Website Design for Startups and Small Business, Cincinnati Ohio | Lexographix.com http://lexographix.com Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:53:22 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Why I Build Startup Websites on WordPress http://lexographix.com/wordpress-startup-websites http://lexographix.com/wordpress-startup-websites#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:52:37 +0000 Alex http://lexographix.com/?p=502 I am a WordPress Evangelist.

Though I wasn’t actually there when WordPress was conceived, I had climbed on board the WordPress train soon after. I was thrilled about what it could do then .. and 8 years later, I continue to be thrilled about what it can do now.

Did You Know…

Did you know that the following well-known brands run their websites on WordPress?

  • Ford
  • eBay
  • Sony
  • People Magazine
  • The Wall Street Journal
  • CNN
  • Samsung
And that’s just a few!

What’s WordPress?

When I tell my website clients that I design, create and maintain their websites based on the free open-source platform called WordPress, they look at my quizzically. I don’t blame them. If you’re outside of the ‘blogging’ world, you might not know about this very important piece of software.
So, let me tell you what WordPress is.
WordPress is a free (yes, FREE) software program that is Web-based and that anyone can utilize to build and/or maintain a website. Initially intended as an easy way to set up a blog, WordPress continued to evolve into a versatile piece of software that about 12% of 1 million big-name websites run on. With the help of smaller pieces of software called plug-ins, a website running on the WordPress platform can do almost anything!
 

WordPress for the Startup Website

There are THREE reasons why I recommend WordPress as the content management system (CMS) that startup companies should build their websites on:
1. It’s Free
2. It’s Versatile
3. YOU can run it yourself
Free is a good thing. With ALL of what WordPress does, it’s hard to imagine that this powerful software doesn’t carry a price tag with it.
Versatility is also a good thing. The host of plug-ins available for WordPress continues to grow, each plug-in adding distinct functionality to your website.
And at the risk of putting myself out of a job, I’ll say this:
Once YOU learn the basics of WordPress, YOU can run your website by yourself – bypassing the need to depend on a website geek (like myself) to add and edit content, as well as to maintain the website.
Handing the Job Over to a WordPress Expert
While it might be easy to learn the basics of setting up a website using WordPress, not many business owners want to invest their time into learning the skill. The time they would spend learning the mere basics of setting up a startup website could be better used to doing what they might do best: generating leads and sales, marketing etc..
And this where website designers like myself come in. We take care of the routine tasks like:
  • installing WordPress on the server
  • installing the necessary plug-ins to enhance functionality
  • implementing design elements like logos, color schemes, font families etc.
  • activating a fail-safe backup procedure for all content within the website
  • organize content so that it is easily navigated
  • upload media files
Again, while all these tasks might easily be learned by the business owner, they are tasks that take time to complete. And time is money.

Getting to Know WordPress

I’d like to end this article by providing you some useful online resources if you’d like to read more about and familiarize yourself with WordPress. The better you know about this wonderful piece of software, the more excited you’ll become about the potential of your website as a startup business owner!

 

]]> http://lexographix.com/wordpress-startup-websites/feed 0 Is Your Website Merely an Online Business Card? http://lexographix.com/is-your-website-an-online-business-card http://lexographix.com/is-your-website-an-online-business-card#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:18:43 +0000 Alex http://lexographix.com/?p=483 Congratulations! You’re a self-declared start-up owner and you’re considering your first website to let the whole world know that your business has a DOT COM on the web.

The question is: Is your website merely going to be an online business card?

Many start-up companies invest thousands of dollars toward the design, creation and maintenance of what merely is a virtual business card: a “www” portal displaying the essentials of their business like:

  • what the business is about
  • what products they offer to sell
  • what their products cost
  • how to contact them to get these products
Well and good.

But what these companies might not fully grasp is the massive potential a website can have to draw eyeballs, generate leads and increase sales.

Story: Andrea and MusicRemembrance.com

I’ve worked on various web projects with clients from different industries including performance artists, veterinarians, eye care professionals, travel agencies and music referral services. Each of these clients have expressed different wants and desires for their website.

But there is ONE in particular who has impressed me most.

Andrea Rowlison, owner of MusicRemembrance.com (an Orlando-based music referral service) has shown herself to be the above-average website owner who has infused so much of her personal energy and time into making her website function more than merely an online business card.

A year ago, Andrea had approached me to design and maintain her website. Initially, all she envisioned for her website was an online presence, a virtual business card of sorts.

But after I had spent some hours consulting her about the potential her website could have in growing her business, the invisible walls that once confined her understanding of what her website could do gradually disappeared.

A year later, Andrea has invested much time in:

  • creating a blog with interesting articles on wedding and event music
  • leveraging social media marketing like Facebook and Twitter to provide useful content to visitors, grab eyeballs and generate leads
  • presenting music samples of her brass group in performance
  • creating online forms for clients to complete and submit online, streamlining the event booking process

Andrea’s website has transcended the “virtual business card” and is in the process of becoming a powerful tool for her business. Good for you, Andrea!

Transcending the Online Business Card

It’s important that you include on your website the basic and necessary information you’d like to convey to your visitors, including what your company’s about, what services or products you offer, as well as contact information.

That said, here are some ways you can realize and grow your website’s potential:

  • Add a blog to create a two-way conversation with your visitors – and participate in other industry-related blogs
  • Add valuable and relevant content to interact with your readers about your business
  • Freebies never hurt (free ebook, sample, music clip …)
  • Engage your readers via Facebook and Twitter, and other social media services
  • Add media (music/videos/photos)
  • Upload a video greeting of yourself or with business partners
  • Conduct a survey or poll
  • Offer product/service reviews
I’m sure you’ll be able to come up with some incredibly creative ways on how your website might be able to draw more eyeballs. Traffic and lead generation through your website are topics for another day, but I’ll be sure to cover those soon.
We at Lexographix.com would love to hear how you intend to make your start-up website WORK FOR YOU! Share with us your dreams for your website!
]]> http://lexographix.com/is-your-website-an-online-business-card/feed 2 5 Awesome Online Resources for Startups http://lexographix.com/startup-online-resources http://lexographix.com/startup-online-resources#comments Sun, 25 Sep 2011 18:43:09 +0000 Alex http://lexographix.com/?p=456 The internet is a wonderful, wonderful thing.

Leveraging the internet to help you in your start-up efforts can be the wisest choice you can make.

If you’ve just started up your business, I’ve got 5 awesome online resources you might want to bookmark. These website offer:

  • free advice for the just-beginning entrepreneur
  • valuable suggestions on business basics for the startup
  • useful productivity hints for the busy individual
  • and loads more
Here they are:
StartupNation’s tagline is Everything You Need to Build a Business. This online resource is a must-have for all entrepreneurs starting out on their own.
The articles posted on this site have been truly inspiring – and informative. Check out the article on How To Drive Customers Your Way Online. 
Entrepreneur.com is the Big Daddy of entrepreneur websites. Well-organized and full of informative articles, this website includes how-to guides, startup basics, business ideas and much-needed advice for home-based businesses. Check out the short video on How Can I Find a Good Name for My Business? 
By far, Men with Pens is the most interesting website if you want to learn about copywriting. The Canada-based website design and copywriting team offers free articles on how to write effective copy for your business, especially if you have an online presence already. Check out their post on Are You Good Enough to Write Professionally? 
This no-nonsense website based in the UK is exactly what you’d need, with loads of advice on digital & online businesses, steps to starting up a business, inspiring success stories of entrepreneurs past and present, and even on setting up a website.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come back to this blog by entrepreneur and blogger Pat Flynn when I’ve needed advice on everything from blogging basics, to website design tips. Creating a passive income online might be something you’d consider once you’ve developed a website for your business and created an audience or community. The blog is bursting at its seams with valuable advice for online entrepreneurs.

 

Free is awesome. Save your bucks and invest it into your start-up or home-based business. In the meanwhile, glean all you can from these 5 awesome online resources for startups.
And if you’ve found some useful websites you’d like to contribute, go ahead and include them in the reply box below. We’d love to hear from you!
]]> http://lexographix.com/startup-online-resources/feed 0 Blue Ash Travel http://lexographix.com/blue-ash-travel http://lexographix.com/blue-ash-travel#comments Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:50:34 +0000 Alex http://lexographix.com/?p=407 Blue Ash Travel features an image slider displaying a wide selection of travel vacation spots globally. Simple in design yet very effective.

Website: blueashtravel.com

]]> http://lexographix.com/blue-ash-travel/feed 0 Vision Care Team http://lexographix.com/vision-care-team http://lexographix.com/vision-care-team#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:20:23 +0000 Alex http://lexographix.com/?p=387 The VisionCareTeam is an optometrists’ website featuring information about their eye care services as well as a secure online patient registration service. Dr Ghohestani and his team look forward to getting more eyes to their website (no pun intended), and more business through their doors. And it’s working!

Website: visioncareteam.com

]]> http://lexographix.com/vision-care-team/feed 0 Veterinary Wellness Center http://lexographix.com/veterinary-wellness-center http://lexographix.com/veterinary-wellness-center#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:10:46 +0000 Alex http://lexographix.com/?p=383 The Veterinary Wellness Center in Harrison, Ohio is touted as the best holistic pet care givers in town. I was privileged to work with Dr Robert Gaston and his staff on their website. It includes full-color, full-width feature slider images on the front page, as well as a user-friendly interface.

Website: vetwellness.com

]]> http://lexographix.com/veterinary-wellness-center/feed 0 MusicRemembrance http://lexographix.com/musicremembrance http://lexographix.com/musicremembrance#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:00:49 +0000 Alex http://lexographix.com/?p=378 It’s been a joy working with the owner of MusicRemembrance.com! Andrea Rowlison is a talented jazz trombonist based in Orlando, Florida – and markets her music services through this website. She had big dreams for her new website, and I was so excited to help her realize much of it.

The website has information about her music services, photo galleries, audio clips as well as a blog. Andrea has also learned much about running the website by herself, using the user-friendly WordPress platform. Congratulations, Andrea!

Website: musicremembrance.com

]]> http://lexographix.com/musicremembrance/feed 0 Cincinnati Brass Band http://lexographix.com/cincinnati-brass-band http://lexographix.com/cincinnati-brass-band#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2011 19:54:04 +0000 Alex http://lexographix.com/?p=375 The Cincinnati Brass Band has been a client for almost 3 years. The city’s official brass band uses this site to communicate information to their visitors and fans about upcoming performances. Members of the Brass Band also have privileged access to the website for internal communications as well.

Website: cincinnatibrassband.com

]]> http://lexographix.com/cincinnati-brass-band/feed 0 SymbiosisDuo Store http://lexographix.com/symbiosisduo-store http://lexographix.com/symbiosisduo-store#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2011 19:40:23 +0000 Alex http://lexographix.com/?p=372 The SymbiosisDuo (a tuba-euphonium duo) needed an online store to display and sell their CD and sheet music. Through their online store, they have seen remarkable sales and have drawn attention to their music and performance tours.

Website: store.symbiosisduo.com

]]> http://lexographix.com/symbiosisduo-store/feed 0 SingCinnati http://lexographix.com/singcinnati http://lexographix.com/singcinnati#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2011 19:35:50 +0000 Alex http://lexographix.com/?p=369 SingCinnati! was the American contingent of singers that represented Cincinnati, Ohio in the 2010 World Choir Games in China. Their website was designed as an online ‘business card’ for the choral ambassadors. It includes biographies of the singers, a blog and a photo gallery.

Website: singcinnati.com

]]> http://lexographix.com/singcinnati/feed 0