When you start a website you must first make sure that you have a passion, product or service that will be interesting to people. Research the other websites in your area of interest. If you are unsure of what you might want to start as a website, try blogging www.blogger.com until you decide what you are truly passionate about. You might set up a blogger.com account, which is free. Start blogging about some of your passions; whether it be art, music, health, people or a business you already have or one you wish to start. As you blog, you may find a certain subject, product or service that is really interesting to you or one that you already have that consumers find interesting.
Make a list of domain names that you would like to use. They should be relevant to the subject of your Website. (i.e.) www.yardcarddirectory.com/ refers to a US and Canada Directory for those in the Lawn Display and Yard Card business. You can easily search for domain names by typing in "domain name search" in the search area. You have several options of registering your website name – try for a .com unless you are an organization and then .org would be best. Profits and non Profits typically use.org.
Once you decide that you are headed in the right direction, then you need to research how to start a website. An excellent website to view is http://www.2createawebsite.com/ Lisa is very knowledgable in many areas of websites, blogging, U-tube and so much more.
You may have a hosting company that sets everything up for you, or you may wish to try something like www.snapmonkey.com/ where you can make changes for one price.
Another great learning website is www.visionofsuccess.com/
Questions or comments are always welcome. marty@lawnexpressions.com
Sincerely,
Marty Miller, www.lawnexpressions.com/ or http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/
Monday, June 21, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
WEBSITE SPRUCE UP
1. How often do you look at your website?
2. How often do you make changes?
3. Do you check to see what position your website is on the search engines?
4. Do you ask customers how they found you?
These are all very important for your business. You MUST stay on top of these things and not let your information become outdated. Your service and pricing should be easy to find. No one likes to call to find out prices.
Websites should also have your Contact Information displayed on the HOME page or a link to your information. Consumers do not like to have to spend time finding where this information is located.
In the Yard Card & Lawn Display business, your State should be listed on the Home Page. If someone is looking for a display in a certain State and you only have counties listed on your Home Page, the customer will probably move on to another website. Also if the comsumer types in "Yard Cards, CO" and your State is not listed, your website will not be seen---business lost.
If you are purchasing a product or service on the web be sure that there is an "https" the "s" meaning secure. The site may also have a "lock' displayed on the website, but still must have the "https".
Spruce up your website today! This is your main instrument for good advertising.
"You don't get any rewards out of this life unless you make an investment"
Sincerely,
Marty Miller, http://www.lawnexpressions.com/ http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/
2. How often do you make changes?
3. Do you check to see what position your website is on the search engines?
4. Do you ask customers how they found you?
These are all very important for your business. You MUST stay on top of these things and not let your information become outdated. Your service and pricing should be easy to find. No one likes to call to find out prices.
Websites should also have your Contact Information displayed on the HOME page or a link to your information. Consumers do not like to have to spend time finding where this information is located.
In the Yard Card & Lawn Display business, your State should be listed on the Home Page. If someone is looking for a display in a certain State and you only have counties listed on your Home Page, the customer will probably move on to another website. Also if the comsumer types in "Yard Cards, CO" and your State is not listed, your website will not be seen---business lost.
If you are purchasing a product or service on the web be sure that there is an "https" the "s" meaning secure. The site may also have a "lock' displayed on the website, but still must have the "https".
Spruce up your website today! This is your main instrument for good advertising.
"You don't get any rewards out of this life unless you make an investment"
Sincerely,
Marty Miller, http://www.lawnexpressions.com/ http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
YARD CARD COMPANY RECOGNITION
How do YOU get noticed on the Internet? With so many websites on so many different subjects and with numerous search terms, it seems an impossible endeavor.
Check common search terms for your industry in the search bar. The Lawn Display industry would have search terms such as: yard cards, lawn displays, yard displays, stork signs, lawn flamingoes —the list goes on. Look up the ones that you think customers use most. If you have an analytics program it will also give you this information. With Google or Bing, you will find that National Directories come up for most of these terms.
You will find that some Directories are Free to Join, some charge a Fee. What is important is which ones come up for the relevant search terms you think your potential customers use! Even if there is a Fee and the website is reputable, just one rental would pay for Joining that Directory. My experience is that you should be on ALL Directories but definitely on the ones that come up high. The 2 highest Directories are typically (on Google’s 1st page) http://www.flamingoed.com/ and http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/ . Your company should be on both of these Directories and often it will also pull your website up higher in the search engines.
If you want business, you need to pay attention to what is happening in the over-all Industry. Just waiting for rentals or referrals does not work that well.
"Doing business without advertising is like winking at a someone in the dark. YOU know what you are doing, but no one else does." Stewart Britt
Comments ALWAYS welcome!
Marty Miller
Check common search terms for your industry in the search bar. The Lawn Display industry would have search terms such as: yard cards, lawn displays, yard displays, stork signs, lawn flamingoes —the list goes on. Look up the ones that you think customers use most. If you have an analytics program it will also give you this information. With Google or Bing, you will find that National Directories come up for most of these terms.
You will find that some Directories are Free to Join, some charge a Fee. What is important is which ones come up for the relevant search terms you think your potential customers use! Even if there is a Fee and the website is reputable, just one rental would pay for Joining that Directory. My experience is that you should be on ALL Directories but definitely on the ones that come up high. The 2 highest Directories are typically (on Google’s 1st page) http://www.flamingoed.com/ and http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/ . Your company should be on both of these Directories and often it will also pull your website up higher in the search engines.
If you want business, you need to pay attention to what is happening in the over-all Industry. Just waiting for rentals or referrals does not work that well.
"Doing business without advertising is like winking at a someone in the dark. YOU know what you are doing, but no one else does." Stewart Britt
Comments ALWAYS welcome!
Marty Miller
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
GRADUATION YARD CARDS
Remember your Graduate with a Large Card in the Yard or Lawn Display on his/her Graduation Day! If you are having a party it helps those attending find your home.
Your Graduate will be so surprised and pleased with a Grad Display!
Check out companies in your state at www.yardcarddirectory.com/
Marty Miller
Your Graduate will be so surprised and pleased with a Grad Display!
Check out companies in your state at www.yardcarddirectory.com/
Marty Miller
Saturday, May 1, 2010
LIFE CAN CHANGE--Accidents Happen
Live Each Day--Accidents Happen
So where have I been since March? Life can change in an instant and mine did. We were in MI on March 25th for a Surprise party for my sister. I got to a relative's home and opened a door that I thought was the bathroom. The door opened in and I had stepped into a stairwell to a basement. My last memory was “Oh my God,what can I hold unto”.
Family heard what sounded like a 20 lb. sack of potatoes going down the 14 stairs, no utterance from me. They immediately came down to find me knocked out in an increasing pool of blood from a head wound. (As my niece descibed it--A CSI moment).
I was whisked off by ambulance to a great hospital (so thankful for that) where I spent 2 solid weeks, with 10 rib breaks, a shattered left wrist and forearm, head laceration and a dislocated and fractured clavicle. Head was stitched during surgery to operate on wrist/arm. A fixator was put on my wrist with pins down into my wrist. 2nd surgery was a chest tube for fluid in the lung. I had much therapy. You never go to a hospital for rest as someone is checking you every hour or 2, even at night.
Here is the miracle---neither knee replacement was damaged, my neck was not broken and my spinal fusion from my teen years, remained intact.
We remained in MI for 1 month and returned home to CO on 4/21. I was back in hospital here for Vertigo on 4/23-24.
Things can happen in life that change our focus and slow us down—obviously there was no business done on my part, for the month of April. I am starting slowly to get back to business in May. I have one more surgery to remove the fixator and pins from my wrist. I will remain on oxygen for a few weeks--remember this is higher altitude.
Never take Life for Granted! Following are a couple of quotes worth thinking about!
If you have a life changing event, please share it with us!
Being alive is loving being alive! Judith Alligim
Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."
Art Linkletter
Your outcome has much to do with your attitude.
Life is made up of many changes; and no state, be it bright or clouded , will always continue. Spurgeon
OK –now it is back to business. Don’t forget those Lawn Displays for Graduation.
Have a Good Spring!
Marty Miller, business owner, author, artist
http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/ http://www.lawnexpressions.com/
So where have I been since March? Life can change in an instant and mine did. We were in MI on March 25th for a Surprise party for my sister. I got to a relative's home and opened a door that I thought was the bathroom. The door opened in and I had stepped into a stairwell to a basement. My last memory was “Oh my God,what can I hold unto”.
Family heard what sounded like a 20 lb. sack of potatoes going down the 14 stairs, no utterance from me. They immediately came down to find me knocked out in an increasing pool of blood from a head wound. (As my niece descibed it--A CSI moment).
I was whisked off by ambulance to a great hospital (so thankful for that) where I spent 2 solid weeks, with 10 rib breaks, a shattered left wrist and forearm, head laceration and a dislocated and fractured clavicle. Head was stitched during surgery to operate on wrist/arm. A fixator was put on my wrist with pins down into my wrist. 2nd surgery was a chest tube for fluid in the lung. I had much therapy. You never go to a hospital for rest as someone is checking you every hour or 2, even at night.
Here is the miracle---neither knee replacement was damaged, my neck was not broken and my spinal fusion from my teen years, remained intact.
We remained in MI for 1 month and returned home to CO on 4/21. I was back in hospital here for Vertigo on 4/23-24.
Things can happen in life that change our focus and slow us down—obviously there was no business done on my part, for the month of April. I am starting slowly to get back to business in May. I have one more surgery to remove the fixator and pins from my wrist. I will remain on oxygen for a few weeks--remember this is higher altitude.
Never take Life for Granted! Following are a couple of quotes worth thinking about!
If you have a life changing event, please share it with us!
Being alive is loving being alive! Judith Alligim
Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."
Art Linkletter
Your outcome has much to do with your attitude.
Life is made up of many changes; and no state, be it bright or clouded , will always continue. Spurgeon
OK –now it is back to business. Don’t forget those Lawn Displays for Graduation.
Have a Good Spring!
Marty Miller, business owner, author, artist
http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/ http://www.lawnexpressions.com/
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Weekly and Daily Goals
WEEKLY and DAILY GOALS:
DAILY GOALS: (Personally, I find these to be the most effective. I also do what I call " Project" lists which are more like Weekly or Monthly Goals)
DO:
*Each morning make a list of things you would like to accomplish that day.
*Put them in order of importance or prioritize
*As you complete a task--cross it off.
*At the end of the day--move the things to the next day's list that have not been done.
*Remember yourself: exercise, meditate, pray, read or just sit down for 10 minutes each day.
*Reward yourself if you have REALLY had a good day
*Pick a certain day of the week to always do the same thing
(ie. office work, make calls, market your business, network, excercise, etc.)
* Mon. mornings is when I to do my weekly goals, I then send notes to friends, family or business associates.
A personal note, actually sent through the mail, has a bit more meaning to the recipient, so I pick 2 or 3 people to write each Monday.
" Although no one can go back in time and make a brand-new start,
anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending."
"Strive for Progress, not Perfection."
Be back in April. Get going on your Goals! Your thoughts and comments are always welcome!
Marty Miller, http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/ http://www.lawnexpressions.com/
DAILY GOALS: (Personally, I find these to be the most effective. I also do what I call " Project" lists which are more like Weekly or Monthly Goals)
DO:
*Each morning make a list of things you would like to accomplish that day.
*Put them in order of importance or prioritize
*As you complete a task--cross it off.
*At the end of the day--move the things to the next day's list that have not been done.
*Remember yourself: exercise, meditate, pray, read or just sit down for 10 minutes each day.
*Reward yourself if you have REALLY had a good day
*Pick a certain day of the week to always do the same thing
(ie. office work, make calls, market your business, network, excercise, etc.)
* Mon. mornings is when I to do my weekly goals, I then send notes to friends, family or business associates.
A personal note, actually sent through the mail, has a bit more meaning to the recipient, so I pick 2 or 3 people to write each Monday.
" Although no one can go back in time and make a brand-new start,
anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending."
"Strive for Progress, not Perfection."
Be back in April. Get going on your Goals! Your thoughts and comments are always welcome!
Marty Miller, http://www.yardcarddirectory.com/ http://www.lawnexpressions.com/
Friday, March 19, 2010
Internet Directories for your Business
Now is the time to start planning your Spring Business Goals. People are ready to "start fresh" and celebrate life. For those of us in the Yard Card and Lawn Display business; Spring offers many opportunities. There are the Stork signs for newborns and Birthdays but also Mother's Day and Graduations.
It is time to start marketing and planning for these events. I recommend sending post cards to current customers or advertising in a small local periodical, such as neighborhood Newspapers. Also Join all of the available Directories that list Yard Cards. There are many Free ones--but as is always said "you get what you pay for".
Most of those charging fees such as www.yardcarddirectory.com/ are updating often and keeping the Directory higher on the search engines. It is a good idea to be on as many Directories as possible & realize that if you pay a fee it will proably pay for itself with the first couple of rentals that come from it.
Even during tough financial times you must invest some money to make money. Business rarely just falls into your lap. Make some Goals for yourself, your family and your business! Goals will be the next blog!
"Doing business without advertising is like winking at a someone in the dark. YOU know what you are doing, but no one else does." Stewart Britt
Sincerely,
Marty Miller
It is time to start marketing and planning for these events. I recommend sending post cards to current customers or advertising in a small local periodical, such as neighborhood Newspapers. Also Join all of the available Directories that list Yard Cards. There are many Free ones--but as is always said "you get what you pay for".
Most of those charging fees such as www.yardcarddirectory.com/ are updating often and keeping the Directory higher on the search engines. It is a good idea to be on as many Directories as possible & realize that if you pay a fee it will proably pay for itself with the first couple of rentals that come from it.
Even during tough financial times you must invest some money to make money. Business rarely just falls into your lap. Make some Goals for yourself, your family and your business! Goals will be the next blog!
"Doing business without advertising is like winking at a someone in the dark. YOU know what you are doing, but no one else does." Stewart Britt
Sincerely,
Marty Miller
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