Snow on trees and building good websites

We are relaunching the site soon. we want to ensure the site is the best it can be with regards to search engines and also people transferring to buying when they are on the site. There is lots and lots to do for search engine optimisation, its amazing ! people don't talk about it but they have thought about it! Trust me, every web page with a site map - well, that's there for the search engines ... Its amazing really, a site needs fantastic copy, be usable, get conversions for sales and also you have to think about the search engines, what they need ,what these robots need! Its enough to make one think again about having a web site, because whats the use without the viewers and ultimately the buyers?! Maybe I shouldn't say all this stuff on my blog but I've always been a straight forward , truthful soul so why stop now?
So my top tips if you are creating a website - warning I am about to get slightly technical ish but I think you need to understand a little bit to make your web site the best it can be for search enginges anyway :-
a) think about its goal
b) work out an SEO (search engine optimisation ) policy to get to this goal
c) design the content, links , graphics around the SEO
d) make sure you have a CMS (content management system) so you can update your website whenever you want, not your web agency.
e) Enjoy it!
f) Look at this blog looks really easy to understand and informative. Love the snowy trees also!
g) there are loads of other places to look for creating a website, it all goes back to my point in a you really need to think about what your goal is and then go through relevant steps!

networking and being a mum

I need to get out more , away from my house during work hours as I need to see people , get other stimulation. But, its not that easy, there are loads of networking events in London but they are mainly in the morning or evening , as all mums reading this will know, I can't make these times as I drop off and pick up the mini m.

So, I am going to start my own networking group, for mums who have a business and live in my area!

Have already found 2 mums who will go and have their own businesses now need a couple more and we have our first group. Should be exciting. Will fill you in on details here.
So today I was all set to go out and an estate agent came round to show someone round. Well, he opened up a window in our lounge and now it won't shut! So, I am stuck here , until he comes around to sort it out! Unbelievable these estate agents!

Use a coach

I have been using a business coach called Amanda. Find her at www.coachingmums.com. She really focuses me and has some fantastic ideas. Basically if you need help in starting a business or focusing on what you want in life, Amanda is your woman. She has helped me so much recently I feel that I need to help her out a bit , so thought I'd advertise her name to the world , well, the world who read my blog anyway.
On a serious note using a business coach is good because it -
a) motivates you
b) focuses you
c) gives you another approach
d) your coach has nothing to do with your business so can give an objective view

My podcast

View this Podcast at www.clickcaster.com

Check out my podcast! Thanks go to clickcaster who provided a really easy to use system to upload the podcast and also the free music software of audacity . I'm rediscovering my techie roots with all this stuff, its quite exciting! I almost forgot the most important thanks - to my friend Mark White who gave me all the links to these places in the first place.

PR

Am reinventing my marketing strategy. We are getting lots of hits to the site, so marketing is working but the turn around for sales could be better. So, we are introducing lots of new approaches, new strategies including PR, or Public Relations. After this blog am about to make lots of calls and I hate cold calling, see earlier blog, but because its me helping them to sell papers I don't feel so bad about the calls. So, if anyone has any tips for me re PR strategies please add a comment, in fact if anyone wants to say anything please add a comment - it would be nice to have some :-)