Marketing Tools: Reviews of Low Cost Web Sites

Looking for a professional, low cost web site?

Professional looking web templates makes a web presence possible -- even on a tight budget.

I just created a web site for Right Touch Marketing & Media using a free Wordpress template.

I've also created a personal site using Homestead.com.

Other places worth looking are both Weebly.com and Templatemonster.com.


Here is my review:

Wordpress templates. Cost range: free to . . . as much as you want to spend.

Type "Wordpress templates" in to Google and you'll find there are many options to choose from. So what do you choose? Functionality is a big factor. My Wordpress site doesn't have drop down menus.

However, if you're skilled with Wordpress, or are willing to learn, an unlimited number of pages can be created and then linked within the site to let visitors move around easily.


http://www.homestead.com/ 30-day free trial and then from $ 4.99 a month to $ 49.99 a month.

I created a personal site using Homestead. Yet, the capabilities can handle many business site functions for small to growing companies. The templates can easily be customized. Homestead does an excellent job of providing a content management system that is easy for non-techies to use.

As always, there's a learning curve. But it's a do-able curve.


http://www.weebly.com/ 2 sites free and then $ 3.99 a month for an unlimited number of sites.

I tried using Weebly. I really did and found it a bit awkward. And, yet, a little more patience and I'm sure I would have been fine. I went back to Homestead for my personal site, though. I do think Weebly is a good option.


http://www.templatemonster.com/ more than 14,000 templates available from a $ 10 to $ 100 price range.

This is one of the most popular template sites on the web. It links to other resources, including a company that will revamp an existing web template for around $ 1,200. So they do know that many people who don't have web experience really don't have the time to experiment and learn on their own.

Professional looking sites are possible today for any size business.
What's really most important about your web site? It's making sure the message stands out clearly no matter what option you use.

Marketing with a Media Mix . . . and on a Budget

The Internet today can be your own personal media empire . . . just you and several million other empire moguls!

But, if you plan an effective marketing strategy using a media mix, I believe you can use the Internet cost effectively and build relationships that will produce new business.

The other approach is to study Disney and adapt their methodology. When our kids were young, we got Disney music videos that were 30-minute compilations of songs from longer movies. The studio took the same content and packaged it in different forms.

As a professional writer and marketer, I used content effectively to expand a non-profit.

Here is how I see businesses being able to use content in expanding their marketing efforts. In this case, give prospective customers concise "how to" information.

Start with a Topic
I'll use real estate agents for this example.

Let's say you know the Top 5 Ways to Improve a Home

That's your topic.

Put the topic into the following media:

• Videos to upload on YouTube, Revver and other outlets
• Articles to upload to online directories
• Postcards that reference the online articles and video
• Brochures to distribute. These can be produced simply - or elaborately depending on budget.
• Fact sheets - simple one pagers referencing the videos and articles and your contact information, of course.

And, of course, there are email newsletters as well.

This is your media mix.

I can see having 5 video clips edited to 90 seconds each, 5 - 7 articles of 300 words to 500 words each, 2,000 postcards mailed to a couple of zip codes, brochures and fact sheets to hand out at networking events and open houses.

You're displaying your knowledge and giving customers value. After all, they come on to the Internet to search for information to help them solve a problem.

If you can do that consistently, you're going to build your brand as knowledgeable and a problem solver.