Month: December 2008

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Google’s New Friend Connect

Finally I have finished integrating Google’s new Friend Connect into my website content pages. If you don’t know what Friend Connect is, it is a new programmer-free social interface that allows any website to use hi-tech programming features to allow site visitors to interact with the content. The key is that with Friend Connect you do not need to have any programming skills.

I have used the page review rating and comment module in many pages of my website. You can visit our instruction section to click through the various pages to see how it looks and how it works. Click into a few pages and you can see how the modules act and work on the page. Leave a comment, mouse over the stars and leave a rating and you can do so anonymously.

Personally I found the application after a few dry runs, extremely easy to work with and simple to install. There are several modules you may want to consider for your use. You can install a comment module that even allows video upload, a website rating module, a page comment and rating module, and a friend network module. For my needs, I am only using the page rating.

One thing that I have found is that it is best to only have one comment or rating module on a page otherwise the application gets confused.

It is easy to style the modules anyway you want from inside Friend Connect and then style the <div> that contains the content back in your source code. Implementation of Friend Connect is still best for webmasters or people who know their way around source code.

I consider the application a new exciting way to interact with website visitors. Take a look and tell me what you think by clicking comments below.

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One of only 236 Google AdWords Qualified Professional in the World

Nancy McCord is a Google AdWords Qualified IndividualI have been a Google AdWords Qualified Professional for nearly four years which is just about as long as Google has had the program for professional AdWords managers. Recently I found out that I am one of only 236 AdWords Qualified Professionals in the world. Wow, actually I thought there were more, but according to the www.Google-Advertising-Professionals.net that’s all there are.

You can check out their directory and find a professional who can speak and write in your own language. If you’re based in the United States, call me first at 301-705-7303, to receive first class service. In fact I just set up an account this past week for www.LeadBoosterClub.com and here’s the unsolicited comment that Kathy Goughenour sent to me after we had set up her account and helped her fix her website in preparation for her new AdWords campaign.

You need to rename your Google AdWords Quick Start Plus program to Faster-Than-a-Speeding-Bullet program.  Nancy started work on my Google AdWords program Thursday morning and by Friday evening she’d set up my Google account, written 4 landing pages, rewritten my home page, generated what seemed like thousands of keywords, researched my competition, written 12 (it could have been more, I lost count) brilliant Google ads.  Saturday morning she put the Google AdWords campaign into action.  Whew!  I was worn out watching her work.  I forgot to mention that she’d never heard of my business before.  She grasped my business concept, understood my target audience, and made me feel that anything was possible.  Thank you, Nancy McCord, for making me believe in miracles, again.  I believe.

Kathy Goughenour President – www.LeadBoosterClub.com

Thanks Kathy for your kind words. Google AdWords services are one of our core businesses. I love working with Google AdWords. I consider each client’s needs like a big puzzle – how best can I create a program to get results, not just clicks, but real leads.

So if you’re looking for one of only 236 Google AdWords Qualified Professionals to help you, and a passionate one focused on your success, look no further.  For more information we invite you to review our AdWords set up and management program.

 

 

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Hostway Improves Customer Service

Wondering what the problem is.I have been a long term customer of Hostway, nearly eight years, they provide web hosting for my blog and 1,500 page website. In the recent past, they have taken a black eye for their customer service in part due to growing pains. However, there has been a change recently that I wanted to share with you that bodes very well for Hostway.

It appears that Hostway has, like many other companies, outsourced its customer service to India to start to provide rapid response service. This is actually not a bad thing at all. Recently I had an issue with my own site. The call time to tech support was dazzling only five to eight minutes to speak to an actual person. This is a huge improvement. Customer’s when they have a problem have a very high frustration level and the ability to speak to a real person with a sense of immediacy is very important.

Within one day, my issue had been escalated to second tier tech support and I really feel that problems are under control. Kudos Hostway for the improvements that you have made in your customer service process!

In the real world, there will be problems it is a fact. No hosting company will ever be trouble free, but it is how these problems are dealt with – with a sense of urgency, courtesy, and grasp of the nature of the problem that mitigates impressions that can damage a businesses reputation. In this case, even though I had a problem, the way Hostway has handled it has been excellent and worthy of this post to say thank you! Specifically to Nick Taylor in the Hostway Canada office – Thank You Nick!

 

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Are Blogs Better Than E-Newsletters?

From my perspective, blogs are better than e-newsletters. Many clients are surprised to find out that they will typically only have between a 10% to 35% open rate with e-newsletters. The reality is that it is simply getting more and more difficult to have your e-newsletter appear in someone’s in box and not their junk mail folder.

Blogs allow for the same type of contact with clients, prospects, and visitors without the person having to share their email address. In my own case my e-newsletter subscriber list is over 1,000 but typically on any given month under 100 people will actually open and read my monthly e-newsletter. In comparison nearly 20% of my website traffic will stop in visit and read my blog.

I still do a monthly e-newsletter, but now use it for a platform for special features, tips, and longer newsy articles than what I post as a typical blog post. I do try to get double duty from my e-newsletters by archiving them on my website and sometimes even breaking out the content as a white paper download in our resources section or special PC instruction.

So, do I feel that an e-newsletter is passé? No, not for some clients. particularly clients who are not blogging and an e-newsletter is the only regular contact they have with clients and prospects. From my point of view the contact is what is important, if the client does not buy into a blog then an e-newsletter monthly or quarterly is a good alternative.

For e-commerce site owners, I have a different perspective on the value of e-newsletters, I consider an e-newsletter crucial in regards to building repeat sales but only if the e-newsletter is used as a perk for regular shoppers and includes coupon codes and promotions.

Anyway you look at it, if you are in business, you should at least start to capture email addresses of clients on a daily basis if you are not already. You may want them for a regular e-newsletter in the future or to announce your new blog.