thin air blog

What is Your Focus for 2012?
February 2, 2012

Whew!! Making it into 2012 might have been a chore for your business, but here we are now!
 
If you are like most small businesses or organizations, you have been brainstorming on what is going to be different about this year than the past.
 
Whether it is renewed marketing efforts, more efficiency, or just breaking out to a higher level of service, we are all looking for new competitive advantages.
 
We asked a few of our clients what they were going to do this year to expand their opportunities, and here are a few strategies we heard:
 
Todd Agnew, Craney Hill Kennel, decided his goal in 2012 is to increase revenues by adding online sales to his website. Todd anticipates this will increase his confirmed sales for training schools (Todd trains the most beautiful hunting dogs!), puppies for sale, their guided pheasant hunts, and Christina's beautiful photography! In addition, he is adding the Blog package so he'll easily manage all the articles he's been writing recently, creating social interaction with his customers and interested readers (and the search engines). 
 
Crossroads Fitness is developing a TV Kiosk webpage to run the Fitness Center's Events in the lobby of their two centers. Running as an extension of their website, this kiosk display will focus on informing members of class schedules for the day and week, and upcoming events.
 
The Car Barn, began 2012 with a new Mobile App for their used car business.  With more and more people doing their research on smartphones, Thin Air built the software tools that allow Car Barn staff to print window stickers with QR codes right on them! A full website, a mobile site, and backend management software for easy maintenance!
 
Where are you headed this year? Are you interested in some of these new ideas? We would love to hear from you - head on over to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/thinairweb  and share your stories and comments. Or call us up at 888.921.4335 and let us know how we can help you soar into 2012!

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Blog Post from Copyblogger
September 22, 2011

There is simple and very good information in this article for writing on the web:

http://www.copyblogger.com/5-common-mistakes-that-make-you-look-dumb/
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I am just not a writer.
August 3, 2011

HOW TO GET BETTER AT WRITING CONTENT


One of the most common responses we get from our clients is - "I don't know how to write the content for my website."

Granted, the written word comes easier to some than others, but with some basic rules almost anyone can write compelling content, and content is one of the three major factors in creating great websites.

Consider these seven rules that might help you:
  1. You know your business better than some hired gun. Yes, you might not have the flowery, market-y type of language to promote it, but no one KNOWS your business and products better than you. Start there. Develop the basic "elevator" language that you would tell someone in person about your products, and type that out. You can enhance the language after you get the basics down.
  2. Don't think you have to start at "the beginning." There is no rule in any writing circles that says you have to start at the beginning. Just start writing where you feel you are. After you get the first thoughts out, just keep putting things down and pretty soon you will start to see where the natural "beginning" of your content will be.
  3. Keep it brief. Really. Most website visitors spend mere SECONDS on a page to determine whether there is something valuable enough to delve into in the content. Use white space, bullet points and highlights to pull key messages out from the page to get the visitor's attention.
  4. Make it personal. Whether you are engaging your audience with social media, blogs, or your business products on your site, make your site visitors feel your presence by teaching them something - about your products, your philosophies, your way of doing things.
  5. Write great headlines! This is much harder than it sounds, but readers are drawn to read your content by what you label that content with - headlines obviously need to be relevant to the content, but can be provocative and fascinating also. Just check this out: The 4 Words That Will Get Your Email Opened. Bet you clicked on it!
  6. SEO is important. But in the correct way. Just using Keywords for the sake of getting words search engines might find, isn't just dishonest; it turns readers off to your site. Relevant keywords, in the genuine context of your website and business are going to get you the optimization that you want and need.
  7. Let someone else you trust read it and give you honest feedback. This is not your spouse, your employee, or your client - this should be someone who is your target audience, but connected enough to provide valuable evaluation and suggestions for improvement.
  8. And finally, continue to edit and rewrite your content. Don't let your site get stagnant by ignoring it indefinitely. If you are struggling to find the "write" message, call us to help! We have content writers who will help you define your style and find the right words.
Whatever you do, you can develop the message you need on the web to help market that and draw people to you - just takes a bit of practice, a willingness to take critical feedback, and in Nike's words, "Just do it!"
Posted by Alowetta, the non-geek here
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Website Redesign for Lynlake Chiropractic
April 26, 2011

A recent re-design of the website for Lynlake Chiropratic brought new features, including an increased integration of social media. The site demonstrates how rich content (lots of relevant information regarding services and issues around their particular genre) can improve your standings in search engine optimization (SEO).

Regular content updates, true keywords associated with your name and services, and a consistent broadening of your website depth and breadth, will extend your reach and relevence for both site users and search engines. It's a win/win!

One feature of the site is the very active Blog managed at this site. Using CompleteSite, this blog can be followed through an RSS Feed, and also resides as an integral part of the website. Lynlake Chiropractic posts items from their own staff, and also press-worthy items from other sources.

If that much content work is overwhelming to you, thin air has web copy writers available to assist you with creating content that will extend and improve your website. If you are looking for someone to just critique and edit your words, or help you create a new level of detailed content, our writers can help you.
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