Moving Posterous to WordPress

April 11, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Moving from Posterous to WordPress is your best option to keep all of your hard work with Posterous shutting down April 30. In my opinion, WordPress is your best option. Not WordPress.com but the self hosted, self managed and self controlled version available at WordPress.org

While I feel confident, WordPress.com will be around for a very long time the only true way to protect your work, build your brand and develop your online presence is with a system you own, manage and control. At this time, you will have to manually move your Posterous content to a WordPress.com site which can be quite tedious.

Self hosted WordPress websites put you in control of your own destiny. Don’t get burned by sites like Posterous any more.

If you’re like me, I hate changes like Posterous evicting their clients. Being forced to abandon a system you know, trust and like. But the facts are when you’re using someone else’s free tools your at their mercy. If you’re ready for a permanent solution, I can help you.

posterous to wordpress

WordPress is the best choice.

In addition to the WordPress software, you will need a hosting account and domain name. Unlike Posterous, self hosted WordPress sites cost $5 to $30 per month for a hosting account and $15 to $20 per year for a domain name. Which isn’t too bad for a system within you complete control.

Contact us using the form below and we will arrange to help you setup and configure a WordPress.org self hosted website and migrate from Posterous to WordPress using a Posterous like theme. Our price for this begins at $350 and goes up depending on the size of your Posterous site and whether you want your WordPress site customized.

Fill out this form to move your site from Posterous to WordPress

    I understand that Terry Hall will move my Posterous site to a self hosted WordPress install. The cost will start at $350 and may be more. I also understand I will need a hosting account and domain name to host my WordPress website which are additional costs.

I’ve been designing and developing WordPress websites since 2007. With hundreds of completed projects, I can help you start enjoying the peace of mind and security of hosting your own website which is 100% within your control.

Topic: Moving Posterous to WordPress

Filed Under: Business Blogging Tagged With: , ,

Online Reputation

August 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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Business Websites

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San Diego Web Design: 3 Ways to Google Proof Your Business

March 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

As a San Diego Web Design Company and small business owner, we have easy access to the San Diego Zoo and their 100-acre Panda research station. When we can’t go in person (which happens quite often these days) we can always get a Panda fix from the Panda Cam (opens new window).

But these days, my “Pandattention” has been directed to Google’s Panda Updates to their search algorithms. The updates were needed, but it still adds stress to my life when my websites and my client websites loose there position on the SERPs (search engine results pages). As a web designer and developer, I design websites that work for your paying customers and your main business promoter – Google.

Terry Hall a San Diego Web Design Consultant

says “we will never be free of Google“

san diego web design company on google panda update

Cute & Cudley Pandas vs Google's Panda

While we will never be free of Google there are several things you can / must do to Google Proof your business:

  1. Publish a weekly Newsletter: By regularly publishing an email newsletter you speak directly to your clients, prospects and vendors. These relationships are essential to long term business success and “Google Proofing” your business.
  2. Publish Great Content: Your clients, prospects and potential clients want education. The better you educate the more likely your website will be “Google Proof”.
  3. Use Smart Promotion: In addition to your newsletter promoting your website’s articles to your Social Media Networks with a smart back linking strategy put you in direct contact with the people who visit your website.

Following and implementing these 3 suggestions will put you on tract to Google Proof your business. If you need help putting together the plan contact my using the contact form. To add your newsletter contact MailChimp Expert Amy Hall who also assists people with their WordPress websites.

Topics: San Diego Web Design | Google Panda Update | SEO best practices | Newsletters

Filed Under: SEO & SEM, Websites Tagged With: , ,

If A Website Gets No Visitors, Does It Really Exist?

March 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

If a website is launched in the internets but no one ever finds it, does it really exist?

The sub-title for this article is “You can build a business owner a website, but you can’t make them use it“.

I get so damn frustrated watching business owners spending 1,000s of dollars for websites that will never get them any new customers. There is a formula for what works to get people to your website. Once they find your site, getting them to engage you is a different article. Today we’re looking at getting them to find you via your website.

The Top 3 Ways to get people to find your website:

  1. Your email newsletter.
  2. Targeted blogging.
  3. Advertising & Promotions

eMail Newsletters

Most business owners hate the idea of send out newsletters. Here’s what they tell me: I’m too busy. I hate getting all those newsletters. The fact is a weekly newsletter is your best bet at getting people to visit your website and more importantly do business with you.

Targeted Blogging

In my opinion a website without a self hosted blog is destined to be a deserted island. Your blog is a one way conversation with the world. When properly targeted and regularly published it will attract potential clients, fans and like minded individuals. Done properly, your blog posts and articles are the content for your email newsletter. Pretty smart, ey!

Advertising & Promotions

Advertising can be online of offline. Either way you can pay to bring people to your site and as long as you have a very specific and completely clear action you want them to take can work very well. Promotions can be via business networking, social media networking, forum posting and article marketing. Promotions like your newsletter are driven by your blog posts.

Your business website is an integral part of your business marketing strategy. It’s a shame to buy it then have it sit there all lonely and isolated. This is especially true if you’re not getting enough business. Take the advice of this San Diego Web Design Guy and start blogging 100-200 words everyday. Take your blog posts and publish a weekly newsletter (need help contact MailChimp Expert Amy Hall). Then pimp, I mean promote your blog posts throughout your social media network.

Doing this will get people to your website. The next step is getting them to call or email you about your services. Until then start blogging everyday!

BTW if your website doesn’t have a self-hosted blog contact me via my contact form so we can fix that today. Otherwise you’ll never get people to your site.

Filed Under: Business Blogging, SEO & SEM Tagged With: , ,

Give Us This Day Our Daily Blog Post

March 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Is your destiny in your own hands?

When I listen to business owners I think the answer for most of them is no. It’s the economy. It’s the lack of credit. It’s the ___________ (put your favorite reason in the blank).

The great thing about America is we are free to choose our own destiny. For some of us that means being a business owner. If that’s the case for you, you indeed can control your own destiny. Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned over the past 25+ years as a business owner.

If you’ve been a business owner for more than a year you’ll recognize many if these.

  • Your product or service really doesn’t matter as long as it’s consistent. McDonald’s doesn’t have the best product but they deliver their product consistently which gives their customers great peace of mind.
  • No matter how bad it gets, it can always get worse. As a business owner there are 100s & 1000s of details and decisions every month each of which have the potential to take you out of the game. Intuition and self belief are your only weapons that keep you moving forward in the right direction.
  • Selling is where the rubber meets the road. When in doubt, start selling. Far fewer businesses fail from too many sales than fail from too few sales.
  • The money is in the system. Regardless the type of business you own, 90% of it is predictable. Having planned and documented resolutions to manage the predictable allow you the luxury of indecision (just follow the system) and the ability to hire a team who can consistently deliver and maintain your product or service quality level.
  • You gotta be your own #1 fan. My dad had a plaque in his office “When you’re up to your a** in alligators it’s hard to remember your objective was to drain the swamp”. The fact is we’re up to our a** in alligators everyday and it’s our belief in ourselves, our vision and our dream that keep us focused on our objectives when no one else can see it.
  • Cash is king. Bootstrapping and keeping your overhead lean works best for most small businesses. This is especially true during your proof of concept.
  • Get the word out every day. It’s easier and more affordable than ever to get the word out about your business. A website with a WordPress business blog, social networking and email newsletter allow you to directly address the needs and concerns of your target market and niche. More importantly speak directly to them.

I titled this article “Give us the day our daily blog post”. If you take on this simple practice you will start the process of truly controlling and managing you’re own destiny. When combined with about an hour a day of strategic social networking you are on your way to business success and abundance.

Enjoy and keep on blogging.

If you need help setting up your website and business blog use the contact form to drop us a line and we’ll help you create and implement an effective business blogging strategy.

Filed Under: Business Blogging Tagged With: , ,

Business Blogging: If you don’t know what to write, your trying to sell

March 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Are you an expert in your business? If so, you never have to experience writer’s block again.

If you’re sitting at your keyboard and staring blankly at your screen unsure what to write then you’re trying to sell no educate. Any time you’re trying too hard to come up with some clever message or pithy blog post but can’t consider you’re trying to hard to manipulate people into buying from you. Instead, educate them.

80/20 Rule for Blogging: Educate 80% and Sell 20%. When you sell, sell proudly and directly asking people to take action.

Fact is you gotta sell to stay in business. But when we try to disguise a sales message in a blog post, our minds tend to stop working because we’re trying to serve 2 masters. Here are several business blogging ideas that eliminate writer’s block.

  • Write a blog post about one of your clients. Who they are & Who they serve. What they do. When they got started. Where they are. Why they’re different from their competition. How to get in touch with them.
  • Tell a horror story typical for your industry and how your business help people avoid having their own personal horror story from your industry. Hint: the solution involves buying your product or service.
  • Tell a Customer Service story. Mention what went wrong. How the problem was resolved. How everyone kissed and made up.
  • Write a post about what’s changing in your industry. Government compliance, technology, trends or anything else that affects the way your industry does business.
  • Tell a funny story about yourself, your staff or a funny situation.
  • Write a sales piece about once a week. Ask people to buy or recommend you.

What have I missed? What types of articles do you write for your business blog?

Filed Under: Business Blogging Tagged With: , ,

You Gotta be 80% Farmer & 20% Hunter

March 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I build websites for businesses that get them web generated business leads and sales. Building a self-generating web strategy gets business in the long term, it’s not right now business. If you need business today, you need to add some additional strategies that yield a quicker payoff.

Hunting activities and Farming activities are separate skill sets and both are needed for business success. Hunters go for “today business” and Formers cultivate “long term tomorrow business”. Your website is integral to both strategies because most potential clients go to your website to see if you’re legitimate.

Each of these strategies get potential clients into your sales funnel or pipeline. It is essential to have a “sales process” in place to convert prospects to clients.

Hunting Activities:

  • Cold Calling: Approaching potential clients without an appointment and inviting them to buy your product or service. Cold calls are made in person, by phone or by email. The cost is your time. The payoff is about 2 – 5%.
  • Flyers, Door Hangers or Direct Mail: Putting your marketing message in the direct path of potential clients with an irresistible offer and selling potential clients when they call you. Daily Deals are the latest variation of this strategy. The cost are a few hundred to several thousand dollars. The payoff is .5 – 2%.
  •  Advertising: Placing your marketing message and offer in a mass media channel which reaches your target market and selling them when they contact you. Advertising includes performance based internet advertising, the Penny Saver, Commercials on Cable TV, Radio, News Paper and/or Network TV. The cost is several hundred dollars to many 10s of thousands of dollars. The payoff is less that 1/4% to about 3%. With advertising the numbers can be huge. GoDaddy launched on a Super Bowl commercial and recently sold for $2.25 Billion.
  • Active Referrals Solicitation: Approaching your existing client and vendor base and asking them to endorse and refer you to their network. The cost is your time. The payoff is 3 to 10%. (I have a good script of this approach. Use my contact form to send me a message and I will happily share it with you).

Farming Activities:

  • Networking: Connecting with and building relationships which over time will yield referrals to potential clients. The payoff is zero to infinity. The cost is typically both your time and money.
  • Organic SEO: Building your online web presence in a manner which have the search engines recommend your website to potential clients searching for your product or service. The cost is your time and/or your money.
  • Newsletters: Consistently and reliably staying in touch with your clients, prospects and network to help you stay top of mind.
  • Customer Service: Delivering a consistent product or service which creates a consistent user experience. This may include a client rewards program.
  • CRM System: A Client Relationship Management System is a way to keep information on your clients, prospect and network in a structured and retrievable way allowing you to better serve their needs with your product or service.

Both Hunting and Farming are needed for long term success in your business. If you need business today, start Hunting. For business tomorrow keep on Farming.  All the while refine your sales process to close more sales.

To develop a web presence that self-generates web leads, send me a message via my contact form and we’ll start the process.

Filed Under: Websites Tagged With: , , , , ,

Bubba Builds a Website – Part 1

March 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

If you’re in business, you need a website. If you disagree, don’t read this Article Series and keep standing by your fax machine waiting for orders to come in. In this series, we will look at what you need to do to build a website that makes a profit for your business.

Introducing Bubba

Bubba is a term of love and affection that honors my Southern Roots and is my alter ego.

  • Bubba will try anything.
  • Bubba is curious as hell.
  • Bubba doesn’t trust anyone. Especially carpet baggers trying to sell him something.
  • Bubba is quite simple when it comes to people. He likes you or he doesn’t.
  • Bubba is quite complex when it comes to what works in business. The proof is in the pudding.
  • Bubba hates politicians and relying on anyone.
  • Bubba is a straight shooter and tells you like it is from his point of view and understanding.

Let’s get started.

Part 1: Bubba Builds a Website

What is a website? Technically a website is a set of files people can view using a web browser stored on a computer connected to the internet.

Why have a website? You can have a website for pretty near any dang reason at all. Business, Personal, Inter-Business, Blogging, Video Blogging, etc. (Imagine Bubba in the Forrest Gump movie telling Forrest how many ways you can fix yourself some shrimp). There’s at least that many types of websites. For this article we’re talking about Business Websites.

What is a Business Website? A website that fulfills a specific business objective(s).

Business Website Considerations:

  • Decide the business objective you want your website to fulfill. Your objective determines the design and functionality.
    • Lead Generation.
    • Revenue generation (online store, membership site).
    • Customer service.
  • Marketing, Promotion, Traffic & Conversion
    • Once you know the type of website you need you’ve gotta get people to find it.
    • When people find your site, you have to get them to take the desired action (call you, join you email list, buy a product)
    • This is the Realm of SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
  • Testing, Measuring, Maintenance & Upkeep
    • Testing offers and measuring results is business 101 and essential to meeting your business objectives.
    • SEO Friendly CMS (content management system) websites is the current state of the art for website development.
  • Content Publishing & Promotion Plan
    • Interwoven into your Marketing Plan should be a content publication plan for your website.
    • Once your content is published is should be promoted throughout your social media network and to your clients/prospects.
    • Effective SEO & SEM friendly content that attracts prospects in your target niche.
  • Internet based communications plan
    • Email, Social media & CRM based strategy to move your prospects and clients to the next step in your sales process.

This a very high level overview of a business website plan.

Terry Hall aka Bubba is a business guy who integrates online technology into a dynamic web presence helping businesses make a profit. Terry is available to help your business start profiting via a dynamic web presence that gets potential clients to call/email you.

Filed Under: Business Tools, Websites Tagged With: , , , , ,
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