Sent: 11/05/2009 Subject: easisites newsletter#16 May 2009 Hello All, In previous newsletters we’ve passed on some web marketing tips. It’s high time we passed on some more. So, here goes… Google Maps Back in 2007, Google introduced Google Maps. Google listings then favoured businesses that were also listed on Google Maps – and still do, to some extent. So if you’re not listed on Google Maps, get yourself listed. All fairly simple and takes about 20 minutes. Here's what you need to do. Search for whatever your business is in whatever area in Google. Click on Local business results for... (you will see those that are listed) Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Information for Business Owners Then Add New Business... And fill in the boxes. Video Google has now taken a fancy to sites with video content. So if you have an appropriate video of yourself, your business, your products or your premises, get it on your website. See the item on www.easi-info.co.uk - Putting video on your website – per last newsletter. Engage your customers There's now something called "web 2.0" (aimed at web design and usability – Google it if you want to find out more) which recognises that web users are more sophisticated than they used to be (simply because the web's been with us for quite a while now). We have all learnt how to scroll, for one thing. And most people have computers with bigger (or wider) screens. Moreover, people now like to engage and be engaged. So, give them something to do. If, for example, you run a B&B - as many of you do - the easier you make it for someone to book a night or two, the better. There are stacks of facilities out there for this. They don’t all cost an arm and a leg. This has nothing to do with people finding you via search engines. It's what people do once they've found you. They look at your pretty pictures (or your video), check out your prices and... then what? More and more people are looking for a one stop shop when it comes to booking accommodation, arranging holidays, etc., etc.. The same principles apply whatever your business. If you have anything that people can buy online, then give them a button to click and take their money. With the easisites shop facility, you can do just that. And we don’t charge an arm and a leg, either. So, if at all appropriate and whatever business you are in, think about how people can engage with you via your website. Web stats Another instance of increased sophistication, web-wise (or perhaps it’s the economy), is that site owners are now more interested in finding out where their site visitors come from. If you are spending money on directory listings, for example, you may well want to know if you are getting value for that money. With easisites, if (and only if) you have a domain name with us, you can view your web stats, via our server. Just drop Matthew an email (matthew@ekos-consulting.co.uk) and he’ll give you the necessary passwords. This will help you identify whether your marketing efforts are bearing fruit. If you don’t have your own domain name, and would like one, click on the Options button (on the gold bar at the top of the page) the next time you are editing or updating your easisites website. If you have a domain name with another provider (one that does not provide web stats) and would like to transfer that domain name to us, then drop Matthew an email (matthew@ekos-consulting.co.uk) and he’ll tell you what you’ll need to do. ==== Your feedback, as always, would be welcome. Any comments or questions, please get back to me. Best Wishes. Regards, -- Glyn Debnam Director Ekos Consulting Limited www.easisites.co.uk Telephone 01622 716591 Ekos Consulting Limited is a company registered in England and Wales with Company No. 3793888 VAT No. 724 7815 20 ===== The object of this newsletter is to keep you informed about what's going on. However, if you do not want to receive any further copies please, let me know. Copies of previous newsletters (and much more besides) may be found on www.easi-info.co.uk