Webmaster and Small Business Resolutions

Webmaster and Small Business Resolutions
New Years Resolutions

Each and every year people around the world mark the first
day of the New Year with resolutions. They resolve to do a
wide variety of things, and while few resolutions are
actually kept, the tradition is a hallmark of the holiday
each year.

Experts suggest that people should make lifestyle changes
rather than resolutions. I am a bit more pragmatic. Tackle
a task you know that you can succeed at. Do not bite off
more than you can chew, and you will be one of the few who
manages to keep their resolutions. Here are a few suggested
resolutions for webmasters and small business owners:

Webmasters Resolutions:

1. Prune Those RSS Feeds

Large feeds are slow to load, its time to prune those RSS
feeds and remove the old contents. Dated feed items can be
archived as an HTML web page, but should be removed from
the actual feed, to ensure that it loads quickly.

2. Update Copyright Notices

Make an effort to update the copyright notice on your
website. A current date will reassure customers that your
online storefront is active.

3. Update Meta Tags

Each and every web page on a website should contain a
unique title and description. Update and optimize meta tags
to avoid excessive use of keywords. Meta tags should be
accurate and concise without redundancy and recurring words.

4. House Cleaning

Update old links and remove any links that are no longer
valid. HTML is a markup language and without constant
maintenance it is easy to have a page with an unclosed tag.
While some web browsers make allowances for poorly formed
HTML, it is important to realize that not all do.
Therefore, it is crucial that you take a look at the HTML
behind the web page and make sure that it is properly
formed.

5. Try Something New

Pick a technology, be it podcasting, RSS, or social
bookmarking. Resolve to try or resolve to learn something
new. Businesses stagnate without innovation. Be creative
and willing to experiment a little.

Small Business Resolutions:

1. Have a Plan

Small businesses often rely on just a handful of
individuals and few small businesses have contingency plans
if key individuals are unavailable for any length of time.
Cross train employees and document procedures so that your
business will survive regardless of the circumstances.

2. Prepare a Budget for 2007 and Stick to It.

Determine where and how you intend to spend your business'
hard earned cash in the coming year. Too many small
businesses fail to follow a business plan. Build a budget
and stick to it.

3. Define Yourself

As a small business it is important to know your strengths
and weaknesses. Identify your strengths and reinforce those
strengths in your communication with your customers or
potential customers. Be aware of any weaknesses or
deficiencies in your small business, and do not over
commit. Use this knowledge to stay competitive with other
businesses.

4. Use Metrics

It is difficult to know what works and what does not if you
are not tracking metrics. Measure the results of
advertising campaigns, track website visitors and use
metrics to determine what works for your business.

5. Communicate

Communicate with your customers more. Few small businesses
understand the value of communication, or realize what they
can learn from past, current and potential customers.
Communicate and you might learn important information about
your business. The unique perspective an outsider can
provide about how they are using or product, or what
interested them about your business is invaluable.

Resolutions are easier made than kept. In 2007, consider
paring down your list and focusing on resolutions that are
attainable and will help your bottom line.

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About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll
http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing,
publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon
manages marketing for NotePage http://www.notepage.net a
wireless text messaging software company.