How to Choose a Good Website Domain Name?

In the modern world of the Internet, where people automatically turn to the Web for information, your domain name needs to be unique to you to actively lead people to your business. Customers have short memories; they will not memorize an unrelated URL. Keep it simple for your customers and visitors and uniquely related to your business. Here are some useful answers...


What is a Domain Name?

Just to make sure we're all on the same page here, a domain name is the web address that leads people to your web site. Just the same as your home address, web browsers will direct people to your site via your domain name which ususally starts with 'www.' and ends with .com, .net, .co, .biz, .org etc.


Should My Domain Name Match My Business Name?
In most cases....yes! Example: If my business name is Bloomin Flowers then my website domain name might be http://www.bloominflowers.com/ or http://www.bloomin-flowers.com/. This makes it easy for people to find my website just by searching for my business by name. You want your site to be easy to find and easy to get to. Many new businesses search for and secure their domain name before officially naming their business for this reason.

Not every domain name matches the business name, surprising but true.Suppose those domain names for Bloomin Flowers are taken already. So instead I get http://www.bf.com/ which is my initials but rather obscure since it doesn't delinate what my business is. What happens when my customers type in Bloomin Flowers in a search engine. My competitors' sites will show up first and if I haven't actively made my website search engine friendly, my site might not show up or be recognizable.


What if I can't Match my Domain Name to My Business Name?
Your domain name choice may be already bought and could be a lot of time and money to get ownership of it. You have to determine how important the one you want is and how much you may be willing to spend to buy it from the party that already owns it. Check up the "whois" information for the domain, and contact that person listed to see if they're willing to sell it.

On the other hand, if you're just starting out, you might prefer the cheaper alternative of trying to obtain a domain name first, and then naming your website (or business) after the domain that you've acquired. This may seems a bit like putting the cart before the horse, but that's the reality if you don't want to lose out on the Internet.

Sometimes adjusting the domain name slightly will allow you to get a domain name that matches your business without having to pay extra. Here are some factors to consider...
Abreviations versus KeywordsDomain names can be of any length up to 67 characters. Some argue that shorter domain names are easier to remember, easier to type and far less susceptible to mistakes. Plus if you work with your initials alot you can incorporate this into your marketing. Example: www. RCDbyJohn.com for a business called Really Cool Designs by John. It's increasingly difficult to get short meaningful domain names because most have been sold already. If you manage to get a short domain name though, the key is to make sure it's a meaningful combination of characters and not hard to type and remember

Others argue that a longer domain name is usually easier on the human memory - for example, "gaepw.com" is a sequence of unrelated letters that is difficult to remember and type correctly, whereas if we expand it to its long form, "GetAnEconomicallyPricedWebsite.com", we are more likely to remember the domain name. If you have a tagline that you use often, it can be positive to use that as a domain name. Long domain names that have your site keywords in them also have an advantage in that they seach better in the search engines. This is the key to being found on the internet, can the search engines find your company.
Try to avoid extremely long names verging on 67 characters. Aside from the obvious problem that people might not be able to remember such a long name, it would also be a chore typing it and trying to fit it as a title on your web page.

Hyphenated Domain Names

• Cons

1. Hphens are easy to forget when typing a name. Many users are used to typing things like freecomputertools.com but not free-computer-tools.com. They'll probably leave out the hyphens and end up at your competitor's site.

2. When people recommend your site verbally, having hyphens in your domain name leads to more potential errors.


• Pros

1. Search engines can distinguish your keywords better and thus return your site more prominently in search results for those keywords occurring in your domain name.

2. The non-hyphenated form may no longer be available. At least this way, you still get the domain name you want.


Different forms of Domains with plurals: the and my
Very often, if you can't get the domain name you want, the domain name registrar will suggest alternate forms of the name you typed. For example, if you wanted website.com, and it was taken (of course it is), it might suggest forms like:

thewebsite.com

mywebsite.com

websites.com

and the like, if they were not already taken as well. The question is, should you go with one of these options?

If you take the "the..." and "my..." forms of the domain name, you must remember to promote your site with the full form of the name. Otherwise, people are likely to forget to affix the necessary "the" or "my".

On the other hand, do not take the plural form of the domain name (eg, websites.com) if you cannot also get "website.com", since the chance of the visitor failing to type the "s" in the name is very great.

Domain Name Endings or Extensions
What if you cannot get the “.com” domain but the “.net” or “.org” or others are available. Are these others ok for domain addresses? The answer is not as simple as you might think and should fit your business needs based on some of the features covered below.

.com - the most popular and widely recognized domain extension in the world. It usually pops up first in search results and people are more likely to type it over any other ending. May be registered by anyone. Get it if you can!

.net - used frequently when the .com version of your domain name has been taken. Widely used for internet infrastructure as well.

.info - associated with websites that provide information as opposed to sales. This can be useful for businesses who publish articles and is recognized world wide.

.co - this is a new extension that provides people options if their domains are taken in other widely recognized domain extensions. International recognition and easy to remember.

.biz - made specifically for business and ecommerce sites such as online stores.

.org - popular extension for non-profit and non-commercial organizations as well as highlighting a business or companies charitable features.

.mobi - can be easily viewed on a mobile device such as a smart phone or tablet.

.me - usually reserved for blogs, online resumes or portfolios of an individual

There are other domain extensions that relate to specific countries as well as one's that must be a qualified group to obtain (Example: only an official school can get a .edu extension or government agency use .gov etc)

Can I Have More Than One Domain Name?
Absolutely! Multiple domain names can point to the same website. In fact if you are a new business it's best to secure your domain name with multiple extensions to protect it from a competitor. You can create other search word filled domain names to point to your website but it's a good idea to make sure the domain names are relevant to your content so as not to draw negative attention from search engines.

The best idea is to get your domain name first....before you even make your business offcial! If you're already in business, follow the above hints or seek help from a marketing strategist who understands search engine optimization and establishing a professional web presence.

What Makes a Good Coupon? (And What Makes A Bad One!)

Some people spend their who marketing careers creating the definitive "Good Coupon" (ie: a coupon that brings the customer to you and yet doesn't cost you too much in profit) and avoiding a bad coupon (usually a coupon that gets no response). Small business owners can see a dramatic improvement in their profits by offering coupon. To make a good coupon, you need to think like your customers. What would make you clip that coupon and go use it? What kind of coupon calls you to check out that business if you've never used them before? What coupons do you pass on?

Pick A Product/Service to Discount that your Customer is Actually Interested In
A coupon advertises a discount for a limited period of time on a product or service. You may have an low cost/high profit item that you WANT people to purchase however if that's not the item that is currently bringing customers in the door, your coupon (unless a deep discount) is not going to be as effective.

Don't Limit Who Can Use the Coupon
People dislike fine print. There's nothing I despise more than when I take a coupon and try to use it only to learn that my coupon does not apply to me because I am an existing customer. Why would you not want to reward your current customers for shopping with you? If you are discounting a service that only a very limited number of people can use, make sure you are offering a variety of coupons at the same time that together will include everyone.

Create Urgency with An Expiration Date
Expiration dates create an sense of urgency that your customer will need to act quickly to use and benefit from the coupon. Experiment with expiration dates. A date that is too close can be disastrous if your marketing strategy doesn't get the coupon out in time. Plus it doesn't give people enough time to redeem it. A date too far away will be forgotten. Depending on your advertising, what your discount is and the nature of your business, 2 weeks to 1 month can be a good time frame for a coupon expiration date.

Offer a Discount not just a Coupon
Statistics show that people don't respond if a coupon's face value is too small. I recently saw a coupon for a medical office that offered $1.00 off an office visit. Their visit costs, on average, $35.00 so their coupon gave me less than 3% off. That doesn't make me want to respond to that coupon at all. In fact I was almost turned off to the business itself for offering such a sad coupon. This is where you need to put your customer hat back on. If you see 10% off, 15% off or 25% off coupons - which do you respond to? You may cringe at the idea of offering a 25% off coupon but think about successful chains like Macy's which focus millions of dollars on this marketing strategy that people come shop with them more if they believe they'll save with their coupon.

Create a Coupon Strategy and Go For It!
If you want to do a semi annual or annual deep discount coupon then plan it out and market accordingly. If you want people to consistently check your website or store for coupons then offer a variety and consistently market them. Whatever you decide to do - plan it out and execute it. That doesn't mean you can't modify your plan as you find coupons that work or fail. It means you are taking an active role in this side of your marketing strategy.

Tips on How to Write a Good Business Article

Today, the internet is overflowing with content and there is a growing demand for articles on just about any topic ranging from cosmetics to construction material. However, not everyone can write a good flowing article and people often hire out freelance writers to write articles for them. This is probably why Article Writing in itself has become a fast growing profession that more and more people are taking to for earning a real income. As small business owners, we don't have the luxury of hiring professionals to write articles for us and since we publish your articles on This Is My Town USA.com for FREE and link them to your Virtual Storefront - article writing is a great free form of advertising and marketing.
Here are 5 tips on how to write a good article:

1. Attention Grabbing Headline.

It doesn’t matter how well written your article is unless you have an eye-catching topic name. Most of the time, when people are looking for information on the Internet, they tend to click on the catchy or ‘inviting’ headlines instead of the boring and the mundane topic names.

2. Simplify your Words.

It is also important to remember that people who surf the intern et come from various backgrounds and are usually looking for some information or the other. So in order to reach out to a wider base of readers, you must try to use simple words that are easy for everyone to read and understand rather than use big words that would confuse readers. Also, when catering to a wider audience, it’s important to stay away from technical terms. For example, “PLR articles” maybe a common term for an Internet Marketer, but it is something that an accountant will know nothing about.

3. Use Short Sentences and Paragraphs.

When surfing the web, the attention span of most people is reduced to 9 seconds, equivalent to that of a goldfish! In other words, people tend to be a lot more impatient when reading from a screen as compared to reading from a book. This is why it’s important to keep your sentences and paragraphs short, simple and to-the-point. Another way to keep your readers attention would be to use a lot of bulleted points.

4. Make your Article Conversational.

The best way to make your article likable is to break the ice with your readers by using conversational language. To put it simply, try to use the sort of language you are likely to use on an everyday basis. This should make your article feel more personable and your readers will take personal interest in your article because they feel you’re talking directly to them.

5. Infuse your personality into the Article.

When writing an article, try to inject some of your personality into it as well. For instance, you could mention if you had any personal experience related to the article or if you particularly like something related to your content. You may even slip in a light joke or two to entertain the reader as long as it is funny and goes in sync with your article. Whatever you do, the basic idea is to let the reader know that there is an actual human person who has written the article. Doing so will eventually lead to forge a relationship with your prospects.

To conclude, there are always different approaches to different cases and though you may be able to use all the above mentioned tips in some cases, you can only use one or two of the techniques in most cases. And I am sure you will learn more about how to write a good article as you go along.

Business Resolutions: Taking Your Business into 2011

This time every year, people draw up lists of New Year's resolutions: lose weight, exercise, quit smoking, etcetera. New Year offers us a sort of "restart" opportunity to throw off the chains of doubt and walk towards our “dreams.” This January 1st, 2011 will be no different but if you’re in business for yourself you might want to take the time to commit to some Business Resolutions.

Here are 5 possible ideas:
1. Listen more. This is my No. 1 business — and personal — New Year's resolution because listening is a critical skill for both business and personal success. Listening — really listening and not just thinking about what you're going to say next — enables you to understand others, empathize, and build relationships. That's critical whether you're interacting with customers, employees, suppliers, or your family members and friends. Don't be quick to start talking about yourself, your business & products. Instead, ask questions, find out about what the client needs, why they need it, what motivates them.

2. Embrace change. Frankly, in today’s economy you have to be willing to step away from what has always worked in the past to see what will work in 2011. Technology is also changing rapidly (including the social media phenomenon) and if you think you can sustain and grow your business without paying attention to this arena, you will be fighting an uphill battle.

3. Be brave. There's no question that 2011 is going to be a challenging year. It's going to take courage to get through this. This part goes along with embracing change. This is life and I for one am not going sit in the corner and cry. I’m going to be smart, think outside the box and make my dollars work for me. My family and I chose the middle of 2010 to start a new business which to anyone else looks like suicide. We’re doing more than surviving, because we’ve listened to the needs, changed with the times and cut out frivolous costs. Your business should be adaptable so let go of the fear!

4. Grow. Yes, even now you should be making plans to do more than just keep your head above water. Many companies come out of recessions much stronger than when they went in. That's because many competitors are weakened or go out of business altogether. And disruption creates opportunities. Take advantage of them.

5. Cut Costs. Being brave, embracing change and growth doesn’t mean you don’t need to watch how you spend your money. Be smart with where you need to invest your returns and where you can trim excess fat. Negotiate hard with suppliers, cut down on every unnecessary expense, find innovative (inexpensive) ways to keep marketing. (By the way, cutting Marketing altogether is not a smart cost to cut.)

Now I know the problem many have is that by Valentine’s Day most people have given up on their New Year’s resolutions. This sadly is a fact of life but I emplore you to consider this...

“In times of change, learners will inherit the earth while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."
~ Eric Hoffer, American writer and philosopher, (1902-1983)

Be a “Learner” who lives in today, prepares for tomorrow and learns from the past! Happy New Year!

Holiday Slowdown Business Marketing Strategies

As the year enters the final few months, those of us in small business experience the Holiday Slow-Down. This doesn't mean you should just sit back and watch your bottom line shrink. It's time to actively blend your marketing strategy to this "Most Wonderful Time of the Year."

Strategy #1: Target your sales copy to what's on people's minds

Most people are thinking about giving and wondering...

• What would make a great gift for my some or daughter?



• What would make a great gift for my spouse?



• What would make a great gift for my father or mother in-law?



• What should I put on my own holiday wish list?



• What gift should I give myself this year? (Yes a lot of people while out buying gifts for others, buy gifts from themselves too.)



• What can I afford to spend?

You get the idea. Don't assume people know what they want to buy. So whether you sell to businesses or directly to consumers, help them out with your sales copy by targeting the questions that are on their minds this time of year. Give them the answer - your product, your service!


Strategy #2: Use the end of the year to up-sell & cross sell clients.


December 31st marks the end of 2010 and while it's just a day on the calendar, it has a strong emotional effect on your clients and customers. People see it as a clear ending and January 1st as a new beginning.


At the end of December people tent to reflect on their past performance and aspirations of the coming year. This is the perfect time to tap into their psyche and get clients to review their needs, what worked and what didn't and offer them a chance to sneak in a last deal before 2011 arrives.


Strategy #3: Strengthen your relationships with prospects & clients


Your primary small business competitive advantage is the number and strength of your relationships with your customer base. Use this time to show your appreciation to them. How?

• Tell them. Thank them for their business and loyalty. Cards are simple and can go a long way with reminding customers you appreciate them.



• Send your most valued vendors or clients a gift. The key is to give something your client would appreciate. It's hard to lose with food or unique items. Surveys show that people are happier with less expensive gifts that were specific to them.

Strategy #4: Offer special deals for a limited time only


The end of the year is fast approaching and everyone likes a deal. The problem is we all tend to procrastinate. What's the solution?


You have the products and services people want. Now all you need to do is motivate them to buy. Combine special offers with a limited time availability. If you have a website you can put a countdown timer on your offer to increase the sense of urgency.


Yes things tend to slow down during the end of the year and holidays but that only offers you an opportunity to work ON your business rather than only IN your business. There's still time - go for it!

Don't make Assumptions about Your Customer

Never Assume Any of the Following...

1. That the customer can't afford it.
2. That the customer won't buy it.
3. That the customer doesn't understand your product.
4. That the customer won't buy more than one.
5. That the customer won't price your competitors
6. That the customer won't like you.

On the other hand, don't assume that the opposite of these is true either.
Have confidence in your product or service and believe in the need it fills. Always ask questions and LISTEN to the customer's answers. Sell to what they need, not your own expectations of what they need.

How to Make Friends and Turn Them Into Customers

Remember when you were five years old and your mother told you, "Don't talk to strangers?" Well Momma didn't know you were going to grow up to be a business owner and would need to master the art of talking to strangers to grow your business! People love their comfort zone. And in fact we will go a long way to avoid discomfort. The idea of making a presentation in public is the number one fear in the U.S. And it's not just making a speech that is causing panic. For many people, anxiety strikes when we present our ideas in front of other people. "Anytime people make verbal remarks that need to be clear and persuasive, we find widespread reports of stage fright and nervousness," says Paul Witt, PhD, professor of communication studies at a Texas University. But you're a business owner and you need to meet new people to make new customers. How do you do it?

Group Training-Wheels
Whether in a movie or real life we've all seen the stereotypical scene of a bunch of construction workers whistling at female passersby. Do you think if there was only one guy, he would behave the same way? Maybe, but most men would not. Why? They don't have the protection of the group. People can "hide in plain sight" in a group. Mobs collectively do things individuals would never think of doing alone.

The Dale Carnegie Public Speaking Course has an interesting exercise that plays on this natural reality. They don't force you to stand up in front of everyone and speak on the first day. Instead they make half the class get up to the front and just recite their names. After everyone is done, the entire group sits down. This is easier for people at the beginning because they are sharing the scary experience with others. Each week as the class goes on, your group gets smaller and smaller until eventually you have developed the confidence to speak in front of the group by yourself. Then the class is asked to list all of the things you did RIGHT - not what you did wrong. The more you speak, coupled with positive reinforcement, the more confident you become and the easier it gets.

Find Your Group
You can adapt the same teaching technique to your small business. The first step is picking a support group to help you over the rough spots. Let's say you are new in town - how do you meet people? Well most likely you met a realtor when you moved. Maybe you will be attending a church locally. When it comes to business, start by thinking community or hobbies. Follow the "50 butt" rule. If there are more than 50 butts in the room - yours should be in there with them! Even if you just sit, you will eventually be noticed and approached by someone who is interested in you're views on things. Good groups to check out...Kiwanis, United Way, Salvation Army, Municipal Advisory Councils, Town Meetings, Lions Club, Local Chamber of Comerce, School Board, School Booster Clubs, Garden Clubs, Dog Clubs, Cooking Groups, etc. Wherever you go, people will eventually want to get to know you...let them!

Relationship Building
Build on these relationships. Build on the strength of the group. What do they do in their spare time? What groups do they belong to? Find the friendliest person in the room and build on them. Drop hints that you would like to get involved in the community or the church but aren't sure how to do it. A friend of mine moved to a small town in Idaho. He didn't know anyone so he joined the local Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis club. Right away he volunteered to help with Business Support Committee for the chamber. Between these two groups he began to build his business. Withing three years he was serving on the Board of Directors for both the Chamber and the United way and is currently a past president of the Kiwanis. He also teaches adult education classes and writes business articles for the local newspaper. He attributes most of his business and current customers to connections he made helping out with these groups.

How to Turn Friends Into Customers
The great thing - or maybe the worst thing - about small towns is you can become well known very quickly. It's very important that your first impression be a positive one. Become an asset to any group you become affiliated with. Don't take over, but take on responsibility and make sure you follow up on everything asked of you.

We all want to support our friends. As people become more comfortable with you, you can begin to develop a business relationship with them. One place to start - Everyone within walking distance of your home or apartment should have your business card. In fact, give them two cards - one to keep and the other to pass along to a friend. These people are you neighbors. We want to support our neighbors. We have a common existance with them. Similar challenges and successes. Job, mortgage, kids, bills etc. Let them know what you're doing and even more importantly, ask what they do and become a customer of theirs.

Don't erase all of your hard work by selling a bogus product or service. Your friends, more than anyone, expect and deserve honesty and quality for their hard earned money. Your product and service quality should reinforce the relationship. If something is not right, make it right...immediately! Your friends are going to know people you don't know. I certainly make an effort to recommend my friends and I hope they will do the same.

Practice...Say Goodbye to Your Comfort Zone
The major challenge to making new friends is fear so you have to leave that comfort zone. Meet people halfway with a smile and a hello to get the ball rolling. I was in a discount store a short time ago and there was a couple behind me with two shopping carts full of towels. I made the comment, "You must be really clean people." They and several other people in line laughed. The ice was broken. We started a conversation and I discovered that they were opening a chiropractic clinic nearby. We exchanged business cards. I met two new people...potential customers.

Notice that the title of this blog was not "How to turn your customers into friends." The "friend" part should be your first objective. This keeps conversation and interest genuine rather than every conversation becoming a sales pitch for yourself. Show interest in others and they'll ask the questions in return. No matter how electronic our society gets, the skills of communication are priceless to a business owner.