How Do I Choose a Web Designer for My Business?Written by Dannielle Brantley
With proliferation of world wide web and independent businesses, it is literally a 'jungle' out there when it comes to locating affordable website design services. If you don't know difference between a web host and a website, how are you supposed to figure out which web design company will be capable and worth outlay from your fixed budget. Let's face it, start-ups, independent entrepreneurs and small businesses do not have large budgets of corporations and every dollar counts. Making informed decisions when it comes to your business' marketing expenditures can be difference between business success and failure.Having an online component for your company is an established low cost tool to build your company brand, keep in touch with your customers and reach out to new ones. Nielsen/NetRatings found that overall at-home global active Internet universe for 12 selected countries swelled by more than 2.8 million users from June 2004 to July 2004 bringing total to 291,986,237 users. Having a website is necessary to reach these users. Since I self-designed my first company website, my time was spent trying to figure out who should host my site, but method of search is comparable with looking for a website designer: asking around, looking in search engines, pouring through over 30 sites comparing services, prices and added value (if there was any). I didn't really know what I was looking for even though I had some technical background, but in general I knew I wanted a host who was affordable and had good customer service. So, considering those of you who are starting from beginning and need someone to help you Plan your site, Design it and Put it up for world to see, there are specific concerns that you will need to address.
| | Building Relationships for your Business By VolunteeringWritten by Dannielle Brantley
Everyday, it's important to keep your business in front of your audience because one of your biggest mistakes as a business owner is to allow people to forget about you. Creating opportunities for exposure is an important skill that you can develop in order to help increase comfortability (is that a word?) of your company with its audience. Entrepreneurs need to interact with their target market and then communicate effectively with them in order to build any relationships that may lead to a sale. How do you reach your customer if you can't afford well-placed advertising, need a larger budget to produce a radio or tv spot and want more of a connection than one-night networking events? Volunteering may be your answer.This past weekend I had pleasure of coordinating a portion of Prized Pieces Film Festival held at Schomburg Center for Reseach in Black Culture in Harlem in partnership with National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC). Four days, 25 films, 25th Birthday for NBPC and close to 1,000 potential customers for my business. This was what I call networking! And great thing about it is you get to help out an event and make it a success while also building on your own success. But you can't just start volunteering at just any event so, here's what you need to consider before embarking on a 3-4 days volunteer voyage. Will event bring me in contact with my target market? - This may seem like a pretty obvious question but, it's important to think of because if your service is making homemade dolls, then volunteering at a film festival is not going to help bring in more customers. Be clear on who buys your product primarily and then list those secondary markets. If your volunteer duties don't bring you into contact with these people, then you shouldn't bother (unless it's personal). Am I ready to promote my product or service? - When you report for duty be sure to carry your business card, brochure, flyer or anything else you may need in order to show your prospect that you are serious and ready for business. You may only have that one opportunity to talk to that major celebrity about your great makeup product, don't blow it by not having any business cards or correspondence to give.
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