Steps to Launching a New Website

IN THIS ISSUE
1. Launching a New Website
2. Marketing Mailbox
3. What's New at Marketing Idea Shop?
4. Quote of the Week
5. Resources for Entrepreneurs and Marketers
6. A Little Fun
7. Smell the Coffee
8. Highlights from Our Next Issue



Don't forget to tell all your friends and business associates about this informative newsletter! You don't want to be the only smart one in your group, do you?

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SUCCESS SECRETS EZINE COMING
If you haven't already done so, please sign up for my new "Success Secrets of Women Business Owners" ezine, coming in September. Each issue will profile one successful woman business owner and include her top five tips for creating a successful business.

When you subscribe to "Success Secrets of Women Business Owners Ezine," I'll give you a free special report, "Build Website Traffic by Writing Articles: Top 10 Sites to Publish Your Articles" ($9 Value) - subscribe here by sending a blank email here.

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1. Steps to Launching a New Website

As many of you know, later this month I plan to launch my new website and ezine for women business owners, WomenBusinessSuccess.com. Don't bother to go there now; you won't find anything there. You can, however, sign up for the new ezine "Success Secrets of Women Business Owners" by sending a blank email to me here.

Creating a brand new website is a very involved process. I thought y'all might find it helpful to read the steps I've taken to get my new site off the ground. These are steps that you, too, can take to launch your website when you're ready to do it.

I, of course, would love to hear your thoughts if you think I have forgotten something. Please send your comments to me here.

Here's my step-by-step launch process:

1. RESEARCH AND DECIDE ON A NICHE

Having been involved in women's business groups and serving small businesses for many years, I knew I wanted to work with the woman-business-owner niche. I've had an idea for a book about women business owners (WBOs) for approximately 6 years and several people urged me to look at easier/more creative ways to write this book to get me moving on it. I researched to find out the latest numbers of women business owners, read articles about how to reach them and how they like to buy, and queried WBOs that I know to get ideas.

2. RESEARCH THE COMPETITION

As I researched the competition, most of the websites I found that are focused on helping women business owners are government or quasi-government organizations. However, over the past few weeks, more for-profit women business sites have popped up. I am developing quite a list of websites that focus on women business owners. I'll include this list in my "Resources" section of the website.

3. BRAINSTORM AND OBTAIN A DOMAIN NAME

Many of the domain names that I considered were already taken and I was determined to buy a dot com instead of any other extension. [Another business I used to have had the extension dot net and people were always saying they couldn't find us.]

I knew I wanted to have "women business" in it because my keyword research showed me that loads of people search for women business ideas, women business marketing, and so on. I bought several domain names and then asked friends and associates to tell me which ones they liked. Then I chose the one I liked best. I may create small websites with the other domain names and link them to this main site later.

4. DECIDE WHAT THE SITE WILL INCLUDE

After reviewing many other sites, I decided that my site would be a comprehensive education/sales site that includes a profile of one woman business owner, on the home page, which will rotate as new ones are profiled in the ezine (and later included in the ebook I spoke about just a minute ago).

Also, it will include a forum, articles, special reports, ebooks, teleseminars, mentorships and consulting, and advertising. Since this site will have a forum, I need to recruit a few moderators to help answer questions and keep members interested. Thankfully, two people volunteered, but if you are interested in this, please email me here and volunteer!

5. WRITE A "BUSINESS CONCEPT" DESCRIPTION

The "business concept paper" functions as a mini business plan and discusses the target audience, a description of the site, features of the site, ownership, revenue streams and projected profit. A complete business plan with an extensive marketing plan would also be a good idea, but I haven't yet completed this.

6. ASK FOR FEEDBACK BY PEERS

I sent a description of what I planned to do to several friends and associates, and posted it on a marketing forum with a request for feedback. I also discussed the concept over the phone with someone who was doing something similar but for a different target market. This feedback was very helpful. I then modified my list of offerings and some of my promotion ideas to include these suggestions.

7. OBTAIN ANY NEW SOFTWARE NEEDED

The only software that I needed to buy was the forum software because I own quite a bit of software already, and my current MarketingIdeaShop.com website is already up and functioning using software that I own.

8. CREATE A WEBSITE DESIGN

Since I am not an expert webmaster, I designed my website using PageMaker and then asked by web host/designer to create a template in DreamWeaver for me to use as I complete the site.

9. WRITE COPY FOR SITE

This, of course, will be an ongoing task, but I had to write lots of copy to introduce each of the sections, entice visitors to sign up for my ezine, and keep visitors coming back. I'm still working on this.

10. WRITE A FREE SUBSCRIBER PRODUCT

To reward folks for subscribing, I give a free product. This time I wrote a short report about driving traffic to a website by publishing articles on the Net and in other people's ezines. It includes a list of 16 websites/portals where website owners and marketers can publish articles.

11. BEGIN PROMOTING THE NEW EZINE

Since people can subscribe to my ezine without visiting my website, I began promoting the ezine several weeks prior to launching it. I have interviewed four women business owners and am in the process of completing their profiles. Since I will publish a new profile each week, I need to have several "stored up" before I launch the new ezine. I have been mentioning my new ezine in Brainy Tidbits, on forums, and in my email signature for weeks now. My subscriber list is growing.

12. GET WEBMASTER TO CREATE WEBSITE TEMPLATE

If any of you have worked with an outside webmaster, you'll know that this may very well prove to be the hardest task because these folks tend to be very busy. Although I created a design for my webmaster to implement, I'm still waiting on this one! Of course, I have already written much of the copy, but it will need to be put into the proper template/form.

13. INPUT WEBSITE COPY

As soon as the website design templates are completed, it's time to create all of the informational and educational pages, linking products to the shopping cart and get the forum set up.

14. PROOFREAD AND CHECK ALL LINKS

Before the site can go live, I'll have to have someone (besides me) proofread the entire site a couple of times for errors and typos, and check all the links to make sure visitors never get the dreaded "404-Page Not Found" message.

15. CREATE AND BEGIN PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN

As soon as the site is launched, a news release will be sent to all the major media, PRWeb, my local media, various associations and organizations to which I belong, and an announcement will be made to my customers and subscribers. I'll begin to write articles and publish them on the web and I'll notify all my affiliates and joint venture partners about the new site.

After I launch the site, I will create an in-depth special report that discusses all of this in detail, and also talks about the challenges I faced. For a limited time I will offer this new special report free to my subscribers and to joint venture partners.

In the meantime if you'd like to learn more about creating a new website or updating a website, please take a look at Marcia Yudkin's site review service. You can see several "before" and "after" shots of websites. Go here to check it out.


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2. Marketing Mailbox

Here's a note I received from Debra Marstaler. She pointed out alternative thinking to information I gave you previously. Read on:

"In one of your recent newsletters, you mentioned hearing about a tactic whereby people create single page websites and use them to point at a primary site for the purpose of increasing its link popularity. I'm sending a link to a forum I post on and a link to Google that offers alternate information for you to review. I send this only to offer the suggestion there are differing viewpoints on this tactic and to present the information for you to read.

"Since this is an area I work in and have some experience with, I'm happy to try and answer any questions you have. I will continue to look forward to your newsletters. Have a great day.

Debra Mastaler
Alliance-Link.com"

And here are the links to the forum posts and the Google article:

http://www.highrankings.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=787
http://www.google.com/technology/index.html

If you have questions about this, please contact Debra directly through her website.


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3. What's New at Marketing Idea Shop?

Our Article Bank has many new articles to help you improve your business.
Take a look:

Marketing Idea Shop Article Bank

For instance, here are a few of the new articles you'll find when you visit:

Divorce—What to Do When You Get Past the Tears by Stacy Phillips
Make the Second Half the Best Half by Robin Harris
Time Off for Business by Wendy Y. Bailey
5 Overlooked Ways to Market Your Work-at-H0me Business by Trent Brownrigg
Are you Entrepreneurial Material? by Glenn Beach
Get to the Top of the Marketing Food Chain by Priya Shah
Use Humor When You Speak by Stephen D. Boyd
The Second Reason Customers Don't Buy by Sean D'Souza
Avoid Sales Talk Sledgehammers by Dr. Joseph Sommerville


I'm always looking for good, informative business articles. If you would like to submit an article, send it in the body of an email to me here.


We have many new resources on our resource page.

Improve your search-engine ranking by cross linking with Marketing Idea Shop. We have a Google page rank of 4/10, which is pretty good. If you would like to link to us, please send your request for cross-linking to me here.

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AND NOW, A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSORS...


What's your definition of success?
Email your comments to me.


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4. Quote of the Week

"Action is the antidote to despair."

Joan Baez, Singer
(1941 - )


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5. Marketing Resources for Entrepreneurs

• Win $10,000 in Business Plan Contest — Deadline Sept. 15
  
  Virginia's Technology Capital Access Forum is promoting a business plan contest. Submit your business plan to qualify for the $10,000 prize in the Business Plan Competition, sponsored by Third Security. The deadline is September 15. You'll need an electronic copy of a well-researched business plan (25 pages maximum) that thoroughly covers your business. Go here to find out more.
  
  

•  

  2004 Venture Funding for Women Entrepreneurs Available
  
  Are you looking for venture capital? Here's a terrific resource for you! In this 400-page downloadable ebook, you'll find all of the contact information for 200 venture capital firms and investors who recently invested in companies that are women-owned or women-led. You'll also have access to all contact information for the 671 women-led companies that received funding. This is a wonderful tool for you. And you get it all for just $249. Read more about it or buy it here and begin your financial investment ride:

  
  

• Email Marketing Conference, Sept. 21, Chicago
  
  Industry Experts Present Strategies, Issues & Answer Your Questions. Speaker line-up includes: Carl Hutzler, Director of Anti-Spam Operations AOL; Michael Mayor, President NetCreations / Return Path; Austin Bliss, President & Co-founder FreshAddress; Craig Spiezle, Director of Partner and Business Strategy, Microsoft Safety Technology Strategy Group Microsoft; Tim Starzl, President and CEO SearchLogic / Email Dynamics; Jordan Ayan, CEO SubscriberMail; Dan Swartz, President SubscriberMail; and John Marshall, CEO ClickTracks. For more information and to register, go here.
  
  

• Selling to Virginia: Opportunities for Success, Sept. 22, 8:15 am-12:45 pm
  
  The Small Business Development Center and the Virginia Department of Business Assistance are sponsoring a half-day seminar at The College Center, James Madison University. The cost to attend is $20. Learn more and register here:
  

• Women's Leadership Summit & Gala, Washington, DC, Oct. 25-26, Marriott Wardman Park Washington DC Hotel
  
  Two days of fabulous networking plus keynotes from Stedman Graham (Oprah's sweetie and a well-known entrepreneur and author), Marsha J. Evans, president and CEO of the American Red Cross, and others. Don't miss out. Register now.
  
  

• New Resources: Free Press Release Distribution Services
  
  Two new free news release distribution services have been started. If you want to send your news releases out for free, perhaps you'd like to try these:
  
  http://www.OpenPress.Com
  http://www.PRBot.com
  
  

• New Blog on Search Engine Optimization Debuts
  
  Here's a new blog (web journal/log) about SEO that you will probably find helpful. Check it out here.
  
  

• Thanks to Kim Komando for this tip:
  
  Last week I wrote about using coupons and special promotion codes on the Internet to increase sales. Here's a site that tracks online coupons for 500 websites. If you've misplaced your special promotion code, perhaps you can find it here.
  
  

• New Magazine for African-American Women Business Owners
  
  Ever wonder what it’s like to be the CEO, have flexible hours and control your own destiny? Well you're not alone. According to a study conducted by The National Foundation of Women Business Owners, women of color are one of the fastest growing segments of business owners. Onyx Woman magazine has become the how-to-guide for these women seeking practical information on how to start and grow a successful business. You can learn more about this new magazine here.
  
  
  

• New Micro-Niche Calculator
  
  Kidino, publisher of "MoneyClicking Newsletter," has published his first ezine and it contains a cool little online tool that can help you figure out your advertising and online return on investment (ROI) quickly and easily. You can sign up for his ezine on his website: http://www.moneyclicking.net and use his calculator here:
  
  
  

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  Looking for a great shopping cart system? HOW TO PICK A SHOPPING CART SYSTEM THAT MAKES YOU MONEY is an ebook that explains all the important features. You can get it here, FREE

• Do you like these resources? There are plenty more like these in my ebook, BUSINESS SUCCESS SECRETS: HARD-WORKING TACTICS & RESOURCES. 37 pages, packed with ideas you can use immediately... to get more business, generate more traffic to your website and improve your bottom line. Over 135 hyperlinks that can take you directly to marketing resources or ideas you can use right now...so you can save time and money. Beginning and advanced tactics to really make a difference in your marketing results...and you can make more sales with much less effort. Learn to save money on your advertising. Get a list of websites that would LOVE to post your articles. Read more about it or buy it here.
  
  

6. A Little Fun

Thanks to Chris George for sending this in:

Find the dollar and it's yours!

XYZ Company was putting on their very first weekend seminar in Smallville, New York. The seminar was such a hit that all the rooms in the seminar hotel were completely booked. When the last three participants arrived on Friday night, they were told only one room was left.

So they decided to share the room and split the cost. "How much for the room?" they asked. Thirty dollars was the reply (Hey, I know, $30 a room - just assume you got a great corporate rate). So each of them paid $10 each (3 X $10 = $30). When the clerk got back to his desk, he realized the room rate was really $25. Not knowing how to divide the $5 overcharge between the three, he decided to give back $1 to each one and pocket the remaining $2...($1 X 3 = $3 + $2 = $5). So now each guest paid $9 ($10 - $1 =$ 9) and all three paid $27 ($9 X 3 = $27), plus the $2 the room clerk pocketed adds up to $29....where's the missing dollar? (Hint...it didn't go for room tax!)


If you figure this out and email me the correct answer, I'll give you the dollar when you purchase my ebook SALES SUCCESS! STRATEGIES FOR WOMEN. You'll receive an email with the link when you send me the correct answer.

 

Help keep the smiles coming ... please send me your marketing, PR or sales jokes. I'll be happy to give you credit and list your website! Email me.


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7 . Smell the Coffee...

How was your weekend? Here in the U.S., we enjoyed an extra day off while we celebrated Labor Day on Monday. My family's weekend was busy, fun and filled with family activities. Luckily, we chose Sunday to visit Mama Betty, my husband's mother, in Wytheville (pronounced Wiffel if you're from the area) which is located in the Southwest corner of Virginia. Don's sister Candy and her family were there, too. It was a beautiful day and we were thrilled to meet our newest niece, Jessica, an eight-and-a-half-year-old sweetie that Candy and her husband just adopted. All the kids took turns riding the four-wheeler around the farm, went swimming and had a great time playing together. The weather was perfect and the food delicious.

Monday was dreary and rainy (as most Labor Days seem to be, in my opinion!) but I took the kids shopping for scrapbooking materials and that was fun. Roni turns 16 on Wednesday and she's planning a "Sweet 16" birthday party with 10 girls on Saturday. (Yup, that's right. She hasn't gotten into boys yet, much to our relief.) They are going swimming at the pool, then eating pizza, and then creating scrapbooks for themselves while they watch movies. I'm sure it will be a memorable birthday for Roni.

Lois

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8. Highlights From Our Next Issue...

Next week we have some good things in store for you! You'll learn:

• How automating your business can make a big difference in the amount of time you spend on your business and how it can drastically improve your sales.

• Several ways to make your virtual business more "tangible" and how this can improve traffic as well as sales.

• Plus, as always, you'll find several new resources in our Marketing Resources section, a fun joke or puzzle, an enlightening quote, and a little bit more about me.

So, tune in next week..."same time, same station."


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Published by:
Lois Carter Fay, APR
Marketing Guru, Marketing Idea Shop, LLC
411 Rainier Road, Massanutten, VA USA 22840
Voice 540.289.3840 or 800.203.8660

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