Posted February 11th, 2009 by Tem Balanco
A common question we get here at OneWebHosting is how to add audio to a website.
Customers typically add audio for various uses like background music, podcasts, conference call audio, etc.
In this tip, we show you how to add an audio file (MP3) and how easy it is using our Site Builder Pro. Even if you don’t use our Site Builder, you can still use our MP3 code generator located in this how-to movie.
How to add audio (MP3) to your website:
Posted February 11th, 2009 by Tem Balanco
95% of our customers are small business owners and we are constantly looking for ways to help our customers succeed. One of the best small business books we have found on the topic of running a business is a book called The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber.
The premise of the E-Myth is that small businesses are started by people that are really good at a particular skill and enjoy doing that task. This can be anything from a business consultant to a life coach to a dog breeder to a programmer, however, when it comes to managing other aspects of “running a business” they tend to fall short.
The E-Myth is all about helping a small business owner setup processes that help an owner manage the aspects of their business that are not their strong suit.
The author uses an example of franchise companies which are very successful because they use clear procedures, reproducible processes, automation and consistent sales techniques and every detail of running a business is documented and can be passed on to other employees.
The idea is essentially to document and create a process for all aspects of your business as if it was a franchise. This will allow you to grow your business consistently, train employees and allow you to have a true business and not a job, a common problem for small business owners. I highly suggest this book, it has greatly helped our business and the ideas are applicable to any business.
Posted February 4th, 2009 by Tem Balanco
Every business has a sales cycle. A sales cycle, from a customer’s perspective, is a series of steps that a one goes through when deciding to buy a product or service.
This cycle can vary depending on the industry, but basically consists of these basic steps:
1) Identify a need, 2) Find company to meet this need, 3) Evaluate company, 4) Address concerns/objections, 5) Buy.
Most people spend a lot of time on steps 3 and 4. This is typically done by calling the service provider and asking questions.
A great technique to assist prospective customers is to use a frequently asked questions page on your website. You can address common questions, objections, and concerns directly, giving your customers the information up-front and accessible at their convenience.
Using an FAQ page is a fantastic way to speed up your sales cycle, so when your prospective customer calls or emails you, they are much closer to the buying decision than without a FAQ page.
Adding a FAQ page is easy, quick and allows you to help more customers transact with your business, faster.
Posted February 3rd, 2009 by Tem Balanco
1. Automatically advertise your website address
Do you broadcast your website URL to your customers? This is the single most effective thing you can do. Put your website address on your letterhead, business cards, promotional materials, company vehicles and on all email correspondence.
This is essentially free and will keep your website address at the forefront of your customers and prospective customers’ minds.
2. Combine advertising efforts with complementary businesses
If there are businesses in your area that compliment your business, strike a deal with them
to share advertising materials in each others mailings. You can also include marketing materials like newsletters, coupons, etc. at point of purchase and vice-versa.
By doing this you tap into the other business’ network as they do yours. This can lead to very low cost word of mouth and eventually increased sales.
3. Gather and share customer testimonials
Satisfied customers are always ready to provide a good word about your business. You most likely have access to lots of testimonials you can use to help spread the word about your business. Let prospective customers know what your customers are saying. Even better, use audio and display your testimonials on your website. We use this technique to great success on our website: http://www.onewebhosting.com/testimonials.php. We use a service called BYOAudio.com which automatically takes the call and generates a piece of code you can paste into your website to play the audio testimonial.
4. Increase your insurance deductibles
You most likely have various types of insurance for your business. A time tested way to save money on your premiums is to simply request a higher deductible. A small increase in the deductible can result in big savings moving forward. In most cases, even when you do end up needing to pay that deductible, you have saved more money in the long run.
5. Buy used office/computer equipment
Looking to get some new equipment for your business this year? Buy used! This is a tried and true way to save money for your business. Using Ebay or even better, Craigslist (better since it’s local), you can find great office equipment for a fraction of what it would cost new. Things like conference tables, office desks or computers can be purchased for more than 50-75% savings.
** Bonus **
Make sure to submit your website to Google. It’s a quick and easy thing you can do to get your website listed on the #1 search engine in the world. Here’s the link to add your URL to Google.
