Creating Exceptional Marketing Tools for Exceptional Businesses

This is Virtual Impax....and I'm Kathy Hendershot-Hurd.

I've been hanging out under this domain name for more than a decade now, even though the Web Archive only has me from 2001. This used to be a "traditional" static HTML web site and over the course of the past decade has taken a lot of different forms.

At one point, I actually coded the site to keep the search engines out by hiding my navigation bar inside of a javascript. I also refused to post an XML site map. Google still hasn't forgiven me but my excuse is that I was busy enough with my practice and I didn't think I needed the 800 lb Search Gorilla defecating in my little corner of the web.

My mistake!

Why should you care? 

Well, one of the services I offer my client is the "I've been badly burned so you don't have to suffer the same fate."  It's included in each and every client consultation.  In other words, I've made mistakes over the past decade and my clients get the opportunity to learn from those mistakes without making those same mistakes themselves.

Over the course of a decade, I've done one or two things which were actually good for my business.  (Thank goodness... or I would have never made it this long!  I seemed to be VERY good at making mistakes in the beginning!)

One of the best things I ever did to promote my business was to write a book about the importance of niche marketing.  However, with this good act came a striking realization.... now I wanted my then 8 year old web site to be indexed. 

"Please Google, may I have another pile of 800 lb gorilla dung?  Over here, please!"  

Writing the book did more than give me a credibility piece.  By promoting the book, I discovered how absolutely incredible this whole blog thing can be!

Why should you care?

Promoting my own book is how I got "sold" on the whole blog as a web site.  I didn't jump on this band wagon because it's "fashionable" or "trendy" but rather, I jumped on this bandwagon because I've seen it in action and know that it works!

When I was getting ready to publish my book, I already had a traditional "static" HTML web site established called Find My Niche.   I had planned to use this site as a "set it and forget it" web site to promote my book.  In the beginning, I had a very "elitist" attitude regarding the blog... after all, blogs were for people who weren't able to write in html. 

It didn't take long for me to change my tune. 

Within a year, the blog was pulling 40X more the traffic than the static HTML site with a lot less effort.  A LOT LESS EFFORT!!!  I was writing articles and submitting them trying to build incoming links for the HTML site... meanwhile in comparison, growing the blog was positively effortless.

Why should you care? 

I've learned from personal experience that:

• There is no such thing as a successful "set it and forget it" web site.
• A blog is a heck of a lot easier to use than a traditional static HTML web site... and this is from someone who is FLUENT in HTML.
• A Wordpress blog with the right plug-ins can seem like marketing magic compared with traditional static websites!

One thing lead to another and eventually I converted this web site to a blog to join the 100+ blogs I was launching for clients.

Consider yourself warned: My "gift" seems to be translating geek into English.  Therefore, most of what is written here is written for people who are not web savvy and who want to learn more about the web.  If that describes you... then you're in the right place.

I'm also passionate about small business owners who are engaged in making Major Sales.  Major Sales by nature are defined by Neil Rackham of Spin Selling as being characterized by the following:

• There is more than one decision-maker
• The buyer’s financial and/or emotional investment is significant
• The purchasing decision warrants significant time and research into alternatives
• There is the potential for a long-term relationship between you and/or your business and the customer
• The consequences of making a purchasing mistake are high

If this sounds like the kind of sales your business is making... then read the following posts to learn more about the Major Sale:

• Is a Blog the Best Marketing Tool for Your Business
• Help!  My Blog's Not Working
• Helping Customers Make Better Decisions
• Do You Need more than a Virtual Brochure

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