In this project, the task required creating a picture, highlighting the importance of the service, showing the advantages of hiring the company, providing a list and description of the types of services, a summary of the job, and a call to action. While some information were given for me to organize, I had to be creative on my wording and keyword insertions. Of course, since they are landing pages, I needed strong selling skills for a call to action!
In this project, I have posted screenshots of the write-ups since the online store is currently operational. The project owner retains the copyrights and the text posted here serve as samples of website copy I have produced in collaboration with JerkyWholesale dot com.
Written under the pen name Gerri Bryce
Should Texas small business owners learn SEO?
First and foremost, what on earth is SEO? SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, the strategy of designing a website and creating content that will rank high in the major search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing. The popularity of optimization techniques started around early 2000s. However, even until now, a lot of Texas small business owners still don't have any idea what it is and how it will improve their business.
Components of SEO
Search Engine Optimization is a step by step process that has evolved technically over time. It involves an understanding of the following major concepts:
Notice that I didn't mention Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or blogging? That's because they are part of Search Engine Marketing. SEO, on the other hand, focuses on how to strategically position your website and your brand so does online searchers will easily find you on Google, Yahoo, or Bing.
At first, it looks like a heck of a lot of hard work, but if you study diligently or discuss with an experienced SEO professional, all the pieces will fall together. And yes, plenty of “nobodys” became “somebodys” on the Internet because of successful SEO techniques.
Understanding how search engines work will make you realize that a brand new website or domain won't make it to the top of Google until after several months. If you know what keywords to choose for your website, you will stand out among your competitors in similar niche. When you hire a web designer, make sure that they are aware of optimizing graphics so they will be search engine friendly. Same goes with the text of your website. It is also possible to rank high in the search engines if you network online and monitor which marketing techniques work for you.
Even Texas small business owners who have no clue what SEO is can learn how to optimize their website. You don't have to earn a degree to understand that you shouldn't post irrelevant material in your online store or spam your subscribers. Remember that even though you're trying to make it high on the search engine rankings, you still need to look after the reason why you're in business: your customers.
To learn more, read our blog for more SEO techniques specifically targeted for your Texas small business!
Building Websites for Texas Chiropractors: Where to Begin?
Chiropractors in Texas are in demand, and yet it's sad to discover that plenty of them do not have the means to connect with their customers who are mostly surfing the Internet. Gone are the days when phone directories are the first point of reference when we feel pain and need the service of a good massage therapist.
A lot of Texas chiropractors are not aware of the options they have when it comes to bringing their business online. The good news is that the options abound -- it's just a matter of deciding whether you should build your own website, try a decent priced website builder, or hire a graphic web designer.
Here are my insights for Texas chiropractors who need to start a website:
Only opt for a free website if you're absolutely aware of what you're doing. I'm not kidding. If you don't have the slightest idea about HTML or what SEO means, don't attempt to build your own. The reason is, although building a website by yourself is a simple process that can be learned, much of what constitutes a real working small business website nowadays is optimized and interactive. In other words, if your website is going to look boring and won't show up on Google when your customers search for you, forget starting a website by yourself.
A website builder that guides you as create your own could probably work for your chiropractic business. The equation here is simple. If you try online site builders, you will go through a series of steps that will lead you to finish a website for your chiropractic business. These website builders are meant to make your life easy by letting you fill in the missing information within the templates that are already built in for you. As a matter of fact, some website builders for chiropractors are so sophisticated, they won't look like a chiropractor actually built his/her own website. In any case, you probably still need to do a little bit of research on putting links, HTML, or widgets to your site.
If you're not into website building at all and want to focus mainly in your medical practice, the best bet is to hire a web designer that is not only low-cost, but can handle the all-around task of good design, optimization, and user-friendliness. Some web designers use high-end templates that will amaze your customers. Others code the websites from scratch. As a Texas chiropractor, you don't need a complicated website to show off your services. Let your customers find information easily, connect with you with widgets and forms, and find coming back to your website appealing. Better yet, let everyone who searches you on Google find you on the top of the search results.
If you're a chiropractor in Texas and have not made the leap to get your business online, it's never too late. These days, you owe it to yourself to create an online presence that will draw your customers to you, through the help of a website that works for your chiropractic business.
I can change the world!
One famous advertising guru said, "People don't really need you. They don't need your products or services. Real success in business is being able to sell to customers DESPITE not being needed."
If that sounds cynical, it may also be the truth.
But hey, it does not mean you should pack your stuff and go home! What's great about business is that if you believe in your services and product ("I can change the world!"), you can become an evangelist of your cause. If you care about your customers, then you will become a recognized expert in your industry. Expertise builds confidence. Confidence builds votes. And votes are transformed from being unnecessary to something customers can't live without. Not only will they need you; they will also WANT your product or service. Now that's something to cheer us up!
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The power of wall posting
Wall posting is visibility. I remember back when I was in fourth grade, my English teacher had a project called The Wall. On the wall, if you had the best handwriting, best poem, or best essay, your work would be posted on the wall for everybody to see. Wow, what a source of pride! My papers had been tacked on the wall so many times. Since then, people at school have known me for my writings.
Wouldn't it be cool if your business came up with something similar to The Wall project? Post pictures of great employees, most frequent visitors, or announcements that boost business. In some places, they even do it in public laundromats as a way for many singles in the area to meet. People like checking out things posted on the wall. Take advantage of it.
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Curiosity, dead squirrels and new clients
In one of my online profiles, I had a motto that said "Curiosity killed the squirrel." Yikes! I just realized that so many more squirrels get killed on the road than cats, but I'm guessing it's really not because they are curious, but indecisive. So maybe a better motto would be "Indecision killed the squirrel!"
Plenty of businesses capitalize on the powerful natural instinct of human curiosity. But curiosity shouldn't equate to being (metaphorically) squashed on the road. Instead, it should be a means to gain new contacts (networking style). New contacts may mean new business. If you send some people something like brainteasers, puzzles, or anything interesting, they will respond and inquire. Fact it, we have earned new friends and clients with this marketing technique. If you haven't tried it for yourself, now is the time to do so.
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You can never have too much information
One of the most understated but useful techniques in creating web content is research. Little do customers and even business owners know, too little or too much information can be a pain. For example, one of our latest gigs was to create content for a fashion website. However, the owner did not care to provide information on basic stuff to put on About Us and FAQs. We had to practically drill him. If the project requires a certain number of words per page and there was no information provided from the business owner, we have to do our research and be creative.
Now the fun part. Here are a few techniques/shortcuts here that I've used when researching for content:
1. When somebody called and you missed it but the other party didn't leave a message, try the Reverse Phone Lookup of whitepages.com. Chances are you'll find the owner of the phone number listed.
2. Search all the major engines. Unfortunately, I just found out a while ago that whatever you find on Yahoo will also show up exactly on Bing.
3. Forum posts. When you're researching, don't just look into articles that show up on Google search results. Read forum posts as well. They actually provide more in-depth and reliable information regarding the topic. I've fixed a virus in my computer by reading a forum about people who were looking for the same solution.
4. Yelp. Better than the BBB, you can find more detailed information about whether a business is reliable or not. Yelp.com is where people express their opinions about establishments they visited. Of course, the opinions are mixed, but it's up to you to weigh them.
5. Ctrl+F. What's simpler than using this shortcut when looking for a keyword in a document? I've passed so many exams using this. I didn't need to read the whole page but using the Find function I can zero in on what I need to know. Also, if you're looking through a whole pile of names NOT listed alphabetically, try typing the initial in the Find box and press Enter repeatedly until you find it. Smart, eh?
salonandspasoftware
types of software
When it comes to a salon or spa business, the best way to make a real profit is to adopt a salon program. Often, the salon program is a software package that integrates all the functions necessary for a salon business to run smoothly. There are various types of software that you can select from if you have decided to adopt a salon software for your business. These types of software are manufactured solely by salon enthusiasts, or programmed by those who have been creating shareware geared towards any kind of small to medium-sized businesses. They are often very affordable and can potentially increase your profit because they help you to manage your salon efficiently while keeping a good record of all your client transactions.
Some types of software for the salon business are geared towards the management of the employees, while others handle the financial transactions with clients. Others take care of the insurance policies while others keep track of all the client preferences when it comes to hairstyle and fashion. Some softwares act as POS for the client payments while others allow you to make an inventory of your stocks. You may even find a software that intelligently schedules your appointments with your clients. These softwares often provide a report of all the transactions whether they concern the employees, the sales, the inventory, or the services. At the end of the day, your best choice is simpy a software that manages to integrate all of these capabilities as well as fits on your budget.
The use of salon software is a great way to increase the productivity of your business because it automates the functions that several people manually accomplish. For example, there are types of software that calculates the loan and insurance policy expenses for you so you don't have to hire a full time accountant or broker. There are also types of software that practically guides you on salon designs and procedures so you don't have to hire an interior designer or a trainer for your employees. A pertinent salon software can do wonders for your salon business. Any simple salon program can help you increase your profit in no time at a cost that any small business owner can afford.
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salonandspasoftware
making a spa profitable
There's no doubt that the primary purpose of a salon is to be able to provide cosmetic care and satisfaction to the clients while keeping a steady level of profit for the salon owner. To others, it comes easy, but for most budding salon owners, the task of making a spa profitable can be a great challenge. Often, a great number of successful salon or spa owners simply copy the method of most successful salon franchisers. The profitability factor always becomes questionable when you happen to build your salon business which isn't likely to attract customers or is simply facing too much competition. Making a spa profitable is indeed a real challenge, but it's not insurmountable.
The first thing that salon entrepreneur experts would suggest is for you to understand your target market. How do you do this? You can opt to seek the help of consultants which will basically do the demographic research for you, or do the research yourself. The latter can be time consuming, but eventually you will have a firsthand knowledge of your clients. Making a spa profitable by knowing your target market first can at least help you identify why some clients cannot visit your salon as often as they want, or why some cannot afford the treatments you offer. Factors such as household income, population density, your salon's location, and other statistics help you discover how to identify and improve the profitability of your salon business.
Another important factor in making a spa profitable is competition. Obviously, the more competition you have within a small area, the more choices for the clients that results in divided loyalty. This is what expert often call an unsuitable market. Judging from this situation, you must first consider these statistics before building your own spa business in a certain location. But if you've already built your business and competition comes in, the best tip in making a spa profitable is to improve and always add new services for your clients. The more convenient your salon is, the better you will earn the favor of new clients. Consistency and quality service and products also help you gain the loyalty of your clients. Other salon owners even put up a website to establish an online presence. This makes their entire catalog of services and products easily accessible for the clients. It also builds trust among them knowing that you can provide information without requiring them to leave the comfort of their homes.
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saloncomputerprograms
managing salon employees
In any salon business, managing salon employees plays a huge factor in the operations department. Today, there is always a guarantee that any salon program that you choose for your salon business will incorporate a feature that specifically helps you manage your staff. Like any small of medium-sized business, a salon has its own set of issues concerning the management of staff which should always be addressed with the help of a good salon program. Managing salon employees should be included in the priority list of any salon owner. In most cases, good staff management is often the key to a well-run salon.
Some salon programs assign a fixed number of employees so if you are holding more staff, it is inevitable that you reorganize. However, if you are understaffed, it is also inevitable that you hire new employees. The right number of employees will synchronize well with the salon program you're using. Of course, we cannot take for granted the fact that quality is more important than quantity. That simply means that reorganization being part of managing salon employees, you have every chance to promote the worthy staff and keep training those who are underperforming.
Managing salon employees becomes an easy task if you adopt a salon program that keeps track of the employee record (e.g. attendance) and their status, including their sales commissions. Some programs for this kind of administrative duty also requires you to pick a salon software that automates the payroll calculations and provides training tools (such as video programs) for training the staff. For example, there are really efficient and integrative salon programs these days that fulfill the task of managing salon employees while providing an excellent customer support, appointment booking using the Internet, processing of credit cards, and general ease of use. They even provide remote access management feature so that if you are on a business trip, you can still be able to manage your staff from your portable laptop or PDA. These efficient salon programs are created by experienced professionals and backed by topnotch salon management research.
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saloncomputerprograms
cost of salon computer programs
Every salon owner who wishes to increase the profits of his salon business seeks out a salon program that automates most of the functions in the salon management. And every salon owner seeks a salon computer program whose cost justifies the benefit it gives to the salon. In most cases, a fully integrated software is more expensive than a basic one which contains only a POS or a bookkeeping program. The cost of salon computer programs can easily be determined by research. If you're seeking for one that's well worth the price, you may also consider asking around for the opinions of other experienced salon owners. Some salon managers actually balk at the thought of purchasing a software because the cost of salon computer programs can sometimes be too expensive for the small or medium-sized business. In reality, it should be the opposite. By purchasing the right salon computer program, you're saving yourself from all the hassle of manual payroll calculations and time-consuming record keeping.
It's possible to find salon computer programs which you can lease instead of buying immediately. If the cost of salon computer programs are beyond your budget, there are companies that allow you to use the software in good condition with just a downpayment. Then, gradually, you'd have to pay for the salon computer program on an installment basis until you own it. Of course, you should only pick the best software that integrates all the salon functions you need without the extraneous features that make it more expensive. To succeed in this endeavor, it's best to research the market and list down your top three options.
Some of the best places to find lease or full plan software is at eBay. This site allows you to compare salon computer programs side by side so you know what software you're getting. You can scan for the cost of salon computer programs advertised there while checking out the features they offer. Before buying, you need to check if the salon computer program lets you pay through credit card and checks, whether you need to apply for the lease or purchase, or whether it comes with an interest rate. The average cost of fully-integrated salon computer programs may range from $199 to $499, depending on the features they offer. Of course, you can also take advantage of shareware, which allows you to download a demo version of the salon computer program that you can use for freely for a certain period. Then when the demo period expires, you can purchase the program at a low price.
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salonmanagementsoftware
maintaining salon clients
The first rule to maintaining salon clients is knowing how to manage them. There are a number of tools to help you with this task. Mainly, you can find resources online or on e-books, but you can also find paperbacks or simply ask professional salon owners about their own success stories. Maintaining salon clients is tricky, but nonetheless, the challenge that it poses to the salon owner can be a source of great learning experience. It may happen on a trial and error basis, but in the end, being an expert at providing great customer service will benefit the salon. That is why this should be on top of the priority list of every salon owner.
There are various resources that can help you build and maintain a solid clientele. It's important to take advantage of tips concerning promotions, advertisements, and other methods that attract customers. You don't really have to spend too much for these resources since there are books and online websites that give you ideas on how to capitalize on holidays, for example, or reward clients so that they keep coming back to your salon. If you make an effort to research, maintaining salon clients becomes a natural thing for your business. You can take advantage of attracting new clients, for instance, by giving holiday promos, while maintaining your loyal ones by giving discounts or freebies. You can also form clubs and host demonstrations for special clients so they know they are being taken care of.
Granted, you are already providing quality service for your customers. Once you're successful with this, maintaining salon clients becomes second nature to your salon business. Naturally, you will gain repeat business because the clients are getting what they're paying for. There are also other factors that may improve your goal of maintaining salon clients. Some of these include providing a cozy salon ambiance, keeping track of relevant customer information, selling additional services on a discount price, or simply knowing exactly their needs by communicating through excellent customer service. It always helps to adopt a salon program to keep track of client information as well as an online presence so they can easily access your salon even if they are from a remote area.
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Pros and Cons of starting a custom website for my Texas small business
As a Texas small business owner, should I start my own custom website? Today, I'm being bombarded with all kinds of information when it comes to selling my products and services online. I get offers from various companies but I also know there are cheaper and better options out there for me. Where should I begin? How do I know building a custom website for my business is the right direction for me?
Using a free website builder
Pros
Free is always best! But by using a free website builder, I'm aware that there are plenty of limitations against my business. I'm always tempted to accept free trials from many website companies online. I would be allowed to use a website builder service for a month, then I would get charged after that. The good thing about this, is that I can assess whether such a custom website builder will work for me or not. Of course, I can opt for the truly free website builders (I found Weebly and Wix.com very useful) but I have to use a subdomain. If I want to be taken seriously, however, I would have to upgrade to a real domain.
Cons
What I don't like about using free website builders is the fact that really, there's no such thing as a free meal. Every one of us should invest in a website that truly connects with our customers. If there are two things you have to pay for to be online, that's domain name and web hosting. Those things are never free -- especially if you own a business. That's why when using free sitebuilders, the best option is to get a domain name that reflects my company as well as a reliable web hosting that comes packed with features I could use.
Building my own website
Pros
Building my own website with sitebuilders that I pay for are obviously a better option than free sitebuilders. I would know for sure that there are no hidden charges or catch involved. The good thing is that building my own website with the help of website providers like Godaddy, Web.com, or Hostgator, I go through step-by-step process that is very easy to follow. It is very intuitive and it gives me freedom to experiment on how my website will look. Also, a lot of these paid custom website builders are equipped with search engine optimization add-ons that my Texas small business needs to enhance my visibility online.
Cons
Since I'm not a web designer myself, I may have doubts about my capability to design my own website. The main problem about building my own site is that unlike real web design professional, I may lack a few skills to fine-tune my site for my customers. Thankfully, I can use the Helpdesk or call customer support if I'm having problems with building my site.
Hiring a professional web designer
Pros
Hiring a professional web designer to help build my Texas small business website online means I have to put my trust in that firm or individual that will handle my site. If I make the right choices, then I know I will be able to sell my products and services online confidently. And since I'm not a web designer, I don't have to worry about layouts and content -- it will be provided for me. Also, since a web design professional is working for me, I expect quality output at a set amount of time.
Cons
Expenses are the main concern when hiring a professional website designer for my Texas small business. I have to use a cost calculator, make inquiries, and set a budget in order to get a good service from a web designer. I also need to know about maintenance of the site and of course, do background check on the individual or company. But if all goes well, investment on this option should be worth my dime.
