News and articles from Hyperlink

October 2008» | July 2008» | May 2008» | March 2008» | December 2007» | April 2007» | October 2006» | June 2006» | January 2006»

December Newsletter

A Really BIG Thank You!

Well, it is Christmas time once again and a time when we start thinking about a well deserved break and to reflect on our progress throughout the year. Just like any enterprise we will all have had our moments of glory and suffered those minor hiccups that reminds us that we are all still human.

Regardless, it is a time to celebrate all that life has thrown at us during the year and how we have risen to each challenge. So let’s celebrate, be thankful and glad! I would like to thank you very much for your support and business during the year. It really means a lot.

When I look back on this year, it has been significant by the learning and insights I have gained. In fact, it has been a voyage of discovery. Many of these things I have learnt I would like to share with you next year.

Free website seminars/workshops

Starting in February 2008, Hyperlink will be running monthly seminars on "How to Turn Your Website into an Effective Sales and Marketing Channel for Your Business". These seminars will focus on two main areas, the business fundamentals that will ensure you have the maximum chance of success, and the two key channel strategies of website promotion and the online engagement of your visitors.

We have developed this FREE seminar because it has become obvious to us that most websites do not achieve their objectives. And, the reason they fail is because either the business fundamentals are not given the prominence they deserve, or one or both of the channel strategies is lacking. But there is one point that we will be making during the workshop is that this is the web and anything that can be done can be changed!

These seminars will be held at the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce, on Level 28 of the Majestic Centre, 100 Willis Street.

I would really love you to come along. Book your seat now. But, please remember, seats are strictly limited.

Website deadly sin #2: Focus in the "me" and not the "you"

How many times have you gone to a meeting or a social gathering and have met people who show no interest in you. All they wanted to do was talk about themselves and how great they were and all the things they do? How long did it take for you to start looking for an exit?

How many times have you visited a web site and it was all about them and not about you? The reason you go to a web site is because you are either seeking information or a solution to a problem. Most of the time you leave such sites because they provide the answers you are looking for, all the site does is talk about how great they are.

When you go to a site that does not engage you (see the issue from your perspective), you leave. You make the assumption that the site does not have the information you require or is able to provide the solution you are looking for. Often, it just comes down to language and how well you have identified your target audience and engage with them. Once you know your target audience you are then more able to provide a solution or fulfill their information.

In many cases, web site owners are afraid to define their audience, because they think that they are going to miss out on the business of other visitors to their site. But when you try and cater for everybody you cater to no one. It is at that point that you start using the language of “me” rather than “you’.

If you would like a copy of our "7 Deadly Website Sins" Report, contact us and we will send you a copy.

Do you know what your customers are thinking?

At the start of the year we launched our online survey application, surveyMaker, this online application has now been used by many New Zealand organisations, either for a one-off survey, or for continued and ongoing use.

Online surveys are now an increasingly important tool for businesses of all sizes. Many small businesses have been hindered in the past by the expense and time of doing surveys. But that time is over and surveyMaker puts you in control at a very reasonable cost.

With the advent of online survey tools, such as surveyMaker, this is now a thing of the past. Surveys help us really understand what our prospects, customers, clients and staff (for example) really want, enabling you to tap into their real needs (and therefore greater business profits). Please call us if you would like to trial surveyMaker.

Would you like to know how to conduct and benefit from surveyMaker?

During our series of launches of this product I made the promise that we would be running workshops on how to use this application to get the greatest benefit. Well, we are now not to far from realising that promise. During the coming year we will be running a series of short workshops on how to effectively use surveys in your business. For this purpose Hyperlink has teamed up with Ann DeBiak, the Principal Analyst of Datamaven.

These workshops will deal with topics such as, deciding on your survey objectives, how to construct your survey and write your questions, and how to analyse results and take the appropriate actions. Once we have finalised the workshops and the dates we will let you know.

Data-Maven Analysis provides expert consulting services in data acquisition, survey design, data analysis, statistics, GIS and information reporting. In these areas it also provide practical, hands-on workshops designed for busy professionals who want to expand their skill-set. Data-Maven analysts have been providing consulting services to government agencies, businesses and non-profits for over ten years.

Ann DeBiak has been with Data-Maven since its inception and was the driving force in establishing Data-Maven in New Zealand. She has an additional 10 years of experience with Arizona State University and prior to that provided statistical analyses, survey research, strategic planning and other consulting services to educational organizations, small business, and the oil industry in Canada.

Your 2008 website strategy

The start of the year is often a good time to start thinking and strategically planning your business year ahead. Often, however, we often forget about our web site and the increasing role it should be playing in our businesses. Or we leave it out because we don’t know how it can really work for us in a tangible way. But no web site is set in stone, so it can be changed to align with your marketing and sales objectives.

Call us at the start of the year so we can work with you in aligning your web site with your business goals and objectives. We will be able to offer you advice and help you devise strategies to turn your web site into an effective channel for your business.