Lately, I have been seeing a lot of bloggers adding images to their posts. And if you are paying attention, you have probably noticed many more pictures on our blog too. Why? There are several very good reasons to add pictures to your blog and web design strategy:

1. Google and other search engines are doing a much better job of indexing images. The picture gives you one more hook for search.
2. Pictures attract the eye. As people scan your blog archive, they are drawn to the posts with an image.
3. Images can reinforce or expand the ideas presented in the blog post.

The trick is to pick the right image, something that is attractive and relevant. If you can’t find something which fits, you might have to create it yourself. You can go out and take a photo, or create a chart or graphic image.

Mark Smiciklas  of Intersection Consulting does this better then any other blog I have found lately. Although he doesn’t post often, each post on his blog is accompanied by a relevant, original meaningful image. Maybe that is why he doesn’t post as often.

The graphics themselves are so content rich, you almost don’t need the supporting text. For example, this image from a post on content strategy clearly delivers the idea that at the core of your strategy is the audience.

The clever arrangement of the interesting icons held my attention much longer than words alone.

Is it worth the effort to spend the time creating something this intricate? If it is well done, it will be shared over and over again. Images have tremendous viral potential.

Mark has built his contact information into the graphic, so everyone knows the source. I am linking to him from the image, and I hope you will go and check out his blog, because there are many, many more cool graphics on his site.

I am sure that not every graphic he has created has gone viral, but if one does, it pays off over and over again with a steady flow of new traffic to your website.

The graphic designers I have worked with over the years have always enjoyed the challenge of creating consumer product ads and brochures.  Engaging images, and quirky, fun text treatments allowed them to stretch their creative muscle.

Recently, we worked on a series of graphic design projects for companies selling commercial and industrial products.  The challenge for Taylor has been finding ways to present technical information in a format that is engaging and easy to read.

The lesson for small business owners:  Even if you have a “boring product” you don’t have to settle for boring brochures.

You can see a few examples of the designs for Oak Security and Horner Electric attached.  It has been fun to see Taylor flex his creative muscle in new directions.

We recently finished a web project for Bodywise Therapeutic Massage located in Ann Arbor Michigan

When you look at the site, it is simple, clean, and functional, but there isn’t anything extraordinary about the site.  Despite it’s simple appearance, it is one of the most important sites we built at Roundpeg last year.  Why?  Because the entire process: selling/building/training/was done remotely.  We never met the client face to face.

For an organization as personal as Roundpeg, this was a challenge, but what we learned in the process will be a huge benefit in 2011 and beyond.

• Our Facebook fan page was a big part of our sales success. After checking out our website, owner Terry Caldwell went to our fan page.  There she got a chance to see the fun side of Roundpeg, and share in our adventures with the Big Ugly at Bubs burger.  The casual conversations on Facebook, made it easier to have more in depth business conversations on the phone.
• We scheduled more frequent update meetings, via telephone so we were sure we were on track, and staying connected.
• We had to work much harder on our listening skills because we couldn’t rely on visual clues to tell us how were were doing
• When people come to our office, they are often greeted by one of the animals, ( Bonnie the dog, or Clyde the cat) offered Coke, coffee or water and comfortable chair.  To replicate that feeling over the phone, we made sure everyone in the office knew her name and project status, so when she called in, no matter who she spoke to, she never had to “introduce herself”

The results, Terry has a website she is very happy with, and we know that even though we are an Indianapolis Web Design company, we can handle projects anywhere in the US!

This is the fourth in a series of VBlog’s produced by Another Cool Design.  Originally shared as a blog post almost a year ago, this is an example of how we miss great opportunities when we aren’t paying attention.

Roundpeg Video Blog #4 – Joshua Bell from Another Cool Design on Vimeo.

Want to see the entire Joshua Bell video?

These days, everyone form Nike to Nordstrums has a fan page. As I watch this growing trend I wonder why?

The answer: With millions of users, a facebook fan page puts your brand where your customers are hanging out.  The viral nature allows you to connect with customers and prospects in a more relaxed setting. The technology makes it easy for your fans to introduce your company to others.

And the process works!  In a recent study,Syncapse determined the average value of a Facebook fan is $139.  Fans shop more often, spend more and refer more. So with all the activity on Facebook, do you still need a web page?

The answer is definitely YES!  While facebook is a great way to interact with clients it is not always the best place to sell.  At roundpeg we are working on the balance. While our blog, is a bit more business oriented, with informative posts, and the occasional light hearted feel, our fan page is just for fun.  Here you will find photos of our Adventures in Dining lunches, and the staff clowning on Friday’s as we share favorite songs on Roundpeg Radio.

We include a few links to blog posts, but keep that to a minimum.  Is it the right strategy? Only time will tell as we add more fans and measure the traffic to our primary site.

Getting ready to launch a new product or business?  This valuable check list comes from Mark Hayward , in a guest post for ProBlogger.  Although he was talking specifically about launching a blog, many of the steps in his check list are equally appropriate for any new businesses.

1. Define your customer – This needs no additional comment.  If you don’t know who you are trying to reach you can’t begin to build a plan to reach them
2. Location – Ok, so he said : “Determine if you’re going to create a blog within your business website or on its own.” But the point is still the same, where you choose to locate your business is important, and it will have an impact on the rest of your business operations.
3. Keyword research for domain name.   – For me the dominant theme here is the research.  Don’t guess or assume you know, let the facts guide your plans
4. Choose a blogging platform and select a design or theme. – For a non web business this translates to finding the right tools, designing a logo and branding
5. Register your social media accounts. – This is true for every business, from Facebook and Twitter to YouTube and Google local search, you have to be finable on the net.
6. Measure ROI - As you make investments in marketing and infrastructure, be sure you know how you will measure the contribution of each investment
7. Draft at least 10 posts in advance – Don’t rush to launch.  Take the extra time on the front end so you are prepare for what you are getting into.
8. Spend time in forums - Spend time networking with peers and competitors to uncover best practices – If you are here in Indy – the new Rainmakers: StartingPoint group may be a great place to start.
9. Reach out to Key Influencers – Find mentors, advisers and coaches.  Just because you own your own business does not mean you need to do it on your own.
10. Draft a web optimized press release - Again, this is something every business should do.  Not sure what the release should look like?  Check out our samples

Is this all you need to do to be ready to launch your new business?  No, but it is a start.   To pull the elements together, you might want to write a business plan

While social media is all the rage, and everyone wants to follow me on Twitter, friend me on Facebook, and link up on LinkedIn, I still believe there is a place for email in your marketing mix.

Email is an important part of your overall internet marketing campaign.  As a small business owner, it is a simple and affordable way to stay in touch.

Over the last few years I have written quite a lot about email marketing.   Here is a summary of some of my favorite tips:

1. Respect the Can-Spam rules - Be sure to include an unsubscribe link in your email to be CAN-SPAM complaint.  Even if a client opted in at some point, they always have the right to opt-out at a later date.  Be sure to give your readers that option.
2. Earn the right to keep them coming back with Customer Focused Communication –  Focus on information that is interesting or relevant to them! Sometimes the most valuable information you can provide potential customers is general information which demonstrates your overall knowledge or position as a business resource.
3. Special Offers - Include special offers or coupons in your newsletters. Make this a regular sections, so interested consumers know where to look for your latest offer.  Short-term offers or coupons with an expiration date are more likely to make the phone ring, today.
4. Keep it Short  - People are busy, so limit your total content to no more than 350 words.  Remember this is not a one shot program.
5. Track relevant measures such as the open and click through rates. As you experiment over time, you will notice certain headlines and offers perform better.
6. Offer more specialized content – Instead of a one-size fits all approach, consider sub dividing your list into small groups, and sending different information to each group.  The result is typically an increase in overall open rates and click through.

At Roundpeg we use two email tools, Constant Contact and AddressTwo, depending on the type of campaign we are sending.  If you need help getting started, we would be happy to talk to you!

I had an interesting discussion with an internet marketer recently.  He was shifting his business exclusively to Facebook marketing  He argued that with the advent of FBML he could create complete web experiences for his clients, and they no longer needed their own website.  While I think Facebook as some extraordinary applications for small business owners, I am not ready to abandon my own website.

In a recent blog post  Michael Grey gave some compelling reasons why business owners should hold on to their own site:

Do you have a social media strategy?

If you are not sure how to balance all the various social media elements in your social media strategy, Check out our newest online course: Social Media 101. This 6-week course will teach you the basics of marketing with Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more

Small businesses are the core of UK economy as well as American, In an article on Microsoft small business, I discovered that just like here in the US, the majority of small businesses in the UK do not have business plans.

• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) plan to create two million new jobs over the next 12 months
• Research conducted by Barclays indicates that small firms predict an annual growth rate of 8.5 per cent.
• According to the study, SMEs in Southampton are most optimistic about their fortunes for the coming year,
• According to the latest statistics from the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, SMEs together account for 99.9 per cent of all enterprises in the UK.

When faced with changing market conditions, aggressive competitors or superior competitors, what do  you do?  Do you continue in the same direction or can you pivot?  Change your strategy, maybe even your core product offering?

In a recent post, Seth Godin makes a compelling argument for why Kindle needs to pivot, changing from a premium product model to a low cost leader in the face of overwhelming competition from iPad.  He says:

The only way to get authors and publishers to embrace this device is to sell 20,000,000 of them. You either become the best and only platform for consuming books worth buying or you fail. And the only way to create that footprint in the face of an iPad is to make it so cheap to buy and use it’s irresistible.

Small business owners often get stuck, married to a concept because it was where they started, but time and time again we see successful businesses pivoting.  For example from a presentation by Kristian Andersen, I learned:

• Flickr started out as a game
• YouTube was a dating site
• Paypal was going to beam money to Palm Pilots

What about you?  Are you stuck?  Has the market moved away from you, like the shift from ice blocks to refrigerators. or is there simply better competition?

At roundpeg, I started out with the idea of training managers to build successful teams to implement effective strategies.  There was no market, so I pivoted, and took my planning tools to small business owners.  If I hadn’t pivoted, I would be stuck at a desk job somewhere.  I am glad I can pivot!