If “Professor Maps,” Mike Blumenthal, is correct — and I believe he is — then setting up and owning your Web presence is one of the core Internet marketing functions for your business. And when it comes to your website, you have to address a few key areas including the domain name, landing pages and ways to remain inspired and creative (of course that’s good for your business in general).
Co-branded domain names
To me your website is your online home, and the better you take care of it, then the better it takes care of you. But what about those beautiful, well-laid-out, but co-branded websites? Does having a domain name like mysite.blogspot.com or yoursite.weebly.com matter?
I think it does. I recently met a small business owner who does a great job at creating local buzz through live events, postcards and relationship marketing. But when I was ready to tell others about her and send them to her website, it was co-branded. A Google search of the exact event name produced five other co-branded sites, and none of them was hers.
It’s easier to say yoursite.com than yoursite.blogspot.com. And when you’re trying to spread the word, easy matters. Plus yoursite.com can easily outrank yoursite.weebly.com (with a few tweaks). Besides, why build up weebly’s or blogspots’ brand? They have an awesome following of their own. Drop the co-branding and market your name instead.
In “Why You Need Multiple Domain Names,” Ivana Taylor says to “look at owning domain names like owning digital real estate.” If that’s the case, then using yoursite.blogspot.com is like renting: It’s easier to move in, but no matter how much you pay, you will never own it.
Content and the pages users land on
Another key element to your website is the landing pages.
According to Copyblogger.com:
“A landing page is any page on a website where traffic is sent specifically to prompt a certain action or result.”
The goal is a targeted page with no distractions. So usually a landing page has no sidebar and includes a simple header. This page is designed to solve a specific problem for the reader and get a specific response from him or her.
For a list of cool tools to create landing pages in a flash check out Ivana’s article at American Express OPEN Forum.
To learn more about what a landing page is and how to make the most of it, check out how landing pages turn traffic into money at Copyblogger.com. You will see a landing page in action and find a tutorial that will help.
Creative thoughts and ways to keep them flowing
Ideas are the jewels of business. Once you have an idea you have to chisel it into something that catches the light and does exactly what you want it to do.
The “chiseling” is what business is all about. It’s the process. If you can keep your head and trust your heart, then you can create something beautiful. But what about those diamonds? How do you keep the ideas flowing?
The creative process is intriguing. Anita Campbell highlights 3 websites that will get your business creativity flowing. Check them out.
I have to say I became caught up in the ideas on these websites and found myself lost on a tangent that helped me solve a business dilemma I had been contemplating for weeks. Go figure.
Your business and your marketing are driven by ideas, so create space for them to flow.
Domain Photo via Shutterstock
Nancy E. Wigal
Good post. There’s no excuse for any business or solo consultant to not have her own site. Web hosting is very affordable and with a little creativity, you can come up with a domain name that fits your business. This is also where a little bit of keyword research can help, since you may find a great keyword phrase to make a good domain name.
Landing pages need to have great, useful content to inform the reader. The call to action is absolutely critical
Nice article; thanks for posting.
Thanks for posting the resources.
As a copywriter specializing in landing pages, I’ll check out the copyblogger resources.
Adam
I liked the analogy to renting when using a co-branded website. I think purchasing a domain for your business is a small investment that will easily pay for itself over time.
Yasir Sami
Nice information. thanks! The most people getting their knowledge and other information from the internet so it only makes sense for business holders to use the internet as a marketing medium . Web hosting is very cheap and with a little effort, business holders can create a domain name that fulfill their business needs.
Jessica McMillen
Good information! It’s key to remember when designing a landing page that you make your most important actions the easiest to complete. If you want your user to order, subscribe, contact, or just decide to hire you or your company, you’ve got to provide the information and the capability to do that first and foremost.
Zain Munawari
Superb information!! I really appreciate the focus you did on the importance of business ideas specially this one “Ideas are the jewels of business.” was absolutely tremendous.
Thanks for your article. 🙂
Pete
I was recently going to build some landing pages to promote my business. I was going to use keywords within new domain names to do this. Can anyone advise me to weather this is a good idea….
I was not going to use it to mislead customers but simply as a way to get them to main site where I would be offering the services and products they were searching for…
Anyone’s help and feedback would be welcomed.
Cheers
Pete
Jennifer Rai
I think co-branding does steal the limelight away from your effort to portray your business. It is definitely more effective and worthwile to concentrate on a domain name that is owned completely by your business. Thank you for sharing.
William Hunter
Although a landing page is preferred by many, I can’t see that much value in it. It places your business along side other businesses offering the same products, which are often your competition. After many years in this business, I have found that it is best to have your own domain name. My advice is to stay away from landing pages, and concentrate on your main webpage. Use SEO as much as possible to promote your site.