I bought my son’s domain name and set up his email before he was even born. Here’s why it was a great move.
Secrets to growing your business quickly
I’m proud to say that I built my multimillion-dollar enterprise with no debt and no investors. It’s rewarding for me to help the many small business owners who call and need a hand getting their company off the ground or breaking past a big hurdle. I’ve been there myself.
Here’s my advice from the trenches.
1. Know your competition
Unless you’re going rogue with an all-new product or service, your customers already exist and spend their money elsewhere. Competitor research is one of the best ways to get a feel for what works and doesn’t work in your industry.
It’s also an intelligent way to understand your customer’s needs, including what they expect to pay and how much you can earn.
Find a handful of companies doing what you hope to do and be a student. “How much can I learn here?”
- Study their websites. What stands out and what isn’t so great? You can monitor website changes over time with Visualping. This free tool allows you to enter a website you want to track, and you’ll get email alerts any time that site changes. You’ll know if your competitor created an excellent new landing page copy or swapped out photos. Tap or click for a direct link to try it out.
- Follow your competitors on social media and subscribe to their newsletters. Take note of any posts that generate a high number of comments or shares.
- Sign up for Google Alerts for your business name, your competitors, and an industry term or two that makes sense. Tap or click here for steps to set up a Google Alert. I suggest you go with weekly alerts, as daily alerts can get overwhelming.
2. Brand yourself with a memorable domain
A strong web presence is essential; securing a great domain name is the first step. You want something easy to remember, clear, and concise. No one is going to remember a six-word URL.
Doctors, lawyers or other professionals who use their names for their businesses have an advantage. Hey, my website is Komando.com.
How much will a domain cost you? Let’s use GoDaddy as an example. For a .com address, you’ll spend about $25 annually, paying just a penny for your first year with a three-year purchase.
Of course, the best domain idea means nothing if it’s taken. Namechk shortcuts the process for you. Enter your idea and see if it is registered or open. We’re not talking just .com or .net, either. It checks for .us, .info, .biz and lots more.
Unsecure page error: 5 things to try if you get this warning
There are countless threats on the internet, from scams to malware-infested websites. Then there are unsecured websites, which your browser warns you about. If you get a message that says, “Your connection is not private,” you might jolt in alarm.
Guide: How to use AI to create your own website in a few minutes
Does thinking of creating your own website conjure visions of tech jargon and coding mysteries? Well, fear not because the future of website building is here.
So many of you have called or emailed me asking for help getting your business, side hustle or hobby online. Let’s look at the AI website builder Hostinger so I can show you how easy it is these days. Seriously, the example site I whipped up took under 10 minutes.
Watch out for QR code scams being sent through email
Scan a QR code and you can get information such as recipes, menus, website links and links to download apps, coupons and more. Quick Response (QR) codes were created to track automotive parts, but they’re everywhere now.
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Plus, I give my advice to a guy that wants a company email without having to pay for a website or domain name. Also, I share my thoughts on social media’s response to the Nashville school shooting. NPR’s biggest podcast is canceled. What does that mean for the podcasts in general? And I’ve got 5 pro tips that will make your online dating profile stand out.
Don't scan that QR code! Hackers are using them to steal your info and money
Scan a QR code and you can get information such as recipes, menus, website links, contact information, links to download apps, coupons and more. Quick Response (QR) codes are a barcode that can be read by a digital device and were initially created to track automotive parts.