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You probably know that you need to have an easy way to broadcast communications to your prospects and customers. But what might be less clear is how best to go about that. Right now you may be communicating using your regular email program, sending mass emails to your list with all your customers’ email addresses in the BCC field (or, GASP!, in the TO field) of a standard email message. If the limitations of this approach haven’t yet become clear to you, I promise they soon will. The real solution is to use a dedicated Email Service Provider to ...  

Once you have a website up you might want to consider accepting payments for your products and services online. These days there are tons of options for accepting credit cards for your business, and selecting the right option can be a challenge. These are the most important things to consider when making your selection. What Are You Selling? The first thing to consider is what exactly you are planning to sell. Are you primarily interested in accepting payments from clients you work with one-on-one? Are you setting up a group coaching program, or having an event you ...  

When you are running your own business, it’s important to do whatever you can to make your business appear professional. Especially when you are starting out, you don’t have years of business history or hundreds of glowing testimonials to act as strong credibility boosters. This is where consistent branding comes in. One simple thing – having consistent, attractive branding – will boost your credibility even if you just opened shop a month ago. Why? Because it sends a message. The message it sends is “I care about my business. This is a serious operation. I ...  

A great article about formatting your website text for easiest reading and maximum effectiveness. In Summary: Sans-serif fonts work the best for online reading Using a larger font size is not the best strategy Try to limit larger fonts to headings/subheadings Different colors should be used with care, contrast is best Shorter paragraphs are better than long ones, due to the way people scan text when reading online Shorter pages are also easier on readers, with ...  

When creating or redoing your website, though your website’s graphic design might be the thing you are focused on and excited about, you should definitely spend some time considering how you structure the true work-horse of your site: the content. Clients often ask me about how long their content should be. The truth is, it should be as long as you can reasonably make it – but it needs to be presented in a way that is not overwhelming to the visitor and puts the essential information first. Visitors (aka potential customers) will all have different needs ...  

If you are somewhat new to online marketing, you might be a little confused about the different purposes of a blog and an e-zine. They both contribute in different ways to the success of marketing your business and understanding their unique purposes can help you use them both more effectively. The first thing to keep in mind is that it is very likely that your blog and e-zine serve different people. Some people may follow your blog and your e-zine, but not all of them. Because of this fact, you should feel free to duplicate your important content in ...  

A lot of my clients when just getting started with their websites and “online marketing” are confused about the appropriate use of e-mail marketing. It is really important to become clear about who, what, when, and how often you should be emailing prospects – not only to effectively get your message across in the right way, but also to avoid getting into legal trouble because you are accused of SPAMMING people. This article is an answer to this need for guidance. Now, keep in mind that I will be talking about “mass e-mail marketing” – also know as ...  

If you’ve got a blog, I’m sure you’ve seen comment spam – barely literate gibberish that adds nothing interesting to your blog post conversation and is only used by unethical marketers to build trashy back-links to their websites. A quality blog doesn’t let comment spam build up. There are some easy ways to cut back and clean up your comment spam. 1 – The Correct Blog Settings The administration interface of your blog software should offer you some options for managing comments. Look for a section called “Comments”, “Discussion”, “Settings”, “Options”, or “Preferences.” Different blog software will give you different options, or ...  

When you are setting out to build a new website for your business, it’s important to consider both who your target market is, and what information, products, and services you will be offering. Who Your target market and your branding will determine a lot about how your website should look, especially in terms of things like colors and mood. If you have a strong brand developed (with a logo, etc), you need to make sure your site design harmonizes with and reinforces that branding. One obvious thing is to select a color palette that doesn’t clash with ...  

Whole Web Impact & Appelbaum Wellness LLC cordially invite you to celebrate the official launch of the brand new Appelbaum Wellness website. on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 9:00 AM EST The party will last for 24 hours from the start time. Please come and participate with us! As a Certified Professional Coach targeting wellness, Barbara B. Appelbaum brings her 23 years of professional experience as well as her compassion and empathy to individual and corporate clients. Her company motto is "Midlife Truth: Your Power in Choice™". Appelbaum Wellness LLC ...  

If you have an e-zine or autoresponder or other list to communicate with your prospects, you will need to entice your website visitors to sign up for it. (And if you don’t have a list, hurry up and start one!) These days, people are not that anxious to sign up to receive what they might perceive as “commercial email.” Inboxes are overflowing and the novelty of receiving email has long ago worn off (probably back in 1998, if not before!). So, how do you convince your visitors to sign up for your list? Simple – give them ...  

These days video online is hot – and with good reason. Video is compelling, and allows you to connect with your audience in a way that the written word and photographs can’t beat. Frequently the challenge business people face with integrating video into their online marketing is two-fold: strategy and technology. Thankfully, both these can be easily understood and put into practice. Strategy When you are considering video as part of your marketing message, it’s a good first step to have a clear understanding about what you want to use the video for: To increase awareness of your brand to a wider ...  

Getting help for your business from any professional can be fraught with misunderstandings, problems, and frustration. Certainly dealing with technology providers is no different. There are some things you can keep in mind that will help you get the best service and results when dealing with your web developer. In some ways, dealing with your web developer might seem to be a daunting challenge – he might sound like he’s speaking Latin with all the technobabble and acronyms tossed around. You might be a bit intimidated and feel stupid or uneducated. Let me assure you that you absolutely ARE capable ...  

Whole Web Impact & Gutsy Lady Coaching cordially invite you to celebrate the official launch of the brand new Gutsy Lady website. on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 9:00 AM EST The party will last for 24 hours from the start time. Please come and participate with us! Cindy Giles knows from personal experience how difficult it can be to regain control over your life after going through a rigorous cancer treatment. Her mission is to help women regain their joy and feel empowered to live a life fully with ...  

There is a very sad situation that is all too common in the world of website development. Since I count myself as a member of this industry, it is with some resignation that I write about this issue. It’s just that I have heard from and worked with too many people who have been burned by the web professionals they have hired. There are some red flags you can observe which could indicate that the person you are working with might result in a less-than-stellar experience – either now or down the line. Red Flags He never asks you ...  

Do you know you need a professional business website, but are completely overwhelmed and don't know where to start? Are you afraid of wasting money, being taken advantage of, or never getting your site launched? Are you looking for a way to start generating revenue for your business fast? Do you want a system for taking advantage of passive and leveraged income opportunities? Would you like to have a sexy, powerful website that is easy to maintain? If ...  

Whole Web Impact & Crowning Achievement cordially invite you to celebrate the official launch of the brand new Crowning Achievement website on Friday, February 12, 2010 at 9:00 AM EST - TODAY! The party will last for 24 hours from the start time. Please come and participate with us! Sheri Jenkins helps women competing in pageants to prepare to be their best during the pageant, while learning valuable life skills. She uses pageant preparation as a framework to teach her clients a effective process for setting goals, creating a ...  

This is a very understandable article about website copy writing that sells. Even if the page of copy you are working on isn’t explicitly for “selling” something, I think these tips will help you convey whatever your message is more clearly, concisely, and compellingly.  How to improve readership | The Total Package  

Whole Web Impact & Making Every Rep Count LLC cordially invite you to celebrate the official launch of the brand new Making Every Rep Count website on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 9:00 AM EST The party will last for 24 hours from the start time. Please come and participate with us! Jeff Brandes has over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry and is now officially launching "Making Every Rep Count" - offering in-home personal training services. He specializes in helping people who struggle with motivation and who have trouble exercising regularly to ...  

Whole Web Impact & Winning Through Pageantry™ cordially invite you to celebrate the official launch of the brand new Winning Through Pageantry™ website on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at 9:00 AM EST The party will last for 24 hours from the start time. Please come and participate with us! Rhonda Shappert started "Winning Through Pageantry™" to share her vast experience of pageant preparation with her clients, while building self-confidence, poise, and character, and teaching them how to present themselves both professionally and authentically - not only to the pageant judges, but in their daily lives. ...  

Two of my articles ("Developing a Killer Keyword List" and "How to Set Up Your Blog") were published in the Summer 2009 issue of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce quarterly publication, "Business Matters". You can read the articles online in the downloadable PDF version (on page 35).  

An email I received from the Free Press Action Fund ... It takes just a moment to show your support to the FCC. The issue of Net Neutrality affects anyone who uses the web for entertainment – or business. The Email: "I'm a guy who sees nothing good having come from the Internet. Period." Michael Lynton CEO of Sony Pictures Typical. The media exec to the right just launched an attack on the Web, saying that he sees "nothing good having come from the Internet. Period." But Michael Lynton is just the latest in ...  

Today’s All Things Considered show had two stories about web marketing: Good Times For Google Advertising Stealth Ads: They're Effective — And Priced To Move  

Gary Vaynerchuk presented one of the best keynotes at the Web 2.0 Expo in NYC September 2008. I had planned to look for the video, but didn’t really get around to it until today. This is highly recommended viewing. He touches upon branding, passion, hustle and doing what you love.     All the Keynote Speakers Videos: Web 2.0 Expo New York 2008 - September 16 - 19, 2008, New York, NY Gary’s Wine Library TV Site  

I love Content Management Systems and now always use them for my clients’ websites – no matter how “small” their site is.  If you are thinking about moving to a CMS for your website, I say GO FOR IT! The flexibility it offers is totally worth it. There are a lot of options, both free (usually open source) and paid. If you want to research different ones, check out this site: http://cmsmatrix.org (ugly, but useful – though keep in mind that not all the listings are updated frequently, so you should check the CMS’s website for the latest info.) The CMS I ...  

www.WholeWebImpact.com has finally launched! You can read all about the exciting new services I am offering in conjunction with my Whole Web Impact System, as well as obtain a free special report: 10 Web Mistakes That Are Costing You Business. Visit today!  

I was interviewed for the Street Talk segment on New York Business TV. You can see the 5:11 minute video here: http://newyorkbtv.com/StreetTalk01/ (I am the last person interviewed. My part starts around 4:17 minutes.) If you are looking to get a video message out to your market, I suggest you look into their video production services: http://newyorkbtv.com/about.html  

Yesterday's On the Media program had a fascinating segment about the Associated Press cracking down on bloggers who post excerpts and link to their content. Here is a summary of the story. You can read the transcript or listen to the mp3: Unfair Use? July 18, 2008 When the Associated Press busted a little-known website for posting excerpts from AP stories, the blogosphere responded with indignation. After all, appropriating content with a link back to its source is common practice. Media scholar Siva Vaidhyanathan looks at the ongoing battle between blogs and the mainstream media. Source: On The Media: Transcript of "Unfair ...  

I am right now in the process of re-tooling the services I offer clients and am so excited to share with you these new developments once they are fully launched. What I can tell you now is that I will now be offering a comprehensive web strategy package to clients. More news on this very soon.  

A post on the "Simple Dollar" Blog outlined 10 ways to create value from your web surfing. Professionals can use many of these ideas to build their reputation online and obtain more links and traffic to their websites. I think the point that Trent makes about sharing only useful and relevant comments is important. Not only will you be wasting the blog owner's time, and other visitors' time reading a useless comment, but it dilutes your online reputation, which is more important than you might initially think. I also suggest that you use your real name, whenever possible, when interacting online, since it shows ...  

 I just read this little article about some new studies about choice (emphasis is mine): New research shows that such daily decisions eat up limited mental resources, ultimately rendering our self-control into mush. Which means making too many decisions might be why many people can't stick to a diet, finish a big project or even complete simple daily tasks. "It's a strange paradox because human beings are drawn to choice," said study co-author Kathleen Vohs, a marketing professor at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. "We love having more choices, but at the same time the ...  

Floyd Innovations founder Heather Floyd was the "Wild WE Member of the Month" for July. You can see the entire interview on the Wild WE website : http://www.thewildwe.com/newsletter/2007/07/wild-we-member-of-month-interview-with.html About Wild WE Wild Women Entrepreneurs (The Wild WE) is a membership-based organization that encourages women to reach their full potential in business and in life. Wild WE's objective is to share the tools, ideas and networks women need to assume leadership positions, and empower women to become fun, fearless, fabulous females.  

After much longer than I'd like to admit, Floyd Innovations has finally got an updated website. The new site sports not just a new visual design, but is also completely implemented in the umbraco CMS system now. Though there is still some content to add, I'm glad to have this new face to show the world.  

Hmm... As an organizing/efficiency expert, I am a bit skeptical about Eric Abramson's concept of "optimal messiness." - I don't necessarily disagree with his main premise, that over organizing (organizing continually for organizing sake) is detrimental to productivity, but I am afraid that this could become an excuse for people who are in absolutely no danger of being "too organized." I am not in favor of guilt-tripping people into neatness, and this book will certainly make people who feel shameful about their inadequately organized lives breathe a sigh of relief, but it sort of becomes a useless good ...  

Many of my clients have websites, and most of them do not have deep pockets, and wouldn't be interested in paying ISPs for "premium" bandwidth to their sites. Would you? If not, I highly recommend you take a look at the information on www.savetheinternet.com. A brief run-down of the issue from their site: What is this about? This is about Internet freedom. "Network Neutrality" -- the First Amendment of the Internet -- ensures that the public can view the smallest blog just as easily as the largest corporate Web site by preventing ...  

I have a new Lens up at Squidoo: Your Business Website: Getting Started on the Internet If you have been considering putting up your first website, I promise this will get you up-to-speed quickly. If you aren't yet familiar with Squidoo, or how it can help your business (or hobby!) check out founder Seth Godin's report: Everyone Is An Expert (32 page PDF) And, if you sign up for your free account using this link: Sign up Now, you can get $5 (go figure!) ...  

A succinct list of the best of the Web 2.0 apps available. The Best Web 2.0 Software of 2005 (web2.wsj2.com) Originally posted to floydinnovations.blogspot.com, transferred 12/11/2009  

Great article on The Zen of Powerpoint Presentations : Kingsley Idehen's Weblog - Gates, Jobs, & the Zen aesthetic Originally posted to floydinnovations.blogspot.com, transferred 12/11/2009  

For some more commentary on the maze that is the "Web 2.0" phenomenon... On Social Tagging… at connecting*the*dots If you want to have a little fun with it, check out extisp.icio.us Originally posted to floydinnovations.blogspot.com, transferred 12/11/2009  

Last night I attended a panel discussion at NYSIA on "Web 2.0", a term that itself was debated by the panelists. Basically, the concept encompasses all the new-ish "web services" that are available now - those sites where almost all of the content is user-provided and interactive. This includes Wikipedia, social network sites like Friendster, and all those other sites you may visit that highly encourage you to add a lot of stuff. (If you want more info about this, check out the moderator's slides: http://howardgreenstein.com/Web2final2.pdf) In a certain sense these blogs ...  

Today I came across a post on a listserv I belong to asking how one would go about setting up a new EBay business on a small budget. Instead of writing directly to the querant, I figured I'd put the info up here where it could be used by others as well... *Disclaimer: I am not an eBay seller, so I cannot right now give very specific help with that aspect of the business, though I am familiar with online business in general and many of the same principles apply. My suggestion ...  

I know this blog is mostly focused on my business, but I know that many of my clients are sole-proprietors working from their home offices, and one of the very BEST things about working for oneself is the ability to have time freedom. Sure, many SBOs (small business owners) are nearly workaholics, but I'm sure many will also happily admit that they do use "office hours" to get personal items taken care of. So, in an effort to help anyone in this sort of situation, get their holiday shopping taken care of faster, not to mention ...