You are a small business, or a big business, you know you need a website, but developers are expensive, keeping the site updated can be a pain, and paying to get on the front page of Google sounds like another headache.

Well, never fear, Websitetology is here. We use Open Source (Free) software to run business websites for maximum payoff and low cost maintenance. Yes, the software is for blogging- but, it can do so much more. That’s where most people get hungup- even the New York Times keeps thinking that there is a difference between a blog and a website (both can do the same thing for your business- and are available online).

The reality is, we average over 9000 unique visitors at www.thenextwave.biz/tnw  and it helps position us as leading edge thinkers in our field. It’s also a lot easier to maintain than our old style main part of our site.

It’s the reason why we teach the seminar, and help others learn how to position themselves as the leader in their field— but, look at what the NYT has to say too:

Blogging’s a Low-Cost, High Return Marketing ToolTO its true believers at small businesses, it is a low-cost, high-return tool that can handle marketing and public relations, raise the company profile and build the brand.

That tool is blogging, though small businesses with blogs are still a distinct minority. A recent American Express survey found that only 5 percent of businesses with fewer than 100 employees have blogs. Other experts put the number slightly higher…

Blogging requires a large time commitment and some writing skills, which not every small business has on hand.

But some companies are suited to blogging. The most obvious candidates, said Aliza Sherman Risdahl, author of “The Everything Blogging Book” (Adams Media 2006), are consultants. “They are experts in their fields and are in the business of telling people what to do.”

For other companies, Ms. Risdahl said, it can be challenging to find a legitimate reason for blogging unless the sector served has a steep learning curve (like wine), a lifestyle associated with certain products or service (like camping gear or pet products) or a social mission (like improving the environment or donating a portion of revenues to charity).

Even in those niches, Ms. Risdahl said that companies need to focus on a strategy for their blogging and figure out if they have enough to say.

“As a consultant, blogging clearly helps you get hired,” she said. “If you are selling a product, you have to be much more creative because people don’t want to read a commercial.”

Sarah E. Endline, chief executive of sweetriot, which makes organic chocolate snacks, said she started blogging a few months before starting her company in 2005 to give people a behind-the-scenes look at the business.

The kind of transparency is a popular reason for blogging, particularly for companies that want to be identified as mission-oriented or socially responsible.

A typical post on sweetriot’s blog described the arrival of the company’s first cacao shipment from South America and how Ms. Endline met the truck on Labor Day weekend after it passed through customs at Kennedy International Airport.

She wrote about climbing aboard to inspect the goods and then praised the owner of Gateway trucking company, who helped her sort through the boxes so that she could examine the product.

“At sweetriot we don’t use the word ‘vendors’ as we believe it is about partnership with anyone with whom we work,” she wrote….

He added: “I’m trying to create a community of help for small Internet businesses like mine. My blogging philosophy is like the open source model in software. It’s sort of a hippie concept. If I can help other people, it’s personally rewarding. And those people will likely pay it back in some ways.”

Mr. Stubblebine said he gets new customers largely by word of mouth, and he uses the blog as a way to share news with friends and people who wield influence in his industry as well as a reference check for customers. “That’s why I cover the growth of the company.”

David Harlow, a lawyer and health care consultant in Boston, said he started his blog, HealthBlawg, as a way of marketing himself after he left a large law firm and opened his own practice. Besides, he said, blogging was easy to get started and the technology was straightforward.

Now, after about two years of blogging, Mr. Harlow said he was pleased with the results. He gets about 200 to 300 visits a day, he said. He has also become a source for publications looking for commentary on regulatory issues in the health care field and has even gained a few clients because of the blog. In addition, he has formed relationships with other legal bloggers (who call themselves blawgers) and consultants around the country.

Many small business bloggers achieve their goals even if only a handful or a few hundred people read their blogs….

If you don’t think a few hundred people are important, there are many small businesses who have websites that don’t get a few hundred visits a year. We’ve found that using the blogging tools properly, can help you get to the top of search for many more terms than your company name or the name of the founder.

It won’t be long when all websites have bloglike components, including comments, RSS and easy maintenance. If you can’t wait, come take the seminar and get ahead of the curve.

The next Websitetology seminars will be held, Tuesday Dec 11, 2007

8:30am to 5 pm

Location Nehemiah University, 750 S. Main Street Dayton OH 45410

If you are wondering if you should take this seminar: http://websitetology.com/?p=91

Sign up for it here: http://websitetology.com/?page_id=247

One of our clients, Rob Degenhart, invited us to speak to the Fairborn Rotary- then he sent out this e-mail:

Good Morning Fairborn Rotarians, Businesses, Organizations and Residents

Mark your calendars, Friday October 12 at the Park Hills Crossing Clubhouse (Downstairs). Sign up at http://websitetology.com/?page_id=247&product_id=5 you get the full day, Websiteology 101 AND Websiteology Intensive Seminars for $139. While there sign up for David’s Free Newsletter!

This will give you everything you need and more to get your website moving to the top of Google and attracting the visitors to your business that you want. I will be attending both sessions as will two of my employees. Not only should you, the business owner, attend both sessions, it is strongly recommended, by me, to bring someone else from your organization. You need someone else in your business to have the know how to add content to your site. That is the key! Adding relevant content on a regular basis!!!

What is relevant content?

• If you’re Jamie Hensley at Goodyear Tire it’s a weekly tip on tire care, car care, anything related to your car that his customers should know. Give your customers good information to keep your business name at Top of Mind Awareness.
• If you’re Terry McCoskey, you sharing healthy living guidelines, news on nutrition, the wheel of wellness. It’s also asking your patients to share relevant information, building dialogue within the community.
• If you’re George Humerick, It’s sharing news on tax law changes, homestead exemption, money saving ideas, case studies, how a new client benefited from switching tax guys to you…That’s relevant to your clients! And prospective clients…give them reason to visit again…give them value when they come to your site…give them something new to read!
• If you’re Craig Fourman, it’s easy! Just tell people in your words what your doing, who needs prayers, how about an inspirational note every week, announce weekly attendance…churches are great for blogging! Get your members talking on your site, sharing information that other members of the church would find beneficial.
• If you’re the Andy and Elmer site, you announce every sale of books, which club bought, how many, how they intend to use them etc….get those clubs to post back to the Andy and Elmer site how the books were received, photos of kids getting books…case studies would work great here…imagine a Rotary Club coming to the site and reading about a dozen other clubs experience with Andy and Elmer? Bet they would be more likely to buy and buy again…

Are you a not for profit? Better get to this seminar!!! Do you have a need to raise money? Let people know what your doing in the community, what help you need, success stories, press releases etc…people will give if they know what and who they are giving to…

Are you a restaurant? How about sharing information on wine, handcrafted beers you serve, special menus that change, recipes, highlight an employee every month, promote the festival you’re participating in…

Are you Fairborn Camera and Video? I did a google search for them today and could not even find a website…That is a crime! Downtown Fairborn Business Association Members need this seminar!

Are you a dry cleaner, dentist, bed and breakfast, automotive repair, association, contractor, a retiree and do interesting things, a printer, real estate professional, costume store, tent company, travel agency, the list goes on and on…You all have relevant content, things to share and give to your customers, you will start seeing results quickly…

WHAT’S THE CATCH? SOUNDS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE?!
The catch is it takes commitment! It takes learning and time, you must commit! David Esrati will tell you that his seminar attendees walk out excited with good intentions and most never end up taking action or following up with commitment…

I will make a commitment to any Fairborn Business, Organization, Club, Individual or Local Government to start a local user group that will meet monthly to review, re-learn, strategize, share information and offer help to those who make the commitment.

Why would I do this? Here are some of my motivations:

• It’s fun (I enjoy it)
• It’s easy (Even I can do it)
• It works (Ask to see my web site stats and Google indexing)
• It’ll help your business (It’s helped mine)
• It’ll help Fairborn (Growing businesses help their city)
• It’s fun (You or someone in your organization will enjoy it)
• It’s easy (You or someone in your organization can do it)
• It works (You will see results)

How sold am I on this whole Websiteology thing? I have four of these damn things!

www.FairbornSelfStorage.com
www.FairbornLiving.com
www.ParkHillsCrossing.com
www.DegenhartFamily.com

So clear your calendar for October 12th all day! Register at http://websitetology.com/?page_id=247&product_id=5

This note went out to the Fairborn Rotarians; please forward to any member of the Fairborn Business Community that you want! The more people who attend, the more fun it will be!

Thanks and see you October 12th

Rob Degenhart

If any of my other graduates would like to offer a testimonial- please comment below (and yes- it adds links back to your site, so it would be a good idea).