The other day, someone wrote into a Facebook group I follow asking for opinions on what to use to create a simple website for her business. They had done the work in other areas of their business and now was ready for a site. I clicked on Comment, excited to hopefully impart some wisdom.
There were literally about 70 comments posted, with more coming in. Everyone who commented left their version of assistance. Which platform to use, how they could set it up easily themselves, with most of the people offering their assistance to set up the website. Which is very nice and hopefully helpful. But it triggered me.
I used to think that maybe these groups would be a good place to post and help others, and as an Online Technology Business Coach share my expertise. And I still do. However…
… I learned that these groups are not going to provide the sustenance I was hoping for to help keep me excited about my business. They didn’t have to bring in business, but I was hoping that I could positively affect some of them who were trying to market their business online and wade through the many choices out there, by helping them understand what they wanted and how to look for and determine what was best for their goals. I love helping people with this.
I learned that there are so many comments offering different types of assistance and information, that I, an expert in all things web and technology, was just going to get lost in the sea of comments. And I learned that the people in this (and other groups) are not at the level of business that I offer. Hopefully they will be someday, but for now, they are mostly looking for an easy way through. A quick way through. A “cost effective” (i.e., cheap, free) way through.
If I left a comment, I would offer information regarding the following questions:
- Are you clear about what your goals are?
- Do you know what you want a website to do for you?
- Do you know what other tools to use to help meet your goals?
- Do you know how to use them and how they work together?
There are more questions to ask and more information to gather in order to put together the best plan for using online technology tools, for the level at which your business is at now, and where you want to go.
If you ask for simple, quick, “cost effective, i.e. free” from people that may not have the expertise that you need – you probably won’t end up with what you really want or what is best for your business.
If you don’t know or understand industry terminology, you probably won’t end up with what you really want or what is best for your business.
If you don’t know how to choose the tools you need and the best way to use them together to meet your goals, you probably won’t end up with what you really want or what is best for your business.
Here are some additional questions to consider:
Did you know that the very basic premise of your website is to educate your prospective clients about the work you do, why they need it (and YOU, in particular), and how they will benefit from it?
Are you using your website as a tool – one of many – to help position yourself as an expert in your field?
What tools are you using in your business to help educate your prospective clients and guide them to you?
Leave your answers to this question – or any other comments you have – in the Comments section below.
I look forward to reading the Comments!