recipient.
If your newsletters are not sent carefully they could wind up in a spam filter. Why? Because emails containing graphics are easily seen as spam - IF they are not formatted properly.
What is proper formatting? That's a good question. Most people don't know and so their emails wind up getting filtered out. What's worse is that email formatting standards change quite often.
Adding graphics into an email using Outlook may sound quick and easy, but it's not a very good idea (certainly not professional). It's not a good idea to use Outlook for mailing lists, let alone using it to add graphics to emails.
I would strongly suggest a company like "Constant Contact" (http://www.constantcontact.com/) where you can pick from many email templates that are tested and "spam filter friendly". Not only will their templates give your newsletter a more professional look but you can also get some useful reports about who opens your emails, if they are forwarded to friends, etc.
Stick with the pros and, in return, you should see better results and look more professional at the same time.
Go with a professional newsletter service. Yes, there are many newsletter options out there from software to mailing list programs provided by hosting accounts.
The bottom line is - you have an important message and want it to reach the intended recipient.
If your newsletters are not sent carefully they could wind up in a spam filter. Why? Because emails containing graphics are easily seen as spam - IF they are not formatted properly.
What is proper formatting? That's a good question. Most people don't know and so their emails wind up getting filtered out. What's worse is that email formatting standards change quite often.
Adding graphics into an email using Outlook may sound quick and easy, but it's not a very good idea (certainly not professional). It's not a good idea to use Outlook for mailing lists, let alone using it to add graphics to emails.
I would strongly suggest a company like "Constant Contact" (http://www.constantcontact.com/) where you can pick from many email templates that are tested and "spam filter friendly". Not only will their templates give your newsletter a more professional look but you can also get some useful reports about who opens your emails, if they are forwarded to friends, etc.
Stick with the pros and, in return, you should see better results and look more professional at the same time.
Transferring Your Domain Registrar
Why transfer your domain name to another registrar? Here are some reasons...
1) Keep the billing in one place. Why pay 3 companies for your domain name renewal, web hosting and site maintenance when you can pay the same company for all these things. Not all companies offer these services. Web Feat feat does and I would be glad to help during your transition process (more on that in a future blog).
2) Some Registrars are hard to deal with. Unless the registrar knows you personally, which is rarely the case, expect to follow every strict procedure they have in order to update your contact information or even gain acces to your account. Quite often I see people lose the login info to their registrar, coupled with outdated contact information on their domain. This dangerous combination could result in losing control over your domain name. One of the great things about Web Feat is we know our customers personally. This personal service translates into very easy management of your domain name information.
3) Ease of use. Some registrars make it too difficult to update your contact information. This is because their admin panel is so filled with links and advertisements, it's becomes hard to find the one thing you're looking for. Not only is the Web Feat domain admin panel easy to use, but I will update the information for you, if interested.
4) Cost. There is no standard price for domain name registration or renewals. Sometimes you can save a few dollars a year by moving your domain registration to another provider. This should never be sole reason why you transfer your domain registration. Review numbers #1-#3 above and you'll see why low price isn't everything.
If you're thinking about making it easier to maintain your domain name(s), let me know and I will give a free consultation on the status of your current registration.
When it comes to transferring your registrar, you definitely want to be proactive. Being reactive to a domain related problem can be frustrating, largely due to the time involved and procedures that may need to be followed during the resolution time.
It's best to deal with domain issues while you have time on your side and it's not imperative that your domain be updated.
In the future I will post on the many different aspects of domain names from Auto Renewals to ID protection.
Anthony
Web Feat
http://www.webfeatworks.com/
Support: http://www.webfeatsupport.com/
1) Keep the billing in one place. Why pay 3 companies for your domain name renewal, web hosting and site maintenance when you can pay the same company for all these things. Not all companies offer these services. Web Feat feat does and I would be glad to help during your transition process (more on that in a future blog).
2) Some Registrars are hard to deal with. Unless the registrar knows you personally, which is rarely the case, expect to follow every strict procedure they have in order to update your contact information or even gain acces to your account. Quite often I see people lose the login info to their registrar, coupled with outdated contact information on their domain. This dangerous combination could result in losing control over your domain name. One of the great things about Web Feat is we know our customers personally. This personal service translates into very easy management of your domain name information.
3) Ease of use. Some registrars make it too difficult to update your contact information. This is because their admin panel is so filled with links and advertisements, it's becomes hard to find the one thing you're looking for. Not only is the Web Feat domain admin panel easy to use, but I will update the information for you, if interested.
4) Cost. There is no standard price for domain name registration or renewals. Sometimes you can save a few dollars a year by moving your domain registration to another provider. This should never be sole reason why you transfer your domain registration. Review numbers #1-#3 above and you'll see why low price isn't everything.
If you're thinking about making it easier to maintain your domain name(s), let me know and I will give a free consultation on the status of your current registration.
When it comes to transferring your registrar, you definitely want to be proactive. Being reactive to a domain related problem can be frustrating, largely due to the time involved and procedures that may need to be followed during the resolution time.
It's best to deal with domain issues while you have time on your side and it's not imperative that your domain be updated.
In the future I will post on the many different aspects of domain names from Auto Renewals to ID protection.
Anthony
Web Feat
http://www.webfeatworks.com/
Support: http://www.webfeatsupport.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
