Month: July 2017

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Tips for Moving to a New Web Host

Expect the unexpected.
Expect the Unexpected.

Moving to a new web host? Here are my top tips on quickly moving with a minimum of downtime for HTML and PHP (non-database driven) websites.

Know Before You Go
Make sure you know what is going on with your site before you go. What are you using at your old webhost? Email? Script? When you repoint your domain to your new host, anything that you had at your old host is wiped. That means you will have to set up email accounts, any scripts, and any other things you have been using. Make sure before you move, that your webmaster does their due diligence and make sure you are knowledgeable to inform them of what you have and are doing. Typically they can see scripts that run your website, but may not know of your mail server set up.

Use a Web Host that Provides a Temporary Domain
I like Hostway, when I set up a new domain that is owned or pointed elsewhere, Hostway gives me a temporary domain to use. I can load files and even test scripts and make any changes I need to before I move a domain and go live. If you don’t see this option ask, as sometimes it can be turned on for you.

Test, Test, Test
Before launch of any site, I do extensive testing both in my clients area and then in the temporary domain. Try to get all problems resolved before you turn your new site on. It will save having headaches and frustration.

Be Prepared for Propagation
Once you repoint your domain name servers to a new web host, be prepared for propagation. Know that it takes typically 4 to 6 hours for servers to refresh and longer for small internet service providers for your domain at the new web host to be seen consistently and properly. Don’t freak out when you cannot see your site. This takes time and there is nothing you can do to speed the process.

Looking for a webmaster to help you move to a new web host? Contact us and review our webmaster services today.

 

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Facebook for Business Part Two

This post is continued from Monday.

What about Facebook likes?
What about Facebook likes?

What about likes?
People no longer need to like your page to read or follow the content, but many will.  That being said, not everyone who likes your Facebook business page will see your updates in their newsfeed. But, that does not mean you should not write something meaningful and interesting for Facebook. Consider what you do there a great way for people to be introduced to what you do and how you do it.

Facebook comment moderation
Don’t set it and forget it. If you are scheduling content, make sure that when you personally go to Facebook to see the next cute cat video that you are monitoring your own business page. Many times I will see as we take over page management that no one has been responding to customer questions, complaints, or requests for service. You would be absolutely amazed to find out that many businesses have action happening on Facebook but are totally unaware that it is happening. In many cases the first place a comment about a problem with a service will be on your Facebook business page. So make sure you are regularly watching for messages and interactions.

Facebook advertising – low cost and valuable clicks
I have had good experience with Facebook advertising. For $500 or so you can get nice click and conversion traffic to your website. I do not recommend pointing your ads to your Facebook page. Give your full marketing experience to your clickees by sending them to your website and sweeten the pot by building unique content and a special offer just for them. Facebook advertising is very easy to set up and is accessed from your own personal Facebook page but pointed to your website or your own Facebook business page.

It is weird but true, when we use Facebook to drive traffic to a website, we grow Facebook likes too. Not sure why, but typically I see 50 new likes each week from advertisers spending as little as $500 a month for Facebook ads.

Every Facebook account starts out small! Just get started and build over time. It is not unusual for a business after several years to have over 4,000+ Facebook likes. Make sure you are leveraging contact at Facebook for your business by starting today.

Need a Facebook content writing service? We do that and we do it well. Find out more about our Facebook writing services.

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Facebook for Business Part One

Customers and prospects will connect with you on Facebook.
Customers and prospects will connect with you on Facebook.

Using Facebook for business makes perfect sense and should be in every businesses marketing arsenal. Facebook is where your customers spend time and so it makes sense that you should be spending time there to connect.

However, be smart about using Facebook for business with my tips on what to share, frequency, and Facebook advertising.

My tips to using Facebook for business:

Connect your website
Before you start, connect your website to your business Facebook page and not your personal page. Assure that the link you click on your site does not open the user’s Facebook page to comment about your page, but actually takes you to your own Facebook business page.

Setup your Facebook business page right
Make sure you have an attractive cover photo and use your logo or your own picture as the business page’s profile picture. Make sure you take time to add a nice about us section, your address and phone number. Do not cut corners by using your personal Facebook page for your business. Keep personal separate from business.

Start posting regularly on Facebook
Post three times a week to your Facebook business page when you start out. Book the time in your calendar in the morning before you start your day to write something for your page. I use Hootsuite to write and schedule my updates so that I can write them at 7:00 am and send them out at 9:00 am. Just be consistent so you start to build page content.

Encourage customers and prospects to connect
In your blog posts and any outreaches you do, make sure to link to and point to your Facebook business page. Try to drive traffic there in all you do as part of your marketing program.

Check back on Wednesday to find out about likes, comment moderation, and Facebook advertising.

Make sure to follow our own Facebook business page at https://www.facebook.com/mccordweb. You’ll always find something interesting to read there.

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Free Apps in the Microsoft Store

Gotta Love the Microsoft Store
Gotta Love the Microsoft Store

The Microsoft App Store, what’s not to love? I love apps and I love free things – that really work. If you have not checked out the Microsoft Store attached to your Windows 10 desktop product, I encourage you to take a look.

Here are several that I use nearly daily – that really work and are really free.

9Zip
Need a free zip utility, tired of buying a zip tool when you really feel that there should be a free one out there that’s easy to use? Get 9Zip from the Microsoft Store. It is easy to use and I am using my version replacing my paid version of WinZip.

HP Scan and Capture
Now this is one super handy app. I use it more than the software that came with my HP printer. The super easy to use interface talks right to your printer and scanner and you are up and running in a snap!

Free Games
Need a solitaire break? Love interactive puzzles? The Microsoft Store has you covered, and many for free. I don’t have any games installed yet as I just upgraded my drives and need to reinstall programs and apps, but my first pick will be the Microsoft App Store.

(P.S. I am not being paid by Microsoft for this review, I just love the Microsoft Store and wanted to share the things I liked best with you.)