A recurring theme in success manuals—for life, for online business, for traditional business, for anything—is that appearances matter.  You can attach a value judgment to this statement, and insist that it’s not fair and it’s not right (and it isn’t), but there it is: appearances matter.  It’s something that seems to be hard-wired into human nature.  And that means it can affect your sales in ways you may not be aware of. Read the rest of this entry »

I am crazy about the mobile life.  Smartphones, laptops, and WiFi are the Keys to the Kingdom as far as I’m concerned.  I’m no longer a faceless drone in some giant organization, and I do not spend 8 hours a day trapped in a cubicle.  Life is good!  But this freedom from routine brings its own challenges.  Finding a place to work is among them. Read the rest of this entry »

Even a cheap web hosting package often includes an email autoresponder.  Shortly after setting up your new online business, you are poised and ready to dive into email marketing.  Before you do, though, take some time to consider the image you want to present.  Both what you say, and what you don’t say, in your marketing speaks volumes to your customers about what kind of business you’re running. Read the rest of this entry »

Privacy concerns in the online environment have been a hot topic for a long time.  Credit card scams, phishing, and other crimes are in the backs of a lot of peoples’ minds when they’re online.  It doesn’t seem to be affecting their willingness to shop online, but being proactive about your customers’ privacy concerns will make you look good and help build customer relationships. Read the rest of this entry »

Anyone and everyone is interested in using Search Engine Optimization  (SEO) to show up higher in Google and other search engine results.  Study after study after study shows that, however many millions of hits a search engine lists, consumers routinely choose to go with websites that are within the first several listed by the search engine.  So, how can you learn more about SEO, and how can you use it to get your page listed right at the top of the search results pages? Read the rest of this entry »

As a smart shopper, you probably don’t spend a lot of money or invest a lot of time into something you haven’t looked at.  You may be reading an affiliate marketing book, following press stories about Google’s developments in advertising, and more.  It’s important to do the same when choosing an autoresponder, and to review your choice of autoresponders periodically through the life of your business. Read the rest of this entry »

You may continue to see news and blog entries touting the end of email now that so many people are turning to social networks and smartphones.  Experience, though, may have taught you to be sceptical of exciting, grand announcements that seem counterintuitive.  Still, stranger things have happened.  Is it time to ditch your autoresponder system?  What does the research say? Read the rest of this entry »