These two methods are intimately related – as Search Engines determine how valuable of a resource your site is – mostly based on how many other web sites are providing one-way links to you.

So the first step to becoming a valuable web site is to start figuring out what valuable kinds of information, services and opportunities you can provide to your visitors at no charge.

This information needs to be built around the words your customers use to describe their needs.   You are offering answers.   By focusing on these words – the search engines can "read" your web page and automatically determine that you have something relevant to say on this topic.   Once the customer gets to your web site – they should be engaged with the information or offers you have in a way that clearly identifies their need and the solutions you are offering.

There is a pretty straight-forward but little-mentioned method of organizing the information on your website that actually makes sense to Google.  We provide all the tools to do this and teach our customers how to use them.

After the website has been built and stocked with the right kinds of useful material – its time to let people know that you exist.    We have a list of established web directories that you can submit your site to.    Getting linked on serveral of these important directories will definitely get you noticed by Search Engines such as Google.

CashBoxoptional Hosting provides advanced research assistance to help you determine which other valuable web sites would be possible candidates to review your web site.    Getting linked on high-ranking web sites in your niche is the key to moving to the top of the search engine results pile.

Search Engines place a big value on social media sites such as discussion groups, Twitter, Youtube and Craigslist.   Writing articles and posting relevant comments on related sites can definitely boost your Search Engine relevance as long as you are free to include a links to your website.

The key attitude to becoming a valuable resource on the web – is an orientation towards generosity and giving of valuable information.

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Let's say your dot com business name comes up in a conversation.   The people who hear that name should be able to go to their favorite search engine and type it in to pull you up.

Once they arrive at your site – you have an opportunity to start building a relationship with that person.   Simply providing valuable information and putting your best foot forward in terms of your image begins to shape their perceptions and build your identity in their mind.

Converting your name into a logo creates a visual statement that sums up the energy of your endeavor in a single glance.   Using this logo on your web site, business cards and other media is like a bank account that continues to acrue interest over the long term.   It sticks in their mind and allows them to recognize you again later.  

Products and services which are represented by a strong, coherent identity – begin to take on a familiar feeling to the potential customer.   If someone saw your logo only one time – they will be more likely to select YOUR offers in the future. – even though they have consciously forgotten about it.

Free Article.  Learn about how to create a name that sticks in your customer's mind.

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If you read our write-up about the power of a dot com name, you understand that simply mentioning your name at a concert or having your web address on the back of your art pieces can bring loads of follow up business.   The key is that your customers can FIND you on their own, once they have become interested.

Artists, Photographers and Crafts People can sell originals and more affordable reproductions of their work.   They can take payments automatically with a simple Paypal account.

CashBoxoptional Hosting has the tools for musicians to get their songs listed for sale on places like Itunes for a small up front investment.   

Having a real dot com web site of your own is the next level from simply having a Facebook or Myspace presence.

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Consider these Important Points:

• Modern shoppers often begin with their favorite search engine BEFORE venturing to pick up the heavy phone book.   Effective use of modern search engine technology allows you to zero in on the exact customers who need what you sell.  Local Businesses: you may be the only one who made the effort to come up in Yahoo or Google for your region.  Be FIRST in line for those pocketbooks!

• Whether its on your vehicle-signs, classifieds, or simple word-of-mouth:  Having a strong DOT COM identity can permit customers to remember how to find you again later.

• By propelling your customers to your web site from your business card and print ads you create that crucial next point of contact.  Shape their perceptions of your enterprise and tell your story!  Permit them to develop a greater comfort factor by getting to know more about you before they choose to do business.

• Use your web site as a multimedia webmercial with audio and video features to create an emotional connection with your products or services.

• Provide valuable online information in your niche at no charge and establish your brand as an authority for your market.   Give the customer something to read and keep them coming back.

• Coordinate any group or simply dial in your customer base on a long-term basis.  Leverage Internet-based social networking features such as Electronic Newsletters, User Discussion Forums, Member Profiles, and Email contact lists.

• Open up an online storefront and deliver your product beyond normal geographic boundaries.  Spread your net a lot wider and reap the rewards!

CashBoxoptional Hosting specializes in helping all the pieces of your marketing puzzle come together centered around your dot com web site location.

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Let's say you placed a low cost classified.   You could even place a free ad on website such as Craigslist.   As long as the ad includes your dot com name – the customer can progress from a low cost black and white text ad to visit your web site.   Once they have arrived at your online business location: you can shape their perceptions and create desire with a high-impact presentation.

Simply handing out business-cards, a small print ad in the Yellow-pages, or sending post-cards to targeted mailing list becomes far more powerful when they propel your potential customer to a media rich web page.  

Some businesses can be benefited by including a full-featured webmercial as part of their website.  Its like having a TV commercial with sights and sounds that create an EMOTIONAL connection with your product or service.

For local companies that take the effort to get noticed on Yahoo, Bing and Google – the pay-off can be big.   Regional search engine listings are much less competitive than global listings.   Your business might be the only one who took the time to get listed.   Many savvy consumers start searching on the Internet whenever they have a need.   They do this before they go and lift up the heavy yellow pages phone book.  It's easier because they can even start looking right from their desk at work.  These customers may also have bigger pocket books and spend the most money.

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Many design-seekers have been enticed by the opportunity to take their web development business off-shore to Asian providers who work for pennies on the dollar.  Although it might seem to be a winning proposition there are many pitfalls to watch out for.

A strange phenomenon happens whenever too-many opportunities exist in a market: which is that the level of professional integrity begins to drop.

With both off-shore and local web developers here are some of the impasses that we have encountered. 

• Designer promises the sun, moon and stars: then disappears part way through the project.  Web designers are a strange breed with emotional issues.  For whatever reason they are unable to continue your project due to personal circumstances.
• Designer can't be found later when you need to make updates to your site.
• Designer holds onto your dot com name and demands exorbitant ongoing fees.  This is especially hard when you have poured marketing resources into your website and now have search engine ranking.  You already printed business cards and bought yellow pages ads.  Read our article on web designer complaints about this and how to prevent it.
• Design provider refuses to answer questions on specifics and only wants to know what your budget is.  I see this a lot with off-shore providers who are interested in not-savvy customers with deep pockets.
• Design provider offers an unbelievably good rate. But the beautiful examples on their website are higher-ticket designs.  The good-rate gets you something really basic and ugly.  But then they are so nice & persistent you don't want to back out and end-up paying for the expensive design.
• You get a gorgeous website with no search engine value: so Nobody can actually find you.  Watch out for websites totally done in Flash!

These issues tend to drain your reserve of the critical financial resources you need to float your enterprise.

Ignorance is not Always Bliss

Customers usually think they can go out and find a couple examples of what they like and expect a project to come in at budget.   The client has no idea of what goes into making these features happen, or how specific you have to get in order to make them into a coherent working reality.

Web designers world wide comment about the "Throw it over the Wall" attitude many clients have.  They don't like to know what is going on behind the scenes.

Smart providers have learned to practice the car dealer mentality when interacting with the public who often is coming from an informational disadvantage.  They will tell you ANYTHING can be done at your target budget: however in practice, the end website comes in at least 2.5 times over the originally intended budget.

Many developers prefer a scenario where the client thinks that web design is an open-and-closed process.  The goal is to kick out thousands of sites as fast as possible and be finished with each project so they can move on quickly to the next one.

However your website design should be a part of your overall marketing picture.  Finding all the ways to maximize your benefit is an ongoing process that requires a web development partner who sees the big picture & where your business fits in.

The Empowering Approach. 

At CashBoxoptional Hosting.com we refuse to give you those pat answers.  Instead we quote you a realistic upfront fee.  The web design process becomes an educational experience for the end user.  We train you as we go to add your own content.  You learn to do so in a way that is friendly for search engine marketing.

As a result: you have the tools you need to continue evolving your web site with the skills you learn: even if your starting budget is small.

We invite you to talk to us on the phone or post some questions in our forum for some realistic feedback on how to maximize your value proposition to the world.

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