The last 4 weeks have been an interesting convergence of events…

I had several sites hacked… repeatedly.

I had to have one of my computer’s reformatted and a new Operating System installed.

I had the databases for a couple of sites crash (who knows why!).

I am still waiting to see the final outcome with one of my problem sites.

While living thru the whole process I have learned a LOT and I am in the midst of implementing changes based on those lessons.

Here are some of my hard earned but valuable lessons…

I am VERY happy with the advice and help from my computer support guys. An enthusiastic shoutout here to Freddie and Maria at Kentucky Trade!

I am happy with the timely help and respectful communication from my hosting company. HostGator Rocks! Thanks, guys!!!!

It is much less stressful to face potential disaster while saying *Gee, I am glad I…* rather than saying *Oops! I am sorry I didn’t…*

After spending so much time and effort writing my Survival Course, *Disaster-proof Your Online Business*, I am happy to be able to say, *Do as I DO*.

One of my dearest online friends took the time to help me evaluate the process and my actions and grade my strategies. I was pretty happy with the results.

The bottom line is… bad things will happen to your online business. Do the best you can to prepare for them, and accept that you can’t anticipate everything.

Having the various elements of my sites backed up on a regular basis was a god-send. It is much less stressful to contact the Support Desk at your hosting and be able to tell them that you have full backups available if they need them. (I am happy to say that the fates were with me and my backups were not necessary, BUT the important thing is… I had them available in a worst case scenario).

Do keep your information available in multiple media formats, when applicable. I talk about this in depth in *Disaster-Proof* and I provide both text file templates and spreadsheet templates. Over the last 4 weeks, there were many times when I found myself using BOTH formats.

Since the people who know me best sometimes accuse me of being overprepared, I will admit to wondering a couple of times if I was going overboard. I am now happy to say… No, I wasn’t! LOL

As I said at the beginning, I am still evaluating the process, so look for one or two more posts sharing my experiences.

Sharing the road to success,

Tink

WordPress has come a long way in the last couple of years.  One of the improvements I like best is the ease with which you can now add images to a blog post.  Now that it is so easy, there is almost no excuse to not add an image for every post… provided you have an appropriate one available!  Needless to say, most of my business posts aren’t going to have pretty pictures!

On the other hand, I do have posts where images would be appropriate, such as when I write about my vintage cookbooks.  It’s now very easy to add an image of the cookbook cover.  What would be even nicer, would be to be able to pretty up those images.  However, there hasn’t been an easy way to do that, until now…

Thomas is one of my favorite online friends. Part of it is the fact the he has a graphic design degree AND a programming degree… which make for an unlikely, but powerful combination.

His most recent project is a handy dandy little program the makes it VERY easy to dress up web graphics.

Called Tiger Web Graphics, this program allows you to import a web ready image and — in just a few mouse clicks — give it rounded corners, or make it look like a film strip, or a polaroid, or give it the serrated edge of a postage stamp.

It will also manipulate the image to give it perspective, add a reflection, or give it a drop shadow…

I use CorelDraw and CorelPhotoPaint for most of my work, simply because I need the powerful options that these programs offer, but, truth be told, I have only taken the time to learn what I need to do for the technical drawing and other applications I need.  I know that they will do many other wonderful things… but I simply can’t justify the time needed to learn how to do those things.

But now I don’t need to learn to do a lot of them!  Thomas has done the work for me!

One of the other reasons I like Thomas so much is because he understands the importance of providing good reference materials.  Tiger Web Graphics comes with an excellent 45 page PDF help file, explaining what you need to know to get started immediately.

Here is a link to check out the sales page.  Amazingly enough, this wonderful program is only $14.95!

Tiger Web Graphics

Let me be clear… this software is NOT designed to be photo editing software.  You need to start with an image that is already the proper size and has been prepared for the Web.  However, if you have that, you can add these wonderful effects in seconds.

If you look below, I took screenshots showing the three steps needed to access the help file. I played a little bit and added a different effect to each of the three images.

Tiger Web Graphics is a very powerful tool at a very small price!  I think you owe it to yourself to check out.

Thomas was kind enough to offer a 100% affiliate program for this software.  That means if you use my affiliate link, I get the money! This means that the PayPal payment is made directly to me, so don’t be confused when you see my name on the payment screen!

My affiliate link

I do realize that there are people online who prefer not to use affiliate links, but this program is so wonderful I don’t want to leave them out of the loop, so here is a a non-affiliate link.

Non-affiliate link

Which ever link you use, I think you will find this a very handy program.

Here are the images showing how to access the Help File:

Step 1 - Open the program and click on the Graphic Icon

Step 2 - Double click on the Miscellaneous Tab

Step 3 - Doubleclick on the Help Icon and the Help Manual PDF will open

Let me take a moment to add that Tiger Web Graphics would work great for Business Bloggers, (it’s not just for hobby bloggers)  and the images can actually be used on any web site. In fact, I plan to use them to add interest to the images in my next Survival Guide!

Sharing the Road to Success!

Tink

The only limit to marketing a business online is your imagination…

I LOVE to read ebooks and one of my favorite ebook stores has implemented a fun, and interesting marketing campaign for the Holiday season. Here is the link to the page that explains it:

http://allromanceebooks.com/contest.html

As you can see, this method not only provokes the interest of the ebookstore’s customers, it also drive NEW traffic to the site… and online, it is *All About the Traffic!*

Now, if you’ll excuse me… I am going to particiapte in the contest! *VeryBigGrin*

*********************

Dear Santa,

I have been a very good girl this year. What do I want for the holidays? An iPhone/iTouch so that I can use Stanza to read all the romance I need from all the publishers I love that I buy at All Romance eBooks. You see, Santa, I deserve the iPhone/iTouch because…

It is time I FINALLY, REALLY, TRULY entered the 21st century! And goodness knows, I might want to read all of your marvelous books on something other than my laptop!

Happy Holidays,

Tink

What’s new this week at SurviveAndConquerCoaching.com:

http://surviveandconquercoaching.com

Check out the December Special Offers page. I am offering a Monthly Special for December 2008. It is Disaster-proof your Online Business and is heavily discounted. Start the New Year right, by taking charge and protecting your Online Business!

In addition to the Monthly Special, I am offering a different Special each week. This week it is  Survival Guide to Email Marketing the RIGHT Way! I consider this one of the most important issues facing offline Businesses, as well as one of the least understood. NOTE: Do NOT buy this if you are taking the class at TNNA in January!

This week’s Cheat Sheet is a new CORE Cheat Sheet:*What are Local Search and Local SEO? – PART 1*

If you haven’t already done so, check out the latest Short Report: Are You Maximizing Your Web Shop’s Search Options? While its focus is on online Shops, if you have a wholesale site or showcase site, this WILL apply to your site!

And, last but not least… Tactic # 10 has been added to the series on List Building called List Building Tactics and Tactic #9 has been removed from the BASIC Level Membership. There are 24 Tactics in this series.

If you are using WordPress for ANY type of site, the new Survival Course – Create an Effective Web Site YOU can Operate Yourself (even if you know NOTHING about the Internet) is a worthwhile read. It is available in Web Page format as part of Academy – Basic or as a PDF download.

All of these great resources can be found at:

http://surviveandconquercoaching.com

Sharing the Road to Success

Tink

What’s new this week at SurviveAndConquerCoaching.com:

Tactic # 8 has been added to the series on List Building called List Building Tactics and Tactic #7 has been removed from the BASIC Level Membership. There are 24 Tactics in this series.

This week’s Cheat Sheet is *Understanding Online Search and the Differences between External and Internal Searches* It will be available to BASIC members for just a week.

I am introducing a new Short Report this week: Are You Maximizing Your Web Shop’s Search Options?
While its focus is on online Shops, if you have a wholesale site or showcase site, this WILL apply to your site!

Here is a list of the Resources currently available for PREMIER Members. Have YOU downloaded your copies yet?

Cheat Sheets (13)
CORE Cheat Sheets (4)
FREE Special Reports (2)
List Building Tactics (8)
Short Reports (3)
Software (3)
Special Update (1)
Survival Course (2)
Survival Guides (1)
WordPress Resources (5)
Videos (4)

Don’t forget to download the October 2008 WordPress Plugin report, while it is available.

Removed from BASIC Level: *Short Report – The Offline Business Owner’s Guide to Making the MOST of Local Portals & Directories!*. It is 11 pages with 10 question you should be asking about your Portal and Directory opportunities. There are more and more of these coming online, and they represent excellent marketing opportunities… IF you know the right questions to ask.

Just a reminder, if you are using WordPress for ANY type of site, the new Survival Course – Create an Effective Web Site YOU can Operate Yourself (even if you know NOTHING about the Internet) is a worthwhile read. It is available in Web Page format as part of Academy – Basic or as a PDF download.

http://surviveandconquercoaching.com

And… last but not least, check out the NEW Special Offers page! For a limited time, get

Survival Guide to Search, Search Engines, and Web Site Statistics

at a GREAT PRICE! You’ll have to join, but BASIC Level membership is free!

Sharing the Road to Success

Tink

I am addicted to purchasing downloadable ebooks. I LOVE the instant gratification and the variety of stories that are not avaiable in print…

I want to take a moment to share an experience that I just had with one of my reliable publishers… and a wonderful marketing opportunity that could become a negative experience for their customers.

I don’t plan to name any names here or point any fingers of blame, this is simply a learning moment!

I logged on to the site and on the home page there was a new message in red. It said:

If you are entitled to a FREE Download from XXXXX Ebooks in celebration of our second birthday just log into your account and begin browsing. You’ll find a FREE DOWNLOAD button on every book detail page. To select a specific title click on the button and the book will instantaneously pop into your library. This is a limited time offer set to expire soon so don’t delay. Thank you for shopping at XXXXX Ebooks!

This is a wonderful gesture, but in my case, for a variety of reasons, it went sadly wrong.

First off, I will admit, I just glanced at the note as I was clicking on the new title directly below the message. I got to the new title and there was a Free Download link, as mentioned. Without thinking, and before reading the book synopsis, I clicked on the Free Download button.

Without waiting to see what happened, I back up to their home page and read the message, carefully and completely this time…

I was excited because just this AM I had saved a link to one of their books that I wanted… It was the first of a series so I was thinking that I would use the Free Download for the first book and then purchase the second book.

I signed into my account only to discover that I seemed to have inadvertently *purchased* that initial book… which I wasn’t interested in and which wasn’t even available in the book format that I prefer…

Rats! I totally wasted their generous gift!

So… here is how I see the problem…

Clearly, I am at fault for not reading the announcement and for clicking on the button for a book I didn’t want.

However, I think that the publisher could have minimized the possibility of this outcome in several ways:

1) By placing the FREE DOWNLOAD announcement on the page so that it stood out more clearly, rather than including it in the main info text and just changing the color.

Put it in a colored box, with a headline about it, such as *FREE DOWNLOAD for Qualified Customers*.

2) Explain in greater detail how the process works.

A Bulleted list of step by step instructions would have been nice. I am pretty experienced and I managed to mess it up. I am sure that they have a respectable number of customers who are less experienced than I am.

3) Give a clear warning NOT to click on the button until a decision has been made.

4) Consider adding a second step in the process so that the reader can back out of the *Free Download* purchase, during the process… better to have a two step process than a lot of unhappy folks ending up with the WRONG book! LOL

I think of myself as fairly web savvy and yet I managed to totally screw up the process. ;-(

I am frustrated about the experience, which is a shame since that was not the purpose behind such a gracious and generous gift…

So, my suggestion about using a marketing strategy such as this… try to plan for the lowest common denominator and design the process to be a successful one for that segment.

In my case, it was a combination of not paying attention combined with a moment of extreme blondness.

I pride myself on being fair so I am berating myself, not the publisher.

I am also working on the whole *making lemonade* approach and turning this into a learning moment for other businesses, hoping to keep what would seem to be an unstoppable marketing promotion from turning into a negative experience for your web site visitors.

Sharing the road to success,
Tink

The focus of my membership site, SurviveAndConquerCoaching, is to help offline businesses move online. This can be frightening and overwhelming… just one more problem to address in a busy work day. My goal is to provide the resources to minimize the stress, avoid the mistakes, and achieve an easy transition.

I wanted to share a recent email I got from a SurviveAndConquerCoaching member:

Subject: just took lesson 1 for Strategies for Online Retail Success!

I signed up for your basic level membership when you first talked about this on the quiltdesigners list… then it was ‘later’, ‘I dont have time right now’, etc.  I really wish I had MADE the time from the beginning.

You have really opened my eyes, just in the first lesson!  I just wanted to thank you for starting this up!  As soon as I have the funds available I’ll be upgrading.

Thanks Tink!!

Angela R McIntyre

Laughing Cat Designs Etc.!

**************************

NOW! On to what’s new this week at SurviveAndConquerCoaching.com:

Tactic # 7 has been added to the series on List Building called List Building Tactics and Tactic # 6 has been removed from the BASIC Level Membership. There are 24 Tactics in this series.

This week’s Cheat Sheet is *Why Blog?* It will be available to BASIC members for just a week.

A NEW Video Tutorial has been added to the BASIC-Video Vault. It explains *How to Create a PDF file Using Free Software*. It will be available to BASIC Level members for about a  week.

Don’t forget to download the October 2008 WordPress Plugin Report, while it is available.

If you haven’t downloaded the newest Short Report – The Offline Business Owner’s Guide to Making the MOST of Local Portals & Directories! — grab it now! It is 11 pages with 10 question you should be asking about your Portal and Directory opportunities. There are more and more of these coming online, and they represent excellent marketing opportunities… IF you know the right questions to ask.

Just a reminder, if you are using WordPress for ANY type of site, the new Survival Course – Create an Effective Web Site YOU can Operate Yourself (even if you know NOTHING about the Internet) is a worthwhile read. It is available in Web Page format as part of Academy – Basic or as a PDF download.

http://surviveandconquercoaching.com

Sharing the Road to Success

Tink

I have recently been indulging in my love of reading by purchasing ebooks online. I have discovered a LOT of publishers and I have been enjoying the books – although I will admit that the writing skills are often uncertain.

As I have made my purchases from a variety of Publishers and their varied shopping carts, I have created my personal wish list for what I look for in an online buying experience.

Here is a brief excerpt:

• Have a Wish List option that allows me to choose an item and return at a later date to purchase it.

I would prefer that it NOT be kept in the Shopping Cart.

I would also like to be able to click on the item to see its detailed description so that I can refresh my memory and review my choice.

• Allow me to return to my current search page after I look at an item's detail page and I have added it to my shopping cart.

It is annoying to have to recreate the search each time.

• Let the Shopping Cart keep my items even if I have to leave unexpected before finishing the purchase.

Things happen.

We are all busy and interruptions are a given.

If I have to *recreate * my purchase, rest assured… I am unlikely  to bother… and you have lost a sale.

I could continue, but it is late and I am sure that you have gotten the point! LOL

As you surf the web and interact with web sites, watch your own reactions and patterns.

I am sure that it will offer insight into how YOU can improve your site and its online buying experience.

Sharing the Road to Success!

Tink

Here is an extremely interesting article about how online ordering has affected Pizza sales.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/biztech/05/08/papa.johns.ap/index.html

I don’t eat (or order) pizza so I was completely unaware of this.

Anyway, it is easy for us to dismiss the internet when it comes to our offline businesses, especially with businesses such as restaurants. Here is proof of what a mistake that can be, and the money that will be left on the table!

I found Domino’s twist of *Pizza Tracking* extremely interesting, especially the fact that you are told the delivery person’s first name. What an effective way to take advantage of the *Internet as a Personality Driven Communications Medium*, something I have been preaching for years! LOL

Sharing the Road to Success!

Tink