Episode 52: Web Tips for Small Businesses

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As a small business it’s important not to shoot yourself in the foot when it comes to the web.

Geek Tool

• 01:54 - E-Myth – Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It

Webapps

• 04:06 - ShowMeWhatsWrong.com – Quick way to have family and friends show you what is wrong so you can help them fix it
• 08:43 - http://cacoo.com/ – Collaborative web-based diagram software
  • Mindmeister – Online collaborative brain mapping
  • OmniGraffle – Mac based diagram software

Topic

• 11:53 – Creating a web presence for small businesses
• Do’s
  • Do your homework
  • Look at your peers
  • User studies
    • Anyone can do Usability
  • Hallway Testing
  • Spend some money
    • Hire a freelancer - http://jobs.freelanceswitch.com/
  • Stick with useful content
    • Get rid of useless widgets
    • Stick with content that provides real value
• What does your audience want?
  • Just your hours?
  • Content about your field (blog)
  • If you don’t need it, don’t do it
• Use your domain name in your email address
• Don’ts
  • Do not do your own web development
  • Overuse Flash and other “flashy” technologies
  • Don’t use email addresses like: [email protected]
  • Social Media
    • Facebook Fan page
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Setup search queries through Twitter

Tags: emyth, hallwaytesting, mindmeister, omnigraffle, showmewhatswrong.com, smallbusiness

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 at 3:00 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

5 Responses to “Episode 52: Web Tips for Small Businesses”

• Shane Says:
  January 23rd, 2010 at 1:44 pm

  Hey Loved this podcast…listened to it from Norfolk to Chicago. Loved the website advise…keep up the good work!
• Jade Robbins Says:
  January 23rd, 2010 at 11:45 pm

  Thanks! Small businesses need web love too
• Brian Says:
  January 30th, 2010 at 11:58 am

  Great podcast. I had a client a few months ago insist on a hit counter on their page. I tried to talk them out of it but they weren’t going to change their mind. I almost didn’t do it but I needed the money. LOL!

  I also agree about the email addresses. As cheap as hosting is nowadays there is no reason why a company doesn’t have their own domain.
• Mark Sanborn Says:
  January 30th, 2010 at 1:05 pm

  Brian,

  Haha that is funny. At least it wasn’t scrolling marquee!
• Jade Robbins Says:
  January 31st, 2010 at 1:28 pm

  What’s wrong with a hit counter? *SLAP*

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