CMS Web Solutions

Recently, I was at a session with consultants.   Have you ever had the experience where you just wanted to scream “Please talk normally”?   No one in your audience should work hard to understand you.  I believe I am 100% responsible for ensuring my audience understands me.  It’s a big goal, but one that indicates where the responsibility lies.

So, how do you ensure that what you are trying to convey is clear to your audience? Very simple…ask them.  Don’t ask you spouse, colleague or supplier.  Ask your target audience.  Is it presented in the way they prefer to see it, hear it etc.? While your at it, ask them what they care about listening to. Then write about it.

Whether you are building a website, writing a marketing piece or designing a seminar, focusing on your audience is what’s important. You can focus on yourself another time in your bathroom mirror.

My grandfather used to say the only people who could afford cheap throw away products were the rich. Everyone else had to buy quality products that lasted. We in North America are the rich in the world. We buy bigger houses and cram them with more stuff. We pave the roads and feel disconnected with the earth. We light up the skies, can’t see the stars and then feel disconnected with our planet. Is it any wonder anti depressants are high on the most used drug list? With the new economic reality, it’s probably a great time to rethink, retool and design the new. As we do, let’s build in quality. Let’s charge a little more knowing it will last and stay out of the landfill or at least be renewable. Mahatma Gandhi said “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.” It’s why we as a web design company spend a little more for our green hosting and use bullfrog power (non impact hydro electric and wind) to build websites. Cheap is not necessarily better.

Someday I just shake my head in disbelief. There’s a new Ontario Chamber of Commerce program funded by the Ontario government. The program is intended to encourage companies to export more. http://exportaccess.ca/. The program will cover 50% of the costs for traditional marketing. Sounds good so far, but get this. Websites and Internet marketing are specifically excluded from the program. Hmmmmm. Do you think a forward thinking company may wish to create a website targeted at export markets? Do you think they may want an Internet marketing program to increase foreign inquiries? Instead our tax dollars will contribute some of my taxes to further pollute the planet by paying for paper products and flying you to a trade show. We do business all over the world…electronically. We have helped companies create web design and Internet marketing strategies that actually worked in attracting foreign business. They’ve expanded into new buildings because of increased demand. Yes, the wheel is spinning, but the gerbil is dead.

There is a difference between a self employed person and a business owner. One owns their job, the other owns a business system or model. A business model is simply the whole system that generates wealth. Self employed people work in their business while business owners work on their business model. With the current economic landscape, many of the models that worked in good economic times are now less effective. The true entrepreneurs I know are comfortable risking. In times like these they look for opportunity. That goes whether they are in manufacturing or web design. In Ajax last week, I was at a prosperity conference. Leaders from accross Durham were brought together to discuss where Durham Region was going. What I discovered was that there is not a better place in Ontario, in fact the world, I would rather be living. From education, skilled labour, energy, agriculture, mix of businesses, we have it all. If the picture of your business isn’t looking to grow and expand during this downturn, it may be to time to revisit your model to position yourself so it does. Not doing so will spin you into a downturn and a slow painful death.

Being in the business of web design in Port Perry, as well as having a deep love for new technology, visiting friends are typically exposed to the “new”. Last night was no exception. Before dinner we gave lessons on text messaging and using their Blackberry’s camera. After dinner the conversation turned to comedians. Out came the laptop and we searched for clips on YouTube. We all laughed so hard it hurt. However, our friends had never visited YouTube. To their delight they were exposed to a new way of getting what they wanted when they wanted. The Internet puts people in control of the information they want, rather than being talked at by the television. How we communicate is changing. The younger demographic cohort, which is larger than the baby boom (age 12-32) is dragging the older crowd kicking and screaming. Instead of resisting, it’s time the older crowd visited the YouTube’s of the world and start laughing with delight.

In a very short time, websites have become the “window to a business”. People now do most of their research online. Everyone, including prospective customers and potential employees, now judge a company by their website. But business owners are still just scratching the surface of this incredible communications tool. With strategic thinking, their website can be designed to capture specific niches in the marketplace, accelerate the sales process, and reduce operating costs. Sales and service people can reduce their road time. Videos can be inserted for product demonstrations. Websites can be used to measure effectiveness of marketing programs. They can measure what people are actually interested about on the website and adjust their offline marketing. And you know the really eye opening fact? Business websites are still in their infancy. Get ready. You haven’t seen anything yet!

The thing I love most about computers is that people communicate one-to-one through them no matter where they are in the world. What an incredible opportunity for having someone’s undivided attention! But the internet also makes us speed up. So we need to communicate information faster. Our brains process visuals quicker than words.With most having high speed, video is a wonderful and emerging tool that businesses need to take advantage of. Sounds obvious doesn’t it? So why aren’t more businesses doing it?

Answer this question: Good employees are vital to my business. True or false? The brightest and most talented of the younger generation live on the web. They do their research about your company on the web. Design recruitment into your website structure to attract the most talented. What does your website say about your organization? Does it provide the information potential employees are looking for? Here’s the test: looking at your company website would you work for you? If the answer is no, fix it…fast. Attracting the best and the brightest will become more difficult in the future.

It’s time for the brutal truth. 95% of the business websites we see need help. Many not only don’t help a business get sales they drive prospects to the competition. How do I know this? We’re the company working for your competition! The multitude of self proclaimed web designers in Durham (most now out of business) built business websites that are now antiquated and poorly built. Many can actually harm a business. How? Don’t you do research on the Internet and judge a company by its website? Ever not do business with a company with a poor website? Now here’s the tough part. Be honest. If you looked at your website from a visitor’s standpoint, would you buy from you? Like you, your market is migrating to the Internet in droves to do their research. It’s time to take your website strategy more seriously. There I’ve got it off my chest.

Worried about the economic downturn? I for one have been waiting for it to arrive. Why? Less competitors survive, less competition for skilled workers, opportunities galore. Old ways of doing business don’t work. Creativity replaces problem solving as new solutions are found. There is more money made (by some) in economic downturns than in good times. It’s all about how you look at it. In good times anyone can pick the low hanging fruit and make a buck. It’s when the market gets tougher that solid companies rise to the top. Know your business inside and out and prepare for some wild rides in the future.