Digital Marketing For Small Businesses

Digital marketing is a term that is used to describe many different things: website design, social media, online advertising, Email marketing, SEO etc. Many small businesses are confused on what direction to take when it comes to digital marketing. Most are too busy focusing on the day to day tasks for their business to investigate digital marketing strategies.

In this guide, I will go over a few digital marketing strategies that all local businesses should be doing in 2017.

Your Website Is Your Linchpin

All aspects of digital marketing, including social media email campaigns, are about driving traffic to your website. Approximately 65% of web traffic is coming from mobile devices. It\’s more important than ever that your website looks good on mobile devices. Visitors must be able to easily get in contact with you without having to pinch and zoom to view your website.

Furthermore, Google has updated its algorithm to reward sites that are mobile responsive, So if your site is not mobile responsive it may be pushed to the second or third page of Google.

Use Rich Answers On Your Website

Chances are when you use Google you\’ve noticed that Google has started answering questions instead of just showing you website links. This feature is called rich answers and it allows Google to provide more accurate results to searchers. Almost any small business has a common set of questions that often get asked by their customers. It\’s smart to implement rich answers on your website so that when people Google these questions your site may pop up first.

Use Social Media Efficiently

Many small businesses are confused about how to incorporate social media into their business marketing plan. The most important aspect to keep in mind to know your customer, if none of your customers are on a particular social network there is no need dedicate much time that network.

Social media should be used as a voice for your business to communicate with your current clients and potential new clients. You want to be careful not to post too many promotions and specials. Is important to engage your clients and share information that is pertinent to their business.

Don\’t Forget About Email Marketing

Email marketing has been forgotten about in recent years in favor of social media. However, it\’s a great way to communicate with your customers. Instagram and Facebook only show your post to a fraction of your actual followers unless you pay for advertising. Email marketing allows you to send out specials, event information, and even new menu items to your customers for zero to little cost. MailChimp even allows you to have a free account with up to 2000 contacts.

Click-through rates can be 50-100 times better than social media, making email marketing a very low cost and effective digital marketing strategy.

In summary, small businesses should be consistently checking their website to make sure it is easy to use and that users can find your contact information on mobile. Once you know your website is working properly then you can start implementing some of the digital marketing strategies that will drive traffic to your website, like rich answers, social media, and email marketing.

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7 Essential Steps to Hiring a Web Designer Who Will Transform Your Online Presence

December 29, 2024

Are you tired of having a dull and outdated website that fails to captivate your audience? Are you ready to take your online presence to the next level? It’s time to hire a web designer who can transform your website and elevate your brand. But with so many options out there, how do you choose the right one? In this article, we will walk you through the 7 essential steps to finding and hiring a web designer who will bring your vision to life and create a website that not only looks stunning but also converts visitors into customers. From defining your goals to evaluating portfolios and conducting interviews, we will provide you with practical tips and expert advice to ensure that you make the right choice. By the end of this article, you will have a clear roadmap to finding the perfect web designer who will take your online presence to new heights. So, let’s get started on your journey towards a visually stunning and highly effective website that drives results. Don’t settle for mediocrity when you can have greatness! The Importance of Hiring a Web Designer In today’s digital landscape, a website serves as the face of your business. It’s often the first point of contact for potential customers, making it crucial to create a positive and lasting impression. This is where hiring a skilled web designer becomes essential. A professional designer not only ensures that your website looks appealing but also optimizes it for functionality, usability, and accessibility. This multifaceted approach can significantly influence how visitors perceive your brand and engage with your content. Moreover, a well-designed website can have a profound impact on your business’s credibility. Websites that are outdated or poorly designed can lead to skepticism among users, causing them to question the reliability of your services or products. Conversely, a modern, aesthetically pleasing site conveys professionalism and trustworthiness. A web designer can help you establish a strong online presence that resonates with your target audience, ultimately fostering customer loyalty and encouraging repeat visits. Finally, a proficient web designer understands the importance of user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design. They focus on creating intuitive navigation, fast loading times, and mobile responsiveness, which are essential elements for retaining visitors. When users have a positive experience on your website, they are more likely to convert into customers. Investing in a talented web designer is not just about aesthetics; it’s about setting the foundation for your online success. Identifying Your Web Design Needs Before embarking on the journey to hire a web designer, it is critical to clearly define your web design needs. This step involves understanding the purpose of your website and what you hope to achieve. Are you looking to establish an online store, provide information about your services, or build a portfolio to showcase your work? Identifying these goals will not only guide your discussions with potential designers but also help you evaluate their capabilities in meeting your specific requirements. Additionally, consider the audience you want to target. Knowing your ideal customer will influence various aspects of your website’s design, including its layout, color scheme, and content. Conduct thorough research to understand your audience’s preferences and behaviors. This knowledge will empower you to communicate effectively with your web designer, ensuring that the final product aligns with your vision and resonates with your target demographic. Finally, take stock of your existing assets and resources. Do you have brand guidelines, logos, or specific content that should be integrated into your site? Understanding what you already have and what you may need to develop will help you articulate your needs more clearly to the designer. By setting clear objectives and gathering all necessary materials, you will create a solid foundation for the design process and pave the way for a successful collaboration. Researching and Shortlisting Potential Web Designers Once you have a clear understanding of your web design needs, the next step is to research and shortlist potential web designers. Start by asking for recommendations from your network or industry colleagues. Word-of-mouth referrals can lead you to trustworthy professionals who have a proven track record. Additionally, explore online platforms such as LinkedIn, Behance, or Dribbble, where designers showcase their portfolios and projects. You can filter candidates based on their specialization and style, ensuring a match with your vision. When evaluating designers, consider their experience and expertise. Look for individuals or agencies that have worked on projects similar to yours. For instance, if you require an e-commerce site, seek out designers who have successfully created online stores and can demonstrate their understanding of e-commerce functionality. As you compile your shortlist, take note of the variety in their design styles and approaches, as this will help you find a designer who aligns with your aesthetic preferences. Lastly, don’t forget to check online reviews and testimonials. Feedback from previous clients can provide invaluable insights into a designer’s work ethic, reliability, and ability to meet deadlines. A designer with positive reviews is more likely to deliver a satisfactory experience. Create a shortlist of three to five candidates who stand out based on their skills, experience, and client feedback, and prepare to delve deeper into their portfolios in the next step. Evaluating Portfolios and Previous Work Having shortlisted potential web designers, it’s time to evaluate their portfolios and previous work. A designer’s portfolio is a reflection of their style, creativity, and versatility. Pay close attention to the projects they have completed, focusing on aspects such as layout, color schemes, typography, and overall aesthetics. Look for consistency in quality and whether their designs evoke the desired emotional response. This evaluation will help you ascertain whether their design sensibilities align with your brand image and objectives. In addition to aesthetics, assess the functionality of the websites in their portfolio. A beautiful website that lacks usability can lead to a poor user experience. Navigate through the sites to test their responsiveness, loading times, and ease of navigation. Check if they incorporate essential web

Boost Your Website’s Conversion Rate with These Proven Strategies

December 19, 2024

Boost Your Website’s Conversion Rate with These Proven Strategies Is your website struggling to convert visitors into customers? If so, it’s time to implement some proven strategies to boost your website’s conversion rate. In this article, we will explore some effective tactics that can help transform your website into a conversion powerhouse. Firstly, it’s essential to optimize your website’s user experience. This involves ensuring fast loading times, intuitive navigation, and mobile compatibility. By providing a smooth and seamless experience for your visitors, you’ll increase the likelihood of them converting. Another critical aspect to consider is persuasive and engaging content. Your website should clearly communicate the value of your products or services and address any pain points your target audience may have. By crafting compelling copy, you can capture your visitors’ attention and convince them to take action. Additionally, social proof and testimonials play a key role in building trust and credibility. Incorporate customer reviews and testimonials on your website to showcase the positive experiences others have had with your brand. Lastly, don’t overlook the power of call-to-action buttons. Use clear and compelling calls-to-action throughout your website to guide visitors towards taking the desired action. By implementing these strategies, you can significantly increase your website’s conversion rate and ultimately drive more success for your business. Understanding Website Conversion Rates Website conversion rates are a crucial metric for any online business or digital presence. Simply put, the conversion rate is the percentage of website visitors who take a desired action, such as making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or filling out a contact form. Understanding this metric allows businesses to gauge the effectiveness of their online strategies and make informed decisions to enhance performance. For instance, if you have 1,000 visitors to your site and 50 of them make a purchase, your conversion rate would be 5%. This metric can vary widely depending on the industry, type of website, and the specific goals set by the organization. E-commerce sites often aim for a higher conversion rate, typically ranging between 1% to 3%, while lead generation sites may have a conversion rate of 5% or higher. However, it’s essential to recognize that what constitutes a “good” conversion rate can differ significantly based on various factors. Therefore, continuously monitoring and optimizing your conversion rate should be a priority for any website owner looking to maximize their return on investment (ROI). Moreover, conversion rates can provide insight into user behavior and preferences. By analyzing the actions visitors take on your site, you can identify patterns that reveal what resonates with your audience. This understanding can lead to more refined marketing strategies tailored to meet the needs of your potential customers. Essentially, a thorough comprehension of conversion rates serves as the foundation for effective decision-making and strategy formulation in the digital landscape. The Importance of Improving Your Website’s Conversion Rate Improving your website’s conversion rate is vital for several reasons, one of which is maximizing the effectiveness of your existing traffic. Driving traffic to your site through various channels, such as social media, search engine optimization, and advertising, requires significant time and financial investment. However, if your conversion rate is low, you may not be reaping the full benefits of that traffic. Enhancing your conversion rate means that you are getting more value from every visitor, ultimately improving your overall profitability. Additionally, a higher conversion rate often correlates with improved user satisfaction. When visitors find what they are looking for quickly and easily, they are more likely to complete their desired actions. This enhanced user experience not only encourages conversions but also fosters brand loyalty and repeat business. Satisfied customers are likely to return and even recommend your website to others, creating a ripple effect that can further increase your conversion rate and customer base. Moreover, improving your website’s conversion rate can lead to a more efficient marketing strategy. When you understand how to convert visitors effectively, you can focus your marketing efforts on the channels and tactics that yield the best results. This insight allows for better allocation of resources, ensuring that both time and money are spent on initiatives that drive conversions. In essence, a commitment to enhancing conversion rates paves the way for sustainable growth and long-term success in the competitive online marketplace. Analyzing Your Current Conversion Rate Before implementing any strategies to boost your conversion rate, it’s essential to analyze your current performance. Start by collecting data from your website analytics tool, such as Google Analytics, to gain insights into your visitor behavior. Examine important metrics, including the total number of visitors, unique visitors, and the specific actions they take on your site. This information will help you identify how many visitors are converting and what paths they take before completing a desired action. Once you have a clear understanding of your overall conversion rate, it’s beneficial to segment this data for a more in-depth analysis. For example, look at conversion rates by traffic source, such as organic search, paid ads, social media, and email marketing. This segmentation allows you to pinpoint which channels are performing well and which may need additional optimization. By identifying high-performing channels, you can allocate resources more effectively and focus on improving underperforming areas. Furthermore, consider conducting a funnel analysis to visualize the user journey from the initial visit to conversion. A funnel analysis breaks down each step of the customer journey, allowing you to see where users drop off. This insight is crucial for identifying potential barriers to conversion, such as confusing navigation or a lengthy checkout process. By understanding where users disengage, you can implement targeted improvements that address specific pain points in the conversion funnel. Optimizing Your Website’s User Experience User experience (UX) plays an integral role in boosting conversion rates. A well-optimized website provides visitors with a seamless and enjoyable experience, making it easier for them to navigate and find the information they need. Start by ensuring that your website loads quickly, as slow-loading pages can lead to high bounce

How to Increase max_input_vars in WordPress

March 24, 2024

Increasing the max_input_vars limit in WordPress is essential for ensuring that your website can handle a large number of input variables. This setting affects how many input variables may be accepted (for example, in forms handling a lot of data), preventing potential loss of data due to limits in server settings. Below, we outline steps to increase the max_input_vars limit through various methods. Editing the php.ini File The php.ini file is the primary configuration file for PHP. Increasing the max_input_vars limit can be achieved by accessing and modifying this file. Using the .htaccess File If you don\’t have access to the php.ini file, you can use the .htaccess file located in the root directory of your WordPress installation. Utilizing the wp-config.php File Another method involves adding a line of code to your wp-config.php file, which is found in the root directory of your WordPress installation. Contacting Your Hosting Provider If you\’re uncomfortable making these changes or if your hosting environment restricts access to the aforementioned files, contacting your hosting provider is the next best step. They can increase the max_input_vars limit for you. Conclusion Increasing the max_input_vars setting in WordPress is a straightforward process but requires access to your server\’s configuration files. Always backup your website before making changes to configuration files. If unsure, seek assistance from your hosting provider to avoid potential issues.