Being Master of your Domain (Name)

I have a friend who recently started her own business.  She chose a catchy business name and we talked about getting her website organised.  She is not relying on the website to generate business and she’s invested a lot in setting up the business so she decided to hold off on the website for the time being.  But we did talk about the importance of purchasing her domain name (or URL).

The trouble is, if you don’t own your own domain name somebody else can.  And in fact this is what has happened, she didn’t jump in and buy the domain name straight away and now it’s too late.

The cost to register a .co.nz domain name is just $50 per year…it is such a small amount in the big scheme of things!

You can check the availability of domain names right here, on the Interspeed website.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

Auto Billing

Did you know that you can pay your Webspring and Interspeed accounts automatically using a credit card?  We call this auto-billing.  Think of all the Flybuys, Airpoints or Reward points you could be collecting!

Once you have set up auto-billing your hosting invoices and domain renewals are paid when they fall due, no need to do anything and nothing to remember.  If you want to you can pay your web development/design invoices the same way and a staement or receipt (your choice) will be emailed to you.

It’s easy to set up, just phone Janine in Accounts (07 859007 or 0800 WEBSPRING ext 401) and give her your credit card details.  She’ll take care of the rest!

Posted in WebSpring News | Comments closed

Using Google Alerts to generate great content for your Social Media Marketing

Most people think of Google Alerts as a great tool for monitoring what people are saying about their business online.  They’re also a great way to generate ‘on brand’ content for your Facebook page, Blog or Twitter feed.

You can set up a series of alerts on relevant topics by going to www.google.com/alerts and following the instructions.  It’s super easy and the regular emails will also act as prompt to remind you to post.

Posted in Using the Web for Business | Comments closed

10 things you can do to promote your business for free

Assuming you already have a great website with an editable Content Management System and your social media strategy is working well, here are some things you can do to take it to the next level.  And they’re all free!

  1. Visit google keyword tool to find out what people are searching for and write content using those words
  2. Get an article about your business in the paper, preferably the Herald. It’s not just about the exposure, it’s also the link
  3. Find influential bloggers who write for your target market and send them free stuff. While you’re there ask about advertising on their blog
  4. Update your site often, even small updates count
  5. Network with business owners in complementary businesses and do something for them.  The best ones to target are the ones who have strong networks and will talk you up
  6. Use FB and twitter to promote other complementary businesses, be generous with your praise
  7. Go along to a networking group (most let you attend one meeting for free) and see if it looks like it will enhance your business
  8. Offer to write a column for the local paper
  9. Practice your elevator pitch and use it at every opportunity, you never know who the girl at the supermarket will talk to next…
  10. Target your existing customers with a ‘gift for their friend’ promotion
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed

Sharing the love

We all know it’s good to share right?  Our Mums drilled it into us as toddlers!

But what about online?  Why is it so good to share?

  • If you share other people’s content they are more likely to share yours and you both benefit from the increased exposure
  • Your friends or fans or followers get access to quality, useful information (assuming you’ve carefully chosen what to share) and you didn’t have to write it
  • Sharing quality info builds your profile as a well connected expert in your field and sharing info that supports your brand story helps build your credibility…it’s not just you saying it, other people think so too

So what is the best way to share content online?

The best method depends on who you want to share it with and how much of the article you want to share.

Email: If you want to share a useful article or blog post  in an email-out to your database it’s a good idea to include a summary and then link to the full article in its original location.

Facebook: Facebook is set up to make sharing very easy, anytime you add a link to a status update it will automatically offer you a summary and a thumbnail image (if one is available).

If you find something on Facebook that you would like to re-share you have to decide whether you want to share it as your personal profile or as your business page.  If you share it as your personal profile you can choose to share it with individual friends or on your wall so it is seen by all your friends.  If you share it as your business page you can only share it via your wall, so all your fans/likers will see it.

Underneath any post that includes a link, photo, video or a poll/question you will see the word ’share’ in blue.  Click on the word share.

A pop up screen appears.  In the top left corner you’ll see your options about who to share it with.  If you’re using you business page to share it you won’t have any choice, it will just share ‘Share: On your own wall’.  Add some explanatory text if you want to.  And click on the blue ’share link’ button.  Easy peasy!

What is kind of stuff is good to share?

Anything that benefits the people you’re sending it too…it might answer a question, solve a problem or it might just make them laugh.  But they won’t click on it unless there is something in it for them!

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments closed
  • WebSpring is a world-class online marketing agency

    Based in Hamilton, New Zealand we create engaging online presences for businesses by combining websites, email marketing, online advertising and social media. For more info on what we do, check out services