Why SEO is not enough
We all know that when you develop a website, you have to make sure people can find it. Which means making sure it ranks high on the various search engines, which in most cases means Google.
This need is referred to as SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), an area of expertise dedicated to putting your website ahead of all the others i.e. the competition. Without question having effective SEO makes perfect sense, in fact it’s critical.
But what happens when all these people arrive at your site?
Facebook. Are you missing the boat?
From a marketing point of view Facebook can seem like the ideal place to promote your business. Unlike most traditional forms of media, Facebook is bi-directional, so instead of just sending someone a one-way message, you can use it for things like research, brand building, customer service, finding new prospects as well as marketing.
So why aren’t more businesses making more of this opportunity?
How to turn numbers into profit
There is a big difference in the way large and small businesses manage and interpret their customer numbers. In most cases, corporates are able to define and analyse these numbers, but it’s an area where small businesses should take some lessons. For those that do, exceptional results are waiting.
What do we mean by numbers?
The challenge of positioning your business
Most businesses find it difficult to say how they’re different from their competitors. Making those differences valuable to your customers is even more of a challenge. So is it worth the effort? The answer is obvious for those that are clear about their point of difference.
First question. Who are you?
Making the most of a marketing plan
Sales and marketing plans, when produced well, have the ability to dramatically improve your bottom line results. They can create more leads, drive greater sales from those leads, and even help you tailor your products to new and wider markets. Of course all of this relies on you actually following the plan.
Getting a good marketing plan
The important thing to be aware of with any sales and marketing plan is that it is not a promotional plan.
Customer databases and loyalty programmes
A great website with some key tools (such as a supporting database system) is not only a great way to keep in touch with your existing customers; it will allow you to promote your business, reach out to potential new customers, take enquiries and entice people back time and again.
Customer databases
A database is essentially a simple list of your customers – typically your best customers. Databases won’t help you make money if you don’t use them properly
Websites that make a difference to your business
Being online is no longer something that businesses should just think about, or put on a list to do ‘one day’ – it is now imperative. Your customers are turning to the net many times a day, looking for the types of products and services that you offer. If you’re not online, you could be left behind.
Evaluating your website
It’s easy to get lost in the technical stuff when it comes to websites, but if you understand a few key areas and can use these to judge how well your site is performing you’ll be able to maximise the effectiveness of your site.
