1. Top Story

Make Your New Year's Growth Plans a Reality

Whenever a New Year hits, it's easy to get excited about making plans for what you can accomplish in the 12 months to come. If you're small business owner, you more than likely have included expanding your business to your resolution list. maybe even above joining a health club and eating less fast food. To make sure your business growth plans don't end up at the exact same spot on your 2009 list, follow these easy tips.

Set Realistic Goals

When you're the boss, getting motivated and quickly seeing how more customers can increase your profits isn't hard. Definitely think big, just make sure your expectations can be met. It's a lot easier to feel good about a 2% increase if your initial goal isn't to double your revenue.

Five Ideas to Get You Started

1. Plan a Site Redesign

Giving your site a new look for the New Year can be an excellent way to get your current customers talking about you to their friends and associates. Redesigning your site is also a great way to determine which products or services you currently offer should be retooled or even be eliminated from your current selection.

2. Add a Shopping Cart

One of the many benefits of online shopping is being able to skip standing in a line of fellow shoppers. If your customers can't experience that time savings and the other advantages of buying directly from your site, 2008 should be your year to explore ecommerce. Giving customers the power to purchase quickly, easily and securely from your online store can seriously improve your bottom line.

3. Recharge Your Marketing Plan

If you've been hesitant to invest in any online marketing, a New Year can be the perfect time to truly assess your return on investment in online advertising, a pay per click campaign or search engine optimization. Even if your budget only allows you to take one additional marketing step this year, it could just turn out to be your tipping point.

4. Join the Fray

With the increase in forums, professional blogs and social networking sites, putting your business in front of potential customers really can be accomplished on a shoestring budget. Remember to shy away from blatantly advertising your products on public forums; establish yourself as an expert and gain link backs to your site organically instead.

5. Reward Current Customers

You've heard time and again that customer referrals are one of the most convincing ways to find out about a new business or product. Encourage your own customers to spread the word about you by starting a refer-a-friend program. It only takes a minimal discount or token free gift to give your customers an extra incentive to talk you up.

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day

Don't get frustrated if you don't see an instant response to your efforts. Set a reasonable timeline with realistic goals and develop a matrix for assessing whether or not you can meet them. It's easy to get discouraged if you underestimate how long results will actually take but with persistence and a big picture approach, 2008 can really be your year.

Learn more about Driving Traffic to Your Site

2. Hostway News

New FTP Applet Released

In December, the SiteControl FTP Java applet was upgraded to include an improved user interface and added features, including:

• File/folder permission changes
• Local directory/Web server directory file synchronization
• Directory information
• Web hosting and ecommerce customers can access it in SiteControl under Website Tools.

Learn more

$5,000 Business Makeover Winner Announced

Hostway named Robin Noyes, www.whitenoyes.com, the winner of December's $5,000 Business Makeover. Noyes will be able to use her $5,000 credit for a variety of Hostway marketing and design services.

Learn more.

Hosted Exchange Tutorials Now Available

Start enjoying all the benefits of your Hosted Exchange account by learning more about how to configure your Outlook Mailbox and manage your Exchange mailbox using the newly-added interactive tutorials.

Watch Interactive Exchange Tutorials.

Exclusive Google AdWords Credits

Because you're a valued Hostway customer, you received a special mailing, which included a voucher valued up to $100 worth of free* Google AdWords credits. This offer is available with any Hostway hosting plan.

To redeem your unique credit code and try AdWords with no strings attached, simply log into SiteControl, follow the easy instructions and create your first Google AdWords campaign in minutes! Google AdWords is online advertising that promotes your business on Google. Your ads will show up alongside or above Google.com search results right when thousands of people in your target market are searching for what you offer. Don't wait to kick off your campaign—try it now.

Learn more.

*Promotional credit must be applied to a new AdWords account within 15 days of creating the account and is valid only for new Google AdWords customers with self-managed signup accounts. Advertisers will be charged for advertising that exceeds the promotional credit. Advertisers will need to suspend their ads if they do not wish to receive additional charges beyond the free credit amount. Subject to ad approval, valid registration and acceptance of the Google AdWords Program standard terms and conditions. The promotional credit is non-transferable and may not be sold or bartered. Offer may be revoked at any time for any reason by Google Inc. One promotional credit per customer. Advertisers with self-managed signup accounts are subject to a $5 activation fee. Offer valid only for advertisers in the U.S. and Canada signing up through the URL provided for the promotion. Void where restricted or prohibited by law. Expires 1/31/2008.

Keep up with Hostway's Latest News and Information

Sign up for Hostway's really simple syndication (RSS) feeds to stay in the know about all of Hostway's latest press releases and updates to the Web Resources section.

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Sign up for the Web Resources RSS.

3. Smart Tip

Choose specific keywords over general ones for your PPC campaign.

The keywords you choose are critical to the success of your PPC campaign. The more specific the keywords you choose, the less competition you have for position on the results page, increasing your click-through potential.

Learn more about choosing keywords.

4. Special Offer!

Websitemagazine.com

Get a Free Subscription to “Website Magazine”

Hostway has teamed up with Website Magazine to offer you a free subscription. This quarterly publication delivers information about proven Internet business practices and emerging trends that directly relate to website owners.

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PhotoshopSupport.com

New Year Photography Deals

Give your photographs the artist treatment with Free Actions & Brushes To Produce Painter Effects, or leave the photography to the pros at iStockphoto instead. Hostway customers receive 20 Free Photo Credits and 20% off.

Learn more about this special offer.