How much time and effort do you put into your website?
For some business owners, the answer to that question is simply not enough.
Even though many of them know how important their websites are to their brands, they simply fail to interject themselves into the process. As a result, they are oftentimes missing out on revenue.
So, what can you do as a business owner to make sure as many consumers as possible are seeing what you have to say and offer online?
Spend the Time and Effort Needed Online
So that your brand can get maximum exposure online, remember the following tips:
- Website design – First and foremost, your website is your online business card, so it can’t afford to flop. Do periodic reviews to make sure the site is clicking on all cylinders, especially when it comes to design and content (see more below). As for your design, you want a site that is appealing to consumer eyes, not one that makes them want to come and go in less than a minute. Whether consumers are doing a license plates search, real estate hunting, searching for home remodeling tips, travel bargains, you need to make them feel welcomed. Always be sure to keep a design that doesn’t feel like one must work their way through a maze. If your site is loaded with bad links, pages that seem out of order in terms of the flow etc. you stand a good chance of not getting those consumers back again;
- Website content – Your content is the backbone of your website, so don’t drop the ball here either. As for your content, it needs to be fresh and authoritative. Produce content in your blog for starters, content that is going to resonate with as many consumers as possible. For example, consumers coming to your site for information related to vehicles of all kinds (buying vehicles, license plate searches, selling vehicles, registering cars and trucks etc.) want to know what the latest trends are in these areas. If now is not a good time to be selling used cars and trucks, explain why that is in a post or two. You can (and should) also include references and comments to authorities in this particular industry. Also make your content available not just on your site, but other relevant sites too. If unsure on how to go about this, you simply look to provide guest blog posts for other related websites. In return, you offer those individuals the opportunity to provide you with relevant copy to post on your website. The sharing of content is a smart move for several reasons, most notably because it puts your content in front of more eyes when all is said and done;
- Social media – Part of having a great website is getting consumers and other businesses to recognize it. You can accomplish that goal when you promote your offerings on social media. If you do not already have them, create pages on sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+ etc. In doing so, you have platforms with which to promote your content. Even though you do not have to be using social media 24/7/365, you can’t use it on occasion, especially if you want to make an impact with the public. Set aside time daily to work on your social media promotions. Once you share your blog posts and other relevant links on social networking sites, always make an effort to engage with those consumers (and others) commenting on your offerings. This engagement will help you not only further potential relationships, but it shows you to be a business that is listening to what the public has to say. In today’s busy world, that engagement can oftentimes be the difference between getting new customers and missing out on them.
Yes, you have plenty to do as a business owner, so it can be easy to let your website slip down a few notches on the list of important things to focus on day in and day out.
That said never let your website be the lost child.
With a sound website strategy, you show you mean business, all the while getting new business too.
Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com
About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.
