Collaboration – This is something The Web Muse & Co. does every day. We are in communications with Printers, Public Relations Firms, Marketing Companies, Virtual Assistants, Graphic Designers, Search Engine Optimization, Pay-Per-Click, Social Media experts and many more. These are all people we “collaborate” with – meaning that we work on a project together. We refer business back and forth. Think about all the different people you interact with on a daily basis and make a list of those types of businesses.

Connection – One can spend time on or offline with networking and making new connections. What’s even better is when someone you know “connects” you or introduces you to someone new. I call this a “warm connection”. It’s wonderful to get phone calls or emails saying, “Anita, I’d like to introduce you to Victoria. She is an amazing woman who specializes in 4-color printing of brochures and business cards. I think you’ll find her pricing very competitive with the online vendors. Here is her contact information, etc.” I immediately thank the person who introduced us, next I contact Victoria to setup and in-person meeting or a phone call. I go into the meeting with one agenda – what I can do or provide for her. Not what she can provide to me. I offer to connect her with my clients who are looking for these services, give her new resources or links to sites, put her information in my next Muse News and introduce her to some businesses for collaboration. Do you see how this works? It’s a win/win/win!

Connections can also start out to be personal, based on a hobby or interest and turn into business. For example, I recently connected 3 women I personally know who love horses. One is involved with a beautiful horse ranch, the other does equine gestalt therapy plus speaking and the 3^rd is a graphic designer who loves to ride. Because this was a “warm connection” from someone they knew (me) – they immediately contacted each other and I can’t wait to see what transpires from their interaction. Exciting!

I want to help you with a connection today. Here’s how to participate:

1. Send me an email with a type of connection or collaboration you are looking for. This would look something like this: I am looking for a Social Media Expert who has experience working with Commercial Landscapers. Or Do you know a publisher that I may connect with about my upcoming book about Dream Interpretation? Or I need a connection in the Los Angeles area to help me with my speaking skills. You get the idea. It is not – I need a connection to buy my latest book. Or My target audience is anyone who dreams, etc.
2. Include a blurb about your area of expertise, services, products, contact info, etc.

I will get busy and start reaching out to my local and global network to make the connection. Sound like fun? Let’s start connecting and collaborating with some new dynamic people today!

Two questions that are most important to your site visitors are:

1. 1.  Who is your target audience?
2. 2.  What makes you unique, different or special?

Certainly there are many factors in deciding what makes you special. Here are my top three questions to identify what makes you SPECIAL.

Take a look at your competition. How do you differ from them? Is there something you offer that your competition doesn’t?

1. What experiences and backgrounds do you and your employees bring forth?
2. 3. Listen to what your customers are saying. What words do they use to describe you and your company?

The answers to these questions will help you succeed both on and offline.  Write your answers in the Comments area and let us all know what makes you special!

It’s a good idea to have the colors of your logo be represented on the website. This creates a branding image in the mind of your customers. Whenever we see yellow & red & the golden arches we know what famous fast food chain that represents.

As with everything, there are positives and negatives to each color. Knowing your target audience will determine which colors you’ll choose to convey. When you’re appealing to a global audience, knowing the color meanings of different cultures will be beneficial. See a Cultural Color Chart.

Cash Colors – This 30-page ebook shows how to use color to create web pages that sell. For every color the author lists the feelings the visitor will experience. He also mentions industries that benefit by using certain colors and color combinations.

Meaning of colors according to the Small Business Association:

White – pure, clean, youthful, coolness, cleanliness, safety.

Black – power, elegant, secretive, classical, serious, stability.

Red – passion, excitement, danger, strength, bravery, energy.

Orange – vibrant, warm, healthy, exciting, fun.

Yellow – happiness, excitement, cheerful, alert, warm.

Green – natural, health, plentiful, wealth, freshness.

Purple – royalty, wise, celebration, romance, femininity.

Blue - intelligence, peaceful, trustworthy, authority, security.

A few websites to help you choose colors:

Degraeve Color Palette

Colour Lovers

Visibone Color Chart

I’ve seen speakers wear the colors of their logos and websites to leave a lasting impression on their audience. Are the colors on your website appealing to your target audience? Leave a comment and share some sites that have a good use of colors.