Thursday, November 15, 2012

3 Reasons Why Business Web Sites Fail


 Web Sites Distracts Businesses



Businesses without web sites lose money.

Do you believe that?


Internet marketers believe that every business with a web site increase the possibility of additional revenue.  They say this even when it’s not self serving.

The theory is that a web site allows anyone anywhere to access your business allowing instant expansion and potential profit generation.  But is that what really happens?


No...

That's a myth.  There is too much proof to the contrary.  For the vast majority of traditional businesses with an online presence in the form of their own business web site is a disappointment.  The level of satisfaction varies by industry but usually expectations are unmet. There are literally millions of business websites online today that provide no value to the respective businesses.
 
The truth is that many businesses are not ready for the internet. More precisely many business owners are not familiar enough with the internet to know what works and what doesn’t work.  Most business owners are too busy to specialize in internet marketing.  Establishing a profitable online presence requires a lot more than having a web site built. The fact is that marketing a website begins before the site is actually built.

Puttting The Cart before the Horse Never Works.  

Web designers are not internet marketers. Web designers build web sites.  They use precise, attractive graphics strategically placed to awe site visitors.  Their priority is the look and feel of the site, its layout and navigation.  The word is “presentation” its impressive affect on the visitor.  Once accepted the web site becomes the property of the business owner or business.  Therein lies...

The Problem  

What most business owners or corporate managers know about online marketing can probably fit into a thimble.  Even if they have some online
marketing experience they must now market a site that was not designed for marketing.  They may even become very good at driving traffic their site by using paid sources but with no business model or conversion strategy it’s just a matter of time before they let the site fend for itself. .  . 
Brochure web sites are as effective as traditional offline brochures.  Brochures employ a push marketing strategy as opposed to creating a pull strategy by optimizing the site before it is built. . .

The three main reasons that business  web sites fail are:

1.     Building a web site with “establishing a web presence” as the primary purpose.
2.     Inability to or neglect to include marketing in the site building process. Ususally happens when the designer has no internet marketing skills.  
3.     Appreciating that Internet marketing is NOT an event but a process.

The ideal solution is for the business owner to learn internet marketing prior to building a web site.  This may seem like the most obvious thing to do but the cost in time makes it more profitable for the owners and managers to focus on its core business. Fortunately everything you need to know about internet marketing is already online. 

For businesses that already have a web site it may require some sort of makeover to introduce a working business model.  Here again the information is on the web but each business is different and it is recommended that you work with someone with internet marketing skills.  You may simply need a plan that includes an business model and an internet strategy to meet your sales goals.

The least desirable but most efficient solution is for  business owners to seek consultation/coaching with internet marketing experts to build or modify the site.  This option is least desirable because it does require an investment. This is an investment that can produce returns repeatedly.  Businesses tend to look at the overall capital outlay and the need for an internet marketer on a contractual basis or on the payroll is not something they are willing to do. 

The ultimate solution is to get everything at a fixed cost where it will require very little time on the part of the business to maintain the profitability of their web site and know that all their customers are contacted on a regular basis.  To have a fixed cost that provides support small businesses ti engage their clients with online expertise that takes years of learning to develop.

Imagine using state-of-the-are marketing tools to convert more leads, boost sales and save time; automatically.

Automatic is the functional word here because business owners and staff can continue to do what they do best while their web site is generating profits or leads 24/7.

This leading sales and marketing software was developed for small businesses with a list of clients that may be already dormant.  It combines CRM, email marketing and e-commerce tools together into one system.

Thinking about building a web site or have a site that is not working?  Take a look at a free demonstration on how this software works.  It can really save time and years of learning.

 View Demo Here

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Does Barack Obama Presidency Affect Caribbean People?



Barack Obama Eating Doubles
Congratulations Mr. President

Barack Obama winning another term as President of the United States has very little tangible affect on Caribbean people.   

According to US Foreign Policy the Caribbean is lumped in with a Latin America Policy, it does not matter that most of Latin America speaks Spanish we are categorized right along with them.  

 As you may know, Caribbean people from different islands each speak with their own accent and colloquial language.  It’s so bad that sometimes we cannot even understand each other.  That reminds me. 
    
One day I boarded a bus in Boston, needing directions, I asked a fellow passenger with my heavy Trinidad accent.  “Which stop do I get off to be on Columbia Road” That is what I meant but I said it just the way I would in Trinidad.  The passenger looked at me weird.  

 I asked again before he responded with: I don’t speak Spanish and turned away from me.  I never forgot that because in my mind I was saying “I don’t speak Spanish either” 

That is an aside but there might be some validity in how the US Foreign Policy perceives the Caribbean.  The United States is Trinidad and Tobago’s primary customer for gas, oil and derivatives.  We are one of many suppliers.  If T&T stopped producing oil tomorrow it will be a mere ripple in the US supply.  This is a strictly business relationship.

It did not matter if Romney won the Presidency nothing would have changed. 

There is another compelling reason why the Caribbean and especially countries like Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Venezuela and Columbia are important to US Foreign Policy.  All these countries are considered trans shipment points for illicit drugs flowing into the US.    

As such, the Caribbean is important to the extent that the US can assist in stemming that flow.   You would agree that it’s pure self preservation on the part of the US so we could expect that it would have continued no matter who won.

But here is how President Obama affects the Caribbean.  We are proud of him.  There were very few Mitt Romney for President Supporters in the entire Caribbean.   As much as I hate to admit it, 

Caribbean people are mostly descendants of Africans and call it genes, hereditary or environment we support each other morally if not physically.  To put it plainly, it’s tribal, a matter of race black and white. 

Don’t get me wrong there is no hatred or racism involved.  Caribbean people tend to be more democratic than republican.  Issues such as women’s rights, immigration rights, human rights are issues that resonates with Caribbean people.  

 Choosing Obama over Romney was a good choice all around, proof is the majority of Americans who agreed, not all of them were black.  

Is T&T Carnival Still The Greatest Show On Earth?

In Defense of We Carnival Recently, a situation has arisen where differing perspectives prompt contemplation.   I am referring to two inst...