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How to Boost Web Traffic to Your Company Site

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article, How to Boost Web Traffic to Your Company SiteWhen you’re trading online, you need customers to visit your website. When they do, they browse your pages, get to know your brand, understand your products, and begin doing business with you. It stands to reason, therefore, that when you have fewer individuals visiting your website, you end up with lower profits and fewer sales. In this article, you’ll learn how to boost traffic to your website. Using the tricks of the trade, you’ll bring in more consumers to your website, where you’ll be able to convert them into paying customers.

Digital Advertisements

One of the first solutions you’ll consider when you’re trying to drive traffic to your website is to simply create some marketing material for use online. This can feel like a simple solution, but it can actually take a lot of time to draw up an advert – whether a still image or a video – and make sure that your content is linking back to your site and giving off the right impression. It can also be costly to advertise online. As such, you should only use this option when you can be sure of the return you’ll get on your investment.

SEO Strategy

Meanwhile, you can also employ the strategy of improving your position in search through search engine optimization. This strategy is a long-term one and requires you to identify which search terms people might use to find your business. By identifying these terms and using them in your site copy, you’ll boost your visibility and climb up Google’s rankings on these specific search terms. If you feel you need a helping hand with this strategy, you should contact local business SEO experts at lbmsllc.com to build your strategy alongside you.

Social Media

As always, social media remains one of the greatest assets to small businesses everywhere. With its grassroots feel and free interface, social media is one of the most important assets that you can leverage in order to bring new individuals to your website. It’s absolutely imperative that you set up pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – as well as new apps like TikTok – in order to find the right audiences to advertise your products and services to. It helps to hire a social media-savvy individual to help you guide your content to the right people over time.

Linking to Other Sites

Finally, if the above tips seem a little adventurous, and you’re looking for instant results without all that much effort, you may find that linking your website to other websites – and their reciprocating – can help share customer bases between allied businesses. This strategy works best when you know the business owners you’re going to cross-pollinate with – so for local businesses in a town, city, or district, this is a great option to share your customer base and your web traffic with companies that you would like to partner with.

There you have it: four important tips for anyone looking to boost their web traffic over the course of 2020, bringing more customers and profits to your business.

How to Protect Your Organization From the Amazon of Your Industry

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article | How to Protect Your Organization From the Amazon of Your IndustryThe trend towards consolidation in industry has become a threat to any business whose leadership has a desire to maintain its own identity and strategic path. If you think you, your company, or your industry is immune, I urge you to look at the telltale signs.

If you are one of those business owners or leaders who have invested many years of your life building a brand, then you most likely have a vision for that brand for the future that exists beyond your involvement. Sure, you could decide to sell the business or have it acquired by another organization, but the control of the decision should be yours.

So what do you do if you’d like the company to stand alone moving forward?

The Hidden Threat That Many Do Not See

Many signs of corporate consolidation are apparent; we read about them in journals and online every single day. XYZ corporation announces the acquisition of ABC LLC, etc. Mergers and acquisitions have been around forever, but there is a new legal form of conquest that is allowing organizations to steal market share from well-established businesses. Does it exist (yet) in your niche?

The menace of which I speak is the digital marketing organizations that are springing up in most industries, offering services on a pay-per-lead basis. If you are an established business, you likely have encountered one or more (or your marketing department has), and perhaps you have even paid for their services. These organizations spend their resources online, gaining a marketing edge, and then sell you (or your competition) the data on the leads. It seems like a win-win relationship at first.

But consider this. Isn’t this type of behavior, by you and your competition, outsourced marketing? No big deal, right? They spend money to generate consumer information, and then you buy it. Outsourcing frees you up to focus on things other than creating new business opportunities. It’s a true parasite-host relationship, where your organization serves as the host, and the digital marketing organization serves as a benevolent parasite.

Over time, the parasite will get large and robust. It will more than likely service many companies, not just your own. When they hit a point of market saturation, who do you think will be the most prominent brand known to the consumer? You? A competitor? No! It will be the digital marketing company that has been growing its reach across digital channels.

I believe that at this point, the digital marketing organization will have the leverage, and it is then that the parasite begins to consume the host. They raise the price on your cost per lead. If you refuse to pay, they merely sell the information to a competitor. Or worse, they quit selling information exclusively; instead, they sell the same information to multiple organizations. Once they are large enough in the eyes of consumers, they have the leverage to do this.

Would you like some real-world examples of this? Look no further than Zillow in real estate or Homeadvisor in the home services sector. These marketing-only organizations started simply with a website, but now each is the biggest name in its field. Zillow is now buying homes and working directly with home sellers. Can it be much longer before they have a buyer service available?

How To Avoid The Digital Marketing Parasite

If you own, lead, or manage an organization, acknowledge that the primary task of any business is the generation of new customers. You cannot outsource marketing, or it will put your company in a position to finance the organization that will one day put you out of business.

Take care of the parasite when it is a pest. Ensure that you run a learning organization that evolves its marketing strategy to utilize the same channels and processes that the parasite would use to unhinge you.

The parasite exists in every location and every field. Do not make the mistake of outsourcing business generation responsibilities. Instead grow your digital marketing solutions so that your company can thrive and grow into the future.

About the Author

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor | Joe ManausaJoe Manausa is CEO of Joe Manausa Real Estate in Tallahassee, Florida and author of The Business of Getting Business: The Digital Marketing Guide for Small Businesses.  After observing industry giants move to a digital-first marketing approach, Joe made the transition within his own company, which resulted in over $10 million of revenue from the business’s website.  For more information, please visit lidpublishing.com or https://www.digitalmarketingforbusinessbook.com/.

5 Ways to Increase Post Engagement on Your Facebook Business Page

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article, 5 Ways to Increase Post Engagement on Your Facebook Business Page

Are you using Facebook as a platform for your business? Do you notice your post engagement losing some steam?

Post engagement is one of the key metrics that say how effective your Facebook business page is. It measures your followers’ loyalty to your brand.

With 80% of businesses using Facebook in their marketing strategies, you need to increase your Facebook page post engagement. But how do you do it? What are the techniques that you need to start practicing?

Continue reading below as we look at five effective ways to increase your post engagement.

The Value of Post Engagement

What is post engagement on Facebook? As we mentioned earlier, it is a metric that measures the activities your Facebook posts generate.

But why is it important?

Facebook engagement helps increase your social media reach. Your brand will get more exposure. In turn, you will generate more leads faster.

Furthermore, post engagement also serves as a cost-effective way of marketing your products. Instead of paying for expensive TV ads and billboards, social media engagement will cost you very little.

5 Techniques to Boost Your Post Engagement

Part of learning how to grow a Facebook page is managing your posts. Here are five effective ways that will boost the number of interactions on your Facebook account:

1. Timing is Key

Don’t just post on Facebook anytime you want. Instead, schedule your posts accordingly. Post during times when most of your fans are online.

Use a Facebook scheduling tool to determine the best times to publish your posts.

2. Create More Videos

Do most of your posts involve plain text? Try upping the ante by posting more videos.

Users love watching videos. They find it more engaging than plain text. But you need to make your videos entertaining and informative at the same time.

Moreover, post the videos directly to your Facebook page. Avoid posting a link to your videos coming from your YouTube account.

Also, consider publishing interactive Facebook posts. Try doing a Facebook Live once a week. Users love it when they can directly interact with the brands they follow in real-time.

3. Boost and Recycle

Remember your top posts from a month ago? Consider boosting them to increase engagement. Boosting will only cost you a minimal fee.

Alternatively, you should consider recycling your top posts.

When recycling them, tweak the posts a little. You may add a question or incorporate a video or image.

4. Brevity and Quality

Another effective way of increasing engagement is to shorten your posts. Keep them brief as much as you can, as longer posts may bore users.

But make sure your posts do not fall short in quality. Try using witty statements or ask them quick questions.

5. CTA Matters

Last but not least, you need to include a call-to-action (CTA) to your posts. A CTA sends the message that you want to hear from them. Throwing a question at the end of your post is a good option.

You may also create polls to see how they feel about a certain topic. You can go here to learn how to create a poll on Facebook.

Take Your Facebook Business Page to the Next Level

By increasing your Facebook post engagement, you can build your brand faster and create new leads for conversion. But post engagement is only one area you must work on.

Learn more strategies by reading our different articles. We discuss other techniques that will help take your social media pages to the next level.

10 Top Tips For Starting Your Own Business At Home

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StrategyDriven Starting Your Business Article | 10 Top Tips For Starting Your Own Business At Home

If you’re thinking of starting your own business at home but you don’t know where to begin then don’t worry, you have definitely come to the right place. Whether you’re starting a business as a result of COVID-19 or you’ve had a business idea in mind for years, you need to be sure you’re doing all you can to make your first year a success. Whilst it may be overwhelming at first, there are lots of tips and tricks you can pick up to ensure you’re doing your best. From determining your target audience to creating a routine that you easily can work to each day, the more you’re doing to help your business succeed the better. With that in mind, here are 10 top tips for starting your own business at home:

Consider What Your Business Is Going To Do And How You’re Going To Make Money

One of the first things you need to do when it comes to starting your own business is to think about what your business is going to be doing and how you’re going to be making a profit from it. Although it may seem obvious, people often forget about this stage of their business plan.

If you’re unsure, the best thing to do is write down all of the products and services you’re thinking of offering, focussing on the value each of them will bring to the customer. Once you have done that, you will be able to think about a price point. If it helps, you may want to consider looking at your competitors and what they’re doing. When it comes to doing your first competitor analysis, you may want to do a little bit of research first.

Write A Detailed Description Of Your Target Audience

In order to create a business that is going to succeed, you need to think about who your target audience is. Whilst it may take some time, you need to ask yourself as many different questions as you can in order to create the perfect customer avatar.

Questions you may want to consider asking yourself include:

  • How old are they
  • Are they male or female?
  • Where do they live?
  • What do they do for a living?
  • What do they like to watch on TV?
  • Where do they like to shop?
  • Do they have any children?
  • What hobbies do they have?
  • What social media platforms do they use the most?
  • How often do they get paid?
  • What are their pain points?

Once you have asked as many different questions as you possibly can, you will be able to create an image of what your ideal customer should look like. This will make it much easier to market your product in the future.

Create A Comfortable Space For You To Work That Is Free Of Distractions

Working from home is incredibly difficult as you associate your home with being able to relax. Whilst you’re allowed to relax in your own home, you also need to ensure you have a specific space that is dedicated to working. Whether that’s a home office or a desk in your living room, knowing that you have a comfortable space that is free of distractions will help keep you motivated when you’re struggling to concentrate. For tips and tricks when it comes to creating a working space that motivates you, you can visit this site here.

Make Sure You’re Working To A Routine

Similar to the point above, you need to ensure you’re sticking to a working routine. Whether that means starting at the same time every day or ensuring you have an hour-long lunch break, you’re going to find you get much more done if you have a routine.

Do As Much Research As You Can When It Comes To Running A Business

If you have never run your own business before, you need to be sure you’re doing as much research as you possibly can in advance. From following successful entrepreneurs on social media to reading as much information as possible, the more you know about running your own business the better. If you’re struggling, you may want to consider taking a course to help improve your knowledge.

Set Up An Email And Caller System To Deal With Enquiries

Although you may not get many enquiries, to begin with, you need to ensure you have a way in which people can contact you if they’re interested in your products or services. The best way to do this, of course, is to give them ways to email or call you.

When it comes to setting up a phone number, you may want to consider using an auto dialer at first. This means that you will be able to continue using your personal number whilst you make outbound calls. This makes you seem like a much bigger business, which certainly helps when it comes to professionalism. For more information, you can visit Call Cowboy here.

Put As Much As You Can Into Your Marketing Efforts To Begin With

One of the best things you can do for your new business is to ensure you’re putting as much as you can into your marketing efforts for the first few months. If you’re starting a business where no one knows your name, you need to do as much as you can to increase your brand visibility. A great way to do this is to use paid ads on social media. Not only will this help build a customer base, but it will also help when it comes to growing your social media following.

Consider Outsourcing To Professionals For Certain Roles Within Your Business

One of the best ways to ensure you’re able to focus on the important aspects of running your business is to outsource work to professionals. Whether that means you’re outsourcing a role that you have no experience of or you’re simply freeing up your time to work on business development, bringing external people into your business is something you should look to do as soon as you possibly can. Although it can be expensive, they will more than pay for themselves when you’re able to grow your business exponentially.

Here are a number of different jobs you can outsource if you need to:

  • Your monthly or yearly accounts and tax return
  • The management of your social media channels
  • Content writing for your blog and your website
  • Public relations to help your business be seen
  • Virtual assistance to help with the running of your business

Although it can be hard to let go of certain aspects of your business, outsourcing is a great opportunity for business owners. For more benefits to outsourcing as an entrepreneur, you can visit this site here.

Set Yourself Goals And Targets That Are SMART

Setting yourself goals is another great way to ensure your first year is a success as it gives you something to work towards. When setting these goals, you need to ensure that they’re SMART. This means setting goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-based.

Make Sure You Have A Back-Up Plan In Place

Finally, you always need to be sure you have a backup plan in place. After all, you never know what could happen.

Although it can be hard to set up your own business, the tips and tricks above will help you have the best possible start. What will you be doing first? Do you think we missed anything off of the list? Let us know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.

3 Tips for Designing an Awesome Business Card

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StrategyDriven Marketing and Sales Article | 3 Tips for Designing an Awesome Business CardThere is some truth to the old saying, “Image is everything”.

Your eyes process images in just 13 milliseconds.

So, what does that mean for you as a savvy business person?

It means you should be thinking about how your peers, potential clients, and coworkers view your image.

The easiest place to start? Your business card.

A well put together business card can leave a lasting impression that speaks volumes about the kind of person you are.

So let’s take a look a how to design a business card that will be a step above the rest.

How to design a business card

Using these 3 tips when designing a business card will take your business persona to the next level.

Let’s get started!

1. First Impressions Are Everything

Remember what we said about image? We meant it!

Your business card design should reflect the style of your business. Your values should be well communicated by just looking at the card.

For example, if you are a creative florist with a passion for wild bouquets, you might choose a brightly colored card with a floral motif. Choosing a dark or modest card would not really reflect the appropriate image of you or your product.

The same goes for a formal business environment. You would want your color scheme to be more muted and straightforward to reflect your values.

If your creative side is struggling consider using a business card template to help inspire you.

2. Clear Contact Information

Don’t make prospective clients squint or grab their readers just to give you a call.

The minimum size you should ever be using is 8pt, but generally, 10pt-16pt is where you want to keep the size.

Your contact info should be in clear order as well.

Try laying the contact info in this classic order:

  • Company name
  • First and Last name
  • Job title
  • Contact info (phone number, email, social, etc)

The whole point of your business card is to help people get in touch with you. Making sure your contact info is clear and concise ensures that your business card design is doing its job!

3. Give It Something Extra

Standing out among the sea of business cards can be tricky, but these creative extras could help your card get the extra glance!

  • Magnetic cards – For businesses that have frequently required services like, hairstylists, lawn care workers, plumbers, etc, a convenient magnetic card placed on the refrigerator can make booking appointments a breeze.
  • Appointment tracker – Having a reminder for important dates or appointments directly on the card will be convenient for your client and lead to less missed appointments.
  • Finishing touches – Different printers can create final touches that make your card stand out against the rest. Try touches like embossing, which raises your text for a unique texture, or foil stamping, which makes your card shiny in areas where applied.

All of these extra final steps can take your design to the next level.

The Finished Product

Now that you understand how to design a business card like a pro it’s time to get started! Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine. Make your new business card today!

For more tips on for success in business check out the rest of our site!