Facebook Page Tab Creation

Today, while creating a custom fan page for a client, I noticed that Facebook changed the way you create a Page Tab. We went from FBML to iFrames just a a few months back, but now they have changed how you set them up. Well, there is one constant in life and that is "change". Right?

Now, for those of you who have never created a Fan Page on Facebook, this video may confuse you. I will be creating a video that will show you how to create a Fan Page soon. But for now, this video will step you through how to setup the Page Tab (such as a Welcome, About, etc.).

This video was inspired by The Tech Addicts

As a business owner, I knew I needed to switch my website over to WordPress, but was honestly terrified to do that alone.  After getting a glowing report from another business owner, I contacted Patrick to see if he could help me switch everything over and then coach me as I learned to deal with the site myself.  He quickly did the switch over, rapidly made little tweaks I wanted, and patiently answered my questions.  I am delighted with his work and happier still to find someone I trust.  

I recommend him highly!

Jeannette Webb

GO TO WEBSITE

I re-designed Jeff Bliss's website over from a Yellow Pages site. Jeff was looking for a more clean and modern look for the new site. It was a lot of fun building the site for him and Jeff is very pleased with the results. You can look at his case study I did on him after a couple of months of marketing his new site.

Matt English of Tool Organization Services sought me out to re-design their website. I am currently in development of the site, but will get you more details as I get closer to completion.

8/1/2011 – Site has been completed for a couple weeks now and has already been bringing in new customers for Tool Organization Service. Chuck and Matt are very excited for the future of their business. You can see their testimonial below:
 

”Great job on the website! I really appreciate that you were able to quickly grasp the unique nature of our business and create a site that our customers understand and can navigate easily. It’s already working-customers are calling and emailing-directly in response to the website.

The videos are a wonderful addition. In one recent call, an owner said that after he saw the videos, he was convinced that Tool Organization Service is worth every penny. My team is in Arkansas right now, organizing his tools!

Thanks for a job well done!”

- Matt English, Owner

You have heard it many times over the past few months about how the growth of mobile phone users is growing in leaps and bounds, and how often we use them. Here are some startling facts…

Those who own a mobile phone:

• Always have it on them. They'd rather give up their cable tv, chocolate and high-heels than their smart phone – really!
   
• Are always connected. In one week (according to Google):
  • 81% browsed the internet
  • 77% Used a search engine
  • 48% watched a video
  • 63% accessed a social network
     
• Are using them almost everywhere:
  • 39% are using it while going to the…. the bathroom! Next, we might have smart toilets – LOL!
  • 33% are using it while watching tv, a movie or listening to music.
  • 22% are using it while reading the newspaper.

All on their smart phones… 

As you can see, smart phones have become an integral part of our society and a way to access a multitude of information – including the ultimate shopping companion. 79% of the smart phone users are using them to help with shopping. 

• Of those 79%:
  • 70% are using them in the store
  • 54% of them to find a retailer
  • 49% to compare prices
  • 48% to get coupons and promotions
  • 44% to get product information and read reviews
  • 34% to search in-store inventory

These percentages are huge and can make a huge impact on how you target your prospects using mobile marketing (we'll get to that). If that doesn't make your eyes "pop" out of your head, then here is one of the biggest parts of this whole mobile user phenomenon:

74% are making a purchase in-store, on their pc or on their phone based on a smartphone search.

WOW!!!

Where Do These Mobile Users Do Most Of Their Shopping?

It's a big enough eye opener with the above statistics – right? But where do these smartphone users do their purchasing of these products and services?

Right in their own backyards! No, not their literal backyard – . 95% of these smartphone users are looking for local information. They are using their phones to find the nearest pizza place, nearest store that carries that item they are looking for, movie show times to which gas station has the lowest prices.

When they do find the information they are looking for, 88% will act on that within a day by either calling or visiting that business.

How You Can Tap Into This Marketplace of Ready Buyers

This is a market that your business should be targeting using mobile marketing. Mobile marketing is a way to reach your target market on their mobile/smartphones using a mobile optimized site and text messaging.

I know that I have given you a lot of numbers and statistics, but let's look at just a few more. 

Here is how BIG mobile marketing is:

• 91% of Americans own a cell phone
• 95% of cell phones receive text messaging
• 5 billion (Yes, that's a "B") text messages sent D-A-I-L-Y!
• 98% of those 5 billion text messages are read within 15 minutes.

You see, if you are not using mobile marketing, you are missing out on new business and responsive customers.

But, don't give up. One of the best ways to get found by these mobile users is to have a mobile optimized website. A large portion of local businesses around the country don't even have a mobile website that gives these customers a good mobile user experience.

Users (your prospective customers) don't want to have to scroll on their phones to read or find the information they are looking for. Some site are so bad on mobile phones, that the users don't stay, but click off and go to a more friendlier site – mobile friendly that is!

If you have a website and it's not optimized for mobile – I highly recommend getting one created so you can tap into the huge mobile marketplace – reaching those who are already searching for your product or service.

If you don't already have a website, you can still create a mobile website that you can use to market your products or services to this large and growing market.

I hope you see that the mobile marketplace is a huge opportunity for your business. Please let us know your thoughts about mobile marketing by posting a comment below or on our facebook page.

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I'm here to help you build a successful and growing business using WordPress and online marketing efforts. Please connect with me on Facebook. You are what makes up Lapeer Website Design!

Patrick Whitson has spent more than twenty years in the computer field programming and designing web sites for such companies as J. Walter Thompson, Ford, MSX Intl., White Castle, Delphi and many small to mid-sized businesses. Moving out of corporate America, he decided to work specifically with local businesses to help them market online using their own website. He has worked with many small businesses and is seeing them grow and bring in more customers with Lapeer Website Design.

Chiropractor Burton MI – Abundant Life Chiropractic Website Review

This website review will give some key factors that will help bring more customer interaction on your website and how to rank higher in the search engines to drive more "targeted" traffic – thus bringing in more business to your practice.

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This website review will give some key factors that will help bring more customer interaction on your website and how to rank higher in the search engines to drive more "targeted" traffic – thus bringing in more business.

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This website review will give some key factors that will help bring more customer interaction on a website and how to rank higher in the search engines to drive more "targeted" traffic – thus bringing in more business.

The long awaited ending of this story is here! I apologize for the wait, but above all I pray that my story will help, encourage and push you to never give up on your dreams.

Let's continue from where we left off…

Was There Any Hope Of Providing For My Family?

So, here I was baffled that our bank was foreclosing on our house and I had no job to speak of to pay our bills. As you recall, I lost my job in October of 2009. Up to the time when the bank told us they were going to foreclose on our home, I was earning income by doing computer repair and trying to setup a computer business.

I wasn't bringing in much, and my wife approached me one day and asked if I should apply for unemployment benefits. I didn't want to! 

Unfortunately, money was tight, so I reluctantly decided to apply for it online.

This was around late January 2010. The unemployment checks started coming about two weeks later and did provide a little relief financially. This gave me a little space to focus on getting more work and starting my business to better provide for my family.

The "System" Bites Back – Hard!

You have probably heard of the movie "The Matrix". I'm sure you understood the plot – about being caught up in the "System" and realizing that the world you are in isn't "reality" but all a part of the Matrix.

Well, we place ourselves in the "System" when we seek benefits from the "State" (Read government) such as unemployment, welfare, etc. Much similar to the Matrix. Stay with me here…

When I applied for unemployment, here in Michigan, the UIA (Unemployment Insurance Agency) will contact your previous employer to see if you qualify for receiving unemployment benefits. When I applied in January 2010 I was approved to receive benefits.

"So what is the problem?" you might ask. Well, in April of 2010, I received some correspondence from the UIA stating that my previous employer was appealing the UIA's determination for benefits. 

The gist of this process is that you can appeal twice to the UIA in writing to see if the UIA will repeal the initial determination. The UIA didn't, they replied to my previous employer that I was still qualified to receive benefits.

My previous employer persisted. This meant that I had to go before an Administrative Judge (who works for the "State" of Michigan) to plead my case to keep receiving benefits. I did some research on how to proceed and found out that I should be represented by a lawyer or someone selected by the State for counsel.

Being that I was already on unemployment (read poor house) I now had to pay an attorney to go to bat for me at this hearing so I can "keep" my benefits. What a joke! At any rate, I had to put my case together and be ready for the hearing.

The day of the hearing comes, I go before the Administrative Judge along with my previous employer to plead my case. It took about an hour of deliberation and then we left. The judge does not give an answer at the hearing. What they do is review what was said, look at evidence and then determine an action.

I received my letter from the Administrative judge a week later. Although, not a surprise, the judge overturned the UIA's original determination and I no longer was qualified for benefits. Not only that, I had to pay every cent of it back! Ha, ha!

That came out to over $9,000 dollars!!!

Whoa! How in the world was I going to pay that – when I was living off of what they just took away?

I contacted the attorney who I counseled with and he told me to send in a waiver of restitution to see if they will forgive the money owed. I ended up having to call the UIA, have them send me the form to fill out, filled it out and sent it in.

Two weeks or so later I get a letter from them stating that I didn't qualify for the forgiveness of the money owed. How nice of them!

They proceeded to send me "payment coupons" to pay for the over-payments made to me.

Facebook Leads To A Way Out – And Just In Time!

We are now somewhere in the vicinity of August 2010. I remember browsing on Facebook and I came across a lady by the name of Sandi Krakowski. Yes, the one with the pink hair! She was promoting a seminar in Indianapolis to bring a real change to your business and becoming successful doing it.

I believe I signed up for her 7-day WordPress video series. As a good marketer, she would send out follow-up messages to me and I was gulping them up. I kept on going back to her sales page for two weeks wanting to go to the seminar – but I just couldn't afford it.

One day I saw a post on Facebook, and she asked a question that if I could answer in four sentences or less what I would do if I had the chance to go to her seminar in Indy. She would then pick someone who answered and give them a gift.

Right at that moment, I said "This is my chance, fill it out!". So, I refreshed the Facebook page and I noticed that no one had answered yet. I jumped on it like hot on fries and gave her a short but specific answer and then I went about my day.

I got on her call that night and near the end of it she said that she had selected a winner from those who had replied to her post, and the winner is….

Patrick Whitson!

At that point I was jumping out of my skin (figuratively) and praising God that I won a ticket to Sandi's seminar that was coming up.

In the midst of all the bad, ugly things that were going on in my life, here was a chance to go get some education on how I can be successful in business from someone who has done it in the past and is doing it now.

That was the launching of my website marketing and design business.

Dreams Can Come True – I'm Living Proof They Can.

All along through the mess, the financial hardship and losing my home – one thing I always continued to pursue was starting my own business. 

Yes, like many, I wasn't exactly sure "what" I was going to do or how – but I did manage to make enough money from MY business to pay for the trip down to Indy and for the hotel stay there.

We had a "meet and greet" the Friday night before the first day of the seminar and I met some really great people – who were just like me. Wanting to make a better life, NOT just for themselves, but to help others. Some to help little babies, start ministries, or use their gifts to build up and lift up others.

Many of you (you know who you are) I have already worked with, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for you wanting to use me to serve your business needs. I have met and worked with many more who were not even at Sandi's event – just through the relationships that came out of that group on that one weekend in Indianapolis, Indiana.

My business is moving forward and I am living my dream. Please don't misunderstand me though, I'm not where I want to be – yet!

But I am working on putting systems in place that will allow me the health, time and freedom to spend less time working in my business and more working on my family. 

It's an adventure my friends and it happens one step at a time.

Do you have a dream to start your own business? Tell us your story and how starting your own business has impacted your life by leaving a comment below. I look forward to reading them.

Sorry this follow-up to my first article is soooo late. I have been in the middle of a move and it got crazy. Back and forth from the old place to the new, cleaning up the old place, getting rid of a lot of stuff – BUT we are now fully situated in our new place. The next step is to get things organized and put in place.

Let's continue from where I left off….

The Downhill Slide – Trying To Push A Snowball Up A Hill

The year is 2007 and we just went through bankruptcy – except for the house that is. We wanted to keep the house as we didn't want to move away from the country and the ten acres we were on. Something about nature and having the freedom to run through the woods and see the kids enjoy the outdoors kinda got to us.

With the bankruptcy behind us, we were a little less stressed and were hopeful to get back on our feet. Even at this time I was still not working full time and although we were up on our mortgage payments, we were behind on our property taxes (which cannot go through bankruptcy).

There's a little story to the property tax issue. Basically, we weren't given the homestead papers when we first moved in and when the tax bill came – it was a surprise to say the least! The township wouldn't correct the mistake and we had to pay it anyway. This put us behind the eight ball from the start – with the property taxes.

Not working a full-time job, I did what I could to make ends meet. Anything from computer repair, programming, etc. so I could pay the mortgage, feed my family and pay the bills. At the same time, I always had my dream in the back of my mind. I built a relationship with a guy who was starting his own company that focused on Managed IT Services called U.S. Teks (If you are in the Helena, AL area, look him up.). He asked me to be a sales rep. for his company for the Michigan area, but frankly, my heart just wasn't in it and I knew deep down it wasn't what I wanted to do.

The Sun Started Peeking Through The Clouds

With funds low, and hope even lower – I started putting out resumes and responding to job offers online and through contracting companies. In late 2007, I ended going to work for a software company that created application tailored toward the healthcare industry. I worked there for six months and ended up leaving due to personal reasons and went back to work for a previous company (also in the healthcare industry).

I was brought on-board due to a good reputation with the people I worked with in the company back in 2006 and because they wanted to implement a Data Warehouse for the claims data they produce for the State of Michigan. This is what I was waiting for (atleast to start bringing in some decent income).

The company needed a lot of re-organization when it came to how they were managing their applications that ran the biggest part of their business – medical claims for Medicaid. I jumped right in and started taking a long, hard look at how things could be improved and how it could be made better, more efficient, etc.

Here Comes The Rain Again

I seemed to run into opposition at every corner…but I figured, I'm the new guy, so it's going to take some time. I continued to do my job and improve the application that I was running for their monthly claims processing. One thing was nagging at me though… I was originally brought on to design and build a healthcare data warehouse.

It's been almost a year, and not a whole lot has been dedicated to that project. I've mainly been doing a glorified operator's job instead of what I was skilled at – programming and database design. At the one year mark, the company hired on a new supervisor – and boy was that a BIG mistake!

I'll spare you the in-depth details, but needless to say this new supervisor was out to get me from the get go. I know, you probably think it was all in my head – but I lived it and it wasn't purty – know what I mean! When someone doesn't take you seriously, thinks you aren't pulling your load and tries to sabotage the work you put in before they arrived – what would you think?

At one point, I verbally lashed out at her while she was at my desk in the 4-space cubicle – although later I apologized – the damage was already done and I had a feeling that I wasn't going to be working their much longer. Lo and behold, October 1st, 2009 this new supervisor came to my desk and told me that the Director (my previous supervisor) wanted to speak to me in her office (this was around 5 PM). I got up, locked my computer and followed her. 

Walking behind her, I walk past my previous supervisor's office following her further down the hall to the final destination – the human resources office! I walked in with the new supervisor, who then sat down next to my previous supervisor (now the director of our dept.) and the HR person in her chair.

Ever get that feeling when you walk into a room – that something is up?

This was one of those moments. I proceeded to sit down at the far end of the table facing my old and new supervisors and the HR person to the right of me. There was some brief discussion and then I was given the…

PINK SLIP!

That's right! They let me go. 

I told my wife a few months before this happened that I was not happy with what I was doing, not only that, the company deceived me because I was not working on the project they brought me onboard for. Eighteen months working for a company and not even utilizing a fraction of what I knew and was trained to do – very sad indeed. More so for them, then for myself.

Needless to say, I was quite relieved that I was let go. I remember vividly, when I got home I didn't tell my wife right away. I waited until later, asked her if she wanted a cup of wine (calm the nerves – ya know!) as I wanted to talk to her. She knew something was up.

I sat back on the couch calmly and said to her that I was let go from my job. She, of course, knew I wasn't happy with my job but now we have no source of income. To add insult to injury, a couple of weeks later I received a phone call from our bank. They stated that I was behind on the mortgage and wanted to know if I was going to make the payment. I told the bank that I wouldn't be making the payment because I lost my job.

Their reply, "That's all we needed to know."

I thought to myself – "What kind of reply is that?" Aren't they going to try and work a deal or possibly reduce the payment until I get back on my feet? Nothing!

About a month later we received the foreclosure proceeding paper work. We had six months (so we thought, if you are on 3 acres or more you have a year to redeem) to redeem the house. Later we found out since we were on 10 acres of land, we had one year to redeem the house. To redeem, we would have to pay up to date the mortgage, interest and property taxes. There was no way we could do it, we knew ultimately we were going to lose our home.

I know that my story has been a rough ride, with a lot of downs and very few ups (a reverse roller coaster ) but the sun will shine through as you keep focused on your dream. I'll tell that part of it next.

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I'm here to help you build a successful and growing business using WordPress and online marketing efforts. Please connect with me on Facebook. You are what makes up Lapeer Website Design!

Patrick Whitson has spent more than twenty years in the computer field programming and designing web sites for such companies as J. Walter Thompson, Ford, MSX Intl., White Castle, Delphi and many small to mid-sized businesses. Moving out of corporate America, he decided to work specifically with local businesses to help them market online using their own website. He has worked with many small businesses and is seeing them grow and bring in more customers with Lapeer Website Design.