Copy/Paste: Your best friend! Ours, too.

Copy/Paste = Quick & Correct

I’m sure I'm getting about as annoying as a scratched CD, repeating and repeating the fact that sites containing content that’s updated frequently do MUCH better in search results, as well as being more appealing to your visitors. To be blunt, this makes you money, because people can

Well, today I’m here to tell you one SUPER EASY way to send site revisions. This past week, one of our customers, Sue, looked at her site and some of the outdated content made her cringe. So, she emailed us a list of the changes she wanted. They were nicely described in the email and it took very little effort on our part to understand each piece of text she wanted changed. Yay Sue.

But, Sue could have made her revisions even MORE efficiently by using the Best Friend of anyone who’s faced a keyboard in the past 20 years, the Copy/Paste feature. Well, unless you’re still using a Smith-Corona…I could never find the Copy/Paste feature on mine.

Here’s how to get site revisions made QUICKLY and CORRECTLY:

Open your website in any browser…Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc.

Select the text you want to change and choose Copy.

Paste it into a Word Processing document (probably Microsoft Word, but you can use almost any word processing software).

Make the revisions right in the doc.
Let us know what page it’s for. Just indicate the page name for each revision. Say something like “On the About Us page, replace the first paragraph with this:
‘Yada and Yada have been in business for 21 years. Even after all that time they’re still speaking to each other….etc, etc.’”

Save the doc and email it to us as an attachment.

When we get that doc, WE use Copy/Paste the changes onto your site. Yikes that’s easy.

This is QUICK because:

- You don’t have to try to describe the place where the revisions belong.

- We don’t have to hunt for the exact spot where they belong.

- We don’t have to type (although we’re all really fast at it :).

The revisions are CORRECT because:

- YOU are the best person to describe your products or services, and the exact details of your offer, sale or other promo.

- Copy/Paste eliminates the need for Spell Checking twice. Once at your computer and once at ours.

But the best reason to use Copy/Paste? It SAVES YOU MONEY. We are very sincere in our goal to keep site maintenance costs as low as possible. And, by sending us content that’s ready to go, we can pop those revisions online MUCH faster, which translates into savings for you.

One note: Don’t spend a lot of time formatting your documents. Websites and Word processing docs don’t speak the same language, so we often need to format manually. You can certainly use formatting like bold, italics, sizes and bullets. But, special characters, text boxes, and other advanced formatting will be lost in translation. We’re glad to insert text to your specifications, but it’s a waste of time for you to format, then have us do so again.

OK, I guess there are two notes: Just so you know, we love to write and are always available to write content for you. And we’re good at it, too. But, for content that only needs a tweak here and there, this is the best method, because it's quick, easy and accurate.

STOP READING right here, if you know how to do the steps above. If you’re unclear about how to use Copy/Paste, attach docs to emails or anything else mentioned above, read on.

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To copy text from your website to a document:

Open a Word Processing document. This’ll be the program you use to type stuff on your computer, like letters, kids’ term papers, posters, flyers, etc. It can be Microsoft Word, Microsoft Works, WordPad or whatever you’re most comfortable with. The overwhelming majority of business computer users have Microsoft Word.

OR, you can find a little text program called WordPad on almost all PC’s. Click on All Programs, choose Accessories and click WordPad.

Go to your website and select the text you want to change. Just swipe it with your mouse.

Click Edit in the top menu of your web browser and choose Copy.

Go back to the doc you just opened. Click Edit in the top menu and choose Paste. Save the document where you know you can find it. (My Documents is a good place).

You can now have change the text to your heart's desire in the doc. It’s MUCH easier to edit than to re-type.

To attach a document to an email:

This process is entirely dependent upon which email program you use. MOST email programs indicate the attachment function with a paper clip icon. Look for the paper clip and click.

This will open a window. Browse to the document you’re attaching and select it.

Questions? That’s why we’re here. For YEARS we’ve been helping businesses sail through their work, so anything we can do to help your relationship with your confuser, er computer, just give us a buzz 262.767.8887. Better yet, ask a question on our blog.

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Speaking of website revisions, are you ready to put your Christmas specials online? Well, get going. How many purchases did you lose during the 2009 season to big, wealthy stores? Does the average Christmas shopper even know you sell gifts? Or potential gifts? Unique gifts? Gift cards? Personalized presents to prove your passion?

We really are committed to helping you thrive!

Can't write? Recycle!

"Find content for your website in your brochures, sell sheets, product lists and other printed material."][/caption]

Last week we talked about updating your website with new
content so it works better in searches and makes visitors want
to stick around. Here are more suggestions for updating website content.

If you’re like most people, the sight of a blank paper or screen gives you sweaty palms and a rapid heart rate. And, writing about yourself or your business puts panic into really high gear. But, I’m willing to bet a month’s hosting that you are literally SURROUNDED by website content that you haven’t thought of yet. So, no worries. The writing is already done.

Look at your printed stuff:

your brochures. Is all the stuff from your brochures and sell sheets on your site? You probably spent a long time writing that stuff, (or paid someone) so put it to good use.

your ads. Do you have ads running in newspapers or magazines? How about the phone book? Are you advertising for new staff? I am honestly amazed when I see ads in the paper for hiring new employees and there’s not a WORD about employment on the company site. You can be absolutely certain that the first thing job seekers do is jump online to check you out.

your list of products or services. You may be advertising tires, but do your customers know you do oil changes? How many times have you heard “I didn’t know you did that!”? Then they admit they’ve been going to your competition for that service. Yipes.

your employee list. Well? You’ve probably got some interesting, talented or skilled people hanging around your business (you wouldn’t hire them if they weren’t) and they may have interesting back stories. There are also lots of reasons people are qualified . . . do your customers know the unique qualifications of you and your staff?

articles. Many of the businesses I visit have a wall dedicated to framed articles about them that have appeared in newspapers and magazines. Are yours on your site? Even better, create a link to the online version of articles! Links are SOOO easy to create.
Here’s a great example: I get newsletters every week from all the Chambers of Commerce to which BeeLine belongs. Every issue features news items about members. If it’s about YOUR business, put it on your website! What are you waiting for? It’s as easy as sending us an email: “Will you post the Chamber article on our site? Put it on the front page and call it ‘Grand Opening’”.

testimonials. Your customers say nice things about you, don’t they? Testimonials are one of the most powerful convincers of all time. People truly believe what other people say. So, put some of those comments on your website! And, add more as they come in. If they come by email, hit Forward and send them to us. It takes a second and it’s SO effective

And, what about photos? So, you went to a trade show and someone snapped your mug while you were in the booth. Did they email it to you? Then forward it and we’ll get it posted. Or, you got a new sign for your building. Snap a picture for your website. Now. Before it gets old.

Remember, Google and the other search engines love new content. Your site will rank higher in searches and remain more appealing to your customers if there’s fresh stuff to see. So, grab all that new content and let’s get it online.

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CHRISTMAS!! Even though temps are still in the 80’s and the grass is green, Christmas is coming up fast! Catch those shoppers before they go off to a distant mall and spend all their money!!

~ Barb Emerson, BeeLine Design - www.BeeLineDesign.com

Google LOVES new stuff

Dusty old websites that haven’t been updated in awhile tend to sink to the bottom of search results. But, sites that contain new, fresh, interesting content will climb. And, it’s SO easy to change up the content, I always wonder why people don’t do it more often.

Google LOVES new website content. In fact, all the search engines love new content so much that when they see something’s changed, they push your site higher on the search results pages. This means your site is more likely to be found by people who are looking for your stuff. They click through to your site, find the new stuff that wasn’t there last time and are MUCH more likely to stick around to see what else you’ve got to offer.

So, how do you add new stuff? Email us! A quick email only takes seconds:

-  we changed our hours

-  could you add a map?

-  we got a new employee

-  our address changed

-  widgets are on sale this week

-  opened a new store

-  etc. etc. etc.

I see new ads in the local newspapers every week. I see big, expensive ads in slick magazines. When new phone books come out, YIPES! There’s new stuff about your business. It amazes me that business owners don’t think about their websites! You’ve already got the content ready to publish! Just send it to us and we’ll make sure ALL your customers can find it!

Google LOVES updates and so do your customers. They'll appreciate seeing fresh content on your site.

You've GOT to be kidding!

One of our customers forwarded this email to me. --begin email Dear President&CEO, We are an organization specified at dealing with domain name dispute and registration in Asia. We have something important on intellectual property right need to confirm with your company. On August 7, 2010, we received an application formally, one company named "Tasora Holding Ltd" applied for the Brand keyword "acme company" and some domain names with our organization.

After checking, we found your company is the original trademark owner. If the company's action haven't been authorized by your company, so their behavior will conflict with your interests. In order to deal with the matter better, please contact us ASAP. In addition, we hereby affirm that our time limit is 7 workdays. if your company files no reply within the time limit, we will unconditionally approve the application submitted by "Tasora Holding Ltd". Best Regards, Mr. Yadayada (name has been changed to protect this person who probably doesn't exist anyway.) --end quote Your first clue that it's a scam? Read it. Although we all make typos and our emails are often riddled with grammatical errors, (I'm guilty as charged) any legitimate company could hire someone to at least do a cursory read-through before sending a message that makes no sense. Secondly, if you manage your own domain name(s), then you should have VERY NECESSARY information about each name(s) that you own. You should know - where they are registered and the web address of the registrar (like www.BeeLineDomains.com) - the user name and password to the log in to the website where they're registered - when they were originally purchased - and most importantly, when they expire or come up for renewal If you don't know this information, then you may have it stuffed into a file. If you don't know which file it's stuffed in, then go through your files right now and get all the info you need. Test the login to be sure it works. Check the expiration date to be sure it's not expiring soon. If your domain name expires, your site goes offline! And, in many cases, your email goes with it. Yipes. Every day we become more dependent upon our email and website to conduct business. If you don't manage your name, then you've probably opted to use BeeLine's domain management services, which is smart. This means that you hit "forward" on any of these types of weird emails and forget about it, while letting us decide whether it's real or not. The customer who received this scammy email has a couple of successful businesses where he works every day. He knows that during the time when he's sitting at his desk messing around with domain name worries, he's not being productive at his own business. So, he trusts us to manage website woes for him. BeeLine handles domain name issues for lots of companies, whether or not we build or host their sites. Are you on shaky ground when it comes to your company's domain names? Just want to make sure your domain is healthy? Let us help you untangle domain name issues. 262.767.8887

~ Barb Emerson,  BeeLine Design - www.BeeLineDesign.com

Work faster, better, happier!

This is Mike. Mike has been in business for a long time and wasn’t aware that there was a more efficient way to run things at the office, at home and on his website. “I would hover around Amanda’s desk while she was on the phone to find out what time my appointments were.”


Amanda, the office manager, didn’t know how to send BeeLine the updates for their website, so the site got outdated. “We weren't showing our latest products on our website, so we were losing business.” Mike had separate emails for home and office and couldn’t access them both at once. Business was great, but they were wasting time trying to communicate with each other, with their customers and to keep their site up to date.

Last Thursday, Mike and I got on the phone together. Within an hour, we had him plugged into a system where he could access his email and calendar from the office, at home and on the road. Amanda and the rest of his staff can see his calendar and add appointments.

Then I got on the phone with Amanda and we installed a program on her computer that quickly organizes their hundreds of photos. We set up an online photo album where they can easily upload photos for us to put on their website. They can write comments on the pictures letting us know exactly how to use the pics on their site, and give detailed descriptions of the products they represent. BeeLine’s designers access the photos, then optimize them to make sure they load quickly and look stunning on the site.

Here’s what Mike had to say:

“Thanks for all of your help. I am already using my calendar and new email. You helped me to have more time to enjoy life.
You not only run a very professional business, you are a great friend.”


Did you know that BeeLine can help make life easier for you? There's no software to buy. Just a better way to get things done. In fact, if you're a BeeLine-hosted customer, these products may already be in place. Let us show you how to use them! Send me an email right now: bee@BeeLineDesign.com.
Or give me a buzz: 262.767.8887

We want to help your business thrive!

How can I get my site to the top of Google searches (take 2)?

"When we google our keywords our website does not show up-all the other [retailers] in town are listed but not our company what should we do?"

This is a real email from a real customer. It's the most-asked question in the Web World, so let's get the right answer. The MOST IMPORTANT item in getting Google to notice your site is....

Content: A very well-written website that clearly tells customers what you do is most successful in Google searches. Let me say that a different way: Content is King. The text content on your website is hands-down the most important factor in pushing your site to the top of the search results.

There are other factors that affect your Search Engine Rank, but this is the one that you should look at right now. If your site is languishing on page 5 of the searches, start re-writing and we will gladly add your new text to your site.

Don't like writing? Well, we love it. It's what we do. And, we've made sites EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL by writing great content. Pick up the phone right now: 262.767.8887.

How much socializing can you do in a day?

Whoa! Is social media eating your day? I've talked to people whose Facebook, Twitter and Linked-In associations have nearly obliterated their time for productive work...

And, I've talked to others who swear their socializing has brought them more business...

What's your take? Is Facebook a help or a hindrance?