I no longer recommend static HTML sites to new clients. That makes me unpopular with those unwilling to embrace the current techno-environment. I find it uncomfortable to be paid to create something I know will not be effective, be taken as seriously or promote their brand as effectively as a WordPress site can accomplish with minimal investment.

vintage

-noun
the class of a dated object with reference to era of production or use
–adjective
old-fashioned or obsolete

Why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of the easy of use interface and ability to manage your own content and exposure that being on a CMS (Content Management System) like WordPress offers over a static, brochureware type site? The truth be told, only those who are not willing to embrace the technology of now still have static HTML sites. And, don’t think site visitors do not recognize that.

What is brochureware? Back in the day, that term applied to small 1-5 page type sites that had just the basic introductory blah-blah-blah but no substance. This was the info the site owner wanted visitors to know and nothing more. These site owners generally were so unwilling to embrace technology that they actually convinced themselves that glorified business card sites could produce results.

Now, I find I can’t help but include any static HTML site into that category. HTML sites do not offer the necessary interactivity, discussion, updates and social media that are the hallmark of companies who are embracing technology. Look like you are not embracing technology and that makes site visitors wonder what else you don’t want to deal with in the operation of your business.

If your comfort level does not allow you to be involved above and beyond e-mailing your “Webmaster” for inconsequential updates and tweaks to content that has not evolved since your site originally launched; then you really should question why you are online at all. No one is going to take you seriously in a day where customers expect so much more interaction and transparency on sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn (minimally!).

The online business environment has been heating up. Über competitive is an understatement! Online business has always been an interactive medium; but initially one that site owners could decide as to how much they wanted to interact and still do relatively well. That no longer holds true. If you want success or any quantifiable results you no longer have the luxury of having a Web site on your terms. Well, you do — but your competitors will thank you for staying in the last century.

You have to be involved, interact, sell online if apropos, network and be social or those sites (a.k.a. competitors) that do will get the traffic and new customers. See being social means engaging your site visitors and sharing your expertise and knowledge in real-time. Human beings are by their very nature social beings — as evidenced by all the online communities that now have everyone’s attention.

Sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Stumbleupon, Twitter, Technorati, Sphinn, Digg and others, are changing how businesses are communicating with their market. If your competitors are properly embracing this environment and you are not, how can you honestly expect any weighable results? The answer is you can’t. If you still have a static HTML site — time to take things up a notch!

This is a movement, a shift, an evolution that serious business owners must embrace moving forward if they are genuinely serious about their success.

At your service,

Your WordPress Consultant

Static HTML Sites are Soooo Turn of the Century… is a post from: WordPress Consultant: Judith Kallos, At Your Service...

The Moes: Moe was a short-tempered pushy guy who could intimate any one with both words and body language. Online, the Moes who comment are overly critical and brass without adding anything valuable to the conversation because they just want to have a “look at me” moment. Moes are also most likely to use keywords as their username (insert eye-poke here).

The Larrys: The Larrys are the nice commenters. They will compliment you — they compliment everyone. They generally just want to be a part of something, even if they have nothing to offer. They mean well but most times their comments just make your teeth ache and are in the way of getting to the next comment of value. Woo-woo-woo-woo!

The Curlys: The Curlys are just whack-jobs. You’ve seen those comments. You read them and find yourself thinking “What was that about?” or “Whatever!” Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!

And don’t forget the Shemps: The Shemps are a basically nice Moes. While they cover themselves in a less aggressive discourse, they do have their motives — usually just to get links. Why, I oughta. . . .

So the moral of the story is to not be a Three Stooges commenter because all you end up doing is looking like a knucklehead to everyone who views your comments.

“If at first you don’t succeed, keep on suckin’ til ya do suck seed!”
- Curly (MOVIE MANIACS, 1936)

At your service,
Judith

Thank you to the Official Three Stooges Web Site for the photo used in this article.

The Three Stooges of Blog Comments is a post from: WordPress Consultant: Judith Kallos, At Your Service...

Increasing numbers of newbie “Bloggers” who think their Blog will produce “additional income” — not based on any reality; just because they think so — are now popping up like “Web designers” did in the 1990s. Very few had skills or had any solid knowledge — some software, a “solution” or “system” and easy schmeasy — all the way to the bank! Not.

What I find amazing is these folks are intent on making their riches based on what they are willing to do, spend and learn. They’ll only make the effort on their terms — and they expect to reap the rewards similar to the rare Bloggers who work at their craft 12 hours a day for years to make the big bucks.

What’s up with that?

So how do you know if your Blog sucks?

• You have nothing unique to offer over the thousands of sites already active on your subject of choice.
  

  unique adjective:
  having no like or equal; unparalleled; incomparable

  Unless you have a plan, an angle, a different USP (unique selling proposition) than the hundreds of thousands of sites already covering your topic; your Blog sucks.

• You think by putting affiliate links and AdSense everywhere, and I mean everywhere, visitors to your sucky site will click on them and you’ll get that four-figure paycheck so you don’t have to work for the man. Guess what? The majority of folks have “ad blindness” and find too much advertising annoying. If you are not prepared to write reviews and “how tos” about the stuff you are promoting — your Blog sucks.
• If you are using other author’s articles or scraping content feeds from other skilled and hardworking site owners — oh yeah, your Blog sucks.
• If you don’t have a great looking non-generic WordPress theme that you’ve worked hard to make your own, that you’ve learned how to use to best display your content in a visually appealing manner — your Blog sucks.
• If you don’t have clear and intuitive navigation — navigation that should be all about site visitors (not purely in existence to keyword stuff) — yep, your Blog sucks.
• If you find yourself thinking “I don’t like to write”, “I can’t write”, “I don’t have time to post” without a doubt — sorry, your Blog sucks.

I know… this isn’t very “musey” of me. But you know what? I’m am growing weary of being expected to help folks who don’t want to help themselves. I really don’t like being paid to be ignored — something about that is just wrong.

Advice and direction is provided only to be told, that “my way” takes too much work (or cost, or time, <insert excuse here >) to make the necessary efforts to reach our stated goals. So we ignore what is the reality of what is required and still think our Blog is the best thing since sliced bread. And that we will make boat-loads of money.

Yeah, the economy sucks — so everyone is running to “easy” income online. Hey, where is that? I’ve just celebrated my 16th year in business and haven’t found that area on the Web yet. What the H. E. double-toothpicks am I doing still working 10 hour days, 6 days a week??!!

Stop it! There is no easy income!

Those who surmise I sit on my couch eating bon-bons with my laptop in my hoodie-footie P.J.s want my life. (Yes, a recent contact stated that was their goal — “just like you…”) Be careful what you ask for!

I don’t like bon-bons, I don’t have hoodie-footie P.J.s (although with the cold weather in Mississippi this week — that sounds tempting) and my laptop is on the great room table for me to work until 10p at night so I don’t have to be locked up in my office and can have some semblance of a home life.

That’s what it takes to live off the Internet! But guess what? For me, this comes easy because I was raised with a work ethic. A Father who taught me I could have anything I wanted — if I was willing to work at it!

Those who work on their niche, different, exclusive, individual, lone, one, one and only, onliest, only, particular, rare, separate, single, solitary, solo, sui generis, uncommon, unexampled Blogs to make them great looking, filled with useful information, that is updated regularly — are those that stand a chance over time of producing some level of residual income. Yeah, some level — over time.

So if anyone wants a Blog that doesn’t suck, ask these questions…

1. Have you researched your topic to find an angle no one else has tapped into and is your Blog niche something that you know well and are passionate about?
2. Are you willing to work at aggressively improving your writing skills, being active on Social Media and answering site e-mail and comments for as many hours a day are necessary to reach your goals?
3. Do you understand that this is an ongoing learning process that never ends?

If you don’t answer the above questions with a resounding “YES!” your Blog sucks — go work on your resume.

At your service,
Judith

You Know Your Blog Sucks if… is a post from: WordPress Consultant: Judith Kallos, At Your Service...