Do you use ‘click here’ as link text on your site? I have. And I would say almost every one of my clients over the past nine years has too.

But why? Why do we think that we need to tell our readers to click here?

I guess we believe that click here will make it clear to our readers that this is a link and that behind the click here link is something they want to read. But does it? Really?

[ continue reading & share your thoughts → ]

As you can see from my past two posts, I’m working through a shift in my business. It’s not so much a new direction as it is an evolution.

All the work I’ve ever done has been about caring for people and people’s needs. When I was a waiter, I took care of people’s dining experience. When I was buyer at a large outdoor clothing store, I brought in the products my customers most wanted. As a spiritual teacher and healer, I cared about the unveiling of my client’s authentic self. And even as a web designer and web-based business developer, my cares have been about helping my clients understand how to use the web to build their business.

It hasn’t matter. At every turn of my life my work has been about helping people. And that’s certainly extended deep into my personal life as well.

[ continue reading & share your thoughts → ]

Do you think of your consumers as clients or customers? I know I often use these terms interchangeably. Yet, I always think of customers as people who buy products. Since I don’t sell any products (yet), I always end up thinking of my consumers as clients.

But what’s the real difference?

I know there are a number of ways to look at this so let’s begin in the most obvious place, the dictionary. Dictionary.com defines each as:

• Client: a person or group that uses the professional advise or services of a lawyer, accountant, advertising agency, architect, etc.”
• Customer: a person who purchases goods or services from another; buyer; patron

Interesting. So by the dictionary’s definition, a client is a person who uses services while a customer is someone who purchases products or services. Does that then imply that clients are active users while customers are simply purchases – who may or may not use what they purchase?

So what would you rather have, clients or customers?

The goal of your website copy is to get your prospects to identify themselves in your business. You want to show them clearly that you understand their problems and can provide a unique and workable solution.

One way to do this is through testimonials and case studies. You know, something like this…

When Judy called me, her business was struggling, her website traffic was stalled and her newsletter list was all-but stagnant. I helped her see what she was doing wrong. I corrected those problems for her and now he business is thriving.

Sounds fine, right? My client needs to be rescued and I can save them from their peril.

I thought so too until I read Drew McClellan’s post Are We Playing the Wrong Role in Our Stories. Drew’s post changed my thoughts on how I approach case studies and testimonials. He suggests that when we tell out clients story we have the classic setup…

We have a hero, a problem/villain, a victim and a glorious solution.
[ continue reading & share your thoughts → ]

As bloggers, how do we balance the needs and expectations of our readers who are fellow bloggers, with the needs and wants of our readers who are new bloggers and nonbloggers?

Ever since I built Dave Schoof’s Engaging the Disquiet, I’ve had this question. To date, most of his readers are not blog savvy. They’re prospective clients who want to know more about what Dave can do for them. But often, they’re uncertain what to do with his blog. Interestingly enough, his page about How to Use RSS is among his most read posts. So I’ve been pondering this question for quite some time.

Then last week Wendy Piersall decided to ask if we’re all just members of huge blogging clique. Wendy’s posts asked the right questions so I jumped in with Bloggers, Are We Just Blogging To The Choir? We must have touched something, because for both of us these quickly became one of our most read and commented on posts. Wendy even followed up with The Risks of Growing a Blog Too Big, writing about what she calls a ‘welcome mat:’
[ continue reading & share your thoughts → ]

I’ve been building websites for almost a decade. But yet, I’m not simply a web designer any more.

As I’ve said in previous posts, I help service-oriented, small and independent businesses plan, develop, design, execute and grow their businesses using the web. I’ve also written about how I coach, mentor, consult with and educate my clients on the best web-based strategies for building and growing their businesses.

So then why Healthy WebDesign?

Well, that’s a great question. Basically, Healthy WebDesign developed from my desire to build better (healthier) websites in every way possible – from the coding and visual design to caring about the business needs of my clients. ‘Healthy’ became the metaphor for a simple, balanced and profitable approach to website development.
[ continue reading & share your thoughts → ]

Of anyone, I know that building a small, service-oriented business is hard work. I’ve had three businesses, including two very different approaches to web development, in the past nine years. All three have been service focused. Each has been successful. And all have required quite a bit of effort to plan, build and grow.

Of course, currently, I help small and independent professional businesses plan, develop, build and grow their business through the internet. I help my clients refocus their business objectives and marketing strategies to incorporate the web. Ideally, their websites and blogs become a hub for meeting and converting their target audience.

But here, many make a critical mistake. They think of their target audience (or target market) simply as a name for the group of people they’re trying to serve. In other words, they think of target audience as being a noun. If you remember your Schoolhouse Rock, “is a person, place or thing.” It simply names.

[ continue reading & share your thoughts → ]

I pose this question to every client I work with. Then I have them answer it. Most answers cover branding, marketing message, or conversion. Sometimes clients will tell me that their missions statement or tagline are the most important keys to their business success. All these are good answers. None of them are wrong.

Yet most of my clients miss the most obvious, fundamental answer. The one thing that is the foundation to successfully creating a brand, converting prospects and writing a tagline.

Setting Clear, Obtainable Goals, what I call What and How.

Ah, you say. Now it makes sense. Of course, you have to know what you’re trying to accomplish before attempting to accomplish it.

I liken goal setting to traveling a long distance by car. For instance, let’s say I have a meeting with Steve Jobs at Apple. I live near Ann Arbor, Michigan and Apple’s located in Cupertino, California. I have time before my meeting next week, so I decide to drive my car across the country to the meeting – this is my what. As you can see form the map, Cupertino and Apple’s Headquarters is a long way from Ann Arbor – about 2400 miles (~ 3800 km).

Since I know my destination, I can begin planning my route. I see that when leaving my house I need to get on I-94 west and follow that expressway until it merges with I-80 West. I-80 will lead me all the way to California. Then I take a series of other highways and streets until I arrive at Apple’s Headquarters. This is the how.
[ continue reading & share your thoughts → ]

I’m finding it’s often good to take Mike Arrington’s lead. Early last month, he ran a spot called, 2007: Web 2.0 Companies I Can’t Live Without. I’ve been wanting to do this ever since I read his post, but haven’t found the time. So today’s the day.

Lots of folks followed up. I found it on through Obviousness & Tell Ten Friends.

• WordPress – in opinion, the blogger’s blogware. Easy install, themes, plugins gallore, easy-to-use interface and great development community. Best of all – free. I’ve not used MoveableType, but with WordPress I don’t fee like I’ll ever need too.
• FeedBurner – everything I want to know about my feeds. Who, what, where, when. And now, new and improved with site stats.
• Google Analytics – I’ve looked at a lot of stats packages. Google Analytics, for me, is the best of the free options. Lots and lots of stats, easy-to-read charts and graphs, Adwords integration, keyword tracking, e-commerce and marketing funnel tools. Great solution. Just glad it’s free.

[ continue reading & share your thoughts → ]

Hi. You’re reading my blog and thank you.

Just so you know, I consider you part of my audience. Ideally, I’d like my blog to add enough value to your life and business that you choose become a regular reader. And it would be great if you get my feed and check me out on a regular basis; leaving comments as you go.

That’s the way I think. But according to Stowe Boyd I shouldn’t be calling you part of my ‘audience‘ any longer. In his post, Enough Already: Getting Social Media All Wrong, Stowe writes:

…Please, please, please don’t talk about audiences when you are theoretically promoting social media. As Jay Rosen has suggested, we are the people formerly known as the audience. Blogging is not just another channel for corporate marketing types to push their messages to markets, eyeballs, or audiences. Social media is based on the dynamic of a many-to-many dialogue between people. Yes, people: that’s the word that should have been used. Not audience. If you’d like to make a distinction between a company and those outside the company, just remember: they are not an audience for your messages, any more than you are an audience for theirs. The whole point is that the people formerly known at the audience — the edglings, as I call us — are participating in the blogosphere, and if individuals within companies want to, they can participate: as individuals. Companies don’t blog, or converse: people do.

Now I agree with his points about pushing a message in front of eyeballs and that dialogue and blogging happens between people, not companies. I’m all for that.
[ continue reading & share your thoughts → ]