Lighthouse Technologies Newsletter
April 2005, Volume 3 Issue 4
www.techlh.com
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In This Issue:
* A Note from Will
* More Thoughts on Setting up a 'Quick Website' for a Non-Profit
* Our Sponsor - Michael Webb
* Spring Cleaning
* Partnering with Complimentary Businesses
* Website First Impressions
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A Note from Will

While the people in Denver may still have winter on their minds,
most of the US now thinks about flowers and grass cutting.

As the weather gets warmer and the birds begin to sing, the windows
start to open and we are again reminded that it's time to clean out
all the wintry dust that has settled in our house.

The same is true for my business. That's right, spring cleaning is
here in full force, and you get to benefit from it! We've got tons
of stuff on sale through May, and I'd hope you'd take advantage of
these awesome discounts while they last.

Also in the newsletter today is an short article on how to partner
with businesses that can increase your visibility and sales, and
then a great article on website first impressions.

I've packed a lot of good information into this newsletter, if you
like what you see, let me know, or send it to a friend!
- Will
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More Thoughts on Building a Quick Website for a Non-Profit

Last newsletter I mentioned several CMS programs that help any web
designer get a website up and running in no time. What I failed to
mention, is that there is (of course) a downside to doing this.

While the sites go up quick, and your client will be happy, you need
to keep in mind that the CMS program that you've installed very
likely has a few 'glitches' and security holes in it.

Thank goodness that thousands of other people are using the same
software, and patches for these glitches and holes are available
rather quickly after they are discovered. That's where you come in.

If you create a website for someone that is based on Xoops, Post
Nuke, or any other CMS program, you owe it to your client (and your
web host!) to keep these programs patched.

All CMS programs have a home-website where you can download the
latest patches and upgrades. Most also have a mailing list that
alerts you when new files are available.

If you've installed a CMS program, and you are being plagued by
problems, let Lighthouse Technologies help you out. We can install
patches or other upgrades that you may need.

http://www.techlh.com/contactus.htm
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Sponsor - Michael Webb

According to Michael Webb, 67% of relationships STINK- but you can
have a fantastic one! Michael, a relationship expert, is now
offering over $1400 of his most popular best-sellers for less than
$70!

Get these books now - http://www.techlh.com/deals/mw.php
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Spring Cleaning

This is definitely the biggest sale I've had in years. Take
advantage of these discounts from now to May 15th.

Domain names - ALL .com, .net, .org, and .biz names are $10.00 off!
Townlink Software - $100 off!
Reseller Hosting packages - now 40% off your first YEAR!
Business Hosting packages - ALL are now 25% off your first YEAR!

To immediately save, visit
http://techlh.com/springcleaning.htm
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Partnering with Complimentary Businesses

I've touched on this before, so I won't make this long.

Have you ever thought about partnering with local businesses that
compliment your business? Are there businesses you frequent that
would help promote your business?

If you own a bridal dress store, for example, you could ask a few
different businesses to promote yours. How? Easy. Flyers is one
way. The flower shop where the brides pick out their bouquets would
probably refer business to you if you'd do the same in return. So
would the local DJ service, and the bakery where the cakes are done.

All of these businesses compliment yours, without being a
competitor. Those are the kinds of businesses you should get with.

On your flyer, promote your services, upcoming sales, and website.
If you don't have a website, you need one! Contact us today about
getting your business online, and get a FREE Web Buyer's Guide that
will explain all about expanding your business online!
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Website First Impressions
Think of the people who visit your site as blind dates. When you
open the door, your blind date usually knows whether they are
attracted to you within the first minute. How do they know? Easy. By
how you look, what you say, and how you treat them. If you open the
door wearing the same clothes you wore in 1987, say, "Wow, from my
friend's description, I thought you would be a lot better looking,"
and sneeze in your dates face, not only will you never get a second
date, your date will run for his/her life.

The same rules apply to your website. When people do a search for
something they want to buy, they usually have many sites to choose
from. If yours does not impress them right off the bat, it takes
about five seconds for them to find another that does show them what
they want to see. There are plenty of other fish in the sea. You are
just one among many.

So what do people want to see, you ask? There are 3 standards of
website excellence, and they are the same standards you would use to
judge your blind date:

1. How it looks:
If I visit two different websites with the purpose of buying
something, and those two websites sold the exact same product at the
exact same price, I would buy from the site that looked better--the
one whose design made me think, "Wow, these guys must be making good
money if they can afford to hire a good graphic designer." The more
money I think the business makes, the more I will identify them with
value and professionalism.

The bottom line is, you need to make web design a priority. There
are plenty of people out there who have graphic designer friends
willing to design their website for next to nothing. Those people
have the advantage because, even if they aren't the superior
business, visitors will perceive them to be superior.

If you don't have any connections with graphic designers willing to
do you a favor, see if you can find a starving artist willing to
design the layout of your site. If anyone has an eye for aesthetics
and is willing to work cheap, it's a starving artist. Once you know
what your site should look like, either you or a web designer can
bring the artist's vision to life.

Take the time to design something that represents your business or
product well. Don't just throw up a website with gaudy wallpaper,
out of focus pictures and graphics placed at random. Remember that
first moment when you open the door to a blind date. Remember how
much appearances count for in this world.

2. What you say:
You want the person who visits your site to know instantly what
you're selling and why they should buy from you. Visual
representation has a lot to do with this, but you need to watch what
you say as well. You must be clear, concise and focused. Don't make
the visitor decipher a cryptic headline full of spelling and grammar
errors. Include headlines that shout to the reader exactly what you
want them to hear.

Go over your copy a hundred times if you must, or have a proofreader
edit your copy. You must be sure that a potential customer won't get
lost in a stream of consciousness narrative about your product or
company, and come out saying, "What was that all about?"

Above all, think carefully about the colors you use for your font.
Make sure there is plenty of contrast between the background and the
font color. Never put a yellow font on an orange background. Also,
be careful with white fonts on black backgrounds. If the letters are
large, they will be easy enough to read, but if they are 14 point or
smaller, your visitor won't even bother with the copy. No matter
what colors you use, always make your font large enough. If people
have to squint to read your copy, it is too small.

3. How you treat them:
It is socially acceptable for a woman to keep her date waiting,
letting him know that she doesn't consider him a priority. However,
it is not acceptable for your site to keep a visitor waiting. If
your site takes too long to load, the visitor will simply find
another site.

Do what you can to ensure that your site will download quickly. One
easy thing to remember is that, if you have too much content on a
page, it's going to take a long time to load. Also, if you are on a
free server, and you are sharing a port with others, your loading
time will be lengthy. More specifically, if you have images that are
uncompressed, they could be at 70k or 80k, as opposed to compressed
images that look almost identical and load at a preferable rate of
5k or 10k.

Author Sam Serio, himself an Internet Marketer, offers information
and marketing resources to small businesses and individuals who want
to make their web sites more profitable. He is currently offering a
Free 7-lesson mini-course entitled "Climbing the Ladder of Internet
Success". For more information please visit
www.morninglightmarketing.com or email samserio@...
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That's it, folks. I hope you've learned something, and that you'll
pass this newsletter on to friends and business partners that it
would help.

Have a great day, and enjoy the warmer weather!

Will Hanke
Lighthouse Technologies
www.techlh.com