Too many small business websites are impersonal and often times downright boring. What seems to be forgotten on these business websites is that people do business with people. So why dont we ever talk about the people theyll be doing business with?

You can easily set yourself apart from your competition by simply talking about yourself and your staff on your website. Who are these people? What do they bring thats interesting and unique to your organization? What in their background and experience makes them more qualified than anyone else to help your customers?

All of this can be taken one step further by incorporating Video Business Cards into your website. A video business card is a short streaming video of someone presenting themselves. For a small business owner it might simply be their elevator speech, or 30 second introduction: Hi, my name is Bob. I work with XYZ Company and we work with ABC companies who need help with their such and such.

Imagine how much more real you would become to your website visitors and prospects if they could see YOU introducing yourself on your website? You could even include your video business card in your e-mail introductions to the prospects youve not had a chance to meet yet.

People do business with people they know, like and trust. A video business card gives people who youve not yet met an opportunity to get to know you and like you before you talk to them!

Scott Ingram

Scott M. Ingram is the founder of NetworkInAustin.com, a resource for networkers in Austin, Texas who utilize networking as a business development and marketing strategy.

Nearly all of Scott's personal and business successes can be attributed to the relationships he's built through networking. Even his future wife was referred to him by a fellow Rotarian!

Scott grew up in Orange County, California and spent most of his time in Southern California in the city of Fountain Valley where he attended High School and later formed his first business, an IT consulting company. His first foray into networking started when he joined the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce and become an Ambassador. He later served on their board of directors.

In 2000-2001 Scott was named Ambassador of the Year for the Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce in Newport Beach, CA.

In 2004 Scott married his beautiful wife Emily. Shortly thereafter he sold his consulting company and they both moved to Austin, Texas. In Austin they purchased the Cafe Matisse which Emily manages while Scott is out networking.

As you can imagine Scott belongs to numerous organizations including:

The Rotary Club of Austin
Choose Austin First
Austin Independent Business Alliance
Bootstrap Austin
Young Texans Society
South Austin Network
National Business Exchange (NBX)
eWomen Network
Networking Austin
Breakfast Club of Cedar Park
Breakfast Club of Round Rock
Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce

Scott and Emily are both avid runners and are parents to 2 cats (Harold and Engelbright) and 1 dog (Caesar). They're expecting their first child, a baby girl, next January.