WordCamp Raleigh 2013 presentation covering best practices for developing Small Business websites. This "User" track presentation describes the 5 Key Components of a Small Business Website, along with guidance on selecting themes and plugins, and performing WordPress installations and content updates.

1. Ray Mitchell
@SixFourWeb
WordCamp Raleigh 2013

2. About Me
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Designer/Developer/Consultant at
SixFour Web Design
SixFour Web Design specializes in
helping Small Businesses and
Non-Profits maximize their Web
Presence
We Believe “Even Small Businesses
Deserve a Nice Website”

3. Why Mind Your Own Business (website)?

It's not that difficult to do if you're willing to be hands-on
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You can make changes quickly when needed
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You can manage your development and maintenance
costs...but, don't fall into the trap of working on your
website instead of working on your business
WordPress brings web publishing to the masses and
empowers people all over the world to get their messages
out.

4. So, Why Do You Want a Website?
?

5. So, Why Do You Want a Website?

Demonstrate Expertise?

Educate or Entertain?

Generate Leads?
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Sell Something?

Substitute for Bricks and Mortar?

6. The Real Reason To Have a Website
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Your website should answer your site visitor's questions,
and help them decide whether your business will meet
their needs.
Your website's design and content will help them make
that decision.
Don't help them choose your competition.

7. 5 Key Components of a Business Website

HOME – “Am I in the right place?”
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ABOUT PAGE – “Are you right for me?”
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PRODUCTS & SERVICES – “Do they have what I need?”
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TESTIMONIALS & SOCIAL PROOF – “Can I trust what
they say?”
CONTACT INFO - “How do I get in touch with them?”

8. HOME

Your HOME page should give visitors a good
understanding of what you do?
“OurCo provides emergency Heating and Cooling Repairs
in Wake County”
“We Repair Cracked iPhones and iPads”
“With our new system, your child will learn to read in a weekend”
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What does the use of photos, or lack of photos say about
your site?
Site visitors will judge a book by it's cover. Is your site “Big
City Slick” or “Down-Home Country”?

9. What Does This Home Page Say?

10. Or, This One?

11. Or, This One?

12. ABOUT

Other than your mother, who cares about your company?

13. ABOUT

Other than your mother, who cares about your company?
NOBODY!

Your ABOUT page is where prospective customers go to
try to form a connection. The about page is not about your
business, but what your business can do for them.

14. PRODUCTS & SERVICES
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Here's the place to show your wares.
Provide customers with enough information to make a
decision.
Where appropriate, use quality images and video that
highlight your products.
Good copy will help entice your customers to take action.

15. Testimonials, Endorsements & Social Proof
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Until your brand is well known, use testimonials and case
studies to demonstrate expertise and credibility.
Display meaningful credentials and endorsments –
professional association badges, chamber of commerce
logos, etc.
Your social media efforts can be leveraged too (Facebook
Likes and Facepile, Google +1's, social shares, etc.)

16. CONTACT PAGE
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Let your customer know where, when
and how to get in touch with you.
Be sure to include phone numbers,
business hours and physical or mailing
addresses as appropriate.
Make it easy for customers to find your
location by embedding a map. Google
makes it easy
Using a contact form will allow you to
receive emails with directly giving out
your address.

17. Getting Set Up
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Websites are like Recreational Vehicles
With most hosting companies, WordPress can be installed
automatically.

18. Getting Set Up
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Manual installations aren't difficult and can be more
secure.
Installation files can be uploaded using a free FTP/SFTP
program like Filezilla, or your hosts File Manager.
Basic edits can be made using a text editor like Notepad
The Codex is your friend. Full instructions for installation
can be found at
http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress

19. Selecting Your Theme
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Your theme should reflect your business' character.
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Look for features that are relevant to your business
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Bootleg themes aren't worth the hassle. Use one of the
2,140 free themes in the WordPress Themes Directory, or
purchase a theme from a reputable vendor.
Not sure which theme companies are reputable? Ask.

20. Blog vs. Website
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While WordPress started as a blogging platform, it's
commonly used as the basis for many of the Internet's
most popular websites
Your website's homepage can either be “dynamic” or
“static”
You can adjust the front page
display in the Reading
Settings area

21. Adding Content: Copy & Photos
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Adding copy to your site is easy. Create your copy in
Microsoft Word or Notepad, and paste it into the Post
Editor. Look for the clipboard icons.

22. Adding Content: Copy & Photos
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Photos add interest to your website
Avoid lawsuits. Use royalty-free stock photos or your own
images. Attribute photos as required
Optimize photos before uploading them to help your site
load quickly. Use a photo editing program, such as Pixlr, to
size them appropriately

23. Capturing Leads and Building Your List
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Stay in touch with site visitors by obtaining their contact
information.
Offer downloadable information such as White Papers,
Special Reports, or Coupons in exchange for their email
address
Capture their information using an Opt-in form provided by
your email marketing vendor
CHEAPSKATE POWER TIP: Get started using
MailChimp. You can build a list of up to 2,000 subscribers
and send 12,000 emails per month for FREE!

24. Secure Your Site
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Don't risk your business by not protecting your website.

B
Backup Strategy
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A
Avoid Unnecessary and Unauthorized Access
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N
Never Take Candy – or Themes From Strangers
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K
Keep WordPress and Plugins Updated

25. Shameless Pandering
This is time in the presentation where I pause to let you send
the following tweet to your followers:
Ray Mitchell, @sixfourweb taught me
how to Mind My Own Business (website) at #wcraleigh
We now return to our regularly scheduled presentation

26. Enhance Your Website With Plugins
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Contact Form 7 and
Contact Form 7 HoneyPot
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Google XML Sitemaps
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JetPack
WordFence
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All in One SEO*
Google Authenticator
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Floating Social Bar
GravityForms**
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Backup Buddy**
PhotoDropper
* Free and Paid Versions
** Paid Versions Only

27. Thanks!
Ray Mitchell
@sixfourweb
plus.google.com/+RayMitchell
linkedin.com/in/raymundmitchell
www.SixFourWeb.com