8 Reasons Why WordPress is Better Than Contribute

Yesterday I send out an email newsletter about content management systems (CMS) for small business. I have already received a few emails from clients and subscribers who are interested in upgrading their static Web site to a CMS.

One client with a static site was using Contribute to update their site and wondered if a CMS offered any other benefits. This led to a discussion with my friend/co-worker Dave Cousins about the myriad of benefits  WordPress--a blogging/CMS platform we often use-has over Contribute. Other CMS platforms have similar benefits.

1. Contribute is $200 per copy. WordPress is free.
2. Contribute is $100 per upgrade. WordPress upgrades are free.
3. Contribute is for one computer. On the road? Working from home? You'll need to have your laptop with Contribute installed with you or you're out of luck. With WordPress you just need to log into your password-protected admin system from any modern browser and you're good to go. In fact, you can have multiple people updating the Web site and not have to buy multiple copies of any software.
4. It's easy to add pages in WordPress. Yes, you can add pages in Contribute, but it's a bear.
5. It's easy to update navigation in WordPress. Don't get me started on Contribute.
6. WordPress uses XHTML/CSS for fast-loading, bloat-free sites. Chances are if you're using Contribute, your site is a few years old and is ready for an upgrade.
7. Design revisions are less expensive with WordPress. Because of its extensive use of style sheets, a design update or even overhaul is significantly less labor intensive in WordPress. You only need to update the style sheets, not rebuild every page on the site.
8. WordPress is an online publishing platform, Contribute is an update tool. WordPress offers a site search, blogging capabilities, podcasting capabilities, RSS feeds, and unlimited plug-ins to enhance your Web site. Contribute allows you to fix typos and update your events page. In fact, it's really not fair to compare the two. But that didn't stop me.

I'm sure I'm leaving plenty of ideas out, so feel free to jump in. Or, if you think I'm wrong, let me know why Contribute trumps WordPress.

Rich Brooks
WordPress Web Sites for Small Business

What's the Best, Easiest CMS for Small Business?

If you read the subject line of this blog post and wondered, "what's CMS?" then this month's flyte log is for you.

CMS stands for Content Management System. It's a platform for building Web sites that lets you, the site owner ,take more control over your own site and therefore your business. You don't need to know any HTML or CSS, basic building blocks of the Web. You don't need to know any code. Your only responsibility is to continually create killer content that attracts and converts customers.

Over the past year flyte probably built more sites on CMS platforms than not. Our two main tools were open-source CMS solutions: Joomla and WordPress. There are plenty of other platforms out there as well, and I know a lot of people like Drupal which is another open-source CMS.

In our experience, Joomla is more powerful and more scalable, but has a steeper learning curve. It's great for bigger sites and member-driven Web sites. WordPress is easier to learn, is an excellent blogging platform, and no site is too small for WordPress.

CMS isn't just for new sites; you can convert your current, static site over to WordPress as well. In fact, we've taken static designs and created similar or identical templates for Joomla and WordPress, migrated the data to the new site, and trained small business owners on how to update their own sites.

To learn more about CMSs, check out this month's article, Content Management Systems: Time to Upgrade Your Web Site.

When you're ready to upgrade your own site, just let us know.

Rich Brooks
CMS for Small Business

Animoto - Slick Slide Shows for Small Biz

If your small business has some nice visuals (think scenic views, jewelry, art, beautiful people, etc., etc.,) and you've been looking for an interesting way to display it online, you might want to check out Animoto.

I first heard about Animoto in an article I read in Entrepreneur magazine last month and began playing around with it right away. It's addicting to say the least.

What Animoto does is create slick slide shows set to music with great transitions. While there is a free version, it just too limiting to be of any use to a business. By upgrading to a paid account you can have videos of any length, have DVD-quality images, upload your own music, and include a clickable call-to-action. (For example, a resort could end it's slide show with a "Book Your Room Now!" link to the reservations page on their site.)

Once you've established your account you can easily create a slide show by clicking on "create video" near the top of every page. After that it's a three-step process.

Images: You can upload images from your computer or another Web site like Flickr. Once they're on the Animoto site you can rearrange the order, add text, delete or even spotlight certain key photos. Once you're happy with the organization click continue.

Sound: You can choose from Animoto's royalty-free library that includes a number of genres such as hip-hop, classical, independent rock and more. You can also upload your own music, but be aware of any copyrights you might be infringing on. In other words, dropping that Zeppelin track on your slide show may get you a call from an attorney.

Once you've selected the appropriate music it's time to render your video.

Render: If you have the business account you'll be able to add a call-to-action button at the end of your video. You'll also be able to change the image pacing of your video (although just 1/2 speed or 2x speed) and choose a cover screen. Once that's done Animoto gets to work.

A few minutes later (or even a few hours, if there are a lot of photos), you'll get an email that your video is ready for viewing. This is a lower-res version. If you like what you see you can download a DVD-Quality version. If you'd like to have the Animoto engine try again you can "remix" your video.

You can choose one-click remix, which will just give you different transitions, or go back in and tweak the order of photos, text, and choose a different song.

For small businesses looking to break through the clutter and grab a visitor's attention, Animoto might be just what you need.

Below is the video I created for Portland Motor Club based on my trip to an open house they had a few weeks back.

If you can't see the movie here, check it out on YouTube. Keep in mind that the DVD-quality is somewhat diminished when rendered through YouTube's system.

Rich Brooks
One Day I'd Like to Direct

The Two Types of Readers of Your Blog

We work with a wide variety of entrepreneurs who are looking to grow their business on the Web. Because of this, blogs are a regular part of our Internet marketing arsenal. I like blogs because of their immediacy, interactivity, search engine friendliness, and how they can help establish entrepreneurs as the experts they are.

Because these small business owners cover a range of businesses, the strategies for each blog differs. One thing I recommend to all business bloggers is to remember and focus on the purpose of their blog. That brings us back to your blog's audience.

There are two types of readers at your blog: the subscribers and the searchers.

The subscribers are your regular readers, whether through an email subscription, an RSS feed, or just old-fashion tenacity, theyread almost every post you put up. Besides getting the benefit of your knowledge they probably also enjoy your writing style and what you have to say.

The searchers are people who have found a specific post through a search engine. They had a question, and Google or Yahoo has pointed them to one of your posts. They might become a subscriber, they may move on (having quenched their thirst for knowledge), or they may click over to your Web site to engage you in a conversation.

So which reader is better for you? Well, that depends on what you're selling. If you aren't especially a great writer I would probably focus more on the searchers. Write well-constructed, keyword-rich content that helps prospects and engages visitors. The blog doesn't need to be infused constantly with your own personality. Your product may not need that level of intimacy.

Photographers, artists, and other creative types may need to develop subscribers who will become repeat customers. Service professionals may try and attract both types of readers, mixing keyword-rich content with more personal posts.

The important thing to remember is that there are two types of readers at a blog and you need to determine which is best for your business...and go after them.

Rich Brooks
Small Business Blogger

Twelve Months of Web Marketing Articles from Flyte

It's December, that time of the year where we look back and regurgitate our content rather than create fresh content reflect on what we've said and done.

Like in years past, we've published 12 more issues of flyte log, our monthly Web marketing ezine. If you haven't read all of these posts odds are you aren't my mother (aka my editor.) Here's your chance to catch up:

• How Google Analytics Can Make You the Life of the Party 
• How I Increased My Email Signup Rate by 5,000%...and How You Can, Too
• Jumpstart Your Blog: A Business Blogging Workout Regimen
• Does Your Web Site Beat the Competition?
• A Web Marketing Tool with Great ROI
• How to Use Twitter for Business
• Keyword Placement for Maximum Results
• Beginner's Guide to Google Analytics
• Microblogging: The Future of Communications?
• Does Your Small Business Need a Social Media Strategy?
• Six Simple Steps to Generate Business from LinkedIn
• Facebook for Small Business and Entrepreneurs

Looking back on it, social media seems to be the topic of 2008, and I don't expect that to change in 2009. Small businesses will continue to look for low-cost, high-return methods of marketing, and a social media strategy will be the competitive advantage many of them are looking for.

What trends do you expect to see in 2009?

Rich Brooks
Seer

Half-Assed Book Review: Content Rich by Jon Wuebben

I consume a lot of data. I read a lot of work related books, listen to one or two audiobooks a month (usually business related), subscribe to about 2 or 3 weekly magazines and at least a dozen monthly magazines. I have a subscription to the Wall St. Journal both in print and online.

I also subscribe to a number of blog feeds, a few dozen eziens, listen to a couple different podcasts, follow hundreds of people on Twitter, and follow many of their links to new articles.

I enjoy reading business books, but I often don't follow them. I put them down somewhere in my house and then pick something else up. It's rare that I finish them. Even if I do, I generally don't talk or blog about them.

It's for this purpose that I'm starting a new--pardon the pun--chapter at the flyte blog: the Half-Assed Book Review. Basically, I'm going to start reviewing books (and perhaps audiobooks) as I get to the halfway point of the book. If I ever finish the book, I may come back and add on a comment of how it all turns out.

The first (but hopefully not last) entry to the Half-Assed Book Review is Jon Wuebben's Content Rich: Writing Your Way to Wealth on the Web.

Honestly, the title put me off a bit. I mean, who doesn't like a little alliteration in their subtitle, but the title seemed a bit spammy to me. Luckily, my first name was the biggest word on the cover, so I dove in.

I'm glad I did. Content Rich is an excellent book for any copywriter looking to make the jump to the Web or any business owner looking to drive more qualified traffic to his/her Web site.

I found myself dog-earing pages as I went along, making mental notes to check out some of the sites and tools Jon talks about in his book. I especially liked his "Content Rich Quotient" (CRQ, because we don't have enough TLAs (three letter acronyms,)) where he talks about the importantce of:

• Content Breadth Factor
• Social Media Optimization/Search Engine Optimization Balance
• Content Effectiveness Measurement and
• The Content "Clincher."

There's also good information on how to perform a keyword analysis, where to put your best keywords, where else you should be creating copy (article marketing, press releases and more.)

Jon's writing style is easy to follow (good thing for a copywriter), and by following his advice any small business owner should see an increase in qualified Web traffic and conversions at your site.

I'd strongly recommend this book for any search engine marketer, entrepreneur or copywriter. Heck, I might even go back and read the rest!

Rich Brooks
Half-Assed Book Reviewer

Use TweetDeck to Become a Twitter Power User

As you start getting more involved with Twitter, managing a large number of people whom you follow becomes a major problem. That's because as you follow more people, it becomes more difficult to pay attention to your favorite tweeple. (That's Twitter-speak for people.)

However, there's a great 3rd party application called TweetDeck that allows you to create smaller groups of people. By creating these subgroups of people you can make sure you don't miss the tweets of your favorite tweeple.

For example, I've created one group called "Core" which includes industry leaders, friends, and other people who have continually helpful or clever tweets. I have another group called "Mainers" where I track the tweets of interesting people near our offices in Portland, Maine.

To learn more about how to use TweetDeck check out the video below, or watch TweetDeck & Twitter: Better Manage Your Tweeple at YouTube.

TweetDeck is free to try, but if you like it, please make a donation at TweetDeck.com. Thanks!

Follow Rich Brooks on Twitter!

Rich Brooks
Maine Tweeter

LinkedIn for Small Business and Entrepreneurs

This month's flyte log has arrived and the subject is Six Simple Steps for Getting Business from LinkedIn.

Although I've had a LinkedIn account for a few years, I really didn't use it much except when someone I knew found me and asked me to join their network. More recently my activity picked up as LinkedIn added features like Answers and Groups, and this past week LinkedIn added a bunch of Applications to further enhance their services.

If you've been passive in your LinkedIn usage lately, or don't have an account at all, it may be time to revisit LinkedIn. Start by reading Six Simple Steps for Getting Business from LinkedIn.

I also was interviewed late last week by Dan Schawbel of the Personal Branding Blog in a post called It's Time for You to Become a Master Brand Using LinkedIn.

Rich Brooks
The Missing LinkedIn

Web Marketing Course for Entrepreneurs and Small Business

I can't believe that we're just one week away from the first class of Web Marketing for Entrepreneurs and Small Business over at the University of Southern Maine.

Well, actually I can, as I spent most of yesterday afternoon updating and revamping the search engine optimization content for the class. And I've blocked out plenty of hours this week to review the rest of my content and build out the social media component. But the "I can't believe" part stresses the fact that it's only a week away, and if you were planning on coming you've got to get a move on.

Who should go? Well, you should be in driving distance of Portland, Maine. (Yes, one of these days I'll create an online version, but not today.) Assuming that you can get to the campus, this course is geared to small business owners, marketers and entrepreneurs who are looking to build a Web presence to grow their business.

Topics will include search engine visibility (how do you out rank your competition,) email marketing, business blogs, social media, e-commerce, and building a Web site that will convert prospects into customers.

The course is held over four Monday nights, 11/10/2008 - 12/1/2008, from 6pm - 8pm at the Abromson Center on the campus of the University of Southern Maine (directions.) The cost is $205, but you need to pre-register for the class, so...

Register Now!

We'll be spending class time reviewing students' current Web sites (when applicable) and making on the spot recommendations to help you rank higher, drive more qualified leads to your site, and convert more prospects into customers. So what are you waiting for?

Register Now!

Rich Brooks
Oh Captain, Your Captain

Getting More Out of LinkedIn with Groups

LinkedIn is a popular social networking site. It's probably the most well-established, business-friendly of the social media Web sites out there. It's been described as "Facebook in khaki" because of its business-casual, mild-mannered design. There's little you can do to pimp out your page; LinkedIn is first and foremost a networking platform.

I first joined LinkedIn years ago, setting up a profile and finding friends and colleagues to link up with. After that, I didn't do much outside of accept (or decline) someone's heart felt request of:

I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.

- Your ex-employee / One-time vendor / College dormmate / Random Dude

You had me at "I'd like."

However, I find I'm spending a bit more time there as more tools have been rolled out. None of these are game changing; in fact, they're pretty derivative of other social media sites. But if your peers are on LinkedIn and unlikely to be found at MySpace or Facebook, these new features up the interaction quotient quite a bit.

A while back, LinkedIn created Answers, where people could ask or answer public questions, establishing expertise and networking all the while. Now LinkedIn has Groups, where you can join or create a group. A group could be alumni of your alma mater, a local networking group, or even people of a particular religious or political persuasion. Like the basic membership at LinkedIn, there's no charge to join or create a group.

Groups come with some nice features. Groups can enable discussion boards or post news articles for discussion. Hmmm...actually that kind of sounds like the same thing except the latter comes with an upload feature.

Sending an email blast to the group isn't as easy as it could be. LinkedIn seems to have made a decision to disallow a bulk email to go out to group members. Instead you can initiate a discussion through the discussion forum, or download the csv list of members and email them through your own email program.

Despite the lack of better email tools and the small feature list, I like the use of groups because you can have a more intimate conversation within a group of people who share an interest or a zip code. These type of conversations tend to be more rewarding.

If you haven't been active at LinkedIn for a while, you might want to check out the groups section.

Rich Brooks
Find Me On LinkedIn