May 2008

Secondly we talked about the decentralized web and making sure your content gets the visibility it deserves through RSS (Really Simple Syndication) which lets you tap into a wealth of opportunity by offering your readers the ability to subscribe to your feed and receive regularly updated content automatically.

In addition I said your site had to be search engine and users friendly. Search engine and users friendly is as much a step back as a step forward; it means returning to the earliest ethics of the web while adhering to a few basic principles.

For example, the navigation should be easily decipherable establishing an easy to follow hierarchical layout. Meaning that there has to be a specific order of precedence among each individual element. Consequently that same order must be constant following that same pattern through every page.

Also we talked about what in my opinion, is the most important aspects of Web 2.0 and that is interactivity and collaboration. Why? Because nobody likes to be on the receiving end of a one-way conversation, good communication is a two way street. Similarly whether you are an internet entrepreneur selling a product, a small business owner providing a service or just a publisher of information you want to be sure to get your point across.

The best way to get your point across is by getting to know your audience. How? By providing some interaction or means of communication in other words, open a dialog. Consequently this type of feedback is invaluable in determining not so much what you want to say but rather, what your audience wants to hear. And hence enabling you to better market your brand and make the right decisions concerning your business.

Now that we’ve talked about some of the fundamental features of Web 2.0 let’s talk a little bit about how you can create or implement your very own web 2.0 ready site. One way to add all of the Web 2.0 elements I just mentioned instantly is to use a blogging platform to run your site.

Generally speaking, a blog is just a website usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or whatever the case may be. Moreover if you have been surfing the Internet for any length of time, then chances are you’ve read many blog posts whether you realize it or not. Even if you don’t think of your site as a blog, or maybe you just don’t feel your brand constitutes the bases for a blog or doesn’t fall under that heading; think of it as a Content Management System.

My personal favorite blogging platform or blogging software is WordPress. WordPress is both free and priceless all at the same time and you can download the latest version of WordPress (Version 2.5.1) right here http://wordpress.org/download/

Basically WordPress is what my site is run off of, likewise it is what I recommend my customers to use whenever they want a website that is search engine friendly, easy to use, interactive and relatively simple to customize.

The reason why is WordPress has a very easy to use administrative back-end that allows you update your site regularly; you just login and its almost like sending an email or using Microsoft Word you just hit publish and whoomp there it is! As apposed to having to learn some programming language or worse having to hire a web master again, and again even for the smallest modification.

Typically, WordPress is organized in reverse chronological order - that is, the newest, freshest content is presented first. Similarly all the content is linked and fitly joined together with a unique web address so that people can bookmark or link to any page and so the search engine can easily index each individual page.

In addition WordPress is instantly interactive because at the bottom of every post there is a comment box where people can talk to you and you can reply back to them and that opens up that line of communication or medium that as I’ve already mentioned it’s so important for getting that feedback.

Besides that, every time you add a post WordPress automatically notifies all of major directories (see Technorati, Bloglines, or any other feed-based aggregator) or at least most of them, likewise WordPress also automatically notifies anybody that is coming to you via their preferred feed aggregator.

So there you have it, all of the characteristics of Web 2.0 I just talked about and many more are made available by using WordPress and best of all its totally free. The last thing I want to mention also is to do with customizing your WordPress template commonly know as themes.

A huge factor weighing heavily on whether or not people who visits your site will remain there for any reasonable amount of time, or whether or not they may decide to make other return visits to your site depends upon the esthetic characteristics of your design or over all look and feel of the site.

To clarify this concept further, think of this comparison. Generally speaking, a person who wears clothes that fit properly, are clean and wrinkle free is said to be a well-dressed individual. Moreover their appearance may make us feel or act more comfortable or amicable towards then some might even see this as a clear indication of someone who is apt to be more fun to hang around with. Similarly, a website that has a neat and friendly surrounding environment will be more likely to retain its visitor.

WordPress templates
A WordPress template theme is a skin (theme or template) for this popular blogging platform – if you are not already a professional web designer I suggest you invest a little money on one of these. The cool thing about WordPress templates is that a professional web designer using the latest technology designs them.

In other words, as you can see here, people who have a real passion for and really understand typography, white space, layout things like that do all of the labor; skills you could only wish to achieve after years of practice as a graphic designer and or developer.

Be that as it may, don’t be misled – Yes WordPress templates are great for your site, nonetheless also for your competitors’ sites that bought the same template you did! On that note, I entreat you to consider the benefits of having professional template customization.

Our template customization are only $380 a pop, and they’ll allow you change the templates color scheme, font style, add your own logo and if need be, we will even installing WordPress on the server for you. What is more, we will customize any theme to fit your individual business needs.

The result is a unique interactive website that works intuitively to help your customers find everything they need (read more about our template customization process).

In the upcoming months I will introduce you to WordPress plugins and show you how to install then on your blog, we’ll definitely talk about the sites new redesign, give you more tips on customizing your template and I’ll also show you ways to start monetizing your blog.

Resources:
How to Analyze, Optimize, Publicize, Monetize and Troubleshotize the Ideal Web 2.0 Site in a Nutshell.
Is Your Site Search Engine and Users Friendly?
How Can Interactivity Increase Conversions & Make You Money?
Essential Web2.0 Skills

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Whenever we talk to a prospective template customization client we pretty much always get asked some of the same questions such as what do I need to do next, how much for just a basic website or how long does it take?

Thus we decided to create a basic summary of answers to all of the most commonly asked questions. Nevertheless if you have any additional questions please feel free to use the comments form below and we’ll get back to you.

1. How much for just a basic website? - You can get just a basic website off of anyone of our templates for $380 that includes the following… Adding your logo, changing all links (commonly known as buttons), adding a contact form, and up to 5 whole pages of content.

2. What is the process? - Start by choosing a template. Once your selection is made, contact us with some
general information (e.g. some suggested color schemes, colors to avoid, styles or websites that you likes,). Then at your convenience we can contact you to review your projects objective, answer your pre-sales questions, and provides you with a customization quote.

3. What if I didn’t by my template here do you work on other people’s templates? - Yeah, duh! We can customize any template weather it be ours or not. In addition template customization is always delivered on time and we make sure that you have the most standards compliant web sites possible.

4. Can I see some examples of the sites you’ve done? - Absolutely! We encourage you to take a moment of your time to look through some of our template customization samples this will really help you see some neat ideas and creative solutions we bring to the templates we customize.

5. Do I have to pay before or after the work is done? - Since our company is offering non-tangible irrevocable goods a 50% deposit is required on all work orders over $1000. On work orders below $1000 full payment is due upon agreement. We only make exceptions with this rule on a case-by-case basis in agreement of the parties concerned. The price for the order will include the template price along with customization.

6. How do I pay for services? - Currently we are able to accept Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover, PayPal Buyer Credit, Instant Transfer and eCheck through PayPal recipients email used to send money is newaccounts@foamers.net. Exceptions may be granted only to domestic customers.

7. Do you only do templates? - What shu talking about willis? The short answer is yes; ready built template customization is our primary focus. Nevertheless we do take on a number of custom design jobs every year as well as offer general site updates and maintenance services.

8. How long does it take to receive the product? - Turn-Around time is determined and submitted for your approval prior agreement of services. Notwithstanding, sense you may opt to make revisions to your original service request at any time this could also postpone the initial estimated Turn-Around time. So, on that note we strongly urge you to give all your information to your designer at once. This will avoid redundant correspondence, confusion, and multiple edits.

9. How do I learn about the status of the customization work? - Once you have placed your order, we are in constant contact with you until the end of the project. Moreover through the use of e-mail, instant messenger software, and FTP programs, to transport data from one location to another, you will be able to check current stage of your order, chat live with a project consultant and even forward personal files required for customization.

10. What if I want to change something? - No! Just kidding, of course you may. You may opt to make revisions to your original service request with up to three rounds of changes at any time during the course of the project. Notwithstanding additional alteration might postpone initial estimated Turn-Around time. On that note we strongly urge you to give all your information to your designer at once. This will avoid redundant correspondence, confusion, and multiple edits.

11. Do you ‘bundle’ your services or offer ‘un-bundled’ services? - Yes we do. Typically minor revision request made after the completion of the original customization request are considered to be new and as such would be itemized and billed individually. Notwithstanding we also offer a number of packages designed to handle customizations on up to 5 pages of content at a really terrific value. For more on that read our templates customizations page.

12. How do I contact foamers.net? - Should you wish to contact us you may do so at anytime just simply hop on over to the contact form and tell us what you think.

If you have any additional questions feel free to use the comments form below and we’ll be happy to provide you with answers and ad them to this Q&A.

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