In a quick overview of free web design software, there are two main avenues to explore. The first is software that can only be used online at the host site. These are sometimes referred to as site builder tools. The second is free web design software that can be downloaded to the user’s computer.

Generally, most web hosting companies offer some type of site building software to their clients so they can put up a website on their own. This is a very good option for those who want a web presence but have limited income and limited web design knowledge. There are numerous hosting companies on the internet that offer this service; some offer it free while others charge a nominal fee after a free trial. Go Daddy (www.godaddy.com), Network Solutions (www.networksolutions.com), and Homestead (www.homestead.com) just to name a few.

The second avenue to explore is free web design software that the user will download. The idea is that the user will download the program and then create a website. If you enjoy trying different software programs, this is the option to try first. Cool Page is the first free web design software that comes to mind. This website design software is fun and easy to use. Unfortunately, as of now, this program has not been updated. The one main fault for this program is that it does not offer a spell checker option in any version. There are many choices to explore when you look for free web design software online. Cool Page (www.coolpage.com), Personal Web Kit (www.personalwebkit.com). Serif Web Plus (www.serif.com/web-design-software), Trellian WebPage (www.trellian.com/webpage/index.html) and the list goes on.

Online or downloaded, free web design software tends to offer similar pros and cons. The advantages of both are initially saving the customer money, easy to learn software, and of course, an immediate web presence. The drawbacks are also similar. There are limitations on the software that make the user purchase the upgrades to take advantage of all the features in the software. There is also the danger of becoming a “cookie cutter” site. This means that there is a real chance that your website could get lost among the numerous websites on the internet.

The important thing is to have a web presence and as your needs change so should your website. One web search will offer many websites, like those above, to help your website grow no matter which avenue you choose.

Inexperienced business operators go into new markets without having the information they need to be successful.

Because they don’t know the answers to the 6 Essential Questions That Every Businessperson Must Ask, they often fail. The difference between success and failure is rarely one wrong decision. Instead, it is a series of wrong decisions made by people who do not have the essential information needed to make the right ones.

You can greatly increase your chances of making the right decisions IF you know the answer to these 6 questions:

(1) What is the demand for your product or service?

When you know how many Internet searches are made every day, week, month and year for your product or service, you can estimate how much demand there is for what you are selling. More demand = increased chances of success.

(2) What is the available supply of your product or service?

When you know how many businesses are already selling you product or service you can accurately estimate whether or not there is room in the market for your offering.

(3) Who are your Competitors?

It’s not enough to simply know what the supply (number of competitors) is, it’s also essential that you know who your competitors are. For example, can you see the benefit of knowing you’re considering entering a market owned by Fortune 500 companies that spend millions of dollars per year on advertising alone? What if you found out that your biggest potential competitor is a non-profit that gives away your product or service for free?

(4)What is the best pricing model for your product or service?

Determining price elasticity is a critical component of any new product or service launch. When you know the highest and lowest available prices for your product or service, you are in a better position to determine a price that will spur sales and generate a fair profit.

(5) How are your competitors promoting?

What competitors say in their advertising and marketing campaigns can provide you with critical insight to their product or service offerings. When you know what words and phrases they are targeting for Pay-Per-Click ads and where they are spending other advertising money, you are in a better position to meet them head-on in the territories they are already defending and to discover new territories that have escaped their attention.

(6) What is the market “buzz” for you product or service?

Successful companies like Amazon, CompUSA, Dell and even Microsoft would never launch a new product or service without conducting a thorough online market analysis and neither should you.

A market analysis report helps you to identify the niche markets that are ripe for your product or service. You can greatly increase your chances of success if you target the right people at the right time.

Please feel free to publish this article on your web site and/or in your e-book or newsletters with the authors resource box included and without any changes to the article. (Add your contact e-mail)

A complimentary copy of your ezine or notification you are using this article would be appreciated.

So you have a blog that you write regularly to and hope that interested readers will find your blog. Well they won’t unless you somehow get the content from your blog syndicated. And like I always say, if you’re not syndicating the content from your blog and helping to promote it, your competitors surely are.

To take a step back, a blog can be a valuable marketing tool to help promote your business and position you as an expert in your field. Adding a blog to your Las Vegas website can help increase organic traffic.

You have to find the time to write and post at least two articles a week for it to be truly effective.  They should be articles of at least 200 words each and should contain links to other websites if possible. You should have at least 3 months of content published before you submit your Las Vegas blog to blog directories. There are a lot of national blog directories to submit to.

Las Vegas is partially famous for it’s numerous conventions and conferences held here each year. We get a lot of attendees to our Las Vegas conventions as well, so whether you’re a national company looking to attend a convention in Las Vegas or you’re a local company or business looking to showcase your company’s products and services locally here in Las Vegas to a national audience right here in town, you should be aware of the various conventions held here each year and their schedules.

The following websites are resources to find all of the latest Las Vegas trade show information and schedules:

• The official site for Las Vegas meeting and travel – professionals from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
• Las Vegas Convention Calendar
• Las Vegas Conventions and Trade Shows from lasvegastourism.com
• Las Vegas Conventions Schedule from off2vegas.com
• Las Vegas Conventions, Conferences, Tradeshows - Upcoming Listing from Las Vegas Leisure Guide – pcap.com
• Las Vegas Conventions from lvol.com
• General Info on the Las Vegas Convention Center – from wikipedia.org
• List of Las Vegas Convention Centers and Las Vegas Conference Centers – from LasVegas.net
• Las Vegas Conventions and Conferences – a Quick Guide from About.com
• Las Vegas Events – Your Event Connection – lasvegasevents.com
• Las Vegas Convention Calendar – Best Western Mardi Gras Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

Managing your company’s computer network here in Las Vegas can be a time consuming and confusing job: adding computers to your network, configuring a wireless network, ensuring your computer network has the proper security and maintaining and backing up your company’s valuable data. If you do it yourself or have a non-qualified employee managing your computer network, you may be in for more trouble than it’s worth.

As a marketing professional, I recommend outsourcing all of your server, computer, email and IT support to a professional local Las Vegas company. We work closely with NetEffect, based right here in Las Vegas.

About NetEffect

NetEffect of Las Vegas provides a wide range of computer and IT support and consulting services for small and medium businesses in Southern Nevada. Our cost-effective IT solutions let you focus on running and growing your business rather than wrestling with technology. We operate seamlessly with your business, and provide you and your staff with knowledgeable, friendly engineers. We’re your virtual IT department.

NetEffect is your single point of contact for all technology-related solutions. We can meet your IT needs regardless of your industry. If you’re looking to outsource your IT role, then look no further. NetEffect will provide you with an efficient solution to manage all of your IT needs.

I recently spoke at the Nevada Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators recent seminar at the College of Southern Nevada. My presentation included online marketing strategies and tactics to help promote their members, web site design, search engine marketing and blog marketing.

If you are interested in having me speaking at your group or company’s next event on marketing or online marketing in Las Vegas, please contact me at 702.341.0085.

About the Nevada Society of Children’s Book Writers

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, formed in 1971 by a group of Los Angeles based writers for children, is the only international organization to offer a variety of services to people who write, illustrate, or share a vital interest in children’s literature. The SCBWI acts as a network for the exchange of knowledge between writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, agents, librarians, educators, booksellers and others involved with literature for young people. There are currently more than 19,000 members worldwide, in over 70 regions, making it the largest children’s writing organization in the world.