Friday, April 8, 2011

I am Not a Techie - Websites for Everyday People

Hi, I'm Sandy Penny. First, let me say, I am not a techie. I'm just a writer who loves to write and share my writing, and I love free and easy tools. It's time to get paid for what you love to do. I know that's my goal, and the easier it is to create an online business, the more likely I am to do it.

The Internet economy is growing every day while many other economies are not. As a proponent of people helping each other, I'm trying to help those who are even less technical than I am build their own websites and launch them, either for free or at a very low price so they can get their ideas out of their heads and into the marketplace.

I also want to help free people from having to pay for site updates. The more autonomous you are with your online website, business, or blogs, the easier it is to respond to changes in the economy, in your business model, and what you are evolving and presenting about yourself.

There is nothing I can teach you that you can't find on the web, but I've spent three years studying and working with Yola sites and have learned tips, tricks and workarounds for most of the issues you'll come across. I can greatly speed up your process.

Having spent 20 years as a graphic designer and 20 years as a corporate marketing writer, I can also help you make decisions about your layout, content, navigation and writing for search engines.

So, jump on board my web train. It's on a fast track and a fun track. I can work with you on the phone, on skype or in person if you're in the Albuquerque, NM area. Every Saturday I have a 3-hour support group at the Monzano Mesa Rec. Ctr. It's only $20 for 3 hours of professional instruction/coaching.

 
Sandy Penny offered this support group from October 2010 to October 2012. She has helped many people build low-priced websites to promote their heart-centered businesses, write their content, learn to use Yola sitebuilder, Facebook, Twitter, Paint, PicMonkey (a free photo editor), Google Ad Sense (monetize your site and make money), Amazon affiliates and other affiliate networks. Want to start a blog? If you're lost in the maze of online business jargon, let Sandy help you sort it out. Beginner to Intermediate students. Very small groups offer personal attention. Private tutoring and assistance hours are now available.







Yola offers automatic translation for mobile devices and great easy to use sitebuilder tools:


Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Seven Things to Keep in Mind When Building a Website

Posted on Facebook by Yola on Monday, March 28, 2011 at 12:06pm.Congratulations on taking the big first step toward getting your business website online! By signing up with Yola, you’re on your way to creating a professional website for your business. If you’ve suddenly realized you don’t have everything you need to get your website live, don’t panic. Here are a few simple things you can do to help get your website in great shape and ready to launch.

What do I want my website to do?
When buying a car, you’d probably consider where you’ll drive it, who will be using it, and what features you’ll need. It’s a similar process for your website. Think about specifically why you want a website. Is it to sell your products online? Blog about your industry? Provide directions to your location? It’s important to identify your main goals so you can plan for them.


Who do I want to visit my website?
You’ll also want to think about your target audience. Who would you like to visit your website? What’s their age range? Technical experience? Educational level? Income bracket? The answers to these questions will shape how you design your site, what you want to say, and even how you present your products and services.

What should I name my website?
The default web address we provide is certainly serviceable, but it’s not very memorable. Picking a good domain name (web address) for your website is critical; it’s how your customers and the search engines find you. Make sure the domain name represents your business, blog, or personal site. It should be short, easy to remember, and tell people what to expect from your website. Also establish whether you want a .com, .biz, or .org (if you’re a non-profit) site.

Learn more about picking a domain name in our tutorial.

What do I want to say?
Spend a little time considering what you want to say. This will determine the number and types of pages you’ll create. Think beyond text—photos, videos, and animations/slideshows go a long way toward communicating exactly what you want. Don’t have good photos for your website? No problem. We’ve partnered with Fotolia to bring you over 8 million royalty-free images. And don’t forget to plan for how much time and effort it may take to keep your website content up-to-date.

What do I want it to look like?
Designing your website is the fun part. Bells and whistles are great, but don’t get too carried away. Keep it simple and easy for your customers. Yola’s easy-to-use Sitebuilder lets you customize your site to suit your needs. Start by selecting a design; we have over 100 professionally designed templates to choose from! You can then personalize your style by changing your background, font or banner.

How do people find me?
Publishing your website does not necessarily guarantee visits from prospective customers. Make sure your site is search engine optimized (SEO) and search engine friendly. This means you’ll want to spend some time thinking about keywords (words that accurately describe your business and your website) and ensure they’re included in your website copy and messaging.

How do I promote my website?
Once your website is live, it’s time to start promoting it. There are lots of ways you can do this, including Google AdWords, a “pay-per-click” advertising program. (Attention Yola Silver customers: You have $50 of free AdWords credits!) Social networking is also a great, inexpensive way to get the word out. If you’re on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, make sure to post links to your new website. You can also create a blog on your website, write interesting articles about your industry, then post links to them.

Check out this site more tips to promote your website.

If you haven’t launched your website yet, now’s the time! Follow these seven steps and your business website will be bringing in the customers before you know it.


Go to my site if you need some help:  http://webclassesnm.com/









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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Make Money Blogging

by Sandy Penny, http://webclassesnm.com

This is one of the most down to earth, easy to read blogs I’ve found in a long time with non-hyped sane information about how to make money blogging. I think you’ll like it, and I am currently creating my blogging empire, so it’s a hot topic for me.

Pro-blogger logo

http://www.problogger.net/make-money-blogging/

I immediately signed up for updates. Inquiring minds always want to know how to make money. And they have two money blog books out too. Check the carousel below. Get some straight talk on the subject of blogging and making money. I’m new at it, and I have a big learning curve. Glad I found a good resource to help me.

Here are some good books you can get on Amazon on all forms of blogging: blogging for dollars, pink blog (for women), blogging for dummies, Huffington Post blogging recommendations. All good resources. Get on with making some money blogging.