By: Karli Willden
If you have a website, or currently are in the process of having your website built for you, more than likely the reason for your website investment is because you have high expectations for its success and ROI (return on investment). One thing you should know about a website and it’s ROI is you get what you put into it. The success of your website and its role in the growth of your business is entirely up to you. If you want to have a cutting edge website that stands out among other existing websites, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Quality Website Design
How a website looks determines more than you realize. Did you know that a website’s appearance determines the level of trust and potential activity of a visitor? Understanding this will be a good motivator for you to frequently update your website. You do not want to give off the impression your website is spammy or untrustworthy in any way by having an out-of-date website. You will also want to make sure your website is responsive, meaning it is compatible and user friendly on all devices. If the content on your website is hard to read without zooming in, or it is difficult to navigate, you will loose a large chunk of your target audience and potentially be penalized by Google. Make sure your website is update and fully accessible on all devices. Maybe your website is already responsive, but the website is several years old. Browse through your competitor’s websites and determine if your website could use a makeover. Brainstorm with a web designer to see how your website can best fit your customer’s needs and be designed for the best user experience.
Quality Images
Images have become more important than ever in the digital world to share information and stories. Websites, in particular, ought to take advantage of the powerful communication tool of pictures and images to target your audience, tell a story, display your work, share your values, and make an impression on your website visitors. When was the last time you updated the images on your website? What messages were your pictures sending? Quality images on your website should not be taken for granted, because they reinforce your brand message. By frequently updating your website with new images, diagrams or infographics, Google can reward your website. Make sure your website has the right balance of images and content to create a good user experience and help to increase your website interaction.
Video Content
Every person should seriously consider video on their website for one reason, it pays! Video content is easily viewed and has the ability to connect you with visitors on a deeper level. It is a versatile media in so many ways and allows you to appeal to visitors through both logic and emotion. After all, moving picture is, well, moving, and at the end of the day you want your visitors to be moved to take action. Whether that be to learn more, to make a call, or to shop, video advertising is a great platform to drive conversions. Messages are easily communicated and understood through video. If you have a message to share on your website, why not consider video?
SEO
Search engine optimization is essential for your website to become more profitable. Why? Because without it, your website will be nearly invisible, lost among thousands of websites, and unable to be seen by your target audience. This means no traffic, no conversions and no money generated from your website. What a waste! In order to get your website ranked higher on the search engine, you need to optimize your website. Many online resources are available to help you learn and apply SEO for your website, or you may hire a professional SEO company to save you the time. It pays to be found! SEO can help your website rise to the top, where viewers may flood to your website and you can increase website conversions.
Google Analytics
A website driven by data will thrive, whereas a website where data is ignored will tank. One way to measure the activity on your website and discover areas in need of improvement is through Google Analytics. A gift to you from Google, Google Analytics can help you measure who is coming to your website, where they are coming from, where they are going on your website, what they are doing, and how long they stay on certain pages. Google Analytics is a Swiss army knife to provide you with the knowledge to make improvements, make changes and drive conversions. If you are new to Google Analytics, you can get a head-start utilizing this tool through free courses offered by Google. Gradually you will learn the ropes and become a Google Analytics guru. Understanding the meaning behind the data and taking action will allow you to maximize your website’s profitability.
Social Media
Want hundreds and thousands of impressions from your target audience, and not pay a single cent for advertising? Join social media and be active on it. You have the opportunity to use this valuable channel to send messages, build brand awareness and connect a steady stream of traffic to your website. You are missing out big time if you are apathetic toward social media. Take a look at your competitors. All of them, most likely, are already on Facebook. You are behind the pack if you are not leveraging Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram or Vine to reach out to your target audience. Social media is what you put into it. You’ve got to strategize, make a plan, and develop valuable content people would be proud to share. Social media is a great tool to increase your website traffic and build your brand.
Website Content
You will be able to acheive your website goals and objectives, through well-written, SEO-friendly content. Content on your website matters for your users, as well as the search engine. By writing quality content for your website users, you will be able to provide value for them and make it easier to do what they came to do. By writing SEO friendly content on your website for the search engine, you will be able to make it easier for Google to index your website and to rank higher on the search engine. Writing for both the user and the search engine are equally important. As you plan out the content for the pages of your website, plan the content with purpose and clear calls to action. Craft the message with your target audience in mind. No one knows your business and your customers as well as you do. It is important you frequently audit the content on your website to make sure it is clear, up-to-date, helpful, goal-oriented and fit for the search engine. Here are a few questions to keep in mind as you write content for your website.
What is the purpose of the website content?
What action do I want my viewers to take?
What are my online business goals?
Is content written positively?
Are Calls to Action Included?
Can viewers easily take action?
Is the content written for my target audience?
Is the content easy to understand?
Does the content include SEO keywords?
By keeping each of these questions in mind, you will be able to make sure the content on your website is able to meet your website’s goals and objectives. Take a look at the content on your website and make improvements to drive results.
Content Marketing
If your website does not have a blog, it’s time to get one. Content marketing on a blog is a great way to draw traffic to your website, improve your search engine rankings and build your brand. The more you can post quality articles the better. Quality is better than quantity. By keeping up with regular blog posts you can flood your website with traffic and establish yourself as an expert in your field by Google. Content marketing is a must if you would like to grow your online presence. Learn more about the advantage of content marketing, as well as other ways you can make the most of your website by contacting Barton Consulting today at 888-379-1357.