WordPress for Websites: Need a Cheerleader?
June 26, 2010
Okay, so I’m not a cheerleader nor have ever been one…but I’m not shy about expressing my love for creating websites with WordPress. WordPress is how I created this website (jennymunn.com) six months ago. I don’t get a ton of traffic, but I don’t want a lot of traffic. Instead, I want potential customers to find me. To date, about 50% of my current clients have found me via my website. Many of those customers have landed on my site via blog posts and then went on to visit other pages and contact me.
I recently attended The Business of WordPress Conference in Atlanta. The purpose of the conference was to educate non-technical business people on all the website capabilities that WordPress has to offer.
In addition to attending, I also had the privilege of moderating a panel on visual design with the very talented WordPress experts Cynthia LaLuna, Erik Wolfe, and Jim Hodgson. Website design is so important and there was a lot of Q&A from the audience.
When I was preparing to create my website, I did a lot of homework before I felt confident moving forward with my chosen website design. That meant looking through hundreds of copywriters’ sites to clearly define what I wanted (and what I didn’t want) and how I would differentiate myself. As a result, I am proud to direct people to my website URL. Unfortunately, I meet many people who are not so thrilled with their website.
I suspect that’s because maintaining a current, relevant website is hard work. Creating my site took so much out of me that as soon as I got it up I wanted to forget about it and move on to doing the work I get paid to do (I also happen to love my work). But, I faithfully update my site at least once a week with recent news, blog posts and back-end maintenance and backups.
I’d like to know – do you find it hard to maintain a relevant, updated website? How do you plan for website improvements and content updates?
If you’re considering creating a WordPress website and need a cheerleader, reach out to me via email or twitter. I’m not a website designer but I certainly know the right resources and can point you in the right direction. If you want more information on WordPress in general, check out my mini-ebook on my WordPress experiences and costs.
Happy WordPress-ing and please let me know in the comments below if you’ve had any good or bad experiences with your WordPress website.
What I’m Reading: June 2010
June 2, 2010
The Well-Fed Self-Publisher by Peter Bowerman
I picked up this book after I saw the author speak on a self-publishing panel last week. I’m a big fan of his first self-published book, the Well-Fed Writer. My plan is to do a quick read through of this book once; if I am still committed to moving forward with the book topic I’ve chosen, I’ll proceed with writing the book and planning my book marketing strategy. I guess in some ways I’m trying to see if I’ll be “scared off” from writing this book once I see what’s involved in self-publishing, marketing, and promotion. I often have so many ideas about how to move my business forward and advance my personal/professional development, it’s hard for me to commit to just one idea at a time. Plus, self-publishing a high-quality book requires a big monetary investment so I want to make sure it’s the right choice for me. I’ll keep you posted on the progress!
Here’s the author’s premise and more information:
In TWFSP, you’ll follow the author’s firsthand experience as you learn how to:
• Develop a “marketing mindset” – minus the anxiety!
• Create a book that turns heads and grabs eyeballs
• Find tons of reviewers anxious to publicize your book
• Get the bookstore chains to come looking for you
• Build a cash-generating web site that works 24/7
• Minimize your dependence on fickle mainstream media
• Parlay one book into multiple income streams
• Separate the “Print-on-Demand” hype from reality
Most importantly, you’ll learn a radical new approach to book promotion, one that keeps you in control. The result: less anxiety, higher profits, and more fun!
http://www.wellfedsp.com/
Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi
A friend bought this book for me after we had coffee and I gave her advice about book marketing and author websites. Her first book,coming out Fall 2010, is being published by The American Cancer Society. I am so excited for her! I have been wanting to read this book for a long time – thank you, Lydia!
Here is the book’s premise and website:
Do you want to get ahead in life? Climb the ladder to personal success? The secret, master networker Keith Ferrazzi claims, is in reaching out to other people. As Ferrazzi discovered early in life, what distinguishes highly successful people from everyone else is the way they use the power of relationships–so that everyone wins. In “Never Eat Alone,” Ferrazzi lays out the specific steps–and inner mindset–he uses to reach out to connect with the thousands of colleagues, friends, and associates in his address book, people he has helped and who have helped him.
http://www.keithferrazzi.com/
The Six-Figure Consultant by Bob Bly
This book is more than ten years old but I am a huge fan of Bob Bly and couldn’t resist picking it up. His advice is so timeless and extremely relevant. I have to have my computer next to me at all times when I read his books to capture the multitude of ideas, tips and techniques he provides.
The book’s premise:
For a variety of well-documented reasons, the overall market for business consultants–and the fierce competition among them to garner clients–continues to grow at an astounding rate. Robert Bly’s The Six-Figure Consultant provides a series of clear guidelines for anyone hoping to grab a piece of this $30 billion annual industry. Whether your aim is to carve out a lucrative niche as a long-range strategy counselor, short-term implementation specialist, training-and-development guru, information provider, or temporary advisor, Bly presents solid advice on getting started, becoming an acknowledged expert on specific disciplines and industries, selling yourself, managing time and contacts, and boosting income with ancillary products and services. He concludes with a lengthy list of relevant books, magazines, software products, Web sites, vendors, organizations, and conferences, as well as various documents for everything from outlining a monthly retainer arrangement to advising clients when you’re on vacation.
Author website: http://www.bly.com/new/index.html
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
I’ve been wanting to read this book for some time and finally snapped it up at a library book sale for $1. This one might take me all summer to get through though as I often table fiction books in favor for business books. I have a few trips this summer though so this will be my plane book.
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