By now, most business owners know just how important it is to be able to reach an online audience. Whatever field you work in, whatever products or services you offer the chances are you will be able to increase your reach and hopefully market share by appealing to potential clients and customers over the Internet.
But for those who are unfamiliar with the how things work in cyberspace, taking a business online can be a daunting prospect. Here we look at a few of the key areas that will need to be addressed if you want to take your interests into cyberspace and reap the rewards of online advertising and operations.
Creating a Wonderful Website
A website is like an online office – you need yours to be welcoming, inviting and easy to use – as well as being clearly signposted so the right people can find you. Things to think about when putting together a website include:
· Design: A good website will be easy on the eye, and users will be able to find the things they need without any problems. Avoid garish colours and huge swathes of text. Make sure menus are logical and keep the number of clicks necessary to reach key pages to a minimum. A website is a big part of your online business so if you are unsure about it then get some professional help and bring on a web designer to help you make the most of this opportunity. · Search Engine Optimisation: SEO is all about making your website appeal to search engines. You need to make sure that your website is optimised for the keywords your potential clients may be using. SEO starts on your own site, and includes everything from your content to your tags. Getting this right in the early stages can save a lot of time and effort later on. · Security: If you plan on taking client details or payments online then your site will need to be demonstrably secure in order to be deemed trustworthy. If you are unsure of the options open to you, approach your preferred IT support people for advice on locking down your operation.
Bringing in Business Online
While having a website is a great start, if you want to make a real splash in cyberspace you will need to make sure that people are finding you. There are a number of ways to promote your business online including:
· Blogging: If you have great knowledge in your field then think about sharing it with an online audience through a blog. Well written blog posts with useful and interesting information that have been optimised for your own targeted keywords can be a great way of bringing a new audience to your website. · Social Networking: Everyone who is anyone is on sites such as Facebook and Twitter, so well maintained profiles on these sites are a great way to get word out about your operations. Social networking sites must be regularly updated and must engage with the audience. Join in discussions relevant to your field and elicit others opinions on issues in your industry – social networking is not simply about pushing your own agenda.
He has just sold his site and service to Kevin Ham. Ham is a dot-com mogul whose portfolio includes around $300 million worth of domain names.
Billed as “the man who owns the Internet,” Ham owns domains such as God.com and Satan.com and routinely pays six-figure prices for URLs he likes.
Bao launched the app not too long ago; its purpose was to solicit compliments from users’ online friends. The user would simply post or tweet a unique URL along with a phrase like, “Enter three words that describe me.” The app would then collect (often anonymous) three-word descriptions and track which words came up most often.
Immad Akhund is co-founder of Heyzap. Heyzap is a website which primarily helps game developers, distribute their social games outside of social networking sites, whilst still retaining the features that made them all so popular.
The site was launched in January 2009 and they managed to do enough to secure Y-Combinator funding by the end of March. This start up period can be such hard work but it can be the most exciting time.
The various widgets and tools on offer allow website and blog owners to allow these social games to their own sites and at the same time increase traffic and user retention. The company was founded in 2009 and is not Immad Akhunds first venture.
Immad who studied Computer Science at Cambridge until his graduation in 2005, also started a company called Revamp. Revmap provided location based services with more of a customer focus.
He was also co-founder of Y-Combinator Clickpass, which was sold in 2008.
Immad loves coming up with ideas and seeing them come true. There is a great satisfaction when an idea is built up and completed.
Entrepreneur Immad is interested in sports, travel and self improvement, He also has his own blog which many people have these days, but it really is a great tool in promoting yourself and generating traffic for your site.
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If you are a startup entrepreneur and you are in London this Friday then you have a chance to be interviewed for the new “Butcher’s Bunch” (it’s a working title…) slot on TechCrunchTV appearing in September.
They will be interviewing entrepreneurs and people on the tech scene across Europe for TEchCrunch TV. But to start off with, we’re doing some quick interviews at the new co-working and events space for tech people in London, TechHub
How’s it going to work? Simple: come along this Friday any time between 11am and 4pm and they will interview you. It’ll be first come first served basis, There’s no guarantee you will make the final cut but.. you have to be in it to win it… right?
This is all going to get a little more organised in time, but in the meantime, come on down, your five minutes of fame awaits you…
19 years old Brian Wong is the founder of kiip.me, a mobile advertising platform that is bridging the mobile and gaming worlds.
Before starting kiip, Brian working at digg in business development, he is also the CEO of followformation, a tool for Twitter users that would like to make sense out of following.
The tool helps simplify the first few steps by dividing the top people on Twitter by categories, and automating the entire following process.
Users are able to choose their categories of interest and preview the people in these categories. Users can also create a custom category if it is not on the current top list.
Brian is also a global inspirational speaker and has spoken at the Tweethouse in Los Angeles and in Austin, TEDx Miami, the F5 Expo in Vancouver along with Malcolm Gladwell, Digital Hollywood LA, the Youth Marketing Conference in Singapore, TagMe Medellin in Colombia, OpenWebAsia in Malaysia, and was recently lauded in the Vancouver Sun as a “a budding internet visionary”.
He was also recently a recipient of the Top 20 under 20 awards in all of Canada.
And also, he is a Bachelors of Commerce graduate from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia after skipping four grades on his way.
In a recent post on techcrunch, he has been able to get True Ventures partner Phil Black who has invested $200,000 in Kiip.me.
Brian certainly has everything in front of him; we will be waiting for the launch of kiip.me
Hey Guys, I had the opportunity to interview the beautiful and multi-talented media artist Sheena, Sheena has used social media to share her passion for music, TV and film.
She just finished her new video on youtube, check it out!
Hope you enjoy the interview.
Hi Sheena, How are you doing?
I’m doing great thank you!
So can you quickly give us some background information about yourself?
That’s an easy question (laughing)! In a nutshell I would say I’m a Media Artist, with roots as a singer-songwriter. In today’s digital age, I find myself attracted to various areas along with music, like TV/Film, and of course the Internet has been good to me as well!
How would you describe your style of music?
My music is really an amalgamation of many different styles. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been influenced by different corners of the world. I grew up in Canada, studied jazz, and opera and always loved R&B/Pop music.
My grandfather, who was a composer in India taught me to appreciate Indian classical music from an early age. And, to add to the mix, I lived in Tokyo a few years ago and that really opened my ears and my heart to a whole new musical world.
What type of music do you listen to?
I love any kind of music that speaks to me. The message can be found in a catchy beat, a beautiful storyline, or even something weird and quirky that catches my attention. I love music that is moving.
Doesn’t matter what the style is, as long as I can feel the passion behind the beat or words, I’ll keep listening.
Who are your musical inspirations?
I cannot just name one or two people who have inspired me. I am really lucky that way because my inspiration stems from everything and everyone around me.
We all have music in us. Of course, my family and friends contribute the most to my songwriting, because I write from my experiences (or theirs!); and, in terms of inspirations to sing, the list starts with my first choir director and range to my favourite singers and songwriters today.
A person can be inspired just about anywhere and I think the trick is just to be receptive to it. I once heard that songs are already written, we just have to find and share them. I believe that 100%.
At what age did you realise that singing was a career path you wanted to pursue?
I’ve never really wanted to do anything else to be honest. Of course, I’ve had bad days, weeks or even months, but when music hits me hard I shift my focus to screen projects (nothing that I can reveal yet I’m afraid!) or to the SheenaMelwani.com world! How can you really complain when you do what you love every day?
What will you say has been some of the benefits of posting your videos online, especially on YouTube and the power the internet has given individuals and talents to be able to share their passion with the world?
I was in Japan when I posted my first video on YouTube, and thought it would be a good way to stay connected with my friends back home. It was my way to share my voice and music with my circle of friends and family (and I thought a few others might watch as well, and that was fine by me).
Now, two years and over 10 million hits later, people from all over the world are encouraging me every day to finish my album, to sing another song on SheenaTV, to help guide their own budding careers. I get messages in English, French, Spanish, Hindi, Japanese, German, Portuguese – the list goes on and on!
The internet has literally brought us all together and it’s thanks to YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and such sites that independent artists now also have direct access to a worldwide fan base.
Why did you decide to start SheenaTV?
I first started SheenaTV because I was contacted by Yahoo! to be one of the very first broadcasters for a beta project called Yahoo! Live. I thought it would be a nice way for people to get to know the real me and agreed. Ironically, the Yahoo! program died but SheenaTV went from an average of 50 viewers an episode to close to a 1000 – thankfully not everyone chats at the same time!
People enjoy connecting in ‘real-time’ and SheenaTV allows me to do so directly with my fans. Apart from playing the part of the ‘Human Jukebox‘ (people don’t seem to care if I know all the words to their favourite songs), I also sample some original music, discuss issues the group wants to discuss and sometimes give everyone a ‘behind-the-scenes’ view of a video being filmed.
What do you outside music, what other projects are you involved in?
I’m into a lot of things other than music! Music may be my heart, but it is not the only thing in my life! I spend almost every morning at the gym, enjoy practicing yoga, love to cook, and most of all – love to eat!
What should we be expecting from you in the near future?
Many wonderful things I hope! I have an album in process, an iPhone app in the making, some screen ideas somewhere in the mix and I’m just going with the flow. Its not about the destination, but the journey, right?
What has been your greatest challenge?
When you handle everything independently, it really takes discipline and motivation to keep moving forward. I think this has been my biggest challenge thus far. Somedays, you can wake up and feel like you’ve moved backwards, and that’s not a nice feeling!
Lucky for me, that doesn’t happen too often, and when it does the people in my life are great at getting me back on my feet. And, when that doesn’t work I just get on SheenaMelwani.com or Facebook and seeing people commenting from around the world, at all times of the day and night reminds me immediately why I do what I do.
What advice do you have for those who want to pursue a career as a singer?
Don’t take no for answer. If you want to be a professional singer, then keep singing and don’t be afraid to put yourself and your music out there. Not everyone is going to like your voice, but you have to keep pushing. And in this day and age, with all these social media tools right at your fingertips, there really is no excuse anymore. Sing because you want to sing, not because you want people to listen!
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
A lot can happen in five years! I hope I’m doing more of what I’m doing now. Working on various media projects for a wider audience. I am a big believer in destiny, so I too am excited about what destiny may have in store for me!
Any last words for your fans and the readers of YHP?
Of course, I always have something else to say! Thank you for watching me, listening to my music, visiting my website, and simply for believing in me. It makes all the work much easier to do when you see people enjoying the final product, so a big “Thank You” – from the bottom of my heart for making my experience such a wonderful one.
Thanks for your time Sheena
You are very welcome. Thank you for your time as well!
Just recently done an interview with Zae, a young music artist from Philadelphia.
Hope you enjoy the interview!
Hey Zae, How are you doing? So cool of you to join us on YHP
Hey, I’m doing great! Thanks so much for this opportunity.
So before we move on, tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Zae, and I’m an aspiring singer from Philadelphia.
How did you get into music?
I never really known how I got into music, all I know is it’s something that always caught my attention. Whether it was records, tapes, instruments, I was always around music stuff as a young child.
How long have you been singing? Who inspired musically as a child?
I’ve been singing ever since I could remember. I was always inspired by artist such as Brian McKnight, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson.
Do you have other siblings who are into music?
I do have an older cousin that also sings. She is amazing, might I add. When I was really small, we always sung together. I was always bugging her to help me sing. After she got me started, she couldn’t stop me. Not even until this day! (Laughter!)
How do you classify your music?
I like my music to speak for itself, but if I had to choose a genre, I would say Pop/R&b.
Why did you start posting cover songs on YouTube and how has that helped your music career?
I started posting videos for fun. I never really knew how many people watch other people sing covers. I didn’t expect to get famous off it though, just to create a buzz for myself. YouTube has brought me many opportunities such as management and also a chance to sing the national anthem for the Philadelphia Phillies.
What’s the best thing about doing what you do now?
The best thing about what I do is just making people happy. I’ve noticed that many people appreciate what I love to do, and that’s what keeps me going. Also getting to know new people is awesome!
What’s the downside?
The downside is the music industry is a very crazy business. There are a lot of barriers you have to face, but you have to go in with a strong mind and thick skin.
Who are your inspirations in the music industry?
My inspirations in the music industry today are all the young artist doing their thing such as Lady Gaga, Justin Beiber, Charice, Travis Garland, Karina Pasian, and many others making a name for themselves.
What’s been your most memorable moment so far?
My most memorable moment had to be singing for the first time at my middle school. It was the first time I told them I can sing. I sung “I Believe In You and Me” by The Four Tops, and they were scared to death for me. They were pleasantly surprised and they gave me a standing ovation. It was an amazing feeling.
What are your current projects? Upcoming ones?
As of right now, I am working on my demo for the Record Labels. That’s the main goal. It’s almost done and it’s sounding great! I can’t wait for you guys to hear it! Then off to shop to the Labels!
What is your opinion about the state of music today?
I believe music today is basically about making you feel good and keeping you entertained. Everyone now-a-days want to be entertained, so the biggest artist today are those entertainers thinking outside the box.
What do you do outside music for fun?
Outside music, I basically like to do regular things like hanging out with friends and family, going to the movies and the mall, i love swimming, and I really enjoy travelling to different places. Oh, I also love texting!
When can we expect a full length album from you?
Maybe by next year, maybe sooner I’ll keep you guys updated!
Thanks for your time Zae
No problem, Thank you! & don’t forget to stay following me via YouTube
The dream of being a boss at a young age – rarely exist, however Matt Wegrzyn is only 22 and such concept is his reality. His genuine desire for the Internet began at the age of 15, where he was a developer within the website ColdFusion.
Complex issues occurred, as he was a developer of ColdFusion, these issue helped form ideas within him. From the age of 17, he started his journey in becoming a domainer.
His role as a domainer is presently notice via his website bodis.com. His first step as a domain began as he started buying the domain of forums, considering the fact that forums regarding technology and the internet are areas that he aims to dwell in within his own website.
Investors aren’t always easy to find, neither are banks that are looking to give loan money to a teenager.
In Matt’s case, his parents became his bank by loaning money to him in the early days of bodis.com.
Currently, his domains are roughly worth a six-figure number. Bodis.com began in January 2007, and is present till this very day. This website is currently a 3 in 1 systems for people with domains. The system basically helps, sell, buys and park domains.
Good researching helps an individual, to have a stronger mind frame of what needs to be done within their area.
Matt personally taught himself regarding marketing, which helped, sharpened his entrepreneurial skills. His beginnings were small, yet he believed on the concept of never giving up, This is his advice for upcoming entrepreneurs.
Jude Gomila is encumbered with bags full of determination, as he is currently an uprising resourceful entrepreneur for game players. Education is his foundation, due to his personal developments academically.
He has successfully obtained both a degree and masters in Manufacturing business and finance. He studied within United Kingdom’s top university – University of Cambridge. His entrepreneurial skills were sharpened during his time within the entrepreneur society within his university years.
Mr. Gomila started Sugar Global, which is a consumer electronics industry. This industry specializes in the sale of digital photo frames to UK stores. He also became a co-founder of helpthirst.com.
His role was creating an Internet advertisement website called helpthirst.com for the charity (word vision), along with gaining support from commercial participators. This website consists of a game in testing an individual’s memory, regarding the statistics that they are being asked. Once, one answer is the correct answer, a cup of water is donated to the charity.
Jude is also one of the co-founders for the website “heyzap.com”. Heyzap began in August 2008, and is known for satisfying the needs of game creators and players.
Heyzap is engraved with forum for discussion to be held regarding their favorite games, or ways of how one can improve. Tips on how to have social game on an individual’s website is also given. Jude Gormila has done so much within the space of two years, the next few years to come bigger and better things are promised.
I Just had a look once again at the speakers confirmed for the Techcrunch Disrupt 2010, They Look to have a great line up of speakers, I’m sure you will agree with me, Have a look
Let me explain, Techcruch will be hosting an event called Disrupt 2010.
TechCrunch Disrupt is a three-day, single-track conference and startup competition to immerse you in the debate about what’s changing in media and technology right now, what’s causing it and what we need to do about it to survive and thrive in real time. TechCrunch Disrupt gathers the leaders and innovators of the technology and media industries to give you deep insights into the creative destruction happening right now. The big changes. And the subtle trends. Tablet computing. Smart phones. Real-time conversations. The geo-stream. The evolution of advertising. Rich media platforms. Software in the cloud. And social media. All of these things are connected, and are converging in different ways.
Tickets are Hot and Crazy, I had to look twice..Yes thats the price…Have a look
Will you be at the event? I’m sure it will definitely be worth the money, considering the number of investors and key contact, connectors that will be swimming all over the place..
