Making people and ideas findable
Extreme Home(page) Makover: Volunteers Needed!
I hope nobody is offended when I say that I have seen some really rough Web copy lately on the home pages of some Smaller Indiana companies. Rather than ignoring it, I'd like to do something about it, so today I'm announcing a little "extreme makeover" program to help. My goal is to help one business owner fix the copy on his or her home page so that the business gets more value from the Web.
To get this done we'll need at least one copy writer to volunteer a few hours...and we'll need business owners to submit their Web pages to a little scrutiny. Read on for detail...
First of all allow me to illustrate the problem. Here are two examples of what Erin Kissane calls "Zombie Copy".
With this post I want to invite business owners to look at their home pages. If you're a business owner, read your own Home page and ask yourself, "would a new visitor have any idea what my company does if all they did were to read this page?"
If the anwser is "no" or even "maybe" then here's how you can get some help:
1. Raise your hand. Rather than asking the Smaller Indiana community to seek out copy-challenged sites, I'll leave it to site owners themselves. If you feel your Home page text could use a little doctoring, then please add a comment to this thread and your Home page will be considered for a free, copy "makeover" by a professional writer.
2. Be open to "constructive" criticism. Writing is not as easy as it appears, and writing for the Web can be especially challenging. So please don't feel bad about it if your copy leaves something to be desired. This excercise is meant to give you a chance to earn more business by improving the way you communicate the benefits of your services. The only way to improve anything is to change. So you must be at least a little flexible in order to benefit from this exercise.
3. Blog about your experience. If your site is chosen for the makeover, you will be responsible to submit at least one blog post to share your experience with Smaller Indiana. Hopefully you will have learned a few things along the way.
So that's it. If you want to submit your Website for consideration, please add a post to this forum thread. Be sure to include your Web address.
And all you writers out there - I need your help - please send me a note if you're willing to donate a few hours to this cause. I'll work with you to make sure you get the credit you deserve!
If this works, I think it would be cool to extend this program and to other makeovers like graphics, SEO and even flash. But we'll se how this one goes first.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kent Hoover on -
I've got a decent sized conference room in Carmel we can use.
Guilford & Carmel Dr
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Permalink Reply by Nicki Laycoax on -
Just keeping my progress updated, Theresia and I are scheduled to meet this Thursday morning. I will put Feb 22 on my calendar. I'm looking forward to seeing all the makeovers!
Thanks Smaller Indiana!!!
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Permalink Reply by Nicki Laycoax on
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I have updated my blog with my experience with Theresia! Enjoy!
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Permalink Reply by Pam Norman on -
I'll offer up the Indiana Chamber conference room as a downtown location.
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Permalink Reply by Pat Coyle on -
Pam,
Thanks for offering the downtown location. Let's meet at the chamber. I think that would be great!
Not sure if everyone will get the message, so help me spread the word, OK??
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Permalink Reply by Charles Ernstes on -
Hello,
I know my web page needs a makeover, particularly because we have no information on residential and commercial elevator sales, service and installation as well as modernizations ( rebuilds). I would like to raise my hand and say pick me pick me and see where it goes.
thanks
Charlie
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Permalink Reply by Theresia Whitfield on -
Thanks for mentioning me and my company by name. I'm glad you found the meeting so beneficial!
See you soon,
T
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Permalink Reply by Nicki Laycoax on
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Has there been a final decision made as to where and when the group will be meeting? I know that it was set for Friday, February 22, at I think lunchtime?
Looking forward to it!
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Permalink Reply by Erik Deckers on -
Smaller Indiana Web Writing Conference will be held at the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
115 West Washington Street, Suite 805S
12 Noon to 1 pm
Bring your own lunch. Be prepared to talk about the writing process, what you had, what you came up with, and what you're going to do with your newfound knowledge.
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Permalink Reply by Erik Deckers on
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Forgot to mention, it IS on Friday the 22nd.
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