Peter Butler - 13/34 - Smart Mortgage Marketing

Peter Butler

Penny from Pink Piranha goes ‘Live’.

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Penny’s brief was simple “I want a simple and clean site that I can show new clients my work along with have them be able to access my Graphic Design briefs”.

We’ve yet to add in lead generation and social media marketing aspects, that’s stage 2, but we thought we’d show off the new “Agency Theme” in action. It is very sexy.

On a personal note and from experience – Penny does an excellent job as a graphic designer and has a unique “directness” that helps you to get your design right when you work with her. The results speak for themselves, check out her work at Pink Piranha.

Here’s what Penny had to say about her new website and a snap shot of Pink Piranha.

Thank you for your tenacity.

Running my own business in Graphic Design I needed a web site but never actually found the time to follow through with it.

I had thought all I needed was an on-line brochure showing my work, but after talking to Peter he explained in great detail how my web site could be so much more than simply an on-line brochure.

Peter also showed me with his system I am able to edit my own web site as and when I like without having to pay someone to do it for me.

Peter is a man of great integrity, easy to work with and very honest which is a rare combination these days. Thank you once again Peter, I’ll certainly be recommending Smarter Web sites.

Penny Askin

Principle Designer at Pink Piranha – Design with a bite

Penny Askin

Principal Designer

Pink Piranha – Design with a bite

How Secure Is Your Website?

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Have you noticed a sudden surge in spam emails or notifications? Heard more reports of hackers running amok?

Not only that, I have it on good authority that the incidence of “hack attacks” on websites is on the increase.

As frustrating as spam emails are, Viagra and the like, I understand the reasoning, a small percentage of people may click and buy. What I really don’t get is why people would try and install a virus on your PC, there is no benefit back to them except to say they’re a “clever dick”. And there has been a surge of very malicious attachments and virus’s.

But what really riles me is hackers. If they want to show off getting into high security sites as a pride thing I can get that it may be a challenge thing to them. OK, mission accomplished. Trouble is there is a huge cost to the business and invariably that passes on down to the community, which is mostly us as the user or consumer.

But what I totally don’t get is when hard working solo entrepreneurs, professionals and small businesses get hacked.

What is that about?

Anyway, as an extra security measure my recommendation is to update your password, that is your WordPress login password.

Your username will have to stay the same but I would recommend updating it to at least a 15 digit password, mixed of upper and lower case letters, plus add numerical along with symbols. Something very random.

I’ve done a short video to show you how to actually update this in your admin area.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qydQu8-rPOw

I also have a link to PC Tools random on-line password generator.

http://budurl.com/passwordtool

My recommendation is to use at least a 15 digit password. I won’t tell you exactly how many mine is but I’ll give you a clue, it’s more than 30 and less than 60. David, my tech tells me I’m bordering on paranoia.

Here’s one thought – What would happen to all your work and business IF you got hacked and lost all your web content? Does the thought of that concern you?

Update it sooner than later.

The Guru of Effective WordPress Websites!

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One of Tony’s sites had soared up the Google Charts and not only that, over 12 months later had held onto a page 1 spot in Google. I asked Tony for a short spiel. Read his “rave” below…

The Guru of Effective WordPress Websites!

Wow! This stuff really works…

For several years I did my best to wear an IT hat to go with the many other hats you wear each day as a small business owner trying to save on costs.

I learnt how to use Frontpage, then Dreamweaver and spun a reasonable-looking website, for which many people complimented me.

Realising that I needed something more professional-looking, I engaged the services of a so-called ‘expert’, who did obviously know a fair bit, but turned out to be a con-man. This left a very bad taste.

Then finally, I met Peter B. Butler one day at a Business Improvement Workshop. The thing that immediately impressed me as a Business Owner/Operator in a highly competitive Tourism Industry was that, unlike many other ‘experts’, Peter understood the real purpose of a website…

Peter has a marketing background and understands how business works. So he builds a website, not just to look pretty, but to bring you – and your business, a tangible result.

Pete and I collaborated on the project with ease because he understood the message that I wanted this site to convey. He showed me how to use many of the tricks and secrets that he had learned in order to improve the business profile in search engine rankings.

In short, I followed Peter’s training and within 6 weeks of the rebuild, the site jumped from page 140 to page 1 on a Google search.

We’ve since taken up Peter’s ongoing support programme and the site has maintained that position, so it wasn’t just a flash in the pan.

I would highly recommend his services to anyone who is serious about building a website as the shop window to their business. Though I don’t want to sing his praises too much because we want to keep him all to ourselves!!!

Tony Inman

Planet Inn Backpackers & Club Red

Productivity Solutions

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Here’s a productivity solution I’ve set up to keep working even when my butt gets stiff and sore.

You can see the video below about my new “stand up” desk. I can be pumping out a post, like this one on “productivity solutions” and I’m so focussed I tend to keep going even after a couple of hours and stiffening up.

I might stop for a few minutes but like most entrepreneurs there’s so much to be done I’m “head down and butt up” to get it all nailed.

Now I can keep going and get to stand and give the “glute” muscles a break. It’s really quite simple and the best of 2 work stations. It was also a good cover story for me to add a big monitor to my office “toys” all in the interests of my good health (Don’t tell my wife about the cover story).

Watch the video below on how I put together this simply productivity solutions for not a lot of money and one arvo of work, something that’ll do me well for years.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGtGZtb_X0Y

WordPress Websites Done Badly

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I tell people the virtues of getting a website built in WordPress, the ever increasing popular blogging platform, all the time.

Now, WordPress is an open source platform, you can get a basic template for free. There is a huge community behind it, developing and supporting it and you can get a basic blog with a more functional template set up for not a lot of money. The community of ‘techies’ are so passionate about this stuff they’re continually adding to the plug ins (tools that perform certain website functions) and improving the features and functionality of WordPress.

Like I say to anyone who’ll listen, with WordPress, it’ll be the only and last website your business will need.

It will help grow your business but here’s the big thing, it will grow with your business.

If it’s set up right! Like any business model there’s always copy cats.

Just in the last week I have found 4 websites that had so much potential. Trouble is, you get the basics wrong and you might as well try and push poo up hill, they’ll never do well. Ever!

It doesn’t matter how hard these business owners try and struggle, and struggle they will, these sites will never rank well or even come close to soaring in the search engines.

It does my head in! And here’s the ironic thing. They actually look great, graphically they’re gorgeous (well, 2 are, I’ll show them to you shortly).

And to add salt to the wound for the actual business owner, they’ll probably never know that structurally, they are flawed.

But it’s all in the detail, and the structure. I’m not going to go techy on you here but if you don’t get the fundamentals right from the get go, well, good luck with making it do well. Plus I can’t tell you my trade secrets or I’d have to maim you.

It’s like getting your business logo and branding package redone by an accomplished graphics designer, looks great and tells the world exactly what you do in a powerful way! And you then get the sign writer to do your shop front signage in water based paints so you can save a few bucks.

That would be dumb right?

But I see it all the time. Your website is your on-line marketing machine, working 24/7 for you. It’s a primary business building tool in your arsenal of marketing weapons. Well, it should be.

It’s your direct connection to the next gig or client and $$$ in the bank. You should never view it as an expense but an investment.

Anyway, enough of my whinge.

So here is the expose on these sites. This is not to bag the builders or the business owners but just to prove and show that you can have a good looking site but it won’t rank well or make you any money. Just like a broken ATM, no cash, sorry. No reflection on the builders, I know one of them personally but if you don’t know what you don’t know then you can’t get it right. (Anyway, worst case scenario, they’ll get some free traffic)

http://rockylandscapes.com.au

http://www.offsureproperty.com – (This site is the soundest but still flawed)

http://safetyswitchexpert.com.au – (This site uses off-line marketing to drive traffic on-line, just as well)

Now remember, these sites are fairly new so I know there is still content to come. That’s not what I’m talking about, this is whether the site will fair well in the search engine wars and how it will rank and will it stand the test of time. I spotted minimum of 7 fundamental flaws in each site, one had umpteen (that’s a lot).

Anyway, no call to action here, just venting my frustrations on what I see is a growing problem.

Not getting a professional to do the job right from the get go. Save money? Hardly, if it doesn’t make you any!!!

Focus on your strengths in building your business and your mission or call.

Stay up to date with this and other straight up business building stuff and jump into my newsletter here.

Funniest thing you’ll read all year!

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Ever blow an appointment? What if it was with a hot prospect?

What are your chances of getting that gig now?

I had a hot lead come in through my website, they emailed me, had a couple of qualifying emails back and forth and then set up a ‘discovery’ call time.

All that and then I blew it! I forgot to call him.

Read my apology email but the corker is this guy Terry’s response. This is the funniest thing you’ll read all year.

From: Peter Butler
Sent: Thursday, 6 May 2010 6:16 PM
To: ‘Terry Frankland’
Subject: RE: A Personal Message from Peter

Terry,

I am sooo sorry. My Outlook calendar did not do the pop up reminder. Sitting here looking back over the day and I see it right at 11.00am. Please forgive me.

Are you available tomorrow morning earlier? I have to leave by 10.00 am. Or would next week suit better?

So sorry again.

Kind Regards,

Peter B Butler

This is the funniest thing you’ll read all year.

From: Terry Frankland
Sent: Thursday, 6 May 2010 7:37 PM
To: ‘Peter Butler’
Subject: RE: A Personal Message from Peter

Hi Peter,

That’s okay mate I was waiting by the phone awaiting our much anticipated call. 11am went. then 12pm went by, I was getting hungry but stuck by the phone …1pm went by…I had to eat…sorry Peter, after that I had to let you go. !!!

the pain…the pain…it was awful !!!!!

It’s my fault, you see it all started when I was about 7 years old and my Dad used to throw me in the air and ‘walk away’.

People don’t like me….my dad even didn’t like me that much….

in fact Peter, he used to get the kid next door to ‘take my place in the family photos’.

so, you see I’m used to being left out and forgotten about.

it’s seems people just don’t have the right ‘outlook’.

Talent is a rare commodity and without the right ‘outlook’ one can miss the very thing that could change their lives forever ??

that’s why I use …..(to be continued_…………

Mate, seriously, not a problem.  I’m busy your busy….I have a big course to do next week.  why don’t I get that out of the way and I wouldn’t mind catching up with you for a coffee and a chat.

let’s talk again Monday week.  I will give you a call (that’s more reliable)….my clock works !!!

warmest regards

Terry Frankland

www.terryfranklandfinancialservices.vpweb.com.au

So, moral of the story? Just be upfront and real. People appreciate honesty and authenticity. Thanks to Terry who allowed me to publish that and my apologies again. That is one seriously funny man. Looking forward to doing business with you.