Platinum Author
Once you commit to renovation of your website, you will encounter at least 3 myths. I hear them over and over again. Although I refer to a "makeover," your own renovation may involve just a quick tweak - equivalent to re-painting the trim of your house - or a complete overhaul from the ground up.
Myth #1: Why bother? Nobody makes decisions from your website anyway. It's all about Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Put your energies into live networking.
Reality: What happens after someone shakes your hand at a networking event or friends you on Facebook? If they're serious about hiring you, they will head right to your website for more information.
Surprise: I've found that prospects often prefer to visit websites because they get to ask questions they might feel uncomfortable asking in person. "What do you charge? Do you work with people on my budget? What's your background?" They may not want to acknowledge they need your services (especially in front of their friends.)
Myth #2: It's going to take a long time...up to a year.
Reality: Who's telling you this?! Hopefully you're not getting this idea from someone you actually hired to help you. With WordPress and a strategic direction, you can be up and running in 30, 60, or 90 days...depending mostly on how well you know your market and how intensely you want to focus.
Surprise: A lot depends on who you hire and in what sequence. I'm slightly biased (!) but also speaking from experience when I say, "Hire your copywriter before you talk to anyone else."
Maybe you feel like covering your ears when I say, "You'll save HUGE amounts of money and time." But in this case, it's true. Once you've got a message strategy and a theme or angle, the rest feels like coasting downhill. Besides, any webmasters worth their salt will tell you their job is easier when they have copy in hand.
Myth #3: You need a draft of your copy and a design before you do anything else.
Reality: This myth is like saying, "You have to finish before you start." You will need a plan, but your renovation team will help you write the plan.
If you're a do-it-yourselfer, you can experiment. With WordPress, I like to say that changing themes is easier than changing your nail polish. Try a dozen to discover what look "feels" right. Give yourself a deadline: Sign up for a class or a professional critique of your content and message.
This step was especially hard for me because I am an avid DIY-er. I help clients set up WordPress sites. But for the finishing touches, it just didn't make sense for me to figure out the details of creating a graphic header - a project that would take me weeks when a pro could do the whole thing in less than half a day. I have work to do!
Surprise: When you call a copywriter, show up with a blank sheet of paper and an idea. Get ready to be guided through a set of questions designed to uncover how to monetize your strengths (and discover marketable opportunities you didn't know you had).
About this Author
Online marketing pro Cathy Goodwin has the laser vision for recognizing the unique strengths that every service professional brings to the marketplace, and the skills to leverage them to attract more clients online. Test the power and profitability of your own online presence with this 5-item checklist, downloadable at http://www.GoodCatMarketing.com
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