With the Internet becoming a more and more competitive arena for businesses, new channels are constantly being explored to build brand recognition. One effective strategy is the rapid rise of online video marketing, which is used to promote both products and services.

• Using video to help sell your product or service is a highly effective way of increasing traffic to your business website. With popular video hosting sites such as YouTube and Vimeo, online videos are also effectively used in viral marketing.

There are several key benefits to creating a business marketing video. Primarily, video is a powerful format when making a sales pitch. Aside from being engaging, video adds a personable approach to selling rather than reading a product’s marketing text. With video, you can tug at your customers’ heartstrings and use your charm to win over people’s trust – something not as easy to achieve in print.

• Also, with the number of online scams and fraudulent transactions on the rise, consumers are rightfully wary of doing business on the web, unless you can convince them of your company’s credibility. With most people always in a rush while browsing, video is a powerful tool to attract their attention before they navigate away from your page.

• Of course, it goes without saying that the quality of your video has to be up to par. One that is poorly made will have a negative impact on the image of your company. You can create an effective marketing video by following a few tips:

Know your product by heart – Layout the essentials of what you are selling before your shoot. Your delivery will appear more convincing if you speak in a relaxed, casual manner rather than adhering to a stiff script. Be natural, smile and don’t overwhelm people with too much detail.

Use the best lighting – It’s amazing how proper lighting makes a world of difference, so you use it in your favor. If you’re selling a product, make sure to showcase them using the best angles. A professional videographer will certainly make this an easy task.

Call to action – Promote your brand and let people remember it. Always end your video with a next step so your viewer can act on it immediately. If you want people to call for more information, give out your contact number and end it with a statement like “call us now to learn more”. You may also promote your business website or invite people to your company fan page.

If you need help on adding product videos on your business website, contact our marketing specialists at 800.850.7707 or sign-up for a Free Consultation.

Social media has now become an integral part of internet marketing. No longer limited to business branding and promotion, it is now also a well-utilized  channel  for customer service. The great thing about using social sites to reach your customers is that you don’t need to be a corporate giant to gain exposure.

Marsha Collier, author of The Ultimate Online Customer Service Guide, believes that small businesses are better equipped to gain more from social media. Given their size, it’s easier for them to focus on their customers and communicate with them.  To stay in the lead, every kind of business has to be present where the consumers are, so social platforms are a great way to be up-to-date on customer demands and market trends.

Here are some great ways on how you can maximize social media for customer service:

• Post your social links on your business website. First off, let people find you. Make sure that your business website has icon links to your official company fan pages or social profiles. Great examples are icon links on the homepages of   Michael Collins and Karen Parker.

• Keep track of client reviews. When posted on popular channels, feedbacks about your product or services can spread like wildfire on the internet. To keep a close watch on your online reputation or customer feedback, check out Tweetbeep or HootSuite, social management platform that  give you constant updates on converstions that mention your brand, product or company. You can also use Socialmention, a real time social media search and analysis platform that gives you a comprehensive stream of user-generated content.

• Make quick response. Once you’ve provided an answer to a negative feedback, make a follow up post that the issue is resolved and make sure that the client is happy. Your goal is to turnaround negative situations with quick solutions that will impress both your existing and future clients.

• Keep your fans informed. Customers won’t need to call in for more information on a product when you utilize social media with informative posts and product updates. Upload instructional videos on YouTube and/or Facebook and post how-to articles on your blog.

• Offer convenience. People are always looking for the easiest way to do things. Make things convenient for your client by adding a Store feature or free consultation form on your page. Here is one example.

• Create an outlet for discussion. Encourage customers to talk about your products through interactive commenting.

• Showcase happy clients. Leave a lasting impression on your fans by showing them your gratitude. Use social media to share videos, photos, and stories of your customers enjoying your product or service.

Being relatively new, using social media as an avenue for customer service still has its own snags. However, when utilized correctly, the advantages to your business are valuable. Being “socially active” lends a more approachable and personal touch to your business. Your transparency leads to the trust of your customers, thus setting you apart from the thousands of impersonal businesses with similar services.

For more social media marketing tips and advice on how to have the best business website, visit us at The Design People or get a Free Consultation.

Given the fact that people have already been on the internet for a long time and have looked at thousands of websites, they can easily tell if one is good or not. Not mentioning the fact that when it comes to choices available online, the consumer’s options are literally endless.

Your small business website is one way of tapping into your customers’ psyche and it is important to understand how good business web design affects consumer behavior.

It only takes seconds for the mind to form an opinion if your website is worth people’s browsing time so learn how to make the most of it by keeping the following essential items in check:

• Make it easy for readers. Not everyone has a fast internet connection so don’t fill every corner of your website with text and graphics. Nowadays, people browse using smart phones and tablets that don’t always support graphics-intensive websites. Balance empty space with well-chosen content and make sure that your site can be viewed properly on mobile devices.

• Harmonize those colors. You might have already heard that some colors are naturally appealing to the human eye. This is because we easily associate certain colors with the world around us—so neutrals and colors that commonly appear in nature are always safe bets. Work out a defined color palette with your designer that will be consistent with your branding. Choose your accent colors carefully so that it will complement your intended color scheme instead of becoming a distraction. You can also opt for the classic black text on a white background. This was how we learned to read, so anything designed this way is easy to look at. Using dark text against  a light background is also more search-engine friendly.

• Make your homepage engaging. It’s the first thing people will see, so utilize it to showcase who you are. At a glance, people should already have an idea about your company’s services and expertise. Unless you have many varieties of products and services, small business websites don’t need a lot of pages, so give special attention to your homepage.  Your website’s goal is to reinforce brand recognition and build brand loyalty, so structure your content well.

• Go easy on the text. When presented with a huge bulk of text, people will tend to skip it and scan to the next area of your page. This is why compelling headlines and carefully-chosen chunks of texts are important. When you have interesting headlines and titles that catch people’s attention, it’s likely your online readers will stay longer on your site. Update your content frequently, since outdated information turns web visitors away.

• Think of your customer’s security. The desire to feel secure is indeed a psychological need. Assure your web visitors that making transactions within your website is safe. Be clear about payment processes and use trusted accounts like PayPal or ClickBank. When your customers feel safe, they’ll definitely want to do business. Make sure you also include links to your terms of service, disclaimer or private policy pages.

• Make calls to action easy. To get feedback, make your call to action forms and buttons visible. Explain the benefits of downloading something or have exclusive promos available when your potential clients respond to subscription or mailing list prompts.

• Web design or web development? Although both fields are related, they are two distinct specializations. Web designers focus on the front-end of your website, making sure that navigation is easy and content and design elements are carefully laid out by using certain principles of design. They study the aspects of website usability that will maximize a customers’ online experience. Consult your web designer on how you can effectively present your brand and showcase your services or products on your website.

Web developers work from the back end. They’re more concerned with the functional structure of a website — things like coding, website functionality, stability and maintenance. They make sure that the customer can get things done on the website, so you’ll need to work with expert web developers for your e-commerce features for payment or when adding custom forms or features on your site.

If you need help in designing or improving the efficiency of your Ecommerce or small business website, you may contact our web experts  for a free consultation at 1.800.850.7707 or visit us at The Design People.

A poorly-designed landing page can ruin your marketing efforts in an instant, which would be a pity considering you’ve managed to convince people to go that far into your business website. Having an effective internet marketing plan that succeeds in getting potential clients involves having a well-thought out landing page that is both appealing and convincing. Follow these simple tips to make sure your landing page works for you rather than against you:

1. Keep it Short and Sweet – Once your visitors are on your landing page, give them clear and simple directions. Icon links usually work best for this purpose, accompanied by a short call to action of no more than five words, such as “Show me my report”. Cut to the chase and give them what you promised them.
2. Don’t Be Pushy – Nothing could be worse than overwhelming people with additional questions and hard to read text – a surefire way to turn them off completely. The reason they have arrived at your landing page is because they are interested in what you have to offer. Don’t intimidate them with 20 questions and demand them to answer yes to everything. Instead, explain the benefits they will get when they sign up and show them what you can do for them in the long run.
3. Easy to Read Text – Keep your copy simple and easy to read. Nothing could be more off-putting than lengthy text on a landing page. All it should do is convince the reader to complete the final part of a process – and that usually only entails them signing up for something. Make sure the text is large enough for everyone to read. Ideally, you want to use 12 points at the very least, and stick to standard fonts at all times.
4. Keep your Links to a Minimum – There is always the temptation to spruce up your landing page with more features of your site with a scattering of links to accompany it. Since web users have a very short attention span, you want to keep them focused on your landing page and just lead them where you need them to be. Resist the urge to overload them with more information and confusing links as this will only delay the decision-making process or ruin it altogether.
5. Promote Yourself Wisely – Show off the feathers in your cap in your website’s “About” page and leave it there. Chances are your visitors have already read that, so don’t bore them by repeating all of it in your landing page. Your sole goal at this stage is to find leads and hopefully create a conversion. Keep your eye on the ball and who knows, you might have just earned yourself a new client before you know it.

Always remember that your website content is key to prospective customer patronage so use it to your advantage. If you need more information on how to get the best business website, contact our web specialists at 800.850.7707 or sign-up for a Free Consultation.

Following up on last week’s post on “Reach Out to International Markets with Your Ecommerce Website,” here are 10 practical tips to help you on your way to reaping the rewards of eCommerce for your small business.

Good eCommerce web design is all about thinking what your customer’s needs are and anticipating what they will look for when they visit your site. To maximize the chances of converting visits to sales, there are several features you should have that will make the process smooth and efficient for everyone.

1. Search Field – This is the first thing visitors will look for that will make finding stuff on your site easy and convenient. Place it prominently at the top where no one can miss it.
2. Clear Product Labels – It is important that you give as much info as possible when describing your product or service. Include all the specs necessary so that interested buyers will know at a glance if it is indeed what they are looking for. Showcase a photo large enough for them to appreciate, but not too big to the point that it slows down page loading time.
3. Contact Info – Prominently display your email address and contact number. Customers will always have questions and concerns so the easier you make it for them to reach you, the sooner you can expect to make a sale.
4. User-friendly Navigation – Make your business website as intuitive for visitors to navigate as possible. Users should be able to browse your entire site with just a few clicks and always have the shopping cart accessible at their disposal as they go along.
5. Data Security – Peace of mind is at the forefront of every online shopper’s mind so assuring them that your site is secure is another must. Sign up with a privacy specialist such as TRUSTe and display that info at the bottom of your homepage.
6. Suggested Products – Basing on a customer’s search, you can promote other relevant products that you think could be of interest to your visitors. Select some of your bestsellers and have these visible somewhere in your homepage along with any special offers they might like to know about. You can also incorporate a wish list feature to store their saved searches for future purchases.
7. Return, Refund and Exchange Policies – To demonstrate that you are committed to consumer satisfaction, develop and promote these policies whenever customers make a purchase. Include policy details in the checkout section and have your customers “agree” to the terms and conditions before getting their payment information.
8. Delivery Services – Be specific about what mode of shipping you will employ and manage their expectations with a timeline. As much as possible, include a tracking feature so that they can monitor the whereabouts of their orders.
9. Newsletter Subscription – Give customers the option to sign up for free updates simply by providing you with their email address. This is a great way to build a database that you can refer to for targeted marketing campaigns.
10. Social Media – If you are on Facebook or Twitter, let your customers know by including status update widgets and icon links on your homepage. Social media is a great channel for customer support and gives your company added exposure and online presence.

If you are interested to know more about designing your Ecommerce website or small business website, contact us at 1.800.850.7707 or visit us at The Design People.

For the past decade, e-commerce has been making its mark on the web. More and more entrepreneurs are setting up business websites that not only promote their products but also allow consumers to purchase online from anywhere in the world. Nowadays, all it takes is a payment gateway and shipping address for companies of all sizes to increase their revenue and grow their business without having to spend heavily on traditional marketing and advertising.

If you are considering upgrading your small business website to accommodate eCommerce, there are a few things you’ll need to understand in order to make it as effective and customer-friendly as possible:

1. Ecommerce Platform – This will serve as the backbone of your ecommerce website. This will essentially determine your customers’ online shopping experience, from the moment they browse through your products, add items to the cart and checkout to pay. There are many variants to choose from which can be a little confusing, so it all boils down to your line of business and what your needs are. Features to look out for are easy item and category set-up, customization options, intuitive order management features and database protection.
2. Web Design – Your business website should be the online equivalent of a real-life store wherein products are visibly showcased, product information prominently displayed and baskets or carts easily within reach. That said, your online store must make finding a product easy for your customers and paying for it a simple task. Keep the number of clicks to a minimum. Browsing through your website should be as user-friendly as possible so that when customers find what they are looking for, they can check out and pay with just two or three clicks. Make sure customers understand how to add items to the cart beforehand, provide accurate photos and descriptions and make your prices clearly visible as well.
3. Payment Options – It goes without saying that your e-commerce website should be ready to accept major credit cards like Visa and MasterCard. However, with other options growing in popularity, you’d be wise to pick an ecommerce platform that easily allows you to integrate PayPal or Google Checkout on your site. The more options you give your customers, the less likely they are to take their business elsewhere.
4. Security – This is always the primary cause for concern among both first time and seasoned online shoppers. Will their personal data and credit card details be safe with you? During the web development stage, it is imperative that all security protocols and scripting requirements are implemented to combat identity theft and also to protect yourself from hackers looking to steal from people.
5. Shipping – eCommerce is not just about selling your product, but also getting it to your customer who could well be on the other side of the world. The best business websites should be able to compute the customer’s total order inclusive of taxes, plus all shipping, handling and duty expenses as well. Shipping options are also crucial. Again, how you choose to do it largely depends on your line of business but as a rule, it’s always a good idea to give them popular options like FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.

For more information on how to get the best small business websites and ecommerce sites, you may call The Design People at 1.800.850.7707

Whether you’re a multi-national business giant or an entrepreneur single-handedly running a small business, the benefits of an effective press release for your company are undeniable. Unlike common advertising where consumers have grown wary and desensitized, people tend to be more trusting of information from an official press release as this is regarded as more credible.

What’s more, press releases play a big role in search engine optimization, since you are at liberty to throw in keyword rich phrases that consumers are likely to search for. For a press release to be effective, it must be well thought out and properly written. The following are tips to help you draft a clear, concise and hard hitting press release that can give your SEO efforts a boost:

1. Have a Catchy Headline – Editors scan through countless press releases every day and if yours doesn’t catch their attention, chances are it will go straight to the bin. Pique their interest with a catchy headline that will entice them to read on and then make your point early in the first paragraph. If they have read beyond the first paragraph, they will most likely consider it newsworthy material.
2. Know What You Want to Achieve – Before writing, identify the press release’s goals and target audience. This will determine the tonality of the press release as well as aid in your keyword research. Using the right language is crucial for it to be effective.
3. Don’t Sound Aggressive – Leave the hard sell copy for the ads. With press releases, you want to sound informed and relatively neutral. Include a brief background on who you are. Talk about your product’s features and how they are relevant to the market. Give examples of how they can be used, then end it with a call to action.
4. Do Your Keyword Research – Include primary keyword phrases to optimize your press release. The Google AdWords Keyword Tool is handy for looking up keywords that have a significant search volume. Use your keywords strategically by using the main keyword phrase in the headline or sub-head. And where applicable, using the keyword phrase in a quote attributed to you or anyone in your company is a good idea because writers and bloggers tend to publish quotes verbatim.
5. Keep Your Releases Presentable – Make your press release look professional and create a standard template you can use each time. It should always contain essential information, including the contact person, phone number, e-mail and business address. You should write a short paragraph describing your business profile and use it at the end of every press release.
6. Don’t Write a Novel – Exceedingly long press releases will most likely get edited down or even worse, thrown in the trash. The risk of having the editor shorten your press release is that vital information could be compromised in order for it to fit in the publication or web page. As much as possible, keep your write-up between 400-500 words.

Internet marketing specialists at The Design People offers a professional press release service that can help generate traffic and visitors to your small business website. For more marketing tips, information on business websites and how to grow your brand through results-driven marketing solutions, contact 800.850.7707 or sign up for a Free Consultation.

Blogging has evolved from just an individual’s online commentary to a corporate must-have tool that almost every business giant is taking advantage of. Small businesses are not excluded from the benefits of blogging and studies have shown that more and more entrepreneurs have joined the bandwagon and realized the importance of creating a blog.

Whether your small business is just starting out or has already carved a name for itself, one thing is for sure: having a blog on your small business website offers many benefits to your product or service and generates consumer interest resulting in added brand awareness. Here are some of the reasons why your small business should have its own blog:

• Establish Your Authority – Demonstrate your understanding of your product or service by offering insight on the latest market trends. Consumers like to know that you have a firm grasp of what is out there and how your product compares to the competition. Use this as an opportunity to showcase your strengths as a company and gain credibility and integrity through relevant, intelligent and even humorous blog posts.

• Threads Promote Businesses – Blog engines have a comments feature and that means anybody can comment on your post. What they have to say will create a chain reaction that encourages other people to comment, resulting in a discussion where your business is the center of attraction. In time, word of mouth will spread and visibility for your company will soon be stronger than you imagined.

• Personify Your Brand – While most businesses evoke staid corporate images, blogging allows you to break away from that mold and show consumers your heart and soul. Use blogs to show your company’s culture, the lighter side of your employees and yourself, what your interests are and so on. By doing this, you are humanizing your brand and therefore making it easier for consumers to relate to.

• Blogging is a SEO Opportunity – By writing a blog, you are in control of keywords relevant to your business that rank high in search engines. Instead of relying on the so-called “long tail” of search which refers to low-traffic search terms that represent a significant amount of total searches, target niche keywords that are likely to attract serious prospects who enter a combination of relevant phrases.

• Regular Updates Mean Better Exposure – Search engines like Google regularly crawl website content in search of new material and blogging is a surefire way to make sure there is always fresh content on your small business website. Generally, websites that get crawled command more online authority and better exposure.

• Get Your Products Seen Through Blogs – Most consumers avoid clicking the products and services link in corporate websites because they anticipate a barrage of sales pitches and more ads. Blogging offers a more personal, less hard sell approach, giving consumers a more experiential look at your products or services.

For more information on how to get the most out of your small business website, contact our business web specialists at 800.850.7707 or sign-up for a Free Consultation.

Branding your business with content is just as important as creating a brand image for yourself or your company. In the same way a company brand builds trust and credibility, branding your small business website with content demonstrates to your prospects that your product matches their needs.

What sets you apart from the competition? What are your unique features? Do you provide a personal touch to your service or are you more known for being a no-nonsense hotshot that delivers quick results? The Design People offers practical tips and pointers on how interesting and effective content can do wonders for your business:

Avoid hard sell copy – It may seem like stating the obvious, but honesty and clarity are always better than sales pitches. Tell your potential customers what information they will need before ordering. Spell out what it is about your customer service that makes you special. And whenever possible, post specific testimonials or statistics about your product or service that sets you apart from the competition. Your potential customers will appreciate your transparency over generic hyperbole that anybody can lay claim to.

Capitalize on your strengths – Knowing what your company does best is your key selling point to make your stand out in a saturated market. If you are unsure of what your strengths are, perform some research on the competition and see where your services are superior to theirs. Without knowing it, you might be the only business in the area that offers a specific product or service. Above all, your content should highlight this aspect of your business.

Make your content consistent with your image – Presenting yourself as a company online isn’t as easy as it would be in the real world. First of all, you don’t have the luxury of body language and eye contact – crucial when earning a potential customer’s trust. Instead, you need to convince your prospects that you are suitable for their needs through attention-grabbing copy and impressive factual information. Use simple sales pitches to which they can relate and include personal statements about your experiences with a product.

Make yourself an authority – The best way to build trust with your site visitors is to make yourself an authority for what you do. Choose a great website design to build trust. Prove to search engines that your site deserves to be placed in the coveted natural rankings by adding unique, relevant content that is informational and captivating. You will entice visitors to come back for more and even pass around your information to their friends, family and colleagues. Invest on great website content and your business website will work for you.

Find ways to drive people to your website – A common misconception with having a website is that people will flock to it automatically. Each site needs a well-planned internet marketing strategy that includes driving people to your small business website. Realize that an effective strategy takes time and more often than not, money as well, but is definitely an effort that positively pays off in the end.

Always remember that your website content is your key to prospective customer patronage. For more information on how to get the best business website, contact our web specialists at 800.850.7707 or sign-up for a Free Consultation.

Before hiring someone to design your business website, there are several factors you need to take into consideration. Coming up with a beautiful website that is both functional and efficient requires good communication between you as the client and your web designer.

If you are ready to hire a designer to do your website, consider both aesthetics and functionality before signing that contract. These questions will help you determine if you are on the right track:

Qualifications and skills? – Before you hire somebody, know what it is you want from your business website. Will it be a basic website or do you want it to be a fully functional online store? These days, web developers are hired for the more complex websites that require programming and other technical features. Developers usually have more technical skills such as PHP, MySQL, CGI and Ruby on Rails. Designers generally are more on the artistic side, with graphic skills, strong HTML, CSS and Javascript knowledge. Ask to see a portfolio of their work. By knowing what they are capable of from the get go, you will be managing expectations on both ends.

Timelines and procedure? – Before you sign the contract, ask how long it will take to complete the website. Generally, the faster you need it, the more you pay. It is also crucial that you agree on a work process to eliminate errors that may arise from miscommunications. Ask that you be updated on a regular basis to ensure you are both on the same page. Be clear and stay focused on what you want. This way, the faster your website will be completed.

Support and after-support? – Find out in writing what exactly you are getting for the quoted package fee. Most web designers charge based on estimated working time in hours. Understand all the components of the work that will go in to the website. Make sure this includes some support for any unforeseen problems that might arise. The last thing you want is to get charged outside your budget for something you didn’t anticipate or failed to communicate at the start.

Once you are completely satisfied with the look of your small business website, properly maintaining it is crucial to help make it work even harder for you. Here are some tips that will help you get the most out of your website:

• Be Clear – Make sure that your homepage offers a clear image of your company. In a nutshell, you should be able to communicate who you are, what you are selling and how to go about making a purchase.
• Keep it Simple – Choose a simple and catchy domain name that potential customers can easily type. Avoid anything longer than 10 characters for easy recall.
• Show Them What You Got – Showcase your product or service so that it is clearly visible in your homepage. You only have a few seconds to engage your potential customer online, so you want to entice him by including photos or videos that will generate further interest in what you are selling.
• Efficiency is Key – Avoid overloading your site with graphics that slow down your site’s loading time. Most people are impatient when it comes to browsing the Internet and slow loading sites could make you miss out on valuable conversions.
• Use Bullets – Keep your site neat and organized. If you are selling a specialized product or service that not everybody understands, use sub-heads and bullets to highlight its features. Most people don’t have time to read lengthy descriptions and simply skim through it to find the information they are looking for.
• Spread the Word – Include customer testimonials wherever possible. People are generally more trusting of what other people have to say about your product than simply taking your word for it.
• Engage your Customer – Add a call to action in your website to encourage interested customers to make the next step. If you want them to contact you for more info, make your contact numbers and email address a permanent fixture in your website so that you are accessible at all times.
• Improve your Ranking – Try ranking as high as possible on Google, Yahoo and Bing through your company name and not just by key words. Make it a habit to type in your company name and the names of key company managers to improve your search results.
• Take Advantage of other Tools – Free local business listings offered by Google, Yahoo and Bing are increasingly used on the web to find local businesses since they offer an easy and cost-free way to potentially put your name in front of locals when they’re searching online.

For more information on how to get the best small business website, contact 800.850.7707 or sign-up for a Free Consultation.