People always ask for my opinion about website hosting and here’s my opinion about Jumpline hosting.

Think of it as a quick little Public Service Announcement about the skeevy annual hosting program at http://www.jumpline.com.

1) No 24/7/365 technical support; the minimum standard for hosting in my opinion.

2) Can’t cancel an annual contract until within 30 days of your renewal/billing.

That’s right, try to cancel three months ahead of time - they won’t let you. Try to cancel six months ahead of time, because you moved your hosting for someone with 24/7/365 technical support - no can do.

This scheme really sets up a situation where you might automatically get billed even if you don’t host your account there anymore.

Try to cancel after your “renewal” date and they charged your credit card and it’s too bad. They won’t give you a credit. They’ll refer you to their fine-print terms of service.

Very skeevy, indeed.

3) AGAIN: This company will automatically renew your hosting and charge your credit card, if you do not cancel it within, and only within, the 30 day period prior to your renewal.

4) You also have to cancel by calling in and can’t cancel in your control/account panel. That’s skeevy too.

Recommendation: Just say NO to Jumpline hosting.

I’ve been using Hostgator for about a month now, one of their dedicated hosting packages as well as their business package - and I would recommend Hostgator very highly.

Hostgator

No baloney auto-charge schemes

Cancel from your hosting control panel, no need to call in

GREAT technical support 24/7/365, I love their online chat support!

Great price, lots of options

Oh… did I say: excellent technical support 24/7/365

http://www.hostgator.com

Why Brides Are Leaving My Website

Q: Chris, we get pretty good traffic but we just don’t get the inquiries we used to get. What do you think is wrong with our website?

A: It looks dated. I’m guessing you built this website four or five years ago. Back then, it probably worked pretty well. A lot has changed since then and brides expect more. Remember, this is the most important day of their lives. So my guess is the brides that do find your website are taking a quick look and just leaving. Your website doesn’t create the “Oh Yes” moment. The “Oh Yes” moment is a term I’ve coined that describes a bride who visits a website and says “Oh, Yes, this is what I’ve been looking for.”

Be honest, take a look at your website from five feet away from your computer screen. Does it create the “Oh Yes” moment? If not, it’s probably time for a new website.

Another thing I’d recommend you look at it is your website traffic. What are the sources of your traffic? Where your traffic comes from plays an important role in conversion (i.e. visitors turning into inquiries). Traffic from Free Top Wedding Planning Links Galore is not high-quality traffic. Traffic from Google, by someone who performed a search and found your website, should be very high-quality traffic. Traffic from The Knot should be very high-quality traffic and convert well.

In this week’s Internet Marketing for Wedding Professionals Workshop we’re discussing website design; what design is all about, what is good design, common design mistakes, plus I’ll show everyone two websites that have the “Oh Yes” moment and have very good conversion (i.e. visitors make inquiries!).

Thinking About Advertising with Google Adwords

Q: We’ve been thinking about doing some advertising at Google using Adwords. The “Sponsored” listings. Do you think this is a good idea?

A: Yes. Actually, here is proof it does. Today (7/12), one of my clients has 7 clicks as of noon. Total cost; $12.00. I just got off the phone with them and they booked a $700 job from one of those clicks. I doubt very much your print advertising is giving you that type of return-on-investment - or is nearly as measurable and FAST.

Google Adwords works, yes, but there are a few things critically important, including:

* Proper set-up
* Proper keyword selection
* The ad copy you write
* Ongoing monitoring and testing

Another thing that is important is CONVERSION. If your website is not converting your existing traffic (i.e. visitors) into inquiries DO NOT use Google Adwords. You are just wasting your money.

July 18, 2010 - Association of Bridal Consultants, Northeast Regional Conference presents “The Wedding Puzzle:  Putting It All Together”

For more information visit: http://www.nercconference.com

From the Advanced Internet Marketing [AIM] folder…

I came across this post today that discusses targeting people’s email inbox. What you say, I can get into someone’s email box and show an advertisement for my company? Yes, you can. If they are using GMAIL (millions and millions do) and you are running Adwords.

Take a look: http://www.searchmarketingstandard.com/targeting-funbox-ad-powerhouse

Please follow this link to purchase a license for your Thesis theme used with Wordpress.

You must own a licensed copy of Thesis to use this theme at your blog.

Thesis Theme Purchase/License

Join me, with Mark Shaffer and Rick Brewer, for an afternoon of GREAT information that will help “fire up your engines” and book more weddings in 2011/2012. I’m pleased to be able to work with these two seasoned wedding industry professionals, it’s quite a priviledge. The workshop is free-of-charge, you can’t beat that! So if you’re in Las Vegas for the Wedding MBA, join us Monday afternoon, September 20th, 2010, at the MGM Grand. For more information visit http://www.lasvegasweddingweek.com

Search Engine Optimization Keyword Worksheet Exercise

June 24, 2010

Keywords and keyword phrases are the building blocks of a successful search engine optimization (SEO) campaign; that being, getting top 10 ranked on a search engine results page (SERP) and getting more traffic from search engines (i.e. traffic building strategy).

I have a 100% success rate achieving top ranked positions at Google. Unfortunately, I have got my clients top ranked for keywords and keyword phrases that I think people using when searching, based on my research and experience, but my client expected or thought differently.

This worksheet and exercise is designed to help me fix this issue and “be on the same page” with my clients, so to speak, when it comes to keywords/phrases and SEO.

It allows us work in a collaborative manner to identify the keywords and keyword phrases YOU want your website to show up top ranked for when brides/grooms are searching.

How it Works

I am asking you to put together a list of 5 keywords and/or keyword phrases you want your website to show up top ranked for.

Rank them in order of importance, with the first at the top of the list.

For example, a wedding band I work with in the Boston area that serves the entire New England marketplace chose:

boston wedding bands
wedding bands in boston
massachusetts wedding bands
popular wedding bands in boston
wedding bands cape cod

As you work through this exercise please keep in mind the following:

1) Keyword/keyword phrase search engine optimization is PRECISION WORK. If you tell me “I’m not showing up in the top 10″ that is not enough information for me to do anything. I need to know the EXACT search you performed, the exact and all of the exact keywords you used when you searched. If I you search for A B C D and I search for D A B C - we are not searching for the same keywords/phrases - and we are going to see different results. I also need to know WHERE you were searching. Searching at Google (google.com) vs. Google at AOL through your AOL account (aol.com) are two entirely different places and the results will be different.

2) The best way to do this keyword/keyword phrase exercise might be to “brainstorm” on a blank white piece of paper. Put all the possible keywords/keyword phrases you can think of on the page - and then go back and circle the top 5.

3) Unless you are on a monthly consulting retainer with me (i.e. “ongoing advanced search engine optimization) this exercise is limited to 5 keywords/phrases. Optimizing and getting ranked for 10, 15, or 20 keywords is far, far more complicated and time-consuming. If you are interested in that type of program, please let me know.

My monthly consulting retainer for advanced SEO and top ten ranking at Google are:

10 keywords/keyword phrases; $5,000/mos.
15 keywords/keyword phrases; $7,500/mos.
20 keyword/keyword phrases; $10,000/mos.

4) Google and most other search engines do not automatically “pluralize” a keyword when someone searches. In other words boston wedding band (without the “s”) is a different keyword phrase than boston wedding bands (with the “s”). These are actually TWO DIFFERENT KEYWORD PHRASES and will show up with different results on a search engine results page.

5) In most cases, but not all, your company name does not have to be a targeted keyword phrase. It should rank well based simply as a result of your company name appearing as text on the pages of your website.

6) Once you submit your keyword phrase list, I will review it and make recommendations and suggestions based on my experience/expertise, and research including; (a) review of the websites who currently top rank for each of these keywords, (b) keyword tools resources I use, and (c) possibly a review of your website statistics. You can expect my follow-up notes and recommendations within 7 to 10 days.

7) You do not need to return a formal MS-Word type document to me. A simple email with the keywords, in order of importance, with the subject line: Keywords for Search Engine Optimization is fine. But please… take the time to stop and think about this - not just throw me back the first 5 keywords/phrases you think of.

8) Upon receipt of your 5 keywords, I will acknowledge receipt of your email and follow-up within a week with my notes and/or recommendations. Once we agree to the 5 targeted keywords/keyword phrases I will start/continue my work.

If you have any questions, please drop me a line (email). I’ll follow-up as quickly as possible.

Listen to the first audio: “Workshop Overview”

——————————————————

Internet Marketing for Wedding Professionals Workshop - Starts July 12th

Everything You Need to Know to Make the Internet Work For You,
Get More Inquiries, and Book More Weddings!

1. Internet Marketing Strategy Overview
2. Website Design
3. Marketing Message
4. Conversion Techniques
5. Search Engine Optimization
6. Traffic Building Strategies
7. EMAIL Marketing
8. Blogging
9. Social Media
10. Local Search
11. Google Adwords Optimization
12. Understanding Google Analytics
13. My Favorite Internet Marketing/Marketing Tools
14. Google Webmaster Tools
15. Sales Techniques that Book More Weddings

–> Register Today

Only $99.00 (link below)

Optimize your Internet marketing for 2011/2012.

•   Take your Internet marketing to the next level
•   Increase your online visibility 100%, 200%, or more!
•   Get better ranked at Google (or keep your top rankings!)
•   Reach more brides before they find your competition
•   Increase website inquiries 100%, 200%, or more in less than six months
•   Save time, money, and increase your profits

–> Schedule

Starts July 12th

To accommodate as many people as possible I will hold two sessions per week, one on Monday night and one on Wednesday night.

Both sessions will cover the same topic.

This is simply being done this way for “east coast” vs. “west coast” people and those who can’t make one night or the other.

Monday night - 8:00pm Eastern

Wednesday night - 8:00pm Pacific

So if you can’t make Monday night, no problem, join in Wednesday night, we’ll be discussing the same topic (again).

There are a total of 15 topics, one topic per week, 15 weeks.

–> Format

Always open Q&A… plus a specific topic (see schedule). Expect information you can use - no BS, every session is packed with valuable “in-the-trenches” Internet marketing techniques that REALLY WORK.

–> When

It all starts Monday night, July 12, 2010.

Monday nights - 8:00pm Eastern

Wednesday nights - 8:00pm Pacific

–> Can’t Make a Session

No problem. All sessions are being recorded and you can download the audio (mp3). Audio files are usually available 72 hours after each session and a link will be sent to everyone via email as soon as they are available.

–> Workshop Format: Phone and Online

The workshops are held on a tele-conference line as well as an online “webinar.”
The access phone number/code and web-link and access code will be sent to everyone who registers July 7, 2010. Here are the scheduled topics:

–> Internet Marketing Overview

What does it take today and going forward twelve months (into 2011) to use the Internet correctly and book more weddings? We all know that brides and grooms are online, but how you reach them today and going forward is going to be different than a year ago! I’ll also share some of the highlights from recent success stories - how we did it, what we did, what works, and what doesn’t work.

–> Website Design

What makes a great website, what works, and what doesn’t. Does your website create an “Oh Yes” moment? We’ll talk about design optimization as well as look at some websites that get GREAT results. If you’d like to put your website up for critique - bring it on!

–> Marketing Message

If you’re not using the right words or communicating the right message, the brides and grooms who visit your website will leave - without making an inquiry. After design, a weak marketing message is the #1 reason brides will leave your website. I call it “Bridal Bail-out.” We’ll talk about UVP, WIIFM, benefits, features, value, CTA and I’ll give you examples you can use and should use!

SUCCESS STORIES: “The changes we made to the home page copy have reduced our bounce rate to below 30%. The copy you suggested and the UVP is much more engaging and is obviously working.”

–> Conversion Techniques

Turn your website visitors into inquiries, appointments, and sales.
There are 10 techniques I use that typically improve conversion 50% to 80% or more. Some are simple, others are a bit more sophisticated. In either case, all are designed to turn more of the brides and grooms who visit your website into inquiries and sales.

SUCCESS STORIES: “Chris, we changed the flow to our inquiry form as you suggested and got four inquiries from our website yesterday, the first day. We’ve never had four inquiries in one day! Thanks so much!”

–> Search Engine Optimization

What is search engine optimization (SEO) and how does it work? Is it hard to do? NO. It is complicated? Definitely YES. Is it worth doing? Definitely YES as 8 out of 10 brides starting an Internet session will do so with a “search.”.

I’ll show you how to develop your keyword strategy and then give you the precise techniques that you must use to either GET top ranked or KEEP your top rankings at Google.

SUCCESS STORIES: “My competitor called me and asked me how we’re getting our website top ranked at Google “I see you everywhere.” Sorry Chris, but I’m not giving him your phone number!”

–> Traffic Building Strategies

Ongoing traffic building is critical to your online success. The brides are out there, you know it. The question is: Can they find your website and how do you get them to your website before they find the competition? This is all part of an effective traffic building strategy. I’ll cover 10 specific traffic building strategies that absolutely, positively work.

–> EMAIL Marketing

EMAIL marketing works. It takes some time to “hit its stride” but if you don’t start you’ll never realize the benefits. And the benefit: a low-cost, effective way to increase sales. Effective email marketing SHOULD DOUBLE or TRIPLE your sales. Yes, a 100% to 200% increase in sales with only a once-a-month newsletter. I’ll discuss the tools to use, the topics you should write about, and how to streamline the process using “leveraged content.” EMAIL marketing is easy, if you know what you’re doing!

–> Blogging

Most people I see blogging are wasting their time. “Active Blogging” is the technique I use with my clients in combination with “leveraged content.” I’ll discuss how to optimize your blog and blog posts so that search engines see them and rank them well. I’ll also show you how to write your blog posts to increase inquiries and sales.

–> Social Media

Don’t waste your time with Facebook and Twitter unless you’re going to use these social media marketing tools correctly and effectively. I’ll discuss and show you the techniques I’ve used with my clients that actually drive INQUIRIES and new sales.

–> Local Search

Getting listed in Local Search at Google and showing up as a “pin point” at the top of a search engine results page is very important. In addition to simply more traffic to your website, it increases your reputation and has many other benefits. I’ll walk you through the process of getting listed and then the techniques I’ve successfully used to show up at the top of the list.

–> Pay Per Click Basics

Google Adwords will either make you a lot of money or cost you a lot of money. I’ll discuss and walk you through the basics of pay-per-click with Google so that you avoid wasting money. I have clients spending as little as $100/month and getting a 20x return-on-investment. We’ll talk about “landing pages,” what they are, what should be on them, why they are different from your “home page,” and how to use PPC effectively to get very good results.

–> Google Analytics

We’ll walk through a Google Analytics campaign and I’ll show you key data points that you must monitor. Are you buying advertising online? I’ll show you how to tell if it’s working and driving traffic to your website? If it’s not, cancel your advertising contract!

–> Using Google Webmaster Tools Effectively

Most people I talk to don’t know what Google Webmaster tools are. First, they are free. Second, they’ll help you understand what is happening at your website as well as help you manage your search engine optimization strategy.

–> My Favorite Internet Marketing Tools (Part 1) & Money Saving Tips (Part 2)

Over the years I’ve tried everything - software, Internet marketing tools, you name it. I’ll share with you my favorite tools and how I use them and how they make me more productive and help me close more sales! I’ll also give you a list of my Top Ten Money Saving Tips.

–> Sales Techniques That Work

Sharpen your sales system and sales techniques and you can quickly increase your sales 20%, 30%, or more. One of my clients doubled their closing ratio with the techniques we put together. While this isn’t exactly Internet marketing, it is an area that is very important. Using the techniques and advice shared during this session will help you close more sales faster and easier.

–> Your Investment

Register today and save $50.00

Instead of paying the full, regular price of $149.00 get all 15 workshops for $99.00

That’s right, expert Internet marketing advice, open Q&A, Internet marketing techniques that work, better placement with Google, more website inquiries and more sales - for only $99.00

This is an early-bird special. Register today.