SCORE Workshop at the Greenhouse - "Creating your web presence" by Toby Martini

I attended a SCORE workshop on December 17 at St. Pete's "Greenhouse." The title was "Creating your web presence," presented by Toby Martini. (I heartily recommend any workshop by Toby!  He is scheduled to give more SCORE workshops in 2016.) Links are provided at the bottom of this page.

My take-aways from this particular workshop are summarized below.


Get your own domain  name, find a web host provider, and install Wordpress. (For those of you who attended my own presentation at the Greenhouse the prior week, this falls under "Internet Planning.")



Use Wordpress themes. There are lots of free, no-cost themes available through wordpress.org plus commercially supported themes such as:

• Thesis
• Canvas
• Headway

Use Wordpress plugins, such as:

• Akismet
• Online Backup
• Yoast SEO
• NextGen Gallery

Use autoresponder with email programs, and use double Opt-in providers.

The front page of your website:

• Use a page name different from "home"
• Show that you are [1] Smart [2] Helpful and [3] Available 
• Identify and resonate with your target market
• Show 1-3 benefits of working with you
• What do you want your web visitors to do next?

Images: Use them. (But be sure to use original work or pay for the rights!!)

• Everystockphoto.com
• Flikr.com
• Stock exchange - www.sxc.hu
• Istockphoto.com
• GettyImages.com

Links: 

• Pinellas County SCORE home page and the upcoming workshop schedule
• St. Pete's "Greenhouse" facility which is an additional resource for entrepreneurs
• Toby Martini