Before starting a new business …
So you want to start a business …
There are a lot of things you will need to start and operate your business. Obviously beyond the idea of the business, product or service you need a business name. A few things to keep in mind before you register your business in Saskatchewan.
- Check to see if the domain name is available that matches your business name. Contact us is you would like us to register your domain for you.
Now Google has a couple of tools that will help you as well if the domain name is not available and you need to change your business name.
- Google Keyword Planner
- The Google Keyword Planner will show you to find out how many people are searching keywords that may be similar to your product or service.
- Google Insights
- Google Insights allows you to see the trends of your product or service.
Keep in mind as well …
- Your business name does not need to have the product or service in the name. Be creative, be unique.
- A long business name and subsequently a long domain name will make it difficult for people to type or misspell.
- Speaking of spelling mistakes, try not to be too cute by changing how a word is spelled as your company name, unless you have the budget to purchase all of the domain names that go with it.
- For example: If you choose the name Maple Leaf Widgets as your business name. But you insist on registering Maple Leef Widgets can be somewhat dangerous.
- People will want to search for your company name with the correct spelling and may not find it because of that.
- You should then purchase all domains to cover those names (www.mapleleafwidgets.com and .ca and www.mapleleefwidgets.com and .ca).
The Start Up Business Package
Thinking about starting a new business or have you been in business for less than a year? We know how hard it is to get started. All the expenses.
For ONE PRICE, we can help get you up and running.
We will provide your business with the tools you need to take that next step.
What it includes
- Logo/Brand Design*
- 500 Premium Business Cards*
- Domain Name for 1 Year
- Mobile friendly one-page website
- 1 Year of website hosting
- Branded Facebook Page
All for $1500 Plus applicable taxes
Why is SEO so important?
Why SEO is so important for your business?
When was the last time you picked up a phone book? When was the last time you called directory assistance to find a number? You Google it now.
People carry phones not phone books.
Think about it. If SEO was not important, why are the yellow pages companies calling you to sell you SEO services?
Years ago they made a mini-phone book to put in your vehicle. That was before smartphones were so prevalent.
Yellow pages are trying to sell websites and search engine optimization services. They are doing this because the phone book is dead (or dying depending on who you work for).
We are telling you this just because we offer award winning search engine optimization. We are telling you this because we want to help you succeed.
Search engine optimization is essential. Over 90% of all website activity starts with a search engine.
If no one has heard about your business they aren’t searching for your business. If they are searching for your business then chances are they will find you … they better find you.
Why have a website if no one can find it?
Having a web presence is a small part of the success of your business. A website is not a bucket list item. You can’t build it, launch it and forget it. Like an employee worth keeping, you have to nurture and educate.
Website vs Social Media
Social Media does not replace a quality website
It’s quite easy to get caught up in the ease of use of social media.
We understand. We do. With most social media platforms, you are able to most anything you want from pictures and video and all the text you want. But that is not how social media should be used for your business.
If you are creating new content that your clients should read/see, then it should be posted to your website first. Then on your social media accounts, direct users to come to your website to read.see the whole story.
Why direct people to your website?
If you have a website and you want it to be found on the first page of Google, Bing or Yahoo, then you need to drive traffic to YOUR website, NOT Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest and the other social media platforms.
Google has over 200 factors in their algorithm.
- Google would like a minimum of 300 words per page to properly index what the page is about. 140 characters in a Tweet is not going to make the cut.
- Properly naming the images you add to your site is very important. If you check a Google search, you can search by images. If you are looking for a particular product, you can start with an image search. Google is really good, scary good and recognizing what is in the picture, but naming the picture for what it is is also very helpful. If your image is called “image1.jpg” that does not tell Google how to categorize it. If you name it “2-slice-chrome-toaster.jpg” (if that’s what you are selling) that will help Google index it.
- But, DID YOU KNOW???
- Facebook renames your images.
- When you upload that same image (“2-slice-chrome-toaster.jpg”) to Facebook, it will be renamed to something like: 15589711_1802338236650221_3821609801372868010_n.jpg That is not going to help you at all.
Bottom line is you need a quality website
Social media is a fantastic tool for promotion and reaching out to people who might not already be a client. However, it cannot and should not be a replacement for a website.
Trying to run your business from Facebook alone is like having a 300 page product catalogue and tearing out one page at a time to show random customers.
Using social media as a tool to drive traffic back to a well built website is what you should be practicing.
Only showing one product on social media from time to time means people only see that one product. Driving traffic back to your site, they can shop all of your products or services, see testimonials, browse what else you have to offer and more.
Limiting your customers to just a social media site is limiting your sales.
If you insist on building your own website …
If you’re not going to a hire a professional … at least do it right
A website is your most powerful business tool
After 16 years of building websites, we are still mystified when we see websites built by business owners. They have either used a free service or have hired their kids to build a site. A website is the same as opening your doors to your business.
Tip # 1: If none of the information below makes sense, then maybe you shouldn’t be building your own website.
Once developed, properly, a website will:
- help sell, support and promote your business, product or service every minute of every day
- become one of your best employees / assistants
There are a lot of website services out there that offer the ability to build your own site for free.
Tip # 2: You know what they say about Free stuff … you get what you pay for.
Its understandable that you might be looking to save money where you can when starting a business. If your business absolutely requires a website to be successful, then why are you doing it yourself if you have never built one before?
- Make sure you at least have your own domain name / URL (www.yourname.ca)
- Running a business website off of someone else’s domain with your name added to the end is pointless
- Example: www.wix.com/yourcompanyname
- Write your own website content and use your own pictures or stock photos
- Google Images is not a stock photo website
- Borrowing images off of other websites is theft and is so, so bad
- Keep the site navigation easy to use
- Site users do not want to have to click 3, 4 or 5 times to just find the information they want
- Google actually boosts your website in their listings if you have user friendly navigation
- Make sure your website is mobile friendly (automatically resizes to fit on smartphones and tablets)
- Again, Google will boost your site if it is mobile freindly (a.k.a. responsive)
- Over 51% of U.S. users are searching on mobile, compared to 42% on desktop computers
- Think like your customer (or think how you like to search and use the internet)
- Users won’t wait for slow loading sites
- Be specific as to what you are selling or offering
- Google wants at least 300 words per page and at least one image to help them properly index the pages on your site
So, why do you even have a website?
A website is a powerful tool
Every business needs a website
So why do so many businesses ignore their websites?
Unfortunately there are a number of businesses out there that have a website, but they ignore them once launched. A website is, or can be your most productive and loyal employee.
But … would you hire a fresh, eager employee, put them in a cubicle and ignore them for the rest of their career?
Granted, years ago, (like 1999) you could publish a website which was essentially a online colour brochure and it would do the job. However in today’s competitive online world, you just can’t do that anymore.
Back in 1999, you might have only competed against 1 or 2 local competitors who may or may not have had a website. A customer may have seen your website address on a business card or seen a link in an email. They could browse your site, maybe print a PDF version of something and decide whether or not to buy your product or service.
Today, you are now competing with the world, even competing with your possible suppliers.
You wouldn’t stand for an employee who hasn’t learned anything new in the last year, made any new connections or hasn’t changed their style of clothes. Why is it okay for your website to sit stagnant with no updates?
A properly nurtured website is your best sales person, best admin person, best resource a company has. It works 24/7/365 and doesn’t call in sick, call their mom on the phone, take selfies or lose your messages or payments.
So if you have a website and haven’t updated it in the last 6 months, year or longer …
why have it?
You are only telling your audience that nothing new is happening at your business or that you don’t care to update it.
