We’re Sorry, but no one is here to take your message right now……

I’ve been visiting a lot of web sites lately seeking some product information for a hospitality client.  3 out of 4 of the web sites I hit were using the live chat feature on their web sites.  When I’m in a hurry and just want some basic questions answered, I’ll hit the ole’ live chat and hopefully discuss my needs with a real human being via chat.  Not so. All three of the sites that actually were featuring live chat at 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon were not available to chat with me.

Here’s the point.  Don’t even bother putting this on your web site if you are not going to commit to using it.  This sends a strong signal to prospects that I’m clearly not important enough for your team to respond to.  If you can actually have someone fielding questions between 9-5 then by all means, fire it up, otherwise, you are sending mixed customer service signals.

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I overheard (without a choice) a guys cell phone conversation while in line at the grocery store tonight.  The long and short of it, he is getting Internet leads from his web site but just doesn’t have the time to talk to these people, he is just ‘too damn busy’ to connect with his prospects.  So, he’s obviously pondering some solutions to this problem (of having too many leads….) out-loud and comes up with the following brain child….”Here’s what I’m gonna do, I’ll just get a new phone line and send it straight to voicemail. That way, the leads can just leave a message.” This managed to dig deep into my soul and stab me repeatedly, I was horrified at what I heard.  So, let me get this straight, you are getting too many leads and just don’t have the time to get new business, so the solution, completely take any human interaction out of the sales process and just let people leave a voice mail. Wow.  <sarcasm>He’s going to be a millionaire someday! </sarcasm>

Anyway you cut the cake, marketing is about human interaction, people are in the equation (hopefully) and people DO at some point want to make sure that you are a real live human being.  True Internet marketing is about the true human relationship. The Internet should NOT be used as a substitute for good ole’ fashioned conversation, so sending all of those hungry prospects to talk to a digital voice answering machine, after they have surfed your web site is for sure a one way ticket to lost revenue, sales, credibility, relationships and opportunities.

For the last few months I’ve been receiving emails from Jennifer.  Jennifer sells photocopiers. Jennifer LOVES photocopiers.  I have NEVER asked about a photocopier, have NEVER indicated even a remote interest in a photocopier, but Jennifer got my email address from the Chamber of Commerce, so obviously (in her mind), I’m a logical prospect for her to annoy on a daily basis.

Jennifer has recently caught onto IContact.  She decided to just go ahead and add me to her Daily photocopier newsletter. So, now I get even more special offers from Jennifer. More offers I don’t want, more garbage to clutter my inbox, more photocopier specials I’ll never pay attention to.  Sorry Jennifer, I just opted out, thanks for the memories.

Just because Jennifer found my name and email address on another list does not entitle her to communicate or rudely interrupt my inbox with email specials.  If I’m ever in the market for a copier, do you think I’ll call Jennifer for one? Nope. Negative. Ain’t Gonna Happen. The bottom line is this: if you wish to spread your message and communicate with prospects, get their permission to do so first. Once you have their permission, you have an in, you have an interest and hopefully, you’ll have a relationship.

When it comes to your web site copy, please remember this quick tip: Not many people read all of it. I’ve seen clients labor meticulously over every single word on every single page for months. Granted, you do need to sound like you have a grasp of the vernacular and granted, it needs to convert prospects into sales, but there is no need to recompose War & Peace on your web site. Ask yourself how much time you actually spend reading other people’s web site copy, you probably, like most of the world SKIM the page quickly. If it’s a sea of copy, you are lost, and you quickly hit the back button and on to the next.

Quick Copy Tips:

• Use Bullets: using bullets helps focus skimmers on key elements.
• Be Concise. There is no need to list the ENTIRE three page testimonial from a client, give the highlights.
• Research keywords before you start composing. What keywords would help this article get found in Google?
• Don’t be afraid to send people to another page to ‘read more’ if it is a longer piece.

Business is all about battle.  We compete, we devise and execute strategy, we fine tune our weapons and armor and deploy our troops where they are hopefully needed most.  The Internet and your marketing plan is no different.  Each and every day, more and more competition moves to the field for battle.  They are there to outsmart you, to out web design you, to out tweet you and to out Google you.

Do you have a web commander in the line of fire? Is your commander calling the right shots?

So many companies tend to forget that success on the Internet is truly a battle.  A battle that changes daily by so many outside enemy forces.  You need a commander in the field on a daily basis.  Your web commander needs to know the threats, needs to strategize and deploy rapidly, needs to know which Internet marketing weapon to deploy and which armor needs to be affixed at just the right time.  Your company needs an Internet marketing Battle Cry.

If you are ready to do battle, call the most aggressive and most strategic Internet marketing firm in Orlando. Call me at On Target Web Solutions: 407-830-4550 or Nationwide: 866-998-6886.

If you liked this blog, be sure to check out my other Internet Marketing blog: TheSEOCEO.com

When companies have exhausted ALL other marketing avenues to no avail, they often (out of desperation) turn to pricing.  “It has to be our pricing, if we lower our prices we will attract more market share…” That may work if you are WalMart or IKEA, but relying on price to sell your products or services can ultimately result in a huge dilemma when you need to raise them due to market pressures, market conditions, etc.

I had a great conversation with an Ad Agency exec today about Cheap, she brought up this point: “What is Subway going to do when they have to raise the price of the 5 dollar foot long?” You know the day will have to come, lettuce prices may skyrocket, flour or rent prices may jack up, Jared falls off the wagon and starts hitting the Twinkies & Deep Fried Hot Dogs again. The fact of the matter is this: the marketplace will more than likely react adversely to this change.  By backing your product into a pricing war, you back yourself into many uncomfortable corners.

It doesn’t pay to be cheap, it doesn’t pay to sell by price.  When your sales team and your web site start selling value, amazing customer service, passion, expertise, etc., amazing things start to happen.  You start being remarkable. If you can sell at a great price and STILL offer value, amazing customer service and passion, the ball is all in your court.

Does your web site focus on pricing or being amazing?

Call me today and let’s discuss: 407-830-4550.

When I get a new prospect on the phone, the first question I ask is elementary: How can I help you today? 9 times out of 10, the answer I hear is the same…. I’m frustrated with my existing web design / Internet marketing company:

“They don’t answer the phone when I need something changed on my web site….”
“I can’t even find myself in the search engines after three months!”
“They take forever to update my web site!”
“They never get back to me in a timely fashion”
“My web site sucks.”
“My web site just doesn’t convert.”
“The content that they have been delivering looks like amateurs composed it.”
“They just don’t get it.”

I could go on. When it comes to one of your most important marketing pieces, don’t you think that you should LOVE the company you are working with? Shouldn’t they be proactive and call YOU? Shouldn’t they be watching your web site and seeking new opportunities for you? Shouldn’t they be eager to meet with you to explore new marketing possibilities? Shouldn’t they be a true marketing partner? I think so, and my clients think so as well.  If you are sick and tired of being ignored, tired of amateur freelancers with ZERO marketing experience, tired of sub par work, you need to experience my company.

Call the Orlando web design and Internet marketing experts today: 407-830-4550 or Nationwide: 866-998-6886.

I’ve talked to many prospects in the last two weeks and keep seeing a trend that is gnawing away at me daily.  People are constantly getting bad information, they are getting their heads filled with BAD SEO advice, with BAD video marketing advice and with BAD Social media advice.  I thought it would be helpful to post my 5 key Internet marketing fundamentals that you need to know.

1.) Don’t skimp on your web design.  Your web site is the vehicle that needs to be driven. If you are driving a 1978 baby poop green station wagon, odds are, it’s gonna break down soon. Also, hire a firm that TRULY understands SEO (make sure that you can find them in Google!). Many web design firms claim that they are fully experienced with SEO but don’t have a clue.

2.) Write your web site copy FOR your prospects, NOT for search engines.  Sprinkle in keywords where appropriate, Google knows what to do with the rest.  CONTINUE to add copy and rich content to your web site, the keywords will start to flow naturally.

3.) Make it your business to know where your prospects are hanging out online.  If you are selling business to business are your efforts better spent on LinkedIn or would you prefer hanging out with all of the MLM spammers on Twitter? Know your market, know where TO market.

4.)  Stay on top of your competition.  Follow them on Social Media, interact with them if possible. What are they doing? What’s changing, how are they addressing changes in market conditions, etc.?

5.) BE the expert.  Set yourself apart from your competition by contributing your expertise to prospects and clients.  Be a giver and reap the benefits.

6.) Look, A Squirrel! Stay on course.  Despite many Gurus beliefs, people do not instantly become overnight millionaires online.  Focus on the big picture and stay focused. Do, of course, watch for other marketing opportunities online, i.e., new social media applications, a youtube campaign, etc., but focus on providing expertise at all cost.

7.)  Sip from the right fire hose. To succeed online, you must educate yourself.  For marketing philosophy, stick to Seth Godin, for seo tips and Internet marketing advice, I prefer Search Engine Watch, for Google information, I hang out at Matt Cutt’s Blog, Matt works for Google and provides valuable insight: http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/. For all things web design, I prefer Smashing magazine and for social media news and info, I visit Mashable.com

8.) The Internet is not a miracle worker.  If your company can’t get it together, if your product is mediocre, if your sales team does not bother to follow up or call the leads back don’t bother trying to market it.  There are too many companies dedicated to greatness that ‘get it’ and treat customers, vendors, employees and prospects like gold.

9.) Don’t just Set It And Forget It. This may work for the Ole’ Ronco Showtime Rotisserie, but it does NOT apply to the Internet.  Keep your web site up to date, current, relevant, attractive, clean and then do it again, over and over.

10.) Work with experts.  Just because Billy the Intern took a few courses in College about flash and web design does not qualify him to build, market and promote your corporate web site.  Honestly, you run the risk of losing more money by trying to skimp on hiring professionals to build and promote your web site.  Keep your team focused on your corporate mission and trust your web site and Internet marketing to professionals.

THE BOTTOM LINE.

Above all, don’t believe everything you read online. Don’t buy into the guaranteed results, don’t buy into the get rich overnight stuff, and PLEASE don’t pay the GURU who is going to build 92,000 inbound links to your web site and make you a millionaire tomorrow AM by 11:15.

Call me, we are those experts. In Orlando: 407-830-4550, Nationwide: 866-998-6886. Web Design, Internet Marketing, Social media. www.ontargetwebsolutions.com.