Doo-Doo.com

I can see you smirking on the other side of this screen based on the name of this article. You probably have the same look on your face that I very often see when I use that term with prospective clientèle.

So, you may be asking – what is this about? Albeit humorous sounding, this term is one that when I use it, for the most part, is to make a very serious point. Doo-Doo.com is my catch phrase for those ideas that have no sound basis for success, whose owners feel that by just getting their own dot com and throwing up a Web site – selling… er…. well….. anything, and then just sitting back and waiting for the orders or e-mail to roll in, they will soon be on the path to IPO-dom.

All at little or no cost to boot! And, more times than not, those with the Doo-Doo.com mentality are those not willing to do the due diligence and hard work necessary to make their idea one that has a chance for success. This terminology is used in lieu of the more graphic words not generally used in a professional setting. <nudge-nudge>

With this article, I will guide those new to the online business, what some of the core basics are that you need to consider to prevent your site from becoming just another Doo-Doo.com. By reading this article and taking note of some of the points made, you will have a more realistic view of what is involved in not just having a Web site, but creating a successful effective Web site.

You think you have a great idea for a Web site? A product/service that people will want to buy? Well, let’s put up a Web site and get rich! Unfortunately, it just is not that easy. Not to say, you won’t find some unscrupulous or inexperienced “Web designer” who will lead you to believe that this process is easy, no instructions necessary, just pay your bill and the minions will come and buy whatever doo-doo you have on your Web site. This will not happen.

Understand the Web business is very competitive – mostly because our market – you – have no idea what we are talking about! This lends to those out for a quick buck, not concerned about their customers success ratio, catering to those who prefer to hear what they want to hear rather than what they need to know to be successful.

Just as with your Web site – this is marketing! Fast! Cheap! Easy! Do-it-yourself! Those terms sell. Clearly evidenced by the “get rich quick” mentality you can find all over the Internet. Terms like “hard work”, “you will have a lot to learn”, “hours of effort”, “ongoing commitment” – well, those terms just don’t sell as effectively – to some.

If I do not get hired because I make the process sound too hard, or have high expectations in regard to my client’s work ethic and level of commitment to their project, as far as I am concerned, this gives me more time to concentrate on those clients who do. See, I assume they hire me to make them succeed – not cater to what they are not willing to do in the guise of the “customer is always right” mentality even when I know they are dead wrong.

Here are some questions you need to ask to determine if your idea is one worth pursuing:

• What will my online expenses be for my Web server, ISP connection, E-Commerce application, Web site development and maintenance?
• Why will people buy this product/service from me rather than any number of Web sites online?
• Is my product/service needed/desired?
• Can I offer the product or service at a competitive price and what is that?
• Will my suppliers support my requests and potential growth/demand for the product?
• Is the quality of my product/service in line with the price I am asking?
• How much will it cost to have enough inventory to support orders while additional product is in transit?
• What are the issues to consider and the best rates/providers for a Merchant Account so that I can accept credit cards securely on my site?
• What are my policies and return procedures in regard to online ordering?
• What options will I have for shipping and what will I charge respectively?

What happens when business owners do not do their due diligence or realize after the fact that this is a business just as in the off-line world with the same responsibilities? What if they do not get all the above questions answered and a firm understanding of what will be involved before they jump online?

They end up not being successful nor do they come close to their unrealistic goals. Here are some of the reasons I have been given when clients are disappointed with their success. Believe it or not these are actual statements:

1. “We found someone who says we don’t have to do all the stuff you tell us we need to do to be successful and they have links and things.”
2. “We had no idea there was so much work and learning involved and just do not have the time right now. There must be an easier way.”
3. “I don’t have the time to learn all this stuff and I really do not want to pay you to do it for me.”
4. “I know I haven’t made any changes or added information as you suggested to my site in over a year. And, no I have not checked my stats or search engine positions. But I should still be able to generate some revenue anyway. This just is not a profitable venture.”
5. “It just didn’t take off like I expected and I’m not inclined to spend the necessary time or expense you advised is necessary.”

This does not include those (more that I can count) who in their initial consultation, their eyes glaze over as if in a trance when they starting hearing things like:

• Checking e-mail every day…. “Every daaaaaaaay?”
• Marketing your site an hour per day…. “With all the money I am paying you, don’t you do that for me?”
• Investing in adding additional information and functionality for their site…. “We have to pay you more after the site is launched? Can’t we leave it as it is for at least a year?”
• Investing in Search Engine listings, PPCs, and optimization/monitoring services…. “Why do we have to pay to do that? Aren’t they free? Aren’t we just listed forever they way we want?”
• We need to get you off AOL for your business communications so you can utilize your dot com as your e-mail identity…. “No, I won’t do that – my whole family is on AOL!”
• You will need to practice proper E-mail Etiquette to ensure you are perceived as credible, educated site owners. This includes not typing in all caps, using proper punctuation and sentence structure, checking for errors as well as editing of your e-mail replies…. “I know a bunch of people that type in all caps – what’s the big deal?!”
• I can make suggestions in regard to getting a Merchant Account so that you can accept credit cards for your products/services online…. “Can’t we just use yours?”
• Have you determined what type of software you will use for accounting purposes?…. “What accounting purposes? Don’t we just ship the orders?”
• Tell me what you have done, research-wise to come to the conclusion this would be a profitable venture?…. “No research, I just think it is a good idea – don’t you?”
• I would love to hear about your product…. “I was hoping you could help me with that. Can you suggest a business idea or something for me to sell?”
• I did a search for your product and found over 1 billion other pages cover this topic. How do you plan on standing out from the rest? “We just add meta keywords, right?”

So as you can see, there is so much more to this than slapping up even a quality Web site –this is business! After this initial meeting some go off into the sunset to later appear with a site they created themselves or by one of the individuals I mentioned earlier – yep, Doo-Doo.com. Others, those who I am proud to have as clients, realize and admit they need to hire someone who will tell them what they need to know – even if it is intimidating and their hard work is required.

Smart business people do not want watered-down sugarcoated solutions. They know that any credible, successful business venture – of any kind – requires unwavering commitment from all involved. An idea, even the greatest idea, combined with a great site cannot be successful unless many of the issues above are addressed seriously.

This includes having a product/service people want, at the right price, with a credible Web site whose owner is committed to learning what is necessary to its success. Just as in the off-line world. To just “think” it is a good idea, and not make the correct efforts in the appropriate areas just is not enough. You will then have Doo-Doo.com.

What’s the bottom line? Make a commitment to work hard, to learn, learn, learn. Don’t try to fool yourself that those that make having a Web site sound easy, those who say your Doo-Doo.com is a great idea, those who offer no training whatsoever and make it sound like the path of least resistance is the path to follow. Run away from those who may getting found sound as simple as snapping your fingers–it is proportionately the opposite!

Anyone who is truly successful on the Web (or off-line for that matter) will tell you it is not easy. They will tell you that you need to have a great-idea.com and then be prepared to feed that project what it needs from both your time and resource investments to ensure its ongoing success. They will tell you that if your personality is not conducive to change, if you are not flexible, if you don’t have the desire to acquire knowledge and feel as though you are in school every day of your life for the unforeseeable future – DON’T GET A WEB SITE!

Having a Web site is not any different than having a real business off-line in a physical location. You need to know the basics of running a business from accounting, to tax and legal issues. You need to be able to plan how your marketing program will adjust to this evolving technology both on and off-line based on data and trends; how you will adjust as well.

So, the choice is yours – do you want to have a Doo-Doo.com or your very own great idea dot com that you worked hard at, built to be successful and are proud of? The choice is yours to make – not the developer or promotion touting Fast!, Cheap!, Easy!.

I challenge you to choose to work with a consultant that will insist you work as hard as they do for you, that you continue to learn, that you keep up with the technology. I challenge you to choose the online partners that makes it clear you will have to continually invest in your project; that this is a long-term commitment. Because if you don’t, know you will be just another one of the many Doo-Doo.coms . . .

What Are Average Web Site Costs?

What are average Web Site costs? This is a questions I get asked, and I know based on looking at search data, that many of you out there are asking as well. All in a quest to find out what is that magic number amount (in most cases seeking the least amount) necessary to get a Web site up and running.

Let’s answer a question with a question. What is an “average Web Site” anyway? I don’t think you would find a single business owner that would be satisfied with an “average” Web site. In my experience most want extraordinary.

Average: n
1. An intermediate level or degree.
2. The usual or ordinary kind or quality.

In order to succeed online, you need more than “intermediate” or “usual or ordinary.”

The fact is run-of-the-mill sites, generic sites, me-too sites, templated sites are simply not impressive or effective. To thrive online you have to stand out, you have to be unique, you have to look credible and “average” will not accomplish that for you.

So where are we at with “average Web site costs”?

You could visit 100 different developers and get 100 different price quotes based on your description. You have to realize that the price will vary based on the business experience and skill set of the developer, what their services include and what type of site you would like them to create for you. And, don ‘t be too surprised at how what you feel is a simple description, may not be so simple to implement.

One should not assume simplicity if they have no server, coding, or online marketing experience. Instead you would be better off to assume everything is more complicated than your exposure and personal experience would lead you to believe.

Since each and every site owner I’ve worked with over the past 15+ years has different desires and expectations, you can very quickly see how there can be no such thing as an “average Web site cost.”

What Determines Web Site Costs?

For example:

• How large and complex is your proposed site? This can make a huge difference in time/cost to integrate your data after the site is developed.
• How many interactive contact forms/polls and features would you like to have? The complexity of each will also contribute to the site’s development cost.
• Do you want any special functionality or scripts that need to be integrated? If we can use an “out of the box” plugin or application (like WordPress as a CMS) or existing scripts, the costs can be reduced.
• Is the functionality you desire something that has to be customized to your requirements? Reinventing the wheel or customization of established applications takes time, skills and additional cost.
• How many images or photos do you want the developer to create and integrate for your site? Quality graphic creation for the Web is a skill set in-of-itself in order to have visually appealing photos and graphics on your site. The number of quality graphics/photos you want integrated or created will also contribute to the cost of your new site.
• How much support and training will you require to run your new online operation? While I include coaching as part of my site packages, once your site is launched plan on needing even more direction and guidance to keep up and remain competitive.

Look at building a Web site just like you would do when building a house. Number of bedrooms and baths, attached garage, Jacuzzi, hardwood floors or vinyl or whether you have central air or not can and will effect the final price tag of your home. The very same methodology applies to determining the cost for Web sites.

Based on my 15 years of online experience, when potential customers are looking for the “average” cost, they are more times than not looking for the least expensive cost. And that can be a fatal mistake that dooms their project even before it starts!

Now that your Web Site will be your company’s face to the world, price shopping based on average Web Site costs alone, can many times have the customer choosing a less experienced and skilled developer. Which can result negatively on their online presentation and reputation — and more importantly branding.

You should not let your lack of knowledge or intimidation with technology prevent you from learning enough to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff. If you don’t make the effort to investigate your potential online partners, you may find you will not get what you assumed you were paying for. Nor will you experience the necessary ROI to grow your program.

Just as in any service business, those who are good at what they do, do not compete on price. They don’t have to because referrals keep their schedule filled with new customers who see the value in what their skills and experience can bring to their program. The same goes for technology consulting.

To gravitate to an individual or company solely based on them being the least expensive is surely not a wise business decision when you need to trust and rely on that consultant for your business image, branding and ROI.

In a day where almost everyone is (or has a friend who is) a “Web designer”, the onus is on the customer to determine who in fact has the professionalism, skills, experience and expertise and more importantly the ethics and integrity to help them reach their goals — for the long haul.

Customers also need to understand that those very same traits come with a price tag. To think you would get an experienced professional presentation at the cost a high school student or what a beginner who dabbles in Web design software may charge is basically naive.

That said, when you choose the right partner, for all the right reasons, you should have no problem recouping your investment by experiencing a strong ROI based on their ability to guide you appropriately. When looking for a developer, you should also be seeking a long term partnership. Not a company you can hire today who can go out of business tomorrow, but a true partner that will be there to help your program grow to its full potential as technology evolves.

Your “average Web Site cost” should also include marketing assistance and expertise. When it comes to creating Web Sites, you literally have to think about the marketing aspect before you type a single bit or byte of code. If your developer doesn’t have this marketing expertise or the ability to assist you with your marketing strategy once your site is launched, you are starting out with a major disadvantage.

So, I guess that old adage does apply to average Web site costs. You really do get what you pay for.

Need an Article Resource?

I get asked all the time about ways to put articles on your site without having to write them. With that I first advise my clients to write their own articles. Doing so will then reflect their personality and expertise, thereby soft-selling their skills and giving folks a reason to want to do business with them over their perceived competitors.

That said, there are always those who would rather buy than produce and when it comes to buying articles one has to be very leery about the source. There are tons of sheisters out there (just as with most things online) who are trying to tap into those who want short cuts.

Many of these services are selling articles that are either very poor quality (which will reflect on you), or they have no right to sell the articles because they do not have the author’s permission and have just copied them from other sites and modified them slightly.

By not seriously investigating who you get your content from, you risk copyright infringement complaints if the original author finds out. And, believe me — they can find out. Being an author myself, I have Google alerts setup to notify me if my writings show up online without my knowledge.

Your best bet is to make the time and to write your own material based on what you know your customers want and what you know about best. That way you can’t go wrong and it is time well spent!

If you want a credible and reliable resource for articles, check out EzineArticles.com. They do a great job of making sure legitimate and quality articles are provided for you to use (as long as you give credit to the authors per their instructions.) You can also learn a great deal about article writing dos and don’ts as well as how to get yourself motivated to write your own articles at the EzineArticles Blog. Check it out and get writing!

Top 5 Premium WordPress Themes

Anyone who talks to me hears in my voice my excitement over the potential that WordPress has brought back to the Web for small businesses and Netrepreneurs.

15 years ago when I started this adventure it was a level playing field. Then the “big guys” got online and priced out the average Joes and Janes when it came to getting found and paying for advertising. Add to that the bar had been raised as far as design and functionality. Quality sites became increasingly expensive to have developed, implemented and maintained which for small biz folks like you and I, meant it became even more prohibitive to compete.

Then, Blogging and WordPress started picking up steam. 4 years ago I thought to myself “Self, why can’t you use WordPress as a content management system?” I answered, you can!

My site had grown beyond efficient manageability and was a PIA to to update and intuitively organize. WordPress solved that for me. But what was more exciting was the fact I could finally offer my clients a positive answer to their most asked question:

“Can I make changes and do site modifications myself?”

To which I can now answer with a resounding, and confident, yes! The next step is then determining the look and feel of the new site — which is always subjective because that is all in the minds eye and clients have to like how the site looks. That’s where premium WordPress themes are so very important. They cover all these bases — and then some.

Several years ago there were two guys who were leaders in this new direction — they were ahead of the curve and then became the curve. They saw this wave coming and started creating feature rich, visually appealing and solidly coded WordPress premium themes. Brian Gardner of Studio Press and Corey Miller of iThemes were definitely leaders in this regard and whose themes I recommend and have used most. Much credit goes to these two gentlemen who create a superior — premium — product and back up their work with friendly, experienced and approachable support.

You may be thinking, but what about all those free themes out there? Well, folks, you’ve heard it before — with free you get what you pay for. Not to say that there are not quality themes available at no cost, but based on my experience, you have to deal with issues that simply do not exist when you use a premium WordPress theme.

For example; footer links. I don’t mind giving credit where credit is due but many free themes have encrypted links (meaning you remove the code and the theme breaks) to the author’s various affiliate programs as well. Sites you may not agree with or want to have a link to at the bottom of every page of your site.

Then you have the issue of quality — just because it’s free does not indicate the developer is skilled and experienced enough in WordPress and PHP to create solid bug-free code. And last but not least, who is going to upgrade that theme to keep up with WordPress and web trends — for free? These considerations are enough for you to not want to waste your valuable time and money having to deal with.

Instead, choose your site’s theme from the 5 sites below and you’ll not only look spiffy and be able to truly take advantage of everything Web 2.0, but you’ll have the confidence in knowing you are using a quality product backed with the type of support rarely found online.

Top 5 Premium WordPress Themes

1. Studio Press
2. iThemes
3. Theme Forest
4. WordPress Remix
5. Woo Themes

Recommended Web Hosting Providers

When choosing a Web hosting provider you need to make sure you are working with a company that has the support, up time and resources necessary to your online endeavors.

There are thousands to choose from — but Web Hosts are not created equal! Don’t even think about free hosting — you’ll get what you pay for!

The hosting companies below are those you can trust and rely on. I have my own sites hosted with these companies or I have clients sites on these platforms that allow me to have confidence in recommending them to you. Between this handful of companies, I am sure one will have the product and service offerings you desire.

	The IStudio DIY Web Site Center: From Web Site Hosting, Domain Management, E-mail and Storage Services, Search Engines to SSL — this is your one-stop-shop for everything Web site — all in one account!
	HostGator: Host Gator provides Shared and Dedicated Web hosting solutions. Services are designed for both beginners and professionals.
	GoDaddy: Hosting, Domains and more! GoDaddy’s philosophy has been to create low-priced, feature-rich products combined with the highest levels of customer service.

Is Your Site Like a Cheap Suit?

The saying “on it like a cheap suit” refers to the fact the cheap suits are all over the place from fabric to lack of quality.

I see “cheap suit” Web sites all the time. Sites whose owners think they look all dressed up and believe they are actually giving the impression of being a formal business. When in contrast these sites are clearly reflecting the site’s overall lack of believability and trustworthiness.

Now more than ever, looking like a cheap suit is much easier than it used to be. The bar has been raised from visuals to functionality with Web 2.0 and static HTML brochureware sites just don’t cut it any longer if you are truly serious about competing.

When you are out to impress — you simply don’t take the cheap suit approach. For example:

• Would you wear a cheap suit to that dream job interview? Probably not, the next applicant who spent the bucks to look spiffy will make you barely a memory.
• Would you wear a cheap suit to your wedding? Most likely not. If you did that it would be telling as to what the future would be like being married to you if you didn’t see the importance of wearing a nice suit for your own nuptials.
• Would you wear a cheap suit to court? Say you had to go to court for custody, traffic issues, DUI, whatever. Do you think a cheap suit would help persuade the judge that you take the issue as seriously as you should. Don’t think so.

Then why would you assume that a “cheap suit” Web site will produce? Cheap suits do not lend to the perception of one being a legitimate and credible business. Would you make your own suit to wear out on the town? No — you are not a tailor. Then, it would go without saying that you shouldn’t design your own Web site without the proper training, skills and experience.

Impressions are everything when you are trying to convince someone to spend money with you over the possibly hundreds or thousands of other similar businesses online. Wear a cheap suit and don’t be surprised if customers seek out those competitors who realize the importance of presenting a polished and professional image. That alone gives them the warm fuzzy they need to then consider trusting you with their hard earned dollars.

The good news is you can always learn the skills necessary to do some things yourself; especially with WordPress now being used as a Content Management System. The question then becomes if your business will survive until you make that important shift to upgrade to the Web 2.0 playground and WordPress to bring our site into the now form the what used to be good enough.

Probably not… If I were you, I’d get all over that like a cheap suit!

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