But then things changed. Styles changed and became more complex. As more people got faster connections larger graphics were added. More graphics were added. And I discovered there were people who could create websites faster, better and cheaper than I could.

So my business model changed. I no longer created websites – I began helping people figure out what to put on those sites. And once we had those decisions made, it was easy for them to tell their webmaster what they wanted.

One of the over-riding concerns that my clients have expressed for years is “I want to do it myself.” Now while I can generally convince them that they do not want to create the initial site themselves, I totally agree that you need to be able to make changes and updates yourself.

Again for years I advised them to find a great webmaster who was responsive to their needs – or to learn enough to use a web design program so they could make the changes. But that advice has also changed.

Now I tell them they do not want a traditional website – they want a blog. Here are 3 reasons you want to use a blog instead of a website.

• Search engines love blogs. As soon as you post new content on your blog, the search engines come running over to see what you’ve posted. It’s automatic when you have a blog. No more “Search Engine Optimization” required once it’s set up properly.
• You don’t have to learn HTML. It’s not a complicated language, but it’s one more thing to learn and do. If you can save the 10-20 hours it takes to become semi-proficient, it’s worth it.
• You can update your site yourself. With a short learning curve, Wordpress is a flexible free tool that is easy to use. And with the variety of themes (templates) that are now available, you can have your blog looks like any other type of site you want.

So the next time you think “I need a website” be sure you’re asking for what you really want – a customized Wordpress blog.

Related Resources:

First Blog Site shows you how to get your first blog online within minutes. It includes a 90-minute video overview of the full process, an option to Get It Done for you by my personal webmaster, and the step-by-step videos you can use yourself or have your assistant watch.

I offer a Brain Drain Special if you want to talk to someone personally about your ideas and website. I’ll refer you to my personal webmaster to Get It Done for you.

Talk To Your Webmaster outlines the process I use for working with my webmaster. It also includes tips on finding a webmaster and how to communicate with them more profitable – for both of you!

• Career transitions – how to move from here to there in your life
• Online Success – and what it means to you
• The biggest mistakes people make online
• The differences between the “haves” and “have-nots” online
• How women market differently
• And a break-through idea on vertical versus horizontal marketing

Listen to the program online.

I had forgotten how much I love to speak – I had spoken regularly at conferences for over 20 years, until about 18 months ago when health issues slowed me down. But I had so much fun doing this again that I’m looking for more speaking engagements!

As an audience member I was impressed – with the speakers of course – but also with the audience. This was one sharp group of people!

Here’s why I say this. Armand Morin, who hosted the event for AM2 members and their guests, set up a couple of networking events. And he set them up in a way that we were able to meet literally every person who attended the event. No one was left out. So I had a chance to really understand the unique gift each person brought.

And here’s just one result. I had lunch yesterday with a couple of the women from Austin who attended. They were able to take several of the lessons that Armand taught over the weekend – and immediately apply them to their business! Not only did they get the information they needed, but they also got the motivation.

Did I mention it was a great conference?

Now here’s the thing. Armand is hosting Another Conference in Dallas – April 24, 25, and 26. And this time, it is 3 days of Aramnd only! If you’ve ever had the chance to watch one of his videos or see him in person, you will understand why I’m so enthusiastic about this – Armand rocks on stage! You will learn more – and be inspired to do more – than at any other conference you’ve attended.

Here’s how you can attend this $2997 event – for a fraction of the price. Just click on this link and sign up for the program. As a member, you get to attend this event at no additional charge!

And when you sign up, drop me a note and let me know. I want to get a group of us together for dinner on Thursday night before the conference starts – it’s a perfect way to get to know one another better before we meet everyone else at the event.

So do this now so you can make your travel arrangements.

I’m looking forward to dining with YOU in Dallas!

Jeanette

P.S. Remember, in addition to the conference, you also receive weekly training sessions, instructional videos, and a great course on adwords advertising and PLR. Take advantage of this opportunity and get the conference as a bonus -

P.P.S. If you prefer not signing up for a member program that can change your life, here’s the alternate link – for a special price JUST to attend the conference.

It is also easy for us to assume that a new product or technology can do more than it really can. Following are some factors in considering what internet marketing is not.

First to consider is that internet marketing is not a replacement for the traditional means of shopping and/or selling. Assume for a moment that you are looking to buy a diamond ring for someone special. You go online, browse through picture after picture, find some really beautiful and eligible pieces, and that’s where you stop. You can’t feel that ring, nor can you take a close look at the diamond. You have only a limited scope of what the merchandise will be like when you physically possess it. Are you going to pay potentially thousands of dollars for that ring, or will you go to a local jeweler instead, where you can get a much better idea of what you’re buying? This is a key limitation to internet marketing for many products.

Internet marketing is also not a fail-proof system. Nearly everyone who conducts any form of business or shopping online has experienced the temporary unavailability of a website. The site goes down, and you can’t get your business done when you had planned. Furthermore, you may not even get an indication as to when the site will be operational again. It can be a frustrating fact of e-commerce.

Another fact of internet marketing that many fail to consider is that it is not a “get rich quick” scheme. True, many entrepreneurs have entered this lucrative market and become millionaires. However, when you compare the number who have had such wild success, with all the businesses who have failed or never really taken off online, you will find that the ‘overnight’ millionaires are not the standard of what internet marketing is. Most of the business realities of the brick and mortar world still apply to the virtual world. Success in internet marketing requires a lot of hard work, just as any other type of business venture requires. Internet marketing, finally, is not today what it will be tomorrow. As fast as one model of computer replaces another, so do the options provided in the world of internet marketing. Just fifteen years ago you could go online and find little more than text-based product descriptions. Now look at what you can find on the internet. Entire stores exist online, and their number is growing. Furthermore, laws on everything from personal security to taxation are changing and promise to make a different landscape of internet marketing than the one we see today.

Internet marketing is the business of both advertising and selling goods and services over the internet. This form of business is ever-increasing in popularity, with millions of people now making purchases on the internet. Internet marketing began in the early 1990s as primarily a means of product description, consisting merely of text descriptions.

As technology progressed, internet marketing rapidly advanced to include pictures and other rich graphics as part of advertisements for products and services. After realizing the remarkable potential of this means of marketing, internet-based companies started opening their virtual doors for business. As opposed to what are now known as “brick and mortar” operations, these e-businesses offer their products and services to a growing number of consumers, conducting all, or nearly all, of their business in the virtual world of the internet.

There are many forms of marketing on the internet. Among them are article marketing, blog marketing, e-mail marketing, search engine marketing (to include search engine optimization), banner ads, pay-per-click ads, and pop-up ads. It is important to note that each of these forms catches the attention of the target market in different ways, and some may be more effective than others depending on the product or service, the target market, and the strategy and goal of the business marketing itself. Among the business functions that may require use of different means in their strategies are customer service, sales, public relations, information management, and others.

Internet marketing has also become an integral component of many “brick and mortar” operations, but online-only businesses have offered some challenge in the arena of retail sales, an example of business-to-consumer (B2C) marketing, business-to-business (B2B) marketing, and peer-to-peer (P2P) marketing. However, other online-only businesses have specialized into newer approaches, such as online auctions, sites that allow you to find the best price on what you’re shopping for, and also sites that allow you to name your own price. Further, affiliate marketers have emerged, offering marketing solutions to virtually all types of business. These firms typically receive what is called pay for performance. Even home-based businesses now flourish thanks to internet marketing.

There are many benefits to the concept of internet marketing. It allows consumers to shop and conduct business from the comfort of their own home, any time of day or night, or from virtually anywhere provided they have a connection to the internet. Businesses work much more effectively with partners. Efficiency and speed have increased dramatically as business and shopping have moved to the internet. Even costs have been dramatically reduced. Furthermore, at this time, it is rare that you must pay any tax for the items you purchase online.

The most noted disadvantages to internet marketing are the sometimes slow or unreliable internet connections that occur, and online security. Technology is diligently pursuing solutions to both problems, and progress is being made. Also, with the attention of the government on identity theft, it is clear that security and reliability will continue to improve over time.

For more information on Internet Marketing, be sure to sign up for the QuickStart report right there on the right side of the page!

After all, when you visit a website you don’t know anything about the person behind the site. Are they honest? Do they provide quality information? Will they deliver what they promise?

Obvious credibility takes on added importance when you make your living as an expert. You must assure your site visitors that you *are* an expert – and that you are *the* expert with whom they want to do business.

So how do you assure the site visitor that you are credible – that they can believe what you say? That you are the expert they seek? Here are five ways to get started.

1. Publish articles in your area of expertise. Not only should these article appear on your website, but they should also be on others’ sites. Articles are an easy way to display your expertise – and build your credibility.

2. Provide questions and answers on your site. People love to get advice from an expert. Not only do your prospects return to read your advice, but the search engines do too!

3. Host teleseminars. By serving as the host you can tailor the content to your target audience’s needs. You can invite the guests your prospects want to hear from – and you’ll automatically gain credibility by being associated with these guests.

4. Offer an online course. Whether it’s via email, teleseminar or an online learning system, a course puts you into the role of instructor – and expert. Your credibility automatically rises.

5. Write a book. Polls reveal that one of the professions held in high esteem is “author.” When you introduce yourself as an author, there is an automatic rise in your credibility.

Start today to implement these five steps – and watch your credibility climb.

—–
Dr. Jeanette Cates works with consultants and other experts who are ready to leverage their expertise into Online Success. To learn more about credibility visit http://www.BuildYourCredibility.com

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