how to build a website shop

I am excited about my new logo.  It reflects striving to become the master one of both WordPress and Mobile marketing.  These two areas are exciting and growing.  They can help your business update, improve and ultimately reach more customers while giving you greater control over your resources.   I really enjoy working on these tools for our clients.

I am constantly studying new ways to revise and improve web sites using WordPress.  Every day I spend some time researching new WP plugins, logos and designs.   I also spend time studying the latest marketing.  Mobile marketing is really in the infant stages as far as cost and reach but will grow exponentially in near future.  Internet marketers are starting to see the benefits so they will start integrating their customers into the market.

Businesses will need to integrate and learn website and mobile phone skills to stay competitive on the internet.   Users will keep moving to the web and cell phones to learn, search and buy products and services.   Businesses will  use savvy marketers to reach their customers where they are at, which is on the web or on their cell phone.

My intent is to help business and individuals use tools like websites and and cell phones to reach their customers.   My hands on experience has shown WordPress is the easiest way to implement the sophisticated tools web site owners want.   It allows you to integrate SEO, social marketing and incredible backend tools to control your site.   The second huge tool to reach customers is cell phones.   You can probably count on one hand the number of people who don’t have a cell phone now.   There are twice the number of cell phone users as there are internet users.  Any real marketer can not ignore this means of reaching more customers.

Many biz owners and individuals don’t have time to keep up with all this and that’s where me and some really cool friends can help.   We live this stuff and want to help others get on the right track as soon as possible.   My team is growing fast with some really sharp people.   We believe we have solutions to revamp your old web site or add a mobile campaign to your marketing mix.    My ideas are free so call or email and I’ll give my best to your solution.

Thanks for coming back. If you have read everything, let me know how I can help you.

Working on mobile marketing after listening to a webinar by Howie Swartz.  Look at the numbers -1.7 billion internet users to 5 billion cell phones.  There are about 6.8 billion people in the world.   Almost all phones can text message now.   Amazingly, the U.S. lags behind in the development of this technology but is starting to catch up.  Mobile marketing is in the infant stage.   Even the world bank now recognizes the economic benefit of this technology.

I am currently setting up my first mobile web page and working on setting up a business with a mobile marketing plan.   We are real excited about the potential results.   I am testing integration into our WordPress sites.

Mobile marketing has advantages over email.  Users are likely to give out their number with small incentive.  More than 90% read their messages.  Response rates far exceed email marketing.    Coupons are becoming the favorite incentive for mobile marketing.

If you would like more information email me.  My phone is over used at this moment and it’s hard to catch all the calls.  Thanks.

We get this question a lot from clients and potential clients.

Why use WordPress over any other platform?

The 3 part answer is quite simple:
1) You can customize fast.
2) You can optimize quickly.
3) It’s the easiest platform to use for someone new to managing a website.

The WordPress Installer allows you to have a site up in less than an hour, and ready to post content.

Standard HTML and Joomla are the basic ways to create a site.  HTML means you have to learn the basics of code, including CSS; and Joomla is awesome, but very difficult to get a handle on.  In other words you really need some advanced programming and software skills.  Most site owners don’t have the time or inclination to learn Dreamweaver or X-Site Pro.   They have jobs and families and are trying to make money.

We originally started out building HTML sites and quickly added a WordPress blog to go with it for social media marketing.  Then later we decided what to do with the HTML site, either keep it the same, switch it over to Joomla or an Ecommerce platform.   But WordPress has improved.  You can now do almost anything that the other platforms can do only easier, faster and with more tools.

How would you like to ensure you get a financial boost that will absolutely help you grow your income, build a giant email list and boost your marketing skills in 2010 and beyond to sustain you with multiple streams of RESIDUAL INCOME!

So the big question becomes – How do you get that BOOST that you’ve so desperately been searching for?

Well, here’s the Solution:

There are the usual ways of getting a Business BOOST: Google Buzz, Twitter, forums, Skype, etc. but all of those fail in comparison to talking to potential JV partners face to face and really getting to know them (having a beer while you talk is optional). Yes, we will cover these other Business BOOSTers while we’re here, but you’ve got to be where the action is.

The connection and trust that can be formed so quickly in person would take you months, if not years, to achieve in any online medium… Not to mention that online, most big names are busy people and have “gate keepers” to handle most of their email and phone calls. It’s practically impossible to send someone a friendly ‘hello’ anymore. Usually, they go unanswered.

But there is a way around this dilemma. It gets you past the gate keepers and gets yourself noticed and that how big deals and friendships are started.

(You do want to show them you’re the genuine article and someone worth doing business with, right?)

So what’s the secret? What do other successful people do?

Conferences!

Call them conferences, call them seminars, call them whatever you want… But they are, hands down, the best way to connect with anyone in this game and make them friendly to your cause.

You’ll have big name players, that you have been dying to meet, sitting right next you with no one to “forget” to mention you called.

It can be the chance of a lifetime and is the real “secret” behind internet marketing deal making.

To get yourself started, I recommend a conference that is right around the corner. It’s called the Boost Seminar and this year it’s running March 19th – 21st, 2010.

It’s the premier event in the USA and is going to be jam packed with incredible speakers, VIPs and potential JV partners for you to make lucrative connections with.

To find out more click on the link below:

David J Sprague

Anyone that has watched this site knows the theme is changing again.  I am doing this for two reasons.  One reason and my main goal is to show I can and fast which is the same we can do for you should you become bored or unhappy with the design you have.  Secondly, it is to stay current and interesting to my audience.   Things change quickly on the web and sometimes what worked yesterday just doesn’t cut it today.

I have been working on building logos and specifically a logo for this site.  This should provide visible continuity to the design.  If you have a minute make some suggestions for my design and future topics.

This site is setup to help users learn website building tips and most importantly to help you build a site quickly with limited knowledge.  I want to help you get online quick with a domain registration and  site setup.  Hence my offers.

I like to tell the story of someone coming to a small town on the weekend.   Ideally they are looking for a church to attend on Sunday.  Do they ask around? Or maybe they drive around town looking for a church?  I doubt it.  They search online!

See my main headline tag.  People search for business and even you online no matter where they are.  If you’re not seeing this you have haven’t got it.  I’m sorry to be so blunt but the statistics are overwhelming.

After over 20 years of advertising in Super Bowl commercials Pepsi decided to not do it anymore.  Why?  They wanted to switch their ad dollars to online marketing.  Branding is much more important and less expensive online.  Plus, you can reach your specific target customers.   Old school marketing blanketed everyone and hoped they hit the target.  Online marketing hits your target market with tons of information to interpret it.  How you can afford not to have a presence online?  We can get started today.

My latest work is concordiawesleyan.com  Take a look and see what you think.  Their ideas and my implementation.  Now they can be found on the weekend or if you miss the service catch the podcast.  ><>

Are you wanting to get your website up when you have little or no programming experience?  Do you want easy to edit and award winning software?  Are you wanting your site set up fast so you can begin adding content as soon as possible?  Are you wanting decent traffic for a great idea? One year of web hosting and domain registration set up with WordPress. We can help and at a low reasonable startup cost.

Podcasting process from burnt CD with xxx.cda track files.

1. Using MS media player 11 Rip audio to named folder in WAV format.  Essentially you copy files from CD in xxx.cda format to xxx.wav format into folder on hard drive inside your computer.
2. Open Audacity audio file editor.  Audacity is free software (can be downloaded) for audio editing.  They also have a wiki for instructions.
3. In Audacity use file tab Input audio by holding shift key down and checking all files in previously ripped folder.  Usually about five files.  It helps to both view them and input them in order.
4. Decrease file view so you can see all five. The files will input where so they would all run at the same time so you need to place them into a string or correct timeline.  Using time line movement connect all five files into the correct time string.  This involves moving or sliding files back and forth so you have correct time line of audio.
5. Export correct timeline file to folder in MP3 format.  Give saved file correct meta data titles and authors.
6. Upload  file to Amazon S3 bucket using an ftp server or firefox’s S3 organizer.  You will need correct security credentials from Amazon to do this.
7. Turn on permissions to Amazon bucket (folder) file for public access.  Copy link location onto clipboard.
8. Log into website back door and place sermon title on website and Link to S3 bucket address.
9. Test file by going to website and clicking on the link.

Notes:  You will need to use the wav to mp3 process as described to prevent additional data loss when changing to mp3 and so windows media and audacity can deal with the most familiar file types.   mp3 is probably the best for most users to access, including ipods.  Amazon S3 is the lowest  priced cloud hosting server we have found.  You don’t want to bog down your server and any podcast of any length of approximately over 15 minutes will be too large to upload with WordPress media.  Plus, should you get many simultaneous listeners to this link the server load will be on Amazon.  Enjoy.

I found this great practical information on landing pages.  Clear, simple, concise information.  If you make these mistakes you’re dead on the web.  It is long 1 hour 15 minutes, he breaks his own rule on this, but golden information from a pro.

1. Unclear Call-to-action
2. Too Many Choices
3. Asking For Too Much Information
4. Too Much Text
5. Not Keeping Your Promises
6. Visual Distractions
7. Lack of Credibility & Trust

Read the rest of this entry »

Anyone who has researched opportunities on the internet understands that you have to find your niche. Well, I have found mine. I understand and use WordPress for almost all my installations. WP recently won best CMS of 2009 and many, many shout the benefits of the software. WP is free and easy to install. Every day you can do more with it. You don’t have to know any programming but whatever you do know does help. WP has tools (plugins, themes, widgets) that are being upgraded and added to daily that help with marketing, SEO, desgin, etc… I can now compose a site that looks like a website and not the blogger site WP was originally designed for. Others can edit WP with a minimum of coaching.
I could go on but I know everyone is busy. Do yourself a favor and learn to use WordPress for your site. It will greatly reduce your learning curve and efficiency.

So when your ready to get your site up and running, let’s get WordPress working for you.

• 52% of all web traffic is video (according to industry watchdog, eMarketer)
• More than 70% of all web visitors watch online video (according to NY Times)
• The average YouTube visitor spends 27 minutes watching video per day
• The search engines visit video sites every few minutes—so your videos appear in Google, Yahoo and MSN just MINUTES after you submit, not days or weeks
• Because video is so popular, video links and clips often show up before other content

Just a quick note to emphasis that video will help your site faster than any other tool.   Learn to shoot short 2 minute segments to inform people about what you are doing.