Successful Web Design and Internet Marketing Strategies from Desiree Scales, CEO--Bella Web Design, Inc.

My Twitter Post Featured on Problogger.com Today!

Don't blink! I'm the second post on the video--you know, me and my pink dream car!

What Twitter is All About....

If you're wondering what people mean by "Twitter" here is a great video primer from Common Craft.

I personally use Twitter in my business to:

• Keep in touch with friends/business associates
  
• Learn about cool things happening around the web
  
• Let people know when I've posted a blog post or new piece of news on my website
  
• As my personal "watercooler" while I'm working at home to keep in touch with the world

If you'd like to follow me on Twitter, click here. You can learn more about what my life as a web design company ceo is like and I hope I can share some good stuff with you!

Favorite Quote Overheard at REtechSouth Yesterday and Announcement

"So,when exactly is Web 2.0 coming out?"

We're planning on launching another blog in April just for real estate pros who ask these questions! Education is the key to success--quite literally...stay tuned!

My Personal Take-Aways from the REtechSouth Conference

Yesterday, I was on a panel discussion about SEO at the REtechSouth conference for real estate professionals. I learned so much and want to share some great take-aways which can help any business on the web. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Widgets are a great way to share information and communicate with your blog and website audience. Meebo is a great chat widget which allows you to chat with visitors to your site.  I've already implemented this on my blog and website. I'll report back on how successful its been soon.
   Another good real estate widget is AltosCharts.


2. Real estate agents and the industry in general is learning how to embrace Social Networking like LinkedIn, FaceBook, ActiveRain and other outlets to communicate their expertise with the masses and network with other like-minded individuals. They are really setting a nice example on how we can all benefit from networking both online and offline.


3. Blogging is hot with these folks. I mean HOT! This group has learned how to blog about their industry and share their combined knowledge with everyone including consumers (who show the most benefit from this great FREE information!). They have learned that becoming the "mayor of their neighborhood" and sharing information about niches most other's might miss is the key to blogging success. A great example of this in Seattle is Rain City Guide.


4. Video is the next generation of sticky sites (Flash, what's that?). Creating videos has become more affordable for most business owners. Its a new way to dazzle people on the Internet and share information. Its also a great way to connect with your audience. There was some controversy about creating home-made videos with a personal camera or hiring out a professional. I think this can be answered by looking at the audience intended. Some spontaneous videos work well for some audiences, where others demand a professional feel. I can see situations where both work well. I was very impressed with the folks at AtlantaDwellings.tv.

A couple of missing points yesterday:

1. If you have a blog, make sure its exceptionally written, well designed and very informative. Don't just blog to have a presence or to say you've joined the blogging world. Have good information to share.
   
   It also has to look top-notch and match your branding. Beware of using templates that don't match your main site's style or hire a company to create a custom blog for you.
   
   There was also a comment thrown in the blogging discussion that websites are dead...not true. This is still a very important medium that can drive traffic to your blog as your main billboard. Websites are not going away anytime soon in the current business world. Also, using a blog for a website can be seen as unprofessional by having a bloggy "look" which is pretty obvious to consumers as a cheap way to build a site. (2 or 3 columns, banner, etc.)


2. Create a channel on YouTube or other video broadcast channels for you and your company. A great way to get your videos out there an maintain another online presence. Also a great way to get more links coming into your website. Use your videos to educate consumers and they will come back again and again and refer your channel to others. (Take a look at ours here.)


3. SEO is a long, hard road and shouldn't be attempted by those who don't have time to do it correctly. Hiring someone to do this long-term job and babysit the work puts more money in the pocket of the real estate agent long-term. Why would you waste your time on researching SEO tactics when you should be spending it with your clients? Give that job to the pros who get your results which bring you clients.


4. Don't go on Social Networks if you don't plan on helping anyone and you're just out to see how popular you are. That doesn't give anyone any value. Be prepared to answer and ask questions. Establish yourself as an expert and help people with various business problems and ideas. You'll learn just as much as you share with others. Work it and give back and you'll get multiples in return.

Sorry this was a long post, but this conference could have gone on for a week. There was so much great information there. I'm already looking forward to 2009!

Bella Web Design Sponsors REtech South in Atlanta!

As many of you know, we've been working with Realtors since 1998 when we first started our company. (Our first 2 clients were Realtors!) We have a long history of helping real estate professionals from Realtors to mortgage companies to builders become successful on the web.

In tradition of that history, Bella Web Design is proud to announce our sponsorship of REtech South in Atlanta on March 27, 2008. REtech South is Atlanta's first conference for real estate professionals (and anyone interested in learning more about Web 2.0) built completely around sharing information through blogging, videos, email marketing, LinkedIn and so much more.  REtechSouth is a conference designed for industry professionals to engage in a conversation about real estate technology, web 2.0, and the future of the industry. (Real estate professionals are calling it Real Estate 2.0. Very exciting!)

The entire day is only $99 and you get a lot of information such as:

"Been There, Blogged That. What's Next?"

"Video: Getting Past PLAY!"

"SEO has Left the Building" (That, should be interesting!)

"The Web 2.0 Mindset"

The conference has been created from the brain of one of our clients, Brad Nix from Maxsell Real Estate. Here is a short video describing the event:

We're very excited to be part of this inaugural event and hope you can attend. Please go to www.retechsouth.com to register and make sure you put Bella Web Design as the referrer. We'll see you there!

Why Host a Webinar?

So, this year you've made a vow to attract more customers, retain your current customers and stand out from your competitors. Every January, businesses around the world make the same vow. How do I know this? My phone rings off the hook starting January 3rd and it goes on and on until March. The key to all of this is keeping this energy going throughout the year and fine tuning a plan to integrate new technology to help.

One of the newest ways to gain customers and teach current clients about new offerings is to host webinars. A webinar is almost the same thing as a seminar except everyone is in their own office looking at your computer from their monitor while you talk on the phone together. Simple as that. One of the benefits of this is that no one travels to see you. You could be in your pajamas and no one would know. (NOT that I do that--heh heh!) Here are some more benefits to using this Web 2.0 technology to communicate to the masses:

• Lower your costs: Again, you don't have to travel. No gas needed for a webinar--just a computer, a phone and some time. (A very GREEN way of communicating with people too!)
• Close business faster: You have a target audience right there watching you and ready to buy.
• Build Trust: This is a great tool to use to teach other and build trust that you really know what you're doing in your industry.
• Spontaneous Collaboration: People can ask questions "on the spot" and talk with other same-minded people during the webinar
• Increase Visibility: By giving free webinars, people are more apt to spend the time to listen to your message and will share the opportunity with others that you're willing to share information freely

Webinars help bring new business as well as increase your exposure to your current clients. They are an inexpensive way of communicating with tools like Yugma and a computer.

Speaking of webinars, if this topic interests you, please sign up for our next free webinar on January 16th at 1 pm EST. Please click here for more information.

We will discuss the topic of "The Power of Hosting Webinars." So you can now see I put my money where my mouth is...hope to "see" you Wednesday and please tell your friends!

Ready for Social Media?

Our friends (and fellow web developers) at Flyte Media in Maine were interviewed and posted a great video about "social media." Social media means taking the news to the people from the people. "We" create the media and spread the information ourselves. This has great possibilities for business use because it gives businesses another platform to become "experts in their field" and share knowledge easily with others. Take a look at the video of Rich Brooks being interviewed and talking about social media. Click here.

Watch for our Social Media Webinar coming in 2008! Click here for more information about how to make webinars part of your company's online marketing success plan.

Web 2.0 and What it Means to CEOs and Entreprenuers

Want to know more about Web 2.0? Seems like the hot topic around the web. I found a great video about it which explains a little more from the perspective of CEOs and entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. Take a look: