Posts

Serina,

I would suggest you start to look at SEO and other ways of promoting your business as I don't think going to lots of different forums and self-promoting is going to win you many new customers (incidentally have removed your self-promotional link, you need to have 10 posts under your belt but you are nearly half way there already).

You need to build a rapport with people whether it's online, or face-to-face to be successful in business.

That's my view anyway!

Any Silver Surfers here?

This Silver Surfers' Day on 21 May was news to me but good to see there's help around

Seems like there is a day for everything these days!

Yep - saw that. It's an interesting article.

It's only going to increase more and more over time as more people get comfortable with buying online.

Yep - even send some press releases out. Not everybody goes looking online when they need something, so you need to consider other media. Look at the number of web companies that advertise in magazine, newspapers, TV etc. They are not solely relying on google search.

I notice one of your competitors got a Gold Award in the Great Taste Awards in 2008 and still has it on their website.

Have you considered entering - as it would help to raise your profile Having quickly looked - 2010 is now closed but there is a category for Brownies and you can see 2009 winners by clicking here, Great Taste Awards and select 13h: Brownies from the drop down list. There you will find more of your competitors.

Don't give up!

Interesting thread. At the end of the day I find it is the individual you are speaking to that makes or breaks ones view of a business. I've had experiences where I've thought a business is great one day, and then a few weeks later I've not rated it as much - simple because the person I was speaking to was not so good. I guess this is where there can be an advantage for smaller businesses as they can control more of the communications with customers at an individual level.

Though having said that it's good to read your positive review Mary.
I must admit it I think the importance of wheelchair access is very often overlooked by new businesses in particular. Going off slightly on a tangent, I thought this article on BBC News about an "off-road" wheelchair was interesting - just a shame about the high price tag.

Beesknees you mentioned in a previous post that you used Mailchimp so thought I'd direct you to this old article from 2009 for starters...

...Trend Watch: Animated GIFs in Email | MailChimp Email Marketing Blog

Though I must say I'd err on the side of caution when using them as one of the comments on that article states, they can either be:-

(a) entertaining & leave a greater impact or (b) irritating

Well it'll be good to see you back - hope it all goes as smooth as it can do.

Mary, make sure you order lot's of Ben&Jerry's - it keeps well in the freezer

Christina,

It's good to see you're not surprised. There's a range of things you can do to help your search rankings and much of it will depend on how much time you have spare? Otherwise, it may work out more beneficial for you to pay somebody else to do the worK?

Many of the points have been mentioned before regarding SEO and you may want to refer to Steve's post http://www.mylocalforums.com/seo-webrankings-google-yahoo-bing-etc/846-search-engine-optimization-101-laymen-newbies.html as it is a good starting point...

Once you've worked through that, if you have any specific queries, feel free to PM, or contact me for a chat.

No offence taken.


True but if you're not too clear on that side of things I would suggest you go via Wordpress.com (as opposed to Wordpress.org) site so that you don't have to worry about hosting or pay anything as it's free and far easier to setup. There is a compromise on what you can achieve design wise, but I would have thought it would serve it's purpose? The pros and cons are well laid out here>>WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org

Well that is certainly a good write up for them.

Must admit my experience of Mail Chimp is good too.