Hello Geeks! This months focus is on a topic very near and dear to my heart…. Websites. I’ve compiled 7 questions about websites and the marketing questions that I’m often asked (or at least I should be).
1) How much does a web site cost?
The quick answer is we offer a free initial consultation to find out the right web site for your goals. An expanded answer is …There are 4 costs involved in a web site.
a) Domain Name: Such as YourCompany.com – this costs about $15 per year.
b) Development of the site: As you might guess this depends on a few factors including if we use a per-designed template or custom design site as well as how many pages the site has. Professional sites start @ about $1,000.00
c) Hosting: Quality hosting (with good support) ranges $30-$85/month) Hosting is essential renting space on web servers (computers) that ensure your site is up 99% of the time. This often includes eMails accounts such as you@YourCompany.com. OM hosting also includes friendly support and an annual marketing consultation with a geek.
d) Maintenance: A successful web site needs ongoing maintenance and adding of new content. At omOriginals we train all of our clients on how to do their own maintenance, so most of our clients pay $0 for maintenance.
Note: We are more than happy to perform maintenance as needed for any websites for $55/hour.
2) Should I BLOG?
What is blogging? Yes, most businesses will benefit from BLOG. A blog is a place on your site where you post news and updates.  This info is helpful for people (& press) wanting to learn about your company and for the search engines. With a properly configured BLOG search engines assume that you are an expert about what you write about. When we build sites we include SEO training to get great search results.
3) Can you add a web site counter to my site?
Yes, but we recommend not using a traditional counter. They are often inaccurate and they share your stats with the world. Instead we offer web site stats (included with our hosting) that allow you to track the visitors to your site. The stats can tell you how many people visit your site, how many pages they view and so much more. These are available 24-7 for your review, but only you can see them.
4) What is the best domain name?
The best domain names often include:
a) company name
b) name of product or service
c) easy to remember & to spell.
For most businesses a .com is preferred over the other extensions for such as .net, .biz, .us. info, .etc.  For non-for-profit organizations .org is more appropriate. During our initial consultation we can generally find a great name.
5) How should I select a web site developer?
When considering a few companies to work with, I recommend you look at the developers site and at least 4 live sites that they created. If you are impressed with their work, then schedule a meeting. Be sure that they can speak Geek, Marketing & English.
6) Can you create flash animations for my site?
FLASH is a powerful animation and programing tool for web sites, but it doesn’t work well on mobile devices. iPhone & iPads don’t support Flash. We can achieve similar functionality that works on mobiles, but we advise against flash.
7) Can you make my web site and Facebook work together?
Yes, and if done properly they can work and play very nicely together. This relation can work both ways, we like to add Facebook functionality to web sites and to drive traffic from Facebook to your site. I could write a whole article on this, or even teach a workshop. Oh wait…we do.
Bonus question:
8. How can I get found on Google?
Google (and the other search engines) is interested in good content. If you write about what you do and add new content you are well on your way to good rankings. Get a Google places account and it will get you on the map.
WOW…out of space already for my column. I told you I like web sites. ~:-)
Both online and off. Call us for a complimentary consult: 360.575.9839 

It is a 5k run with a twist.  Actually 15 twists!  Imagine and extreme 5k (3.1 mile) run in Castle Rock, WA AND an obstacle course -  combined.  It is guaranteed to kick your ash.  :-)
If that wasn’t cool enough this event benefits the Cowlitz Wahkiakum United Way.

Together the 2011 participants’, sponsors’, and volunteers’ tenacity and mud thirsty drive helped to push AshKicker to become a possibly record breaking fundraiser! With a grand total of $190,643.12 in total event proceeds and including the Williams Pipeline matching funds!

Ash Kicker 2012 – MAY 19th -
Note: This is the day after the 32nd anniversary of THE most notorious catastrophic eruption of Mt St. Helens.

It is going to be blast, Check out these obstacles!!!!!!

1. Warm up obstacles
Slow start, simple obstacles to get you going, hay bale pyramid perhaps, tires, limbo;)? You’ll find out when you get here.

2. Cargo Net
Make it up one side and down the other to get the blood pumping.  Still warming up!

3. Spider Web
Weave your way through this bungee forest.  The paths through the trees was tight enough but add the bungee web, weaving from top to bottom, in and out good luck getting out of there!

4. Beaver Bayou
Tromp your way through the murky waters, filled with vegetation, mud, and muck. Breathe deep this is just the beginning.

5. Big Foot Stairs
Work your way back up Mt. Ash Kicker by conquering these huge stairs! You may need a hand so don’t offend the other runners or you’ll get stuck on this one!

6. Mt. ASH KICKER Crawl
Make your way up the seemingly insurmountable Mt. Ash Kicker. The tallest pile of Ash on the continent! This nearly vertical climb, I mean crawl… tunnel up the side on your hands and knees!

7. Tire Ladder
Do your best to keep your footing up the steep Mountain of ASH on this unsteady chain of tires.

8. Chutes and ladders
Climb up to the top of the ladder and get ready this is the fastest chute you’ve ever been down! Greased and ready to go don’t worry there will be mud to break the fall.

9. Base Jump
Exactly what it sounds like, one catch though, no chute! Half way down you’ll wish you had one!

10. Mud Crawl
You can’t get through an obstacle course without one! But I bet you’ve never been through one this low! Though your face is mud you can hold your head high because you are on your way to becoming a true Ash Kicker!

11. Slip and Slide
No, this is not that lame, horizontal, slightly slippery toy you had in your back yard!  Our insane, sloped, enormous slide would corner that yellow piece of plastic and steal its lunch money! Get ready to pick up some speed as you slide into the mire!

12. Slimy Sewers
Afraid of the dark, Claustrophobic? Sorry suckers! These tunnels are dark and slimy but don’t be scared they will come to an end…eventually.

13. Big Foot Tires
These Big Foot size tires aren’t your average no knees in the air, you will have to climb, fight, and crawl your way through. Watch out for the middle of the tires, there will be some surprises!

14. Over and Under
Some of these hurdle like obstacles are high some are low. Jump over the 1^st and Under the 2^nd and so on. Don’t get confused or we’ll make you start over!

15. Log heap
Watch the branches and knobs, crawl over this loose and precariously stacked pile of driftwood logs.

Congratulations, you made it the finish line!
Now let’s do it for real.  WE dare you to sign-up @ AshKicker.org!  WE will see you there. :-)

WholesomeProse.com

omOriginals Marketing! of Longview, WA, is proud to help promote great companies and service in and around Cowlitz County with refreshingly different; web design, eMail marketing, Facebook, Google, workshops & good old fashioned graphic design.  We invite you to call upon us, we are here to help. :-) 360.575.9839

DanandDavid.net

So if you’re looking for a bail bonds company in Longview, WA or just Cowlitz County, check out FreedomBailBondsNW.com and be comfortable with their level of service and convenience of use.

FreedomBailBondsNW.com

Thanks for turning in again to <Geek Speak>. I appreciate all the questions and feedback from my “Interview with an iPhone” from last month. This month we are going to dive into the world of “Website Testimonials”. Word of mouth is one of the oldest and most effective forms of marketing. In the past it was limited to person-to-person communication. Today we live in an exciting and different world. The internet allows conversations to be shared and re-shared though your community and across the globe.
Offline Testimonials
When a client/customer shares with you how happy they are with your product or service and goes as far to write you a letter (or collection of letters and paragraphs) of thanks, it feels great! You might have a special file for those or even share them on a special wall at your business.
Why Should I put Testimonials on my Website?
The biggest reason is that it helps build the confidence of potential clients. Feeling comfortable with your company is a big part of why people will, or will not do business with your organization. A business can say a lot about their experience or qualifications, but a single (powerful) testimonial caries so much more weight. People believe other people more than they do businesses.
How do I get Testimonials from my clients?
Chances are, you already have some laying around the office. If you do, I recommend calling the client and thanking them again for their kind words and then ask them if it would be OK for you to post it on your web site. I strongly recommend that you contact the writer and ask for their permission to post it on your site. This gives you another chance to thank them for their kind words and receive permission to share.
How to get some more testimonials? The answer is easy. You ask.
While some of us feel uncomfortable asking people to endorse us, it is a widely accepted practice in the business world. When I was encouraged to begin doing this years ago by my brilliant wife, I was reluctant. Get over it. I did and I’ve had great results ~:-)
Ask for Testimonials on your site
Another way is to offer a feedback form on your web site. You can ask direct questions on your site and take the pieces for testimonials. For ideas you can go to our web site omOriginals.com and go to the contact section and look for our Feedback Form. And if you feel up to it you can leave us some feedback, we’d really appreciate it. As a bonus, we link to the web sites of clients in their testimonials.
How should I put Testimonials on my site?
After you have 4+ testimonials in hand it is time to get to work. It is good to have a page dedicated to testimonials, but over the years I’ve learned (from viewing lots of web stats) this page is often overlooked.
Tip: Place a single testimonial on your most popular pages. For some extra geek points you can have your web site randomly display different testimonials throughout your site. I’ve found that a single testimonial will more often get read and THEN people will click through to the testimonials page to read more. I’ve had numerous clients say, “I read your testimonials”. When I ask which one, they often say, “all of them! “
Do people trust online Testimonials?
According to the latest Nielsen Global Online Consumer Survey of over 25,000 Internet consumers. Ninety percent or consumers surveyed noted that they trust recommendations from people they know (offline), while 70 percent trusted consumer opinions of strangers posted online.

We are all in this game together. I’d love for you to share your thoughts and experiences with testimonials on our web site.
omOriginals Marketing in Longview, WA. handles hundreds of local and national accounts, we are ready to help with any questions relating to anything marketing: web, design and planning. We are available at (360)575-9839 or online www.omOriginals.com

Visit Kevin Vibbert @
SWWashingtonBankruptcy.com

omOriginals Marketing! of Longview, WA, is proud to help promote great companies and services with refreshingly different; web design, eMail marketing, Facebook, Google, workshops & good old fashioned graphic design.  We invite you to call upon us, we are here to help. :-)

www.AnimalHealthServices.biz

Check us out on Facebook!

omOriginals Marketing! of Longview, WA, is proud to help promote great companies and services with refreshingly different; web design, eMail marketing, Facebook, Google, workshops & good old fashioned graphic design.  We invite you to call upon us, we are here to help. :-)

WesternWorldOnline.com

Visit them on Facebook!

1111 Industrial Way
Longview, WA 98632

omOriginals Marketing! of Longview, WA, is proud to help promote great companies and services with refreshingly different; web design, eMail marketing, Facebook, Google, workshops & good old fashioned graphic design.  We invite you to call upon us, we are here to help. :-)

CowlitzCarService.com

Visit them on Facebook!

omOriginals Marketing! of Longview, WA, is proud to help promote great companies and services with refreshingly different; web design, eMail marketing, Facebook, Google, workshops & good old fashioned graphic design.  We invite you to call upon us, we are here to help. :-)