I can’t say much about the various types of software that are out there for editing/creating websites. OK, I admit I am a dinosaur in using FrontPage (I do have Expression but I’m too lazy to install it.) And I find Wordpress is really easy (once I read the instructions). So there really is no excuse for not being somewhat in control of your website.
I think it’s inexcusable when people say they’re being held hostage by their designer. First, make sure you’re the one who owns the domain name. You’d be surprised at how many sites I’ve helped the owner wrest control away from the “designer”. I try to make sure that even though it may be my email address that things come to (it never changes while other people’s do), they are listed as the owner. Maybe I’m still carrying around emotional baggage from the early years.
Second, make sure that you can get into your site and make changes if necessary. I spent a lot of time with clients teaching them so they could. They may never have to touch their sites, but when I had a major stroke in 2008, few people had a problem making changes and I was pretty useless for a while.
I’ve noticed a real problem with email lately. Sometimes it’s due to those ornery spam filters. A person writes you, you answer, and you think that’s the end of it. I’ve never been a fan of unnecessary email so I didn’t follow up. So, the other day, I was stunned when someone told me that they never heard back from me. And I had responded quickly.
I have found a number of reasons. First, those pesky spam filters. The person I was answering never got it. They didn’t realize that their spam filter was eating up a lot of their mail, INCLUDING orders. Second, some people were using their lack of response as an excuse. I’ve had more than 1 web designer say they never heard from me because they wanted my client and they could point out…”look, she doesn’t answer email, and I’m a good person that does”. That’s a too common thing. And some people are just overwhelmed.
So, I’ve gotten rather clever with this. If it’s a web designer with for one of my hosting clients, after 5 days I write back to them, saying this is what I said, on such and such a day. Haven’t heard back from you, did you get it?” with a copy of this going to the client. And amazingly enough, there’s a response immediately. 
I cases of general inquiries or questions about orders, people usually never got them and are grateful you followed up.
It pays to be organized and inquire a bit. It shows you care.
Why do so many herb businesses do poorly online when people love their goods at the farm or shows? I think a great part of it is due to the website.
First, many herb businesses have limited funds and decide to do the website themselves. Or have someone in the family do it. Or a friend with little experience wants to get experience by doing it. All very poor ideas. Websites aren’t just a way of showing yourself to the general public, but they should be a means of converting a visitor to a customer or better yet, a raving fan. I’m absolutely amazed when I visit the website of an herbalist who is dynamic and well regarded in their field and there’s broken links and a mish-mash of pages. No one realizes what this does to the reputation of someone that deserves better. The next post we’ll describe some of the things that can fix this.
I often go to various herbal websites and wish some information. Could be I want to include them in The Herbal Green Pages Online, could be that I’m interested in more information about an event they’re having so that I can post it in the Calendar. And they have a form. No email address. (And this is true for non-herbal sites as well.) And I get off the site in disgust shaking my head. Yes, I know you get spam. I’ve had a website since early 1996 and we get spam. But I delete it. I don’t even have to open it and I can tell it’s spam by the subject line, lack of one, or email address. But I’d never think of removing my email address and changing to a form. I don’t care how much crap I get. Seth Godin’s blog today talked about this and I answered “AMEN” loudly.
Get rid of the forms guys and if it was the site designer’s idea, get rid of them as well. They know little about marketing.
Herb folks are embracing social media at a great rate. They can tell you how their garden grows, how the kids are helping on the farm and give you their latest basil recipe. But when you ask them if their blog or Twitter increases their business, they look at you with a blank stare.
Sure all that stuff is warm and fuzzy. But does it pay the mortgage or put seed in the ground? It’s important to push your own products while you’re giving advice and teaching, in fact, you should think that way. Right now, for example, we’re offering members a free year long marketing course that’s just a bite each week. And that’s about all most of us obsessed people can handle. We’ve got to do a little each day in order for our passion to pay the bills. Check out our Marketing 101 course and do a little each day. Your business (and your passion) will thank you.