What does your website say to your ideal prospect?
Is your marketing website attracting and converting visitors to prospects?

Your business website is one of the first pieces of your marketing a potential client will use to judge your business.  Does it create a WOW factor?  Next to your business card, your website is a critical part in your overall marketing message.  What is it saying?

Does your website convey professionalism or could a potential client jump to a conclusion that your business can not handle their needs simply because of your website.  We all strive for professional however for many our websites don’t share this message with those who visit.

After poor design, confusion is another challenge facing business websites today.  Websites that struggle to pass along the exact message of what your business is about can result in a high bounce rate because they are just confused and scratching their heads wondering what your business is about and how you can help them.

You only have 3 seconds to grab and make a great first impression of each visitor through your website is critical to the success of your website.

Your marketing website is one of the most important parts of your overall marketing strategy online and your traditional marketing strategies.  All roads lead home and your business website must welcome visitors and it must convert visitors to prospects.

Here are SIX basic tips to enable business to get the most from your marketing website:

1. Your team are the stars.  Dump the stock photography and get real pictures from your team put on your site.  This tells your visitors that you are a real company with real people.  A professional photographer can capture the culture of your business allowing your business to share your culture through your website.  It is great when we show up at a new client meeting and someone says “Hey, it is the guys from their website”.
2. Keep your content fresh.  Having fresh content on your website demonstrates to your prospect how much you care about your business and that you are up on the times.  Nothing says “I don’t care” or “I am too busy” like a stale blog or website that still has updates listed for Windows 95.
3. Content, Content, Content. Content is king in having a website that attracts visitors through search and has the potential to convert visitors to potential clients.  Balancing exceptional content with good design will attract and potential convert those who are just snooping to those who may invest in your services.  David West, Senior Advisor at Ulistic says “it is the information highway, not the good-looking website highway”.  People go online to get information, become a source of information for them.
4. Template Web Designs.  There are some great web designs out there and some wonderful services that offer business a fixed-cost monthly for their websites, newsletters and other services.  Consult with a web marketing professional before signing a long-term contract with any firm because there maybe some pros and cons between services that may help your business.
5. No Secret Sauce.  Marketing takes work and online marketing takes even more work.  I haven’t found one silver bullet other than commitment, hard work and execution.  You will never get this from an application; it takes knowledge and systems to make all levels of your marketing work.
6. Video. Use video and use video wisely.  Video can grab each visitor’s attention immediately.  Using client testimonials, walk-on video or talking head video will create connections with all your website visitors.  Video will also become part of your search engine optimization strategy.

There are many things your business must consider when executing a web marketing strategy.  Your main marketing website is the most important parts to your overall marketing strategy.  Long before figuring out blogs, social media and other strategies.  Focus efforts on creating a website that educates, informs and the most important factor – converts.  Your website must convert visitors to prospects today.

Need a hand figuring out the right website for your business.  Call Stuart at 403.775.2205 today.