Mozak Design Blog

Plugins In Review: Redirection

Picture this, a potential client is searching on Google and finds a link to your site. They click on it and … yikes … a 404 page not found error! How embarassing …

One of the more useful Wordpress Plugins that I have been using on my Wordpress Website is something called Redirection. This handy little plugin helps to keep my site navigation clean and useful. Being highly configurable, Redirection provides many different options to help you keep your website navigation in check.

There are two specific cases when I turn to this plugin.

• First, in the event of a page url change or removal.
• Second, if I want to add an external website as a link in my navigation bar.

In the case of the first application, Redirection prevents visitor loss due to “page not found” errors (404s).  Instead, this plug in will redirect visitors to a specific page you select when the invalid URL is requested.

Additionally, Redirection tracks all “page not found” errors that occur on your site. This is important as it tells you exactly which URLs bring people to your site resulted in a 404.

The second application where I find Redirection comes in handy is the addition of and external site to my navigation. This comes in handy if something like a “calendar”, “event registration” or “homepage” exist on another site. To add these items to my navigation I simply create a page with the name I want to show up in my navigation. I then use Redirection to send visitors to the external URL I want when they click on the page name I created. It really is that easy.

Redirection is one of those gems of a Wordpress plugin that helps you gain more control over where your traffic goes because of errors. Installation is quite easy, and works with Wordpress 2.6 and higher.

Check out my video below to see how to install and use the plugin Redirection. (coming soon)

Wordpress Plugin’s In Review: TinyMCE Advanced

Finally you can format your text the way you want!

I remember the first time I sat down to create a post on my new Wordpress blog. It was an exciting moment that quickly changed to frustration. All I wanted to do was change the font size!

Seemed to me like a reasonable enough request. But, I’d be darned if I could figure out how to do that with the default tool bar. Sure I could change from “paragraph” to “Heading 1″ or “Heading 2″ but none of these gave me the results I wanted.

This sent me on a quest for a good wordress wysiwyg editor. After hunting around for a while I discovered two that I liked. One is called “WP Super Edit” and the other is “TinyMCE Advanced”.  Since of the two I prefer TinyMCE Advanced, that is the plugin I will discuss today.

So with out further ado here are some of the features this plugin provides:

1. Change font size and font family !!!
2. Create and editing tables
3. Text justificati0n
4. Text hi-lighting
5. Subscript & superscript
6. Anchor links
7. Search and replace
8. Time & Date insertion
9. Emotions (Smilies)
10. ieSpell checked

40 new formatting buttons in all.

Needless to say this plugin has become a staple in each and every wordpress website & blog I design. To see the plugin installation in action I invite you to watch the video below:

Good Copy Tip #3: Linking within your website

One opportunity that is often missed is linking to internal pages within your website.

This is valuable in several ways:

1. It enables easier creation of scannable pages.
2. It creates Google optimized, topic specific, pages.
3. It allows you to guide readers into older blog posts.

By linking deeper into your website you can provide a readers with simple lists that they can scan; with the option to learn more on that topic if they follow the link. In addition, linking within your website allows you a way to continue using older posts in your blog. Most blog posts are not looked at once they are about 5 posts old. By guiding readers to older posts and series you have written, you are able to maximize your imvestment in them.

Finally, linking deeper into your site helps to guide your guest through your site to the information that interest them the most. This is crucial as web surfers have little patience hunting for what they are looking for.

Good Copy Tip #2: People do not read, They scan

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Often when we sit down to write our thoughts come on in the form of paragraphs. In fact this was how we were taught to write. The problem with this is your website readers have little patience to sit and wade through all your text. They want to be able to scan and quickly identify if what they are looking for exists on your website.

Here is a recipe for scannable text:

1. Break your page content into topic sections
2. Create a Header for your first section. Format it in color and with a large font.
3. Write a 2-3 sentence intro paragraph on the topic. Make sure your line height is set to 1.25x the font size for easier reading.
4. Next utilize numbered & bulleted lists to highlight the key points linking them deeper into your website
5. Finally repeat for your other topics on the page.

By following these tips your website will present your business in a way that caters to the needs of your visitors. By doing so, there is a much higher chance that your website visitors will become clients.

Good Copy Tip #1: It’s not about you

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I often see website homepage text that reads more like an “About Us” page. While the history of your business and all the services you provide have their place in; make sure the homepage is engaging to your viewer. Speak to them. Why have they sought out your business? What needs do they have? What solutions to you offer?

By writing content that speaks to clients on an emotional level you can connect with them. If they feel understood then they will think … Wow, this business gets me – I’d like to work with them.

FREE Marketing – Your Email Signature

Your email signature serves as a representation of your identity. The small blurb at the bottom of the email you send out to customers or business associates acts as a reminder of what you have on offer. In other words, it is an advertising tool to further your business. The email signature is a powerful and valuable marketing tool if used in the right manner.

Here we will discuss some rules to create effective email signatures.

Provide a link to your site.

• It should be simple enough to cut and paste to the browser. Avoid using anchor text instead of the url as this would appear as plain text to the reader and will serve no purpose. For instance, you can include a link like http://www.yourwebsite.com.

An email signature is an ad for promoting your business.

• Take some time to create a perfect message that is interesting and innovative and also gives the readers an excuse to return to your site more often. You may have to try various test messages to get the best results.

Keep things simple

• You may be tempted to mention all the sites you own in that short blurb of the email signature. Avoid information overload as people then tend to filter out the information and you may not get the result you desire.

Make an enticing offer to your customers in your email signature.

• Offers to send free reports or an eCourse can do the trick. Offers of discount coupons for a limited period will ensure that people click on the link provided, since they do not wish to miss out on a good deal. This will ensure traffic to your website.

You may even create a landing page especially for your email signature.

• This page can be customized to include the free offers you have mentioned in the email signature. The traffic can then be directed to wherever you need it to go.

Craigslist – Advertising for Free!

Craigslist is one of the most popular websites on the Internet and presents you with a great marketing opportunity for your small business. The Internet has provided the world with a huge marketplace where people can advertise and market their goods or services.  Craigslist is a website that allows users to sell anything from furniture to real estate. It is a listing of classified ads that include job placements, personal ads, ads for home supplies, ads for pet food, ads for website designs for small business, etc. Craigslist is a flea market that is online and used by millions all over the world. 

People who visit Craigslist are looking for something that they want to purchase. If you advertise some product or service that suits their interest, you are bound to have an increased traffic to your website that converts to sales. For instance, a web design company based in Portland may advertise their services in Craigslist to expand their business worldwide.

Since the Craigslist site is conveniently divided into regions, it is very easy to place your ads in the city or country of your choice. Your ads will be displayed on the site for 45 days, but after that you can re-list them if you so desire.

Craigslist ads are given top rankings by search engines, especially Google. So, expect an increased flow of traffic to your site within a week of posting your ad at Craigslist. SEO web design for your web page ensures a good ranking at search engine listings. Make use of the same SEO techniques to design your ad by using the relevant keywords to ensure top-ranked listings.

There are a number of websites that allow you to post free ads. Posting ads at sites like Yahoo Classifieds, Backpage, Highland Classifieds or USFreeads will also help to increase traffic to your site. However, the volume of traffic generated through Craigslist posting is much higher than any of the other free classifieds sites available. This is the reason that Craigslist is so popular among net surfers.

Squidoo – It’s Truly Amazing!

There are numerous websites that allow you to create a web-page for any topic under the sun. One among them is Squidoo.com. It is a fairly recent site, created by Seth Godin, a marketing expert. The site is greatly popular among internet users for driving traffic to their own sites; in other words, it is a great marketing tool.

Squidoo web pages are known as ‘lenses’. Anyone can create a Squidoo lense. For this, you need not be a technical wizard, as you can have a lense of your own in three easy steps. The best part is that you can include all kinds of modules to make a site that is interactive and keeps your visitors involved.

Here are some examples of what you can include in your lense to SEO your small business:

• Creating Text Blocks enables you to make blog entries or post your articles.
• Setting up an interactive poll will keep your visitors involved in your business.
• You can keep your lense updated and active by allowing the visitors to give their comments. You may ask them to link their own lense to yours.

The best part of Squidoo is that it has the capability to drive appropriate traffic to your website, which in turn translates into large volumes of sales. Besides, you can also provide links to products sold on eBay, Amazon and other product vending sites. What’s more, you earn a commission for any sale that has taken place from these links!  And mind you, Squidoo.com is completely free!

Search engines like Google usually top rank long tail keyword phrases at Squidoo. You can thus create a network of lenses on Squidoo to target keyword phrases that will direct the search engines to your site. It is always a good practice to include some readable and informative content in the lense in order to target the visitors to your main site.

However, if the lense for your particular keyword is already in existence, you may need to get it transferred or purchase it. This is an ideal situation for you because you are getting a readymade lense without making any effort.

The early bird small businesses users of Squidoo.com are already earning the benefits. You can do it too. Since search engine optimization or SEO is the backbone of internet businesses, each relevant keyword phrase can have a squidoo lense devoted to it.

The Web Doctor?

What comes to mind when you think of a doctor?

• Health and Wellness
• Feeling Better
• Someone who solves Problems.

These are the thoughts that come to my mind.

In a recent I Take the Lead meeting our speaker Sean Harris shared a bit with us on how to be memorable. One group member is called “The Insurance Samaria”. Whenever he introduces himself he is immediately recognized. He is memorable; and thus, is easy to send business to.

This got me thinking … what if I was know as “The Web Doctor”. It seems like a fitting title for me since my focus is on taking business’ whose existing websites are not quite up to par. I take these sites and preform  anything from minor tuneups to major surgery to bring them to optimum health.

So I wanted to throw the question out to you … what do you think of the nickname: “The Web Doctor?

Building Customer Relationships

Shopping online is becoming increasingly popular and many enterprises are doing business through the Internet. However, a traditional store instills a greater sense of security and reliability for the customer as compared to an online store. Online stores cannot ensure the physical assurance but they can develop their relationship with the customers by building trust and familiarity through their websites.

• A well designed website will create a good first impression.
  The one principle that is common to both traditional and online stores is that business owners must think like their customers. This helps to get to know the customers better and anticipate their needs. Traditionally, methods for building customer loyalty ranged from offering dedicated customer service to conveniently placing the goods in the store. Similar methods can be extended to an online store/ web business in the form of a well designed website that is easy to navigate and provide customer service that includes prompt shipping of the goods.

• Familiarity builds trust.
  In order to make a lasting impression on the first time visitor the webpage must convey a feeling of familiarity when he /she views the home page. A website that sells clothes should have pictures of the items of clothing being marketed by it. A website selling garden supplies can be designed to look like a garden shed in order to incorporate the familiar concept of a garden store that the customer is used to. Retaining the visitor’s interest is the beginning of a good business relationship.

• Customers appreciate assistance while shopping.
  In case of an online store, you must have a web page where customers can get information on the products you are marketing. This may be in the form of an FAQ page or you could provide the product descriptions along with a picture of the product. You may also place testimonials received from your customers at strategic locations on your site so that visitors are assured of the reliability of your goods or services.
  Assure the customer that your financial transactions are performed on a 128-bit encryption system. This can be done by displaying the fact prominently on the sales confirmation page so that customers are aware of this security measure.

• Make efforts to improve on the relationship that your website has created.
  Once the visitor makes the first purchase, you must make sure that he returns to your site for more. You may do this by offering helpful tips and helpful material on the relevant subject. Offering perks and discounts on purchases made can be other options. You may invite visitors to subscribe to your newsletter and interact with them on issues related to your business and products.

Building customer relationships in the online world may be a difficult task, but by letting your website speak for itself, you can build up trust among your users.