There are social networking sites, informative sites, industrial sites, e-commerce sites….so many websites and so many designs. What makes one web design better than another? The success of a website is most often measured by the traffic it generates and how easy it is to use once individual do get to your website. A solid web design can improve your search engine rankings and establish your website among relevant search engine results.
While no one design may be less or more effective than another, there are certain elements that are integral to an efficient website design. Here are some of the most important ones:
- Audience: One of the most important things when you decide on a web design is to know who you are designing for. Know your audience and who you intend to appeal to with your website.
- Media: Most people are visual and images can only contribute positively to your website. Feel free to make the most of images, videos and texts in your website- not only get your message across effectively but also to make your website aesthetically appealing.
- PDF Incorporation: Consider using PDF to help visitors download your brochures and other text that you would like your visitors to have.
- Check Links: Make sure all your webpages are functional before you publish your website. 404 error messages are frustrating and can turn away visitors in an instant.
- Browser Compatibility: Once you’ve successfully designed your website, make sure that it is accessible on various popular browsers like Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome among others. In addition, so many people are now accessing websites on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets that it is essential to also accommodate those who access websites on the go.
- Search Engine Optimization: Your website plays a very important role in SEO- the content of your website is essential to SEO and very important to ensure that you are ranked higher within search engines.
- Website Footer: this element is so often ignored by website builders. But this is essential to make a sort of last pitch effort to appeal to your customers.
A site’s web design is ultimately what establishes you business’ reputation online. Having a website that is user friendly with constant content updates will go a long way to obtain repeat business, generate new customers and make your business known.
Ever wonder why even the most popular brands have a Facebook page AND a Twitter account AND have a Pinterest presence? Well, it’s because now, social media has become one of the best and cost effective ways to reach customers and keep in constant touch with them. Individual use of social networking websites has increased so exponentially that businesses can now capitalize on its popularity. Here are some tips for your social media marketing strategy:
- Pick your Network: Know the various social media outlets out there. You don’t necessarily have to have an account with every social media website. Choose which ones you want to have a presence on, keep them focused on your target audience and keep them constantly updated.
- Active Networking: Business networking really starts with your own personal network. You never know who needs the service that you offer. Reach out to friends, classmates and former colleagues to spread the word.
- Professional Networking: Along with new customers, every business is also looking to improve themselves. Don’t underestimate the connections you have with others who offer the same services you do. Have a LinkedIn account and do some professional networking- you need a competitive edge and its necessary to know what others are doing to make their business better. Professional collaboration can sometimes help your business immensely.
- Engage your Audience: Keep your audience constantly updated on what you are doing to produce new customers for your business.
- Look for Ideas: Public engagement doesn’t just end with you making posts. It also involves reading what your audience has to say. You never know where the next big idea for your next big product may come from. Responses from your customers also allow you to measure what’s working and what is not within your business.
- Watch your content: Be professional and yourself when posting to your business profile.
Social media involvement can make or break your business. With the right content and engagement, social media can really be an advantage for your business. It is the most direct way to be in touch with your consumers and finding new avenues for your business.
Every business has a reputation to protect- not only in the real world but in cyberspace as well. These days, individuals are taking it upon themselves to rate brands and build their reputation online. Reputation management services allow you, as a business, to monitor how your business is being portrayed online and what you can do to improve your online reputation.
Reputation management is really a public relations term that refers to managing a business’ image. But with the growing importance of internet based businesses these days, reputation management has become a critical part of a business’ online marketing plan as well. It refers not only to building a positive image for your business in cyberspace, but also refers to managing negative feedback about your business by dealing with customer complaints and making sure the information about your business is positive. A company’s reputation relies on building a business image for potential clients- like determining your target audience and show how you fit into their lives.
Very often a business’ reputation depends on their customer ratings on various review sites (like Tripadvisor or Angie’s List), social media sites (like Facebook and Twitter), e-commerce sites (like Ebay and Amazon) and being considered top search engine results. It becomes important to constantly monitor these sites for reviews- especially negative ones that can damage a business’ reputation. Reputation management allows businesses to address negative feedback from customers and try to address customer complaints to improve your business’ reputation. Online reputation management services allow you to sit back and trust those who know how to manage online images. They analyse your current projected image online and suggest/enforce strategies to repair or improve your online reputation. It allows you to gain an edge over your competitors and increase the number of customers who are willing to consider using your business.
A business’ profits depend on its reputation and in keeping with present times, an online reputation is just as important as your real world reputation. Reputation management services allow you to build a positive reputation online, repair it and build on it to increase your business and your profits.
Website Design | Kyle Johnson October 23, 2013 | 
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