Web site Promotion | Website Development

Customer Testimonials - A Great Way to Add Credibility to Your Website

Powerful testimonials - the actual words of real people - will add instant credibility to your website. Your prospects will identify with other people's experiences with what you're selling. But nothing, and I mean nothing, will ruin your credibility faster than phony testimonials. You've seen them before, website testimonials that read more like an infomercial than a real person...

"123 Company's robust, dynamic website interface changed everything about the way we do business." - R.Smith

"I cannot believe how great this product is. I'm recommending it to everyone so order yours today!" - Jan in Arkansas

These kinds of vague testimonials are often full of marketing fluff and gripping sales trigger words and have an urgent quality to them that doesn't flow. Also, any testimonial that has just the person's initials at the end or doesn't give business details just screams "These people are liars!"

Great testimonials lend a level of trustworthiness because they show that people have done business with you and came away satisfied. Stanford University recently published a large-scale web credibility study that revealed that trustworthiness is one of the most important factors for people when assessing a website's credibility.

So, how do you use testimonials properly to add credibility to your website? Probably the most important element is to make sure they are written by an actual customer! Simply ask your customers for their comments and feedback in their own words. Ask them if they enjoyed their experience with your product or service and why. Try to get them to be as specific as possible. And, of course, always ask for their permission to use their words on your website. In fact, it's smart to get a signed release in hand before publishing it to your website.

To make your testimonials powerful and effective they must include:

• Down to earth wording

• Customer's full name (including any titles that add to their authority)

• Business name and location or individual's city and state

• Link to customer's website

• A non-professional photo of the person (optional)

As for the actual testimonial, be sure it is short and to the point and gives specifics when possible. In her book Web Copy That Sells Maria Veloso explains that testimonials must be specific and measurable whenever possible. For example, "ABC Company was great!" is vague and uninteresting while "ABC's product increased traffic to my website by 45%!" is precise and quantifiable. Specifics really pump up the power of the testimonial and make it ring true.

Beware the phony testimonial - avoid it like the plague. Instead, place well-crafted, believable testimonials throughout your website to build trust and credibility with each and every one of your prospects.

Manish Mamnani is President and CEO of Gatesix - a highly sought after Internet strategy and technology services company in Phoenix, Arizona. Manish has a deep understanding of website design and development as well as the design of client-server, E-Commerce, and Internet-based systems. You can reach Manish at 623-572-7725 or at http://www.gatesix.com

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Labels: A Great Way to Add Credibility to Your Website, Customer Testimonials

How Can Keywords Help Your Website Attract Recurring Traffic?

Keywords are not just for search engine optimization of your website, rather these can serve as subjects when you are writing fruitful content for your website. Keywords provide you with topics people are searching for. No wonder you would want these to be converted into informative articles.

How many keywords can one subject contain?

There is no dearth of keywords for a single subject, because there are millions out there trying to search for information and trying new keywords all the time. Therefore, proper research will reveal the numbers of available keywords for a single subject.

It is absolutely normal if you put in the main keyword and take use those which have highest numbers of clicks. This strategy will work when you are trying to market your website. However, using single line or vertical keywords can really make your website SEO friendly. If you want continuous flow of traffic your efforts should be directed towards building a user friendly and highly informative website.

Are website content keywords any different than the marketing ones?

Keywords for both purposes would be almost similar. However, for the purpose of building an informative website, you should use keywords with a wider spectrum rather than eyeing just the bull's eye. When building a website and adding content, it becomes necessary to include as many related topics as possible, this is what will bring in regular visitors.

Keyword mining software will always provide you with not just vertical keywords which are directly related to the subject. Instead through these software you will find keywords that are related to the subject but do not happen to be the very main stream ones. These keywords are very useful in providing you with topics that can become informative articles to a wide range of Internet users.
For example: If your website is about particular jewelry, it would be easier to attract traffic if it contained jewelry for men, women, children, different age groups, different occasions, information regarding what jewelry goes well with what apparel, with examples, etc. this would automatically increase use of the jewelry website and people would visit it often to get ideas and information. You can also provide visitors with information regarding preserving, cleaning and repair of the jewelry.

Can all the above keywords bring in traffic for the website?

Some keywords can be used simply for building your website. Though internet users do not search for the product or service using the keyword, you will be surprised to see that many who visit your website will check out the information page. If visitors find information worthwhile, you can be assured they will come back each time they want to more knowledge about the subject.
Keywords used for web content building may not always pull in traffic, but they are always helpful in retaining traffic if the content answers their queries and current problems effectively. You have the long tail keywords and short keywords; both can be used for building website content.

Find useful broad spectrum and SEO keywords that can help you increase website traffic!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ujwala_Bapat

Labels: How Can Keywords Help Your Website Attract Recurring Traffic

Web Development in America Continues to Flourish Amid International Design Community

With all eyes on China this weekend as the Olympics kick off; many foreign countries are ready, willing, or considering China not only to be the next economic power, but also the next technological heaven for scientists, engineers, designers, and artists. One of the newest technological developments in China is known as the GreenPIX wall. This wall is famous not only for its massive scale, but it is also an object that uses 'zero energy'. It is a giant television screen capable only of displaying single colors (much like an LED). The panels of this giant screen are covered with clear solar panels which absorb solar energy during the day and use it to power their system at night. The wall is one of the major pushes in sustainable design and it leaves the rest of the world wondering if China has the money, technology, and manpower to surpass the other major nations. I respectfully disagree.

While acknowledging China's great strides and leaps onto the international stage in terms of their economic, military, and even athletic strength; China has yet to prove itself technologically. The massive structures they have been erecting, designing, and implementing are products of European architects and scientists. Technology and science are also fields where the west and namely America still hold the upper hand. In terms of military science and technology the USA still has the most advance aviation units and is still currently the furthest along in the space race. Digital technology also remains in the hand of the west with the east using the majority of the technology created elsewhere. Web development is one of these creations. With the strict guidelines and regulations imposed on Chinese internet service providers, it's hard to expand with web development when everything is constantly focused on subverting the World Wide Web. In the United States; however, we find that there is a haven for web development in NY People from all over the world with different ideas, backgrounds, and goals converge in one tightly packed city and shell out thousands of creative ideas day by day. Design firms and companies all seek to expand web development into a new age with better usability, intuitive ideas, and more ethical design. New York is, and will be the best place for web designers, scientists, and all technologically inclined individuals to reside for at least a few years.

Fred McCoy is a New York Web Design critic who works for Blue Fountain Media; his articles are on point, descriptive, and insightful.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fred_McCoy

Labels: Web Development in America Continues to Flourish Amid International Design Community

Web Content Strategy Inadvertently Supported by Jakob Nielsen

In his article on long vs. short Web content (Alert Box/ Content Strategy), amidst all of the value/effort math, Nielsen makes a great point about the value of a good content strategist and Web editor. He suggests that the length most content could be reduced by 40% by a good editor while eliminating only 30% of the value provided to the reader. But he also acknowledges that there is the occasional situation in which, "you really, really need to know everything about a problem," that justifies longer content.

The trick is in being able to determine the value of a piece of content and plan accordingly. This is one of the hard-to-measure benefits that a good content strategist or managing editor brings to a Web project. The content strategist can often work with the information architect and determine that all of the content in a particular category is not created equal.

Nielsen states that the very best content strategy is one that mixes long and short format content as needed to support the user. Some of the content could be reduced to make it more consumable to a broader audience, while other content may need to be expanded into a white paper for high value customers that need to take a deep dive and make significant purchase decisions.

Because of their broad project knowledge and content focus, the content strategist has the time and the ability to take a detailed look at every piece of proposed content to determine its ultimate value to the user, and then plan the length accordingly.

Richard Sheffield is currently managing editor for a Fortune 50 corporate Web site and has functioned as a Web content strategist (and hired and trained content strategists) since 1999. For more information about Web Content Strategyand working as a content strategist, see The Web Content Strategists Bible at - http://www.web-content-strategy.com

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Labels: Web Content Strategy Inadvertently Supported by Jakob Nielsen

Creating a Distinguished Web Site For Affiliate Marketing

There are ways to impress your visitors and there are also ways to drive them off. And in the affiliate marketing industry, you are in dire need to attract more customers rather than driving them away and swearing never to return to that site again. That is why, before anything else and before knowing how to create a distinguished web site, you have to know that there are three things internet users hate while surfing the net.

First, they despise long hours of downloading a file. Second, they ignore web sites that are so out-of-this world. Alien-like terms and confusing methods are not really understandable by all means possible. Last, internet users hate it when the conditions and promises written in the site are not real. Web sites like these don't get any second chance for visitors to browse again. There is a wide selection so why settle for one right?

You, as an entrepreneur in the affiliate marketing world who is involved in this kind of program, must avoid this at all cost. You have to maintain an integrity that will make your customers to keep coming back for more. Below are 5 very good and effective tips on creating a site that will be distinguished by many.

Tip 1 - Make your site clear and understandable.

Your site must have a specific idea at hand. You have to establish an aim that will give the traffic a clear view of what you're aiming at. Design your site as something that even kids will understand. Either to inform, sell or entertain, it doesn't matter for as long as the people know what your site is all about. It should have consistency in every purpose.

Tip 2 - Design a site for the customers.

If you make a site because you wanted your prospects and existing customers to use it on their advantage, that would be the most perfect plan. Don't just put anything because you wanted it but because your customers would want it to be like so. Always consider the customer's need to revisit and reorder according to their needs. Remember what someone needs will always be what they want.

Tip 3 - Complexity is never an ideal choice.

Always choose something that is simple in the eyes of your customers. Showcasing different kinds of skills is not really what a visitor wants to see. They may not be impressed of something as complicated as a labyrinth. Point is, the content is what matters most. If the customers get the idea of your content and appreciate its existence, then you have made a good job on keeping it simple.

Tip 4 - Navigation made easier and more intuitive.

Probably, this is one of the most important aspects of web design. Easy navigation of a web page that has an intuitive appeal on your audience always works magically. When navigating a site, it has to be clear and logical. Important information must always be accessible and is easy to find. Don't design a web page that will frustrate your customers. Names of links must be self-explanatory and concise. One more thing, keep your data up-to-date.

Tip 5 - Make your site appealing.

Appealing to the masses through visual effects is rather subjective but will make a certain amount of influence to the perception of your customers. Be sure that your layout is uncluttered and the choice of color and font is appropriate. Images should not contain any obscene thoughts and remarks and ensure the good impression of what your affiliate website marketing business is about.

Would you like to have a real web site business? Terez Dunn invites you to visit his profitable online business website for everything you need to start and run your own online business. His services include advertising, mentoring, and a full service training and support package to help guarantee your success. Learn more here: http://www.tdunnsdreamjob.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terez_Dunn

Labels: Affiliate Marketing, Creating a Distinguished Web Site

How to Start With Your First Business Website?

With continuously increased penetration of internet, a website is a must tool in the hand of marketer. Any business, however small can not avoid the potential of having a good business website. A small business website, not more than few pages could actually help you to create a positive brand image of your business in the minds of your site's visitors, who could eventually turn into your customer. And all this could actually happen without meeting them.

Many of small businesses ask me how they should start with their first website and more importantly whether the website will pay back them? Developing a small website doesn't cost one more than few bucks. I ask them to compare the cost of developing a site with the other form of advertising or promotion. And again, a website is more interactive then any other form. More importantly one can easily track the performance of website using a free tool like Google Analytics.

Then what actually takes to start with first small business website?

* Before you start, think about your goals behind developing a website
* Define who will visit your website? Decide your target market or potential visitors
* Find out what they look for when they visit websites like yours
* Decide what information is more important for your potential visitors and how it will convert them into your customers
* Define your products / services you want to offer to them

Doing this will actually define your Internet Marketing Strategy which will guide you through the rest of process.

Then what you need is a good Website design company, contact one you know, and ask them to help you in these. Provide them with the information you've prepared. Remember that having a more informative site will automatically produce good results, but that information should be related to your company, your services, and your products and must interest to your visitors.

You'll require deciding a good domain name for your business website, finding the good web hosting company to host your site. We'll look into what is domain name, and what is hosting in our next article.

Synergy Informatics provides affordable web hosting, web design and web application development services to local as well as overseas clients. We're a team of professionals, and we believe in achieving complete customer satisfaction by providing best quality services.

Synergy Informatics
A web hosting, design & development solutions company.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Krunal_Jariwala

Labels: first business website

What Are the 7 Specific Areas of Site Building Necessary to Reach the Elusive Top 10 Rankings?

Quality Small Business Software Solutions are absolutely essential to start a Small Business and be able to Work from Home successfully with a Small Business Plan. Every website, it doesn't matter if it is being created to sell a product, a service or to promote to a specific niche market, must address each of several elements of site design and structure.

To do this successfully, the only effective way to start a Small Business is to use Small Business Software designed for each element of the site. Herein lies the problem, the internet is overloaded with software, all claiming to be the best there is that you must have.

There are many excellent pieces of software that do exactly what they claim, and many that well...don't, in fact, thousands. This creates a dilemma for inexperienced site builders and first-timers with the desire and motivation to Work from Home.

But, how do you know which ones to start with? How many do you really need?

Using the wrong advice and/or software in even one of these segments can and usually will, have disastrous results.

During our ten years online creating web business sites for Newbies and veterans, we have bought, tried, tested and trashed dozens upon dozens of so called must-have software. You just don't need all that stuff!

The following are the specific areas of site building and marketing that must be addressed to have any hope of attaining the elusive Search Engine Top 10 rankings.

* Website Builders/Guides
* Search Engine Optimization Software
* Linking Tools
* Keyword Suggestion Tools
* Internet Marketing Tools
* Guru Courses worth using
* Mentors

The venture into the world of Small Business to Work from Home Internet Marketing can be a thrilling, satisfying way to make a very good living if done properly using honest Reviews of the correct Small Business Software Solutions, and an effective Small Business Plan.

To download your Free Copy of an excellent 48 page copywriting ebook "Net Writing Masters Course" you can put to use immediately. Click Here

Dennis Lauritsen is an accomplished author and site builder with 10 years experience online who loves to give good stuff away.

http://www.smallbusinesssoftwarereviews.com/words.php

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Labels: Site Building, web site promotion