Coaching Session 3 – Local Listings and websites

Video Lesson

Lesson Notes

Time Stamps:

0:26 Websites
1:13 Benefits of Having a Website for Your Business
4:53 What Makes a Website
7:33 5 Broad Categories of Websites
12:01 12 Most Popular Types of Websites
15:48 Website Ingredients
17:52 Best Practices
23:03 Website and Business Goals
24:41 Website Dos and Don’ts
26:18 Listings
27:44 Benefits
28:19 Listings Ingredients
29:03 Websites

In this lesson:

Websites
Local Listings

Portfolio

Create and/or optimize a website or local listing

What is a Website?

a set of related web pages located under a single domain name, typically produced by a single person or organization (Oxford Dictionary).

Benefits of having a website for your business

Online Presence 24/7
Information Exchange
Credibility
It Cuts Costs
Market Expansion
Consumer Insights
Advertising
Competitors Online
Customers Service Online
Grown Opportunity

What makes a website?

Server
IP Address (Internet Protocol)
Website Address/ Domain Name
- Choose a name
- Choose an extension
- Http/Https

S Broad Categories of Websites

1. Static Brochure Websites – are simple and non-editable websites. These are also referred to as non-editable brochure websites which you can think of as digital versions of a physical printed brochure. For businesses, a static brochure website only serves the purpose of information hosting. It catalogues and provides information about products and services. It can promote the business but it does not serve the purpose of e-commerce. Source: https://www.goodcore.co.uk/

2. Content-Managed Brochure Websites:

Unlike static brochure websites, content-managed brochure websites are editable. They require a content management system (CMS) for this purpose. On content-managed brochure websites, the owner can use a CMS to easily create, edit, and add content on the website. Source: https://www.goodcore.co.uk/

3. Editable Dynamic Websites (With User Engagement): These are the types of sites that are self-managed and editable. Similar to content-managed brochure websites, editable dynamic websites also use a content management system to edit and manage the website. Additionally, such websites not only display information about products and services but also allow more user engagement (i.e. with user login areas etc.). Source: https://www.goodcore.co.uk/

4. E-Commerce Websites: E-commerce websites, as the name suggests, are the types of websites where a business can directly sell products and services to customers. For this purpose, they require integration with payment gateways, such as PayPal, for e-payments. E-commerce websites are more complex than simple brochure websites; therefore, they are often expensive to build and maintain. Source: https://www.goodcore.co.uk/

5. Progressive Web Applications (PWA): Progressive web applications are complete website solutions that do much more than just hosting information about your business. These are websites based on web applications that offer a comprehensive set of functionalities. Through APIs, they can integrate and engage with a variety of other web platforms and services.

12 Most Popular Types of Websites

Homepages
Business Websites
Blogs
E-commerce Marketplaces
Landing Pages
Web Portals
Social Networking Websites
News or Magazine Websites
Community Forum Websites
Photo-Sharing Websites
Portfolio Websites
Crowdfunding Websites

Website Engridients

1. Homepage- Shop window
2. Navigations- Menu of the website

Top tabs
Side tabs

3. Content

Pages
- About Page
- Services/Products Page
- Portfolio/Feedback
- Contact Page
Posts
- Headlines
- Texts
- Hyperlinks
- Media
  - Video
  - Photos
  - Infographics

4. Footer
5. Widgets
6. Contact Forms
7. Comment Sections

Best Practices

1. Mobile Friendly
2. Site Architecture
3. Fast Loading
4. Easy Navigation

Search Box
Logo – Homepage

5. Quick CTA to Payment Pages
6. Usability and Engagement
7. Page Layout Consistency
8. Short Scroll for Imprt. Pages
9. The Right use of Colors, Text, Branding
10. Direct to the Point Info

Headers
Bullet List

*Always put yourself in your customer’s shoes

Website to Business Goals

Define your business goals
Listen to your customers
Analytics

WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FROM YOUR WEBSITE?

Phone number?
Directions?
Feedback?
Certifications?

Website Do’s and Dont’s

Do’s

Include a sales pitch
Share how you understand the customer’s
Share how you can solve their pains
Make it engaging
Make it helpful
Confident but not boastful and intimidating
Tell stories
Make it understandable
Add reviews, Testimonials
Capture attention (3-second rule)

Dont’s

Avoid technical words
Avoid using specific jargons
Avoid sharing “All about you” info

FREELANCING WEBSITE

Home/About Me
Services, Pricing and Plans
Portfolio
Blog
Contact

What is an Online listing?

Listings are online entries for your business. Their role is to help customers find you online and in real life.

An online directory is a submission-based online service. You secure your entry by “claiming” your listing. Typically they are free, or free to start with a paid option unlocking more features for your listing.

Benefits