Tag Archives: marketing

Bruce says…

Having a well-built website that promotes your company professionally and effectively is one thing. Having a website that is properly marketed through well implemented digital strategies is another.

It is essential that you market your website, brand and business in order to get people talking about you and noticing what it is you’re doing and why it is different.

As web specialists, we very much believe in the power of web marketing as opposed to traditional marketing methods. I have whipped together 5 reasons why I think this is the case:

1. Time

In this day and age, we all want everything to have been done yesterday to constantly keep ahead of the times. Web marketing allows you to get your company’s message across to thousands in a matter of seconds. Take Twitter, for example. It takes no time at all to post a tweet that can then be viewed by a huge audience, thanks to the powers of hash-tagging and retweeting alike. This makes social media campaigns, quite frankly, a time saving no-brainer when compared to a traditional marketing campaign.

1. Market Size

Distributing marketing materials physically is limited by cost. You can only print out so many flyers and post them through so many doors, therefore limiting your potential market size. On the other hand, posting a blog on your website can be seen by absolutely anyone if the correct digital marketing strategies are applied.

1. Search Engines

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) allows any online marketing material to be optimised in several relevant key search terms, something that traditional marketing simply cannot do. Once optimised, blogs, content, newsletters and brochures can appear in Google feeds through various relevant keyword link ups – now, can you do that with a your printed newspaper advert?

1. Competition

Web marketing also has the competitive advantage over traditional marketing as it allows you to publish a blog, for example, immediately with no time or geographical constraints. An idea can quite literally go from inside your head and onto the screens of millions all over the world within a matter of moments.

1. Cost

All of the processes involved with traditional marketing, such as print and distribution management, come at a price. And, although web marketing is by no means free, it is cheaper and provides a much greater return on investment. For example, investing in a PayPerClick advertising strategy will drive traffic to your website, resulting in an increase in sales and/or enquiries.

So, which method of marketing would you rather use?

For more information or to find out how we can help you market your business through the wonderful world of web, give us a call on 01325 311 909 or email us at sales@design365.co.uk.

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation, making your website search engine friendly so it lists higher on the major search engines such as Google and Yahoo. SEO can be done in-house but can be very time consuming and there are a lot of considerations, including how the site is built, what keywords are researched and used, and number of back links to name a few.

Design365 use SEO to:

Promote websites online allowing your target market to find it!

We research the most popular keywords so your website can be found when customers search for certain words or phrases.

Identify correct titles and descriptions and adding in internal and external links

Add products to shopping feeds to increase the number of people viewing the products.

For help with search engine optimisation please contact us....

New site launched for Glenwood Decorating Supplies. They offer all the supplies and knowledge needed when decorating inside and out. They have been in the industry for over 30 years so offer a wealth of knowledge and advice for all your DIY needs.

Glenwood Decorating Supplies required an update to their current website but wanted their current branding to remain, used on their shop signage and vehicles. We have designed them an e-commerce website and have included the following;

• Newsletter signup form

• Links to social media sites, Facebook and Twitter

• Link to their sister site CFG Finishes

• On-going search engine optimisation of the site

• Trade area for their trade customers

• Decorating advice and tips

Take a look at their new site...

New site launched for Sparkle People and Development. They are a coaching, training and development company based in the North East of England, putting the Sparkle into your staff and your business.

Design365 have designed a bespoke e-commerce website for Sparkle People and Development to sell their coaching material online.

Sparkle people and development's site includes a signup form enabling the company to build up a customer database, send out future event information, links to social media pages and a company blog to send out useful tips, articles and to promote events.

Sash Hardware are based in Shildon, County Durham and have been supplying the trade community for over 10 years. Selling quality door and window hardware.

Sash Hardware required an e-commerce website with on-going support, allowing them to sell their extensive range of products online throughout the UK. Receiving marketing advice, monthly design updates, search engine optimisation and monthly reports to show how the site is appearing on search engines.

Take a look at their extensive range today.

Marketing tips of the week

1) Loyalty - building loyalty gives your customers a reason to return

2) Competitors - dont be afraid to use techniques used by your competitors

3) Email Signature - use this as a marketing tool, add links to your social media pages, links to your website, add your mission statement or company strap line

4) Testimonials - Adding client testimonials to your site builds confidence

5) Comment - Comment on associated blogs and social media

6) Data capture - Use offline and online techniques to increase your mailing list

7) Stakeholders - build a relationship with local businesses and members of the community

8) PR - Send out press releases when a new product is launched

9) Awards / Accreditations - List any awards or accreditations your company has on marketing literature, this will build confidence to the customer

10) Layout - Keep marketing material clear and easy to understand

Social Media
Social Media allows users to interact with others via social websites, commenting on information they find and sharing information. It has changed the way people use the Internet, Social Media is now an important marketing tool for every business. The 10 most popular social media sites are: 

Blogging
Blogs are a popular medium for people to express both opinions and knowledge online. Blogs are usually the work of a single individual, occasionally a small group, and often are themed on a single subject. More and more companies are also writting blogs for their clients and other individuals with similar interests. It allows them to stay up to date with the company, find out about events and special promotions. Blogs allow others to contribute; commenting on others’ blogs can be a good way of:

Videos
Google has now started to include video results, on search engine result pages, so a well optimised video could land you a good position on Google. Here are 4 different ideas for the use of video on your website: 

Once you have your video you can upload it to video sharing sites including the most popular YouTube. Make sure that your video is high quality a poor video may have a negative impact on your services or products.

As more and more companies come online and as the amount of time to grab someone’s attention decreases (around 5 – 7 seconds depending on whose blog you last read), the need to create landing pages that will stop potential customer in their tracks, get them to engage with your website and ultimately contact you becomes ever more important.

Here are 5 principals that should help turn browsers into callers.

1.         Tell them what you do

As obvious as this sounds too many websites don’t state the obvious.  Some websites do state what they do but tie it into over complicated introduction paragraphs where they confuse visitors with endless lists of all the services they offer. If you do offer lots of services then create a page for each one and state that you offer the service on that page.  Creating clear links to these pages will also help with both navigation and SEO.

Other websites prefer to bore you with their company history.  Remember, people visiting your website are interested in their future, not your past. Yes, there is a place on your website for this information but not in your opening gambit.  When people ask you in the real world what do you do, I bet you don’t start with ‘We were founded in 1964’.  Instead, you probably state your profession or, if you’re well versed in networking, you state the ultimate benefit of your business. So a good example of an opening line on your website would be ‘We have a track record in helping companies generate more business through proven web marketing strategies’. 

2.         Be Positive

Sadly a lot of businesses undersell themselves.  If you’re really good at what you do then let the visitor know. You will need to back this up with testimonials and case studies but using positive words then you create a positive vibe to the site. Other positive techniques include the word Yes, ‘Yes we can help’, ‘Yes we have proven results’, ‘Yes you can call anytime’. Also, use ‘Remember to Call’ instead of ‘Don’t Forget to Call’ (2 negative words don’t always create a positive).  Keep it positive. If your positive your potential customers will be.

 3.         Create Trust

Most visitors to your website are seeing your business for the first time so making them feel they’re in the right place is one thing but you need to back this up by creating trust.  This can be attempted by talking the talk but people want proof they can trust your business before picking up the phone or dropping you an e-mail. There are 2 elements to this. Firstly, show them you’re serious about your business with a clearly designed website that’s easy to use and spelling mistake free.  Secondly, you can share knowledge and talk the talk but web visitors want to know you can walk the walk.  This is why testimonials are so important to your instant credibility. These need to be on the homepage, not hidden in the background and also need a credible signature. A testimonial signed ‘J Smith, Darlington’ probably won’t cut it. Instead, try for testimonials signed by Managing Directors or decision makers, don’t be afraid (with permission) to state their name and their company. And No your competitors wont approach them, they have just given you a testimonial. You probably don’t need the whole testimonial on the homepage but an easy to locate powerful statement with a link to the whole testimonial will do the job.

 4.        Limit the Offer

 Fear of loss is an amazing tool when used correctly. For example, if you are running a spa and putting on special offers then let the visitor know there are only limited places or that an offer ends at midnight. Remember when the offer does end to take it off the site, otherwise you run into credibility issues when posting your next offer.  This simple but effective technique stops people clicking off to another site or procrastinating on the offer.  Of course, if you’re feeling very proactive you can let people know the offer has expired and that if they sign up to your newsletter then they won’t miss out next time.

 5.         Clear Calls To Action

 There’s a great saying in the North East – Shy Bairns Get Nowt, which means if you don’t ask, you don’t get.  So, as obvious as it sounds (there’s that word again), you actually do need to show visitors what to do next. Whether it’s add to cart, please call, please email us, request a call back or subscribe to your newsletter, they need to do something.  The ideal scenario is they never leave empty handed.  Also, make sure your telephone number is clear and located on every page and also in Text so mobile users only need to press the link to trigger a call.

 Of course, if your website has told the visitor what you do, has shown them the end benefit, has created trust, has time limited offers, then they probably will contact you.

 Author Alan Foster

Starting your own business can be very costly. At Design365 we have come up with a solution. The Pay As You Go website includes everything you need to get your business up and running.

You will receive; 

*On-going support and marketing advice

*Continuous design updates

*Managed monthly newsletters

*An e-commerce website designed around your brief

*Links to social media pages such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

*Submission to shopping sites

To find out more, please contact Design365...

What is the importance of consistent branding?

Branding creates a personality for your business and also helps you to stand out from the crowd, offering you an advantage over your competitors. The branding should be recognisable, helping customers identify your company by your logo and branding, this is integral to a business’s success.

The first thing that people notice when looking at company literature such as a website, brochure and business card is the logo. The logo needs to represent the company message and work online and offline, across all literature.

This will enable you to have a consistent strong brand, this will add value to the customer.

For more information and help with your company branding, please contact us...