You know it’s time for a new web site to promote your expert witness practice if: 1) your home page features a button that says “click here to skip intro;” 2) your webmaster quit over two years ago and you have not had time to find a replacement; 3) your web site still features a visitor counter; or 4) your web site uses “frames.”

Today there are many options available to an expert in need of a new web site. This article will explore the use of a web site “template.”

Basically, a template is a pre-designed set of one or more web pages complete with graphics, menu buttons, attractive color schemes and text areas to describe your expert witness practice. You can choose from a number of suppliers, including TemplateMonster, Templates Resource, Perfectory, Templates.net, or Boxed Art. (Please note that these are not product endorsements.)

<b>Pros and cons on web site templates</b>

Pro # 1: Purchase prices are affordable, generally in the range of $40 to $250 for a one-time payment.

Pro # 2: Templates are a fast way to create and launch a new web site.

Con # 1: Your web site is not unique. You may see the same web site design in use by other experts, even competing experts. You may be able to make a “unique purchase” for a higher fee, meaning that the provider will not sell the same design to anyone else. You still compete, however, with others who purchased the same design before you did.

Con # 2: You need some basic technical skills to set up the web site template. Also, customization might be difficult. If you are not technically inclined with basic HTML skills, chances are good that you will need an agreeable webmaster or designer.

Only you can decide if a web site template is the right approach for you. While you are planning a new web site, here are 5 quick tips to maximize expert witness litigation support leads from Internet marketing.

<b>5 tips for expert witness website marketing success</b>

1. Minimize or avoid the use of “flash.” What is flash, you ask? It is a popular technology developed by Macromedia that creates visual action, animation or interactivity on a web site. While attractive, it can interfere with search engine positioning.

2. Load your copy with keywords delivered in a text format. “Keyword density” is important to get good visibility in search engines. Be sure your web designer displays the copy in text format rather than as a graphic, so search engines can read your web pages. Print pages from your web site to confirm that copy is not cut off on the right margin. If the page doesn’t print properly, ask your webmaster to change the settings.

3. Display your phone number prominently. The masthead is an ideal location to let visitors know how to reach you for a potential expert witness engagement.

4. Pick the right title tags. Words like “expert witness,” “litigation support” and your area of expertise belong in a page title tag to increase search engine visibility. Each page can have its own title. Metatags like keywords and description are less important to search engines now. Online photos and graphics should have an “Alt” tag that displays a textual description when you mouse-over your photo or other page graphic.

5. Think landing pages for online advertising. Pay-per-click text ads on Google and Yahoo! are an excellent way to generate inbound litigation support leads. Don’t just send all leads to your home page. Consider using a special “landing page” that gives a concise description of your expert witness services, maybe even with a link to your CV. Give each web page its own URL so you can direct prospects to a specific page on your web site.

In summary, the key to any successful expert witness marketing project is to start with a plan. Identify your business objectives and work from there to create a web site that generates high quality litigation support leads.

Paul Smithson

Click Here to Learn About – XSitePro

Email marketing is probably the most critical component of the vast majority of extremely successful online businesses. I’m not talking about spam, or unsolicited bulk email – that is obviously a complete no-no for any ethical marketer with an ounce of integrity. No, I’m talking about emails that are sent to a list of people who have opted in to receive your information.

This could be a list you’ve built through offering incentives. It could be a list of previous customers. It could even be a list of people who have signed up because they like you and want to hear what you have to say. But the point is, they’ve signed up to receive information from you for some reason.

Building a list is absolutely crucial, because it increases the lifetime value of the customer. Studies have shown that most people don’t buy a product the first time they see an ad for it. It may take several times of being exposed to a particular product for a person to finally make the decision to buy it.

XSitePro -The Easiest Way to Create Professional Website

If you don’t build a list of prospects, then you could be losing out on hundreds, or even thousands of sales each year. By building a list, you can expose your subscribers to your offers multiple times, and you can also expose them to other offers. This increases your chances of making multiple sales from a single customer.

Almost any type of business trading online can benefit from using email marketing just by building a list of their existing customers. This list is incredibly valuable, because these people are proven buyers. They’ve proven that they’re willing to buy online, and that they’re willing to buy from you. By collecting their email addresses, you can mail them information about new merchandise, sales, and special offers.

Information marketers can greatly benefit from building a list. You can build a list of previous buyers or people who have simply opted in to receive a free report or other incentive. Not only will you be able to market your own products to these lists, but you’ll be able to use your list as an incentive to get people to JV with you, and also as a powerful method of promoting affiliate products.

Even if you only run AdSense-style information websites, you can benefit from the power of email marketing. Let’s say you run a site about trout fishing. You provide articles and information about it, and you have AdSense and a few affiliate ads on your site. If you fail to build a list of your visitors, you’ll probably only have a single chance to sell to them, which is the first time they visit your site. Most people don’t return to small niche sites, unless you have unusually sticky content such as a forum or a blog that’s updated regularly.

If you grab their email addresses when they are first on your site, you’ll have the ability to market to them over and over for a long time. Just make sure you provide solid content when sending out your mailings so as to minimize opt-outs and to keep people reading the messages you send out. People who visit content sites are usually more finicky about the newsletters and mailings they receive, and will want to receive good content on a regular basis, not just sales letters.

No matter what type of online business you’re running, you’ll benefit greatly by adding email marketing to your repertoire. You’ll increase the lifetime value of your customers, and provide yourself with an ongoing way to monetize them.

XSitePro -The Easiest Way to Create Professional Website

About Paul Smithson – Paul Smithson is the founder of Intellimon and the driving force behind the best-selling XSitePro web site development tool. Since graduating in Business Strategy and Direct Marketing from two of Europe’s leading business schools, Paul has set up five multi-million dollar companies, one of which is now owned by the BBC. His areas of expertise include business strategy, e-commerce, on-line and off-line marketing, software development, and maximizing the potential of on-line businesses.

For more information about this, and many other Internet Marketing-related topics, visit Paul Smithson’s site, Click Here to Learn About – XSitePro

Think of your Homepage as the front door of your brick and mortar store.  When customers land on your front door you want to entice them to enter and look at all the wonderful merchandise you have on display.  Your Homepage ought to accomplish the same result.  It should display a presence and if you’re considering using Flash animation or even video, make sure it’s appropriate for your message.

If you’re starting your online business from scratch or if you’re interested in improving your online business, it’s important that your site be well designed.  You can hire a designer to obtain that perfect website design.   Another option you should consider is website templates.  You can choose from a large selection of template designs for whatever fits  your business category.  Website templates can be the answer for a tight budget.

In today’s competitive internet world you need a well designed website.  A good design creates attention that delivers clients.  The typical web surfer will evaluate your site in approximately five to eight seconds.  That’s why it’s important to give an immediate positive first impression, because the next website is only a click away.

Whether you’re selling digital products or you’re providing merchandise that is shipped direct to your customer’s door, it’s vital that your website flows.  Website templates provide a ready made framework that can be customized to fit your needs.

A well designed Website Template is often a great solution, if you’re on a budget.  Ask yourself, are you among the many that will know it when you see it, but have trouble visualizing it from scratch?  A website template gives your online business a foundation to build upon.  After you have found the perfect design, consider customizing your template to fit your business strategy.  In order to start the process of customization, you will need some software.  If you don’t already have website design software here’s a list of what you’ll need.

WinZip (Windows)
Stuffit Expander (Mac)
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Dreamweaver
Adobe Flash

(Adobe’s Creative Suite provides most of everything you’ll need.  I have provided a link for your convenience.) Creative Suite

Although a great looking website design is an important element, you also will need to consider a back-end support system. In deciding what system to select, consider how you will track Accounting, Customer Relationship Management and Document management.  Be sure to give careful consideration to the functionality you will need for your business.  Doing your research and making the right selection on a back end system will help you to achieve your business goals.

Whether you’re choosing a website template, or having a professional design the perfect site, make sure you are paying attention to what is best for your customers. Your website design ought to give you a strong web presence.

Make sure updating and revising is part of your website strategy.  Your website should be updated regularly depending upon upcoming changes or event.  Take advantage of new technology.  It can help you to beat your competition and establish your name.