Marketing

Is Your Website Ready For Visitors?

Customer Service, Marketing, Tips, Web Design / By /

Is your website, the place you hope to convert prospects to customers, ready to receive visitors?

When we use links to our websites using Social Media, we essentially invite people to our website. When we invite people to our homes, we generally check to see if everything is in its place and that there is nothing seriously amiss. Is that true with your website? When was the last time you reviewed your website to see if it reflects your business and your products or services as they are today?

Here is a little check list to make sure your website is ready for visitors.

  • Know and state who you are, what you do, and the benefits of what you offer to your visitor.
  • Know who you would like to visit your website.
    • Knowing your audience is critical. If you believe your audience is everyone, you will likely fail.
    • Who are they? Why would they want what you offer? When would they want it?
  • Speak to your visitors from their perspective, not with an industry-speak sales pitch.
    • Explain that you know some of their challenges, and how they can benefit from your products or services. If possible, show some specifics.
  • Does your navigation present a clear and easy path to your most important content?
  • Is your contact and location information readily visible?
  • Is your website mobile friendly?

If your website looks as good as you would like, and you check off all the items in the list, your website should be ready for visitors.

Of course, we are always happy to help. Email or call us today! — 1-800-281-9993 or 608-822-3750

PPC – Why You Should Bid On Your Business Name

Ads - Pay-Per-Click, Marketing, Search / By /

Google AdWords Example AdThere are many excellent reasons to invest in a Google AdWords and/or a Bing Ads PPC (Pay-Per-Click) campaign. If you have read this blog or talked with us, you know we believe nearly every business should be taking advantage of PPC advertising. If you do nothing else, start a Google AdWords campaign and bid on your business name.

Here are a few good reasons why you should bid on your business name.

  1. Branding – Improve Brand awareness – Value without paying for clicks
  2. Double Exposure – Display in PPC Ad and Organic listings
  3. Improve your CTR using Google AdWords “Extensions”
  4. You control your ad content
  5. Often, competitors are bidding on your name
  6. Make it easier for returning customers and other visitors to get to you

Start doing cost effective branding today by bidding on your business name.

Call us about starting a Google AdWords campaign. 1-800-281-9993 or 608-822-3750 

How Content Marketing Benefits Your Small Business

Content, Marketing / By /

Content MarketingThis is the first of a short series of posts on How Content Marketing Benefits Your Small Business.

Content Marketing is more than a buzz word. Done right, it will benefit your small business, community, or association.  So, if it is not a buzz word, what is it?

Here is the definition from The Content Marketing Institute.

“Content marketing is a marketing technique of creating and distributing valuable, relevant and consistent content to attract and acquire a clearly defined audience – with the objective of driving profitable customer action.”

Okay, I know that reads a little like a mission statement straight from a committee from a galaxy far, far away, but let’s talk about getting started with an outline of some of the elements. As we are getting started, it is important to remember, Content Marketing is only effective if it is focused and delivered to the right audience.

Important Elements of Successful Content Marketing

Audience

  • The most critical element
  • The old adage, “If you target everyone, you’ll hit no one” is worth remembering
  • Learn who and where your audience is, and what they do, online and offline
  • Your audience-preferred media channels, formats, and communication styles may vary widely

Objectives

  • Raise brand awareness
  • Lead generation
  • Build email list
  • Convert prospects to customers
  • Retain customers

Determine Goals

  • Specific outcomes and benchmarks
    • Increase number of forms filled out per week, specific number of new subscribers, etc.

Subject Matter

  • Determine your core message. (The primary benefit you offer your customers.)
  • Align your core message and your reader’s interest
  • Focus on benefits for your audience

Content Type

  • Email Newsletter
  • Blog post
  • Video
  • Tweet
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook post
  • E-book, white paper

Distribution Method

  • Blogging (RSS Syndication)
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Google+

Schedule (Depends on delivery type)

  • Daily, Weekly, Monthly
  • Try to be consistent

Of course, we are just scratching the surface here. Watch for our next post about How Content Marketing Benefits Your Small Business.

Three Important SEO Facts to Remember for 2014!

Google, Marketing, SEO, Social Media / By /

1. The Google Search you remember from 2 years ago doesn’t exist!

GoogleMost likely, what you thought you knew about getting ranked in Google SERPS (Search Engine Results Page) rankings, matters very little anymore. Think semantic and entity search with keywords as the tertiary element.

2. Just having a website is not enough!

Social Media needs to be included as well. Blog, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook – know the social media platform used by your target audience and connect with them frequently.

3. You can’t ignore Google+ anymore! Especially, those of you with local businesses.

I know. I know. I don’t like it either. When someone searches locally for your business or the products or services you offer, you simply have to control the narrative.

B2B Companies are Making Connections Using Video Storytelling

Marketing, Video, YouTube / By /

B2B Video UsageGood content marketers know storytelling, done well, works. Business-to-business companies are starting to embrace what business-to-consumer companies have been using successfully for quite a long time.

B2B companies are awakening to the fact that we all enjoy a good story, especially when told in a video. We simply like to be entertained. Businesses that want to get their message out to as many as possible are finding that the story is the important part to ensuring more views. It has to be interesting.

Statistics from eMarketer show the actions taken after watching a technology-related video, according to their B2B Video Marketing: Best Practices for 2014 report.

The bottom line: visually telling your story can work in the B2B world.