Hosting Connecticut LLC Rainbow Rd Windsor CT www HostingCT com

Hosting Connecticut, LLC 180 Rainbow Rd Windsor, CT 06095 www.HostingCT.com Tel: 860-683-4201 Fax: 860-298-9617 Table of Content Thank you _________________________________________________________________________ 3 Overview of Services _________________________________________________________________ 4 Contact Information _________________________________________________________________ 4 Company Background _______________________________________________________________ 4 Management and Staff Profiles ________________________________________________________ 5 Press Releases and Articles____________________________________________________________ 7 Paula M. Pierce Contributes to WNPR Story on Small Business and the Internet ____________________ 7 Paula M. Pierce named SBA's Home-Based Business Champion Award ____________________________ 8 Hosting Connecticut Wins Two Community Service Awards _____________________________________ 9 CT Certified Small Business Enterprises ____________________________________________________ 10 Hosting CT Stops Phishing Plot ____________________________________________________________ 11 Entrepreneurs Develop Chamber of Commerce Websites_______________________________________ 12 Hosting Connecticut Develops Shopping Directory ____________________________________________ 13 New Services at Hosting Connecticut________________________________________________________ 14 Web Development Firm Celebrates First Anniversary _________________________________________ 15 Hosting Connecticut Going Strong _________________________________________________________ 16 Hosting CT Offers Free Classes ____________________________________________________________ 17 Advertisements ____________________________________________________________________ 18 Good Communication Windsor Almanac January 2004 __________________________________________ 18 Communication and Merchant Account Special ______________________________________________ 19 Web Development Made Easy Windsor Hotels Binder September 2003 _____________________________ 20 Tip Sheets ________________________________________________________________________ 21 8 Reasons to Build Your Business Online ____________________________________________________ 21 8 Ways to Convert Website Visitors into Buyers ______________________________________________ 22 Top 10 Website Mistakes _________________________________________________________________ 23 Memberships ______________________________________________________________________ 24 Client Testimonials _________________________________________________________________ 27 Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 2 Thank you Thank you for requesting our Press Kit. From the materials inside you will be able to get a full and clear picture of Hosting Connecticut, LLC. We are pleased to offer this information to the media and business community. For follow up questions and interviews please call 860-683-4201 This kit will be updated frequently. If you would like to view the most up-to-date kit, please go to http://hostingct.com/press You will be able to view the individual materials by category or download the entire kit. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at paula@hostingct.com Sincerely, Paula M. Pierce Managing Director, Hosting Connecticut, LLC Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 3 Overview of Services Hosting Connecticut puts the pieces of online business together: domain registration, web site design, hosting, e-commerce programming, credit card acceptance, marketing, statistic analysis, and more. It can be confusing to register a domain name in one place, sign up for hosting somewhere else, apply for a merchant account with another company, work with a separate web designer, etc. Hosting Connecticut streamlines the process so all these necessities are available in one place, saving their clients both time and money. List of major services: • Domain Registration • Website Hosting • Website Design • Merchant Accounts • Database Programming • E-commerce Facilitation • Online Marketing • Website Maintenance Contact Information Hosting Connecticut, LLC 180 Rainbow Road Windsor, CT 06095 Tel: 860-683-4201 Fax: 860-298-9617 Email: paula@hostingct.com Company Background Hosting Connecticut, LLC is a Windsor-based website development company dedicated to taking the mystery out of online business. Paula M. Pierce and Shelley Sullivan, two Windsor entrepreneurs who only met after joining a business discussion list online, had been operating separate successful website management companies; one focused on website design and the other on website hosting. By combining their efforts they found they could offer Connecticut businesses all the resources they’d need to get their companies online, eliminating confusion and wasted time. Because the company focuses on Connecticut, the owners can meet with and get to know their clients personally to make sure their questions are answered and their needs are met. According to the Secretary of the State's website, 2,000 new businesses are started in Connecticut each month. People are leaving the corporate world voluntarily or otherwise and are looking for something more. They're ready for the challenge of online business but need a place to start and some help getting there. That's where we come in. Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 4 Management and Staff Profiles Hosting Connecticut’s team of professionals has the design and programming experience to launch and foster growth in both new and established web sites, with a strong focus on the local community. Client satisfaction and community involvement are our highest priorities. Paula M. Pierce, Managing Director Specialties - Project Coordination - Strategic Planning - Business Development History - Partner, Hosting Connecticut, LLC (January 2003 - present) - Owner, PaulaWalla Web Design (2000 – 2002) - Owner, PaulaWalla Imports (1997 – 2004) Cristi White, Operations Manager Specialties - Navigational systems - Programming and scripting - Site functionality History - Contract Designer for Hosting Connecticut (2002 – present) - Designer, Owner, Web Pages By Mom (1998 – 2003) - Sr. Manager, HerPlanet Network (1998 - 2002) Katherine O’Neill, Web Site Design Specialist Specialties - Web Site and Graphic Design - Concept and theme development - Site layout and mapping - Internet marketing History - Contract Designer for Hosting Connecticut (2002 – present) - Designer, Owner, Mocha Bay Design (1998 – 2003) - Manager, HerPlanet Network (1998 – 2002) Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 5 Owners Paula M. Pierce and Shelley Sullivan celebrate a successful first year (January 2004) Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 6 Press Releases and Articles May 2008 Paula M. Pierce Contributes to WNPR Story on Small Business and the Internet Paula M. Pierce, owner of Hosting Connecticut, LLC was invited to speak with reporter Diane Orsin of WNPR (national public radio) regarding small business and the internet. The story focuses on Delmonico Hat Company of New Haven and how they revitalized their business by going online. Article: http://www.cpbn.org/whether-fedora-or-stetson-stylish-hats-are-not-thing-past Listen: http://www.cpbn.org/files/audio/2008_05_21_do%20Hat%20feature%200522.mp3 Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 7 May 2008 Paula M. Pierce named SBA's Home-Based Business Champion Award The U.S. Small Business Administration has selected Paula M. Pierce, owner of Hosting Connecticut, LLC, Windsor, CT as the 2008 Home-Based Business Champion of the Year for Connecticut and the New England Region. Winners in this category have experienced the rewards and difficulties of running a home-based business and have volunteered time and energy to improve conditions while working to enhance the home-based business climate. Pierce runs two profitable businesses out of her home in Windsor, CT: PaulaWalla Imports, an online gift shop, which recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary and Hosting Connecticut LLC, a website development company, which is currently celebrating its 5 year anniversary. As an online retailer she is able to assist her web site development clients in navigating the online world using her own online retail experience, a rarity among other web site developers. Pierce has recently been elected President of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce and has served on the board since 2004. She has also served on a number of Chamber committees, such as the Annual Benefit Auction, White Lights, Revolutionary Windsor, Technology and Tourism. Pierce is a Notary Public, the volunteer E-newsletter Facilitator for MDA 31 Mass Vaccination Preparedness Clinic, and is the volunteer moderator of Windsor Freecycle, a grass roots group of over 1000 Windsor people keeping good, usable items out of the landfill. An award celebration for the SBA 2008 award recipients was held Tuesday, May 20, 2008. For information on SBA programs and services visit www.sba.gov or call (860) 240-4700. Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 8 June 2006 Hosting Connecticut Wins Two Community Service Awards Hosting Connecticut, LLC was honored with two awards by the Windsor Chamber of Commerce for its dedication to community service. Hosting Connecticut LLC was awarded a Volunteer appreciation award at the Windsor Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner and Business Meeting on June 9, 2006. The award is given each year to those companies and individuals who continuously assist the Chamber of Commerce with community and business projects. Paula M. Pierce, owner of Hosting Connecticut LLC, was also honored with the Director of the Year Award as an active member of the Board of Directors of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce. “Hosting Connecticut is a valuable member of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce,” says Executive Director, Jane Garibay. Paula Pierce, owner of Hosting Connecticut, LLC, has actively participated in or chaired several of the community and business development committees at the Chamber of Commerce including Tourism, Technology, White Lights, and the annual Benefit Auction. “We are a volunteer-driven Chamber,” says Garibay. “We have a strong Board of Directors without whom we could not successfully develop the business community and offer so many programs to sustain and improve the high quality of life that Windsor residents and businesses enjoy.”Pierce says she spends a good 25% of her time on community projects through the Chamber of Commerce. “I enjoy working with the people at the Chamber because their goals are to continuously improve the local economy through education and support of local businesses. When I founded Hosting Connecticut in November 2002, I was amazed at the support I received from the Chamber. From promotional activities to networking events, I quickly learned that the Chamber of Commerce was the place to learn and expand my business while meeting and assisting others in the business community.” Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 9 May 2006 CT Certified Small Business Enterprises Hosting Connecticut LLC has been officially certified as a Small Business Enterprises (SBE) by the State of Connecticut Department of Administrative Services within their Business CONNections Small Contractors Set Aside program in the category of Website Development and Hosting Services. Our Minority status as a Woman-owned business is pending. -- Update May 2006 -Hosting Connecticut LLC’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) status as a Woman-owned business was certified by the state of Connecticut on August 30, 2006. Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 10 October 2005 Hosting CT Stops Phishing Plot Recently, when someone ordered three websites online at once, the ever-vigilant staff of Hosting Connecticut, LLC noticed something "phishy" right away. The name on the first account was Steven Sontag, the domain names registered were variations of "accountoverview" and "boa" (the initials of Bank of America), and a second, similar account was attempted minutes earlier with the same domain name but a different name, address and credit card number. The fraudster's IP address traced to the Middle East, not the US as the billing address indicated. To top it all off, the perpetrator immediately started uploading files called "Bank of America Online Banking" and "Update Your Account" forms. Hosting CT quickly froze all three accounts and contacted the Bank of America Fraud Department with the details. The same person tried a few more times to set up fraudulent accounts with stolen credit card numbers, always to be thwarted by Hosting CT. "All the info I could find on him has been given to the authorities. He's not going to get away with it. At least not on my servers," says owner, Paula M. Pierce. Unfortunately phishing, the practice of setting up fake bank websites to steal people's private information, is getting very common. We’ve all gotten these emails, supposedly from a bank (or paypal or ebay) telling us to update our account using the link provided. If clicked, that link brings you to a website that looks like the real bank's website, but it's not. Malicious techies simply duplicate the sites and use them to steal your personal information so they can clean out bank accounts and commit identity theft. These bad guys phish by sending out millions of emails and when even a small percentage of unsuspecting folks "confirm their information", the spammers have access to their hard-earned cash and credit. The FTC suggests these tips to help you avoid getting hooked by a phishing scam: 1. If you get an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply. And don’t click on the link. 2. Use anti-virus software and a firewall, and keep them up to date. 3. Don’t email personal or financial information. Email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information. 4. Forward spam that is phishing for information to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the phishing email. Most organizations have information on their websites about where to report problems. Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 11 April 2005 Entrepreneurs Develop Chamber of Commerce Websites Two Windsor entrepreneurial companies have joined forces to offer advanced website services to the business community, and specifically to Chambers of Commerce. A website created by Hosting Connecticut, LLC website development using Invisible Gold, LLC website software offers the height of creative, user-friendly design together with the ability to quickly and easily maintain the site. The Windsor Chamber of Commerce made it all happen. “We were both vying for the same job, that of redesigning and maintaining the Windsor Chamber of Commerce website,” Paula Pierce, owner of Hosting Connecticut,” said. When the Chamber decided they wanted the best of both worlds they hired both companies with the understanding that we would find a way to work together to make the Chamber's site a professional, user-friendly information center for local businesses and residents that Chamber staff could update themselves. It was just the motivation they needed to find a way to integrate their systems. “Our two systems of developing websites were like oil and water,” said Pierce. They just could not work together due to technical specifications. With some hard work and perseverance they came up with a system that works well and provides website owners with a flexible website that they can maintain with no technical knowledge. The two companies have since begun a marketing campaign specifically for Chambers of Commerce. “It just makes sense,” “Waiveris says, “Chambers typically need to update their sites very frequently; sometimes on a daily basis. With the system we developed, we make it very easy for them and still give them a highly developed, custom design. Several more Chambers have already signed on to have their websites updated and revamped using their easy-to-use system. Hamden CT is preparing for launch, and the Norwegian-American Chamber headquarters is reviewing the program now. An updated website is seen favorably by the search engines. With this system, you can update, change, add pages to, and otherwise maintain your website on a daily basis if desired. The built in calendar of events and member directory are highly sought after portions of site design and can end up being costly to maintain using other database methods. Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 12 March 2005 Hosting Connecticut Develops Shopping Directory Windsor-based web site developer Hosting Connecticut, LLC has launched a major website redesign for Mom-co (www.mom-co.com), a popular online shopping directory. Paula M. Pierce, president of Hosting Connecticut, LLC, said that the company developed a contemporary web site design and web-editable directory and added new email marketing and customer management tools to the site for the Vermont-based national consortium for momowned businesses. "Mom-co offers an alternative for consumers who are tired of shopping the mega-conglomerate stores online and off, but still want only high quality, environmentally sound products, she said. Consumers can find products that are made in the USA, environmentally safe and made by mom-owned companies. "Mom-co is one of the best resources for family-owned businesses to promote their high quality products and compete in a marketplace of corporate giants. Hosting Connecticut, working with website software developer, Invisible Gold, is helping make Mom-co one the highest rated shopping directories nationwide." Pierce said. Mom-co needed the website to be editable by staff members with little website maintenance experience. The new site allows them to add pages, text and images, as well as directory members and advertisers from any internet-connected computer, without fiddling with any html or other programming. Pierce is a member of the Metro Hartford Alliance and is on the Board of Directors of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce. Hosting Connecticut has done web site work for a wide range of businesses and non-profits including the Hamden Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Southern University Foundation, and local favorite, Husky Limited. Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 13 January 2004 New Services at Hosting Connecticut It’s been an eventful year for Hosting Connecticut. The company has found a warm welcome and a niche market here in Windsor. Owners, Shelley Sullivan and Paula M. Pierce, have worked together to grow the company into a well-known Connecticut web development firm. Working mainly with small businesses, they provide creative and effective websites for those looking to establish an online presence, and redesigns and marketing strategies for those whose existing websites aren’t producing as expected. “We’ve set up several checks and balances to make sure the system runs smoothly including, my favorite, monthly meetings at Centre Coffee Bar; mixing a little pleasure with business once a month can really get the creative juices flowing,” says Pierce. “We’ve come up with some of our best marketing and product ideas there!” “We’ve introduced several new services during the year including email-only accounts for those that are tired of getting spam from free email servers, database programming for product and information intensive sites, flash animation for sites that need to attract attention or offer an elegant “quality of life” feel, script installation to give a site more interactivity, and an array of merchant account terminals for those who want to sell at shows and exhibitions,” Sullivan says. “As our clients’ needs change, we develop solutions to their new problems to keep them growing.” Their goals for 2004 are simple: Continue to improve and expand existing website services and help local businesses increase revenue with new online and offline marketing techniques. Hosting Connecticut helped many of their clients achieve record online sales in 2003. One client, www.HuskyLimited.com, a UCONN Husky apparel and gift site. First year sales were dramatic. “There are a lot of little things you can do to improve the success of a website, it’s not always necessary to revamp an entire site to get results,” says Pierce. “We also do our best to help our clients reduce costs. Our merchant account rates have always been competitive, but we’re now offering lower rates (both online and offline) to help more local businesses accept credit cards without spending a fortune.” Hosting Connecticut has become known for providing superior service without a lot of hassle. "We don't confuse our clients with a bunch of technical information,” says Sullivan. "Many business owners don't want to know the behind-the-scenes details, they just want their website to look good and work well, and that's what they get." Refinements the company has made throughout the year will allow them to take on larger projects and still ensure that each client gets individual attention. The partners agree, “Our clients are our number one priority. Our goal is to help them succeed online.” Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 14 January 2004 Web Development Firm Celebrates First Anniversary One year ago today, Paula M. Pierce and Shelley Sullivan officially launched Hosting Connecticut, LLC, the premier web development company, in Windsor and Avon. Working mainly with local businesses, Hosting Connecticut provides successful websites to those looking to establish an online presence, and redesigns and marketing strategies to those whose existing websites aren’t producing as expected. The company introduced several new services during the year including email accounts for people that are tired of getting spam from free email servers. Even with the new CAN-SPAM Act and its goal to impose “limitations and penalties on the transmission of unsolicited commercial electronic mail”, there will still be floods of spam. Hosting Connecticut helps individuals reduce the amount of spam they receive and helps business owners get their legitimate email messages and newsletters to their subscribers without getting deleted by the aggressive spam filters. Local businesses praise Hosting Connecticut for helping them attract new clients. Williams and Vassallo, a Suffield Law Firm, has seen a significant increase in new business since Hosting Connecticut developed their website and provided them with a merchant account to accept credit card payments online and offline. “We look for ways to help our clients reduce costs. Our merchant account rates (both online and offline) are quite low. Some businesses don’t even know what they’re paying their processors to accept credit cards until we ask. We review their statements with them line by line to find out if our services will save them money,” says Pierce. So what does 2004 hold for Hosting Connecticut? “We just introduced a wireless terminal so businesses can process credit cards in real time at trade shows and also a powerful new stats package for site owners to analyze their website traffic and the effectiveness of their marketing campaigns," Sullivan said. "We'll also focus on researching new technology and continue to offer exemplary customer service. Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 15 January 2004 Hosting Connecticut Going Strong One year after the official launch of Hosting Connecticut, LLC, the Windsor website development company is going strong. Owners, Paula M. Pierce and Shelley Sullivan are pleased with the growth they’ve seen in just one year, especially in Windsor. Paula has been an active member and frequent volunteer at the Windsor Chamber of Commerce and serves on their technology committee. “It’s exciting to be involved with the local business community and really get to know the people in town.” "A lot of people come to us for help because their webmaster doesn’t return their calls or has actually disappeared in some cases! We aren't the kind of company to design a site and forget about the people who gave us the job. After a new site is complete we always make ourselves available to answer questions, advise on new technology, and provide support whenever needed," says Paula. Hosting Connecticut is best known for providing superior service without a lot of hassle. "We don't confuse our clients with a bunch of technical information regarding the mechanics of how a website works, unless they want it, if it's something they're interested in." says Shelley. "Many business owners don't want to know the behind-the-scenes details, they just want their website to look good and work well, and that's what we give them." Hosting Connecticut has also been expanding its skills base. “It’s so important to keep up with the latest technology. We’re always learning new things.” Shelley concentrates on project management while Paula makes sure they’re up to date on new software and programming. Their two Design Specialists continually build on their talents and expand into new areas. Refinements the company has made throughout the year will allow them to take on larger projects and still ensure that each client gets individual attention. The partners agree, “Our clients are our number one priority. Our goal is to help them succeed online.” Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 16 April 2003 Hosting CT Offers Free Classes Hosting Connecticut, LLC will be offering free computer seminars to the public. All classes will take place at PC Development Group on Broad Street in Windsor from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Schedule as follows: May 20th - Clean Out Your Attic with eBay Ebay is an international phenomenon! For the first time individuals can offer items for sale using the same high-tech, far-reaching methods as the big guys. You, too, can put your items up for auction with a national, even international audience. June 10th - A Website Primer If you've wanted to start your own website, but have been hesitant to take that first step, this seminar is for you! Learn what's involved in running a website, whether for an online business, social group, or a personal site. Avoid common mistakes of the new webmasters and you'll be ahead of the game! June 24th - Doing It Yourself There are many ways to create a website. If you're inclined to tackle projects head-on and roll up your sleeves when faced with a challenge, you may want to try to build your own website. There's a lot to it, I won't lie to you. But with a little guidance and motivation you can do it! Learn about web building software, hardware, and the services you'll need to build it yourself. July 15th - ECommerce Okay, you want to sell online, but are not sure how the whole thing works. We're here to show you all the options including accepting online payments and working with shopping carts and security. July 29th - Online Marketing You've got a website and some traffic, but are not getting the sales you want? Online marketing is a very different animal than offline marketing. You'll learn about search engines and directories, pay-per-click advertising and ways to turn looky-loos into buyers. Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 17 Advertisements Good Communication Windsor Almanac January 2004 Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 18 Communication and Merchant Account Special Business United January 2004 Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 19 Web Development Made Easy Windsor Hotels Binder September 2003 Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 20 Tip Sheets 8 Reasons to Build Your Business Online The internet. You’ve heard about it, you’ve browsed it and you’ve been bombarded with marketing gurus telling you your business needs it. Want proof? Here are just a few of the ways your business can benefit from having a website. 1. Increased Visibility for Less Cost Only the internet has the capability to reach 200 million people worldwide and for a reasonable price. Yellow pages, newspapers, magazines and TV commercials are much more expensive than running a website. Get your information out there for less. 2. Be Where Your Customer Are People are increasingly using the Internet to find companies providing the products and services they require. Be there when they need you! 3. Market Research Solicit feedback from your customers in an anonymous way through website polls and surveys. Find out what your customers and prospects really think about new products and services, the industry or local area. Customers are more apt to give honest, constructive feedback if they can submit it anonymously. 4. Reach Your Target Market No Matter Where You’re Located Does your product or service apply to professional cowboys, dowsers, or coffee houses? Not many of those in your local area? Find your target market online and they will become your customers. 5. Save Money If you send information out to customers on a regular basis, you can save money by offering information on your website, reducing mailing costs. 6. Be Available 24/7 Your web site will promote your business 24 hours, a day 7 days a week. You don’t want to be in the shop all day, every day . . . do you? 7. Outpace Your Competition This is a great way to get ahead of your competition. Do they have a website? If they do, is it useful? Be better than your competition – offer your customers and prospects the information they need along with your contact information. 8. Flexible Marketing Campaigns Unlike other forms of advertising (direct mail, print, etc) that become obsolete quickly, you can keep your website up-to-date daily if you want to. Ever been stuck with 10,000 postcards with the wrong phone number on them?  The internet gives you more power to control your image, your message and your target audience than any other advertising medium. It does take time, money, and effort to begin and develop a successful website, but the returns can be amazing. Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 21 8 Ways to Convert Website Visitors into Buyers So… you’ve got a steady stream of traffic coming to your website, but not enough buyers. Here are some time-tested formulas used by the major online retailers. • Visit your site Is it easy to navigate and understand? Is it clear what you can do on the site? Are you left with questions about products or services that would prevent a visitor from buying? Fix any potential problems so future visitors won’t be affected. Know who your customers are, and what their needs and wants are Track where visitors come from and what they search for. Survey visitors to make sure you understand who is visiting your site to find out if you’re attracting your target market. Offer a website special It’s hard to resist a free or deeply discounted product if it’s something you might want. Intrigue buyers with a fun, useful, or even better, edible item. Once they buy something, anything, from you they’ll be more likely to do so again. Return policy / guarantee Make sure you have a clear and customer-friendly return policy. Offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee and back it up. The number of people who will want to use it will be a tiny fraction of your customers. Privacy policy Reassure your potential customers that you have a policy against renting or selling their information to third parties. The more comfortable they are with your site, the more likely they are to purchase. FAQ Answer potential buyers’ questions before they have to ask you, because most won’t bother, they’ll just move on. Promote your USP The only way to get buyers is to offer them something of value, and to make that value clear as crystal. USP is your unique selling proposition and it tells prospects why they should buy from you instead of someone else. Copywriting Good copy is a necessity for an online business. You’ve only got a few seconds per page to interest your visitors. Make every word count. And keep it brief! • • • • • • • Any time you can add to the usability and clarity of your website it will increase repeat visitors. Repeat visitors are much more likely to buy. Get 'em to the site, entice them, and get them to take action! Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 22 Top 10 Website Mistakes You’ve got a website. Great! But is it bringing you new business? The not-so-old axiom, “if you build it they will come” doesn’t apply online. Make sure your website doesn’t make any of the following common mistakes. 1. Long URL / No domain name When you use your ISP or a free host your website address can be way too long like this: http://www.angelfire.com/co/Jeffersonstarship/daily.html Do your business a favor and register a domain name - something like: www.mycompany.com 2. Too many gizmos Many well known companies fall into this trap using all the latest technology just so their website looks “cool”. Too many spinning logos, javascript tricks, and other such distractions can weigh down your pages and distract visitors. You’ve got ‘em there, keep ‘em! 3. Long load time Make sure to only use images that enhance your site. File size should be minimal for the quality you need. Don’t make your visitors wait. You’ve only got about three seconds to impress them before they leave your site. 4. Unprofessional design There’s something to be said for homemade things. Homemade apple pies are great. Homemade websites are usually not. If you don’t have the time to learn web site design, leave it to the experts - it’s better for your bottom line. 5. Hiring Your Nephew See above. There’s a big difference between knowing a little html and developing a professional looking, functional website that will be an asset to your business. 6. Long pages Having to scroll down long pages really annoys visitors and lessens the effectiveness of your content. Keep your pages concise and easy to understand. 7. Inconsistent navigation Make it easy for visitors to get around your site. Don’t confuse them with different buttons on each page. Consistency is the way to a browser’s heart and wallet. 8. Broken links Make sure all your hyperlinks work. You don’t want visitors seeing error pages instead of your content! There are automated services that can check your links for you. 9. Using non-domain email A business owner spends a nice chunk of change making sure his website enhances his business’s image. But wait, what’s this? His email address is Mysiteiscool@aol.com. Wrong! Use domain email like bob@mycompany.com. It’s much more professional. 10. Browser incompatibility Have you looked at your site through IE, Navigator, Opera and Mozilla, in different versions of Windows and Mac browsers? Your site may not show up well without the proper care. Now look at your site with an unbiased eye. Is it useful to your target market? Does it give them information on your products, service, and industry? Is it updated frequently so your visitors will come back often? These are the keys to online success. Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 23 Memberships Windsor Chamber of Commerce The Windsor Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to provide voice for the Business Community on issues of public policy. Help businesses to work together for their mutual benefit. Advocate initiatives that enhance the town’s (region) economic vitality and quality of life. Tourism Committee The goal of the Tourism Committee is to promote Windsor’s local retail shops, restaurants, and attractions to the local community, surrounding towns, the state and New England. Annual Benefit Auction Committee Provide fund raising support for the Chamber of Commerce and its annually selected charitable donation recipients by coordinating donations from local merchants and providing technological support for the event. Technology Committee The mission of the Technology Committee is to enhance the value of chamber membership by facilitating access to the Chamber and other members through the chamber’s website, facilitating ecommerce opportunities, improving communications through electronic means, and helping members become more proficient in the use of internet technologies to enhance business opportunities. Hamden Chamber of Commerce The Hamden Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization composed of members from the business community who are concerned with the importance of maintaining a positive economic climate in the town of Hamden. It is a group of business people, like yourself, who invest time, energy and money in activities that help assure the value of doing business in Hamden. Metro Hartford Alliance Founded in 2001, the MetroHartford Alliance united the business expertise of the MetroHartford Chamber of Commerce and the economic development leadership of MetroHartford Economic Growth Council to form the region’s lead business and economic development organization. The Alliance has built a 2,300 member driven organization that brings together business, non-profit organizations, civic, and government leaders invested in the region’s future economic growth and its viability for robust business development. Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 24 Partial Design Portfolio View our design portfolio at http://hostingct.com/design/portfolio.shtml And some redesign examples at http://hostingct.com/design/portfolio-ba.shtml Joliet Park District jolietpark.org Husky Limited huskylimited.com UppityShirts Uppityshirts.com PaulaWalla Imports paulawalla.com Union Street Tavern Unionstreettavern.com The Water Closet shopthewatercloset.com First Town Downtown firsttowndowntown.org Splash Station Water Park jolietsplashstation.com Max Coyer MaxCoyer.com Windsor Fife & Drum windsorfifeanddrumcorps.com Fun Pots funpots.com Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 25 Channahon School District channahon.will.k12.il.us MochaBay Design mochabaydesign.com Her Assistant herassistant.com Her Directory herdirectory.com Basket Biz Help basketbizhelp.com Giggle Fish gigglefish.com St. Jacques Enterprises stjacquesfamilyenterprises.com Splash Station Water Park jolietsplashstation.com Making Faces, LLC Makingfacesllc.com See www.hostingct.com/design for latest portfolio Hosting Connecticut Press Kit 7/28/08 Page 26 Client Testimonials “I’m very happy with the look of the site and it is very easy to use and maintain. Orders are rolling in!” Scott Yeager Husky Limited www.HuskyWear.com Tel: (860) 872-2900 Email: support@huskywear.com “Working with you has been such a wonderful experience. I don't impress easily, but you are truly fantastic. You have taken the worry and the pain out of something I had been dreading.” Judith Nilsen-Waleski Minted Momentos www.Mintmos.com Email: judi@mintmos.com "I would suggest to anyone new at the pay-per-click game, to consult Hosting Connecticut. The fee is so reasonable and their attention to detail is amazing. I've been bombarded by orders!" Donna Bliss My Miracle Baby www.mymiraclebaby.com Tel: 800--342-2509 Email: customercare@mymiraclebaby.com “The system HostingCT created for our website has had a tremendous impact on the usefulness of our website as an information source for the local community and marketing tool. Chamber staff can update and maintain the site easily with no technical skills. 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