With more people searching and researching companies online, your website could easily be the first thing a potential customer sees about your business. Having a website design that hasn't been updated in years conveys that your company doesn't belong in 2010. Depending on the business, it is imperative to keep your website up-to-date. There are a few simple ways you can see if it is time for you to revamp your website. Your Style is Outdated - Your website should be informative, not distracting. Clip art, flashing animation, outdated colors, and distracting backgrounds are all guilty practices many websites fall into. Look ...

Small businesses are planning on doing more online marketing in 2010, according to studies from Vistaprint and Ad-ology. Small businesses are looking to increase their marketing plans for social media (14%), online and search advertising (11%). Also, only 38% of small businesses currently have a company website, but 32% of respondents said they would be interested in building a website if they had more time and money to spend on it. In a separate survey, Ad-ology found that 46% of US small businesses did not have a website. With more small businesses becoming interested in online marketing, it is critical to have a website ...

Having a great website can easily be your best marketing tool. Potential customers can learn about your company and its products and services. Only 3% of buyers from various companies say a website has no influence at all over a purchase decision, according to a survey by RainToday.com. A professional services website has had an increasing influence on purchasing decision over the past four years. The survey reports that a website holds at least some influence over 74% of buyers' decision. This is up from 2005 where it was only 51%. A professional design with valuable content, pictures, and information can help ...

2010 is well on its way and it can be easy to get caught up in the day-to-day activities. However, with the year still new, it is important to reflect on your business' 1-to-1 marketing and see if you are effectively executing your online solutions. Here are a few things to review and see if they are being properly utilized. Review your website. Look at your website with a fresh set of eyes. Is the information you want conveyed properly to your target audience? Could new visitors quickly find information about your products and services? Are you clearly highlighting how to find ...

Having an online storefront means you’re always open for business Unlike other months, December is a critical month for just about any retailer.  According to the U.S. Census bureau, retailers’ sales during this busy month account for 15-24% of their total annual sales.  Besides Black Friday, the busiest shopping time during the year is the weekend right before Christmas. Typically, the Saturday before Christmas represents $15 billion worth of sales for retailers. This year, the United States East Coast was badly hit by a snowstorm that brought some areas up to two feet of snow, dashing the hopes of many retailers. With ...

When running your own E-commerce site, there are plenty of obstacles that can prevent visitors from actually purchasing something from your website. According to the Retail/ E-Commerce Industry Report Q2 2009 from iPerceptions, some of the top barriers to buying were: Didn't find what I wanted (34%) Website navigation/usability (13%) Too little product information (8%) A bad website design is an simple deterrent for customers. If visitors can't easy find your product and services on your website, then they are less likely to become customers. The experts at OneIMS will guide you through a variety of available options to develop and deploy powerful websites. For ...

Are you at the point in your business where it is time to consider building a website? First of all, that is a great idea, and very critical to the growth of your business. Technology is advancing and more people are moving to online platforms for purchases, research, and decision-making processes. Your website needs to be your online storefront. Just as you were purchasing or renting a physical store space or business office, your website needs to be treated as a similar investment. The long term benefits are remarkable. If you don’t have a website, or your website is sub-par, ...

For any company that might be offering a new service or product, a microsite might be what you need to market it. Microsites are self-contained sites separate from the primary site. They have their own pURL and focus on a distinct product or service. Even though they are called microsites, they cost and take up the same amount of time and energy of a regular website. However, if your company needs to create a unique brand identity for your product, then a microsite is worth the effort. If your company is a wholesale wine distribution company that wants to host a ...

Starting a new blog can be another simple step toward raising your brand or company's awareness online. However, if you've never taken part in blogging before, it can be an overwhelming experience. Here are some basic tips to getting your blog started. Easy URL Many people don't think too hard about their username when creating an account for the first time. However, this is one element of your site that can easily bring in more traffic. Use your company name if available or make it related to what the subject of your blog will be. Design The first thing someone will notice when ...

With new social networking sites popping up and burning out every day it can be a challenge just to break through the piles of pop ups and product links. Getting your message heard on the social networking scene is more difficult than ever but there are a few ways to make sure you get the most out of your advertising budget. Know Your Audience While there are some in the older demographics enjoying sites like Facebook, the audience mainly ranges the 10-25 age group (unless you count parents checking up on their kids). If you are trying to sell insurance you might ...

If your business has a website, you've most likely heard of CMS solutions (Content Mangement Systems).  If you haven't, then it's time for you to learn about CMS.  Having a website is just part of keeping up with technology.  Maintaining your website is really the motor that drives traffic to your site and sets you apart from others.  Simply having a static website dependent on professionals for updates is something of the past.  With CMS solutions becoming more and more affordable, adding CMS to your site has endless benefits as well as cost-saving implications.  Here are a few reasons why ...

While having a website is a step in validating the credibility of your business, a badly laid out website can cause your visitors to wonder about the credibility of your overall operation.  Creating a website is no longer something that only large companies can afford to do.  "Home-made" websites are popping up all over the place.  While being online increases your reach, a bad website can chase customers away.  The key is to design your website in a way that gives your business credibility.  What is credibility?  Credibility is the trust that you inspire based on factors like usability, accessibility, security, ...