EVERYTHING You’ve Ever Learned About Web-Design & Internet Marketing is WRONG!
I get asked quite frequently what the best marketing tools or tactics are for helping small business generate leads and grow their business. The first thing I ALWAYS say is to make sure you have a solid marketing strategy in place before you even start to consider tactics. Getting listed and properly optimized in Google Places page is a great start – Click Here for more information on Google
Why 99.9% of websites fail miserably!
Hint . . . . . not all, but many so called “web designers” are largely to blame for this! They might know how to design a great looking website, but have no clue on how effective inbound marketing works.
Many small business owners whose web advertising doesn’t deliver results go astray because they settle for a “website” that is really little more than a (static site) brochure that happens to be online. The content tends to be all about the business. “We do this and we do that and we’ve been in business for 300 years and we,we,we – Guess What ? Nobody cares about any of this. These sites are missing the boat because they’re not telling the visitor the one thing customers really want to know: ”What’s in it for me?” How will I benefit from your product or service ? Why should I listen to what you have to say ?
If the answer to that question is not up front and presented in a compelling way, Mr. Potential Customer is probably moving on, searching for a site that offers solutions and answers to his questions.
These failed sites occur because a site designer has not put the time and effort into understanding the customers’ needs. In short, good research and properly arranged content is critical to an effective website. Lack of good, professionally-written, benefit-sell copy, often combined with substandard graphics—can actually do a business more harm than good. The site visitor gets a negative impression when they land on the page and often will leave after just a few seconds. Never to return.
Building an online presence for your business requires that you think carefully from your customer’s point of view about their experience with your business. Ask yourself, can an online presence be used to engage with my target market and convert them to customers? If so, it’s time to start thinking differently and start working with someone that will actually create profits for your small business. Remember, a website or effective online marketing plan can only be as good as the ideas, creative concepts and content provided.
Important considerations are: Testimonial information from former customers, high quality pictures, pictures of yourself and your staff, and high quality, professionally written articles that address your customer’s needs. Descriptive title tags, keyword density on every page, quality unique content – Thus giving visitors what they’re searching for and convince them (convert) to pick up the phone or visit your store. Then, once they buy your product or service and become your customer, have them subscribe to your database by getting their name, and email address in return for a coupon or special VIP event. You then start growing an opt-in list of prior customers that you can market to whenever you want. SMS text messaging is a great way to stay in front of your customers. Click here for more on that.
Since you’re in business to make money, then your website should have a single purpose: convert visitors into customers! While a few business websites are nice and “pretty” to look at, they completely ignore the principles of effective marketing. Remember, the goal is not just have a website, it’s to provide consumers with a CALL TO ACTION and have them call or visit you.
