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The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter
Feature Article - 10 Strategic Tips On How To Increase Website Sales
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Guest Article - Organizing Your Family Meals
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Okay, time for things to start going smoothly again... please? Actually things aren't all that bad, considering, but it is frustrating having my work computer break down. I'm hoping to pick it up from the shop today after Ariel's preschool, but of course it will be raining so I need to make sure to bring a plastic bag to protect it. They had to reinstall the hard drive, so basically everything that wasn't backed up should be gone. Frustrating, but I was mostly backed up on the old machine, which I am using to write this newsletter. Think I need to back things up a little more often, though!
When things get like this I do try to remember that they could be far worse. I coule be dealing with some of the stressful stuff I was dealing with at about this time last year, for example. It was right about when Gage turned one month old that we found out he was going to have to have surgery. He's 13 months old now. I think I'd rather have major computer problems than go through that again! No contest!
Since my work computer has been out since Friday, I took both Friday and Saturday more or less off. Checked email, checked my forum, but that's about it those days. That's actually pretty stressful for me; I like getting things done on my sites, and waiting to hear what condition my computer was going to come back to me in was no fun at all. Especially when I was told it might even be done Friday night, then didn't get a call until Monday night after my husband left them a message saying he was about ready to take things to the store manager. Funny thing... we got a callback minutes later. My warranty is supposed to include a loaner computer if it's to be gone more than 24 hours, so I was pretty annoyed to have it gone for so long without even the offer of a loan.
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If you already have a website or want to get one then spending time learning what your website needs to have in order to increase online sales should be your primary step you take. In this article we are going to cover some major TOP 10 points on what your website should have to consistently drive online sales.
1. Get the attention through clear marketing messages - Your website should have a clear message about your products or business. Show your visitors the benefits they get if they choose your product or business. Make sure that you define your marketing messages clearly for all your critical audiences.
2. Make your visitors feel comfortable - Make sure that your visitors will feel comfortable on your website. Use nice and creative graphics with your content. Use your main business address on your contact page and not P.O. Boxes since it won't make your business look very dependable. You should also have your phone number located on all of your pages on a visible spot. Your answering message should have the name of your business recorded on it. You are a professional right? Remember to always have your e-mail, phone number, or contact form easily accessible from all pages of your website so your visitors don't have to struggle to get in touch with you. Another good idea is to provide FAQ page to give your visitors the extra confidence to buy without having to contact you.
3. Create a newsletter - Provide your visitors with a newsletter that they can easily subscribe to. This is your marketing tool that doesn't cost you anything. It is something catchy that will grab their attention and make them want to sign up.
4. Include your specials - Make sure that you give your visitors good reasons to buy from you. When you tell your potential customer who's just looking around that you will give them the best deal in town, and to call you back before they buy. I can guarantee that if you handled the communication good they will call you back before they make a buying decision. What you say to them will always be in the back of their mind. Now don't think that you need to beat the price that they bring back to you. You can always include something extra special to the mix.
5. Keeping in touch with existing customers - Remember that your existing customer is more likely to buy from you again, or refer you to someone, than someone you find who in only interested in your product or business at the time. Remind your customers by phone, e-mail, or postcards about your website or business and let them know about the updates or specials that you have.
6. Create an online marketing campaign - Set some time aside every once in a while and keep looking for ways to promote your website. Establish new linking partners that will advertise your website on theirs. Write interesting and resourceful articles that can help other website owners to provide for their visitors. Establish your monthly budget and invest it in search engine marketing or good business related websites that will bring you quality visitors.
7. Improve you website graphics - Try to stay away from clip art images or something out of style because it won't have much effect. Make your graphics unique and come up with nice and catchy advertising tag lines. If you need help, hire an agency that will help you come up with the appropriate marketing messages and design eye catching advertising pieces that will seize your visitors' attention.
8. Perform a regular competitor and customer research - Continue doing research on your competitors and customers. Try to keep your website updated and competitive. After all, the website is your best educated and most knowledgeable salesman that works 24/7.
9. Customer is always right - Your customer is always right, even if they are not. It is important to acknowledge the comments or concerns your customers may have. This will allow you to improve your website in order to make future customers completely satisfied. After you have changes made, jump right back into selling again.
10. Choose a reliable web hosting - Don't settle for less or judge the hosting by price. You need your website to be available to the world all day everyday. Please note that there is no such thing as "unlimited bandwidth" in web hosting. Any good network engineer or technician can explain why that is.
These 10 tips will help you understand how to increase your online sales. To finalize this article I just want to add two more very important things. Please do not put your picture on the home page. Your navigation of the website should be easy to follow and fool-proof. Don't complicate things by providing too many options for the customers that will just get them lost. Now go sell.
This article was written by AKBrothers, LLC at http://www.akbrothers.com, http://www.akbrothers.net. Reproductions of this article are encouraged but must include a link back to http://www.akbrothers.com.
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With life as busy as it is, many people are thinking about scaling back, organizing and simplifying. And while cutting activities from your daily routine is well and good, there are some things like eating we simply can't avoid.
The best way, I've found to tackle this is to simplify and better organize my meal preparation. In our house, I do the cooking and my better half does the clean-up. It's our way of organizing a system that works best for us. There are times when neither of us revels in our respective duties but we put on a smiling face nonetheless. And since a cook and housekeeper aren't in our budget and our bellies love a good meal, we've also found some other creative solutions that work.
You know how food tastes especially good when someone else makes it? It's the same with pasta sauce from a jar - to a harried parent it could be homemade. Stir-fry dishes can be a breeze if you purchase frozen vegetables and meat already cut up. And it's totally amazing what one can do with a can of soup and a few extra ingredients. You can have a gourmet type meal in a matter of minutes.
And you don't have to compromise good nutrition for quick meal solutions. It's a known fact that serving raw fruit and vegetables with a low-fat dip is much healthier than boiling the heck out of the veggies. Even a few frozen peas placed in a bowl on the kitchen table while you're organizing the rest of the meal should temporary appease little appetites. Instead of responding to the constant "Mommy, I'm hungry" requests, keep healthy snacks convenient and self-serve. Organize a 'quick snack' section in your fridge. Store easy-to-open containers of cheese and crackers, washed and cut-up vegetables and fruit along with handy containers of dipping sauce.
Use the same method for organizing drinks; keep a selection of reusable drink boxes or install a self-serve water jug with a spout and a nearby stack of plastic cups. As a work at home parent, this 'self-serve' idea has come in handy more times than not.
Meal time can also be fun family time. Even on those nights when you don't have a clue what to make. For anytime or when you're plain out of dinner ideas host a picnic. Yes, you heard me - a picnic. Picnics are not only for summer and they don't have to be complicated. Throw a plastic table cloth on the family room floor and enjoy. Make the ordinary extraordinary by turning deli sandwiches, hot finger foods, or simple cheese and crackers into fun. It sure beats a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at the dinner table. Or, turn grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup into a posh affair by lighting a couple of candles and serving the kid's milk or juice in wine glasses.
Do you find it hard to get in some quality time with your kids - especially the teenaged variety? A creative way of organizing a little one-on-one time is to post an ad on your family bulletin board for kitchen help. "Salary paid out weekly with an endless supply of love, understanding and support". Encourage togetherness by delegating simple tasks like washing vegetables or setting the table. My mother always told me that working along side another person promotes conversation. Your teen may be more willing to open up to you while chopping vegetables than she would be sitting directly across from you at the kitchen table.
Sherrie Le Masurier is a freelance writer, an organization consultant, and member of Professional Organizers in Canada (POC). She is also co-owner of http://www.decorating-kids-rooms.net a site geared to organizing and decorating children's rooms and http://www.familysanitysavers.com a site featuring smart solutions for busy parents.
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