Latest Articles by shericejacob

Web Design: By the Hour or Package? Which Deal is Best?

Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

If you've been shopping around for a web designer, chances are you've seen designers that charge by the hour, as well as companies that offer different levels of design packages. Because every web design firm offers different features, how do you know which one to choose?

That's where this article can help. Depending on your needs, your budget and your timeframe, you may be able to make a confident, informed decision by the end of this article. Let's get started!

Charging By the Hour - Many designers charge you a set fee per hour. This varies widely depending on the person's experience, skills and the country they live in. However, keep in mind that cheaper is not always better.

Hourly rates are best for projects where you know you'll be expanding in the future, and you don't want to lock yourself in with design features and programs that may not apply to you. The downside is that you don't want to be hit with a large bill with lots of questionable charges at the end of the job.

Solution: Work out a payment plan with your designer ahead of time. The best designers will give you a quote, a general timeline for completion and an hourly rate for work over and beyond what's on the estimate.

Going with a Package Deal - Packages can be real lifesavers when you're low on time and just want "something" online to show your potential buyers. For a set price, you can get anything from a basic site with a shopping cart to ongoing support and training.

The downside to packages is that you're "locked in" to whatever stipulations the package has on it. So if you need more support, more pages or new products added - be prepared to pay what could amount to a hefty fee for it - or be forced to upgrade your package to the next highest level.

Solution: See if your designer is willing to customize a package that incorporates what you need for a reasonable rate. If not, ask up front what additional charges there are for things like new pages, new products and so on.

Most designers are willing to work with you, not against you, so oftentimes they can create a solution that is tailored to your needs and budget. Shop around, compare portfolios and don't be afraid to ask questions. We're here to help!

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Sherice Jacob holds an M.A. in Media Studies and has played an integral role in creating several successful web businesses - for herself and others. She currently manages a full service web design and internet marketing firm at http://www.iElectrify.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

What You Need to Know Before Setting up an Online Store

Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

So you want to start selling products and services online - but you're not sure what you need in order to set up your online store. Fortunately e-commerce is easy once you know what to look for. This article will tell you just what you need to start your online business.

1. Your domain name - A domain name is your "address" on the web, such as www.example.com. Domain names are now more affordable than ever, but getting a common name like realestate.com or golf.com will be impossible - as those were registered a long time ago.

Domain names are typically "rented" for a period of one year, although you can extend that period up to 10 years. To get a domain name, you'll need to go through a registrar. One of the best cheap domain registrars is 1and1.com where you can register a domain name for $6.99.

It's best to get a ".com" domain. Since they are so inexpensive, you'll want to register your business name (for use on business cards, brochures and such), as well as possibly a domain referencing what you sell - like uniqueleatherhandbags.com or montanaflyfishingequipment.com. People who are searching for those items will likely see your domain at the top of the search results because of the terms in your domain name.

2. Web hosting - If a domain name acts as your web "address", web hosting is like the driveway that leads to your "home" on the web. Two important things to consider when choosing a web host are the amount of space (called disk space) and the amount of bandwidth you get.

You can compare disk space to how wide and long your driveway is. The more or larger the disk space, the better, since your business website will be growing and expanding as you continue to do business online. Look for web hosts that give you at least 1 gigabyte of disk space.

Bandwidth can be compared to the number of cars that can fit in your driveway at any one time. If there isn't much bandwidth (under 1 gigabyte is not enough), your web "home" can only accommodate a certain number of visitors at one time. Look for web hosts that give you at least 5-10 gigabytes of bandwidth.

3. Shopping cart - Your shopping cart solution is one you should research thoroughly, as this will determine how easy (or difficult!) it is for your customers to place an order online. Obviously you want this process to go smoothly for the customer, but also be easy for you to track and administer online.

This way, you can see who ordered what, create shipping details, stock inventory and maintain a list and reports for different customers. One highly recommended shopping cart is Turn Key Web Tools' SurfShop. It's easy enough for beginners, but has enough options for more advanced users so that it grows with your business.

4. Accept Online Payments - In order to take payments online, you'll need a payment processor. Fortunately, the most popular online payment solutions: Paypal.com and 2Checkout.com let you sign up for an account for free. Once you validate some small (less than $1) charges to your bank account, you'll be able to accept credit cards online.

5. Web Design Ecommerce - Finding a reliable web design ecommerce solution can be frustrating if you don't know what you're looking for. Check out the web designer's portfolio and request a quote. Most designers will give you an estimate for free. Make sure you know what's included with the quote and what isn't. You don't want to be hit with a huge bill later!

Now that you know what to look for in an ecommerce web site, you can start your online business the right way. Good luck!

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Source: http://www.articletrader.com

E-Commerce Mistakes that Make You Look Like a Complete Beginner

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

When it comes to buying online, customers want to know that your e-store is a place where they can order confidently and securely. Unfortunately, many of these same customers never complete a purchase at your store.

Recent studies show online shopping carts are being abandoned at a staggering rate of 59%. When you consider that over half of your potential customers may not be buying from you at all, what can you do?

The best thing you can do is look at your ordering process. If you have any of the "gaps" below in your shopping cart - it's time to look for a better e-commerce solution.

1. Forcing users to register before completing an order - It's understandable that you want their contact information to be able to send them catalogs, updates and so on. But forcing the user to register before they check out is just throwing a flaming hoop right in the most crucial part of your ordering process. Make registration optional. Your ideal target customer will register anyway because they're interested - not because you made them.

2. Too many steps involved - What's that, you want to send me an e-mail confirmation before I check out? Oh, and I have to stop what I'm doing, go check my e-mail, verify my account and then wait until you manually approve it? Forget it. I'm going somewhere else.

Alright, that's a little extreme, but I'm sure you get the point. The total checkout process from the moment I click Add to Cart to the moment I click Place My Order should be no more than 3-4 steps. A brilliant example of this is at Amazon.com. Their ordering simplicity is what keeps people coming back again and again!

3. Out of stock - If something is out of stock, don't wait until I've added it to my cart to tell me. Show me on the product page so that I can look for alternatives. Or better yet - order some more and let me know that they're on their way! There are many shopping carts that let you easily manage and update your inventory on-the-fly.

4. Pictures that don't enlarge - How many times have you clicked to see a larger version of a product, only to discover that there IS no larger version? People want to get up close and personal with your products - that means being able to view details, colors, design - whatever they want. Most shopping cart programs allow you to specify a regular-sized image that automatically goes to the larger version when clicked.

5. Pages that take too long to load - In this day and age, with broadband "picking up speed" around the world, long download times are not as much of a factor as they used to be. That said, it's also good business sense not to bog your customer down with dozens of products on the first page. One option would be to let them choose the number of products on a single page. By clicking a simple link, customers can choose to view 10, 20 or even all of the products if they want.

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Source: http://www.articletrader.com

3 Steps to an Online Ecommerce Web Store

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

So you're looking to start an online business and need an easy, inexpensive way to create an online store - but you're not sure where to start? This article has you covered! Here, you'll learn the three vital steps to establishing your own ecommerce web site.

1. Create your online business plan - You have to know what you want to do before you can start an online business. Fortunately, this doesn't have to be a long, drawn-out process. It also doesn't have to be anything official.

For starters, get a spiral notebook and jot down your plans for your website. What pages will you have? How many products do you want to sell? Where do you see your site in 3 months, 6 months or a year from now? What are your goals for this site and how will your store be different than your competitors?

2. Hire a web designer - There are lots of e-commerce web site design companies out there. To make sure you choose a reputable designer, look through their portfolio.

Check for testimonials and ask for references. Many good designers will offer a free web design quote. Take advantage of this and compare prices and features to get what you want.

3. Get a reliable shopping cart - There are about as many shopping cart solutions online as there are web designers, so finding a good one can be a challenge. You can always ask your designer or web developer what they recommend.

One package that I consistently recommend to my clients is Turn Key Web Tools' shopping cart - particularly for retail stores doing business online.

The shopping cart can be customized to blend in perfectly with your web design, and you have all the tools you need to manage, ship and stock products with ease. If you're on a tight budget, you might also want to try a Yahoo! Store, although your custom web design options are limited.

Overall, these three steps should get you started toward having your own ecommerce web site designed and online in a short time. Good luck in your business!

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Source: http://www.articletrader.com

How to Build an Email Marketing List the Easy Way

Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

If you've been doing business on the Internet for awhile, you've probably heard the saying "the money is in the list" - meaning your customer and prospect e-mail list. But how do you go about building a marketing list, and how do you make sure that your clients will be open to receiving it (and not accuse you of spam?).

Here's an easy and fast way to set up your own email list and make sure it's something that your customers and visitors will look forward to getting in their inbox.

1. Selecting a Reliable E-Mail List Service - Preferably one which allows you to create follow-up emails in addition to your first one. These are called follow-up autoresponders and with them, you can create e-mails to be sent out in a sequence - automatically.

For example, you can write an e-mail to go out on day 1, followed by a second e-mail on day 3, then a third on day 5. This is especially good for educating your customers about your product and its benefits before they make a purchase.

One highly rated service which can help you create such a mailing list is aWeber.com - they have a 30 day free trial which you can use to get a feel for all the features and set up your own test list if you'd like. You can learn more at http://freeinfo.aweber.com

2. Have Something to Say - Not Sell - People will resent being pitched to or sold to all the time. Instead, ask for their opinion. You can create a free survey using a service like surveymonkey.com and link to it when you create an e-mail to send to your list.

Tip: Your prospects and customers will be more likely to give you their opinion if you give them something in return - such as a free sample or a coupon. Try it and see how many new marketing insights you get from your customers!

3. Follow Up Consistently - If you establish a regular routine with your list, such as sending out a message every Wednesday, they will come to expect it - and if the content is interesting, they'll look forward to it. You can easily set up these weekly intervals using aWeber or another e-mail list service.

This kind of future mailing allows you to write e-mails weeks in advance of actually sending them - freeing up your time considerably while making sure your list of prospects and clients stays "in the loop" about your products and services.

4. Let them go if they want to - Not everyone is going to love receiving your newsletter or e-mail course. They may be too busy to read it or any number of other reasons. Don't take their unsubscriptions personally. And make it easy for them to choose not to receive your messages if they don't want to. This is most commonly done via an unsubscribe link at the bottom of each message which your email list service will take care of for you.

To help ensure that your message isn't treated as spam or junk e-mail, you should include your contact information - including your business address and a phone number where you can be reached, at the bottom of each message. In the U.S., this is necessary to make your message compliant with e-mail sending rules and regulations.

When customers or prospects unsubscribe, you can optionally have your e-mail list service include a brief survey that lets them tell you why they're leaving. Most people won't fill this out, but for those that do, you may learn things about your list that you never considered - such as changing the frequency of messages you send, or making the content of the message more relevant to their needs.

Overall, these tips should help you get started with creating your own active mailing list that you can turn to again and again to build your business even stronger. Good luck!

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Source: http://www.articletrader.com

4 Steps to Choosing the Right Web Designer for Your Business

Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Searching your favorite search engine for "web designer" is like throwing darts - blindfolded. You never know if your dart will hit the mark, or even come close to hitting the dartboard! Fortunately, finding the right web designer at a fair price isn't difficult when you know how. That's why it pays to follow these steps:

1. Ask Around - Nothing beats a personal reference. Ask friends, family members or even small or local businesses you frequent. See if they have a website. Ask who created it and were they happy with the results? Some people choose a do-it-yourself route, but for professional results, it's best to stick to using professionals. Remember, just because you can brush your teeth by yourself doesn't make you a dentist!

2. Check Out Their Portfolio - The best web designers have a portfolio of websites they've designed. This portfolio should give you a good indication of the quality of their work. Ask the site owner about their experiences with the web designer or web design company. Looking at the portfolio can also give you a good indication of this designer's "style" -- is it more corporate? More creative? Or somewhere in between?

3. Get a Free Quote - Good web designers also understand that you want to know how much a project costs. That's why they offer free, no obligation quotes to give you an estimate of how much your website might cost. Take advantage of this and compare different quotes from different designers. Don't just go for the cheapest though - find out what's included, when they could have the website finished, and what type of follow-up support is available (if there is any at all).

4. Check Out their Proposal - Oftentimes, web designers will offer to create a proposal to take the place of a simple price quote. This is a more thorough report (usually 3 pages or less) that details exactly what you would get and what the cost would be as well as a timeframe for completion. Proposals are much more complete than just a dollar amount. Pay special attention to the designers who take the time to craft a proposal - they are more serious about earning your business than just plunking down a price.

Keeping these four tips in mind when searching for your web designer will pay off in the amount of time, money and frustration you save over someone who didn't "do their homework". In the end, you'll likely find a quality designer who will work hard to ensure your complete satisfaction and provide the kind of follow up support you expect. Good luck!

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Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Does Your Web Design Contract Include These 5 Crucial Items?

Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Working with a qualified web designer can either be a fun and rewarding process - or a frustrating headache. All too often, I talk with business owners whose websites are left only "partially completed" (if they're even finished at all) - or are full of errors.

Their web designer insists they finished the job, and the client is to blame. The client is upset because the web designer didn't include or detail certain things - and they now feel like they've been ripped off. What do you do in a case like this?

A lot of these problems could have been avoided with the right kind of web design contract. This is a document that generally is written up by the web designer themselves which outlines several key items relating to the website development.

Before you sign on the dotted line, be sure your web design contract includes the following five vital areas.

1. The Work to Be Completed - What's involved in the creation of your website? For example, will the designer be furnishing graphics or will you be providing your own photos? This is the "meatiest" part of the contract and outlines, specifically, what work will be done.

2. Timeframe for Completion - How long will it take? It's a good idea to specify (or have your designer do this if you're not sure), "milestones" that will need to be completed before you'll release a portion of the payment to them.

For example, many designers request a 1/3 down-payment to gather materials (such as domain registration, hosting, stock photos and so on). Then the second 1/3 is done upon your approval of the web template they will be using throughout the site. Having milestones like this ensures steady progress on the site while giving the designer reasonable payment for their work as they complete it.

Timeframes also include a completion date. Not setting one (or asking the designer to set one that you both can agree on) means your project could go on forever!

3. Payment Details - How, When and How Much are the questions to be asked here. How will the designer be paid? (check, money order, Paypal…), when will they be paid and how much is due? Not specifying these terms could leave you with a hefty bill at the end of the job - for things that you were unaware of at the start!

4. Confidentiality and Copyright - Who owns the design once it's finished? Designers often relinquish the copyright of the design to the client - but like to reference it in their portfolio as an example of the work they can do. Oftentimes, working with a designer means you'll be giving them private or confidential company information. If necessary, ask the designer to sign an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) that states that they will not share the information you give to them as part of the project.

5. All The "Little" Extras - It's a good idea to cover all the "little" extras that can add up to a big design bill. Specifically, ask about things like ongoing support, software updates, and content management. Will the designer train you (or your staff) to make changes to the site yourselves, or will you be paying them a monthly (or hourly) fee to do it for you? There are pros and cons to both, so be sure you know the costs and benefits associated with each one. Discuss this with your designer if you're uncertain.

All in all, most web design contracts are simple and straightforward. And more often than not, you'll have nothing to worry about. Still, if conflicts should arise, you'll have a written document to go back to in case there are issues that can't be solved easily. Good luck!

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Source: http://www.articletrader.com