If you haven't already heard, there is a place online that allows anyone to build a quick, simple website. For free. (I'll get to the strings attached in a minute, but they're minimal). Very similar to a blog, except that you can add pages, and basic navigation. i.e. it can be a website or a one-long-page blog. You can even add PayPal buttons. It's called weebly.com
I tested it out, and I think it's perfect for micro-businesses or small organizations (sewing groups, book clubs, neighborhood watch, etc). There are plenty of layouts to choose from. Keep in mind you can change the photos. The only drawbacks I could find were:
a) it's for very small, basic sites only. No secondary navigation.
b) No databases (= no ecommerce, other than a single item button)
c) one or 2 column layouts only (which is fine for 95% of sites)
d) limited choice of fonts
e) there's a credit link at the foot of each page to weebly, small or large depending on the template you choose. You can't delete it.
If you can live within that, it's an amazing deal, especially for a freelancer or small organization. Even the hosting is free! But if you want to host it elsewhere, you can design your site at weebly.com and then download the code as a zip file and upload it to another webhost's server.
How can all this be free? No doubt the creators are pitching it to Google, etc in the hopes of getting rich. The consumer, however, has nothing to lose.
But let's say you want a small site with a lot of photos, music or video. Like, a wedding or baby album. You might be better off using Apple's iWeb, which is part of iLife. It's $79, or free with any Mac.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Follow-up to integrating a blog and newsletter
I wrote too soon. It would be lovely to have a service that integrates blog and newsletter publishing and reliable metrics (to measure your efforts). However, it seems to elude us still.
The blogs on iContact appear within a frame that displays all the iContact Community information (view sample). This is designed to publicize iContact, as well as the other members of the iContact Community. The problem is, it tends to clutter the look of a blog. So if you're not interested in co-branding with them, stick to wordpress.com or blogger.com. You can still use their Archive feature to keep a record of all your past newsletters. THAT is definitely useful for when your clients' email programs don't display your message properly (and over which you have no control). That's the link above every email newsletter that reads, "Having difficulty reading this email? Click here to view it in a browser."
The blogs on iContact appear within a frame that displays all the iContact Community information (view sample). This is designed to publicize iContact, as well as the other members of the iContact Community. The problem is, it tends to clutter the look of a blog. So if you're not interested in co-branding with them, stick to wordpress.com or blogger.com. You can still use their Archive feature to keep a record of all your past newsletters. THAT is definitely useful for when your clients' email programs don't display your message properly (and over which you have no control). That's the link above every email newsletter that reads, "Having difficulty reading this email? Click here to view it in a browser."
Integrating a blog and an email newsletter
Why would you want/need both a blog and an email newsletter list? Because some fans prefer email, some prefer reading a web page. And you gotta give people what they want. At least, in business.
Okay, so how do you kill two birds with one stone? Sign up with an inexpensive email marketing service like iContact (for $10/mth) and publish both at the same time, by simply checking off the right boxes. They will also manage your surveys, and automate the Subscribe/Unsubscribe process. More importantly, they will track how many people read what you're writing, in both your blog and your emails.
Okay, so how do you kill two birds with one stone? Sign up with an inexpensive email marketing service like iContact (for $10/mth) and publish both at the same time, by simply checking off the right boxes. They will also manage your surveys, and automate the Subscribe/Unsubscribe process. More importantly, they will track how many people read what you're writing, in both your blog and your emails.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Goodreads.com: Calling all book worms
If you love books, check out goodreads.com
Why would you bother signing up and spending time telling the world what's on your nightstand? Well, because if your friends sign up, you can see what they're reading and whether they recommend a book. Okay, that's nice, but how is this truly helpful? How is it any different from checking out Amazon.com reviews?
In a word: trust.
You're more likely to trust your friend's recommendation over a stranger's. You will know for sure that the rating or review you read is from them, rather than the clandestine marketing efforts of a PR expert or the authors themselves, who tend to rave about the work to boost sales and counter bad reviews.
You can also see other readers' reviews, so if you see someone whose tastes mirror yours, you will begin to trust their recommendations as well. But only if they consistently mirror yours over time, which is labor intensive for a marketing agency to maintain, and thus unlikely to happen.
I give it less than 6 months until they're bought by Amazon or similar.
Why would you bother signing up and spending time telling the world what's on your nightstand? Well, because if your friends sign up, you can see what they're reading and whether they recommend a book. Okay, that's nice, but how is this truly helpful? How is it any different from checking out Amazon.com reviews?
In a word: trust.
You're more likely to trust your friend's recommendation over a stranger's. You will know for sure that the rating or review you read is from them, rather than the clandestine marketing efforts of a PR expert or the authors themselves, who tend to rave about the work to boost sales and counter bad reviews.
You can also see other readers' reviews, so if you see someone whose tastes mirror yours, you will begin to trust their recommendations as well. But only if they consistently mirror yours over time, which is labor intensive for a marketing agency to maintain, and thus unlikely to happen.
I give it less than 6 months until they're bought by Amazon or similar.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Constant Contact or iContact or ?
Who the hell has time to survey and review all the email marketing companies?
Well, no-one, but I also feel that someone who intends to be helping her clients damn well better know the pros and cons of each before she starts recommending one over the others. So I spent 4 hours today – that's right, four bloody hours that I will never get back, so listen up – scrutinizing the field for you, dear reader.
First stop, Top Ten Reviews, a site that makes it their business to regularly do much of the initial research. Love those guys. Their 2008 review reveals a more accurate view of each contender.
I was surprised to see that Constant Contact was more expensive and had less features than iContact. Constant Contact is easily the best known of them all, so hats off to their marketing department, because they've certainly convinced many that they're the best.
I use iContact.com. Aside from the price and efficiency, I like their interface. It's simple and uncluttered. They offer everything that Constant Contact does, including strict anti-spam policies, but they offer more features at a lower cost.
That said, Constant Contact and iContact are so similar that it doesn't really matter. If you feel more comfortable with Constant Contact, by all means spend a bit more and go with them. Either company will let you download your list of subscribers at any time, so you can always change your mind later.
November 06, 2008 update: still loving iContact and now they are in the #1 spot at Top Ten Reviews. If you want to try it free for 14 days, click here.
Well, no-one, but I also feel that someone who intends to be helping her clients damn well better know the pros and cons of each before she starts recommending one over the others. So I spent 4 hours today – that's right, four bloody hours that I will never get back, so listen up – scrutinizing the field for you, dear reader.
First stop, Top Ten Reviews, a site that makes it their business to regularly do much of the initial research. Love those guys. Their 2008 review reveals a more accurate view of each contender.
I was surprised to see that Constant Contact was more expensive and had less features than iContact. Constant Contact is easily the best known of them all, so hats off to their marketing department, because they've certainly convinced many that they're the best.
I use iContact.com. Aside from the price and efficiency, I like their interface. It's simple and uncluttered. They offer everything that Constant Contact does, including strict anti-spam policies, but they offer more features at a lower cost.
That said, Constant Contact and iContact are so similar that it doesn't really matter. If you feel more comfortable with Constant Contact, by all means spend a bit more and go with them. Either company will let you download your list of subscribers at any time, so you can always change your mind later.
November 06, 2008 update: still loving iContact and now they are in the #1 spot at Top Ten Reviews. If you want to try it free for 14 days, click here.
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