In an increasingly competitive business environment, many companies don’t know how to set themselves apart from the crowd. Much of what was considered successful advertising in the past is now hopelessly outdated. Marketing is no longer about reaching the greatest possible audience — rather, more successful tactics focus on reaching the right audience. If you find the right potential customers and clients, they’ll be more likely to respond. This means that companies using this strategy spend less money on targeting everyone, and are more likely to have success. Of course, this tactic is best utilized online. Web-based marketing services are about more than just finding the greatest possible audience. They’re about helping companies build brands, and true online presences. The web is the future, and even if a company utilizes traditional advertising as well, it shouldn’t neglect online marketing. Online marketing is often cheaper, and more likely to be seen by potential customers. For that matter, web design is about more than just advertising — a web design company can help clients develop websites that handle transactions for them. It’s no wonder that by 2020, 85% of customers will conduct their relationships with companies without speaking to a human. Below, we’ll look into some of the top issues to keep in mind when making your business’s online presence known.
1. SEO
SEO, or search engine optimization, is a way of marketing your business in a manner that is both effective and seemingly organic. SEO relies upon search engines. You see, 93% of online experiences begin with search engines. People typically use them every day, and are able to find information through searching with minimal effort. However, jaded web surfers have become wise to typical online marketing campaigns, and will quickly ignore them. SEO sets itself apart by seeming organic. Essentially, SEO content is usually made up lists, articles, or even videos. This content will focus on certain keywords, and therefore searches including those keywords will yield that content. People are more likely to click on articles and lists than obvious, unsubtle ads — after all, 70% of the links users click on are organic. For that matter, SEO focuses less on casting a wide net than focusing on a target audience, as we mentioned above. In fact, SEO leads have a 14.6% close rate, while outbound leads have just a 1.7% close rate. SEO isn’t expensive, and is more successful than traditional online advertising — leading it to become a force in the online marketing industry.
2. Mobile Devices
If a company wants its website to be successful, it needs to make that website accessible through mobile devices. Mobile devices include smartphones and tablets, among other things. A lot of people do their online shopping less through laptop and desktop computers than they do through mobile devices. We’re all busy people after all, and it’s more convenient for most to shop online while on the go than while they’re at home. A lot of websites aren’t accessible through mobile devices — and if they are, they’re clunky and unattractive. The more easily a website is accessed through mobile devices, the wider its audience will be. In fact, it’s estimated that mobile devices account for 52% of paid search clicks. Therefore, you can’t expect to run a successful website without making it mobile accessible.
3. Website Design
It’s not enough to just have a website. That website also needs to run smoothly and be aesthetically pleasing. People will leave a website if it takes too long to load, and if your site looks outdated or difficult to navigate, it isn’t likely to keep a potential customers attention. A lot of us don’t know how to design websites — therefore, you may want to leave this one to the professionals. Investing in web design services means that your website will be more likely to make a good, lasting impression — and attract potential clients and customers along the way.
