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Vanessa finally realized that she’d been dragging her feet on setting up her very own website to sell printables or print-on-demand products. Luckily for her, she came across a handy resource guide on setting up with WordPress and WooCommerce to ensure she can grow her list, create funnels AND run an affiliate program.

One step at a time, but these are the cornerstones to a hugely successful business.

Setting Up a Blog for Business

Do you own a business? Well, it’s about time that you had a website to showcase and advertise what you do and how well you do it. When it comes to building a website, there are several options.

Some of the work won’t be easy. There’s a learning curve. For the smallest learning curve and also fun during the process, we suggest building your website using WordPress.

What Is WordPress?

For those who don’t know, WordPress is open-source software that can be used to start a blog (WordPress.com) or a self-hosted website or blog (WordPress.org). We’ll be speaking about the latter today. While there is some coding knowledge required, it can all be learned as you set up the website.

WordPress comes with everything you need. In fact, it is the most popular content management system around, with almost 60 percent of business websites using WordPress as their platform. Better still, a lot of the themes and the plugins are free to download.

The Advantages of Using WordPress

WordPress has been worked on by hundreds of designers and programmers for years to build a competent platform for anyone to use. It is versatile, expandable, flexible and can grow in any direction that your business wants to grow.

In today’s world of responsive design, WordPress makes it easy to kill two birds with one stone (figuratively speaking). Each website you create is mobile ready. You don’t have to adapt your website later.

The WordPress content management system makes it easy to upload, edit, share and schedule content for your website. Integrating needed plugins is also easier here. And, when you get stuck, there is a community of professionals and novices ready to help with their experiences.

WordPress QuickStart

Before you can get started you will need a name. Your domain name is your address in cyberspace. The name needs to communicate something about your business and be relevant. Register that domain name with your web hosting company. Depending on the size of your website and what it will be used for, choose a hosting company with enough server space to accommodate you now and in the future.

Now it’s time to install WordPress. WordPress.org can walk you through the installation process step-by-step. And, support is always available at any time.

You are ready to begin creating that site. One important feature of WordPress is its plugins. Plugins are like performance enhancers. While frowned upon in sports, they are heavily recruited in website usage. Thousands of plugins can be found in the WordPress directory for download.

Here are a few of the many available:

• Contact Form 7 – Easy form for use on your website
• Google XML Sitemaps – Generate a sitemap to help search engines index your site better
• Akismet – Check comments for spam
• Yoast SEO – Improve SEO of your content on the site
• Jetpack – Protect yourself from hackers, check stats and load your website faster
• WooCommerce – Add an e-commerce component to your site seamlessly

Using WordPress as your platform and CMS provides a lot of power and functionality in one place.

7 Reasons Your Business Needs a Website

For many newcomers to the online marketing world and small businesses, the learning curve for the tech aspects can be overwhelming. It’s daunting to look at the process overall, but if you break it all down into bite-sized steps and strategies, it’s easily doable for anyone who wants to succeed online.

Are you a brick-and-mortar business? How do others find you aside from walking past your door? Remember when all people asked for was business cards and brochures? If you attended a networking event empty handed, that was exactly how you were going to leave – with nothing.

Advertising is still the rage and people do take business cards, but there is one difference – the content on the card has changed. Traditional addresses have been replaced by website addresses. In order to grow, something needs to be added to your advertising scheme. How about a website?

Why Your Business Needs a Website Now

Still on the fence about a website? It’s time to hop off.  Below are seven reasons why your business is already suffering without it.

Remain Relevant  

Just like no one would give you a second thought if you didn’t have a card or brochure, when they find out you don’t have a website for your business, you become “persona non grata.”

Powerful Advertising Tool

While you have all those brochures, flyers, business cards and ads already, make them perform double duty by adding your website address to them. People can share your information with potential customers who are not local so they can see what you are offering as well.

24 Hour Gateway

Just like those diners what are “Open All Night,” you are as well, but without the need to actually be awake for it. Potential customers can find helpful information any time of the day or night. If you have an e-commerce store set up, they can also make a purchase while you sleep.

Build Your Business

 As the CEO of your own company, you can pay more attention to making money. Instead of answering the same question for the umpteenth time over the phone or through email, use a FAQ page on your website.

Yes, you will save money even if you pay a professional to handle the set-up of your site. Over time, the monthly cost will decrease as your business increases.

Build Brand & Credibility

A business that invests in a website shows a commitment to building the business. You can create a logo and a brand for all to see, while being seen as a professional in your industry. Compelling content that is fresh also builds reputation and credibility.

Business Updates Are Easy  

Want customers to know about a new product line? Advertise on your website. This makes email marketing easy because you don’t have to fill your copy with information they can find on your site. Simply plug the new stuff and direct them to the landing page.

Global Marketplace

A website has a worldwide audience. Customers can multiply like rabbits! Instead of just those who live in Poughkeepsie, you can reach people in The Bahamas, New Delhi, Tokyo and Vancouver. Everyone who might be interested in what you have to offer can find you.

So, what are you waiting for? That website won’t build itself.

Setting Up Your Business Online

It is time for your business to reach the next level – presence on the internet. Now that you are ready to develop a website for your business, where do you begin? And more importantly, how much does a WordPress website cost.

The answer to the last question really depends on what kind of website you are trying to build. You can check out this comprehensive 2000 word guide explaining how much does it really cost to build a website.

But for now, I will take you through a few basic steps to get you going on your first website. Below are six steps designed to get you up and running.

Choose a Platform

This is just what the name implies; it is the base on which your website will stand. For newbies and even those with some knowledge of websites and coding, WordPress is the most popular choice for a platform. It is easy to use and most of the work has been done for you by a host of developers and web designers.

Is WordPress the only way to create a website? No, there are a lot of other website builders out there such as Web.com, Wix, GoDaddy, etc. But I believe that WordPress is the best and easiest platform to build a website that works on both desktop and mobile devices.

Many industry experts agree with me too, which is why over 43% of all websites on the internet use WordPress. For the beginner, though, WordPress.org is the recommended choice.

Get a Profit-Pulling Domain

One of the first, and most important things, you need to do to build an online presence (whether you’re a blogger, service provider, etc.), is to choose a domain and web hosting.

It’s not easy choosing a domain name and this is one area many people struggle with. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. What will your site be called? What is your business niche? What is your focus?

Use these answers to come up with a name. Consider your domain name to be a part of the branding your company will use to attract customers. It should be well-thought-out and not chosen with a knee-jerk reaction to something that sounds nice at the moment. Keep it as short as possible and also easy to associate with your business.

Write down several and then check online to see if the one you want is available. It may take a few tries to find one you like that no one has taken. Nevertheless, there are many ways people mess up this aspect of setting up their online business. Yet, there are several ways to choose a domain, and it depends on how you approach the process of customers finding your business.

Domain Naming Conventions

For some, the branding of a quirky business name is very important. This can work well if you strategize a way to explode name recognition for your business. But keep in mind, if you have a strange name that doesn’t explain to the visitor what your domain is about, it might be prohibitive in how people view your site.

Buying a domain name may cost a few bucks, but it’s worth it to have your own business name. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when choosing your domain name:

• Always choose a ‘.com’
• Shorter is always better.
• Needs to be easy to remember and easy to say.
• Hyphens are a no-no.
• No cute spelling.
• Avoid unusual spelling.
• Does the domain seem to match your business?
• What does the domain convey about you and your business?

Once you’ve decided on your domain name, it’s time to register it. This can be done through the same place you’ve chosen for web hosting or it can be done separately through any domain registrar.

Keep in mind – when you’re searching to see if a domain name is available, be sure you’re ready to purchase at the time you’re searching! If not, when you go back to pick it up you may be surprised to find that it’s no longer available. There are people out there who monitor domain name searches, pick them up and then try to sell them to you later for a profit.

Once you’ve chosen your domain name and purchased it, it’s time to set up your web hosting and website.

Find a Web Hosting Service

The first thing worth mentioning is never use free hosting! Even if you’re trying to be frugal or build a business on a shoestring budget, free hosting is a big no-no! Web hosting isn’t a huge expense. In fact, Mom Webs (whom I highly recommend) starts at just $5.00 a month for a single domain! Other hosting vendors include Liquid Web, Bluehost, GoDaddy, HostGator.

The hosting service is where your data will be stored, on their servers. Depending on how much space you need now and, in the future, it might be worth a few more bucks a month to ensure that your site won’t crash or get turned off.

Therefore, one of the most important things to keep in mind when searching for a web host provider is to find a company that has a responsive support team! It’s not going to do you diddly squat to have a company that offers all these bells and whistles if your site goes down and you’ve tried contacting them to no avail! If your site goes down or some other trouble arises, you must have a provider that can help you!

All you need to do to get started with a self-hosted WordPress website is purchase web hosting and a domain name. You simply can’t have a website without a host.

Here are a few of the basic features you should be looking for when it comes to web hosting:

• Disk Storage Space
• Bandwidth Allowance
• Number of Email Accounts Permitted
• Number of MySql Databases Permitted

 Need a blazing-fast, secure, and developer-friendly hosting for your website? SiteGround is built with WordPress developers in mind and provides plenty of tools and a powerful dashboard. Check out their plans.

Create a Site Map

Before you begin to put together your website in cyberspace, it needs to be put together on paper. Using a simple design, sketch out your pages: headers, content, images, and positioning of these elements.

Also, include which pages will link to other pages, how they will link, pulldown menu options, and the like. Knowing roughly how you want it to look goes a long way to getting the focused finished product you want for your business.

Install WordPress

WordPress.org makes it easy to install their website program on your computer. One-click installation is offered. You can then log into the content management system and look around to see how to set up pages, edit and upload content and more. There are many options with WordPress.

Design your Website

For those who know coding, you can use HTML or CSS to change the pages to look like you want them to. HTML can be used in a simple text editor to get your content to show up the way that you want it. WordPress offers options for free themes for design templates to begin with. A variety of options are available, so take some time to peruse them. If you don’t like it, you can always change it.

7 Essential Elements of Successful Websites

A great deal of work goes into building your business website and planning its content. The last thing you want is for all this work to go to waste. If you’re not saying the right things to the right people in the right way, your site won’t perform well.

Here are the 7 essential elements of a successful website.

A Home Page to Welcome New Visitors

Your home page is the first thing most people will see when they land on your site. It should clearly state who you are and what you do. It should also offer easy, intuitive navigation to the other information the visitor is looking for.

Quality Content that Delivers

Your site should be filled with quality content, providing the information your target audience is looking for. Each page should offer content that offers helpful information to build relationships, solve problems, earn trust, and explain your offerings. The goal is to establish your site as the go-to place for information.

A High-Converting About Page

Did you know that the “About” or “About Us” page is one of the most important pages on your website?  Therefore, somewhere on your site, you should tell your brand story.

With an about page, you can introduce yourself and your blog to new visitors. Tell visitors why you do what you do. Explain to them your core values. Show them how your business attempts to make the world a better place. When visitors learn more about you, they’ll feel a stronger connection to you.

And this will make them more likely to become loyal readers, subscribe to your email list, and become customers! They will recognize their own values in your story, and this will help to forge a strong relationship.

So, are you using your about page to its fullest potential?

Social Proof

Well-placed social proof shows that you’re trustworthy and you get results for those who use your products or services. It works because it shows a third party talking about the value you offer, rather than you singing your own praises.

One great method is to include testimonials from past customers or clients. If you can get an influencer to leave you a testimonial, this will work even better. Another way to demonstrate your value is to include information about webinars or speeches you’ve given. This will show that you’re an expert in your field.

Use Professional Quality Pictures

Your site should include plenty of engaging visuals. Humanize your business with a picture of its founder or employees. Take the visitor behind the scenes in your facilities. Present detailed and beautiful images of your products. Videos work great as well. A welcome video on your home page is a wonderful way to engage visitors and start building a relationship with them.

Clear Calls-to-Action

At each point where you want the visitor to take some type of action, give them a clear call to do so. Tell them exactly what they need to do in order to receive the benefits you offer.

Actions might include buying products, signing up for your list, following you on social media, checking out content elsewhere, or commenting. If you don’t lead your site visitor to action, you’re wasting a valuable opportunity.

The Essentials

Finally, make sure your website has up-to-date contact information with a real address, a privacy policy, Terms of Service, and whatever certificates you have. This will show that you’re a legit company offering value.

Six Ways to Keep Your Website Fresh

Wouldn’t you prefer something fresh over something stale? If we were talking food, you’d undoubtedly say yes. Well, websites are much the same. A visitor who continues to find the same old content or images will eventually move on.

What Audiences Want

What do audiences on the internet want? At first, websites were few and far between so people accepted what they were given. Now that surfers are as savvy as website owners, they want more and won’t settle until they get it. If you are in touch with your customer base, then you have some idea of what they want to see. In order to keep people coming back to your site, the best practice is to provide what they need. That’s the bottom line.

6 Ways to Keep Your Website Fresh

Below are six ways to ensure that your visitors keep coming back to you for more.

 Update Your Content

Content is still king and that is what audiences crave. They surf to find out information and will stay with you if you can provide that. It is a time-consuming process, so strive for once a week. To help you out, hire a writer to create new content based on your niche market. Or better still, use every business encounter or issue as the subject of a new content piece. There is no substitute for experience and the knowledge it can impart to readers.

Add a Blog

Blogs are always helpful. They allow you to interact with your audience in a more informal fashion. Exchange ideas, announce new product launches, host surveys, and get feedback. A blog can be updated more often than your website and provide readers with something new to digest each time they return.

Repurpose Content

Do you have a few evergreen articles? Turn them into short blog posts, quotes for images, podcasts, social media content and more. One article can be spun into a variety of new forms for audience digestion.

Check Out the Competition

See how they are maintaining their traffic. They may have latched on to an idea you hadn’t thought of.

Host a Contest

People love to compete and win prizes. Advertise the contest on social media. This draws more people to your site and they will have a look around.

Leverage Customer Feedback

Customers always want to share their opinions. In fact, many people surf the web for reviews of products and services. Make sure that you are providing what your customers want by simply asking them a few questions. Make sure you follow through on their answers as well.

Final Thoughts            

In this guide, you learned how to get your domain and hosting setup for WordPress. You discovered how to get premium templates that complete 50%+ of your WordPress website building in minutes. An overview of how to optimize articles to rank your WordPress website on Page 1 in Google was also provided.

You now know how to use the WordPress dashboard, add FREE SEO and website speedup plugins plus how to optimize your WordPress website. In today’s world, people want and expect more from websites. To stay relevant and fresh to your viewers, you might need to make some changes.

Therefore, your core focus should be a sales funnel. That’s the cornerstone of a business. A sales funnel allows you to track your numbers, and numbers don’t lie. In fact, numbers TELL YOU WHAT TO DO. If you split test a page and ‘Page B’ performs better than ‘Page A’, which page do you keep pushing traffic to?

While sales funnels are my teaching focus, there’s of course more to run a business. That’s why I also teach on various topics that I’ve used in my 7+ years in online marketing: Email Marketing, Content Marketing, Digital Marketing, List Building, SEO, WordPress Design, Affiliate Marketing, and all things addressed by entrepreneurs and business owners.

Do you want to learn more about setting up WordPress for your business and creating the right content for your website? Check out my course, WordPress 101, which teaches you all the fundamentals (in about an hour) such as maintaining your website, publishing content and helps you achieve your business goals [CLICK HERE]