MAC Cosmetics - Cult Beauty Brand - and more

I think I mentiond earlier on that I met up this week with Charlotte of MAC, Estee Lauder's scene stealing cosmetics and skincare brand much loved by photoshoot makeup artists (as well as just about everyone else).

If you've ever tried to buy any of their products in Selfridges you'll know that it's a huge stand, usually densely popululated by a) scurrying MAC assistants all dressed in black plus b) hoards of MAC-addict shoppers desperate to get their hands on MAC favourites and the latest colours.

I have to admit that the last time I was there with my daughter I quite simply did a runner, leaving her with gloomy looking boyfriend in tow, telling them I'd buy them tea when they managed to escape - which happened about half an hour later. They are, quite amazingly, still together.

This is all slightly tongue-in-cheek, as it was just before Christmas. I'm sure it's much better now!

Anyway, back to this week and Charlotte, who politely reminded me that I had omitted to add them to http://www.thesiteguide.com/, so I now have, and you can buy everything online without any of that travelling/queueing/travelling back paraphernalia you need to go through to get to your nearest stockist. Well we girls in black have to stick together, don't we? In any case, the products are well worth the words, as you may well already know.

And back to the subject of black - what do you wear to a smart casual dinner (with slim pants) - at a smart chalet in the Swiss Alps. I've fallen for this - let me know what you think..........rather suspect I might be cold. And what on your feet? - leopard print Louboutins have been suggested but I'm not sure my budget goes quite that far. Snow boots? Hmmmm....I've really got to put some more thought into this one.

It's back to cold here again, as I think it is with most people, and I for one have had enough, not that anyone's listening to me. The daughter goes off to South Africa on Monday for the first stage of her gap year travels, I envy her the heat, but definitely not the backpack - those have just never been quite my style.

Fashion's Love Affair with Black

Having been in the fashion industry in one way or another for the past twenty years or so, I never really think about the predominantly black 'uniform' I put on day after day, as opposed, because I don't like them, to the 'New Nudes', or pastels, which I would never even consider. I tend to duck from 'brights' I will confess.

Any of us, and that's probably most of us, who read the glossies, aspirational or otherwise, never blink an eye when we're told that grey, brown or (worse) greige is the 'new black'. Admit it, please, we don't. Even green has been known to be the 'new black', a daft thought whichever way you look at it.

Well this week I had a bit of an eye opener, in a business conversation with someone most definitely not of the fashion world. 'Why do you always wear black', I was asked. Well, looking down at my immaculate side ruffled black leather jacket, neat LBD and platform boots......Um, I was flummoxed. What else would you think. And didn't he notice the purple leather handbag tucked neatly by my side which in my opinion added the only blast of colour needed on a dull January day?

I have to say I walked out of there in a bit of a daze, as one does when ones appearance is questioned and was hugely relieved at my next meeting with Charlotte of MAC to see that she was wearing a ruffled sleeved top, slim skirt, black shoes and gorgeous leather belt (I didn't notice her bag) but I suspect it was black as well as everything else.

I suppose, when really considering it, that those of us combining fashion, city living and the desire to appear contemporary at all times find a wardrobe if not totally black then mostly black 'highlighted with shimmering metallics and the odd pop of colour' totally suitable to our existances'. Flattering, modern, sexy (when we want it to be) and of course, safe.

Whether or not this unexpected comment is going to get me very far away from my black we'll see. You? You let me know. I'm considering the options, as you can see.

For today, before dashing out to yet another meeting; black skinny trousers, black wrap top, black ankle boots and.......a deep black red jacket. Well we all love Chanel's Rouge Noir, n'est-ce pas? So around twelve years ago but so 'now' as well, don't you think?

Two days, six meetings (all good), two swims, three visits to the gym - this has been one of the busiest weeks of all time. And it's only the start of the year - it can only get worse.

Simple but Essential Twitter Apps

Anyone who knows me knows that I use Twitter a lot. To tweet about my business, my books, and random irrelevant information about my kids, my dogs, my travels and falling over in the mud in the dark (while trying to entertain said dogs).

The great thing about Twitter is that it puts you in touch, fast, with a lot of like minded or similar minded business and social people, with the downside, of course, that everything you do where social media is concerned carries the risk that the whole world may know about it - the things you want the world to know, and the things that you may not. My message there is be careful, always, and be prepared for the world to know. Don't say anything online anywhere that you want to keep private. There is always a risk.

And then there's spam, of course. Twitter has got much better recently about dealing with spam, but it will never be perfect - with the constant development in the Twittersphere how could it be?

So I hope that you already know not to open any links, shortened or otherwise, from people you don't know, or any that tell you there are quick ways of getting Twitter followers/making money online/getting your teeth whitened or anything that looks remotely like a standard follow. You may know all this already and if so I apologise, but I think some people don't, judging by the public timeline.

I rarely use the main Twitter page, and you again may already know about these two apps. If you do not, they are both indispensible. These are the ones that I use. There are many, many more and please don't hesitate to suggest others. My aim here is to keep this simple.

Tweetdeck is the one to download the minute you get on to Twitter but be careful, because it's addictive. You can see immediately what's going on on the general timeline, who is 'mentioning' you (and therefore you will want, probably, to get back to quickly) and who is sending you a private message. You can look up profiles, add and monitor your Facebook and My Space pages and much more. The link shortening facility is the best that I've found.

Hootsuite is more a professional application, but again indispensible for anyone who blogs, tweets regularly, and doesn't want things to stop just because they go away. You can do everything you do at Tweetdeck, although the link shortening facility isn't quite as instantaneous, load up your Facebook and LinkedIn accounts and decide with a tick who you want to post to. You can schedule tweets in advance, which is where I particularly like this app.

Provided you use their link shortening facility you can instantly see how many people clicked through and check your most successful tweets.

Now regarding mobile apps I'm a Blackberry user, so I can't comment on iPhone and other mobiles, other than to say that both Tweetdeck and Hootsuite have apps for the iPhone (wouldn't you know it?)

I use Uber Twitter which is very good for pictures and seeing all your tweets as one list, with mentions and direct messages highlighted. It's also the quickest way of checking on people's profiles on the move.

My favourite Blackberry Twitter app is without a doubt Tweet Genius, which starts you off with a swiftly uploaded view of your three main column headers so that you can see if people are contacting/mentioning you. It's also the most attractive mobile app to use, if that makes any sense. There's a small charge.

Trying to write this while the daughter gets herself ready for her gap year travels has been seriously difficult - blogging, twitter, backpacks and Deet do not go together, so if I'm not being as concise as usual please forgive me - there's a lot going on here!

Finally, and related to Twitter - I set up the Twitter profile page for the fab new restaurant 101 Pimlico Road, I'm really pleased with it. Let me know what you think. Head Chef Keith Goddard is an old (young) family friend with huge talent and a beautiful place to dine. Go and try it out.

Fashion Alert - The New Leather Biker Jacket and how to wear it.

Biker jackets are having another renaissance, or should I say re-renaissance, because have they ever really gone away? They're a staple that ever girl needs in her wardrobe whether designer or high street (although where leather is concerned you should buy absolutely the best quality you can afford and I seem to remember saying something similar before).

My definite favourites of the moment, which you could buy now, wear throughout the season and into the next (with the exception, possibly of the first on my list), are Matthew Williamson's fabulous coral leather jacket (at a price that slightly makes my eyes water) in a style that you really have to be very slim for, Rick Owens metallic leather jacket (ok I'll stop talking about price now).

More at premium high street level, there's new kid on the block Mint Velvet's crinkled leather jacket, and for those, who like me, don't want to look like mutton dressed up as lamb (not I'm not being ageist, just realistic) I like D&G's ruffled edged jacket, even thought I do always have a slight problem with ruffles and leather together.

Which brings me to another point - how do you wear your biker jacket once it lands on your doorstep. Rule number one; never, ever ever with leather trousers, please! But you probably know that one.

From then there are two options - smart or casual. That's the beauty of gorgeous leather, it looks cool, collected and on trend when worn with jeans and a t-shirt, heels or flats and then can transform a smart little dress into something contemporary and ever-so-slightly edgy.

I was asked recently if you could be too old to wear leather and the answer is it depends on what, and your style. Keep it in style - hence my mutton as lamb comment above - go for a shape that flatters and it'll always make you feel good.

The sales are still dragging on and the bargains are getting better. Although I can freely admit that I'm sick and tired of them there are some amazing bargains to be found, particularly of the leather jacket/designer handbag variety with discounts from 60% and more. My real problem now is that I'm seriously thinking 'Spring' and waiting for something marvellous to happen to inspire me. Oh well.......

When Small is Beautiful - Your next Cashmere Wrap or Weekender

On the train a couple of days ago I was having a look on Facebook and spotted someone who had fallen in love with these bags, by Hempleman. Having known the lady who runs Perilla for quite a while, and who also knows just about everything anyone would need to know about cashmere and, more particularly alpaca, I thought I'd tell you about her.

Sandra runs a small website with an extremely eclectic, carefully chosen range of luxury products, including the aforesaid Hempleman Monaco bags, really gorgeous cashmere shawls and wraps, alpaca socks in gift boxes, covetable Swarovski crystal evening bags (as in I want one, but then I want most of what's here) and alpaca felt berets.

This is not a sophisticated website, as you'll see when you click through, and could do with a few tweaks, however the products are superb and some are hard to find anywhere else. It's one of those conundrums of online when you have some very good products but you're running your website as a kind of sideline, and all the others are spending a fortune and speeding away.

In this case you need to think of Perilla as a destination store, where you know you'll always find a treat and Sandra already has so many loyal customers anyway she won't be doing anything radical soon. Buy from her. I don't say that often, we all know who the big players are, but small websites with big hearts and great products are few and far between.

You may have missed my tweet yesterday about Vente-Privee but you should rush to the website and see if the Rodial sale is still on (I think it ends tomorrow) Rodial is a superb innovative skincare brand and Vente-Privee have a sale on at half price - for current products! I'm safe to let you there as I've bought mine already.

In case you don't know about Vente-Privee they are the pioneers and European leaders in online event based sales. Sign up to them now. By the way just about all the Luella bags have now gone, I have to confess I was sad to see that sale.

For Valentine's Day VP have launched VPgift, a new service allowing members to purchase electronic gift vouchers - is anyone listening out there? I'd like one of those! My kids think that Valentine's Day is just for them (aged 19 to 22), but I don't, my NY resolution was to have more fun, which I'm already doing I can tell you now, and Valentine's Day is surely part of that!

How to Write Great Title Tags - 10 things you Need to Know - Web Tips for SEO

What do you first think of when the expression 'Title Tag' comes up?

I'd be very interested to know, because frequently, when I'm talking to people about Search Engine Optimisation they think that they should know, but they're not sure. For those of you who are SEO experts, I apologise, but this is not for you!

Your Title Tag appears right at the top of your browser. It is probably the most important element of your SEO campaign,and whatever else you do with regards to SEO, it's worth learning how to write these properly.

The whole idea of SEO is to match up what people are searching for with what you are offering, using words, phrases and terms that the majority of searchers are using. For example; Do you sell jumpers or sweaters? From a product point of view there may be very little difference, and yet with just a bit of research you'll find that (using last month's search figures) there were more than three times the number of searches for jumpers as there were for sweaters.

You may have a preferred word, and the joy of title tags and content writing is that of course you can include more than one, but the important thing is that the one that's at the front of the queue, the one that'll be found first by the search engines, is the one that most people are searching for.

Here are my 10 Top Tips for writing good Title Tags.

1. Make friends with the Google Keyword Tool - Use it for all of your research, and open it whenever you want to create new content and Tags. Writing for SEO is not a guessing game.

2. Unless you are a household name and if your aim is to get your brand 'out there' include your brand name in your title tags, every time. The jury is out as to whether it should be at the beginning or the end - at the moment I have mine at the front - but include it there within your limited number of characters.

3. Be careful to ensure that your title tags do not spill over your allotted space, and that what you see is complete. Anything else looks messy and unprofessional. You have approximately 65 - 70 characters, including spaces, for your title tags. Whenever you're in doubt, check what your tags look like in your browser. Again, don't try and guess.

4. Create a format for your title tags and stick to it. eg. Company Name Category Sub Category - all search terms other than your brand - It will be easier to set up, and again, anything else will look messy.

5. Do not use ampersands in your title tags, or any other extraneous characters.

6. To divide your keywords use hyphens or the pipe bar (usually Shift and the key to the left of the z, which appears broken to create the unbroken vertical line). I've used it in 4 above.

7. Repeat the main keywords or phrases from your Title Tag in your H1 or main header, reinforcing your message and making it more visible to the search engines.

8. Be wary of letting anyone else write your Title Tags for you. If you do, make sure they follow the rules and understand your brand and products.

9. Make sure that your Title Tags are relevant to what's on the page. You will not earn brownie points from Google or any other search engine by 'keyword stuffing' (yes, that's a real term).

10. Once you've created your Title Tag formula throughout your site keep checking via Analytics to see what's working and build on it. Trial and error is the only way to get up the rankings.

If you have any queries let me know - all comments welcome (provided they're polite, of course).

Spring Fashion Trends - Tribal and Animal Print

A couple of weeks ago I asked on Twitter for contributions about Spring Summer Trends. One of the main ones that came back to me was the whole Tribal/Safari/Animal Print theme which always makes me happy personally as a) I already have lots of tribal trend pieces in my cupboard and b) I love animal prints, whether leopard, zebra or tiger. I'm not quite so keen on snake, because for a start lots of people have an aversion to it, and secondly it doesn't normally seem to stay on-trend for quite so long as the others.

I also think that if you're going to invest in this theme, and you're a print addict, you're better to go for an accessory, such as bag, belt, heels or scarf, because then they really will last for ages, whereas you might regret that leopard print coat next year as being just too, well, obvious.

The other great thing about animal prints in particular is that they suit everyone, although not everyone loves them, and they're never, ever far away from being a trend theme.

Scouring what's already in the stores I found, and immediately fell in love with, Anya Hindmarch's snakeskin clutch, Yarnz Neo Zebra cashmere scarf (which is reduced, so grab it while you can) and Jimmy Choo's Saba shoulder bag, which is also hugely reduced, at the Outnet.



Finally I'm going completely against myself because I seriously love Marc Jacobs' animal print trench. Don't you?

Thanks to everyone who suggested this, and particularly personal stylist Martine Alexander.

Yesterday had my first proper meeting day back in London, most of which I spent with my lovely literary agent, KT, discussing future projects and eating too much at Franco's in Jermyn Street (again). If you don't know it, book first but go there, it's buzzing with business types and has a very good set lunch. Back to the book world and the horrible ends of sales in the stores. Thank goodness for online, is what I say, where it doesn't matter how many rounds of the seasons a product has done, the pictures remain the same!

New Arrivals from Miu Miu, Christian Louboutin and Alexander McQueen

Just about to start writing my weekly newsletter when I realised that my developer's server had gone down and therefore all that research was for nothing.

Woah! I said to myself, let it not be wasted, these are items I am hearting over right now, and so to not be able to tell someone about them, my followers here, and then my 7000+ subscribers at thesiteguide.com later on, would be such a shame.

I'm falling in love just about every day at the moment, making life extremely difficult, but I am, as I think some of you are, just so over the sales, and even though it's pretty dreadful outside (although warmer, I have to admit) I want to see and feel the sparkling, shiny and new, and not things I've been eyeing for a while, which, in all probability, I can't afford at half price, let alone full.

This week I've been looking for treasures that I could, at a pinch, wear now, that would last me all season, that are right on trend and that if I do splash out I will worship for a long time. These three are just ready and waiting, gorgeous to look at and heaven to have in your closet. What do you think?

They're from three of my all time favourite online boutiques, and there are more new arrivals here, on a page which will automatically lead you through the wardrobe door to ever newer and more (expensive? no I don't mean to say that), irresistible finds. You have been warned.

Fabulous or Feeble at 40, it's totally up to you

It's rare that a piece in a newspaper succeeds in making me cross - but I have to say that this one did:

Why do people like me become Invisible at 40

Because it's simply not true. You are what you allow yourself to be. If you're not prepared to take risks, think that you should give up and stay at home, that your life is over, then you only have yourself to blame, I'm afraid.

I'm not a trumpet blower, so I'll get this over with quickly, I became the author of seven books, columnist (for a short while) started http://www.thesiteguide.com/ and went for my first interview on live TV after I turned 40. I've had more fun, met more people, done more things that I wouldn't have dreamed of doing earlier, nor had the opportunity of doing, and achieved more than I ever did before.

You may have to be braver, noisier, more determined when you're a bit older, but you also have the knowledge of experience, what worked and what didn't, what suits you and what doesn't. You may wish you'd found success earlier, that you were thinner, taller, more glamorous, but frankly dear, you can't put back the clock, and if you want to sit there and complain, that's totally up to you.

Being overlooked is extremely annoying, and believe me, having put around 200 manuscripts out there before I found a publisher, I know these things. But you have to have self belief, or you may as well go and buy that elasticated waist skirt and put your feet up now.

My favourite saying is 'If you don't succeed at first........'. So go and get on with it.x

By the way what has Helen Mirren got on her feet in this article. Truly yuck!

Jessica Nails - Opi Nails - Seche Vite - Nail Treats for Spring

Twice this week I spent some time with girls with perfectly painted dark coloured manicures. While I seethed quietly in envy (because I find it hard enough to keep shape and a glossy clear polish, let alone something dark and glamorous), I wondered, quite frankly, how they had the time. I don't, kids, husband, two dogs get in the way, and then even if I try I've inevitably ruined all my hard work within a couple of hours by doing that nail ruiner of all time - washing up.

I do, however, have some absolutely favourite brands, ranging from Jessica, to Opi, to Rimmel (fave colour of the moment Perfect Plum) and the wonder dryer, best of them all, Seche Vite.

Apparently this spring some of us will be going for pale green again (although not me, as I've said before), candy colours to let your nails 'pop', such as Opi's Off with her Red, from the just-about-to-be-released Alice in Wonderland Collection (which also contains an amazing glittery turquoise called Absolutely Alice), Jessica's No Tan Lines or the delicious Feather Boa, and perfect matte nude Sweet Tooth.

For me, I'll almost certainly be going to keep to my all time favourites - Jessica's Rejuvenation Base Coat for Dry Nails and Seche Vite's incredible glossy, fast drying top coat, the best I have ever tried. I'll also be giving a go to Leighton Denny's Sensual Glam shimmering pale cream (just to be daring you understand).

Pedicures are another matter altogether. I do not understand those people who only bother with their feet during the summer - surely they have to look at them all the year round? I use the same base and top coat, but my fave for the moment is Jessica's Feather Boa as mentioned above - a yummy mauve purple. Give it a try.

Join the discussion? I've just put up a post on my Facebook Fan Page asking you what you'd like to be written about on Web Hints Wednesday - comment if you like, if not I'll just go on in my own sweet way!

Donation Links for Haiti

The latest news on Haiti:

Daily Telegraph

Very simply, if you'd like to donate, here's a list of the places where you can, as supplied by Tripadvisor.

Unicef - www.unicef.org.uk

Action Aid - www.actionaid.org.uk

British Red Cross - www.redcross.org.uk

Oxfam - www.oxfam.org.uk

World Vision - www.worldvision.org.uk

Save the Children - www.savethechildren.org.uk

Action Against Hunger - www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk

Disaster Emergency Committee - www.dec.org.uk

New Arrivals at Liberty of London

Liberty has always been one of my favourite stores, all the way from the days when my mother used to take me to tea there (and no, I'm not going to tell you how long ago that was). In those days it was all about fabrics, Liberty Prints, Tana Lawn (and cake) and so although it's lovely to see how the new prints have been re-invented, it's also wonderful to see how the whole brand has been re-created online and become a power-house for fashion labels, whilst still retaining its roots.

The store itself, despite the totally new product ranges, hasn't changed very much, housed as it is in the amazing Tudor style building on Regent and Great Marlborough Street. If you don't know it you should have a look here. The light is pretty well the same, the boards still creak in the same way if you step in the right place but the contents are completely different and for any fashion addict it's an essential destination.

Luxury, Limited Editions and Liberty of London sit alongside some of the most precious beauty brands such as Diptyque, Maison Francis Kurkdjian and Robert Piguet but it's the fashion area that has really grown up, and it's not at all surprising that Liberty was last year winner in Handbag.com's Online Fashion Awards.

Getting back to what really matters, my favourite brands here are Alexander McQueen, Paul Smith Black Label and Marc by Marc Jacobs, so no surprises there then. There are new arrivals on the website all the time, so, particularly at this time of year, you just have to keep checking back. Of course. Unfortunately for my bank balance I've already seen several things that may be making my way into my wardrobe quite soon. I feel an expensive spring coming on......

Check out the new arrivals at all the best Online Boutiques at thesiteguide.com.

The Man Bag - Yes or No?......................

I had a surprise call earlier on today to spend half an hour on BBC Radio Wales discussing online shopping versus shopping on the high street. Inevitably I won (what, I'm not sure) because, shopaholic that I am, I'll shop anywhere, and can therefore win any basic shopping argument. (Incidentally I say this tongue-in-cheek - the professor who was also on the show was quite dry, very knowledgeable, of course, but he didn't understand shopping as I understand shopping, how could he?)

Somewhere along the way the discussion turned to man bags - between the presenter and the professor. Nobody asked me, so I was left there, frustratedly sitting at home mouthing wildly, not able to stick my hand up and be noticed, unable to butt in, a) I think they weren't listening to me at that point and b) definitely not live radio etiquette and nobody wanted to ask me, anyway, despite the fact I do have strong feelings on the subject.

Firstly. What is a 'man bag'? According to Wikipedia it is a 'shoulder bag for men, sometimes also called a 'murse'. A murse? I have never heard of that one, have you? Now I'm giggling and finding typing a trial, so you'll have to excuse me.

Anyway, back again, also according to Wikipedia a briefcase is also a man bag, and the current description refers to messenger bags and reporter bags. Also, there were over 90,000 searches on Google for the term 'man bag' in the UK in the past month. Enough!

I quite understand that it is a trial for a man to have to carry his mobile, change, wallet etc in his pockets and when he gets to needing notebooks and netbooks or laptops then a bag is needed. I always think, when the expression man bag comes up, that we're referring to the man's equivalent of a woman's handbag, and that's where the rot sets in. I don't approve, sorry, but there it is.

Asked what I carried in my handbag, again on live radio today (cheeky) I ended up saying makeup, cosmetics, more makeup a pen and my wallet plus my Blackberry, deliberately leaving out the other paraphanalia that goes with me everywhere, the various pens and bits of pens, the Advil, the contact lens fluid, the sweeteners, the mints etc. None of their business, thanks.

And as to the conversation I've had this afternoon on Twitter, as to whether a sporran constitutes a man bag - I'm definitely not going to let either my kilt-wearing husband or sons into the result of that poll. Nor you, for that matter.

Feel free to join in the conversation - we'd love to know what you think, particularly if you're a man.........

Ten Tips for Small, New and Wannabe Online Retailers

Yesterday I was asked to take a look at a new small online retailer and see if I could help as things weren't going as well as they had hoped.

Well as you all know, there's a huge advantage to hindsight, and I love reviewing websites. I've had the odd occasion when people haven't been totally happy with what I've said - who likes criticism, after all? But it's happened to me recently, when Debenhams head online honcho made some constructive remarks about http://www.thesiteguide.com/.

I listened, struggled for a moment, as you do, and then went back and tried to implement what he suggested, which was absolutely right, of course.

When I got to this particular site yesterday, I found the following:

A great deal of flash on the home page - with the intro content embedded in flash (which meant that no search engine would pick it up).
Little invitation to buy online, and lots of distractions.
Pretty well no SEO at all
Broken picture links on the Shopping Basket page
No contact phone number
No About Us link
No Search Box
No proper Sign-Up box

Well, as you can imagine, I didn't scratch my head for long, and gave the owner the advice that I am frequently giving to new and small online retailers. I just wish that I could have got to them to start with. So I've put together my initial top tips for getting started or tweaking a website that isn't working properly. What to do at the beginning, if you can. And the 'tick-off' points that every would-be e-commerce giant should know.

The retailer I was (and still am) talking to is Aurlanne Jewellery and I'm delighted that she's been so positive and reactive to what I've said. I started writing this for her - and so I hope she will put a comment here on what she's discovered since I started my - er - critique/mentoring activity. Did I say mentoring? I must be nuts.

Here are my First (because there will be more) Top Ten Tips for Small, New and Wannabe Online Retailers:

1. Do not opt for a flash website. I've written about this before in Glamoursleuth. Simple, well designed websites need to start without flash. Why? Because it will slow you down, it will make Search extremely difficult. It will cost you more. Do not be tempted to start with.

2. Be absolutely clear about what you want people to do on your website, and then help them to do it. If you want them to Shop Online, us those words and make the path absolutely clear. Do not try and be clever. To that end read Steve Krug's marvellous book, Don't Make me Think.

3. Prioritise your best selling categories so that people go to them first. You will be more likely to convert prospects to customers from these. Put your top three best selling products at the top, and everything else alphabetically underneath.

4. Be very, very careful before you sign up to a web developer. Most of them are after just one thing. Your money. I have worked with the same developer now for seven years which is amazing bearing in mind I am one of the least tolerant people you have ever come across. I am willing to wait a little bit longer because I trust them totally, I know they are honest and they know what they are doing. Know what you're doing before you sign.

5. Read every word of any development contract before you sign and make sure it includes absolutely everything you want. Do not sign off any work until you, and others, have tested it thoroughly.

6. Retain as much control of your site as you can. A small website need not be a lot of work to keep updated, but many developers will try and charge you a small fortune for any changes. Take the trouble to learn how to make changes. Pictures, Copy, Internal Links, New Products, Title Tags and Meta Descriptions - none of this is rocket science. Make sure you have the facility to do it.

7. SEO. First buy this book - SEO An Hour a Day and read it from cover to cover. It's not a hard read and will seriously open your eyes to how search engine optimisation works and what you need to do.

8. Title Tags - These are the single most important elements of your web optimisation, matching up what you are offering with what people are looking for via the search engines. Try not to have them directly linked to your category headings, you need to be able to manage and change them yourself and create your meta descriptions (the short ads that will accompany them if the search engines pick them up). SEO is a trial and error game and you need to have control.

9. Your Search Box and email Sign-up Box need to be above the fold, where people can see them clearly. Do not try and be clever (again). The Search Box should say just that 'Search'. Your Sign-up Box must not ask for too much information (such as age, gender, and all the other things you don't need to know), the more you ask for, the fewer people will sign up. Believe me.

10. Make sure all your links work and there are no typos in your copy. It is nearly impossible to be 100% perfect all the time (and don't I know it), but you need to take as much care as is humanly possible to look professional.

There is more, of course, but I'm going to tackle this in small bites as it is all so important and not possible to put here all at once - from the importance of good pictures to how to structure your title tags.

If you let me know an aspect you'd like me to cover I'd be happy to go there first - otherwise you'll have to leave it up to me and I'll be back with more very soon. After I've found my next favourite handbag and written about that, of course.

At least I hope I'll be back soon, off to the ballet in London with the daughter this evening. Wish us luck getting there>>>>>

Website Review - Frenchs Dairy - Fabulous Costume Jewellery

You may well not have heard of many of the designers here, but I can safely say that this unusually named retailer of magical costume jewellery is probably going to become one of your favourites.

It's the kind of place you come across by chance (and it would almost have to be, given the name) but when you arrive you find things you've been searching for for a while - in my case? A necklace. I've been looking for something a little bit different, modern, flattering (I'm only little, after all) that would give me all that shopping therapy pleasure and that I'd want to wear over and over again.

You'd think that should be easy, but let me tell you I've been searching for months, and have always ended up buying another pair of earring instead. I'm hard to please you see.

Anyway, there are several here that take my fancy and I will be investing very soon, if not today (I'm sitting on my credit cards to try and reign me back but I have that tingly feeling that it's simply not going to work).

Lovely site with lovely products - slight pity about the name from an online retail search point of view - but I'll be talking to them about that shortly - I'm never known to hold back, as I think you've realised.

Spent yesterday meeting Marci from Florida, who I met via Twitter (yes really), who's a marketing guru with far, far too many friends on Facebook. I'm waiting for her twelve step program which I almost certainly won't be sharing with you until I have at least as many Fans as she has friends. Go there now, and help me please.

After coffee at the Landmark hotel, just opposite Marylebone Station, where neither of us could stop talking, we went on to Le Boudin Blanc in Shepherd's Market - which, if you don't know it, is a wonderful French restaurant where you practically have to speak French to order. The salmon carpaccio was incredible, but the risotto less so. I never have liked truffles so don't ask me why I ordered it. A word of advice, don't try going there unless you've booked, it's extremely popular.

Back home after checking out Uniqlo (not interesting despite +J Jil Sander's wonderfully light down jackets) and a quick in and out at Zara, relentlessly on sale and boring, I was amazed to discover that I had won a shopping spree at my favourite online boutique. I pretty well never win anything so I did think someone was pulling a fast one, to start with. No, it's true, and I will be spending happily very shortly.

After I've bought my next piece of jewellery, of course.

Temperley London - Jacket of the Week - One for the Brave

Having a browse through the new collection this jacket stands out by a mile as something someone is going to buy and covet for ever. Not only is Temperley London's studded Ava jacket in this season's butter soft leather, this season's colour and with two elements of this season's detailing, namely ruffles and studs, but it's cut to wear with (this season's) draped pants and killer heels.

Whatever they're saying in the press about heels being on the way out is surely totally contradicted by this hard edged but gorgeous and contemporary look, and no doubt we'll all go on travelling in our flats and bringing our heels out of our handbags for yet another spring fling.

Expensive though this jacket undoubtably is it's undeniably a collector's piece and will therefore be worth every penny to whoever invests in it. I hope that it goes to a great home (or homes).

Check out the new arrivals by clicking straight through to our fave online boutiques at thesiteguide.com, and please join us at our Facebook Fan Page.

Website Review - HQ Hair - Fusion Beauty

I'm always ready, willing and able to try out new beauty products, so on a recent trip to the US I invested in Fusion Beauty's LiftFusion Eye Lift. Well all I can say is that if you're drifting southwards (as I am) from the eyes down, this is definitely one to try out. From a brand touted as 'the Alternative to Botox', you can feel it working the minute you use it and I've found a beauty 'must-have' to fall in love with again.

Which leads me to the rest of the products from Fusion Beauty. Back in the UK inevitably I wanted more, so I checked out what was on offer, this time at one of my all time beauty favourites HQ Hair who stock the complete range. I'm tempted by Glow Fusion Tan, but probably for when I'm getting ready to take off my ski pants and boots so that one will have to wait, I'll definitely be going for LipFusion Micro Injected Collagen Injected Lip Plump Gloss when it gets back into stock and for now I'll be trying their Brightening Minerals - just love the idea of anything that promises to deliver 'instant brightness and a healthy glow), particularly at this time of year.

HQ Hair, if you don't know it, is a wonder-store for beauty products and if you think for a second that they're only about hair - well they're not. You can find (along with hair products), skincare, fragrance, cosmetics, nail care, accessories and more, from mainly contemporary brands such as Chantecaille, Too Faced, Dermalogica, Mario Badescu, Phyto and Rodial.

I'm still working my way round their shiny new website, so the jury's out on that one, but where beauty products are concerned, they're definitely one of the best.

They're one of our Sites of the Week at thesiteguide.com so make sure you have a good look round.

I don't know about you but I am so over this weather, sitting here in my ski pants, snow boots and fleece. I'm waiting for slightly warmer days, Selfridges, Zara, Banana Republic and H&M to get their act together online and thoroughly looking forward to going to London tomorrow for the first time this year. Maybe I'll have to buy something, however small, maybe I'll persuade myself to wait. We'll see.

Come over to our Facebook Fan Page and keep up with what's going on at thesiteguide.com, or tweet me on Twitter. I'm waiting to hear from you.

New Arrivals at Matches Fashion

Snow notwithstanding, this is the time to take a look at what's arriving at the major online boutiques. One of my all time favourites is Matches, which may not get near in size to its giant competitors net-a-porter and ASOS, but is definitely one of THE places to keep an eye on for emerging trends and fabulous pieces you won't find anywhere else.

With key designers Diane von Furstenberg, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Balenciaga and D&G it really is worth checking back regularly to see what's just in. You may not be quite in the mood for Diane von Furstenberg's gorgeous printed one piece swimsuit, nor Christian Louboutin's ribbon espadrilles (although, if in the right frame of mind, you could always pick them up for later), but I have to confess reaching for an excuse to go for Georgina Goodmans 'Sister' boot in grey, Azzedine Alaia's Black flounce dress (although I know exactly what my bank manager would say to that) and Balenciaga's heavenly blue Velo bag

Maybe now that we've got used to the fact that we live in a winter sports environment (at least for a while) the 'look at the snow' excitement is fading fast and I'm ready and willing to move on to some seriously trend shopping. I'm sure you are too.

If these are all examples of what we're going to be wearing this spring/summer, then I'm getting excited already.

Having said that I'm still sitting here in my ski gear, with over a foot of snow outside, and my wonderful assistant has just hiked here from High Wycombe, which took her nearly two hours, for her daily exercise (and yes, she's a lot fitter than me, I can promise you).

Don't forget to keep checking out the Best of the Sales at www.thesiteguide.com

The Importance of Getting it right Online - Blogging, Tweeting, Facebook and more

I received a contract recently (and no, I'm not going to tell you who it was from) which started by getting my name wrong. It was addressed to Shirley. Well, as you know, my name is not Shirley. I laughed, and asked the person concerned to send me out another contract, knowing full well that what she had done (oops.......she) was to just update one she had sent to someone before, without changing the name.

Bigger mistake, recently, and on my part - I sent an invoice (mucho important one) out to a company I was consulting for, and gave an incorrect sort code, by one digit only, but I'm sure you can guess, my money went to the wrong account and it took ages to sort out. Not only that but there was my embarassement at having to ask for it to be sorted on my behalf.

In this age of email marketing, twittering, facebook, blogging and more (and lets not tlk abt txtng) there is less and less concentration on getting it right. By that I mean checking every word, every phrase and sentence, punctuation, contact names. We're constantly updating, re-editing and mailing in a hurry. Pressing send without checking all the finer details.

I think it's time to get back to basics. To be aware that:

People hate to be addressed incorrectly - they are less likely to read what you send, let alone take it seriously, and will be distracted by the fact that you couldn't be bothered to get it right.

Spelling mistakes are noted and it doesn't matter if you're writing a blog or sending a letter to your bank manager. You will be thought less of if you don't bother to check through.

Punctuation is important. It adds or detracts meaning to what you are saying. Don't take it lightly, make an effort to get your 's, ;s ?s and -s in the right place. This is a very good page to have a look at

Exclamation marks - be very careful where you use them. You think they're adding substance, but very often they're unnecessary and totally over-egging the pudding!!

You should read everything through that you're going to send out, to anyone, several times. We're all guilty of the hurried click, myself included. Slow down and make sure you know, and are happy with, what you're sending. Having proof-read my books, which were then professionally proof-read and then found errors in the printed copies I can tell you that getting it totally right is always going to be near-on impossible. What you can do is get it more correct than you're doing now.

My worst typo ever - When I worked as a lowly assistant for the Financial PR Director of Leo Burnett, in St Martin's Lane (a very long time ago), I had to send a message to famed financial journalist Andreas Whittam Smith, co-founder of the Independent who later became President of the British Board of Film Classification. In my hurry to get this message out to him (and I can't remember what it was), I substituted an S for the all important W. Work it out. I was never allowed to forget it.

I'm now going to have a good read through of this before I publish it. Let me know if you find any typos, please.

Snow Clothing for Townies - your Five Essentials

This morning I raided the ski kit bags. With a blizzard blowing outside and two dogs to walk I could no longer pretend that anything other than full-on ski kit was going to do the job. So I donned my wonderful stretchy ski pants (with gaiters), snow boots, fleece, ski hat, ski gloves and took the dogs out (who proceeded to behave appallingly in the snow, making me chase after them to get them back) and came back inside toasty warm and dry as opposed to damp and bad tempered.

So. I thought for those who aren't as keen on skiing as my mad family is (when we can afford it), that I'd track down five of the essentials you need to cope with this weather, whether walking the dogs or travelling to work. I'm leaving out the water-carrying daysack, expensive ski jacket and goggles for obvious reasons, although if it carries on like this you may well need those as well.

Ski pants with gaiters that go down your boots - essential for everyone who skis, these keep you totally warm and dry and the gaiters make sure that snow doesn't make it anywhere that it shouldn't. Of course you can go for salopettes (skiing dungarees) but I look so stupid in those I gave them up years ago. Or an all-in-one, although you might get funny looks when you arrive for work.

Lightweight stretch ski pants look the best and are what I have - they'll be more expensive because of the technical fabric but I've had the ones I'm wearing now for around ten years and I'd never go back to the other kind. If you just want them for the occasional snow shower then you may not want to shell out for these but they're definitely my favourites.

Snow boots - Absolute necessities for this weather - I cannot believe some of the boots and shoes that I see people walking around in. Uggs won't work in snow, Fitflops won't work in snow and trainers and anything else are a total liability apart from proper walking boots. Just don't blame me if the snow piles in and your socks get soaked. You need a pair of proper snow boots which, I promise you, don't need to cost a fortune and again will last you for years.

Down coat or jacket with a hood - I've already written about these, so you can click here to take a look. If you do want the real thing the links below will take you to the best places to find them. Don't go for the cheapest you can find (unless it's in a sale, of course). Make sure that whatever you buy is insulated and waterproof. Short term pain (cash wise) will definitely get you long term gain here.

Waterproof gloves - proper ski gloves are the best, leather and sheepskin are second best and wool or cashmere make keep your hands warm for a short while but you'll regret them totally in your next snowball fight. You can't drive properly in them either.

Thermal top - again I've written about these and you can read about them here. When it's really cold nothing else does the job better, now matter how many other layers you wear.

Unfortunately for you, most of the ski stores are not on sale because of course this is the ski season. However you can find bargains around. Whatever, if this winter whiteout continues in the UK, you need to invest now. Being cold and wet is not an option, at least, that's what I say.

My favourite ski clothing stores where you can find just about everything:

Snow and Rock

Cotswold Outdoor

Blacks Leisure

And there are more in the Skiing Section at http://www.thesiteguide.com/

Taking down the Tree and the End of Christmas...

There's so much ceremony about getting your tree, putting it up and decorating your house, and pretty well nothing about taking it all down. Hmmm. Could this be because although, if you're anything like me, you can amass hoards of children to decorate your tree for you (and ours was over 15ft this year), you can rarely find anyone to help you with the reverse.

I have to say I got lucky this year, with No 1 son still at home from uni and feeling unusually helpful. He did manage to break several glass baubles when he violently beheaded the tree with a sharp implement and then nearly set fire to the house when he decided to burn as much as possible in the fireplace you can just see at the back of this pic, however, it is down, it has gone, and our barn has returned to some semblance of normality. Hooray.

I hope you all know that your decorations should be down by Twelfth Night, and I'm certainly not going to enter the argument and confusion as to whether this is today or tomorrow - all I can say is, get your wassail ready, make sure your Twelfth Cake contains both a bean and a pea and don't forget to eat all the fruit and nuts you've been hanging on your tree......

Back to normality tomorrow!

Five Things to do This Week to Wake up your Website

Brrrr. It's freezing cold, the holidays have only just ended, we're all full of mince pies and the temptation is to carry on relaxing in the thought that thousands are still on holiday, lots of people are still snowed in and surely no one can be going online. WRONG!

Think of it another way; this is a week of new beginnings, broken New Year's Resolutions, maybe but it's a new start and a huge opportunity to get going before the rest.

So here are the top Five Things I recommend you to do this week to Wake up your Website!

Make a change on your Home Page - doesn't really matter what it is, but updating has to be the name of the game. Do something, tweak something, to make it look slightly different. You'll want to be doing this all year round but this week it's really important to make your visitors and customer sit up and say 'hey, what's been going on here?'. You'll be amazed the difference a small change can make.

SEO - Check your Home Page Title Tag and Description - Whatever you may think, SEO is not a dark art, and I'll be writing much more about this this year, and the merchants who try to make you think that it is so that you can send all your hard earned cash their way so they can write about your products badly. This certainly doesn't apply to all of them, but certainly some of them, and apologies to the great ones who you, like I, probably cannot afford.

SEO is about matching what browsers and potential customers are looking for online so that they can find you easily. Us the Google Adwords Keyword Tool to search for the key words and phrases that you need and then make sure that they're set up properly in your Title Tag area. Then write a small ad to highlight these.

If you can't get at them because of the way your site is set up, or you don't really know what to do, contact me at mailto:[email protected] and I'll help you get started.

Email your newsletter base - you may not get a huge response this week, but put together an email about something interesting that's going on on your website and tell the world, wake up your customers and subscribers to the fact that you're still very much alive and kicking and you're going to be keeping in touch this year.

Create an Offer on your Site - This may be the way to change your home page or something to run as well. Do something now to excite and interest and include the details on your home page and in your newsletter. The whole world's on sale right now so be sure you make it an interesting one or you'll just go into the pot.

Set up your Fan Page on Facebook and your profile on Twitter - You may think that Facebook and Twitter are not for you or not for your customer base but you'd be wrong. If social media marketing exploded last year it is going to grow even faster in 2010, and to not get on the viral marketing bandwagon would be a huge mistake. The world is out there waiting to hear from you and about you, and whereas in the past you had to spend loads of dosh on advertising and marketing now you don't. You just have to put in the time.

Facebook and Twitter are free - there are loads of apps and tools you can use to enhance what you do and if you're not there now, you need to do this right away because otherwise you'll get left behind. As someone who joined Twitter early last year, and Facebook (with thesiteguide.com's Fan Page) only recently, I am totally converted. So should you be.

If you want to contact me about any of the above please send me an email at mailto:[email protected]

2010 is the year to make the changes and reap the rewards. Happy New Year from me and http://www.thesiteguide.com/

While everyone in the world seems to be on sale, I've been taking a sneak peek at some of the new arrivals at the major online designer boutiques such as net-a-porter, Matches, My Wardrobe and Browns and as usual I'm already falling in love.

Gone are any thoughts of buying something discounted from last season and I've returned at high speed to lusting after fashion goodies I can't at the moment, afford. Always the optimist, I'm going to keep them in mind for when my ship comes in.

I have picked up some fab bargains in the sale, such as my Cochinelle ruffled tote at half price, and my wonderful 'always-by-my-side' DKNY sequined shopper, but the lure of the shiny, new and gorgeous is far too strong, so I rarely succumb to a last-season's bargain.

Main fashion resolution this year? To stop buying anything that isn't seriously beautiful. No more tat - the temptation to spend on things because I can buy them now, rather than saving for something really special has to be resisted. No. This year, this fashionista shopaholic will be buying for keeps, and waiting if she has to. At least that's the general idea. I'll see if I can stick to it.

Anyway, just spotted and saving for already - D&G's black ruffle leather jacket,

Marc Jacobs Day Glow tweed jacket

BE&D New Garbo Satchel.

Enough fashion lusting for today, don't you think?