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| | The ABHP - A Bit of Humble Pie Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts | | Helping You SELL Yourself and Your Website. | Views: 581 | | May 26, 2008 6:03 pm | | Helping You SELL Yourself and Your Website. | # | 
Eileen Brown | | Who needs a little help? Along with the Logo Contest we
need to take a closer look at why a logo (your brand) is
important but only one thing on a long list of items that
need to be considered for new business owners.
Let's take it from the top. Post in this thread for
seasoned opinions on what you still need to do to get
yourself, your website, and your goods/services noticed.
There are plenty of seasoned helpers around here so pull
up a stump, join us around the fire pit for some
questions/suggestions/answers to your web site problems.
Ready, Set, GO...
Eileen :D
http://abhp-network.ryze.com/ - ABHP http://www.buddywebworks.com/ - Web Svcs.
http://www.buddycopywriting.com/copywritinghome/ - SEO Copywriting
http://www.buddywebgraphics.com/ - http://www.microwebmasters.com/
http://www.eileenseshop.com/ - Gifts and Home DecorPrivate Reply to Eileen Brown | | May 26, 2008 11:52 pm | | re: Helping You SELL Yourself and Your Website. [Morpho Board] | # | 
Mitchell Allen | | Thanks for opening this forum, Eileen.
My biggest issue is reviving a moribund website.
morphoboard.com was registered nearly five years ago when I first came up with the board game software idea. morphodesigns.com was registered at the same time, because I wanted to ensure that I could expand beyond the board game.
I stopped development in 2005 and (unwisely?) took the expansion idea of morphodesigns.com into the Web Design, Hosting and Marketing arena.
To make matters worse, I started blogging on that site, but NEVER mentioned business. Finally, I created morphodesigns.net to address the business.
Additionally, I created morphogreetings.com for my SendOutCards business.
So, amidst all this confusion, I want to launch my board game software on morphoboard.com. This is the reason I asked Jessica for multiple logos with the same theme.
I have only one idea on how to clear up this confusion. Hopefully, the vets here have better ideas.
Here's mine: following LOA, I decide to get out of the design and marketing business, while keeping the hosting - as it gives me the biggest bang for the buck. I was thinking that I could put all the logos on each site as a "landing page" - sort of like those sites that ask you to pick your country.
Of course, I'll have to explain things on each individual site - and maybe remove the explanation after the dust settles.
This sounds more awkward with each reading! There has to be a better way.
I'm all ears. Thanks!
Cheers,
Mitch
Private Reply to Mitchell Allen | | May 27, 2008 8:12 am | | re: re: Helping You SELL Yourself and Your Website. [Morpho Board] | # | 
Donald Smith | | I am not sure if I should post here or not. I don't really own the enterprise that I am involved in,but I do believe that the product and service are viable.
How do I get more exposure for this and what other advice would be offered by those who have more experience than I?
http://MrMillionaire.MyWFL.com
Private Reply to Donald Smith | | May 27, 2008 2:40 pm | | re: re: Helping You SELL Yourself and Your Website. [Morpho Board] | # |
Eileen Brown | | Hello Mitchell and Chicken Scratchers.
Business Consideration #1 - Mitchell Allen
Let's see what we have to consider here.
morphoboard.com - the gaming site - home based.
morphodesigns.com - blogging - home based.
morphodesigns.net - hosting now - home based.
morphogreetings.com - send out cards - MLM
Three distinct companies with different objectives.
Do you have a business plan in place for each one?
I am considering morphodesigns as one company even though
it has two urls. Many companies have multiple urls for
their one entity.
Multiples of this type are not all that uncommon.
Are you selling very much hosting? My first thought was to
use the morphodesign url for the "mother" company but that
does not fit with pushing forward for morphoboard (game).
I have looked at this problem several times since your post
and think what you might want is one more company and url.
Horrible thought, isn't it? Because of the diversity of
these companies, a real "mother" company (you) might be the
way to go. When you feel yourself at the top, looking down
on all three, which is your favorite? I'm thinking it's
morphoboard from your post. I've been in the spot where
you are several times as branch's of my own businesses grew
branches of their own. This is looking at the overall
problem, trying to get the BIG picture. Something to
consider.
IF you consider a Mother Corp:
• Choose a business model that fits your lifestyle.
You have three distinctly different businesses and a
business model is already somewhat in place, for each one.
I am thinking "home-based business" is that model, even for
send out cards which is MLM, right?
Because of the different areas these businesses encompass,
this should be fairly obvious. Each of the three requires a
certain amount of dedication and hours spent to make it go.
Pro: Low start up cost (you've done that) and scalability.
Con: How much time can you devote? Time is a big factor here.
• Business plan is next. (mother company - you)
Putting an overall business plan on paper should open some
avenues for you. Either put a 'filing cabinet' in your
head with four files or four files on your computer (or
make four real file folders) and look at them. See that
list up there, at the beginning of this post? I am thinking
that the alphabetical order is also the order of importance
you have in mind. The business plan I am talking about
includes all three business. We're speaking of a mother
company to manage all - morphoinc; morphova; morphousa;
morphomitch - something of this nature. The mother company
is YOU and you have to see yourself managing all three
companies - get the overview. This new mother company is
where you should have links and descriptions for the other
websites/businesses.
Notes:
• You will need another logo - mother company.
• You need to decide how much time you can devote to each
business.
You can drop three businesses and work on one for a bit of
time or you can schedule days of the week for each
business. But IF you decide on a mother company - get that
in place FIRST.
Back to those four files and overview. Keep marketing in
mind. If you promote the mother company, you will be
promoting all your businesses. Where appropriate you should
promote the individual businesses. Make marketing notes in
those four file folders too.
This is ONLY ONE solution suggestion. Overview only. We can
get down to the nitty gritty when you have either the four
companies lined out in their separate file folders (you
knew you were going to have to do this, right?) and begin
looking at websites and where you are with those.
Any suggestions from other members on this? We are just
starting out with Mitchell's overall problem. Don't jump
the gun and confuse the issue with too many details until
we have the business overview decided. Thanks!
Eileen :D
http://abhp-network.ryze.com/ - ABHP http://www.buddywebworks.com/ - Web Svcs.
http://www.buddycopywriting.com/copywritinghome/ - SEO Copywriting
http://www.buddywebgraphics.com/ - http://www.microwebmasters.com/
http://www.eileenseshop.com/ - Gifts and Home DecorPrivate Reply to Eileen Brown | | May 27, 2008 2:42 pm | | re: Helping You SELL Yourself and Your Website. | # |
bkrupp16 | | @Eileen,
Great thought provoking thread... I know that there are a bunch of gurus (KB loves that word) out there that can help anyone revamp their site. However, they have to have a goal in mind....
I made the mistake of thinking that throwing a site out there would bring loads of customers/cleints... That is not the case, which is why I teamed up with Reg in order to fix/adjust myself... Now, I have to convert because we are seeing a lot of traffic but the sales just aren't there... Of course, patience is a virtue that I do not like... However, time is something I do not have a lot of as well...
So, I am now thinking about making my home page into a true capture page with one button to click... Click here for something... Of course, I need to consult my guru before making any changes because I use my site a little different then others in my community. I provide information and HOPE that they leave their info...LOL...
Yes, I have a blog site that will help but like I said, conversion is the KEY, which I am still looking for...
So, (can I say that too many times) you really need to decide what your site is for before you start revamping everything...
I think that I just did a square dance around the subject... I guess I will bow out now...LOL...
Brian K. Rupp
Life's Opportunities, LLC
703.297.9571
http://www.lifesopportunitiesllc.comPrivate Reply to bkrupp16 | | May 27, 2008 2:56 pm | | re: Helping You SELL Yourself and Your Website. - Donald | # |
Eileen Brown | | Hey Donald and Chicken Feeders.
I don't know much about (if anything) MLM offers. Brian is
versed somewhat on in that area. Anyone else know how to
go about promoting an MLM business?
FOLKS - be sure to change the subject line and address your
answer to the problem inquirer.
Thanks.
Eileen :)
http://abhp-network.ryze.com/ - ABHP http://www.buddywebworks.com/ - Web Svcs.
http://www.buddycopywriting.com/copywritinghome/ - SEO Copywriting
http://www.buddywebgraphics.com/ - http://www.microwebmasters.com/
http://www.eileenseshop.com/ - Gifts and Home DecorPrivate Reply to Eileen Brown | | May 27, 2008 4:38 pm | | Re: Helping You SELL Yourself and Your Website. | # | 
Teddy Towncrier | |
Whether from SEO, print or Radio/TV promotions; Our biggest cost is incurred in getting someone into our store ( Web Site). So it's imperative to have a carefully planned strategy for what we want that visitor to do upon arrival.
Do you know? The chains have a strategy to nudge you along their chosen path at whatever point you enter.
A couple of thing you can do to nudge visitors:
* A high impact benefit or warning above the fold. (I'm partial to warnings since people move away from danger quicker than towards a benefit).
* An intro video which mentions your latest time limited hot deal and show the link they'll need to click.
* A killer bonus offer for having them tell their friends about you.
* A special bonus for subscribing to your "Early Bird Specials list" .
A way to stay in touch building trust and confidence with this visitor is an absolute must. Wishin' n hopin' they'll return won't do it. (See "Are 27 contacts really necessary" in Towncrier's reports series. )
The fortune's in the follow-up. Fortunately; Technology can do most of the heavy lifting for us.
Bestest
Teddy Towncrier. CPP. Supercharging Your Visions. Towncrierbroadcasting.com
Private Reply to Teddy Towncrier | | May 27, 2008 4:43 pm | | re: re: Helping You SELL Yourself and Your Website. - Donald | # | 
Laura Wheeler | | For MLM, you pretty much have to go personal. It is hard to compete with the big companies, or to try to get someone to convert when you just send them to the parent company site. Typically the parent companies do NOT do a very good job of conversion, they rely on you to pre-sell.
When people come to your site, they want to know why you chose what you did, why you like the product, and whether or not it is working for you. They want to feel like a real person is behind it, especially if they are signing up under you - because they will rely on you partly for guidance and training, so you are selling YOU as much as you are selling a system.
Laura
Mom to Eight
307-379-2502
Firelight Business Enterprises, Inc.
http://www.firelightwebstudio.com - Exceptional Website Services
http://www.westernhillsinstitute.com - Web Development Training for MicroBiz
http://www.microwebmasters.com - MicroBusiness Service Provider Trade Association - Unite to Succeed!Private Reply to Laura Wheeler | | May 27, 2008 5:22 pm | | re: re: Helping You SELL Yourself and Your Website. [Morpho Board] | # | 
Reg Charie | | Hi Mitchell,
First, according to statbrain, (http://www.statbrain.com/www.morphodesigns.com/) morphodesigns is getting some 2,321 visits per day.
Keep it going as is and monetize it with AdSense or similar.
Second, landing pages are not recommended.
All they do is put people one more click away from the page they are looking for and they impart zero value to search engines.
There is also no need to *explain* things. Just point people in the direction they want to go.
If you need to point old clients to the services you no longer offer, then you can do it through their existing membership.
Reg - Talk to me in Live Chat. http://regcharie.com/talk-to-me.htm
All You Need is Dotcom-Productions and a Dream. http://dotcom-productions.com
Zero Grief Hosting - http://0grief.com/special_hosting_accounts_for_my_ryze_frie
CRELoaded websites http://RegCharie.com Private Reply to Reg Charie | | May 27, 2008 6:04 pm | | re: re: re: Helping You SELL Yourself and Your Website. MLM | # |
bkrupp16 | | I was waiting for a response from my Web Guru....
Landing pages are good when used with a google adwords campaign... I have not seen any good information otherwise. However, I have someone tracking that for me...
As for MLM Opportunities and Products, you can look at my web site in order to see what I am doing.... MLM Companies do not do a good job connecting with people. They want to overwhelm their potential customer with hype in order to have them jump in with both feet and then try to help them swim... Hence the begining of Life's Opportunities....
You have to decide what your focus is concerning your opportunity. First, you have to make it your own... Don't rely on the company to do that for you... Nobody is interested in trying to go to a corporate site in order to see what YOU are offering... There are too many of those out there... Plus, you never want to stake your claim on one thing.... If the company goes under, like Equinox, you go down with it....
As I stated before, set your goals on what you want to do... Personally, I really like my products, hence my approach... As for the opportunity, I only discuss it with those individuals I feel will be a good part of my company. If I don't feel that they can work well with me or even represent me, then I tell them that we are not a good fit....
Laura had a great point... Training is the key... If they are a great fit for your company, make sure you train them because the failure rate is 97% in MLM Opportunities...
Here is a little secret for you if you are in the MLM Realm... Most successful people make their money because they come into an opportunity with an existing downline...
OK, back to web design, which I will use mine as an MLM Example...
First, can you tell that it is an MLM Opp? If so, how? If not, then I (we) am (are) doing my (our) job...
I tell people about the products... Then you can check out which products I want you to see... Believe me, there are hundreds... Then, I help you with education/training in own/operating your own company/opportunity. I tell you a little bit about BRIAN and then leave you with the opportunity to comment, which I hope that you do...
So, with that being said, my site is set up for information/education... Reg tells me that the site is doing well... He is adding a blog for me and constantly tells me to get off of my @$$ in order to get my name out there...
Take a look around life's opportunities, llc when you have some time and let me know what you think...
PS. If you are in a MLM Opportunity and don't have your own web site.... GET ONE... THEY ARE CHEAP and the company sites do not work!!!
Brian K. Rupp
Life's Opportunities, LLC
703.297.9571
http://www.lifesopportunitiesllc.comPrivate Reply to bkrupp16 | | May 27, 2008 6:07 pm | | re: re: re: re: Helping You SELL Yourself and Your Website. MLM | # |
bkrupp16 | | Sorry...
I forgot to mention that we are #6 on Google when searching for lifes opportunities... We are right below the fold...
Not bad for not really marketing...LOL...
Brian K. Rupp
Life's Opportunities, LLC
703.297.9571
http://www.lifesopportunitiesllc.comPrivate Reply to bkrupp16 | | May 27, 2008 7:31 pm | | re: re: re: re: re: Helping You SELL Yourself and Your Website. MLM | # |
Eileen Brown | | Great advice Brian. I'd add that MLM companies sometimes
don't put nearly as much into the training materials as
an individual can do on their own. Laura is always right
on that point.
Marking your own path is the best way in any business.
EB :D
http://abhp-network.ryze.com/ - ABHP http://www.buddywebworks.com/ - Web Svcs.
http://www.buddycopywriting.com/copywritinghome/ - SEO Copywriting
http://www.buddywebgraphics.com/ - http://www.microwebmasters.com/
http://www.eileenseshop.com/ - Gifts and Home DecorPrivate Reply to Eileen Brown | | May 27, 2008 7:41 pm | | re: Helping You SELL Yourself and Your Website. [Morpho Board] | # |
Mitchell Allen | | Hi Eileen and Reg,
Thanks for your feedback.
Reg, AdSense was the motivation for blogging in the first place, so I appreciate the monetization idea.
As I stated in my initial plea for ideas, I am primarily looking to launch morphoboard.com. Take a look
at the comment I make in the next section about the business plans. As an aside, I choose not to monetize
the blog for esthetic reasons. I want to showcase my writing and I want visitors to come without worrying that they'll
be distracted - or dismayed - by ads. I tried some Cost Per Action, but most of the high-paying ones are irrelevant to my blog.
The only monetization on the site is a text link to my SOC and a page for my family to shop at Amazon.com.
You'd be surprised at the TYPE of visitors I get. Because I write about a wide variety of topics, I am coming up in search results for things like hydroponic potatoes, pizza parlor designs, etc. In fact, between the "morpho" and the "designs", I get a lot of search traffic for butterflies, construction, and so on. The bounce rate on my blog is sky-high: not a good sign for monetization, in my opinion.
You are exactly right about notifying existing customers. In fact, that was the reason I created morphodesigns.net. I asked each client to opt-in so that they can be kept informed. So I really don't need to explain stuff, after all. (I felt that I did because I remember Jessica saying that she didn't know I did hosting. Poor marketing on my part...I never tried to compete online, though. All my business comes from networking and gifting.)
Eileen, the Mother Corp. fits in with what I was trying to say by using the term landing page. After
seriously considering the status of these businesses, I am confident that the priorities are as follows:
Top - Morpho Board (Board Game Software = Home-based business)
#2 - Morpho Greetings (SOC = MLM)
#3 - Morpho Designs (Hosting = Home-based business)
The mother corp. already exists, as I have registered Morpho Designs. I suppose that the blog will be the logical place to tie the three businesses together. It kind of dilutes the blog's raison d'être, but I think you have the right idea.
The business plans - briefly - are
Morpho Board - give away the software, sell a monthly publication devoted to the system and games based upon it.
Morpho Greetings - market the service to real estate professionals as a replacement for indiscriminate "farming"
Morpho Designs (Hosting) - a Tim Ferriss-style muse, this is a referral-based service only.
(Tim Ferriss is the author of the 4 Hour Work Week. A muse is his term for an automated cash-flow business that frees the owner from the daily grind, allowing the pursuit of passion - in my case, Board Game Design)
I had to get out of design, because of the time-consuming and high-maintenance/low payout ratio. Sure, I could get paid nicely for designing websites, but if I stop designing, I stop getting paid. Even charging maintenance fees does not compensate for the time demands placed by clients. I started building websites in 2005. After a brief growth spurt, attrition set in - some clients went out of business, some decided to go DIY and some just didn't want the expense any longer. My core business now is self-supporting, but doesn't throw off excess cash.
MLM done right is a step between intensive, hands-on businesses and automated businesses. I've decided that for me, the best MLM sells a consumable product that people WANT, but do not need. I hate trying to "convince" people that they need soap, legal services and insurance (been there, failed that). Realtors don't NEED to send cards to their clients but, once they hear how well they are received (testimonials as well as from the horses' mouths) they'll WANT to use this service.
This leaves Morpho Board, my passion. I originally stopped development for two reasons: first I "broke" the original version and became discouraged when I couldn't recreate the working program. Second, I got into real estate and put everything else on the back burner. As dissatisfaction in general set in, I realized that I would truly be happy if all I had to do each day was invent games. This came as an epiphany AFTER several of my friends suggested the very same thing. At the time they suggested it, I was resistant because I felt that there was no money in my passion and I wasn't making enough money to pursue it single-mindedly. However, I took a hard look at my life one night and realized that it's not a practice round! I can't wait for my automated business to throw off enough money to support every financial need. I just need to go for it with the game software.
So, I decided to focus 80% of my time to Morpho Board. Luckily, the other two businesses won't suffer from neglect because 2 hours a day is more than enough time to "work" those.
By the way, I realize that business plans are more detailed and they include exit strategies. I implemented a semi-exit when I stopped doing design, but I'm not ready to give up hosting as long as it pays for itself: it gives me and my family lots of web real estate on which to develop assets.
Sort of like living rent-free in an apartment building that we manage.
Cheers,
Mitch
Private Reply to Mitchell Allen | | May 27, 2008 11:02 pm | | re: re: Helping You SELL Yourself and Your Website. [Morpho Board] | # |
Reg Charie | | >>As an aside, I choose not to monetize
the blog for esthetic reasons. I want to showcase my writing and I want visitors to come without worrying that they'll
be distracted - or dismayed - by ads. I tried some Cost Per Action, but most of the high-paying ones are irrelevant to my blog.
Do you think that people would be dismayed or distracted? I don't. We see advertising in almost every site we go to.
As you say, you have a high bounce rate. Why not give these people somewhere to go? Even if the per click payout is only 2 or 3 cents per, traffic like yours should generate somewhere in the neighborhood of 500/600 clicks per day or @ $0.02 per click - $10 to $12 a day.
If it was my site I would have it on in a heartbeat.
Monitoring your visitor's length of stay, comparing with advertising to prior stats without, will give you an idea if your visitors are leaving any sooner when viewing the ads.
It is easy enough to dump the ads if you see that are not working.
Reg - Talk to me in Live Chat. http://regcharie.com/talk-to-me.htm
All You Need is Dotcom-Productions and a Dream. http://dotcom-productions.com
Zero Grief Hosting - http://0grief.com/special_hosting_accounts_for_my_ryze_frie
CRELoaded websites http://RegCharie.com Private Reply to Reg Charie | | May 28, 2008 2:19 pm | | re: re: re: Helping You SELL Yourself and Your Website. [Morpho Board] | # |
Mitchell Allen | | Reg, my readership comes mostly from friends I've made on the original blog. I know they don't want to see ads.
Notice I distinguish between readership and viewers. I failed to make that clear in my previous post.
By the way, I checked my own stats and my daily visitors is TWO orders lower than statbrain's.
Kind of makes the AdSense issue moot.
Cheers,
Mitch
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