Work at Home Ideas

 

Interview with Pamela Jacob - website design and promotion

Pamela's websites: 
http://www.artistadesign.com
http://www.promotionaldesigner.blogspot.com
http://www.artistadesign.com/creatingwealth

Pamela Jacob Bio:

I started out as a traditional artist – won contests in grade school for drawing – and moved on to Oil painting in my early 20's – sold quite a few paintings, but because I was raising a family that just didn't bring in the money needed. Then I combined art with technology and Walla – my business was born.

I have a degree in Computer Animation and Multimedia from the Art Institute of Houston. I have been in the field of design and web development for over a decade. I owned Red Penguin Studio's in Houston and then moved back to Utah. In 1998 I started Artista Design having the talent of an artist, the education and skills of a web developer and graphic designer. I could offer high end websites and marketing materials at half the price of my competitors.

I partnered with some of the best Internet marketers in the business and discover amazing stuff. With this under my belt, I was then able to offer my clients a well rounded package of anything they could ask for – web design, development, graphic design, consulting and marketing packages that doubled their market exposure when put into place.

Q: You have an informative and active blog. Why do you blog?

A: A few years ago I was reading how a blog could really change the course of your business – as I read how they were exploding and what a blog could do. I jumped in and tried it. The hype is true! My business really came alive. I hear from people all over the world.

Q:  How much time do you spend blogging?

A: In the beginning, I thought like a lot of people – how can I find the time. My time could be spent better in other areas. In addition to that how could I think of things to write about? I must tell you once the spigot was opened a flood of information flowed. I found that I loved writing and I had knowledge.

In the beginning I spent much more time than now just to get my thoughts together. Now I find that I can spend 3 hours a week on average and get out quite a few articles. People need to realize you don't have to do it alone. You can and should us a lot of different resources for your blog – one doesn't have to do all the writing!

Q:: You wrote an article in your blog called "Blog or Website?" I think this is an important issue for many people who sell stuff, especially the direct sales crowd. Do you think a blog is better for the direct sales people than a website especially since they have a company website to send people to?

A: If a person already has a website to draw from, and it is an effective website, a professional one - then you need to develop a blog. Blogging really will make the difference. 

All businesses will find that a blog will set the stage for relationships with potential clients and show visitors that they are experts in their field.

Word of caution – you have to believe in your product or service. If you are only motivated due to the money and not authentic then don't waste your time.

Q: Sometimes it is difficult to see how blogging can help a local business. Do you recommend blogging to the brick and mortar crowd or do you think their time can be used more productively?

A: The Internet has become the way people research a business as well as find out about products or services.  With this in mind – the business (brick and mortar or otherwise) that has more information out on the Internet will beat the competition every time. 

Now throw in your willingness to have a blog to keep your clients and potential clients up to date on your business/industry give them information that is important to them – you are using the most powerful tool of all. 

Don't get me wrong you do need a good website – but a blog will propel your business in ways that will amaze you.

Q: If you could choose only two ways to promote your blog, what would you choose?

 

A: That is a hard one. First I want people who read this to know a blog is the same as a website. You can build the best website/blog on the planet, but if you end it at that you may as well just throw away your time and money. I guess if I had to pick 2 ways to promote it would be Feedburner/ Feedblitz (a must) and web 2.0 networking. You also need to build a data-base with your website. Then you can do campaigns and announce to your database every time you update your blog.

Q: Your blog says your are a "Promotional Designer". What does this mean? Do you help people to promote their websites in addition to creating the websites?

A: Yes I started out just like every other graphic/web designer and only knew how to make pretty sites. I soon realized that was the tip of the ice burg. I pride myself in having been mentored by the best internet marketers.

I now offer the full package, I believe my talent lies in the fact I can design a package that will attract your client. Think about it. If you want to attract the MTV crowd, you certainly wouldn't brand your business with a design that attracted baby boomers. I do full branding packages including  logo development, business cards, and other website development

You also must be able to market your online business. Employ SEO (Search engine optimization) networking online and off and so much more.  With this in mind I also do consulting, project management and marketing for businesses.

One of my best customers http://www.wfsa.com started with me from the ground floor had a good business but not a great website or online status. They are now getting business from over seas and actually have to turn people away who want to link to their business. They are also getting a lot of free advertising opportunities. WFSA even went on to win an Award as the best of 2008.

Q: When you hear the phrase "Web 2.0" what does it mean to you? Is Web 2.0 the same thing as "social network marketing'?

A: So many web 2.0 sites, so little time! Yes social network marketing does consist of Web 2.0. There are 3 types of websites that make up the structure of what is called Web 2.0

Social Media Sites
Sites where members provide most or all of the content. These sites allow members to upload specific media – Video, Pictures etc.

Example:

http://www.youtube.com 
http://www.flicker.com 

Social Book marking Sites

In a social book marking site, users save links to web pages that they want to share. These bookmarks are usually public, and can be saved privately, shared only with specified people or groups; most social bookmark sites encourage users to organize their bookmarks with tags or keywords. They also enable viewing bookmarks associated with a chosen tag, and include information about the number of users who have bookmarked them.

Examples:
http://www. Technorati.com
http://www.digg.com


Social Networking Sites

This type of site lets there members create personal profiles to share likes, dislikes, passions, and interests... and it allows others to connect with you through different communications channels like forums, groups, chat rooms, comments, private messaging. Business idea's etc.

Examples:
http://www.plaxo.com
http://www.linkedin.com
http://www.facebook.com


Q: I know you are active on Twitter. On what other social networking sites do you have a presence?

A: I love Twitter. When I first heard about Twitter I didn't see the relevance of  using it. For busy people there is nothing like it to create great social and business connections. I have clicked on more links and joined more website using twitter than on anything else. If you are not on twitter you are missing the mark.

If you sign up look me up at: http://twitter.com/pamelajacob

I also love http://hubpages.com that works very well to get your articles out and obtain backlinks to your website. I happened to buy some video tutorials on using hubpages. I was going to package and sell them but decided to give them to my client base for free. I would like to extend this to your readers … 

http://www.artistadesign.com/Free-HubPages-Tutorials.html

My profile is Creating Wealth (two words) look me up on hubpages!

Another one I use is http://facebook.com . I was amazed at how quickly I could build a network of people on Facebook. However, be careful this can become addicting, and you can waste a lot of time "having fun" but that doesn't help business!

If you decide to try Facebook let me know (pamelajacob) and I will introduce you to all my friends.

Q: What is your experience using article marketing to bring targeted visitors to your properties?

A: I started out doing newsletters and on the advice of a friend who is an excellent marketer – I decided to turn the content I put into my newsletters into stand alone articles. I then found ezinearticles.com signed up and placed my articles on the site. There are literally dozens of article marketing websites you can do this.

The premise of article marketing is that you write articles that other people can place in newsletters, blogs and websites. If they decide to use your article they must place a resource box at the bottom that contains your name a few lines about what you do and a link back to your website.

It has helped me in a number of ways. It helps provide backlinks to your website that search engines love. If you write articles that resonate with people, you will establish yourself as an expert in your field. Readers may click on the links to see what you have to offer. 

Article marketing is a win-win situation all the way around.

Q:  Let's talk turkey. What percentage of your sales can you attribute directly to social network marketing?

A:  That is a hard question to answer because web 2.0 is relatively new I have not mastered a lot of it yet. But I can tell you that I probably get 25% of my clientele from networking online and virtually 75%; I have gotten through referrals. I also give a 10% finders fee to people who refer others to me.

Q: How does social network marketing compare with traditional advertising?

A. Network marketing is really a different animal.

In traditional marketing you can send out printed material and make cold calls, go to Chamber meetings and such. This can be very expensive. 

Magazine and trade publication ads are also pricey depending on the readership. And if you are not a designer like I am the price of getting your pieces professionally done. All can cost a pretty penny.

On the other hand you have to put a lot of time into network marketing at least in the beginning. In network marketing you do need to have all your ducks in a row – a great website and hopefully a blog.  Then you will spend a lot of time getting set up with some of the social websites.

The one thing I really like about network marketing is you have to be authentic – the old marketing rules of sell sell sell and superficiality are really frowned upon in the Web 2.0 arena. If you believe in yourself and your product then you will connect with like-minded people. It does take some time and if you are not interacting with or you are not really interested in the people with whom you are networking you will definitely spin your wheels and go no where fast.

A great saying I think everyone should keep in mind is "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care". I can tell you that social marketing is a lot of fun, too! 

Q:  Look back on your online business experience. If you could start over, what ONE thing would you do differently?

A: I would search out some good mentors, followed them and learned from them. Initially and typically, I would buy this and that and read this and that. I was a professional student but I was so confused on what to do - what was right, wrong, who to trust.

I was President of Aloette of Houston and trained by the corporate office. So I have a lot of experience in sales and marketing in the physical world before starting my Internet career.

I worked hand in hand with Kathleen Gage of  StreetSmartsmarketing.com. I did a lot of design work for her. We worked out marketing plans together.

Remember, if you are go into social marketing and networking you must take a path much different than a brick and mortar business that is trying to get its footing online. Building and marketing an ecommerce store requires a different marketing plan than selling services. 

What is the big picture what are you trying to achieve? Answer those questions and you will save time on your road to online success.

Know your clients. What do they really need? What are you offering them to help them succeed? 

In prospecting determine your target market. The more you know about them the easier it is to "Create the image you need to attract the customers you want!" That is my professional tag line J

Thank you, Pamela, for spending time with us and helping us learn about social network marketing.!

 

Greg Cryns
http://www.workathomeprofiles.com
Scentsy: http://www.scentsy.com/16684
http://www.wahmsearchengine.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/calgreg