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Showing posts from January, 2021

How to Create an Invoice so you can get PAID!

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  Invoicing customers for your products and services is part of doing business. Here's how to create an invoice to give to your clients. An invoice is an itemized document that lists all work completed for a client during a period along with each service’s price. An invoice also contains contact information, payment terms and sometimes other notes. To create an invoice, make space for a header, provide a detailed itemized table and include footnotes at the bottom if needed. This article is for business owners who want to know how to create an invoice for completed work . If you’re familiar with the basics of small business accounting, then you know that signing a new client doesn’t mean you’ll get their cash right away. If anything, you might have to wait several weeks or months before the money in your company’s accounts receivable hits your business’s cash account. And if you don’t send invoices for your work, you might never get that money. Neglecting to send invoices can delay

How to make a website pay for its self?

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  How to make a website pay for its self? The question you should really be asking yourself is... Can you afford NOT to have a website? There are SO many ways to answer this question. A website these days is an essential tool to increase business. Even if you are a small business, wouldn't you like a bigger piece of the market that your major competitors are getting?  Why limit yourself, when you can achieve respect by placing your business on the same level as those who have already established recognition in your field. I'm all about creating new jobs locally, but let's face it... small businesses often cannot afford to employ a whole team of staff. A website can assist like an "employee" for your business that can replace many of your other expenses, which will surely increase your profits! I compiled this list of ways to make your website pay for itself in a very short amount of time. This ensures that your website will become worth your investment every day.

Is this the first impression you want to present to your customers?

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  If you take on the struggle to learn how to develop your website yourself, your visitors will experience your experiment of your first website build. Like a crayon drawing hanging up on the side of a fridge. Is this the first impression you want to present to your customers or the most prominent competitors in your industry? First impressions matter! Since most people use the Internet to find a product or service these days, your professional website will be the first impression many people get of your business. A flashy, disorganized, or difficult to navigate website may turn away potential clients. What first impression is your website giving? Let us give your business an edge with an impressive professional website!

They recommend a website redesign or revamp every 2-3 years.

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  When your website developer freshens up their own website, it's probably time for you to do the same. As a rule of thumb, we recommend a website redesign or revamp every 2-3 years. The Internet is always changing and so are its search engines. I recommend updated content often to maintain a modern online presence and keep up with industry best practices, which are always changing. Content needs to be accurate and up-to-date. Every time you make an update to your website, the search engine takes notice and re-arranges your site's ranking. Thus, if you want to increase the chances of your website getting a higher ranking, update the content frequently so that a search engine will reassess your position on its index.

Stake your claim in your industry with a shiny new website!

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  Stake your claim in your industry with a shiny new website! In order to make it in business, you need something exceptional to stand out. At the same time, one needs to not compare themselves with others and focus on what sets you apart. These are the qualifications that I provide with each and every website. Clear price quotes upfront, so there are no surprises. All my rates are shown on my quotes page online. A beautiful and highly creative website that is both functional and easy to navigate. I have developed various methods to provide my clients the option to update their website on their own, to save time and money on updates. I strive to listen to my client’s needs and wants to produce the results they are looking for.

Are you making your best first impression?

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  Are you making your best first impression? I believe that behind each successful website there needs to be a strong collaboration between designer and client. The designer and client must work as a team. As such, I guarantee your ideas will be heard, respected and discussed, and, if necessary, improved, by taking the time to listen to your needs and understand your goals. Working together can be a stress-free experience that who knows, might even turn out to be fun!

Invest in your business… It pays off.

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  Invest in your business… It pays off. I have been creating websites, implementing business marketing concepts and learning about what works and doesn’t work since I started my own small business over 15 years ago. During this time, I've learned a lot about what is worthwhile for your bottom line. I aim to develop beautiful websites that are easy to navigate and comprehend by your online customers. I have created websites for many local businesses, which are displayed on my online portfolio website. Do what you love and never work a day in your life!

Be the master in your industry with a stunning new website.

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  Be the master in your industry with a stunning new website. If you do not have a website you are losing money. Owning your own website will make you credible with your customers and put you on an even playing field with your competitors. Both will improve your bottom-line for profitable results. I do not consider your website an advantage for me, I consider it a service that will help you grow for many years to come. I offer clear price rates upfront, so there's no surprises. All my rates are shown on my quotes page online.

Is your website outdated?

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  How can I help you with your website needs? I develop Professional and Creative websites to take your business to the "next level of success." What kind of first impression do you want to present to your customers or competitors in your industry? I’m a freelance website developer/designer living in SW Minnesota. I provide clients and companies with amazing websites that are beautiful and easy to use. I have nearly 20 years of experience with developing websites and marketing online businesses. Low rates and no monthly fee! Annual domain and hosting renewals are low. To get a free quote go to our website listed below and click on "Get Started" on the top menu. Save time and resources by owning a website that gets it right the first time. Invest in your business… It pays off.

Just because your website is old, doesn’t make it Retro.

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  Just because your website is old, doesn’t make it Retro. Are you paying high maintenance or monthly fees? If your answer is YES, you may need to evaluate your online marketing plan. Your Designs Online offers low rates and no monthly fees! After your initial website is developed and completed, you will only pay for the updates you choose and yearly domain and hosting fees. That’s it, because we feel it’s not fair to bill you for services you don’t need. This is why our happy clients come back for more and tell their friends about us as well. For you, this means your bottom-line will show profitable results, and that’s a win-win for everyone!

Ideas you can use to create a buzz, drive traffic, and make sales!

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  Ideas you can use to create a buzz, drive traffic, and make sales! • Write a guide about some aspect of your niche. These can help establish you as an authority in your field. • Get positive testimonials from happy customers with photos and locations. • Do a little research to find out what's trending, and write about it. Stick to topics that correlate with your products, services, or brand. • Add an FAQ section to your site and answer your site visitors' questions before they even ask them. Win-win! • Share success stories with your visitors, but do your best not to brag. • Share news articles about your business, as well as milestones met, like serving your 100th customer, for example. • Take note of your customer's questions and use them to improve any confusion in your website content.

Turn Your Ideas into Realities

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  Turn Your Ideas into Realities What kind of first impression do you want to present to your customers in your industry? I can help you with your custom business needs to bring you to the "next level of success." Invest in your business. It pays off. I have nearly 20 years of experience with developing websites and marketing online businesses. Creative projects include, but not limited to the following: • Promotional materials • Digital or printable publications • Product or business demo videos • Graduation or funeral videos • Informational brochures • Customer invoices or proposals • Event fliers or posters • Business or product logos • Business card design • Online directory submissions • E-commerce startup • Blog set up • Ebook creation • Facebook business pages • PowerPoint presentations • Formatting professional documents • Website development • Domain setup and redirect • Graphic layout and design • Storefront or vendor show banners • Customer or client newsletters •

Inexpensive Methods of Small Business Marketing

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  Inexpensive Methods of Small Business Marketing 1. Get a Google My Business Listing, which literally puts your business on the map. 2. Get a Website! Every business needs a website, no matter how old-fashioned or offline your clients and customers are. 3. Social Media Presence. Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn, social media is another free-to-cheap way to get the word out about your small business. 4. Write Relevant Content. A business blog is an inexpensive way to get started on attracting readers and viewers to your site(s). 5. Run a Class. Leverage the time you put into creating and teaching the class by having a friend take video of you teaching, then put that video on your website and on YouTube. Attend Local Events. Every kind of networking help, even if it’s just to share ideas and inspirations with other business owners.

Give potential customers a reason to try your products or services!

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Give potential customers you come into contact with a good reason to try your products or services, which is your first step to making them loyal customers. Provide value and establish yourself as having an in-depth understanding of the problems they are looking to solve. This takes the form of creating content in blog posts, posting articles, sending email campains, and getting out there and physically networking with people. From all this, you will start to attract a following. After your efforts to bring in business, always remember to close the loop. Remember to follow up (follow up to sample sent, etc.) So many leads and great conversations are wasted because you forget to follow up. Doing this simple step is sure to get your client base to grow.

Create Short Videos About Your Products

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  Create Short Videos About Your Products Videos are eye-catching and can show another level of professionalism and engagement to your customers, which can give you a marketing edge. Opt for short, interesting videos, which are much more likely to be viewed. Videos can give you greater exposure and allow you to potentially reach a huge audience, and you can keep them simple by just using your smartphone and your computer's built-in video software. If you need inspiration, check industry news for relevant questions and trends, and make videos of your how your product can address these trends. Moral of the story? Successful Marketing Doesn't Have to Be Expensive. Even if you have a shoestring budget for getting your business out there, you can still make it work without cutting too far into your profits.

Building a home is like building a website.

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  Building a home is like building a website. Once it’s done, you may want to make improvements down the road. After you finish building a new home you might want to add a pool, a sun-room or a wrap around deck. After you finish building a new website you might want to add a photo gallery, a product store or a customer testimonial page. You don’t have to add every option right away. You can start small and expand and grow as your business expands.

Q: Will owning a website for our business be worth my time and investment?

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  Q: Will owning a website for our business be worth my time and investment? A: Absolutely! If you do not have a website you are losing money. Owning your own website will make you credible with your customers and put you on an even playing field with your competitors. In doing so, you will be more noticed, accessible and profitable. My main goal is to help you make your business grow, and how that can be achieved. If you would like to learn more about how a website can make you more money, read my article about the many benefits of owning a website. How to Make a Website Pay for its Self.

We are a team!

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  I believe that behind each successful product there needs to be a strong collaboration between designer and client. The designer and client must work as a team. As such, I guarantee your ideas will be heard, respected and discussed, and, if necessary, improved. By taking the time to listen to your needs and understand your goals, working together can be a stress free experience that who knows, might even turn out to be fun!

The Difference

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  In order to make it in business, you need something exceptional to stand out. At the same time, one needs to not compare themselves with others and only focus on what sets you apart. These are the qualifications that I provide with each and every website. 1. Clear price quotes upfront, so there are no surprises. All my rates are shown on my Quotes page online. 2. A beautiful and highly creative website that is both functional and easy to navigate. 3. I have developed various methods to provide my clients with the option to update their website on their own, to save time and money on updates. 4. I strive to listen to my client's needs and wants to produce the results they are looking for. I aim to illustrate these beliefs with my clients in the development of their website.

When an “out-of-the-box” solution won’t do

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  When an “out-of-the-box” solution won’t do, custom development is a viable alternative. Boxed solutions are an incredible resource if your company is just like every other company that they serve, but that’s not often the case. Custom development can provide the solution, formatted in the manner you specify. Contact me today, for information regarding your website solution.

Your online presence is a BIG DEAL for rankings

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  Search Engines take into account many other factors when they rank your website. One of the best ways is to make sure you are seen EVERYWHERE! You want to have many inbound links to your website from other places online. By setting up accounts in your “business name” with links to your website you look more important. Especially if you are active on those accounts. We know you are busy and this can be overwhelming, so pick a few that work for your business and then let the other sit to generate counts when they can. Be sure to check on them occasionally for messages and to update important contact information or a post here and there when you can. What kind of accounts work well? The best sites are ones that show up in search results to maximize your ranking. Here’s a few ideas…Google+ Plus Business Page - Add your business to Google Maps - Add photos to Google Images - Bing Places for Business - Facebook Business Page - YouTube - Pinterest - Ebay or Etsy - industry related blogs and

Practical Ideas for Promoting a Small Business Locally

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  Practical Ideas for Promoting a Small Business Locally “Have you already been to that awesome pizza place on the corner?” This is how a small local brand name quickly becomes a buzzword. Building a strong local presence breaks down into two stages: earning recognition and maintaining reputation. Those who can reach their customers effectively and gain their trust are likely to become local celebs. Make your service and delivery perfect This should be done before any promotion happens. Word-of-mouth is a powerful referral source for your business–and you can drive it with stellar service and delivery to your existing customers. By wowing shoppers with perfect service and delivery, you’re showing that you’re honored to have them as a customer and that you value each and every one of them. Consider going above and beyond for your audience. Develop recognizable branding With a recognizable logo and consistent branding, your local business can gain a foothold in the local marketplace and