You can break down building a website, web page by web page into five steps:

Here are the five steps:

Step #1: Plan Your Site
Step #2: Get a Template
Step #3: Make Your Graphics
Step #4: Modify Your Template
Step #5: Upload Your New Web Pages

In this web page building episode, we’ll cover the fourth step (part 1):

Step #4: Modify Your Template or Format Your Web Page – Part 1

In the last episode you either updated some graphics or created some new grahics for your web page.

Previously you created your web page template or you found a template your liked and either purchased it or downloaded a free template.

Now it’s time to edit / format your web page and get it to look the way you want…

1. Open your HTML editor and template file.

<–Side Note–>
There are many HTML editors out there, you can buy one or get an editor for free. Usually the free one do a good job of editing HTML files (pages) or if you find you need more “power” you may want to purchase an HTML editor such as Dreamweaver or ExpressionWeb.
<–End Side Note–>

2. Create a placeholder for your text.

Put your cursor on the page where you’d like text to appear and type up something (anything) to serve as a placeholder.

3. Insert your new graphics.

If you’ve tweaked existing graphics and/or if you’ve created new graphics that are the same size as the template’s graphics, then all you have to do is rename your new graphics to the same name as the original graphics (thus replacing them).

That way, you don’t have to edit anything on the web page itself – it will automatically update the graphic to YOUR new image.

If you’re adding graphics onto the page where none existed before, then you’ll need to Insert them. With many HTML editors the process works like this:

There is usually a term on the Image Insert dialog called Alternative Text or Alt Text – this an area you should describe the image using the keywords you are targeting with your web page. Using the Alt Text gives your web page leverage with the search engines.

We’ll cover finishing your web page formatting in the next episode…

Michael Wise
eMarketProfitStrategies.com

P.S. For good information about building your own web page and a step by step web page building guide – visit CreatingMyOwnWebpage.com.

You can break down building a website, web page by web page into five steps:

Here are the five steps:

Step #1: Plan Your Site
Step #2: Get a Template
Step #3: Make Your Graphics
Step #4: Modify Your Template
Step #5: Upload Your New Web Pages

In this web page building episode, we’ll cover the third step:

Step #3: Make or Update Your Graphics

Before you start tweaking your new template (whether the template is a paid for or a template you created yourself), you’ll want to tweak the graphics (if any are included) or create your own graphics.

<–Side Note–>
If you don’t have an eye for graphics, don’t have the time or don’t like editing or creating graphics. Maybe you don’t want to learn how to use your graphics editing software, then you can outsource this task to a graphical artist. Maybe you have a family member who is good with graphics or open a project for bidding on Elance.com or your favorite outsourcing resource.
<–End Side Note–>

If you are going to edit your graphics yourself:

1. Get some suitable stock photos to use as part of your header, footer, ecover graphics and similar. You can get good, inexpensive photos at www.istockphoto.com or www.stockxpert.com.
2. Open up your graphic editing software (such as Gimp, Photoshop or similar) so that you can start creating your graphics and altering your stock photo images:

Header graphics (which look like banner ads) vary in height and length, depending mainly on how wide your sales page is. Length may be around 650 to 770 pixels, with height ranging on average from 150 to about 200 pixels.

For your small business marketing web page, I recommend creating a banner that is the width of your page (i.e. 770 pixels) and 40 to 50 pixels high.

A shorter banner gives you more room on the page to get your sales message across to your web page visitor. And a shorter banner is less distracting to your web page visitor so your sales message is easier to see and draws attention.

Footer graphics (which also look like banners), will sit at the bottom of your sales page. These should be the same length as the header graphics, but the height is generally 25% to 50% smaller than the header.

Product graphics, such as ecover, CD, and report graphics. If you’re an advanced Photoshop or Gimp user, you can make your own ecover graphics. Otherwise, it may be easier for you to use software that’s specially designed to create these graphics, such as www.pushbuttonecover.com. This sort of software allows you to drop your stock photo into the software, add your text, and pop out a graphic just a minute or two later.

<–Side Note–>
If your template includes graphics, then when creating your own graphics, be sure to make your graphics the same size (as the ones included with the template).
<–End Side Note–>

If your graphics are the same size at the template graphics, it will be easier for you to edit the template.

Once your graphics are complete, save them in the same folder as your other template graphics. If you want to replace the originals with your new graphics, rename your new graphics to the same names as the originals.

For example, if the original header was named “header.jpg,” then that’s what you would name your new header as well (assuming it’s the same size and shape).

Tip: You should make a backup copy of the original graphics and place them somewhere else on your computer. Perhaps create a new folder named: Original-Graphics. That way, you have the originals just in case you ever need them again. Likewise, you should keep an original copy of your template in a separate place from your revised version.

We’ll cover modifying your template or creating your own web page in the next episode.

Michael Wise
eMarketProfitStrategies.com

Building a website does not have to be hard or complicated. If you break down the task into steps it really becomes simple. You begin by building a few simple pages.

You can break down building a website, web page by web page into five steps:

Here are the five steps:

Step #1: Plan Your Site
Step #2: Get a Template or Build Your Own Simple Template
Step #3: Make Your Graphics
Step #4: Modify Your Template
Step #5: Upload Your New Web Pages

In this web page building episode, we’ll cover the second step:

Step #2: Get a Template OR Build Your Own Simple Template

If you’re going to create your own web pages, then you have two options:

1. Find a template that you can tweak and change
2. Or create the entire page from scratch.

If you’ve never created a web page before, then the fastest and easiest way for you to do so is by starting with a template. This is a simple way to get started, one of the drawbacks is being confined by the template look and feel.

Many of the templates available are more flashy than you need for a good sales page.

You can find both free and paid templates online (run a search for “web templates” or “mini site design templates” and you’ll find plenty of options).

Most of the free templates require that you include their link at the bottom of each page, which means you are advertising for them – you’re better off purchasing a template or a group of templates.

And no matter where you get your templates, keep these points in mind:

• Choose a plain HTML template. Be careful – many web templates include advanced graphical elements like flash design.
• Stick with basic HTML, as doing so will make it easier for you to edit.

Seek out templates where you like the overall design. Things like color are easier to tweak as opposed to rearranging design elements.

My preferred method is to create the template yourself. A template is the overall layout, color and possibly graphics used on all the pages of the web site you are planning.

Your web page should do more than look cool or pretty – Your web page should market your business! With a flashy page with lots of graphis you are ADDING DISTRACTION elements to your web page.

You want a web page that is clean (like a sheet of paper), that clearly takes your visitor through YOUR sales message.

We’ll cover adding graphics to your web pages in the next episode.

Michael Wise
eMarketProfitStrategies.com

Building a website does not have to be hard or complicated. If you break down the task into steps it really becomes simple. You begin by building a few simple pages.

You can break down building a website, web page by web page into five steps:

Step #1: Plan Your Site
Step #2: Get a Template
Step #3: Make Your Graphics
Step #4: Modify Your Template
Step #5: Upload Your New Web Pages

In this web page building episode, we’ll cover the first step:

Plan Your Site

Your site does NOT need to be complicated. At a bare minimum, you need these two pages:

A sales page that convinces prospects to purchase and includes an order link so that they can do so.

A thank you page, which is where your new customers will be able to sign up for your product, service or join a newsletter mailing list.

As mentioned earlier, you may decide to add other things to your site, such as a page about your affiliate program, a squeeze page to help you build a mailing list, contact page, privacy policy, etc.

So you can focus on the simplest part, we’re going to focus on the two-page site. (You can add your other pages later.)

1. Sales page

This page typically includes these parts:

An eye-catching header. This header usually includes photos or other graphics that match the overall site, the name of the site and perhaps even a line of text such as the main benefit. You want people to get a sense of what the page is about merely by looking at the header.

A matching footer graphic. This is a graphic at the bottom of your page that matches the header (i.e., the same colors, graphics, etc). It may include your name and a copyright notice.

Graphics depicting the product. Depending on what you’re offering, you may show graphics of ebooks, reports, CDs, videos, etc.

Other graphical elements to “spice up” your page, including buy buttons, bullet points or check marks, guarantee seals, graphics that look like handwriting, etc.

You may also consider a background graphic (though this isn’t necessary, and the wrong background makes a sales page look amateurish).

Your sales letter.

If you’re not using a separate squeeze page, then you’ll need an email capture form. This form may either be embedded within the sales letter or it can show up as a pop-up or hovering window.

The separate pop-up or hovering form is more popular, because filling out the form doesn’t take the prospect away from your sales page.

At this step you want to plan what each of the elements will look like. What colors best fit your niche? What type of graphics will add to your overall design?

Example: If you’re doing a site promoting dog training, then you already know that a site with dogs and an “pet lovers” feel and pictures of dogs are things you’ll want to include.

For inspiration, look at your competitors’ sites and analyze what you like and dislike about them.

CAUTION!
DON’T copy any of them – rather, use the other sites as inspiration for your new web pages.

2. Thank you page

The second page is the thank you page, which is a very simple page that includes the following content.

<–Side Note–>

All of the pages on your site should match your sales page
as far as colors and design elements.

<–End Side Note–>

Thank your new customer for his purchase, and congratulate him on making a wise decision.

Then you remind your new customer of all the benefits he’s about to receive. He’s enthusiastic now – and you want to keep him that way!

A good way to do this is to restate the benefits of what you are selling from your sales page.

Next, you remind him of how the charge on his credit card statement will appear.

Finally, your thank you page will include an email-capture form so he can join your mailing list.

Once you’ve planned the look of your site, you’re ready to start the actual building of your web pages.

We’ll cover the actual building of your web pages in the next episode.

Michael Wise
eMarketProfitStrategies.com

P.S. To read more about myths about building a website, grab a copy of the eye opening report:
7 Myths of Website Development and Marketing

Are you a small business owner working, striving to create more profits during this “New Economy”? You may be having to do more with less, many small business owners I speak with today are doing just that…downsizing – meaning they are having to take on more and more of the day to day work.

You may have decided you MUST make your Internet presence better OR create an Internet presence just to keep your bottom line…the bottom line.

You certainly can make a bare-bones site that consists of a sales page and a thank you page, but you should setting up a full “sales system” on your site. Doing so will help increase your response rate and build a prospect list.

Here are the parts of your website and sales process:

Squeeze page (with autoresponder and freebie).
The squeeze page is an email-capture page that prospects see before they see the sales letter. The idea is to get your prospects on your list so you can contact them via email – repeatedly to develop a relationship and later close the sale.

People aren’t going to join your list without reason. That’s why you need to offer them a freebie to “bribe” them to sign up for your FREE offer. You should write a report that would be valuable to your prospect and “show off” your expertise in your market place. Once they get your report, you send them a series of emails (via an autoresponder like AWeber) that helps you establish a relationship and continue to “promote” your expert status in your market place’

Sales page.
This is the page that persuades your web page visitors to buy your product or service.

Upsell page. (Optional)
Once your prospects click on the “buy” button, they’re usually taken to the payment page. As a way of creating more profit, you can direct them to an upsell page instead, which sells your prospects on adding more to their order.

Example: You may offer your prospects the opportunity to buy add-ons or an upgrade that if not purchased NOW will cost more in the future.

Thank you page and Download.
Once your new customer has completed his purchase, he should be forwarded to your thank you and download page (provided you are selling/offering a product that is digital).

Here you thank him for his purchase, remind him of what he bought, how much money was saved by purchasing now and perhaps offering a FREE newsletter sign up.

In the next web page building or small web site episode, I will cover the design and copywriting elements of a web page or web site you will want to consider.

Michael Wise
eMarketProfitStrategies.com

Building a website or a webpage can be difficult and time consuming. There are many factors you need to take into consideration when building a webpage.

When I begin a new webpage/website project, here are some of the elements that go throught my head…(not a complete list)

• Type of programming HTML, PHP, etc.
• Size of page.
• Colors used on page.
• Market you are trying to reach with your page.
• Squeeze page or information page.
• Getting a visitors name and email by using an opt in.
• Headline copy.
• Video on webpage.
• How many pages on site.
• SEO optimization techniques applied.
• Where to host website.
• Use a “done for you” template site.

Have you ever wondered what all is involved when setting up a webpage or website? Of course the list above is not a complete list of elements you need to consider when setting up a webpage, but building a new webpage doesn’t have to be difficult or complex!

<–Side Note–>

A Website is simply an organized group of webpages -
so, if you can build a webpage – you can build a website.

<–End Side Note–>

You can make webpage building easy by simplifying the steps involved. You need to have the myths of webpage/website building explained, so you know where to start.

You can download a FREE report that explains the real truth about building a webpage here:
7 Myths of Website Development and Marketing.

Michael Wise
eMarketProfitStrategies.com

Persuasive communication is important in every thing we do. Think about it, when we are communicating with our spouses – being persuasive can deliver positive results.

Being persuavive with our boss could also bring positive results – perhaps a raise or a position more suited to our strengths.

Being persuasive with our words on our sales website can bring more customers and more sales.

One of the things I’ve found over the past few years is websites, many website are near “cookie cutter” copies of other websites. Your website not only must be persuasive with words, your website has to have a format, a layout that is attractive AND presents your message.

The question is: How do you learn what exactly is good web sales presentation format AND how do you write words that are persuasive? – With study, practice and testing.

One of the skills an entrepreneur needs is how to put together a web page that not only uses good compelling words AND a web page layout that leads a prospect through your sales / promo message.

As an entrepreneur, you are the expert in your service or business. You are best suited to build your own web page – because of your expertise!

Take a look at this website for information on how to build your own web page for FREE!
CreatingMyOwnWebpage.com

Michael Wise
eMarketProfitStrategies.com

1. Use A Proper Domain Name
You want others to take your “Content Authority Site” seriously! Using a proper domain name helps others to easily remember the site. People talk about what they are reading on the Internet and share that information with their friends.

You really want a .com URL (mycontentsite.com). This tells everyone who is reading your articles that you are serious about what you are doing and writing about. A .com URL also lets the search engines know that you serious.

2. Comment On Other Blog Sites
You want to be perceived as an “authority” on your market’s subject. Take time to search out other content/blog sites that have a similar subject theme as yours and add constructive – well thought out comments on others sites.

You should also have a “signature line” that will direct readers and search engines back to your site.

Note of caution – don’t “spam” other sites just to get your authority site linked to.

3. Encourage Comments On Your Own Articles
You want to create a herd of loyal readers and one powerful way to do this is to encourage comments on your articles and posts. This begins to create the feel of “community” and will draw others to your site and articles.

When a new reader comes across your content site and sees comments on your articles, the new reader will infer your content is good

4. Write Several BASE Content Articles
Your purpose should be to have other readers and even some other content sites to view your articles as substantial, with authoritative content. Write several (3 – 5) tutorial style articles to “show case” your unique expertise.

Your tutorial, authoritative article will have long-term appeal and staying power on the Internet.

5. Submit Your Articles to EzineArticles.com
Your marketing efforts can be multiplied by submitting your articles to EzineArticles.com. This is not a FAST traffic strategy, but an article published on EzineArtiles.com will drive traffic back to your site for years to come.

The other benefit you receive by publishing on EzineArticles.com is your articles become available for other people to republish your content article on their blog, content site, website or newsletter.

Michael Wise
eMarketProfitStrategies.com

The Title of an article or an email Subject Line (think Title here) gives you the opportunity to:

1. distill the subject matter of what you are writing into a single sentence and

2. entice your audience to read the information you have written.

<–Side Note–>
Dan Kennedy gives the observation that when you are browsing through a book store,the titles of the books usually give you a good idea of what the book is about AND the better the book title, the better idea you have of what the book is about.
<–End Side Note–>

5 Quick Tips To Make Your Title Magnetic

1. Keep it Simple – A short title is an effective title. Keeping your title short, simple and easy to understand helps your reader to quickly know your subject. Short titles are also good for the search engines – if you’re doing any Internet marketing, you can get favorable search results by keeping your titles short.
2. Capture Attention – Your GOOD title separates your article from the chaff and clutter that is all around and magnetically draw readers to your article.
3. Meet a Need – Most people who search the Internet are looking for an answer to a need, or looking to eliminate pain. An effective title will draw people to your content because your title tells them your article has something they need to know.
4. Use Key Words – Your market segment normally uses certain words to identify what they are interested in; on the Internet these are called KEYWORDS. Key Words are the words people use when they are searching for a solution to a problem – OR – looking for information on a specific subject.You can leverage the search engines by using the Key Words in your article title or email Subject line.
   
5. Devote 80% of Your Time to the Title – Your TITLE is the most important element of your article! A magnetic and compelling title can be the difference between success and failure of your article or marketing piece.Most of the top direct response marketers devote 80% to 90% of their time on the titles or headlines of a letter or and article because the title is the “capture” element of the entire piece.

The TITLE is your opportunity and sometimes your only entrance into your market. Using these simple tips will help you write titles that magnetically “draw in” your readers and your market.

Michael Wise
eMarketProfitStrategies.com

While skimming through a publication I get from Qwest, I came across an article that was interesting and gave validation to the Internet / website marketing strategy I’ve used for the past several years.

Here it is: “SIMPLICITY” The NEW Competitive Advantage.

With all “stuff” to do and navigate through – AND – all the Internet “clutter and clamor” the one thing all website owners and webmasters really need to pay attention to is the number 1440. 1440 is the number of minutes we all have each day – no more – no less.

Life has become so complicated and time stressed that people are looking for simple – less complicated.

If we want to cut through the “stuff”, cut through the “clutter and clamor” on the Internet, a smart strategy is to simplify our presence on the Internet.

Think about it this way:
How many times have you made it to a website that was so FULL of “stuff” that you were overwhelmed with all the options and choices and simply CLICKED the BACK button? I have many times!

Here’s a thought for action – Take some time and ask yourself this question:

“What about my website is really necessary?”

By simplifying, how much of your customer’s or reader’s time can you give back?

Write down your observations and thoughts and start “simplifying”!

Michael Wise
eMarketProfitStrategies.com