Changing Your Business Structure for Online Success

Online businesses and ground based businesses have some similarities but are not the same. One focuses on moving physical products to local customers while the other deals more with information. Depending on the type of business both may utilize physical systems but one conducts most of the transactions online and that naturally adjusts business structure.

Online businesses must utilize outside pay vendors to create their shopping carts and handle online payments effectively. Most of the interactions with people are virtual. No cash, little face-to-face, and lots of shipping.

You will also find that virtual businesses use storage in much the same way as physical businesses but may or may not have these products present. They could be shipping them from a remote Amazon storage facility instead of having them on hand for visiting customers.

If you have a brick-n-mortar business you will need to be realistic about what you want to accomplish. If your businesses is small you may at a minimum require a website with your contact information. Adding product descriptions and e-commerce can make a difference.

Any plan to move online should consider the logistics of your business and who your core customer is. As an example, if you are a neighborhood store being online beyond a simple web page and on Google maps may not be helpful. If you are a large super center you may have additional options.

One of the best ways to determine your online business model is to look at other businesses that have done well. If you are moving online look at businesses that have done the same thing. Starting a new business? Consider being completely online. Design your business for a virtual presence.

2 Factors that Influence Writing for Online Channels

Keep Your Messages Short and Simple

Advertisement is critical to businesses survival and emerging media impacts the success of marketing campaigns. People believe that the same writing that works within a print advertisement will work equally well with online media. The technology changes the message and thus writing specifically for the channel and its followers is vital for sales success.

There are two major components that we should look to 1. the media limitations and 2. group language. Media has natural limitations on word length and picture size that can impact the overall message. Likewise groups have differences in perceptions that impact their language. Tapping into both will improve your ads substantially.

Have you ever tried to post something on Linked-In and found out part of your message was cut out? The same can be said for Facebook and Twitter. There are limitations and each media type will need a special written advertisement to maximize its benefits.

Not learning how to simplify can be costly as messages are cut off, jumbled on a cell screen or seem too complex to be read quickly. Writing specifically for the abilities and limitations of each media channel can make a big difference in whether someone reads the advertisement and takes some form of action.

Imagine if you are reading a lot of text on an older cell phone. You may just skip right over most of the relevant stuff because of the cost of effort and jump to the easy to comprehend information. You are leaking customers unless you ensure that the information can be easily understood.

Likewise, as the online world becomes increasingly complex people gravitate toward groups that of similar interest. Make sure you understand what language these groups use and in what context. Doing so allows you to look like you have genuine interest in the topic and can speak with some authority to group members.

Poem: Nature of Sight

Printed pictures can be purchased and profits go to orphanage.

Most under $40 depending on size/quality. Free Shipping!

Contact if interested muradabel@gmail.com or text 619-540-0501

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Poem: Nature of Sight

Little places out in the woods off of the beaten trail, 

Mix of green and brown. 

Birds chirp and critters play, 

From night and into the day. 

Its the last few places of midnight black,

from the darkness into the light,

Nature has its sight.

Printed pictures can be purchased and profits go to orphanage.

Most under $40 depending on size/quality. Free Shipping!

Contact if interested muradabel@gmail.com or text 619-540-0501

PayPal for Donations (muradabel@gmail.com)

Venmo for Donations (@muradabel)

Attracting Customers Through Explosive Online Branding!

Online Branding sparkles of a winning cocktail of content, placement, and need. As the Internet expands and becomes increasingly diverse it creates a universe of its own. Little 1's and 0's become the building blocks of a misty virtual world. Despite its complexity the "net", as it is fondly called, offers data beyond our wildest imagination. That data is used to understand the inner most desires of your customers and provide them the products they need at the time they need it.

Developing an explosive brand is more about continuous improvement to reach people through impact. Successful campaigns are built on a lot of experience. Yes...you need a great campaign to start but you still need to improve on it to attract new interest and avoid being a "one hit wonder".

One of the best ways to keep your brand growing and developing is Analyzing your E-Market Approaches. Review your metrics and understand what your customers are saying and which channels experience the most "chatter".

Metrics are almost useless unless you can take a broad view and Evaluate your Campaign. Think of metrics like a feedback loop that tells you how any particular activity is working. Page visits, time spent on each page, clicked links, comments, customer review ratings, etc... all make their way into the analysis.

As information comes back from the market make sure you use that information to determine a better price, product, promotion and place. People assume that promotion is the most important P in marketing but all of the other factors are part of the sale.

You will have the best time selling if you have the best campaign but your price is non-competitive. Likewise, you will also flounder in your efforts if the channels you place your product are not aligned to the the need of your customers. Keep everything connected and associated with each other in a way that leads to product brand explosion. Start "out of the gate" with a well designed campaign and you will do fine in your efforts.

Pictures that Put People's Peepers on Your Product

Hooking your customers in seconds is possible with the right pictures. Pictures aligned with thinking styles, feelings, and contextual information makes quick sales possible. Its all about gaining their focus. Our brains naturally move toward information that is easiest to understand and then move onto more complex information. That grey mass easily deciphers pictures in a way that is nearly instantaneous when compared to other forms of communication. Within a split second we either connect or don't connect with the material!

Thinking in Terms of Images:

This quick decipher occurs because our unconscious thinks in terms of images and symbols from our birth. We seem to assume it is language in which we think but this is only formal thinking. As a species we didn't develop written language until much further in our evolution. We are thus visual creatures that have the capacity to process information: specifically threats quickly!

Sharing Feelings:

When pictures relate directly to the main message they should say the story that wouldn't be possible in written text alone. If you are selling vacationing supplies the pictures should show people using those supplies to further embed the feeling with the message. For example, a picture of people having fun on a beach and smiling might help sell a vacation to someone in need of some RR.

Summing up the Information:

Pictures provide a quick summary of what the information will cover. That is why it is important to have pictures match in terms of message with the content. If it is too different people will have message confusion and leave. Let the pictures sum up the content quickly to attract the customer.

Provides Context:

Pictures can enhance and influence the main message. Images that provide additional contextual information to statements within the message are helpful. Consider when the practical use of a product like organizers is match with a man working in an organized garage. The organization and all the elements of the picture relate to the main message.

Pictures are not just pretty but need to match the main messages. It can be quickly understood, change mood, sum up information and provide context.  A few things to keep in mind.....

• Use pictures related to your message (pet supplies and dogs).
• Easy and simple to understand pictures.
• Messages that tap basic emotions.
• Put the product as the center of the piece but not necessarily "in the center" of the picture (Primary versus Secondary scan of information).
• Stay cautious of medium capacity.
• Relate the pictures to the product's core value. 
• Ensure picture elements can be quickly understood.

Fear of Drowning While Diving----Sit back and relax buddy!

Trust me when I say that going under the water is not the most comfortable feeling until you get used to it. People assume you should just jump in and dive under the water to 60 feet right away. It is better to habituate because that is a lot of water you have to deal with and your brain must be comfortable in a situation that isn't really wired for. Take your time, on each dive go another 10 feet, eventually it will feel like nothing and deeper horizons can be crossed.

On my dive the other day at Fortune Pond in Crystal Falls Michigan I went down to a pretty deep level. Maybe for serious divers it isn't but for me an amateur its very different. Everything is a new experience and your brain isn't sure what it all is. 

The water was freezing but almost perfect view 30 or so feet. There isn't a lot down there but some toys people left behind (5 inch ship wreck").

If you get down far enough you can see some mining structures and other items you can check out. It is a little deeper than I am comfortable with. However, I did reach a new depth that I am not familiar with so I learned to sit back and relax. I'm not 100  percent comfortable but I'm getting there when you have a mass of water over you.

The Advantages of Growing Lettuce and other Vegetables in Your House

Growing Buttercrunch Lettuce in your house isn't that difficult to do. With a biodegradable planter boxes that you can put directly into the ground and a few seeds you can make your own lettuce with almost no work. For those people who are health conscious they know what is in the soil and you will also know nutrients value of the food you are growing.

From start to finish you can manage some of your most common items. Learning to experience the joy of growing can make a big difference in your lifestyle and how you seen life in general. It "grounds" you a little more to your food source.

Green items, placed strategically can make your living room look more "organic". I have seen where people have tastefully placed their garden items for ascetic purposes in corners, hallways, and near light. A couple of plants over here, a few on the window shelf, a little more down the hallway. Mixed it with other plants and stuff it can provide some greenery.\

On a secondary benefit you are also limiting the carbon foot print and reducing toxins in the environment. The plants can serve multiple functions such as ascetic functions, food source, reduction of pollution, and just fun. If you have kids you can certainly add in a learning activity.

Conflict Style and Steps to Resolution

Conflict is inevitable life. We fight over money, respect, family, politics, etc... Most of these conflicts are unnecessary drama. Sometimes conflict is very necessary as people violate each other boundaries and appear to have little remorse for their behaviors. Sometimes you just have to say "no" when people don't seem to be able to self-check. People should prefer to negotiate then to have conflict. Discussion is the preferred route but sometimes not the chosen path. When you can try to turn sour lemons into lemon pie; do your best to draw positive strength from tough situations.

Lets consider a scenario where one person is violating others boundaries with negative comments, destructive behavior, and aggression acts. It doesn't appear as though the person will gain self-control or be able to stick to facts. You can consider a few options when dealing with this person.

1. Try Ignoring: Let us say in this example a couple of negative comments occur. They don't seem to be directed and more a sign of the immature of the person(s) involved. The comments become more negative, are trying to publicly humiliate you, and getting people involved.

In this case, ignoring might not work because the person doesn't have a healthy respect for others or their rights. You must say something. You can first try checking and questioning the behavior lightly. Most likely that may not work because aggressive people don't often "get it" or care about the impact of their behavior.

2. Draw a Line and Check the Behavior: Telling a bully "no" can have  big consequences. They may start to lie, get people involved, and engage in all types of aggressive actions to control the target. In their mind they think, "Who are they to tell me no". The angrier they get the more aggressive they will get.

3. Seek a Resolution with a Third Party. Having a third party at work, family, or arbitrator seek a resolution. Because the bully doesn't get that their behavior is more a sign of their weakness than the fault of the target they probably won't accept the need for outside intercession. They will continue to shift blame and take no responsibility. At this point you may need to get more legal.

4. Lawsuits and PPO. If the party can't check themselves, accept arbitration or just keep their distance then you may need to sue the parties to ensure they realize there are consequences to aggressive behavior. This could occur if one of the parties is lying, engaging in defamation of character, getting kids involved, etc.... At this point there is no going back and you must realize there is may be no way of rectifying without legal intercession.

5. Get Other Organizations Involved: If the law can't protect you then you will need to seek out advocacy groups that are willing to provide the resources, expertise, and help you protect your boundaries.

Personality has a lot to do with it. People are not always good and nice. Not everyone has a value system that works. It is important to keep your head high but continue to enforce your boundaries. Some people in this world won't stop as their dysfunctional personality doesn't have normal checks and balances.

I'm trying to raise funds for an orphanage. These are children who have been abused and taken away. Everything they have is based on personal donations. I go down to visit them often and bring supplies. PayPal for Donations (muradabel@gmail.com) Venmo for Donations (@muradabel). If you feel more comfortable donating to an established non-profit you may do so here https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/1984592

Controlled Dive Emergency Ascent

As a group of people we dove around wreckage form an old lumber mill. We didn't find much but I did get a solid look at some well worn boards. My mind started thinking signs, arts and crafts. Perhaps a little graphic painting may do wonders. Ok...sorry I was sort of just talking and talking as my artistic side kicked in. 

We did practice some emergency ascents. This is the last of the last of the last resort when someone is out of air. There are dangers if you are deep enough of getting the bends. At 20 feet it won't hurt you but at deeper levels you could have a problem. Make a humming sound and allow air to move in exhale. Stay under the speed of your bubbles. 

 

Whats in a Metric? Common online Measurements

What is in a metric? Online marketing makes collecting information and data much easier than before. Services like Google Analytics are easy to use and help gain insight into your website. Knowing which type of website statistics you should be looking at and what they mean can make a big difference in your management choices. Three major statistics are used as basic methods of evaluation of how well your website is doing in terms of visitors, who is leaving, and who is sending.

Lets look at three big ones....

1. Total Visitors
2. Bounce Rate
3. Referral Sites

Each does something a little different but can give you some insight into how marketing works.

Total Visitors provides information on how many visitors you receive on any given day. If you compare month to month and year to year you should find your visitors increasing if you are doing things right. If you are not you should find your general numbers decreasing. In general, the more visitors you have the more people know about your site and the more potential sales that can occur.

Additional information collected about visitors leads to more insight such as location, income, etc... Metrics are limited by the data available to them. For example, if you have an established relationship and customer code established (i.e. login from web page) you can track what your customer does. Other times you can look at locations of visitors and demographic information to gain insight.

Bounce Rate determines how long customers stay on the site. Customers that are sticky are good for business because they are looking at your website and reading its content. There are a lot of users that float in and then bounce out because its not what they were looking for.

High bounce rates could be an indication that the information in the search engines isn't reflective of the site, the wrong key words and content aren't being used properly or you have a poorly designed site. You want the right people to find your business and stick around for a while.

Referral Sites tell you where customers are coming from. If your customers are coming from a couple of sources you can better adjust your marketing efforts to target these sites better. You may also find social media sites referring which would be an indication of a strong advertisement focal point. Referral rates provide information on where you can gain more leads.