Website? Check. Traffic? Not sure. Conversions? Huh?
You must learn how to market your site to bring customers that convert.
GETTING STARTED:
Getting started, you need to have a plan in place, a web site marketing strategy. Without planning you have no direction to follow. So think about WHO you are wanting to target. WHAT their needs are once they get to your site. WHEN and how often will they need what your company has to offer them. And HOW you can get them to convert into a sale or a qualified business lead!
Promotional strategies will help narrow down what works for your company, don’t be afraid to try several at once, this will help you narrow down what is working and what isn’t. With the popularity of the internet you have so many ways you can test market what your company is selling; i.e. search engine campaigns, email marketing campaigns, forums, pay-per-click campaigns, web site optimization, writing press releases, social networks, blogging, etc.
YOU’RE HALF WAY THERE:
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You’ve seen it before, the common day-to-day unfolding of most organizations. They start somewhere between a second serving of coffee and a verbal rehash of yesterday’s news. Between the foreseeable dehydration and irrelevant debate, few decisions are made about the state of their web presence. What is far more daunting is that when the website is considered a topic of discussion, nothing profound or progressive pushes the rhetoric further than the aesthetic of the website.
Granted, to those involved in filling a 9 to 5 block, it may seem like time well spent picking pretty colors and finding more reasons for the website to “Pop!”. Unfortunately, these sorts of discussions are not sufficient in understanding the impact of an organizations website. Those in charge of making big decisions must come to terms with the idea that their website is an investment and should be cared for with the same amount of discipline. To those in the know, such accusations may come off as unsound or irrelevant due to the adoption rate of the internet. However, the affects of the internet along with simply having a website do not guarantee results.
I challenge you to examine your next company meeting and see if John-Doe from marketing is determine to send out his polished mailers or Jane from sales is set on buying more leads. If the latter describes your organization’s current state of investment, loosely, then I invite you to read on. On the other hand, if you’re fortunate and your company’s adoption characteristic in conversions is what Geoffrey Moore describes as pre-chasm(early adopters and or visionaries) in his book “Crossing the Chasm”, then we commend you and invite you to read for leisure. For those of us in the early majority, let me focus on the opportunity of converting a return on investment through the explorations in Lance Loveday and Sandra Niehaus’ book “Web Design for ROI.” (more…)
When approaching the development of a new website, project managers, designers, and application developers initially have little data to inform their design decisions and must rely upon research in order to construct successful user experiences. Research, however, is completely invalidated if the decisions it suggests end up being ineffective after a project launches. The fail safe for avoiding such an outcome is extensive usability testing, a portion of the development process many organizations sometimes wish to avoid due to perceived associative costs and resource drain. Usability testing, though, does not have to be expensive or take a prohibitive amount of time, and the changes that will come about due to interacting directly with users will reap benefits that far outweigh any costs in capital or time that is accrued throughout the process.
Keeping usability testing light and cost effective is key, and here are five quick tips on how to do just that:
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Google announced their Q1 2008 quarterly earnings with a collective sigh of relief for those wondering if the search giant would succumb to a lethargic US economy and a downturn in online ad spending. For the first time, Google’s earnings abroad toppled those in the US, giving it a true global reach.
Analysts conclude it’s Google’s targeted ad business, which marketer’s use to drive direct traffic to sites rather than building brand awareness with image ads (banners), that makes the search leader less likely to experience a slow down.
Take a look at the current internet adoption rates over time and you’ll see why. With internet adoption for the US alone at close to 80% for adults, online search marketing is the clear winner in one-to-one and direct marketing today. Read what you need to do to take advantage of this trend after the break. (more…)
Sensible concepts for those ready to expand their website and search engine marketing.
1) Content will always be king…make sure your content is top notch and don’t just focus on the pretty pictures, you’re visitors aren’t. Wether it’s copy, audio or video, invest as much as needed to get it right. If you’re trying to convince someone to believe or do something, then always test your content and keep working to one-up the current set. Refine and grow.
2) Brand loyalty is tough to come by on the web. When I say loyalty, I mean, for the most part, no one will suffer through a site just because it has a logo they know on it. Only a handful of sites have extremely loyal customers. Make sure your site is relevant, easy to use, and gives visitors what they’re looking for. Poor site design and usability sends me looking elsewhere. Why waste time trying to figure a website out when I can find the company who did this for me and buy from them?
3) Web design is much more than colors, font selection and creative juxtaposition. Good design determines how easy a site is to use (intuitive), builds trust (almost instantly) and serves as a guide for visitors. Great design takes online marketing into consideration in the planning phases to create maximum customer conversions.
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Rise announces more marketing strategy and more design, Just-in time!
You may have witnessed Rise grow in 2007 by over 65%. You’ve may have been touched first hand by our growing pains, where we’ve seen a few of our project timelines slip and the long hours pile up for our staff. It was time to add a talented designer, web producer and project manager to our staff to complement our talented team. Enter Justin Delabar.
Justin is a graduate from UCF where he stayed on to become the managing art director for the Undergraduate Studies Dean’s office. He has over 10 years of experience in digital design including copywriting, creative design, and technical XHTML and CSS production. He also has a long track record of working with clients to create successful, functional, and emotionally engaging projects.
There hasn’t been a better time to move your company’s advertising and marketing in the right direction for 2008. Contact us to reconnect your business to your customers with an innovative solution from Rise.
As always, feel free to setup a time to meet Justin and the rest of our staff at our offices near downtown Orlando.
Rise Creative Group delivers dynamic website design and internet marketing strategies for companies in need of Orlando website design.
“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.
“William B. Sprague
Rise Above
We at Rise are firm believers in staying one step ahead of the curve. Come visit and you will notice quite a few things have changed. We have revamped our website and office into a modern, fluid design and added new team members to the Rise family! In order to better serve our clients, we offer new services and a new approach to our work. (more…)
July 13, 2007, (Orlando, FL) Rise Creative Group announces the site launch of up and coming private aircraft charter company National Air Charters. NAC provides luxurious and efficient travel for business, vacation, and even cargo. Service areas include the Southeast United States, the Bahamas, and custom trip quotes at request. (more…)
By Orlando Business Coach, Garry Peterson.
- Clarity of Vision Gives You a Focus for your Work Plan When you know exactly what you’re supposed to be doing, you know what your intended outcome should be. It also becomes easier to determine what you shouldn’t be working on, and how to say no to anything that doesn’t help you achieve your goals.
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July 10, 2007, (Orlando, FL) Rise Creative Group was awarded a contract to enhance the web presence for high end real estate firm Fannie Hillman & Associates. Based in Winter Park, FL but also serving greater Orlando, Fannie Hillman is known for their exceptional service and stellar reputation.
Rise Creative Group is a high-end integrated design and marketing firm. For more information, log on to the web site at www.risecreativegroup.com or call 407-965-0689.
Rise Creative Group delivers dynamic website design and internet marketing strategies for companies in need of Orlando website design.
