This is my presentation from the indie biz chicks conference. I discuss the "why" in website - why it is more important now than ever before to have your own website, even if you are a micro or indie entrepreneur. I go into a little detail regarding content marketing and how a feature rich website can do a lot of the heavy lifting in driving traffic to your website.

1. The Why in Website
(Why every indie biz chick needs one.)
by Jennifer Rapp Peterson
IndieMade is a website host and platform designed specifically
for artists, writers and indie entrepreneurs. Every site comes
fully integrated with a store + blog + image galleries + news +
calendar + pages + SEO + social sharing and amplification. And
its ridiculously easy to use.
Your content should work for YOU.
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.

2. Jennifer Rapp Peterson – “Indie Maiden”
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.

3. Where are you (your content) online?
YOU
Portfolio The Artist Blog
Your
Brand
Marketplace
Event
Calendar
Social
Photo
Networks
Sharing
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.

4. I call this ULBCS
(URL-Laden Business Card Syndrome)
• Not professional
• Scattered around, asking too much of your
audience
• Difficult to maintain and update
• Hard to maintain brand consistence
• Often pieces don’t work together
• Your very own content doesn’t promote
YOU
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.

5. The remedy: your very own website.
A website that WORKS for YOU
www.YO U .com
Portfolio Calendar
Store Social
Blog
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.

6. Professional, branded websites
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.

7. IN THE OLDE N DA YS NOW US ING HOS TE D C MS
R e gis te r you r d om ain $75/yr. R e gis te r you r d om ain $1 2/yr.
D e ve lop and gath e r you r conte nt: D e ve lop and gath e r you r conte nt:
p h otos , we b s ite cop y, b log id e as , p rod u cts to p h otos , we b s ite cop y, b log id e as , p rod u cts to
s e ll, e ve nts to s h are s e ll, e ve nts to s h are
H ire grap h ic d e s igne r H O S TE D C M S (C onte nt M anage m e nt S ys te m )
H ire p rogram m e r U p load you r conte nt
S ign u p for we b h os ting You r s ite is p u b lis h e d
Tu rn conte nt ove r to d e s igne r
Wait for grap h ic d e s igne r and p rogram m e r to
com p le te & p u b lis h s ite
UP FRO NT C O S T 0
UP FRO NT C O S T $500 - $1 0,000+
C h ange s / Ad d itions $25 - $200/ r
h U p d ate you r own s ite F re e
P ay m onth ly h os ting fe e $1 0 - $25/ o
m P ay m onth ly fe e $5 - $20/ o
m

8. Content rich websites work for you:
• Conveys professionalism
• Easier on you and your customers
• Your brand’s “hub” online
• You are in control of your site
• Your content works for YOU
• Foundation for building a strong brand
and business online
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.

9. Building the “right” website allows all of your content
to work for you. This is called Content Marketing.
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.

10. Your website becomes a
CONTENT MARKETING PLATFORM
NETWORKS
SHARE CONTENT AND
INVITATION BACK TO NETWORKS
WEBSITE WITH YOUR
NETWORK NETWORKS
spiders & robots
give you love
Portfolio Calendar
Store News
Blog
RSS
www.YO U .com
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.

11. Website MUSTs
• Site Map and easy navigation
• FAST. Milliseconds matter.
S EO • Designed for all of your content
• Easy editing and updating of content
• SEO-Friendly – (the spiders and robots)
• Blog – a must have on any website
• Social Integration – a must for
harnessing the power of social media
• Social Amplification – this gives your
site’s visitors the ability to share your
content easily to their social networks
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.

12. Depending on what you do,
the things you need on your website:
• Store module – if you intend to sell
products, downloads, services or seats in
your audience
• Portfolio module – if you are a visual artist
needing a place to showcase your work
• News archive (press mentions, etc.)
• Calendar module – if you teach classes,
show in galleries, exhibit at art fairs, play
concerts or have scheduled performances
• Custom pages as necessary
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.

13. Content Marketing
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.

14. What type of content can I create on
my website? The basics:
• Products & good descriptions
• Your work - Images, video or writing
• Write about you – behind the scenes
• Share resources and link to them
• Write about what you know
• What would people find VALUABLE?
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.

15. What types of content do people consume?
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.

16. Listen first. Find the opportunity in
community conversations.
• What needs are not being served?
• Where are the gaps in the knowledge being
shared? Look at information as a commodity.
• How can I bring value to the conversation?
• How is my voice different from the rest?
• What other kinds of customers need my
expertise?
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.

17. Content marketing plays to the
strength of creatives.
• Even playing field – the democratization of
marketing
• Working artists are expressive and prolific
• It keeps you creating and in touch with your
“muse”
• You don’t have to really often, consistency is
key
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.

18. Share and engage.
• Provide an RSS feed to your blog
• Participate in conversations online – communities,
blogs, social networks
• Share your content links (and others’ content)
consistently on social media
• Give your audience the ability to share your
content simply and easily (social amplification)
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.

19. Social Sharing and Amplification

20. Let’s Review
1. Get a professional website.
2. Pull yourself together with the right features.
3. Listen to the social “conversation,” find the
opportunity.
4. Add quality content consistently.
5. Share your content with links.
6. Start conversations. Ask questions. Answer
questions.
7. Share yourself and your resources.

21. Thank you!
Presentation and images by Jennifer Rapp Peterson, © Teetersaw, Inc.