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Technology. And Your Small Business. Nancy Leve www.VirtualFundamentals.com March 5,2013. Internet Access Is Going Mobile. 45% of American adults own a smartphone; 25% a tablet (e.g. iPad.) # grows every day. How does your website look if accessed via a smaller device
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Technology And Your Small Business Nancy Leve www.VirtualFundamentals.com March 5,2013
Internet Access Is Going Mobile • 45% of American adults own a smartphone; 25% a tablet (e.g. iPad.) # grows every day. • How does your website look if accessed via a smaller device • Get a tablet/smart phone for you • Part of your image as a connected business owner • Message: Accessible 24/7, keeping up with technology, using the latest equipment • Be more productive from anywhere l Virtual Fundamentals 2013
Mobile: QR Codes • Create a QR code (quick response bar code) • Goes to your phone number or links to your website/to a video/to a registration page for your event/etc. • Free creator software: GOQR.me, Kaywa, Microsoft Tag (ability for color rather than black and white) • Test it and add to business card, flyers, posters • People with a free QR reader app on their mobile device can scan the QR code • no need for them to type in url or telephone numbers Virtual Fundamentals 2013
In The Cloud • Software, applications, etc that you can access from anybody’s device are cloud based • Email, iTunes, Email Service Provider • Facebook and other social media channels • Use it for backup • E.g.Carbonite • Use it to share • Evernote – between your devices • With co-workers: Google docs, google calendars • Dropbox Virtual Fundamentals 2013
The PC Downfall • Don’t need more disk space • Don’t need to buy expensive software • Accessible from all devices and from anywhere • Is it secure???? • Who to trust • Are we increasingly vulnerable to outside attacks? Virtual Fundamentals 2013
Video Conferencing • Skype or Zoom.us • Free for one-on-one Pay for multiple conference calling • Do eye contact • Superior to phone and email • Join Me • See my screen or let me see your screen • Want to Host Webinars? • A review of online webinar software: http://abetteruserexperience.com/2013/01/a-survey-of-6-top-webinar-platforms-for-business/ Virtual Fundamentals 2013
Educate Yourself • You Tube: Incredible resource to small business owners • ‘How to’ on any subject you choose • Local 3-hour Workshops: SCORE Broward • Online webinars • Google has videos teaching you Google related stuff…as does LinkedIn and Facebook • Online access to free courses through ivy league universities Virtual Fundamentals 2013
Test What Works • Number of visitors to website? • Quality over quantity- bounce rate • Where they came from” • Ratio of conversion to customers • Revise what doesn’t work Virtual Fundamentals 2013
Bounce Rate • Leave site after seeing one page • Average = 40% • Bad = over 55% • Fix • Keywords • Design – clean/easy to use • Navigation – too complicated • Content- jargon, long text, no images, not saying anything Virtual Fundamentals 2013
Paid vs Organic Search • Keywords- • Search words or phrases used by potential clients when looking for your products and services • Paid advertising- PPC – prices vary • Captures only 30% of searchers • Run special offers for $100 free • Organic ranking- natural results • Top 3 get 58% of all clicks • Search engine algorithms – in 2010 they made 500+ algorithm changes • Can be maximized by on page and off page SEO Virtual Fundamentals 2013
SEO • Search engine ranking changes • Past = keyword stuffing and building back links • New tactics: rewarding fresh content and social media • New recommendations to hire content provider vs SEO expert • In 2010 google made 500+ algorithm changes • Moving towards personalized results based on your relationships, past behavior, location Virtual Fundamentals 2013
Driving Traffic to Website • Choose an appropriate website name • Think yellow pages • Use company name (Whois.net) • Use .com rather than .net or .biz, etc. • Grow brand awareness • Website visibility/promotional • Business cards, email signature, email address • Invoices, shopping bags, signage, flyers • Voice mail message • In person networking opportunities: meetup, Chamber, presentations Virtual Fundamentals 2013
QUESTIONS Virtual Fundamentals 2013