Tag

websites

SEO vs UXD – Your Dilemma

By Blog, Uncategorized

Before I get into the article, some of you are wondering what the alphabet soup is about. Most of you know that SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization; that’s trying to make your site come up in the unpaid search results. UXD stands for User Experience Design, defined by Wikipedia as “the process of enhancing user satisfaction with a product by improving the usability, accessibility, and pleasure provided in the interaction with the product.”

OK, now that the definitions are done, what I want to discuss with you is whether you should focus first on SEO or focus on UXD. Read More

5 Reasons They Leave Your Website in 5 Seconds

By Blog, Uncategorized

Whether it’s couples shopping for their wedding, or you shopping for whatever you need, there are some websites that make us want to get comfy and look around – and others that make us rush to the BACK button. Is your website inviting, or is it chasing away the very people you’re trying to attract?

By the time they get to your website, they might already know a little about you; whether it’s from your profile on WeddingWire, social media, or a referral from another wedding/event pro. Don’t waste that foundation by doing some of the very things that make you want to leave a site – quickly!

Here are 5 reasons prospects might be leaving your website, in 5 seconds: Read More

You Can Teach An Old Dog New Tricks

By Blog, Uncategorized

I’m just getting back from another successful Wedding MBA conference, and I was reflecting on the many, many conversations I had with wedding pros, like you. A common theme was that it would be so much easier if brides and grooms would just get on the phone with you. Many wedding pros were reminiscing of the days when your phones were ringing off the hook with inquiring couples – and that’s when I popped your nostalgia bubble. In the digitally connected world we live in, while there is an occasional phone inquiry, most of your initial contact comes via email, text or a contact form.

Don’t be in a rush to change the format
The mistake that I see so many of you making is to try to change from a digital conversation, to a phone call or appointment, too quickly. Had they wanted to talk on the phone, they would have called you (or asked you to call them in their message). Had they wanted to schedule an appointment (whether in person, on the phone or virtually), they would have asked for one. I’m not saying you shouldn’t try to schedule a phone call or meeting, just don’t do it too quickly. Read More

The Problem Lies Between the Keyboard and the Chair

By Blog, Uncategorized

I’m a happily married man. So, when something goes wrong, it’s always my fault. That may sound like a joke, but accepting responsibility when there’s a problem is a major step towards getting past it. Rather than trying to find blame, we try to find solutions. Chapter 15 of my new sales book is even titled “Do you want to be happy, or right?” I’ve often said that I’d rather be happy, and successful, than right. Proving to my wife (or a customer) that they’re wrong, never works out well. Read More

3 Things you can do to get your website ready for the January rush

By Blog

round glossy button effectThe holidays are always a busy time for engagements, and then comes the January rush of visits to websites… hopefully yours. So, is your website ready to convert that traffic into inquiries, appointments and then sales? You’re only going to get one chance to make that first impression.

Here are a few easy things you can do, right now, to improve the engagement and conversion of your website. These will only cost you a little time, but it’s well worth it: Read More

Never mind Waldo, where are you? part II

By Blog

Young woman holding a laptop and presenting colorful world mapNote: In my last post I began a conversation about your websites and the importance of location information. Here’s the second part. If you didn’t get a chance to read the first part, click here.

Hold the phone

It used to be pretty easy to look at the area code on your site or business card and get an idea where you were located. These days with so many people using their cell phones as their main or only phone, and the portability of cell phone numbers, area codes are no longer a reliable indicator of location. A few years ago my family moved almost 100 miles to a new area and yet my wife and sons still use the same cell phone numbers. Their area code would lead someone to believe they are in another state – which would make it the state of confusion! Read More

5 Signs It’s Time To Fire Your Website

By Blog
5 Signs It's Time To Fire Your Websitez

Click the image to get to the MP3 of this presentation

I recently gave a new presentation at The Special Event Show (TSE) in Nashville titled “5 Signs It’s Time To Fire Your Website“. It’s the sequel, if you will, to my book “If your website was an employee, would you fire it?“. As a consultant, website reviews are one of my most requested services, and I don’t really want to tell you that it’s time to make a new site. I know that it involves stress, time, money and aggravation… and who needs more of that?

When it’s time, it’s time
However, there comes a time for every site when it’s time. For most of us, that time comes sooner than we’d like. I recently launched my new site after 2 1/2 years with the old one. Now, that may not seem like a long time for the old site, but there were some things that made me know it was time. Those things, at least for me, weren’t that it was outdated or non-functional. Rather, for me the signs were that my old site wasn’t designed for e-commerce. When I first launched it, in March 2011, I only had one book. As I developed more products, DVDs, Audio CDs, ebooks, Spanish-language books and MP3s, it became clear that I was outgrowing the architecture of the site. All products were on one, long (and getting longer) page. I wouldn’t want to keep scrolling down, down, down to get to the other products, so I knew none of you would either. Read More

You don’t get any business from your website

By Blog

That’s right you’re’ not getting any business from your website… you’re getting business through it! Visitors to your website have to come from somewhere before they get there. Maybe be it’s an online ad, a search engine result or even your business card, but they have to come from somewhere, they don’t just miraculously know your website’s URL. That brings up a couple of interesting questions:

• Where is your traffic coming from? and
• Where is your business coming from?

Traffic does not equal business

Where your site’s visitors are coming from is an important piece in figuring out where your business is coming from. Unless you can track the sales back to the source, you really don’t know where your business is coming from. You may guess, but that’s not helpful in knowing where to invest your marketing dollars. So, unless you have a toll booth on your site, where people are paying just to view it, traffic is not a good indicator of business success.

E-commerce or offline sales?

If you make sales on your website, where someone can enter their credit card info and check out, then you may be able to track back to how they got to your site in the first place… maybe. If this wasn’t their first visit to your site then, unless you have cookies, or some other tracking software, you won’t really know what brought them to your site. Even with cookies or other software you may not be able to connect the dots all the way back. Read More

WeddingsOnline.ie – regional conferences in Ireland

By Speaking Events

WeddingsOnline.ieAfter successful presentations in Limerick and Dublin, WeddingsOnline.ie, the largest wedding website in Ireland, has asked me to come back and speak now in Cork 20 May; Galway 21 May and Donegal 23 May.

I’ll be giving three presentations and Mark Richardson will also be presenting. Come hear:

We Want Action – Conversion is the key to your success – Alan Berg

Closing Sales and doing better business – Mark Richardson

Lunch break & refreshments (included)

Angry Brides – protecting your online reputation – Alan Berg

Creating an Exceptional Customer Experience – Alan Berg

Q&A with the panel

I’ll even have Special, Limited Edition copies of my website book “If your website was an employee, would you fire it”, which are only available at the conferences.

Click here for me info and to register

Wedding Market Expo – Lakeland, FL

By Speaking Events

Wedding Market ExpoWedding Market Expo 2013 is a Conference for Wedding Professionals

  • Hear from Wedding Industry Experts
  • Learn how to increase sales & gain referrals
  • See, touch, and hear about Current Trends
  • Get hands on advice from Online Marketing Pros
  • Network with others in the Industry
  • Visit Exhibitor Booths
  • Surprise Tour event on Tuesday evening
  • …and much more!

I’ll be presenting 3 great topics:

  1. The One-Page Website – how less is more when it comes to your site
  2. The Power of Reviews – see how you can use this powerful tool to your advantage
  3. Your Attitude for Success (also the topic of my latest book) – change your attitude for a better perspective on life and work

And that’s just my presentations. There’ll be lots more over the 2 1/2 days and this is a great value. If you’re serious about the success of your business, you definitely want to attend. Don’t say “I should have gone”, register today. Thanks and I look forward to seeing you there.

For more information and to register, click here

Wedding Market Expo will be held in 4 cities:

April 9-11, 2013 – Kansas City, MO – Kansas City Convention Center

August 6-8, 2013 – Austin, TX  – Palmer Event Center

September 10-12, 2013 – Lakeland, FL – The Lakeland Center

October 22-24, 2013 – Atlanta, GA – Gwinnett Center