This is a “Getting Started Guide” for my new clients.
What we’re doing here is laying the groundwork necessary to set up and maintain a VIP Customer List for your business, as well as a blog.
This is much faster and cheaper than updating your primary web site (if you have one).
Once you have completed these steps, let me know and I’ll prepare a blog and set things up for additional traffic generation.
STEP #1 — pick a generic domain name
Click here to bring up an easy-to-use domain search tool.
You want to find a generic name that relates to your business. Don’t use your business name. Pick several that you like that show up as “not taken”. If a name shows up as “taken” that’s pretty certain. But if a name shows up as “not taken”, it’s very likely, but there’s no guarantee of that. So pick several. Write down the names you like on a piece of paper. You’ll use one of these names in the next step.
NOTE: It’s best to choose the .COM names.
TIP: try generic names in your industry with your city name before or after: chiropractorinlasvegas.com brainsurgeonreno.com tahoeplumber.com
STEP #2 — Sign up for web hosting
Click here or the image below to sign up for web hosting.
 |
You want to click the box [View Web Hosting Plans], then select the “Baby Plan” (the middle one) which is $9.95/mo on a monthly or yearly basis. NOTE: The “Hatchling Plan” does not allow you to do some things that I strongly recommend you do in the future.
COUPON CODE: hgc25 — use this when you check-out to get $9.94 off of the first month’s service.
IMPORTANT: in the process of setting up this account, you will be asked for a domain name. Use one of the names you found above. In the unlikely case it’s not available, use one of the other choices. FYI: the domain is free for the life of the account, so there’s no need to get it somewhere else.
This is the hosting partner I use and have been with for nearly 3 years now. I’m familiar with their services, how their hosting works, and recommend them to everybody. They’re also one of the largest professional hosting outfits in the country, and their support is among the top of any I’ve ever used.
STEP #3 — Sign up for a Bulk EMail account
Click here or on the image below to set up an account at ConstantContact, the leader in the field of Online Customer Relations via EMail services.
 |
We’ll use this to maintain your VIP Customer List data, and to create and send out your newsletters. This is free for 60 says, then it’s $15/mo until you have more than 500 people on your list. Note that you’ll be added to my client management panel, and I’ll be able to provide some support and directly access your account on CC through my own login.
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? Because I’m going to show you how to turn every name on your list into an additional $1-$30 a month in additional revenues! A list of 500 people could generate $1,000-$5,000 a month that you wouldn’t earn otherwise.
After your account is set up, please spend some time looking through their library of email newsletter templates. Pick 2-3 that fit the following criteria:
- one with a layout you like
- one with a color scheme you like
- one with typography or other visual features you like
Perhaps you’ll find one that fits your needs perfectly, but if not, we can custom-design one for you. You can do it yourself, or we’ll do it for you.
STEP #4 — Contact me when you have completed these tasks
After you’ve got this much in place, send me an email with your Hosting LOGIN info (the domain name, login name, and password) and when is a good time for us to meet. I’ll set up some things on your web hosting account, including a WordPress blog, make sure everything is set up properly, and then we’ll be off to the races!
Step #5 — Sign up for an account with Google Analytics
If you do not have a Google GMail account, click here to sign up for one now. Even if you have a personal GMail address, it’s a good idea to sign up for one for your business. You don’t need to use it regularly, but it’s needed to access other Google services.
Go to Google Analytics and set up an account there. You must use a GMail.com address to login.
STEP #6 — Set up a Local Business Listing on Google
Go to the Google Local Business Listings and be sure your business is listed there. This also requires a GMail.com address.
The first URL you want to set up is for the one that was just set up. Use the root domain, not any folders. (eg., http://mydomain.com )
Identify the tracking code assigned to that domain, then go into your Admin panel in WordPress and add it to the Google Analytics plugin in the Settings page.
STEP #7a — Set up a Twitter account for your business
Go to Twitter and set up an account for your business.
STEP #7b — Set up a FaceBook Fan Page for your business
Go to FaceBook and set up a Fan Page for the business. If you don’t already have a FaceBook account, the you’ll need to set one up first.
STEP #8 — DIY or “Done For You”?
This is only the beginning. From here on out, the following tasks will need to be done on a regular basis:
- Post to your blog at least weekly if not 2-3 times a week
- Post something to your FaceBook account and Fan Page periodically
- Post to Twitter now and then — short-duration discount offers are great!
- Send out a newsletter — decide how often you want to send it out. Weekly is best. (I’ll discuss the newsletter contents with you.)
You can do all of this yourself. Or, my team can handle some of it for you. The various postings are best if they’re fairly personal, so it’s advised you do them yourself. But we can easily handle the newsletter with a bit of advance preparation for articles and promotional planning.
RESOURCES
Here are some books you can check out on Amazon that will help you learn to manage your VIP Customer List like a Pro!