In my current article for our newsletter this month, I discuss the components that create credibility for your web site. Read “Should I use you or how should I use use?” and learn what are these elements.

As we are proud to launch the new site for Alcera Consulting, owned by Richard Martin. Below are two screen shots I would like to share with you of the before and after look and feel of the home page. Also, click on the image to enlarge.

Before:

After:

(Click on images to enlarge)

I just returned from my speaking trip to NYC where I presented to the Society of Advancement of Consulting® and the topic was “Blogs, bogs and fogs.” How to enhance perceived expertise, generate publicity effectively and passive income opportunities. Here are two critical sections of my presentation:

Components of a successful site:

1. “In your face” effective, clear design and navigation with a strong value proposition and tag line.


2. Provide value and be useful. Use articles, white papers, products …


3. “Don’t make me think”


4. Passive income products and services


5. Secured shopping


6. Easy way to contact you


7. Strong calls to action on each page


8. Focus calls to action on each page


9. Focus on clients’ results & successes


10. Incentives and registration to your newsletter


11. Ability to search your own site


12. Highway billboard home page concept with bug blocks and above the fold


13. And your email signature of course

Calls to action:

1. Contact us (call / email / fax)


2. Sign up today


3. Join our mailing list


4. Purchase product / service


5. Learn more


6. Take survey


7. Join our online forum


8. Download article / white paper / MP3


9. Request consultation / brochure


10. Refer site / article to a friend


11. Click here


12. Learn more


13. Explore further

Click here for the recap from the SAC® site.

One of the things that irritates me is when a colleague sends me their stupid jokes and on top of it decides to CC me and the rest of their “favorite” list. Not only do I not care to get additional emails in my Inbox that are stupid, waste of my time and my Internet bandwidth, I now am potentially exposed and on the email distribution list of everyone else that was copied on this email.

My recommendations: When sending your emails to a group of people outside your organization, consider the blind copy option (bcc) before you press the send button.

I vented and I feel better now.

Chad

p.s. Did I mention you keep me off your jokes distribution list?

If you are like me, you probably meet individuals that may greatly benefit from your wisdom and experience working with other clients and may even become your future clients. Why not then simply add them to your newsletter distribution list? Unless you have their permission to do so, I recommend you don’t. I loath the ones that add me to their email list without asking for my permission. I am often times asked as to the proper way of doing it. My recommendation is that it must be permission-based which means that you have received the permission to do so. Here is how to do it:

When you meet them in person, seize the opportunity to let them know of your newsletter packed with great tips and value that they may learn and enjoy getting. Mention that you would like their permission to add their name to your distribution list. If after they get the first one, they do not see the value, all they would need to do is simply email you the request to unsubscribe them or do so themselves (opt-out.) I always get the warm reply that they are looking forward to getting it.

If you did not have the chance to do it in person, ask the same in an email and wait for their reply. If you wish to be more assertive, here is the email format I would use:

“In hopes that this may be of value to you and meets with your permission, I’ve added your email address to our newsletter list. This way I may stay in touch by providing you with monthly insights, tips and strategies on various web, Internet, technology and business issues. Our newsletter, jammed with resources, focuses on providing information and value to our clients. If you do not wish to receive it, just let me know by replying to this email with the subject REMOVE or click on the unsubscribe option when you receive the newsletter.”

Finally, make it easy to register to your newsletter from your web site. I prefer the one registration approach which upon entering your address, immediately adds you to the database. I do not care for the double reply method, which upon your registration sends you and email confirmation to click on to accept it again. I have not seen abuse in the single method approach and do not care to waste my time when I am the one registering.