Small Business | Forum « Do You Even Need a Website Anymore? (TOTW: 11.18.2012) « Social Media Examiner

Do You Even Need a Website Anymore? (TOTW: 11.18.2012) (57 posts)

Topic tags: social media, totw, websites

Rich Brooks said
6 months ago:
There are so many sites where small businesses can setup shop: Facebook, YouTube, Tumblr, Pinterest, etc.
With all these free and nearly free social platforms, is there any point to building a website and the associated costs?
What do you think?
@rich-brooks | # | Top
Milan Steskal said
6 months ago:
@rich-brooks I’d say, that yes. You have the full control over your website and that’s probably the only place on the web where you can have it. If it shows up that activities outside the website are much more effective, I’d create only a landing page linking to the social networks and maybe a blog, if it makes sense. You use your own domain when doing business and your partners have to find something on the domain when they type it to the browser.
@milan-steskal | # | Top
E N Brown said
6 months ago:
@rich-brooks @milan-steskal
Yes, absolutely, a website is still very much needed. It shows a certain business acumen. If you had a brick and mortar store, you’d look for the best location to serve a specific type of customer right? The web is no different. If your business is web related with no brick and mortar to back it up, your real estate online becomes even more important. If it looks like you are taking a free ride, who will take you seriously?
I would not buy from someone who tried to make a FB page a working website. No kidding. If people want to go for “free” they can’t possibly be taken seriously – as a business person with a viable interest in actually making a living from their web career.
The social web has been around for a long time now. I joined my first real social media networking place in 2000, before that it was forums and bulletin boards.Social media is a TOOL (we have gone over this time and again) and cannot take the place of what a real business online should have – –
Real web real estate:

1 – A Website
2 – A Blog
3 – Social Media
In that order too.
Eileen
@supereb | # | Top
Ann at greenoak said
6 months ago:
yes!!!! ours has everything   needed to   get people to us….pictures, times,contact info…a big general view of the store……. its   several years old and gets on the first pageof google for our   key words…antiques indiana….. if someone is searching google…we are there!!!…and its ours …not under   anyone elses control….
i like facebook for sure…but for us   the website still has a big part to play in our marketing…. we arent a cyber business .. i look at our website as a billboard    out there and easy to find for our target customers….
@supereb, i agree a website adds credibility but i think you underestimate facebook…i know a few   really successful businesses who use it   very well and get tons of business   directly from it..without even messing with a website…and their cusotomers dont   care at all…..   they arent selling stuff on line…… but they are selling    big money thru   the facebook funnel or pathway   …. its a great thing…
one   business friend of mine has   spent plenty   on websites that didnt work out at all… and given them up ..    apparantly she hired all to the worng firms, becasue now she is thrilled with facebook for her ritsy store and its   mostly run by her   college interns……
for us its:
website
facebook
blog….we gave up on one, whichi loved…it was fun but no money… and struggle to   make time for the other one…the albums on facebook have kind of taken its place…
@annfurnivall | # | Top
E N Brown said
6 months ago:
Hi @annfurnivall
I know plenty of people do well at FB but what happens when it gets broken again? Do you have a place (your blog for instance) where your customers will know you can talk to them? Or if FB goes the way of MySpace – here today and shot to oblivion tomorrow?
I’m not a control freak but when it comes to business, everyone should have their own real estate. And I would say that yes, “control’ is the active verb.
Eileen
@supereb | # | Top
Amy Hall, Virtual Assistant for WordPress and MailChimp Help said
6 months ago:
@supereb @annfurnivall I agree with E on this one. I equate it to renting a store front vs buying your own store front. My in-laws owned a liquor store … Which they rented the space. (think Facebook here). The city came in and said they had to do some costly upgrades to their cooler. They had to foot the $10,000 bill for a new cooler. (think fangate). Two weeks after this new cooler went in the Landlord raised the rent so much that it basically shut them down. ( think the new promoted posts) Fortunately they were able to find a new store front and start all over from scratch. (which is what will need to happen if there is a need to move to a new platform, like Pinterest). Their whole problem could have been avoided if they had purchased the property in the first place. (think website)
@amyhallbiz | # | Top
E N Brown said
6 months ago:
HI folks
@amyhallbiz — Great visual with that explanation – people do not have to come up with big money up front anymore to have a great website. Individuals who do this work have learned to work with the client on a payment and long term basis.
Those websites where you pay up front and don’t work with an individual that ‘build’ a website are not the way to go though – those folks are not that hard to find either. SEO should be built in and ongoing – remember that.
Look around – there are some pretty nice and savvy folks here! Heh.
Eileen
@supereb | # | Top
Ann at greenoak said
6 months ago:
like i say, my website is working great…and so is my facebook…i used to do newspapers and radio,   now i do facebook…..things always can change,and do when you are in business…. thats normal… but for now facebook   can be great , imho..
…many businesses think facebook is worth the big effort…thats why they buy the books and go to the   events and listen to the   facebook exerts…and join facebook forums….
i figure if a cyber marketer has clients   in resturants or retail they    should be open to helping them use facebook … its a great tool.
@annfurnivall | # | Top
Amy Hall, Virtual Assistant for WordPress and MailChimp Help said
6 months ago:
Just use caution when purchasing a “monthly” fee website. I’ve had many people come to me to help them with their WordPress website … And when I get inside … The “guts” have been ripped out because the designer wants the client to come back to them for changes. It breaks my heart because I just want to give the site more SEO capabilities … And I can’t even do that.
@amyhallbiz | # | Top
Robin Carlisle said
6 months ago:
I’m starting to change my mind about the order of importance of “real estate” online. This year, I’ve changed my ordering to:
website — real estate equity, building value
YouTube
G+
Pinterest
Twitter
And now i don’t give a hoot about Facebook, except to post what’s on a website, just as I do for 20 other bookmarking sites. It’s just a business bookmark to me.
Pinterest is the up and comer… the visual search engine that’s changing everything… while YouTube is video search engine that actually gets you ranked in the Google SERPs the soonest and easiest… first page results fast as lightening. G+ helps it stick. So the GTrio — YT, G+, Google SERPs — comes FIRST with me, then posting to my blog and linking or embedding YT video in the blog, followed by pinning YT video embedded in the blog to Pinterest, then tweeting about it all.
Facebook’s not even in my mix. Too little bang for the buck. On that note, in the time it takes to write one original article, I can create an entire website, load it with seo optimized videos for a month. It no longer pays to write even a 500-word article… unless it’s for a video description… at least for me.
There’s just too much awesome content out there to be curated now. I’d rather just curate and edit the good stuff and let it go.
Robin Carlisle
@atlantarobin | # | Top
Robin Carlisle said
6 months ago:
Same goes for local business sites. They don’t need to be spending extravagant sums to buy original articles. They get more bang for their buck setting up a five page billboard website on a Wordpress video blog theme, curating keyword content THEIR customers are interested in, editing Creative Commons videos via YT’s video editor and adding their logos, comments, etc., and turning their site into an interesting local channel their customers can actually use.
All that takes from zip to full blown working site is ZERO dollars, if they do it themselves and use a free WP theme, one day of time to originally create it, and a couple hours a month to maintain it, if they want to do that monthly. If not, I created one just like that in two days time with over a year’s daily posts. It was awesome. Two days work for a site with 5-10 posts a day for a full year.
It plays the Google Trio like a charm.
Robin Carlisle
@atlantarobin | # | Top
Claire Boyles said
6 months ago:
absolutely! You can no control over social media platforms, they could make changes that have dramatic impact on your business without warning!!
If you only have social media you’re exposing your business to huge risks!! Don’t do it!!
Your website should be the central hub of your online marketing, with your blog being integrated into it.
Social Media platforms are good ways to bring fresh audiences/potential customers into YOUR shop- YOUR website!!
@claireboyles | # | Top
Bob Green said
6 months ago:
@atlantarobin Robin, very interesting approach. I like it! You’re right, I love doing videos and I like writing but, I often spend too much of my time writing and it will never rise in the SERP. I should definitely spend more time on video. Thanks for that.
@bob-green | # | Top
Robin Carlisle said
6 months ago:
@bob-green
Yep, video’s less stressful brain work, more visually creative, lots more fun, quicker, with more bang for the buck. Does great on Pinterest, too.
@atlantarobin | # | Top
Ann at greenoak said
6 months ago:
@atlantarobin robin can we talk??  this is a ramble… how could you say you dont give a hoot about facebook?
  i can see why  social media businesses dont use facebook pages much for their   businesses….i agree, its a bad fit, facebook doesnt really work for most marketers and   social media coaches   .but  do you really mean to trash it   for businesses in genteral?   .. a lot of folks who know lots about facebook   have like 50 fans…. i get that….and i could still   respect their knowledge about the inner workings,,,…………i wouldnt go to facebook for   tekk help or even marketing help……
…BUT  what about YOUR   POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS? what if you want to serve local businesses ?   what if you had a store like mine for a client? or a big local resturant , or a downtown merchant?    ..my business is nothing like yours, facebook works for   us…….. if i hired you and you said to drop facebook i would have to go to someone else…and think you were not really connecting withmy reality …not seeing my   customers and what they like…facebook is working for lots of local businesses… who cares if it changes?   about everything in my busness   can change…..
to me the best   social media coach or whatever would more have the attitude of i dont have a big facebook page    but i can make it great one for YOU …. if you judge facebook by    your experience on there   that   would be kind of irrelevant, other businesses a re different…. …..and if you told a local store or resturant not to worry about numbers of real fans that would just   go over like lead. ….facebook is a good tool to get actual people thru our door.
..ask around your town , it isnt just me …p.s.   i see yur webpage idea working     for lots of folks….
@annfurnivall | # | Top
Rebecca Cohen said
6 months ago:
@atlantarobin @annfurnivall and others. Great and thought inspiring ideas to put into action. People want it made the “best for them” and them knowing how important they are to us.
Having a blog, website with one’s own domain and more adds some extra touches that speak loudly to those visiting.
Love all the input. So valuable.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Rebecca
@rebeccacohen | # | Top
Mark Walker said
6 months ago:
A website is still as powerful as it ever was. The great thing is we have social channels to drive consumers back to our sites. I use my site in union with my blog so there is a great deal of information waiting for visitors when they arrive.
Great post @rich-brooks!
@punchbugindy | # | Top
Robin Carlisle said
6 months ago:
@annfurnivall I hear you, Miss Ann. And you know I’m a true fan of yours, your store, and your daughter’s. Facebook has been great for yall. But in competitive verticals such as cosmetic surgeons, dentists, roofers, more service type industries, the budgets they’re spending to keep up that pace everywhere… well, just out-of-site huge! That was and will never be sustainable over time.
I’m looking at this from a cost-benefit perspective, too. It’s costs money to be competitive, whether in time or cash. I’m just advocating reordering priorities and concurring with Amy and Elaine that, yes, website MUST come first as the only real estate you own and to which all things MUST originate and from which all things must disseminate. It’s HOME. It’s first. Too many businesses are converting assets into expenditures, instead of investing in their HOME first.
Your Facebook HOME will never really be your asset. It’s an expenditure. To place all your eggs, hopes, dreams, and assets in that basket is waaaaaaay too risky.
I agree its a big boo-hoo, but it is what it is.
Just like my big boo-hoo would be if something bad happened over on YouTube. Don’t know if you read my recent long boo-hoo rant over recent changes there, but time is money, honey, and they’re stretching my ability to keep up there very thin… in the way of extra time burdens on me and what I’m trying to do there.
Right now, other social avenues are opening up with multi-media dimensions, combined with excellent curation capacities, that are just beginning to open our eyes. Facebook is MY way of keeping contact with my friends, not email, phone, etc. It’s become a crutch. But I’m acutely aware that times… they are a changing… and rapidly so.
I personally don’t play with Facebook for business at all, but that’s because I don’t need to and it’s not a good use of MY time. I’m just saying… play in the park, but don’t build your house their… Sandy and Katrina’s distant cousin will surely rock it to its knees sooner than expect.
Excuse the trailiing thoughts,. Can’t go back and edi t, lol, I’m truly typing blind right now… don’t even ask…:)
Robin Carlisle
@atlantarobin | # | Top
Ann at greenoak said
6 months ago:
happy thanksgiving!!! @atlantarobin
i hear you and im defiinitely not giving up my email database or my website… as always my main thing is the store itself and the experience there….
this is kind of a wierd discussion for a place kind of dedicated to facebook success..lol…
@annfurnivall | # | Top
Robin Carlisle said
6 months ago:
Ooooooooooh, Ann. Hope your not taking offense at what I said. That would break my heart. You are doing absolutely everything RIGHT for your business. No doubt about that.
I’ve just watched so many things change on the internet and helplessly watched so many people lose their investments, even total businesses, that I know it’s essential to guard your assets by diversifying. Please take what I said as just food for thought to encourage people to diversify… just in case.
Have no problems with Facebook. I personally don’t use it for business… right this minute. But every business, including book promotions, demand a Facebook fan page and presence there… IF that business or book wants to compete with those who ARE there. There’s just nothing for ME there… right this minute.
I have plans for a book promotion that WILL require a Facebook presence, as the focus of the book has one specific “competitor” with a following of over a 100,000 that will be interested in the topic. That’s where my market is, so that’s where I will market.
Your company. Your customers. On the Internet. Everywhere. At Once. Now.
That’s pretty much how I see things. But, like you, I am only one person. Because of certain knowledge or skills, I can afford to LOOK like I’m more than one person… but I’m not.
So like you, I must pick and choose what works best for me, just as you do.
Does that make it more clear? My heart wants to check with your heart to make sure I haven’t offended it, lol.
We ok?
Happy Turkey Day to you, too!Gobble, gobble!
Robin
@atlantarobin | # | Top
Ann at greenoak said
6 months ago:
@atlantarobin   hugs etc..lol…….i wish we were neighbors and could give feedback all the time!!!! becasue i think you really GET our busness….and you seem to be a   natural brainstormer…which is so cool…
your diversity ideas are so   true …we have been saved by that   many times….
..i think we mostly agree…and would never put ALL my eggs in one basket….   my website actually is the biggest driver of new facebook   visitors,if i read my insights right, ….our businesses are so different..our website isnt my main thing…i guess our main thing is our database of actual buyers…. ….
.my main point was about how  some might be misleading your   clients like me if you guide them away from facebook when it could be such a good intelligent benefit to them….a big tool..
good luck on your book thing…. do we get to hear about it?
@annfurnivall | # | Top
Robin Carlisle said
6 months ago:
Working title: “How to Help Your 66 Billion Dollar Friend Help You”It’s a case study on a well-known New York Times best-selling author who apparently can’t tolerate his followers anymore, repeatedly dissing them, calling them freebie seekers, instructing his seminar attendees to ignore people who “complain,” and worse, lol. Whew! Kinda timely, since Mike asked us all to contribute questions about doing “expert interviews.” Following a bad review, he dissed a follower for calling me “courageous” after I confronted him for basically gross misleading marketing tactics and, metaphorically speaking, being an Emperor Wearing No Clothes. In other words, he desperately needs a professional publicist, a mirror, and an attitude makeover, lol. A case study on poor reputation management. From my heart to his, he doesn’t “get” it. Uhhhh, I might have used the word “garbage” somewhere… and asked him to refund everyone’s money. Something like that.
About the Facebook issue again, yeah… I’m gonna need to tap into Facebook pretty soon. The website, though, is home base. And it’s starting to shape into a resource for small local businesses… to help them cut through the “garbage” and the quick buck artists and find “local marketing” stories, contacts, and “real” professionals to help them in their niche.
And for you, Miss Ann, I create a tab just for you last week — Antique Stores (under Local Marketing/Retail Stores). It’s not finished… just a work in progress. So yeah, I’m not giving up on website real estate. But do pop over there and take a looksee. Half the buttons don’t work yet and half the categories have nothing in there yet… like I said… a work in progress. Please pop by as I’d love the feedback. And yes, I know it’s slow. We haven’t found a fix yet for all the videos, but it IS a video site… sooooo… that’s kinda important.And yes, I’ve got WP Super Cache, but since all the videos scroll like Pinterest, it’s still slow to refresh.
Suggestions, yall? http://robincarlisle.info
@atlantarobin | # | Top
Ann at greenoak said
6 months ago:
wow, your site looks very rich….ive never seen anything like it…looks like a great resource for all kindso f businesses….
your book sounds edgy and interesting….
one more thought on facebook….. for us its about where our local customers are….if they werent there so heavy it wouldnt be working so well for us…most probably never went to a blog…. they are on facebook everyday… we are just a small part of their facebook experience…. they really arent there just to see us…
@annfurnivall | # | Top
Sumit Roy said
5 months, 4 weeks ago:
Before you all declare Rich insane to suggest that you can run a business without a website, just remember how people in the last century felt you can’t run a business without a brick and mortar “shop front”.
I use LinkedIn and Website in that order. But I haven’t had to do much to my website since 2000 (except add LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter links)
But it’s LinkedIn that’s bringing in the business.
Social Media Network? Not yet!
@sumitroy | # | Top
Dra. Mary Rodriguez said
5 months, 4 weeks ago:
WAOH amaizing explanations. Thanks
@ask2drmary | # | Top
Paola Elizaga said
5 months, 4 weeks ago:
Fully agree with you, @claireboyle. The web site should be your central hub -from where you feed social networks. For example, if you have a video, embed it inside your web/blog and take your followers there. The problem today is that many businesses are only creating STATIC web sites which are never updated, and then focus on generating new content only for their Facebook/Twitter accounts. Try having a more dynamic web site that for sure has a blog. This has many advantages! The best one is that blogs work great to populate search engines with your content, PLUS whenever any follower comes to your blog with a link that interested them, they can see “related topics” and increase their visit time, having more chances to close the sale.I like to think of my website as the center, surrounded by all SM sites..
@paola-elizaga | # | Top
Robin Carlisle said
5 months, 4 weeks ago:
@paola-elizaga Great explanation, Paola. You explained well what I just take for granted. Now I realize I never explain the difference between a website and a blog, one static and one dynamic. Very important difference. Thanks for visualizing that for me.
@sumitroy @annfurnivall Re: running a business witout a website… Roy, you reminded me of a better FIRST priority… and that is of creating and developing a list. Ann touched on that, too.
But yes, you’re right. You can set up opt-in pages or just little opt-in boxes to give away free content on Youtube, Pinterest, through email newsletters… with no need to build a website… ever!
With one subscriber being valued by most authorities as $1.00 per month, if you can build a 10,000 name list, you’re in the 5-figure income level easily. Not to say that building a list is easy, but if you spend ALL your working time doing nothing but list-building tasks… I would guess you can reap your fortune without ever having built a website. Depends on the info and value you provide to your subscribers.
Robin
@atlantarobin | # | Top
Shari Stauch said
5 months, 4 weeks ago:
Hells yeah you need a website! The social media is meant to drive folks TO your site, where you control the content. Social media is great “rental property” but you can’t decorate and landscape it like you can your own site… SME’s site a perfect example – we’re here, we love it, and it’s not a cluttered public street corner, but a space to kick back and learn from each other…
@sharijstauch | # | Top
Rich Brooks said
5 months, 4 weeks ago:
@sumitroy
Hey, watch who you’re calling insane!
Sometimes I need to start a conversation…doesn’t mean I necessarily agree with the premise, I’m just asking a question.
Judging by the response, looks like it worked.
BTW, when I’m not wearing my club leader hat I’m running a small business that designs–wait for it–websites!
In case you’re wondering, the club leader hat is an exact replica of Scout’s.
@rich-brooks | # | Top
Robin Carlisle said
5 months, 4 weeks ago:
@rich-brooks
Kudos on the GREAT question, oh Honorable Club Scout Leader! A reeeeally good one !
Robin
@atlantarobin | # | Top
Robin Carlisle said
5 months, 4 weeks ago:
@sumitroy
Seeing you pop up here reminded me of deBono’s anatomy of a joke. (Uhhhhh… lol… YOU don’t remind me of a joke, lol… you always remind me of deBono, my favorite great thinker and unknowing icon for helping parents understand and teach children with autism, which is how I came to know and revere him. Please forgive… can’t remember the spelling of his name).
Anyway, wish we had the ability here in the Clubs to upload graphics/pictures. I think it would do well to graphically illustrate the “joke” of placing too much emphasis on a website.
People talk about building a “list,” when what they are really talking about is finding and retaining “repeat customers.” Finding prospects and turning them into buying customers… and getting them to buy again… and again.
So if you use a method to attract prospects for your products, services or brick and mortar business… a method that helps you build a buying customer base that does NOT require a website… then more power to you.
Does every business NEED a website? No.
Does every business NEED a “list”? No.
Does every business NEED buying customers? Yes.
If I could find a river of customers who NEED to buy something, and I could build a dam, a toll bridge, or something to block their path and charge a fee to get passed, well… I’d make a fortune. Uhhhhh… but that’s something governments and bullies do, isn’t it, lol.
I think the joke in this is… that we’ve all been talking about “tools” here… when the “list”… the customers… buying customers… the sale… is the goal.
Building a list… building the buying customer base… comes first. The best way to reach them for that particular business… well… that’s the tool to use FIRST.
So now the question becomes, do you NEED a website to do that? Or what other list-building activities work better for your particular kind of business?
Just wish I could draw deBono’s graphic illustrating how jokes work. That visual always helps me realize if I’ve left something out on the way to my punchline. lol. Helps me stay away from bait and switch scam artists, too.
Robin
@atlantarobin | # | Top
E N Brown said
5 months, 4 weeks ago:
Hi @atlantarobin
This is the guy you reference >>>
His Website >>> http://edwdebono.com/ (it’s a CMS website)
His Blog >>> http://newmillenniumthinking.blogspot.com/2012_08_01_archive.html (it’s a blogger blog)
Twitter >>> @Edward_deBono — and at twitter there are several more accounts.
Just a few as an example that he knows what he needed >>>
1 – Website 2 – Blog 3 – Social Media (of his choice)
Just sayin’.
Eileen
@supereb | # | Top
Robin Carlisle said
5 months, 4 weeks ago:
Thanks, Elaine. Yes, that blog is Graeme Allan’s commentary on Edward DeBono’s work and ideas on “thinking.”
I subscribe to several “lists” regarding DeBono’s work, many of which charge HUGE prices for seminars, webinars, courses, and the like.
Sooooo… the assets of his work… spread over numerous thought leaders “lists” and websites is HUGE.
But if you dig little deeper, you’ll find the name Carlisle… runs his organization, lol.
Cousins.
Small world. Personally, I discovered him from a book left in a bathroom… no kidding. Something like “Teaching Your Child To Think.” But it was waaaaaay more than that. It’s a must-read and must-do for anyone in the communications business.
The reason I referenced Sumit Roy above is because he’s an eloquent conveyor of DeBono’s teachings on “thinking” and operancy… or is that operacy? It’s the art and power of “doing” and putting things into action, the same as numeracy is to numbers and literacy is to reading and understanding words and language.
In DeBono’s case, his money is in his list. For years, HE was hard to find on the internet. His followers and the great thinkers that follow and write about him are easily found. But him? Keep looking. His money is NOT in his website to be sure.
Great example! But not what you thought it was, Elaine.
My sons’ favorite Chinese cousins are heirs to a very rich thinking world indeed! So fortunate to have been adopted by the right-hand man of DeBono himself. Unfortunately, they didn’t come to visit for Thanksgiving this year. Maybe for Christmas…
Robin Carlisle
@atlantarobin | # | Top
Robin Carlisle said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
I think this is what you may have been looking for…
Pat Carlisle, president of deBono Group, LLC.
http://www.debonogroup.com/about_our_leadership.php
@atlantarobin | # | Top
Robin Carlisle said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
Woopsy, didn’t mean not to acknowledge deBono’s own website. It was very lean until recently… and looks like his brother-in-law finally pushed him into marketing his work. Until this year… no such website at all. Years and years of building his “list” without that website is where his fortune lies. Presidents and kings and dictators and revolutionaries and every educational system in the world listens to him. Me, too. But not through his website. We’re on his list.
Just sayin’…
Robin
@atlantarobin | # | Top
E N Brown said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
Here is the difference — He was branded before he needed a web presence. There is a big difference between someone like him and the average person who needs a web presence.
Eileen
@supereb | # | Top
Robin Carlisle said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
On that note… of what comes first, a website or a list, as far as priorities go…
Every course online for local marketing consultants, and every lead-generating software program or service used to find prospects for a local marketing consultant, pr agency, web design company, etc. ALL reports lead info regarding whether or not a business has a website, whether it is flash (that can’t be seen on smart phones and apple products since they dismissed flash as substandard tech), among other things.
Point being… they all teach consultants that a website without a list-building opt-in box is just a billboard blowing in wind, serving as a static business card… unless it is actively collects names to build a LIST of prospects they can convert into BUYERS… or it actually processes sales and collects BUYER names automatically. Much easier to sell to and communicate with a Buyer than it is to/with a prospect.
Just thinking out loud…
Robin
@atlantarobin | # | Top
Rachel Agheyisi said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
WOW! The exchanges here is one reason I love this forum. Who needs some theory about what’s best for your business when you can learn from “real tales from the trenches”?
I always come back to one thing: RELEVANCE.
IMHO, not all things “bright and beautiful” is a fit. First. know your business, and then selectively deploy tactics that help you grow it. Otherwise, you’d be engaged in chasing ideas that have no bearing on what you should be doing to be successful. We all don’t need the same suit; our businesses don’t need the same tools.
@rachelagheyisi | # | Top
E N Brown said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
Hi @rachelagheyisi
In the examples given – the gentleman Edward DeBono was already branded so he started with (probably) a blog (I don’t know the history on this as Robin does).
No problem there, as I pointed out though, at some point he realized (or got the correct advice) to have a (regularly updated) website where he lists his books (along with how to purchase them), entry to his learning tools: Corporate Training; Cavendish Training; online training courses, etc. and some of his concepts. There is also the ability to ‘sign-up’ for classes. This is where the list building comes into play at that particular website.
There are multiple blogs out there and most point to the website or some portion of the website, at this juncture, OR to his teachings in general.
Apparently he (Edward DeBono) found (through whatever channel) that a website would be in his best interest to further this teachings.
AND that is the ‘web real estate’ I refer to. For those who are not branded and world renowned, a website with a sign-up is a necessity (for MOST businesses, in general).
To give beginners the ‘advice’ that a website it not needed is really bad ‘karma’ and bad advice to boot. Every business is different, so when considering what you need, remember to think about the advantages of owning your own ‘web real estate’ and make your own choices. Don’t compare your business to someone who doesn’t need branding, the way you do.
Eileen
@supereb | # | Top
Rachel Agheyisi said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
@supereb No argument here.
I just think that wholesale acceptance/adoption of any idea (even excellent ones) is generally not good. Savvy clients ask us to demonstrate “what’s in it for them” before they buy from us. It’s their way of saying how’s your product/service relevant to my need/situation. We should apply a similar yardstick in the choices we make for our businesses. IMHO
@rachelagheyisi | # | Top
E N Brown said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
Hi @rachelagheyisi
Exactly right – I tried to make that caveat but may not have been clear. Individual businesses have different needs. I just don’t want anyone getting the idea that they should not even consider a website. It should be considered but may not be right for every single business out there. In fact, when consulting, and depending on the situation, a blog can work just fine, so long as it is owned and hosted by the pertinent parties involved.
If you depend on someone else keeping their business the same (FB, WP, and so on) you are not considering that your ownership does not exist for them. To keep your ownership alive and well – a website is the choice to do that.
Eileen
@supereb | # | Top
Mitch Rezman said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
You need a website if you want to sell merchandise because Facebook, YouTube, Tumblr, Pinterest, etc. do not have shopping carts.
You need a website if you want to control how your content is presented because Facebook, YouTube, Tumblr, Pinterest, etc. do not offer global control what the end-user sees on the screen.
As Google ramps up it’s attacks against Amazon with moves to Google shopping (now paid for) YouTube recently gave end uses far more control of the look and feel of their YouTube channel is now beta testing clickable links embedded in videos that can link to an e-commerce websites product listingOther than that a website may be a waste of time for none ecommerce start ups as driving traffic to a new small website is a herculean task today. All the people you want to reach are already on social media platforms so why not go where the people are?

@mitch-rezman | # | Top
Ann at greenoak said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
@mitch-rezman i agree i need a website….altho not for the reasons you mention….. but,imho, i would be missing out on   a great marketing   path to ignore facebook for our business… ….. right now facebook is     entrenched into the culture , its huge,   and working like a charm for our business …. most of my customers are on it everyday ….i connect with   over 500 buyers everyday on facebook…
i know it isnt mine and that it could change…. but its working now and working really well…. i would sure hate to see it go becasue it sure couldnt be replaced by a website or a blog……   i would never give up my website, but short term i can see why many real world businesses just   use facebook, businesses that   arent selling on line… ….
why do i need a website? seo,google, and its my billboard on the internet,,,with all my info…especially for new   customers….
@annfurnivall | # | Top
kumphu said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
Actually the website is very important anywhere. because it can make the transaction smoothly when the customer pay for their product.
My website is selling all sexy clothes, which we call in thai “ชุดเซ็กซี่” and sexy lingerie something like that. First I started by selling via those social media but finally I decided to use website. it was more effective but I agree that all social media can keep your customer stay awake.
Cheer!!
@kumphu | # | Top
Diane Bianchi said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
I agree with everyone who says you need to have a website, because of the control factor. If you have a WordPress.org website, you have full control and can make it as simple or extensive as you want and have any kind of plugin to do whatever you want.
@dianebianchi | # | Top
Sumit Roy said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
@supereb
There’s something you do need even before you get a website. And that’s an organizing idea for a brand that your customers will want to champion.
Edward de Bono became a brand, because, intuitively, he answered these questions well and came up with an “organizing idea” for his brand that Presidents, Kings…and Robin Carlisle wants to champion.
Here are those five common sense questions that most wannabe brands may not have answered.
@atlantarobin
@sumitroy | # | Top
Ann at greenoak said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
@sumitroy good point….the actual substance of what you are offering to buyers is first for a brand for the long run….
.our internet efforts work out well because many really support our brand/our store…. the big thing is the store not the website or facebook page….
if they liked the website, came to the store and were let down,,,that would be bad….. if the website was exciting and tempting and the store teeny and boring that would be so bad….
the main idea counts….not just the marketing…
@annfurnivall | # | Top
E N Brown said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
Hello @sumitroy

You stated: ”Here are those five common sense questions that most wannabe brands may not have answered.” …and then there is not a link to the questions. Could you supply that link? Thanks!

Eileen
@supereb | # | Top
Sumit Roy said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
@supereb
I was wondering why the questions did not appear on the post. Perhaps because I copied and pasted from a ppt. presentation
Here they are again. Typed out for you.
1. What’s the obvious emotional truth on which your brand is based?2. Therefore, what business are you really in? (This should be an emotional need your brand satisfies, not a rational need your product satisfies.)3. Therefore, at whom is the brand aimed? ( A mindset, not a demographic)4. If so, what are the personality traits of your brand that this mindset will find magnetically attractive?5. What’s the organizing idea, that captures the essence of your brand, that your users will champion?
Let me know if you want sample answers to these questions.
Sumit
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@sumitroy | # | Top
E N Brown said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
HI @sumitroy
Aahhh – that answers what I was wondering – your comments make more sense now. No, I don’t need the answers to your questions, I can answer them all for myself. Thanks.
Eileen
@supereb | # | Top
Connie Reed said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
I’m new here and wanted to know how or if anyone uses Google+ for their business? I do occasionally but not quite sure how to draw customers to my ebay store, or what to write or display on there..
I also have another question about a landing page from paypal after a customer makes a purchase how do you redirect the page to a website page that thanks the customer and is the same format as your ebay page I really hope this makes sense.
Thanks everyone
@1creed | # | Top
E N Brown said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
Hello @1creed
It would be better if you ask each question as a separate (new) thread with a title that pertains to the question you need answered. Your answers will get lost here, in this long thread.
Eileen
@supereb | # | Top
Ron Ashworth said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
I think you need a website and then be active on social networks. It’s more personal and specific.
@ron-ashworth | # | Top
Mac said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
The Flavor-of-the-week in social media is…
since social media sites change, merge, get bought out… it is better to not commit to one site. Commit too much to pinterest and then google buys it as a place to dump photos. All of you work would go away. FB goes under. Twitter is bought by FB before it goes under.
@richardmclaughlin | # | Top
Ann at greenoak said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
lol….thats not that different t han my history out here inthe real world….trends come and go. whats hot and whats not changes…. customers drift away and flow in…. i would be nuts to invest in what i invested in 5 or 10 yrs ago….still i think facebook is huge and im loving it while its here….and pinterest….
@annfurnivall | # | Top
Fluid4Sight said
5 months, 3 weeks ago:
He who seeks balance and harmony knows that in the digital world a website is one of your fundamental components. You can survive without it, but you will be better for it if you have it. Much like an eye! lol
All of one’s online real estate should work in a harmonious way driving traffic to and from each other. Not all platforms work best for an individual at all times. It’s relative;
In the words of a very wise man..(thanks Dad)
“Even Something Good, when Out of Balance can be Bad For You.”
Success to All
Rob Jnr
@fluid4sight | # | Top
Shelly-Ann Roper said
5 months, 1 week ago:
Rick, it may seem like websites are becoming irrelevant but at the end of the day there is nothing like having your own. Building a business on other ppls platform is risky and one only makes his or herself vulnerable to their terms. In business the power has to remain with you and having your own website affords you this even if you use social media. Without the control one has nothing.
Besides, it really cost next nothing to get a website these days. Outside of knowing a little php and wordpress and buying a domain name, I literally built this site at no cost:
http://www.shellyannroper.com
@saandrear | # | Top

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