The Importance of Redesigning Your Website

The Importance of Redesigning Your Website

Redesigning a website takes time and money, but in the end a revamp is a wise investment. Your website is essentially a virtual business card, and your strongest online marketing tool.

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Whether you’re looking for the best web development in LA or revamping in NYC, make the most of business by keeping your website fresh, up-to-date, and user-friendly.

Outdated

The Web is constantly changing: Web technology that was once considered cutting-edge is most likely out-of-date today. A website makeover will give you and your business an advantage in the competitive, online sphere..

In fact, design is a leading factor in user trust. According to a study titled, “Trust and Mistrust of Online Health Sites,” 94 percent of the participants agreed that an updated, better looking website is more trustworthy than an outdated design, even if the information displayed on both is accurate and of equal quality.

Usability

If your readers are unable to find what they’re looking for quickly, they will leave. To prevent visitors from clicking on competitor sites, it’s important to ensure that your website design is user-friendly. Ultimately, users shouldn’t have a problem with navigating the site or finding your contact information. The best designs feel intuitive: try to capture this element when redesigning your site and you’ll have an excellent web marketing tool at your disposal. 

Social Media

Most websites have a social media bar or plugin – if your company site is missing a social feature, then you’re probably ranking below your competitors. By including a social network bar on your page, users will be able to tweet, share, or pin your content, giving you and your business free and easy advertising. This feature also increase brand loyalty as customers are able to engage with your company on a whole new level.

Rebranding

If your company has recently undergone rebranding, you’ll need to update your design to reflect your new marketing strategy. Rebranding includes more than a fancy new logo and color scheme to match –rebranding also requires updated content.

In addition, if your site’s purpose has changed or your business’ identity has taken a turn, then the layout should correspond to your new goals.

Mobile-Friendly

As mobile usage grows so does web app development, it’s important to ensure that your site can be viewed on a variety of devices, including tablets, smartphones, laptops, and desktops. By optimizing your new site for mobile, you’re guaranteed to reach a larger audience than you would with a website that is not mobile-friendly. 

Additionally, recent algorithm changes from Google that were announced in 2015 underscore the importance of mobile-optimization: websites not formatted for mobile will appear lower in the search results than those that are mobile-ready.

Website redesign can be intimidating, but partnering with an experienced design firm will not only speed up the process, but will relieve any technology-related stress you may have. It’s also important to note that the term “redesign” doesn’t necessarily mean you should change every aspect of your site. In fact, a website redesign could entail simple changes, such as making functional modifications (e.g. mobile responsiveness). 

 

WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT FOR COMPANY SUCCESS

Anyone who has ever been involved in running a business knows that an effective product or service does not guarantee success. When your potential customers are unaware of your company’s existence, or they don’t understand how you can benefit their lives, they won’t buy your product.

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That’s why strong website development is so important.  When designed by talented website developers who approach each project individually, websites can be an extremely powerful method of lead generation. The following are just a few of the ways your web presence can help you achieve success:

Getting Customer Attention

In most cases, potential customers do not stumble across websites unprompted. It’s much more likely that they’ll find your website as a result of an internet search. 

By incorporating keywords into your website’s content, you’ll boost your chances of appearing in a relevant Google search, helping you achieve that critical first step: getting potential customers to know you exist. 

To increase your visibility on the web, you should not only feature the keywords prominently on the homepage, but also host a blog that shares relevant information with users. Doing so gives you even more opportunities to reach the kind of people most likely to be interested in your service or product.

Demonstrating Your Product

An intuitive website could be designed to show off to customers what exactly your product or service can do for them. For example, if you’re selling a new tool or promoting an app, a quick video embedded on the homepage to demonstrate it is an excellent visual element to include.

That said, you don’t need to rely on video. Many great websites make effective use of clean and simple graphic design to explain how a service benefits customers in easy-to-digest visual language (e.g. infographics). Whatever route you choose, if your website is organized around explaining what your product does in a concise and engaging manner, you’ll have made your way through another major hurdle on the path to success.

Marketing Opportunities

Although a great website can often convince someone to buy your product right away, it’s true that even your target user will not necessarily click through and convert to a paying customer. Luckily, you can build your website to clearly direct viewers towards additional marketing campaigns, such as an email newsletter. As such, marketing experts often suggest that companies include numerous lead generation forms throughout their sites.

Do you offer free estimates for your service? Include a form for that. Are you currently offering a free promotion? Make sure potential customers can easily spot the form to sign up for it on the relevant portion of your site.

Establishing Credibility

While you may be fully aware of the fact that your past clients have been thrilled with your service, it is safe to assume new customers are unaware of this fact. Fortunately, a great website easily solves this problem for you: All you need is a page which features testimonials.

Your homepage should be the main feature that grabs the attention of a customer and explains to them how you can address a need in their own life. Testimonials from previous clients help to establish your credibility because consumers are more likely to trust their peers than just the brand speaking for itself. This can be a critical ingredient in your recipe to success, getting previously skeptical people to make a purchase.

Creating a Brand

There is a universally accepted fact in the business world: Proper branding is key to success. Your company should have a fully-realized identity that customers recognize in the form of visual imagery, language use, and overall attitude.

The right website may be the most powerful tool you have for establishing your brand early, because it allows you to include all of the elements of effective branding. The images you display on the screen, the tone of your content, and the user experience itself will all come together to reflect the values of your company.

Your website is a representation of your unique brand, and as such it is essential to hire experts who work hard to understand what makes your business stand out. They’ll translate what they learn into a website that will set you on the course to success.

Fueled EditorialAuthor

12/07/2016

OUR TOP SITES FOR DESIGN INSPIRATION

Issue 36

Posted on November 30th 2016

WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT FOR COMPANY SUCCESS

Posted on December 7th 2016

Pensamiento del Dia

La Doble Moralidad de los politicos enferman a toda administracion publica, y la corrupcion es su arma letal.

Alex Rojas Riva

Ten Affiliate Marketing Training Programs

Ten Affiliate Marketing Training Programs

Posted by Lisa Marie Mercer | Business | 0 comments

Affiliate Marketing Training

A company sends you an email about an affiliate marketing training program. You wonder, “what exactly is affiliate marketing, and why does it require training? The following affiliate marketing tips can help you get started.

Affiliate marketing provides a form of performance-based merchandising, which allows businesses to reward its associates for each visitor they direct to their website. The affiliate marketing game has four key players:

1. The merchant or retailer is the business that sells the product
2. The network provides the affiliate with a list of appropriate merchants, based on the predominant themes of their website. The network also tracks performance and pays the affiliate.
3. The affiliate is also referred to as the publisher of the cooperating website, as well as the recipient of the commissions.
4. The customer is the person who buys the product.

A well-designed affiliate marketing plan benefits both the merchant in search for an affordable advertising plan, and affiliate publishers, who want to monetize their blogs. The constantly-evolving process, however, is complex. If you know nothing, or relatively little about it, it behooves you to sign up for an affiliate marketing training program. In contrast, if you are already affiliate marketing savvy, some of the affiliate programs have their training programs. Here are some examples of both types of training.

1. Affilio Blueprint

Affilio Blueprint, often listed as one of the best affiliate marketing training programs, provides 12 modules, which teach you physical product niche marketing, info product niche marketing, authority model marketing, SEO, list building, PPC and CPA marketing. The company also offers bonus chapters on content marketing, guest blogging and other social media strategies. Designed for affiliate marketing novices, Affilio Blueprint provides user-friendly videos and free WordPress themes, making it the ideal way to learn affiliate marketing basics.

2. Udemy

For those who like to try before they buy, Udemy offers the ideal affiliate marketing training program, especially for those interested in the Amazon affiliate program. Before you commit to the training, site owner Luis Azcarate allows you to preview the different videos, which emphasize topics such as selecting products, creating affiliate links, domain name selection, WordPress installation and promotion.

3. Wealthy Affiliate University

Wealthy Affiliate University also offers users a free “starter account,” which allows them to test the waters. Even better, they offer 24-hour support. Their proficiency-based affiliate marketing training programs provides options for novice, intermediate and advanced marketers. When you join this training program, you reap the benefits of interaction with other affiliate marketers, as well as bespoke plans created for your specific needs, making it easy for you to learn affiliate marketing.

4. University of San Francisco Advance Affiliate Marketing

When you are ready to take your website monetizing campaign to the next level, the University of San Francisco offers and eight-week, online, affiliate marketing training program. The comprehensive program includes topics such as legal and ethical considerations, leveraging your affiliate channel for other areas of your business, selling executives on the affiliate marketing idea and more.

5. Econsultancy

If your  business or vacation plans deliver you to London England, Econsultancy conducts one-day affiliate marketing training programs. The course covers topics such as integrating SEO and affiliate marketing strategies, dealing with competition, trademark issues and monitoring results.

6. Dekh.com

Dekh.com is  an interesting site, in that it provides detailed information for both affiliates and merchants. A constantly-updated blog, along with a detailed series of guides and infographics provide a comprehensive overview of affiliate marketing. Best of all, most of the information is free.

7. Affiliate Summit

Affiliate Summit offers two, three day affiliate marketing training conferences. In 2014, one will take place in Las Vegas, and the other in New York City. These affiliate marketing boot-camps provide an effective means of networking with other marketers and learning new skills.

8. Commission Junction University

Commission Junction, one of the older and larger affiliate marketing programs, also offers an annual, three-day affiliate marketing training conference in Santa Barbara, California.  Commission Junction University, as it´s called,  offers educational sessions, plus networking opportunities.

9. Clickbank

ClickBank, another one  of the larger affiliate marketing programs, provides a detailed blog, chock full of helpful tips. Even better, they offer a free download of their ebook titled Monetize Your Blog with ClickBank.

10. Linkshare

Linkshare, yet another  affiliate program, offers an annual conference, online webinars, a monthly newsletter and online tutorials. It’s the ideal affiliate marketing for dummies program.

Suggested Read on this Topic:

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The ABC’s of Branding

• October 7, 2011
• Kathy Bass, Ladies Who Brand

Before we get to the ABC’s, it is imperative that you know with absolute certainty that you can offer and deliver, better than anyone else, a quality service solution that solves a current problem or a valuable product that fills a current need.
Once you are sure of this, and you spend the time to know your ABC’s, you will gain market acceptance and fans over time to build your solid brand foundation. Here are the ABC’s of successful branding:

Authenticity: Be true to you

A common definition of “Authenticity” in Psychology refers to the attempt to live one’s life according to the needs of one’s inner being, rather than the demands of society or one’s early conditioning.  Authenticity is the degree to which one is true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character, despite society pressures.
Anybody who is pretending to be anything other than who they really are will never be able to reach their full personal potential.  Find the ability to be yourself: Bring heart and truth to what you do.  Don’t imitate.  Be yourself and do it your way.
Make sure your outer world matches your inner world.

Benefits: This is what customers care about

Benefits are what make your customers life easier, more enjoyable, more exciting, and more rewarding.  Benefits are solutions to your customer’s day-to-day problems.  Benefits are what customers pay for.  Benefits are the only profitable way to bring new customers to your business.
Many marketers would agree that we buy products and services that enhance our positive sense of self-esteem, in some way.  They believe that all brands, products and their features are associated with a rewarding emotional payoff.  Moreover, all features and benefits are linked to emotional end benefits.
Include the…”What’s in it for the customer?”

Communication: You are always communicating

Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information.  Even non-communication is a form of communication.  Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender’s intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast distances in time and space.
Communication requires that the communicating parties share an area of commonality. The communication process is complete once the receiver has understood the message of the sender.
You have the power to reach or repel your target audience.
A brand should translate your business {passion & purpose} into language and visuals that clearly communicate you and your promise, then you must deliver on this to establish and earn your credibility.  Your authentic brand should show what people can expect from your business in a compelling manner to attract your target audience.
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Kathy Bass, Ladies Who Brand

Kathy is an Entrepreneur, a Personal Branding Strategist and Founder of Ladies Who Brand, Inc. Kathy has a background in Business, Marketing, Psychology and Design and is the Phoenix Branding Examiner for Thomson Reuters. Currently, Kathy is writing a Branding D.I.Y. Guidebook for anyone with a passion to start their own business who wants to learn how to “Survive & Thrive” in our new digital world with our new media and new rules. Want to understand the power of branding? Follow me on Twitter or find me on Facebook.

 

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Facebook and Twitter discuss digital marketing trends

By Matt Kapko | CIO US on April 28, 2014

The Walking Dead: Chop Shop campaign was created by Initiative for Hyundai under keynote speaker Greg Johns.

You know things aren't going well when the moderator of a panel asks the audience if anyone understands a word of what was just said by one of his two interviewees. The delivery was deadpan, but it actually underlined the vexing challenges that are making social media all the more complex and confusing for advertisers.
More importantly, the jab accentuated the mood that was taking hold in a banquet hall filled with hundreds of marketers at ThinkLA's Automotive Breakfast earlier this week. The at-times confusing back-and-forth between executives working on analytics at Twitter and Facebook followed a rather critical keynote by Greg Johns, senior vice president and client director of digital strategy at digital agency Initiative. There appeared to be little room for grandiosity or empty platitudes at this morning gathering.
"It comes down to what I think is the biggest challenge that we all face as an industry and that is complexity. Collectively over the past 15 years and more, we've done a really good job at making this very complex for all of us," Greg (below) told the audience.







Programmatic buying and selling of ads, which Greg describes as "this idea, this promise that we will be able to automate most of this complexity out," isn't working out as well as everyone had hoped. "As we are on this learning curve of it, it's actually gotten more complex than simple. It's turning a little bit into the wild, wild west again in terms of the things we're doing."

The 80/20 problem

Not only are cookies and banner ads becoming "less worthwhile to us," Greg says, "it's making the reporting that we spend so much time putting together really become less useful to us." The rush to know all data has manifested itself into what he calls the "80/20 problem" wherein marketers spend most of their time building and compiling data instead of gleaning useful insights from the data.
Although television is more fragmented than ever, the disparate infrastructure of online and social media is still no match for the reigning king of media. "We have to get that focus in place," says Greg. "We have to find our own filter."
 Brands and marketers need to create "intricate campaigns that can blow away what you can do on 55-inch screens. Unfortunately I think these are the exception, not the rule in our industry. We just can't scale," he adds.

Simplicity remains evlusive

Despite all the work and investment that has gone into digital media, simplicity seems just as hard as ever to come by for marketers and brands. Indeed part of that is due to the growing number of tools and platforms by which ads reach consumers. But, at the same time, these ads are trying to track down users who increasingly spend more of their time on mobile apps from the likes of Facebook and Twitter.
"When you think about data you can offer up a lot of complexity," says Jonathan Lewis, manager of monetization analytics at Facebook. "We want to surface data but we want to do it for the right purpose ... to simplify your life instead of adding complexity."
Lewis encourages marketers to focus less on likes and more on core metrics that lead to a lift in branding and ultimately sales. "Focusing on just social metrics as an outcome leads you potentially to undesirable outcomes," Jonathan says.
"Measuring the digital environment is harder than you might think," Jonathan says. A big reason why is because advertisers are rarely disciplined in how they approach a campaign, he adds.
The same rules generally apply for retweets on Twitter. Tim Perzyk, the company's regional head of US research and sales analytics, says marketers are skipping ahead by assuming that a share of voice matters. Retweets, for example, primarily speak to advocacy, he says.

Focus on business objectives

Tim and Jonathan both spoke about their respective company's responsibility to help every advertiser achieve business objectives that matter most to them. "We're trying to create tools that are as flexible as possible for the different approaches and strategies that you need," Lewis says.
"Across all those objectives, there should be a focus on scale," Jonathan says, echoing earlier comments from Greg. "Doing small programs is good, but doing large programs that make a measurable difference for your business is what you should be focusing on."
These experimental or narrow campaign "pet projects" can be fun, but advertisers need to develop campaigns that are repeatable and built on consensus, says Greg. "Innovation still has its place, but it can't be just metastasizing everything we do."
The challenges associated with campaign measurement and other unnecessary complexities are effectively a "forcing function" that motivates Facebook to continue building a better platform, says Jonathan. "We can actually evolve as a platform and do the thing that matters most to your business."
So what can those in the industry do today to begin effecting positive changes? Greg, who oversees digital strategy for Hyundai and Kia, admits he doesn't have all the answers but says the most important goal of all is to simplify.
"What are we going to stop doing in order to do these new things?" Greg says. That's the conversation he said he and his colleagues need to start having.

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• Interactive & Web Design,
• Facebook,
• Twitter

Six Myths About Affiliate Marketing

 

Six Myths About Affiliate Marketing

Aug 15, 2013 by Amanda DiSilvestro In Marketing Tips 30

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Affiliate marketing exists because it can be very successful. However, there are quite a few affiliate marketing myths that revolve around this topic.
For those who are unfamiliar, affiliate marketing is a way of rewarding other companies and/or business partners who bring you customers because of their marketing efforts. You can also think of affiliate marketing from the flip-side: If you wanted to be an affiliate company, your job is to bring online traffic and/or customers to businesses and then you get paid for it.
It seems like a win-win situation, right?
While affiliate marketing is great, it’s a little bit more complicated than meets the eye. For this reason, there are tons of different affiliate marketing myths out there surrounding all it entails. Whether you’re a company needing help or someone looking to start a business, it’s important to understand these affiliate marketing myths before diving into this marketing method.

Top 6 Affiliate Marketing Myths

Below are six of the most common affiliate marketing myths as well as reasons why these myths might exist. As a side note, most come from the point of view of someone trying to get involved in affiliate marketing as a business (as opposed to for their already existing business).

1. It’s Difficult to Get Involved with Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is something that virtually anyone can do if they put their mind to learning how things work (even learning as they go).
It doesn’t take a ton of money or a ton of experience, just a desire to get involved and the ability to really learn.

2. Affiliate Websites Don’t Require Much Management

This myth actually goes against the last myth (it seems that no one knows what kind of work it takes to be an affiliate marketer). Although it’s possible for anyone, it isn’t as easy as setting up a website, putting some affiliate links and banners on that website, and then letting it sit. Google bots don’t like to see this, which means they could very well penalize your site and essentially bring your business to a halt.
You need to have quality content and make changes to your website to improve it in order to be successful, and this takes lots of management.

3. You Should Always Choose the Niche that is the Most Profitable

Many people believe this because they believe that’s how you will make the most money. Of course certain niches that sell products people buy most often have a good chance of being successful, but that doesn’t mean it’s automatic. Although certain niches might be successful for some, they won’t necessarily be successful for you.
You have to really understand that niche. If you don’t, you’re going to have more success picking something you’re comfortable with.

4. You Only Need One Good Affiliate Program to be Successful

This is an affiliate marketing myth that companies looking to get involved in affiliate marketing seem to find quite often. Joining just one affiliate program could work, but you have to remember that your customers are going to compare as they shop. You want to work with a few different programs that compliment each other.
For example, if you’re a dentist you may want to market toothpaste as well as dental services.

5. Consumers Don’t Like Affiliate Marketing

Sometimes it can seem like affiliate marketing is an extra step and will therefore annoy consumers because they can just go to eBay or Amazon instead. However, it is important to realize that customers want information about certain products and they want to shop around the Web.
In other words, they don’t want to go straight to Amazon or EBay, they actually want to visit your website.

6. Affiliate Marketing Won’t Last Much Longer

Last but not least, this is probably the most popular affiliate marketing myth and it goes right along with the last myth. Because Google algorithms are changing and putting less value on sites that offer more links than quality content, it’s safe to say that affiliate marketing has had better days. Still, it has not lost life and surely won’t for a long time to come.
It’s still successful and still makes sense – and Google sees that as well as consumers.
Do you have any additional affiliate marketing myths to add to the list?
Genie Lamp Photo via Shutterstock