Whether you’re just settling into the idea of marketing your start-up or you recognize your business needs a back-to-the-basics approach for reaching customers, online marketing can become overwhelming. It can be daunting thinking about web design, SEO, ad buying and social media…oh, social media…that can be enough to make you throw your hands up and say “forget it!” The good news is you don’t have to be everywhere. Instead, decide which platforms you want to focus on and be great at those. Let’s cover the basic of online marketing.
Website Design
There is an old-school thought that everything you can possibly say or show about your business should be front and center on the homepage of your website. However, those days of trying to get an overwhelming amount of content, which can be slow to load, in front of customers are long gone. Whether you consult an online marketing company or do some research yourself, you’ll find that the number one desire from your customers is speed. In fact, 83 percent of Americans said slow websites cause them to have a negative reaction to a brand or company. In today’s world of fast is better, your load time has to be competitive. To do that, keep your web pages simple. Avoid excess coding and large images to make sure your pages are loading quickly and completely.
When a user lands on your homepage, make sure they understand exactly what your company does and what sets you apart from your competition. Include a clear call-to-action with information about how that user can get in touch with you whether it’s a phone number, a form for users to fill out, live chat or email. Make your website easy to use. Don’t make customers jump through hoops to gain information, read your blog or buy an item, and include clear pricing whenever applicable.
Search Engine Optimization
Now that the website plan is in place, it’s time to refine your reach to your particular customers. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) sounds a lot scarier than it is. SEO is nothing more than taking your existing content and enhancing it for every search engine out there to reach the specific customers and clients you’re looking to attract. The more optimized the site, the higher that site will rank in search engine results. If you want your website to be at the top of page 1 when someone searches Google for a service or product your company provides, it must have a solid SEO plan behind it. Using specific keywords and phrases on your website, an online marketing company can help you reach groups of people who are searching for products or services like yours.
Whether you need a Detroit marketing company or simply want a team that’s well versed in building SEO content, Geek Town USA will research the market and the keywords and phrases most relevant to your industry. We take a careful look at the amount of competition in your space, which in turn helps to determine the cost to compete for top placement in search results.
Social Media
Successful businesses have learned to integrate social media into their digital marketing plan. It’s a familiar, inexpensive and easy way to communicate with your customers. Trust us, your customers are on social media. The question is, which platform is best for your business? You may not necessarily need to be on all the social media outlets, but the key to your success and business growth is figuring out where your customers are posting, clicking and sharing, and meeting them in that space.
From Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest to LinkedIn, Snapchat, YouTube and more, the time and manpower it takes to be active on social media is a full time job. The team at GTU can analyze your customer base to determine the most relevant sites for your business. We can post, engage and share with your customers through social media and keep your business top-of-mind, relevant, and responsive.
It’s important to remember, whether you use a Detroit marketing company or not, social media is a two-way conversation. Your customers will offer feedback on your services, products and customer service. Listen to them. Take what they say into account when building your strategic plans. Remember, 80% of your business comes from just 20% of your customers so be sure to listen to that 20%.
Detroit Marketing Company
Geek Town USA is a full service web design and marketing company. Whether you just need a website or a complete rebranding and ad placement strategy, our talented team is ready to help. Connect with us today for a consultation and next steps.