Ever land on a web site and jump back because you were startled by sheer horror of what you were seeing?  I have. Here are 6 examples off the top of my head - continue with caution! :)

1. Flimsy, Limp Handshake - this person has no confidence. They are so worried about "what if" they miss opportunities.   #FAIL.
2. Obnoxious Salesman - Pop-ups, flashing text, lots of bold graphics. #FAIL
3. The Programmer/Techno Snob - usually has mystery meat navigation, information is hard to find and scarce. #FAIL
4. Ultra ADHD - Too many choices, and so much junk that you get a headache trying to find what you want. #FAIL
5. Simple and Shy - extremely plain.  No call to action, or visually appealing anything to get you revved up about what they have to offer. #FAIL
6. The Wannabe - copies what other marketers are doing without understanding WHY they do it. They just want to make a fast buck.  #FAIL

Anyone can create a blog/website.  Over 20k are created every day.  Doesn't mean they should though.

Let me ask you... what are all 6 flawed marketers missing?

ENGAGING with their prospects.  Be where your customers are.

To be engaging means...

Always being LIKE-ABLE.
Do you know someone that everybody likes? Pleasant with an attractive personality. Is that person humble? A servant to others with a joyful attitude of giving?   Is this you?

Always be TRUSTWORTHY.
Do what you say you're going to do.  Be in integrity.  Think of businesses that are trustworthy... Amazon, Zappos, Apple.  Companies that have the distinct reputation for extraordinary customer service and satisfaction.  Have you done what you say you're going to do?

Always be ANSWERING.
Answering questions, responding to inquiries, offering solutions.  Be fast and frequent.  Typically 24 hours is a respectable turn around time.  How can you set up a system to always be prompt?

Always be THANKING...
...people for their RT's (re-tweets), comments, or sharing your material.  Stay in a state of Gratitude.

Always be LINKING.
Linking your content to your social media accounts, like twitter.  Twitter makes it easy for your peeps to RT or re-tweet your link to expand your reach.  And, think of others! When they RT, their @twitterhandle is tweeted too, so don't use all 140 characters.  Save at least 20 characters for the re-tweeter's handle to show up on your tweet too.

Always take PHOTOGRAPHS.
Facebook is the worlds largest website and what do most people spend time doing? Looking at pictures! So always take photos of events and opportunities - a cell phone camera is fine.

This is totally up to you! You can engage your prospects, build relationships and create evangelists for your business or not.  Or, you can continue to do the 6 Flaws and "interruption marketing" to piss your prospect off.  Whatever you do, just make sure you're in alignment with your visitors GOALS.  Help them solve their problem quickly and painlessly as possible. Your website isn't about you, it's about THEM

Now It's YOUR Turn! What are your thoughts? Post below, I'd love to know what you think!

Your website is stale.  It sucks.  It was supposed to be a means of attracting new clients in your target market.  But that never happened.

Let me take a moment to underline that a website is a tool. If you don’t use the tool, why have it?  An outdated website reflects badly on your business.  It says your either; 1) too busy/lazy to update it,  2) you don’t care, or 3) your out of business.

That being said, I think it’s important for you to understand that marketing online TODAY requires your website be a “hub” of your communications. Engaging and nurturing relationships.

How Do You Create A Hub?

It’s so easy to lose focus on activities that bring the greatest return for you.  (Like writing) Sure, I get sidetracked all the time – but staying focused, putting out good content that engages my followers keeps me stuck in their memory. That is where we ALL want to be!  Right?

Looking to the future of your website and beyond, here are thoughts to consider:

1. Content is the most important piece of your website.
   Not your design, colors, photos or anything else. You can have the ugliest website ever and still have tons of traffic if your content is relevant and authoritative – Google will see to that.
2. Make the content easy to find.
   Today’s website platform will most likely be WordPress which has category, search, and archive widgets. Use them.  (And don’t forget to tag & categorize your content)
3. Consistency.
   Lord knows I suck at consistency! I go in spurts – I’ll write great blog posts for a couple weeks then burn out. An interesting fact is that my older articles still bring traffic. I have one from 2005 that consistently shows up in my “most read” stats. So, do the work! Even if you have 1k excuses – do it anyway.
4. Sharing.
   Wordpress has tools that automatically Tweet, post to FaceBook & LinkedIn (and anywhere else) you want. And most people think you only need to share once. Not true! I was on a call yesterday with Guy Kawasaki and he automatically sets some of his stuff to tweet/post every 8 hours for a day or two. Each re-tweet would have a couple hundred clicks… So it pays to re-tweet your own stuff at different hours. (The web never sleeps!)
5. Engaging.
   Remember ANOTHER 80/20 rule – 80% helping, 20% promoting. Take time to thank people for following you. Comment, comment, comment, comment, and continuing comenting on other people’s stuff. Blogs/tweets/FB/LI. Not only does it open the door for communication, your comment creates a back link to your site – Google Goodness with a big red bow!
6. Consider Mobile users.
   Read these 2 posts I wrote about mobile marketing here: http://thewebcoach.net/in-u-s-31-own-smartphones-is-your-business-mobile-ready/ and here http://thewebcoach.net/web-coach-tip-mobile-marketing-strategies-and-7-tips-to-get-you-started-plus-wordpress-mobile-themes-and-plugins/
7. Schedule your “feed me & share” time.
   FIRST thing in the morning when I have coffee I open up my Google reader and skim over the news of a few chosen resources that give me inspiration to write. That usually gets the wheels turning and an article is born soon after.  If you have to get up a half-hour earlier to make this happen – DO IT!  It’ll be the best 30 minutes you spend each day.

After my article is written, then open up everything else on my computer – share my article, check in w/my social homes, engage, and then go on about my day.  I check twitter while waiting to pick up my kids, while dinner is cooking (be careful! I lost track of time and went to the grill to find this.) And before bed.  Sometimes if I’m watching TV in the evening I’ll bring my laptop and check in during commercials.

Many people talk about limiting your time online to XX minutes… But then, I feel that time becomes “reactive” time. I’ve only got 15 minutes to answer these messages, OMG! I’ll never make it! You should be ENGAGING during this time.

Save the responding to tweets/fb to 1x a day. Most people are satisfied if you get back to them within 24 hours. So spend your time looking for ways to help/engage your peeps. I pretend I’m a social butterfly with rainbow wings and pixie dust. Hey, whatever it takes! LOL!

I think Mars Dorian got it right when he said:

A lazy person does barely any work.

A good person does the work when he feels like it.

A digital crusader does the work EVEN when he doesn’t feel it.

So, don’t skip “the work” when you don’t feel like doing it. That’s amateur, and that ain’t you!

Now It’s YOUR Turn! What are your thoughts? Post below, I’d love to know what you think!

Why?

Those with high Klout Scores have the ability to impact a large audience.

Genius!

Bet lets talk about you and me.

Marketing agencies aren't the only ones who benefit from Klout - you can too!  Here's how.

Curious who has high Klout scores?

Now It's YOUR Turn! What are your thoughts? Post below, I'd love to know what you think!

Going Dark? This is an old phrase from my phone company days.

In Las Vegas, there are a mind boggling amount of circuits going to casinos, hotels, businesses, government agencies and so on.  All are priority #1, and many have a redundant fiber optic network backup that is “dark” meaning there is no data running on it, it is just sitting there dark “just in case.”

Often, in our everyday lives we are called to more pressing matters and we go ‘dark’.  We don’t have a redundant network to back us up, and our online colleagues, friends, and clients wonder if we fell off the earth.

Here is a recap of GigaOm.com’s post 6 Ways to Revive a Dead Social Media Channel

1. Address your absence.
2. Begin again as if starting all over.
3. Reach out to fans and followers who have engaged you lately.
4. Begin re-posting consistently.
5. Reply, comment and acknowledge your followers quickly.
6. And last but not least: Map out a social media calendar.

My partner Kym and I offer Twitter Management for a few select clientele, and their social media calendar looks something like this:

What’s happening this month? Monthly promotions, testimonials, local activities, people, business or organizations you want to promote.

Weekly/Daily topic schedule.  Myth Monday, Technology Tuesday, What? Wednesday, Thank-you Thursday, Fun Friday.

RT (re-tweet) sources: StumbleUpon, Digg, industry leaders, vendors, and related current events to piggyback.

We all want to appear sharp and on the cutting-edge of whatever our gig is, and by creating a calendar, no matter how hokey it feels, is the best way to keep ourselves on track.

Now it’s YOUR turn.  Go on now… get busy!

The other day I stopped by the Allergy Doc to pay my balance, opened the door, and ran smack into him… I asked “Why do you make it so hard for me to do business with you?” – THAT question got his attention.

You see… my doc doesn’t take credit or debit cards.  I can’t remember the last time I used a stamp – (the census doesn’t count) So when I said, “make it easy to do business” I meant – make it easy for me to pay you!

Someone else is listening too – NETFLIX.

My Bonus Son told me about getting NetFlix movies on his Xbox – kewl! But I have a Wii – and NetFlix isn’t ready for a Wii – yet…

But, Dang! I can get NetFlix movies on my Ipod Touch and Ipone too – isn’t that impressive – how much easier could they make it to do business with them? Telepathically perhaps? LOL!

Check out the deets at Mashable.com

Now it’s YOUR turn.

• How easy is it for people to do business with YOU?
• What processes need updating?
• What steps can be eliminated or modified?

P.S. – Once you’re done, hit that “retweet” button below & spread the word so others will be inspired to make it easier to do business as well.

Yesterday, I met with some of my attendee’s of a recent Get Clients NOW! program. Even though the class officially ended two weeks ago, we still meet on Monday to check in, support each other and keep ourselves accountable to our goals.

I can’t tell you how much fun and support we’ve created for ourselves. I’m so INSPIRED!

So, here’s my question for YOU – are you plugging in with an accountability partner once a week? You are 65 percent more likely to accomplish your goals if you have someone watching over your shoulder.

So get with it! No excuses! There’s no time like the present… right here, right now. You CAN do it.

Have Faith in yourself. I do.

Today my dear hubs called home to check in and share a short story…

He works for ABF Freight and is what’s called a “City Driver” meaning he makes local deliveries and pick-ups. On one of his regular stops a woman was apparently having a bad day. Upon his arrival, she stated:

“Why the H3LL do all you G-D truckers make your F-ing deliveries on Thursday?”

To which he replied:

“…because we know that’s when you’re at your best and most efficient!”

Silence.

And then a grin.

Now, she LOVES my husband and is looking forward to seeing him next Thursday. LOL! Sometimes saying something nice can shock any ‘ole grouch into being your buddy.

Expect More? Extreme Makeover: Home Edition does

The Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team has to accomplish in days what usually takes months. So it is no wonder they rely on ABF for freight transportation and logistical support. When people expect more, they call ABF.

Today I had the pleasure of stumbling upon Bob Burg’s blog thru a retweet on twitter.  (RT @BobBurgBob Burg » Do Go-Givers Really Sell More? http://bit.ly/nqJUY)

His post today was about meeting two new friends at Dunkin’ Donuts who are in sales and met each other through their local BNI (Business Network International) organization.

Bob continues,

Both are obviously true Go-Givers and have built their businesses through a focus on providing value without concern for, or attachment to, reciprocity.”

In other words, they prefer to serve, rather than take credit.  You can read the entire post plus commentary from readers here (be prepared to be inspired! <grin>)

Meanwhile, I also checked out Bob’s book “The Go-Giver” – LOVE IT!

He takes a spin off from a “Go Getter,” the ambitious person trying to get ahead, and the “Giver”, a person who lives to serve others.

I highly suggest you take a peak at a free download from his site “The Five Laws of Stratospheric  Success from The Go-Giver“ and tape, glue, staple or cement them somewhere near by!

###

Bob Burg is a highly sought-after speaker at corporate, financial services and direct sales conventions. Combining humor and entertainment with easily applied, proven systems for personal marketing, audiences come away ready to immediately profit from Bob’s instruction and coaching.  You can follow Bob on Twitter @BobBurg

“Intro to Social Media Marketing”

3 Steps to Smart Social Marketing

You will learn:

• how to find the RIGHT people to follow for business success that interest you.
• how to use the right tools to organize and track them with ease.
• critical tips for your privacy and protection.
• 9 Social media tips for success.
• popular and preferred tools to use.
• a list of 63 popular social networks.
• Listen in on Open Q&A for using social media for your business.

NOW $20, will be $47 after midnight 6/6/09

NOW $20, will be $47 after midnight 6/6/09

Seriously?

Have you asked them?  Or, do you just assume what your clients/customers want?   That can be a terrible mistake… one that COULD put you right out of business before you even get started.

Perish that thought.(!)

This October will the 5 year anniversary of The Web Coach.  And only YESTERDAY I conducted my first official Survey with all of my subscribers.

I don’t always practice what I preach (oops!)

I signed up with Constant Contact a month ago and finally took full advantage of the free survey feature.

Boy, am I glad I did! I’ve learned a few GOOD things, confirmed other thoughts, and got some constructive feedback.  (we can all use a little of that from time to time)

This is what I found:

1. People are busy.  They want brief, fact-based, information. Fast.
2. People aren’t always sure of what you offer.  And they need to be reminded, regularly.
3. Survey’s allow your readers to TELL you what they want more of.
4. You find out what you’re doing RIGHT!   Affirmation is gooooood.
   
5. You’ll find out what needs to be revised, ditched or done away with.
6. Receiving feedback opens the door to two-way communication and improved products/services.
7. You can use your participants as beta testers for new product/service offerings.
8. You also find holes in your marketing cycle.
9. You’ll find opportunities to make more money! Woohoo!
10. Because knowing what your market needs is everything!

This information is so valuable to me.  Creating this survey was so easy to do, I’m going to schedule this into my quarterly business review.  Yeah!

So, my friend, do you *really* know what your customers want?