December 29, 2007
With all the talk of how to make a great website and ways to keep visitors, it is important to also understand the other side of designing an Internet business.
Every day, thousands of websites are finding unique ways to turn away visitors and potential customers. Although many webmasters know about the obvious “turn-offs”, there are many little details that “tick-off” visitors and make them leave.
In fact, I have found that there are 13 “small” items that can make or break a website. To avoid having your visitors “click-away” from your site make sure that you include the following things:
1) A Professional Appearance: Most websites don’t need flash effects or dazzling visuals. But, your Internet business should be perceived as legitimate site, built by someone who cares about the content and appearance. In other words, the colors and graphics should blend well with one another. In addition, all web-copy should be dynamic and devoid of grammar or spelling mistakes. Finally, any images on the page should enhance the experience for your visitors without distracting them.
2) Proper Navigation: The pages on your website should be easily connected. To do this, every section should connect to the main page, with a clear and concise menu. Don’t make your visitors spend a lot of time looking for different sections. Help them by ensuring that the navigation of your site remains constant throughout all pages.
3) An Obvious Theme: Your index page should immediately let the visitor know what you are selling or promoting. Usually the best way to do this is by briefly describing the purpose of your website and include product photos that can help people understand your purpose.
4) A Logo: One of the best ways to “brand” your site and remain unique is to have a logo for your Internet business. By having a logo, your website is more likely to make an “impression” with your visitors and develop a following. Any logo used needs to be consistent with the theme and color scheme of your site.
5) FAQs: There will be times when your visitors have a question that is not covered by the standard descriptions or sales pages. To help them out, it is important to have a section that is devoted to answering common questions. By creating a FAQ page, your prospects can easily find the answers to their questions and will be more likely to order from your site.
6) What’s New Section: With repeat visitors, there will be times when you want to update them with current news or promotions. The best way to do this is to create a “What’s New” section. That way, you can inform old visitors, while making sure that they know about all current marketing campaigns.
7) Contact Information: Eventually, your website visitor will have a question for you. Because of this, it is vital that you list all possible ways that they can reach you. By creating a contact page, you will be able to answer questions and reinforce the fact that there is an actual person behind the website.
Feedback Forms: The best websites always change, catering to the needs of the visitor. In order to find out what your customers need, it is important to solicit feedback from them. A common way to do this is by creating a feedback form on the site, which includes questions that will help improve the overall quality of the Internet business.
9) Privacy Policy: With the problem of spam, many people are afraid to give out personal information such as their email address and credit card numbers. To help alleviate this fear, you need to include a “Privacy Policy” section. Basically this page will let them know how all information is used and if they will be contacted in the future. It is better to upfront about your practices than to be accused of mishandling information.
10) Email List: Top websites work on developing an email list of prospects that can be contacted in the future. This should go without saying, but your email list subscription area should have a prominent position on your web page. In addition, include a quick blurb about any incentive that you offer to visitors for joining the list.
11) About Us: Most website visitors appreciate knowing that a business is run by an actual human being. To help personalize your website, you need to include a little information about both you and your online business.
12) Sales Page: Even with the best product descriptions, it is important to create a dedicated page that describes how your products are superior to your competitors. This section should be a summary of all your key features written in a dynamic tone. Basically, you want your visitors to read this page and immediately buy from you.
13) Refund/Return Policy: On the other side, there will be times when a customer is not happy. To help alleviate any fears that they might have about purchasing online, there needs to be a section where potential customers can read your rules on accepting returns and refunds. Carefully list how and if you accept refunds. If you do not, then be upfront about it.
Because there are over a million websites on the Internet, it is now vital that you give your visitors what they need. Unfortunately, they will never tell you what is necessary. By including these 13 items in the design of your website, you can assured that you will have a distinct advantage over your competitor’s Internet business.
Scott J. Patterson is not that smart, yet he earns over $12,000 a month from his online businesses. To find out how YOU can build a profitable Internet business, download his fr*e ebook, The Secret-Guide to Home Businesses: http://www.duncemoney.com/content.html
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Benjamin Franklin wrote: “If you want to enjoy one of the greatest luxuries in life, the luxury of having enough time, time to rest, time to think things through, time to get things done and know you have done them to the best of your ability, remember, there is only one way. Take enough time to think and plan things in the order of their importance. Your life will take on a new zest, you will add years to your life, and more life to your years. Let all your things have their place.” When you read Franklin’s words, what do they mean to you? Do you have enough time to balance your personal needs with your commitment to the outside world? Is stress causing havoc in your life? What exactly does it mean to have your life in balance and how do you achieve it?
Balance is defined as stability of mind and body; a state of being in balance; and harmony in the parts of a whole. The Chinese art of Feng Shui describes balance as being comprised of Yin and Yang energy. Yin is the calming and peace-giving energy and Yang is the action-oriented dynamic force. Yin energy engages receptivity and allows rest, rejuvenation, healing, dreaming, and acceptance. The fire energy, Yang, makes achievement of dreams a reality and creates success. Feng Shui believes every ‘whole’ person requires balance in his or her life force energy.
The key to creating ‘wholeness’ is learning that we must take care of ourselves in order to be able to give what we want to give in our roles as parent, spouse, employee, etc. When we do not take care of ourselves, we end up either sick and/or feeling burned out, as our bodies and mind will make us take the time if we will not do it for ourselves. Emotional and physical health requires taking responsibility for our own well-being.
Most of us have the fantasy that somebody will come along and tell us ‘it is now our turn,’ and so we put off the biological need for rest and relaxation until we are ill. After learning that there is not going to be anyone to rescue us, we realise that the only one who is going to take care of us is, in fact, our self. Once this is recognised, the emotional and physical healing of self can now begin. (I don’t know about you but I am a slower learner. It took me a long time to learn this. In fact, I still get a wake-up call every once in awhile when I choose to get sick rather than rest and take a break.)
We need to allow time each day in order to take care of ourselves. When we do take time, leave the guilt and thoughts of ‘I should be doing…’ outside the door. Instead, recognise that we deserve a few minutes of time for self and that we will be able to function better afterwards. Enjoy that time.
Time Management and Creating Balance
Time is defined as a period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues; and management is defined as the act or art of managing. Time management is nothing more than the art of managing an action. In other words, the management of time is management of self and setting priorities for self. It is the conscious selection of where we will place our attention.
Reasons for Managing Time
Time is not a renewable resource. When it is gone, it is gone forever.
Everyone has the same amount of time.
The creative thought that emerges from balanced lives and from the joy of our leisure time is what makes the difference in
our level of creativity and productivity.
Take time for silence. Silence and solitude are opportunities for thinking and for simply being.
The best thing you can do to enhance your value at work is to take care of yourself.
Time management provides structure to one’s life and in turn, provides peace of mind.
Time management is something one does for one’s own psyche to make one’s days easier.
Time Management and Creating Balance at Home
1. Determine what’s important to you and in what order. Prioritise to get the important things done by putting ‘first things first.’
2. Set goals and strive towards a sense of purpose and fulfilment.
3. Get organised and manage your time with a daily or weekly schedule.
4. Recognise your limits and have realistic expectations for yourself. You do not have to be ’super person.’
5. Reward yourself.
6. Keep things in perspective. Say to yourself, ‘This too shall pass.’
7. Exercise and eat nutritional foods.
8. Think happy, as life seems to be easier when you smile. Use humour and find a way to laugh at the situation.
9. Be honest with yourself and others.
10. Say ‘No’ to the ’shoulds’ and ‘Yes’ to the ‘wants’ in your life.
Time Management and Creating Balance at Work
1. Make sure your work life is a meaningful expression of your life purpose.
2. Decide to do it. Set up a TO DO list, prioritise A’s, B’s, and C’s. Do A’s first.
3. Planning - take 5 minutes at the end of the day to clean up your space and get organised for the next day’s work.
4. If you have a problem, just before you go to sleep turn it over to your subconscious - your mind will work on it as you sleep and you will have an answer the next day.
5. DO IT NOW. Procrastination is a result of saying “I’ll do it later.”
6. Do not schedule early morning appointments that will disrupt your morning routine.
7. Say ‘NO’ to every new request for your time for the next month (saying NO to every request will minimise your guilt).
8. Think about it before you say ‘yes’ - say ‘I’ll get back to you.’ Some of us are compulsive ‘yes sayers’ when we are asked to do something; taking a few minutes to think about whether we have the time, energy, or desire to perform this request requires that we have a moment to check in with ourselves.
9. Give yourself a break. People are more productive when they take a few minutes away every couple of hours.
10. Don’t let other people’s ‘hurry sickness’ dictate your life.
Remember: There is no such thing as a lack of time. There is nothing more important in your life than your time. Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “There is more to life than merely increasing its speed.” In other words, the fundamental question is: ‘How much of my life-force energy does this cost?’
Gwen Nyhus Stewart, B.S.W., M.G., H.T., is an educator, freelance writer, garden consultant, and author of the book The Healing Garden: A Place Of Peace - Gardening For The Soil, Gardening For The Soul and booklet Non-toxic Alternatives For Everyday Cleaning And Gardening Chores. She owns the website Gwen’s Healing Garden where you will find lots of free information about gardening for the soil and gardening for the soul. To find out more about the books and subscribe to her free Newsletter visit http://www.gwenshealinggarden.ca
Gwen Nyhus Stewart © 2004 - 2005. All rights reserved.
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The mortgage process can be a little confusing if you aren’t familiar with the terms used in the process. To help you out, here is a list of terms with corresponding mortgage definitions.
Broker: An independent mortgage professional that oversees the entire home loan process.
Lender: The business entity providing and funding the home loan.
Processor: Prepares your loan for underwriting. The processor makes certain your income is properly documented and verified, the appraisal is being performed, and title and escrow are opened.
Escrow: Works with title to certify payoff demands for all existing liens. Escrow is an independent group which disburses monies to all parties in the loan transaction and ensures full payment.
Title: Ensures both the borrower and the lender have a clean title on the home, guaranteeing to both parties there are no mistaken liens and that all existing liens on the home are scheduled to be paid and removed.
Underwriters: Make the decision to approve or deny the loan. Hired by the lender, their job is to review all aspects of the loan based on the lender’s approval guidelines.
Automated Underwriting: A computer generated loan approval. This automated process only takes minutes and is the quickest path to approval.
ARM: Adjustable Rate Mortgage. An ARM has a fixed rate for a specified amount of time. After the initial term, the loan becomes adjustable and the rate can fluctuate depending on market conditions. ARM payments are initially lower than fixed rate payments. This is an excellent option for people with damaged credit, those who plan to sell their homes short term or who simply want to save money on their monthly payment.
DTI: Debt to Income Ratio or your total monthly debt in relation to your gross monthly income. For example if you have $2,500 in total monthly debts with a total income of $5,000, your DTI is 50%. The higher the DTI, the higher the lender’s risk and 50% is typically the maximum allowable DTI.
Equity — The amount of vested or owned interest in your property. Subtract the total balance owed on the property from the appraised value to determine your equity.
FICO Scores: Most lenders use the FICO scoring system to qualify borrowers. The FICO score is a number assigned from each of the three main credit repositories (Experian, Trans-Union, and Equifax). This number is calculated based on your complete credit profile and takes into account late payments, balances on trade lines, inquiries for additional credit, judgments, bankruptcies, total debt, length of credit history, and more. The lower the FICO score, the higher the lender’s risk.
LTV: Loan to Value Ratio. For example: a loan amount of $75,000 on a home valued at $100,000 equals an LTV of 75%. Your equity would equal $25,000, or 25%. The higher the LTV ratio, the higher the lender’s risk.
Stated Income: Your own statement of income on the application versus income that can be independently verified. Use of stated income is an excellent option for self-employed individuals or those with hard to prove income.
Getting a mortgage for a home purchase can be stressful. If you understand the lingo being used, you will find it less so.
Dan Lewis is a mortgage broker with www.gwhomeloans.com - San Diego mortgage brokers providing home loans and refinances. Visit gwhomeloans.com/services.html to learn more about options for San Diego mortgages.
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