Sometimes it’s a bad idea to flaunt the rules of proper grammar and punctuation. But the online world is changing that in some ways. One way is that anytime you put your Website URL in an email or online, you should leave off any punctuation that might follow.
So if your sentence ends with a link or URL skip the period at the end. And don’t put commas or anything else after your link either. Otherwise you risk the computer thinking your punctuation is part of the link or URL and then it won’t work.

It’s official – and waiting in your WP dashboard…

WordPress 3.0 is live and rarin’ to go!

If you’ve been a bit out of the loop, here’s a post I wrote about some of the cool new stuff coming in 3.0.

And of course you’ll want to be ready for it – so make sure you take a look at the tips I gave for preparing for the transition.  Specifically I recommended using a plugin that helps with the backup process, so you won’t lose any valuable info if things go a wee bit kaflooey.

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When considering whether or not to work with a web designer, first take close look at the company’s or designer’s portfolio. It’s important that you like the looks of websites they’ve made in the past. If you don’t like their work, it’s simple: Don’t call them.

Try to make a list of a few designers or firms whose work you like. Then, set up time to talk to them. During your discussions, the most important thing to find out is whether they are knowledgeable about marketing.

There are thousands of graphic artists who will be perfectly happy to make you a website, and there are tons of programmers who will do the same. But only rarely will they be able to make a site that is effective for your business. If you want to have the best possible website, what you need is a digital strategist.

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Wordpress 3.0 is on its way soon…

This is a major update to WordPress software, full of lots of exciting changes. Some of the changes are more exciting to developers and designers than anyone else, but there are some that the average user will be thrilled with right away. (Plus you’ll be thrilled with what the developers find exciting, too, because it means they can do that much more for you!)

• a very cool drag and drop menu feature (like on the widget management page) based on the navigation styling from Woo Themes. Not only will it make it easier for you to order what goes where on your menu, you’ll be able to easily combine pages, categories, and even specific posts or other links, on the menu. So if you wanted a link to BasicBlogSetup.com to show up on your site’s navigation bar, you could do it in a snap!

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Finding time to learn some basics about the fundamental language of the web can totally change how you interact with the world of the internet.  Whether you are technically inclined or not, knowing something about the mechanics of the web pages we all visit (or develop) definitely enhances the experience!

I would never consider myself a technical person, but when my VA shared a site offering tutorials where you can Learn HTML and CSS I was interested.   The purpose of the site is to provide “guidance and help about designing and developing websites.”  Their aim is to  “make HTML.net a useful tool for everyone working with web design – either as a hobby or as a profession.

Tools like HTML and CSS can be daunting, but they don’t have to be.  Basically, you can think of the process as very much like learning a new language.  As you practice and explore, the terrain becomes more and more familiar.  The tutorials offered in Learn HTML and CSS are very friendly and accessible … read on!

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When I sent out the announcement email this past week about having posted my new May issue of the pdf/print version of the Marketing Ink Newsletter, I also asked for feedback from my readers.

Since I asked, one of my readers, Barry, wrote and said this:

“I hate PDF newsletters and never open them … just giving you honest feedback.”

Thank you, Barry. I appreciate ALL feedback.

Hearing from each one of you brings me great joy and I especially like it when people really do give me honest feedback like Barry did. I want to know what you like along with what you dislike.

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All businesses need a website, and it’s important for the website to be effective. If you invest in making a website that turns out to be ineffective:

* you’ll have squandered money creating a useless site;
* you’ll have wasted valuable time;
* you’ll have scared away or failed to attract potential clients;
* and now you’ll be saddled with hosting fees.

So, with that out of the way, let’s get down to business. What makes a website effective?

First of all, is your contact information on every page? This is an absolute must, so don’t forget about it.

Secondly, you have to identify what it is that you want visitors to your website to do. Do you want to have them fill out a form for a sales lead? Do you want them to buy something? Join your mailing list? Download your white paper?

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Picking a designer for your business website can be a daunting task.  Many of us don’t know much about computer programming or graphic design and feel intimidated when shopping around for a designer.  There is nothing to fear with a little research and some knowledge.

Ask around, get referrals, search the web and come up with a list of designers to check out. Look at the web designer’s portfolio.  Every designer has their own style and you will see if that style fits your taste.

Once you find a few designers you like, it’s time to dig a bit deeper than the looks.  A website is not just about form, but also about function.  When you find designers that have a good style, find out if they can make a stylish website that works.

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When most people start out with Wordpress, they use a free theme rather than pay for a premium, or “professionally designed”, theme.  While this seem like a great solution, it can set you up for trouble down the road.

Most people use free themes because, well, they are free. Makes sense, right? Why pay for something you can get for free from almost anywhere?

Well, the problem is, free isn’t always free.

In fact, free can sometimes be very costly.

Here are some costly reasons not to use free Wordpress themes:

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i.e. How do people find you, and how do you make them stick?

If you want your website to stand out, you’ll need to pay a lot of attention to the types of articles you write. Readers want to be on the cutting edge of topics – often with very basic instructions – so that is where youwant to be to increase your traffic and get them to stick around on your site.

Content usually takes the form of articles, blog posts, audio and video too.

The first requirement of your content is that it be oriented for your potential customer or client. You always want to start with the “human” element first. Many people will tell you to focus first on all the techniques and technology, but that is like shooting yourself in the foot. Sure, you might get to the top of a search engine ranking, and someone might visit your site, but if what you provide is worded to attract search engine traffic vs. be of genuine help to the reader, well, you’re right back where you started. Traffic that doesn’t do you any good.

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