Based in the US, both are with Voce Communications, a West-coast PR firm.

Mike and Josh will be in London next week and we’re planning a social get-together in London on Saturday April 12.

The venue’s not yet fully confirmed but it will most likely be in Soho, so a pretty central location that’s easy to get to and from. (I’ll update this post with the details once it’s confirmed.)

The get-together will be a great opportunity to meet up with two PR guys from the US who are among the earliest adopters of social media for business.

If you’re interested in meeting up for an informal evening of some drinks, some food and some great conversation, starting at about 6.30pm, please leave a comment in this post, just to get an idea of numbers, or drop me a note.

Hope you can join us!

Comments

Yahoo Exec Leaves For Facebook

This news comes from Media Week’s Andrew McCormick, and though neither he nor we have been successful in contacting Chandlee, McCormick reveals, “Facebook has poached Yahoo! commercial director Blake Chandlee to be its UK sales director and first UK employee.”

It seems probable that Chandlee will be working out of Facebook’s new Soho office, then.  It also seems strange that Facebook took so long to hire someone in the UK – we noted its interest in Soho almost a full month ago – but this is a relatively minor point.

What’s more important is the fact that, as McCormick writes, “Chandlee is expected to start at the social networking phenomenon to spearhead a major push into the UK market.”  In recent days, we’ve seen Facebook overtake MySpace within this market, so with a “major push,” well . . . any competition may effectively be over.

Chandlee’s move to Facebook won’t do Yahoo any favors, either; some analysts say the company should break up, which puts Yahoo in something less than the best possible position to attract new talent.

Facebook’s London Audience Increases

Natalie Minor’s post on The Facebook Blog contains a graph with a blue line stretching far above its yellow, orange, and green brethren.  Blue, in case you couldn’t guess, is the color assigned to represent London users.

“The UK is also growing on a national scale; in terms of unique users, it’s currently the third biggest country on Facebook, coming in just behind Canada but is the fastest growing internal market we have,” wrote Minor.  “The UK also contributed over 5.5 billion page views in the month of August, which means everyone out there saw an average of 1,100 Facebook pages.”

Those are some impressive numbers, and they’re only likely to grow as Facebook opens an office in Soho and intensifies its overseas efforts.

The downside: this success has highlighted the stupidity of some Americans.  “We’re so pleased to note that the British are now enjoying Miss Teen South Carolina’s philosophical meanderings as much as we did – she’s currently one of the most popular Posted Items in the London network,” stated Minor.  Oh, well.

Rhys Blakely of the Times Online describes the UK as Facebook’s fastest-growing market, so the move is probably a wise one.  It may raise a few eyebrows, though – Facebook will apparently inhabit the center of Soho, which, if Wikipedia is to be believed, used to be more of a whore’s alley than a Silicon Valley.

Meh.  It looks like there are now plenty of places for Facebook employees to grab lunch and dinner, anyway.

Also, this expansion comes right as there’s word that Facebook could enter another round of financing (indeed, I owe a hat tip to Kara Swisher for both stories).  And by “enter another round of financing,” I mean “collect bags of money from the hundreds of firms and investors throwing them Facebook’s way.”  Land in London isn’t exactly cheap, so that aspect of the deal may work out nicely.

Whether or not having a London office will help Facebook’s UK market share simply remains to be seen.

That’s why small businesses, home-based businesses, and the self-employed have been turning to internet telephone service (also called broadband phone or VOIP) in droves.

I switched my business to internet phones early in 2005. Despite a few hiccups, I’m not going back to landlines. Internet phone service has too many advantages, which I’ll describe for you. I also have some tips for avoiding possible rough patches.

VOIP Internet Phone Small Business and SOHO Advantages

VOIP Advantage No. 1: Look bigger.

• Need your small business to seem larger? A virtual PBX (switchboard) with a dial-by-name directory might help. These systems cost thousands to install. But many VOIP companies let you rent this service for less than a hundred dollars a month.
• Give each member of your team their own outside line. With most VOIP companies, each line costs around $10.
• Get one or more 1-800 numbers at around $10/month.

VOIP Advantage No 2. Freedom of movement.

• Freedom to travel. When I went to Sacramento to visit a friend, I ended up extending my stay to a whole month. I couldn’t have done that without regular phone access. With VOIP, my Massachusetts number follows me wherever I go.
• Tropical adventures. I regularly work with a virtual assistant company that takes phone calls on their Quebec phone number everyday. That wouldn’t be so strange except they’re in the Philippines. They’re using the same small business VOIP phone service sold right here in North America. True, VOIP companies don’t generally guarantee their services will work outside the country of purchase. But the internet is the internet, whether in Fargo or the South Pacific. With the growth of broadband to virtually every non-pariah nation on earth, your second office really could be in a tropical paradise–or year-round ski resort. Isn’t that the freedom you hoped being your own boss would bring?
• Telecommuting. Feel a cold coming? Work from home! With VOIP, even the receptionist may be able to telecommute!
• Voicemail by email. You don’t have to be by the phone to get voicemail. This is the perfect service for busy people and email addicts. Bonus: the message (in a file similar those used on MP3 players) can be stored indefinitely.

Internet Phone Advantage 3. Cost

• Make lots of calls? Many VOIP providers’ unlimited-calling plans cost just $20 to $80 a month.
• Features such as call waiting, caller ID, hold, call forwarding, and multiple ring-to numbers are usually costly extras with landline service. With most VOIP services, those are built-in features.

SOHO VOIP: Tips for Making it Work for Your Business

SOHO VOIP Tip 1. Test internet phoning out before committing.

Yes, some VOIP connections are so scratchy and patchy they sound like cell phones. That’s usually because of a problem in the internet connection. Such problems may not be apparent in ordinary web browsing and file downloading. Go with a service that has a 30-day money-back guarantee. Try VOIP out where you live and work. Make sure to try inbound and outbound calls.

Small Business Internet Phone Tip 2. Phoning from a laptop.

With VOIP telephones, you don’t need a computer. But you can use your computer as a phone. A piece of software called a “softphone” uses your computer’s speakers and microphone. If your laptop is running too many programs at once, calls will deteriorate. Higher-end laptops shouldn’t have this problem.

SOHO Internet Phones Tip 3. Go with an established VOIP company.

You don’t want to lose your telephone service and possibly your number. Yet only a few VOIP companies have roots before 2000. Choose a service with deep enough roots to survive a VOIP industry shake-out.

Small Biz Internet Phoning Tip 4. Choose a provider carefully before putting the number on your business cards.

Switching VOIP companies is at least as much of a pain as switching landline phone companies. In fact, there is typically no outward number-portability. You can bring a number in, but good luck taking it with you. Researching in early 2005, I found no nationwide VOIP services officially offering outward number portability. However, you may be able to talk some carriers into letting you keep your number.

Choose a VOIP provider with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Test the service out thoroughly. One thing is likely: you may want to switch VOIP providers, but you won’t want to go back to landline.

Add to Del.icio.us | DiggThis | Yahoo! My Web | Furl

J.G. Walsh, freelance writer and small business owner,
recommends you check out Packet8, an established provider for href="http://www.packet8.net">VOIP: http://www.webpronews.com/?p=25416 If you work in a small office/home office environment (often referred to as a “SOHO” environment) then you can appreciate “convergence” products that allow one device to do the work of many other devices.

James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest. Read more at www.project-management-guru.com

What is the attraction? As a self-employed, telecommuting, small-business-owning freelance writer, I can provide some insight.

I switched my business to internet phones early in 2005. Despite a few hiccups, I’m not going back to landlines. Internet phone service has too many advantages, which I’ll describe for you. I also have some tips for avoiding possible rough patches.

VOIP Internet Phone Small Business and SOHO Advantages

VOIP Advantage No. 1: Look bigger.

* If your small business has to seem large, a virtual PBX with a dial-by-name directory might help. These systems cost thousands to install. But many VOIP companies let you rent this service for less than a hundred dollars a month.

* Give each member of your team their own outside line. With most VOIP companies, each line costs around $10.

* Get one or more 1-800 numbers at around $10/month.

VOIP Advantage No 2. Freedom of movement.

* Freedom to travel. When I went to Sacramento to visit a friend, I ended up extending my stay to a whole month. I couldn’t have done that without regular phone access. With VOIP, my Massachusetts number follows me wherever I go.

* Tropical adventures. I regularly work with a virtual assistant company that takes phone calls on their Quebec phone number everyday. That wouldn’t be so strange except they’re in the Philippines. They’re using the same small business VOIP phone service sold right here in North America. True, VOIP companies don’t generally guarantee their services will work outside the country of purchase. But the internet is the internet, whether in Fargo or the South Pacific. With the growth of broadband to virtually every non-pariah nation on earth, your second office really could be in a tropical paradise–or year-round ski resort. Isn’t that the freedom you hoped being your own boss would bring?

* Telecommuting. Feel a cold coming? Work from home! With VOIP, even the receptionist may be able to telecommute!

* Voicemail by email. You don’t have to be by the phone to get voicemail. This is the perfect service for busy people and email addicts. Bonus: the message (in a file similar those used on MP3 players) can be stored indefinitely.

Internet Phone Advantage 3. Cost

* Make lots of calls? Many VOIP providers’ unlimited-calling plans cost just $20 to $80 a month.

* Features such as call waiting, caller ID, hold, call forwarding, and multiple ring-to numbers are usually costly extras with landline service. With most VOIP services, those are built-in features.

SOHO VOIP: Tips for Making it Work for Your Business

SOHO VOIP Tip 1. Test internet phoning out before committing.

Yes, some VOIP connections are so scratchy and patchy they sound like cell phones. That’s usually because of a problem in the internet connection. Such problems may not be apparent in ordinary web browsing and file downloading. Go with a service that has a 30-day money-back guarantee. Try VOIP out where you live and work. Make sure to try inbound and outbound calls.

Small Business Internet Phone Tip 2. Phoning from a laptop.

With VOIP telephones, you don’t need a computer. But you can use your computer as a phone. A piece of software called a “softphone” uses your computer’s speakers and microphone. If your laptop is running too many programs at once, calls will deteriorate. Higher-end laptops shouldn’t have this problem.

SOHO Internet Phones Tip 3. Go with an established VOIP company.

You don’t want to lose your telephone service and possibly your number. Yet only a few VOIP companies have roots before 2000. Choose a service with deep enough roots to survive a VOIP industry shake-out.

Small Biz Internet Phoning Tip 4. Choose a provider carefully before putting the number on your business cards.

Switching VOIP companies is at least as much of a pain as switching landline phone companies. In fact, there is typically no outward number-portability. You can bring a number in, but good luck taking it with you. Researching in early 2005, I found no nationwide VOIP services officially offering outward number portability.

Choose a VOIP provider with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Test the service out thoroughly. One thing is likely: you may want to switch VOIP providers, but you won’t want to go back to landline.

Joel Walsh, who has no affiliation with Amazon.com, writes on web content and business marketing. Contact Joel to discuss your business web content copywriting: http://www.joelwalsh.com

Building on an over 60-year heritage as a leader in imaging technologies, Canon U.S.A., Inc. today introduced a full range of new consumer single function and photo all-in-one (AIOs) inkjet printers and networked laser multifunction printers (MFPs) for the small office/home office (SOHO) markets. A total of 11 products will launch under the PIXMA and imageCLASS brands, ranging in price from $99.99 to $999.99(i).

Canon is a leading U.S. patent holder of printer technology and the world’s largest manufacturer of laser beam printer engines. In addressing the emerging consumer photo printing market and migration from single function to multi-function platforms for the small and home office, today’s announcements mark an aggressive move by the global imaging technology provider to lead these markets from an innovation, value, performance, design, and ease-of-use perspective.

“Canon PIXMA and imageCLASS products offer significant advantages in all of the key areas where customers perceive value the most – from outstanding photo and text print quality, speed, sleek design and ease-of-use form factor, to feature/price point ratio,” said Kinya Uchida, president and chief executive officer of Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Whether it be a family printing photos at home, a consultant who needs to print, scan, and fax from a home office, or a small office workgroup needing networked laser multifunction capability on a business volume platform, Canon today brings to market the most comprehensive lineup of products to meet each unique and individual need.”

Canon PIXMA – Fully Addressing the Growing Photo Printer and All-in-One Market

International Data Corporation (IDC), a leading global market intelligence and advisory firm, estimates that by the end of 2007 more than 6.5 billion photos will be printed in American homes(1). As one of the world’s leading camera manufacturers and innovators, Canon has been a major force in popularizing digital photography in both consumer and professional circles.

The mainstreaming of digital cameras is also driving demand for photo-centric home printers and hybrid all-in-one printers using inkjet technology to reproduce high quality photos and documents. To support this burgeoning market, Canon introduced the new global PIXMA brand in July. PIXMA represents state-of-the-art quality, speed, and value in home photo printer and photo all-in-one devices – the culmination of Canon’s 60-plus year history and enterprising spirit as a leading imaging technology provider.

Following the initial introduction of the entry level PIXMA iP1500, iP2000, iP3000, and iP4000 single function photo printers, today Canon introduces the PIXMA iP4000R, iP5000, iP6000D, and iP8500 single function photo printers, and PIXMA MP130, MP750, and MP780 Photo All-in-One Printers, with basic specifications as follows(ii):

PIXMA iP4000R Photo Printer – a five color, 4800 x 1200 dpi, photo printer with dual paper feed and two-sided printing capability. The iP4000R features wireless printing via 802.11g and prints at speeds up to 25 pages-per-minute (ppm) in black-and-white (b&w) and up to 17 ppm in color, with 4 x 6 inch photos printed in as little as 36 seconds(iii). Estimated selling price: $229.99(i). Availability: September.

PIXMA iP5000 Photo Printer- a five color, 9600 x 2400 dpi photo printer with microscopic one picoliter droplet sizes for super high quality and detail made possible through a 1,856 nozzle print head. The iP5000 printer also features two-sided printing, a dual paper path and up to 25 ppm b&w and up to 17 ppm color(iii) print speeds. Estimated selling price: $199.99(i). Availability: September.

PIXMA iP6000D Photo Printer- a six color, 4800 x 1200 dpi photo printer with dual paper feed and two-sided printing capability. The iP6000D features a large 2.5 inch LCD control panel screen for viewing, editing and printing directly from digital camera memory cards. Estimated selling price: $179.99(i). Availability: September.

PIXMA iP8500 Photo Printer – a ChromaPLUS(TM) eight color, 4800 x 2400 dpi photo printer with a 6,144 nozzle print head for exceptional speed and quality. The iP8500 printer can produce a 4 x 6 inch photograph in approximately 23 seconds(iii) and features both a dual paper path and two sided printing. Estimated selling price: $349.99(i). Availability: October.

PIXMA MP130 Photo All-in-One – a print/copy/scan device that operates at speeds up to 18 ppm in b&w and up to 13 ppm in color(iii). A built-in card reader allows direct printing from select memory cards, while a USB 2.0 interface allows quick, high quality scanning capability. Suggested retail price: $99.99(i). Availability: November.

PIXMA MP750 Photo All-in-One – a print/copy/scan device with a 35-page automatic document feeder, dual paper path and two sided printing. Using a five-color ink system, the MP750 unit has a maximum color resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi, and prints at speeds up to 25 ppm in b&w and up to 17 ppm in color(iii). Estimated selling price: $249.99(i). Availability: October.

PIXMA MP780 Photo All-in-One – a print/copy/fax/scan device with a 35-page automatic document feeder and Super G3(v) facsimile transmitting documents in color or b&w. The unit also features a dual paper path and two sided printing and prints at speeds up to 25 ppm in b&w and up to 17 ppm in color(iii). Estimated selling price: $299.99(i). Availability: October.

In an August 2004 report on the new PIXMA brand, InfoTrends/CAP Ventures states, “With its new PIXMA line, Canon is making a very clear statement about its intention to achieve great success in the consumer market.” Noting the consumer printer space is competitive, the report notes, “Nevertheless, the company is wisely building its strengths with the Canon brand and the inkjet and processing technologies that it commands.”(2)

Canon imageCLASS MFPs – A Legacy of Innovation Delivered to Small Business Users

Canon has held the number one U.S. market share position in color and black-and-white copier-based multifunction solutions for 21 of the past 22 years, with particular dominance in the black-and-white category, where it has owned the number one spot in every speed segment for the past two years(3). From this tremendous success in the corporate office and production print space, Canon follows with the introduction of a new line of imageCLASS laser printer-based multi-function devices that aggressively target the small/home office (SOHO) market.

With advanced features in part derived from Canon’s upmarket imageRUNNER Series, the new imageCLASS models, including the new D860, D880 and MF 3110 and MF 8170C, have basic specifications as follows:

imageCLASS D860/D880 – a desktop monochrome digital copier-based MFP (print/copy/fax) with up to 18 cpm copy speed(iv). The D880 model incorporates the added feature of a Super G3(v) facsimile function for high-speed document transmission. Estimated street price: D860 – $599, D880 – $699(i). Availability: September.

imageCLASS MF3110 – a desktop 21 ppm(iv) laser printer-based MFP (print/copy/color scan) at the single-function monochrome laser printer estimated street price of $249(i). Availability: September.

Color imageCLASS MF8170c – the first sub-$1000 SOHO color laser printer-based MFP (print/copy/fax/scan) with up to 16 ppm b&w and 4 ppm color copy speeds(iv). With built-in network capability and a USB 2.0 interface, the Color imageCLASS MF8170c also offers a 50-sheet auto document feeder, Super G3(v) facsimile, and 250-sheet paper cassette and 125-sheet multi-purpose tray. Estimated street price: $999(i). Availability: September.

According to Jake Wang, senior analyst at Current Analysis, “Canon has been a leading innovator in the monochrome and color workgroup MFP segments for years. With the new Color imageCLASS MF8170C, priced under $1,000, rounding out its family of laser products, Canon is aggressively bringing color laser technology previously only seen in devices priced more than $10,000 into the hands of small business users.”

“Today marks a major move for Canon in applying our technological prowess ‘full strength ahead’ to a consumer and SOHO market calling for greater value and better choices,” continued Mr. Uchida, concluding “Our PIXMA and imageCLASS brands will redefine the categories they respectively compete in, clearly distinguishing Canon in areas where differences in feature sets, price, design, and performance have been difficult to discern among brands. We intend to successfully deliver to a market eager for this change.”

All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.

(1) Source – International Data Corporation, 2004.

(2) Source – Infotrends/CAP Ventures Planning Capsule, August 3, 2004

(3) Source – Gartner Dataquest – “Printer Quarterly Statistics United States – Database”, Camille Iorns, February 2004.

(i) Prices subject to change at any time. Actual prices are determined by individual dealers and may vary.

(ii) Please refer to individual product releases issued today for additional product information.

(iii) PPM print speed based on highest speed printer driver setting. Photo print speed based on maximum print speed using Canon Photo Paper Plus Glossy paper. Print speeds will vary depending on system configuration, software, document complexity, print mode and page coverage.

(iv) Page-per-minute (ppm) and copies-per-minute (cpm) references based on Letter-sized output.

(v) G3 Fax Reference: The Public Switched Telephone Network currently supports fax modem speeds of 28.8 Kpbs or lower, depending on telephone line conditions. Sending and receiving fax machines need to conform to ITU-T V.34 guidelines.

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Your source for investigative ebusiness reporting and breaking news.

No doubt, SOHO is a boomtown. How can you sell your wares here? You’d be wise to listen to what Terri Lonier, founder of Working Solo, and Jeff Zbar, founder of Chief Home Officer, have to say.

“Show them effectively that you are a partner in their success, and they will be incredibly loyal. They will have very positive feelings about you and your company,” says Lonier, whose Working Solo company functions as a clearinghouse for SOHO entrepreneurs and the businesses that want to sell to them.

Who, what and where is SOHO?

Entrepreneurs and others in the SOHO market form a group as diverse as America itself. About half are female, half male. Some are pausing in SOHO before entering or returning to the traditional workforce; others have chosen SOHO for life. SOHOs pursue a dazzling variety of activities, from high tech to handicrafts, and more than half are doing it from home.

SOHO practitioners adopt a variety of business models. Some are independent professionals who choose self-employment but draw the line at employing others. Some are founded with the intention of staying small. Others shoot for fast growth right from the start, inhabiting SOHO for only a short time before breaking out with an initial public offering or moving the enterprise to more traditional office space.

SOHOs can even include teleworkers (also known as telecommuters), those corporate employees whose employers allow them to work from home at least three days each month. Many work at home even more frequently than that, says Zbar, whose company is a small-office consultancy, and who is the author of several books on small business and teleworking. Many of the 28 million American teleworkers purchase their own furniture, computers and supplies – making them another lucrative target for marketers reaching out to SOHOs.

What does a SOHO need?

Whether they’re entrepreneurs or teleworkers, SOHO needs all the products and services larger businesses need, from paper clips to computer systems to back-office support. “It’s been interesting to track SOHO growth. I’ve seen a lot of growth is in the business-to-business services area,” Lonier says. “As new small businesses start, they need services such as public relations firms, Web design firms, graphic designers, attorneys, accountants, bookkeepers – a lot of these are small businesses. We’re seeing an upward spiral of economic growth as more small businesses need small businesses.”

Businesses that plan to stay small have different needs from businesses intent on scaling up. And yet, Lonier acknowledges, the division is a fuzzy one. “Often, they themselves don’t know. Some are clear from the very beginning: ‘I want to build a business that’s going to scale to 150 people in two years.’ Other people say, ‘I just want to have a catering company.’ And all of a sudden their hot sauce takes off. People are coming around saying, ‘Why don’t you franchise this?’ It’s an interesting part of the SOHO mindset.”

One of the key advantages of SOHO business is flexibility. A SOHO can grow, shrink, relocate, or refocus rapidly in response to challenges and opportunities. Some SOHOs stay small to avoid the hassles associated with traditional businesses, such as staffing, payroll and benefits, but are still able to quickly respond to market forces, Zbar says.

That makes it a real challenge to categorize SOHOs. If you target this market, you must be just as flexible, anticipating trends and shifting directions as the market changes. Stay in close contact with your SOHO customers. They will always have needs, but these may change dramatically from one month to the next.

Marketing to SOHO

“The challenge in selling to SOHO is finding these people,” Lonier says. “Many times, they don’t realize they’re a business. You ask them and they say, ‘No, I’m a caterer, I’m a Web designer, I’m a jeweler.’”

Moreover, those who identify themselves as business owners might not define themselves by their places of business, adds Zbar. As an acronym, SOHO itself has never caught on among the masses.

Finding SOHOs is a challenge, and so is making the sale. SOHOs are extremely loyal to the vendors who solve their problems, but each purchase is tough. “They make buying decisions as a business, but with a consumer outlook. They’re writing checks essentially out of their own pockets. Each purchase is very much a reasoned choice,” Lonier says. She points out that to succeed with SOHOs, you must convince them of the benefits they will gain from your offering: “The positioning of being a partner to help SOHOs succeed is essential. Be a partner in their success.”

“Time really matters to SOHOs,” she adds. “Money is a driver, but more and more, they’re realizing that time matters more than money. If it’s a little more expensive, but it will save them time, they’ll make the leap.”

Another driver is ease of use. SOHOs seek solutions, not details – they realize the importance of staying focused on their income-generating activities. “It’s directly tied into time,” Lonier says. “They don’t have time to read manuals, or figure out complex technology.”

Save them time, and help them work smarter – not harder – and you will earn the position of trusted partner to your SOHO customers. Why is this important? Because SOHOs talk to and network with other SOHOs. Marketers who win their loyalty also will win their referrals to other SOHOs, and word-of-mouth is an effective benefit resulting from SOHO acceptance, Zbar says.

What’s the catch?

“SOHOs can be very customer-service demanding, which can be very challenging if you’re a SOHO with limited resources,” Lonier says. “You have to deliver complete solutions that are not going to drag you into, for example, giving away free consulting advice.”

Because so many SOHOs are startup businesses, they’re going to look for a guiding hand for many aspects of their operation. Once a SOHO business owner trusts you, you may find that owner turning to you for all kinds of advice. To succeed with SOHOs, strategically limit the time you spend supporting customers after a sale.

On the horizon

Lonier and Zbar see a bright prospect for SOHOs and the businesses that market to them. Targeting SOHOs may be a rewarding strategy for your business. In SOHO, you’ll find a large and loyal market if you offer solutions that contribute to their success. However, you must avoid raising customer-service expectations beyond your means to deliver.

Save SOHOs time, make them more productive, and you will become valued partners in each others’ success.

Sarah White consults on marketing and advertising through Third Wave Research, a provider of demographic tools and information for marketing and strategic planning. http://www.thirdwaveresearch.com Sarah White is the author of several books of business advice, including the newly-revised “Complete Idiot’s Guide to Marketing”.

Here are some points you should consider if you offer Web development on your site:

Intent
It must say, first page, first screen, etc. It should say exactly what it intends to do to meet the visitors’ needs. See BL Ochman’s WhatsNextOnline.com site, and Mike Fortin’s The Success Doctor.

Initial Appearance
It should be incredibly clean and clear. There should be sufficient white space to make everything look ambient. Keep text in boxes away from the edges. Take a look at Jackie McCutcheon’s Web Design and More. Visitors must be able to read the text, and it must look appealing. Avoid placing tiny gray text on a black background, or putting text over such a busy background that it’s not readable.

Load Time
If it doesn’t load quickly, you’ve probably failed. These days, all sites that sell well load quickly. See Jivonne Gilliam’s The Virtual SOHO Solution for an example of good design that loads rapidly.

About us/Contact us
Your site must have an “About Us” area so people can check your credentials. Tell a bit about yourself. It’s okay to have the mission statement on this page, but potential clients want to know about you and your philosophy. It must also provide thorough contact information. Visitors expect a business address and several ways to communicate with the site owner. Look at Savvy Support Solutions for example, a business owned by Sharla Price.

Navigation
Text links are great because they’re quick and easy to use. If you use graphic links, also use text links, and make sure the graphics are optimized. Always have text links as a basic component. Notice how they do it at Grantastic Designs.

Building trust.
It’s important to provide information and possibly testimonials to show that you are a real person that others appreciate and respect. A good example is Jeannine Clontz, of Accurate Business Services.

Web developers have their work cut out for them. Every visitor will (and should) look for strengths and weaknesses in the developer’s sites. How else can they properly analyze whether or not to hire the company?

If they see even one typo, they’ll assume that the sites developed will have typos. If they see sites that take forever to load, they’ll assume that this is the kind of site the designer creates for his/her clients, and so forth.

If you want your site to sell, focus on usability. References help, but most the important factor is that your site appears to be a model of efficiency and information. In every way. All of the above holds true for any business site, but is absolutely vital for designers and developers.

Writer, copyeditor, and web developer Judy Vorfeld offers website makeovers;
small business consulting; along with website, document, and book copyediting.
She publishes two ezines, offers a grammar and writing resource section on
her site http://www.ossweb.com, and also offers a free text-only ezine template.
Vorfeld, who started her business over ten years ago, lives in the Phoenix,
Arizona area. Her companion site is Webgrammar: http://www.webgrammar.com.