This Thursday LiveEdit is holding an openhouse at their new location in Plymouth, congrats! We will also be learning about all the new things coming to LiveEdit ... so excited. I don't even know what new things are coming ... but I'm positive it will be BRILLIANT! Looking forward to finding out. I will keep everyone posted!

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Shopping, shopping and more shopping! The stores have been insane this season . . . which gives me more good reason than ever to be shopping online. No need to pay for gas, there are no lines at the register, no going out in the cold, less risk of being 'out of stock' and a LOT easier to compare prices!

It is no wonder that the amount of online shoppers is increasing rapidly. 2012 is the perfect time to take your products online! A small website store starts at only $500.00 ... and with that affordability, it's time to jump in! Call me today for a risk-free consultation. 612-708-3497

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Check it out now at http://www.mglc.org

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Rest in Peace Steve Jobs † Thank you so much for all your innovation that has made my job so enjoyable. You've added "magic" into every product that has ultimately embraced the world. You will be missed.

I really had a great time with this one! Halloween has always been my favorite time of year and am so thankful that Anoka Halloween has given me the opportunity to sponsor this website. It is such a wonderful organization and I am blessed to be a part of it!

Check out the new website at: www.AnokaHalloween.com

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This is an online store, check it out!

1) Listen to your Gut - Hopefully you will be working with your web person for a long time, so make sure they have a good understanding of what you are looking for and that you have a great connection with that person. As a partner, you want to feel 100% comfortable going forward.

2) Local - Meeting face-to-face makes a big difference when you are a small company. Having that person over to your place of business so that they can actually see your company from the inside out helps the designer to understand what exaclty you are trying to portray to your customers. It also gives you piece-of-mind knowing that you can stop by their office or they can stop by yours with ease when those short-turnaround changes come up.

3) Portfolio - Check out their portfolio. If they don't have one, ask them for a list of websites that they've done. Remember, they will keep their best work on their portfolio and it's the easiest way to guage their design capabilities and styles. If you don't think that their designs are "up to par" with what you are looking for, don't expect yours to be any better.

4) Understanding of Marketing - Make sure that your web person has a great understanding of who your ideal client is and what's going make them "click". Having a website homepage that is tailored to your target market is crucial in keeping a low bounce rate and converting visitors to sales.

5) Optimization - Most web companies do not include an optimized website. Find out exactly what they will be doing to optimize your new site. If your website isn't optimized, you are missing the most basic steps in SEO that could of been easily avoided. Your website won't convert sales if it can never be found.

6) Domain Name - Ask for your domain to be put in YOUR name ... or just do it yourself. Allowing your web person to register your domain under their name, gives them complete control. If there is a dispute or you decide to move to a different web company, they may make you pay big bucks for it! (I've seen this happen many, many times!)

7) Contract - Always make sure that you have a contract upfront. This will probably protect YOU more than them. This is a clean way to make sure both parties completely understand the terms and conditions.

8) Hosting - Make sure you know exaclty where your website gets hosted and how much it's going to cost. This avoids suprises!

9) Emails - Emails can be even more confusing than the websites themselves. If your web company is offering emails make sure you completely understand how you will check them, where they are hosted and how much they are costing you. You can really get overcharged when it comes to these things. I recommend keeping them with the domain name and not having a third party in control of them.

10) Changes - Ask how much it costs for future website updates. If they say "FREE" . . . run the other way. This seems strange but for a web person to keep up with all their client updates puts them in a very unfortunate position, then all of a sudden they "dissapear". Now your hands are tied and their is no way to edit your website or even trasfer it somewhere else. You will have to start all over. (This happens all the time!)

Avoid mistakes and get it done the right way the first time. Call me for a free website consultation! 612-708-3497

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Have you purchased anything online lately? If not, you may be missing some great advantages! Such as:

• No waiting in lines at the store
• No wasting gas driving to the store
• Less chance of things being "Out of Stock" or not finding things in your size or in the color you were looking for
• Get better deals because you're leaving out the "middle man"
• Last but not least, online you have all the shops at your FINGERTIPS, allowing you to shop around at all the different stores within minutes rather that countless hours of driving around saving you time and money

It is these reasons that online shopping has become increasingly popular, especially over the last few years. Do you want a piece of that pie? Can you imagine sitting at your desk at home watching the orders pile in while your website does all the work?

Are you a manufacturer, either that has a brand new product you want to start selling -- or -- a manufacturer that has sold products in stores for years but is looking for an alternate source of income? If so, please contact me right away to see how I can help! 612-708-3497 or christy@pwd-mn.com

This will change the way you think about social media! Check it out!

Online stores are getting BIGGER each year. Selling your products on the web can mean increased profit margins and new sources of revenue for your business. At Phoenix Web Design we can create either a small store with just a few products, or a large store with hundreds of products.

Contact us today and we can discuss your ideas! Call 612-708-3497

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Read our August 2011 Newsletter now! Click here

If not! Don't forget ... we can help! Every business owner should have a marketing plan in place - or better yet, MULTIPLE marketing plans.

These marketing plans don't have to be complicated. For example, electronic newsletters can be very effective! Other effective marketing strategies include: Blogs, Social Media Campaigns, Advertisements (when done correctly) and Listings on Local Directories (Angie's List).

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Here's a question that I recently got asked from one of my clients:

Client: "Christy, I'm not convinced that FB would produce any results for us.  We live in a very narrow market sector of a little known business, machine tools, however I've talked to some of my customers and they have found LinkedIn to offer some advantages.  What do you think and how can you help us?"

Christy: I really think that you can use an e-newsletter, social media and blogging in any market. I recommend Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to begin. I also recommend YouTube as a plus. YouTube is becoming a huge search engine in itself. So something like your industry, you could really take videos of the products at work or video about how or why to choose certain products. It's all about your clients and target market. What would draw them in? What would make them interested in following you? What can you educate them on? They need to find value in listening to what you are saying.

What Phoenix Web Design can do is set-up your blog and all of your social media elements. Then, we can either set a plan for YOU do the updating or WE do the updating. Either way, a blog should be written weekly and a social media post should be sent out daily at minimum. Also an e-newsletter could be sent out either monthly or quarterly.

One thing that you want to do right away is gather a database (an excel document or any .csv file) of names, company name and email of current clients and future prospects. Not only can you use this database for sending the e-newsletter too, but you can also use their emails and names to find them on Facebook, Twitter and Linked In - and ask them to follow you.

Doing this creates a viral network that will help you to expand your client base. 

Right now, one of our biggest coupons is our discounted Identity Package. This includes all brand new, professional and custom designed: Logo, Business Card, Letterhead, Envelope and a Basic 3-page Website for only 4-payments of 500.00. Get on our new monthly payment plan and finance that for only 179.00 for 12-months! Mention this blog at time of purchase to redeem this offer!

Email me at Christy@pwd-mn.com or call 612-708-3497

This month, I'm looking for business owners that currently or wants to begin selling online, but has a tight budget.

It's hard to know where to get started because there are so many options. However, not all websites and shopping carts have to cost thousands. Setting up a shopping cart can be as low as a hundred bucks.

Please contact me for a FREE Consultation. During the consultation, we will then discuss budget and possible payment options to find what you are looking for - and match your budget.

Email me to suggest a time to meet, Tuesdays and Thursdays work best. Looking forward to hearing from you!

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I am so proud to announce - that this week marks my 5th Year Anniversary for my business! I'm extremely overjoyed because 5 years ago, I quit my full-time graphic design job to turn a dream of running my own business - into reality. I think all entrepreneurs can agree - it's a dream that tests you in all areas - physically, emotionally and spiritually. But to me, it's the most rewarding thing I've ever done and wouldn't have it any other way.

"Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember, all things are possible for those who believe.” - Gail Evers

Below is a link of some of my latest "before-and-after" website designs. This illustrates our ability to transform a company's existing website - that is perhaps outdated, not aesthetically appealing or simply not generating the amount of leads the company needs from their site. Phoenix Web Design splashes the website with a new design, creating visual interest, graphic elements that grab the viewer's interest and forces them to take action.

Click here to view our latest "Before and Afters"

I'm so excited to announce that Smart Site, LLC, a local website company in St. Cloud, Minnesota - has integrated over 1,000 websites with their online technology called LiveEdit! 

Smart Site, LLC with the help of their local resellers - has LiveEdit, a robust and innovative CMS (content management system) - sweeping the nation. Phoenix Website Design, LLC has been a reseller of LiveEdit for almost two years and is one of the pioneers that brought it down to the Twin Cities after being used several years in northern Minnesota. Now we couldn't imagine creating our websites any other way. This technology allows website pages to be custom designed, web browser friendly for both the computer and the smart phone, easily optimized for search engines, incorporate important social media and blogging threads and an extremely fun, fast and user-friendly click-and-drag editing system - my clients do not need to know any html programming language to edit content, place photo galleries or add pages! Best of all, my clients have the peace-of-mind of having local multi-levels of face-to-face, phone or online tech support and even general question answering ... such as, "How often should I blog?" or "How do I set-up and use Twitter?"

Since offering LiveEdit, my client responses have been amazing, saying "I wish I would of done this years ago!", "This has solved all my online marketing issues!" and "This has made my website stress-free and a lot more affordable!"

If you are interested in learning more, contact us to set-up a free website consultation. We are here to help!

Check it website!

Check out website!

Last week someone asked me, "So how important is using Facebook for our business really? Is it really worth all the time and effort put in?"

For me, that answer is easy. Like any other marketing vehicle, it only has value if it WORKS. Is FB working for you? Do you even know if it is or not? Marketing is most effective when tracking results. Do you know how many fans you have? How many people have you actually interacted with online? Are your fans even viewing your feeds? This is important information because the only way you are going to increase sales is by increasing the overall activity.

Hootsuite is an online application that allows you to organize your social media accounts in minutes. Check it out at http://www.Hootsuite.com

What if I told you that you could have millions of potential customers easily find you online? How about being able to have your friends refer these customers to you and have their friends tell their friends? You wouldn't be harassing them, they would actually be finding you online in their spare time - and because they are not feeling pressured they would more likely be buying from you. Oh yeah, and it's FREE. Sound too good to be true? Well, fortunately it's not - it's social media and it's here to stay.

Watch this video below, but beware ... some of this information may shock you!!

Click here to check it out!

A blog is an incredible tool for communicating with current customers, potential customers and employees. Writing blog posts is easy no matter what blogging site you use. You can create a blog almost anywhere online, but I recommend that a blog is placed inside your website. In LiveEdit, you can use the blogging app to update posts within seconds. Blogs increase website traffic in three main ways:

1) Invites potential customers to get involved in what your company has been up to and allow you to educate them on your business and your products/services.

2) When your blog is inside your website, it shows search engines that you have been updating content consistently.

3) When your blog is inside your website, it also adds keywords to your site to increase optimization.

Blogging is a free and easy way to add to your online marketing. I recommend that your company blogs at least once per week.

Check it out at www.TBryce.com

Check it out at www.TeksOnSite.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOgyC8liCfg

Come visit our BNI Group located in Elk River, MN! Join us for open networking, exchanging business cards and share with us more about your business! Check it out! http://businessnetworkingstar.com/

Check it out at www.BusinessNetworkingStar.com

Check it out at www.NaturalMotionDecoy.com

I challenge you all to take a look at last years sales and where they came from.

Do you know where they came from? Did you capture contact information? Were the leads generated from your website? IF NOT....WE NEED TO TALK!

I feel GREAT about 2011, I'm very excited about all the changes in my busines that will take place (stay tuned). So many business owners that I'm talking to say that their business is vastly increased compared to last year and it's only getting better! Phoenix is also increasing and our LiveEdit features are stronger than ever.

This will be an EXCITING year for business owners!!! ;-)

Check out this site at www.CedarCreekEnergy.com!

Check it out at www.SupremeSystems.net

Dashing through the internet
as your site is viewed today.
Customers on the go
Finding your products right away.
You'll hear the register ring
So many new clients in line,
Now your business is online and everything is fine.

Oh, Christy rocks, her service sells
Live Edit all the way
Oh, what fun it is to have your website work your way
Edit yourself, Edit yourself
Be in control of your site all the way.

Oh, what fun it is to make changes
in my website anyday.

I wish everyone a safe and very MERRY CHRISTMAS this year! Hope everyone gets to spend time with their loved ones and reflects back on this last year and all their blessings!

Did you know that we use a Website Work Flow Process? Yes, we are a very small business, but we run like a large corporation. Phoenix Web Design follows an entire process from us getting a lead all the way to the end when the site goes live. This specific process is one of the many things that makes us different from our competitors. We make sure that all aspects are done correctly, from following-up an that referral that we get all the way to sending them a "Thank You Card" in the mail when we are done. It's those extra efforts that comforts our clients and makes getting a website an exciting and rewarding experience!

Whether designing a logo, advertisement or website - I always ask my client this question, "Why would I choose your company instead of your competitor's?"

Well today I wanted to tell you what mine was and ask you to share yours on my blog! So ....
the top three things that makes Phoenix Web Design different are:

1. Unlike other one-person web companies, we use BOTH a professional designer and a professional programmer. Each skill is VERY different, so to get a website that both LOOKS great and WORKS great - we don't have the professions cross paths.

2. We implement the specific functionalities needed to heighten your SEO and increase your drip marketing to make your website a TRUE lead generator

3. We offer a hosting option with the ability for our customers to edit their own website using our cutting edge technology called LiveEdit.

So please click on "Comment" above and share your company name what YOUR competitive edge is! Don't forget to give your name and company name!!



Everybody is asking me, "How do I create my own QR Code?". It's very easy, just go to  http://qrcode.kaywa.com/ and you can create your own for free. Remember, it doesn't always have to be a "homepage" you are linking it to. Be CREATIVE with your marketing ... link it to a coupon page or create a scavenger hunt contest...what a fun way to market!!

A QR Code is a matrix barcode (or two-dimentional code) readable by QR scanners or smart phones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information is most commonly a URL.

WHERE DOES THIS CODE TAKE YOU???

These are extremely valuable in marketing and can be used on business cards, in magazine advertisements and even on vehicles!

Check it out >>> www.AccentCurbingMN.com

Last week I described what an RSS Feed IS ... this week I'm posting how it works. See below -- 

The icon for an RSS Feed looks like this . You've probably seen them on websites that you visit. RSS is short for "Really Simple Syndication". RSS Feeds are a family of web fed formats used to publish frequently updated works (such as blog entries or news headlines). An RSS Feed can be read using an RSS Reader which can be web based, desktop-based or cell phone based. This means that a viewer can subscribe to a website blog on a restaurant's (for example) website and every time that restaurant puts a blog out, the viewer will be able to read it on their reader. You can think of a "RSS Reader", as a personal newspaper that publishes the news, ads, coupons for all their favorite restaurants, bars, clothing stores etc. An example of an RSS Reader is iGoogle, but there is many of them out there.

Why is this important for a website to have? Because now that restaurant can easily post coupons, specials, pictures, and news on their blog and all of those who are subscribed to their RSS Feeds (past customers, fans, people looking for coupons etc) will now have that info blown laptops, desktops, pda's and cell phones without ever having to LOOK for that information again. I will go into further detail next week/time!

Check it out at www.JerseysBar.com

Check it out at www.MaximumPotential.com

Check it out at: http://www.AirAutomation.com

Don't let your domain name (ex. www.PhoenixWebDesignMN.com) get into the wrong hands!! It could be a costly mistake!

For example, I had a client this week who had their website done by a previous web developer who purchased their domain name 2 years ago. When it came to expire, either the website was going down or they needed to pay for more time. Well, now that the developer owned it he could of easily said, "Yep, that would be $5,000 please.." with a smile on their face. OUCH!! Thankfully, it was a very ethical web developer and gladly switched it over to her account.

However, the web developer first paying $10.00 for the domain name then charging the client thousands later is extremely common. Don't let this happen to you, take the time to go to www.GoDaddy.com and purchase a domain name yourself!

Hey everyone, thanks for being patient as our new website was developed. We have been SO BUSY .. which is GREAT! But as a website is a VERY IMPORTANT ASSET to any business, we tried to hurry along as fast as possible! So here it is! Please stay in touch for future posts!