Websites. They can make or break your business. They are often the front line in dealing with potential clients and first impression is important.
I was recently looking for a new lawn mower. I was trying to figure out which brand would be best for me. I like to be an informed consumer so I wanted to check out…
the features and of course the prices of the newest mowers out. I plan on having it for 10 years, so this baby has to last!
I went to the website of a local lawn and garden business and what I found surprised me!
It looked like the website was designed when the business opened 20 years ago and had never been updated. It should have just had pictures of beanie babies, flaunted the “advances” of Nintendo 64 and shown a customer service rep with a half shaven head.
I was disappointed that I wasn’t going to get the information that I was looking for. They lost my confidence…and my business.
Is this happening to you? Do potential customers get to your website and find that the information is outdated?
Here are some quick tips to get your website 2012 worthy, and get clients in your door:
• Give people information. Help them solve whatever problem is driving them to your website. If a potential consumer leaves your website with more information than they came with, you’re on the right track
• Use target words. I’m sure you’ve heard a lot about SEO (“search engine optimization”) and the value of making your website easy to find. We all know that we can’t get clients if they don’t know we exist. Not sure which target words to use? Ask people in your target market what words they would use if they were trying to search for a business like yours. Make sure these are on your home page, in your title tag and throughout your entire site.
• Update your website often. Some businesses products change more often than others. But if you don’t have updated information on your site, you will not only lose business but drive it straight to your competitor. Write blogs. Post videos. Let your consumers know that you offer the latest and greatest products to serve their needs.
• Add social media links to your site. No doubt social interaction via cyber space has taken off, and is available in many forms. Make it convenient for your customers to follow you in whatever method they tend to use most. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or any of the other emerging forms of social interaction, the more you are corresponding with your target market, the more likely they are to do business with you.
Running a business is time consuming. You’re pulled in many directions and there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. I understand. I own a business too.
So, if you want me to help you get your website where it needs to be, I can. I promise to leave my big hair and leather pants at home.
