Content is King

I'd like to share something of which I think as a disconnect between most small business websites/owners and those who get it. Too many people have 'interpreted' the Internet as an infinitely extended business card. We think of it as a brochure, sign-up table, or full-page advertisement. But it is so much more than the 'details of your business'.

Ever since the web 2.0, social web, or the 'read and write', phase of the Internet, content has become a driving force of how websites increase traffic and sell more goods and services. Everybody has the ability to start a website, blog, or community today, so why should anybody care about 'your website', if it doesn't offer anything else substantial.

By lowering barrier of entry for websites and organizations, the system has increased the competition for quality and integrity. The phrase "Content is King" is an axiom far too few business owners hear about, and even less understand how to leverage. It is the single most common method for establishing integrity, and ensuring quality products/services. Yes, there are plenty of other ways, but this is the foundation every small business owner should understand about websites.

If you want to increase your website's traffic, you need to provide something more just what your selling. This is where content becomes so important, not just to provide, but to also understand how to leverage it effectively.

Your business has practically unlimited options for relevant content to offer on its website. You can make useful articles, lists, reports, guides, tutorials, tips, facts, public support including comments, forum posts, opinions, etc. Creativity, persistence, and knowledge of the essential 'economy' of the Internet, are just some of the most influential factors of how content will, or will not, help your website.

If there is anything you should take away from this post, it should be that competing on the Internet will only become more difficult. Eventually every business will be competing in this global economy. You need to start right now, or hopefully continue, immersing yourself in your online niche. Don't rely on just your website marketer to provide these insights. Reading this article is a great start, but you need to be aware of so much more, within your market, and in general. Being aware is the best way to decide your actions, and ultimately as a small business owner the responsibility is yours.

So start by creating quality content to give away for free. Establish your brand, and try to help others by doing so. Ultimately the specific choice of content to create depends on your business, market, and resources. However, nothing is too little, or too small, to offer as 'help' for others, who may in return help you, by buying from, or recommending your business.

Free Automatic Backups

Websites Unleashed is proud to announce free automatic backup support for all existing and new clients. Depending on which hosting plan you are on, Websites Unleashed will automatically run full website backups on a daily to weekly basis.

We will also provide support for implementing these backups under any circumstance. Did you break your own website? Did someone hack your website? Did the IRS corrupt your website in a blatant attempt to defraud your highly profitable business? Don't worry!

From now on we will have a long list of backups to choose from to restore your website. Most web hosts do not support automatic backups, but Websites Unleashed is dedicated to providing professional website management for small business.

Understanding Viral Marketing

I just recently left a post about Viral Marketing on StartUpNation and I feel that I should post it on the blog as well. If you don't know what basic 'viral marketing' is then this should help you both understand and determine if the two most common uses can apply to your business.

I think people are confusing the two major definitions/connotations of Viral Marketing. Let me define what I would generalize as the two major but separate terms we think about when people say 'Viral Marketing':

# Traditional Viral Marketing: Some message or offer that is intentionally spread by it's current consumers to increase the wealth of their friends. This is something as simple as the 500 free Something or SignUp Contest where the person who refers/signs up the most friends wins something big. The success of these 'campaigns' are determined by the creativity and execution of the offer/campaign. I recall reading that Myspace was started by the 'traditional viral marketing' of a signup contest within the company; and it generated thousands of new users.
# Modern Viral Marketing: Some message or value that is in most cases fabricated for the specific use of subconsciously promoting another business, brand or product. For example, the recent "Bush or Batman" video has been claimed to be viral marketing by some on the internet. While I don't care about looking into the fact of who intentionally made the video, it still brings value in the form of 'entertainment' to over 100k people and subconsciously promotes the Batman movie. This is still viral marketing because it's being spread intentionally (like a virus), but the basis has changed from direct promotion to indirect promotion of a product or company.
-- This is the modern version because it gained popularity through the low cost distribution of the Internet medium. Once YouTube hit it big, anyone could launch a Modern Viral Marketing campaign for free. Therefore, the cost of indirect campaigns decreased to the point which it's more profitable to focus on alternative value (such as entertainment) than direct value such as Traditional Viral Campaigns (Eg. Free Business Cards).

I hope that clarifies the topic for some people. As for the decision of whether or not either method is appropriate for an individual business, I would argue any attention is good attention; given the probability of 'backfire' is constant. However, it is the conscious understanding of what you are developing that affects the probability of backfire.

Layman terms: Don't attempt to dominate in something (modern viral marketing) if you don't understand that niche.

This is why you can see larger companies now hiring firms to develop their viral marketing, because if the original company tried it themselves, they would have the higher chance of backfire or downright failure.

It is my recommendation to always work and collaborate with your Internet Marketing firm to achieve the best results. This advice also applies to viral marketing.

Now as a disclaimer, I also would like to point out how many business have no place in the 'Modern Viral Marketing' method. Traditional can still be applied to almost every business but modern viral marketing has the chance of backfiring.

When companies attempt using tech subjects they don't understand, their projects can fail or damage the company. An example would be the Facebook applications everyone loves to make, but only few people love to use. Let's assume your company shouldn't be involved in modern viral marketing but you do it anyway. The marketing money you throw at promoting that lame Facebook application could quite possibly deter more people from your product than to it.

This is why it's always a good idea to get feedback from a qualified consultant in any field, before going rogue and doing it anyway.

First Blog Entry - Welcome

Hello Business Owners and Entrepreneurs,

This is my first blog entry for the company, Websites Unleashed. In this blog I will post announcements and tips for small business owners running a website. I hope to keep everyone up to date with the latest out of WU and the Internet market.

We have a bunch of new improvements planned for Websites Unleashed. Within the near future we will be adding automatic backup support for all hosted clients. This includes support for restoring your website. This is apart of our fully managed hosting solution.

I will also be posting a lengthy guidebook for new entrepeneurs and business owners looking to create a successful website. There will be Internet Marketing case studies and a free seminar in the next couple of months. If you're near Philadelphia, PA and interested in a free website seminar, please send us an email to express your interest.

You can also follow me on StartupNation for tips and tricks with my website critiques and more.

Regards,
Colin Winter
Websites Unleashed Founder