At last, the kind of news we entrepreneurs love to hear…Especially with a recession on the horizon.

According to Doug Caverly, a staff writer at SmallBusinessNewz, those of us with effective Websites are more likely to be sitting pretty as people start tightening their belts and counting their pennies.

He noted in a blog post last Friday that entrepreneurs responding to a survey by Register.com felt pretty darn good about their prospects for online business.

Here’s the upshot…

“Approximately 70% of the respondents don’t expect their web revenue to decline despite economic conditions,” according to Register.com, which talked to 800 small businesses. Exactly 34.5 percent of its respondents plan on seeing the same level of revenue, and 34.6 percent expect the level to rise.

According to Doug, “If you haven’t started selling stuff online, now would be a great time to do so. Small business owners seem to feel online sales are going to remain strong regardless of how the rest of the economy sinks.”

And…

Register.com CEO Larry Kutscher stated, “Having a website has become more than a luxury for small businesses and entrepreneurs, it is a necessity.”

I have to agree. I’ve been seeing steady increases in my own online sales over the years. And right now, people are hungry for information…One of the easiest things to deliver on the Internet.

Everyone can benefit from having an effective Website

Even if you are service provider and don’t have any products to sell, you can still benefit from having a Website that effectively sells your services.

Wouldn’t it be nice to wake up and find 3 new emails from people ready to hire you, without you having lifted a finger? Duh, of course it would.

And there’s no reason you can’t start selling information online too.

Chances are you have a certain level of expertise in what you do, or you wouldn’t be doing it, right?

So why not offer a teleseminar on a topic your clients are likely to be interested in?

These are easy to do and can be recorded live. Then you can take the audio and turn it into a product to sell on your Website.

Or publish your own e-book? You don’t even have to be a writer (or spend a ton of cash) to publish online. And you don’t need a traditional publisher either.

Creating products to sell online not only adds to your revenue stream, it also positions you as an expert, adds credibility, and gives people a chance to sample what you do. So it’s a perfect fit for a service-based business.

Of course, for many small businesses the first order of business is getting a Website that actually brings in leads or makes sales.

And you need to get people to visit your site.

Finally, you also need a way to capture visitor’s info so you can stay in touch with them down the road.

Because although they might not be ready to buy right now, they might be ready in a week, month or year. And you want to be the Website they remember and go back to when they are.

Thankfully, it’s really not hard to make all this happen (and then some)! You just need to know how, then take a bit of action.

Ready to take your Website to the next level?

Need help turning your Website into lead-generating, sales-making machine?

Join me and 7 other lucky entrepreneurs for a full day on the Website Hotseat in Seattle on June 10th.

I put each attendee’s site up on the wall and critique it live. So you leave with specific suggestions and recommendations for taking your Website to the next level. Plus you get the added benie of having a focus group of entrepreneurs provide feedback as well.

Check it out and reserve your seat at http://www.websitehotseat.com. This event is already half sold-out, so don’t delay.

Want to read the entire article I quoted? Go here:
http://www.smallbusinessnewz.com/topnews/2008/05/23/online-sales-look-good-for-small-businesses

Do you think online sales are going to help you weather the tougher economy?

Whether you sell products or services, I’d love to know how your business is doing online, and whether or not you agree with the survey results

Please post your comments below…

Over the last year or so, I’ve helped a few of my clients move their email lists to a new service. Usually, we’ve moved them to the more robust, feature-filled 1shoppingcart autoresponder and e-commerce program.

I use and love this program because it lets me integrate my shopping cart with my email autoresponders. So I can send out specific follow ups after people purchase something (Check it out here).

What I don’t love is the process of moving a list.

There always seems to be a technical glitch. And one of the biggest problems is that a lot of folks are moving from a single opt-in system to a double opt-in system. And when they do, they loose subscribers (usually about 50%!).

In case you don’t know what double opt-in means, I’ll explain…

When you sign up for my weekly e-newsletter and free report “The 7 Deadliest Small Business Marketing Sins…Are You Guilty?” I send you a second email right away asking you to confirm your subscription (if you haven’t read it yet, you can grab your copy here).

So you opt-in once by entering your name and email, then again by clicking the confirmation link. Thus creating a “double opt-in”.

This is a minor inconvenience most of the time. But it prevents people from getting email they don’t want (IE Spam). It keeps you from being labeled a spammer. And it keeps other people from signing someone else up without their permission. All good.

However, it is a huge pain in the butt when you’re moving a list. And your subscribers may feel somewhat annoyed. Because they signed up a long time ago (probably through a single opt-in system), and don’t understand why they have to confirm their subscription now.

It can also cost you subscribers because some folks might not receive the confirmation email (it could end up in their junk mail folder by accident). Or they may forget to click the link. Or even be afraid to.

It’s been such a pain that I decided to do a bit of research and see if it’s still considered the best way to go. Especially since you CAN use 1shoppingcart without setting up a double opt-in if you want, thought they really don’t recommend it.

Bottom line? From everything I’ve read you really do want people to double opt-in.

Why? A bunch of reasons…

#1 Because it keeps you from being labeled a spammer and getting your site blacklisted forever.

#2 At least in 1shoppingcart, your double opted-in list is going to get first priority in terms of delivery.

#3 In virtually all email systems, you get a better delivery rate if your list has done the double opt-in dance.

#4 Even though you might lose a bunch of subscribers, the ones you are left with are the ones who are active. And they are the ones who really value the emails you send. Which means they are going to open and read them more often than not…And be more likely to buy something from you as a result

So, I’m going to keep using, and recommending, double opt-ins.

Anybody out there have any other thoughts on the subject?

If so, I’d love to know…Please post a comment below.

[tags] double optin, double opt-in, email marketing, marketing, email marketing list, Double Opt-In Process When Building Your Email Marketing List, building your email marketing list [/tags]

Lately I’ve been writing marketing-related articles for the Snohomish County Business Journal a couple of times a year. Since so many small business owners struggle with getting a Website that actually generates leads or makes sales, that’s been the focus of a lot of my articles, e-books and workshops recently.

You can check out the latest one, published Wednesday, April 30th, right here:

http://www.snohomishcountybusinessjournal.com/article/20080430/SCBJ14/643967305&template=SCBJart

I’d love to know what you think of the article, so please come back and post a comment.

[tags] Stacy Karacostas, seven sales killing web mistakes to avoid, web mistakes, sales killing, sales, mistakes to avoid, marketing [/tags]

My Website Hotseat Event is fast becoming one of the most requested workshops I do. I’ve run two in the past 6 months, and it seems I’m always getting emails from folks wanting to know when the next one is going to be held.

So I’m happy to announce I’ve just booked a room for Tuesday, June 10th in downtown Seattle.

Honestly, I’m thrilled people want more of this event, because I believe it is one of the most powerful ways to take your Website to the next level.

If you’re not familiar with the Hotseat concept, basically I take each person’s Website and project it on the wall big and in color. Then, we critique it as a group.

You find out:

• Whether the first impression you’re making is what you thought (or want)…
• Whether or not people understand what you do…
• What you can do to make your Website more effective…
• Inexpensive online marketing tactics you can use…
• Exactly what you need to change to turn your site into a automated salesperson working 24/7 to generate leads, build yoru prospect list, follow up with clients and much more.

This is without a doubt one of the most powerful workshop formats I’ve ever run across. Because not only do you get an experts eyes on your marketing (and your business in general), you get a focus group of small business owners looking at your site too.

Plus, you have the chance to help critique everyone else’s site. This is often the biggest eye-opener for people. Because, just like it’s easier to see what’s wrong in someone else’s life or relationships, it’s easier to see what’s wrong with someone else’s site than look at your own objectively.

And since we spend the day together (everyone gets a yummy, organic lunch), you have a chance to ask me all your burning marketing and Website questions along the way.

You get all this (and a good bit more) for about the cost of hiring me for a 1-hour consult (if you get in at the Early Bird rate).

Sound interesting? Get all the juicy details at http://www.websitehotseat.com.

If you think you want to attend, reserve your seat quickly. I only let 8 business owners in and two seats are already gone, gone gone…

[tags] get your website in gear, Website Hotseat, Website Hotseat event, take your website to the next level, website, powerful workshop, small business owner, small business, marketing, Stacy Karacostas [/tags]

Lately, I’ve been reading more and more about the future of mobile marketing and advertising. Thanks to our addiction to mobile electronics, companies are looking for ways to send ads and promotions direct to your cell phone, blackberry and other Internet enabled devices.

Of course, the part their struggling with is how to invade people’s personal space like this without pissing them off. Because even in today’s consumeristic world, people still believe some places and spaces should be off-limits.

Advertisers have already run into some pretty serious backlash when they’ve tried running promotions on social networking sites. And goodness knows you can get flamed right out of a lot of sites if you blatantly promote your wares.

So, one idea that’s being proposed by some cell companies is to pay you for the right to advertise to you. The basic idea is you’d get your cell service at a greatly reduced rate if you allow advertising on your phone. Then, the next time you’re walking past a Starbucks, say, you might see an ad for a coffee special tempting you to come in the door.

I’m sure some folks would be happy to get a free or reduced rate on their cell service in exchange for this seemingly small intrusion. But how many?

Me personally, you couldn’t pay me enough to let companies send ads to my phone! I don’t even like to have the darn thing on or with me half the time—let alone have unsolicited ads showing up and sucking away my time and attention.

What’s your opinion?

Is this a worthwhile wave of the future, or just the latest version of having a telemarketer call you at home during dinner?

[tags] future of advertising, future of marketing, marketing, advertising, mobile advertising, wave of the future, advertisers, promotions, promotions on social networking sites, social networking [/tags]

Lately, I’ve been paying a lot of attention to what’s happening with our big-box stores…And Wal-Mart in particular. Because as oil prices continue to go up I believe that’s going to be a difficult business model to sustain.

Think about it…

What makes Wal-Mart work is they ship and sell very large quantities of goods, many of which are made in Asia of formerly cheap plastics. Now the cost of fuel is driving up shipping prices. And it’s driving up the cost of anything made from petroleum (that includes plastics, make-up, packaging, tires, toys, kitchenware, housewares, you name it) too.

On top of all this, our sudden transition to a greener society along with the downturn in the economy. Both of these are making people less inclined to spend money on anything other than necessities.

Clearly Wal-mart recognize this as well. Because recently they’ve changed their tagline from “Always the low price” to “Save Money. Live Better.” This is a HUGE deal. Because getting their current customer to accept a shift like this may not be easy.

But they know they can no longer hold onto their position as the lowest-price because their business model is not as cheap to run as it was just a couple years ago. Shipping costs have gone up…Manufacturing costs have gone up…Store construction costs have gone up…Costs of lighting and heating those big stores have gone up. Etc. etc…

So now, instead of being the low cost leader, they are jumping on the greener, healthier bandwagon. And their marketing and advertising reflect that.

Just the other night I saw a Wal-Mart commercial promoting their new line of eco-friendly t-shirts for kids.

Frankly, as a dyed-in-the-wool environmentalist, I’m thrilled with this turn of events. But I wonder what it means for Wal-Mart…

Can they make the transition and survive more or less intact?

Is this the beginning of the end for discount, big-box retailers in general, or Wal-Mart in particular?

How easy (or hard) is it going to be for them to change people’s perception of their stores and products?

Post a comment and let me know what you think…

[tags] Wal-Mart, Walmart, Wal-Marts tagline has changes,  discount price business model, business model, commercial promoting, going green, going green in your business, marketing, advertising, eco-friendly [/tags]

I’m so excited I’m just about to burst…My latest e-book “The Small Business Website Bible” is officially launched!!

This one is for all the entrepreneurs out there who have spent WAY too much money on a Website that doesn’t do jack to grow their business. And all those who are worried about doing just that as they get their first Website up and running.

I teach a lot of workshops on Websites, and I’ve heard far too many horror stories… Sometimes people get taken advantage of by Web designers or developers who sell them all kinds of fancy hoo-ha they don’t need.

It reminds of those old tales of young women walking into the auto mechanics garage and getting taken to the cleaners because they didn’t know the first thing about cars. That’s not to say that all Web designers and developers are crooks (though there are a few, just like in any profession).

Other times, they just want to build you the kind of site they know how to build, or that everyone else in your field has.

What it really boils down to is that most Web people know how to design and build a nice Website. But they don’t know a thing about sales and marketing. So they just do what they know how to do best. And that may or may not be what’s best for your business.

So that means you have to know exactly what you want, and what you need your Website to do, before you ever hire someone to build the site for you. And that’s exactly what this book is all about.

From the kind of site you need, to what you need to put up there, how to organize it, and even what all that crazy Web terminology means, this book covers everything a small business owner really needs to know about creating a Website that sells.

It’s written in a totally non-technical way, so even if you don’t the first thing about Websites and how they work you can learn the basics.

Check it out and get all the details at
http://www.smallbusinesswebsitebible.com.

[tags] Stacy Karacostas, Small Business Website Bible, small business, website, website bible, creating a website, website developer, website developers, creating a website that sells [/tags]

During the past 6 months I’ve started experimenting more and more with social networking sites. Before that, I did a good bit of research on the subject, and kept tabs on what other people were saying.

Now I’ve got an entire section of my marketing plan devoted to social networking. My profile is on a variety of Website like www.linkedIn.com, www.biznik.com, www.fastpitchnetworking.com, PlaxoPulse, and a whole bunch more. I’ve also got a page on www.FaceBook.com and have joined a couple private groups. And of course, I have this blog.

So what have I discovered? The first thing is that online networking is like in-person networking in that it isn’t enough to just connect online. That’s about as effective as showing up, collecting a fist-full of business cards, and heading back to the office.

If you really want to benefit, you have to participate. That means being active on networking sites by posting articles and events, and answering questions. Or sending out email updates.

And, just like blogging, you have to post or connect regularly. Otherwise people forget about you.

The other aspect that’s like in-person networking is that you need to connect on a deeper level. Again, it’s not enough to add them to your list of friends or connections.

I like to set up phone meetings with interesting people I meet online so we can get to know each other better. Only then do I think you truly have a chance of working together to grow each other’s businesses. And that’s really the goal, isn’t it?

The downside is that, yes, all this social networking can be a HUGE time suck!! So I’ve decided to focus on a few sites in particular and this blog. That way I don’t end up spending my entire day on the Internet (I do have other things to do in my life and business, after all).

What results have I seen so far?

Having my profile posted on a number of sites has certainly helped get my name out there. I’ve found posting articles to be especially effective. Because then people get a better sense of who I am and what I offer.

And I have definitely connected with some amazing folks I wouldn’t have met anywhere else.

So I’m going to keep trying new things to get the most from my social networking efforts. Meet new people. Help more folks grow their businesses. And most of all have fun with it.

Are you using social networking to grow your business or raise your profile online?

If so, I’d love to know what you’re doing, and what’s been working best for you…

Please post a comment so we can all share and benefit from what you’ve learned!

[tags] social networking, social networking sites, networking, marketing, marketing your small business, small business, online profile, social networking an effective way to market your small business, social networking to market your business [/tags]