There are numerous options to create websites these days, and while even a small business startup can easily establish a web presence, not all websites are created equal. Creating content and designing a website can be challenging. You want a site that informs your customers about who you are and what you offer, and that prompts them to purchase your products or services. However, websites are often confusing, overwhelming, and generally ineffective in driving revenue.
You need to design your website to be a funnel. A funnel, in marketing terms, is a method of advertising that encourages potential customers to move through the process of gaining awareness, generating interest, and ultimately prompting an action to be taken (1). This action can be making a purchase or even just signing up for a weekly newsletter. You should have a very clear plan about what actions you want viewers to take while visiting your website.
What are the characteristics of a well-designed funnel website?
Your funnel site should tell a very clear story. You don’t want to confuse your visitors. Inform your viewers about who you are, what you offer, and what you hope to accomplish while they are visiting your site. This is your call to action, and it is an essential part of the story you want your potential customers to see.
There should be no confusion about how to navigate the site. Scrolling should be intuitive and any action should take the fewest number of clicks possible. Allow the flow of the site to naturally lead the users toward the calls to action.
It is estimated that 60% of website users are accessing the site through a mobile device, and that number continues to grow. Failure to design a site that offers a good mobile experience is basically like leaving revenue on the table. Approximately 50% of consumers indicated that a poor mobile website experience would make them much less likely to make a purchase from that vendor. This is a large category of potential customers that should not be overlooked.
There are several tools available to track website views, like Google Analytics. With these tools, you can determine which parts of your website are most popular, as well as areas that could be improved upon. You can also learn a great deal about the visitors to your site, which will help you understand which of the visitors are likely to convert, and which ones are not. This can help you to improve your marketing techniques to those groups.
A funnel site is intended to invite viewers to take an action, and in order to do that, you must have calls to action in a number of locations. It is not enough to just begin or end your site with a call to action. You should have them strategically placed in 6-10 locations throughout the site, and they can be static or a pop-up. However, they should be planned so that they do not cause confusion. Do not call for visitors to sign up for emails and set an appointment right next to each other. Too many different actions may cause them to not take any action at all. The calls to action should be clear, always encouraging the viewer to take the next step in the buying process.
Lastly, you should make a clear and irresistible offer. These are lead magnets and can be greatly effective in driving new business. Place the offer in an obvious spot on the site or as a pop-up, and refer to it in your calls to action.
It’s time to get serious about driving new business with your website! By creating your website to be a funnel that is designed to convert, you can stop leaving revenue on the table and start converting website visitors into customers or clients.
Ready to get started? Call (239) 214 8592 today to see what we can do for you or visit our website at www.smargasy.com to explore our proven solutions.
If you want your business to get found on the web, then SEO is something you’ll need to utilize. SEO, or search engine optimization, encompasses any digital marketing task that is intended to improve your site’s rank in relevant, organic (unpaid) search results. While there are many marketing agencies out there that boast SEO services, it’s not always easy to find the right SEO expert for your needs. Follow these helpful tips to ensure that you find a strong partner for your digital marketing goals.
SEO may seem abstract, but it comes down to specific tasks that align with Google’s search algorithms. So, your SEO expert should be familiar with the latest trends in SEO. They should also provide a concrete plan for helping your business achieve your goals in search marketing. In addition, this plan should be customized to your brand’s goals—avoid any firm that offers one-size-fits-all solutions for every client.
You wouldn’t hire a lawyer who guarantees a win in court; after all, the nature of the work often makes such promises impossible to keep. SEO is the same. No agency can guarantee that you’ll rank on page 1 of Google or that you’ll see X number of leads within a given period. If you’re consulting a so-called SEO expert who promises these types of specific results, look instead for an agency that focuses on scalable, achievable growth throughout the long haul.
Instead of promising to get you on page 1, your SEO firm should commit to reporting progress to you regularly. They should also check in often to rework your strategy as needed. Search engine marketing requires an ongoing, evolving approach. If your marketing agency isn’t regularly checking in and reporting on current progress, your campaign will simply have no room to grow.
Smargasy is ready to make SEO an achievable marketing practice for your business with proven strategies for success. Call us at (239) 214-8592 or email [email protected] to start developing your SEO plan.
All businesses need a website, but if there is one thing worse than not having a website, it’s having an outdated website. It’s always a good idea to look over your own website periodically to assess whether it still meets your company’s needs, captures your audience’s attention, accurately represents your brand, and looks modern. Check out the following signs that it’s time for a brand new website or a web design refresh.
Assess your website on a laptop, smartphone, and tablet. Is it responsive to all types of devices and screen sizes? If the website doesn’t seem quite right and is difficult to navigate on mobile devices, then it may be time for a web design refresh.
A bounce rate refers to the number of people who visit one page on your website and then leave right away, without visiting any other pages or purchasing any products. High bounce rates are bad for business. They can indicate that your website is so outdated that it’s time for a total overhaul. A new website can offer intuitive navigation, user-friendly content, and aesthetically pleasing elements that capture each visitor’s attention.
Businesses are dynamic entities that tend to evolve over time. You may begin offering new services and products, and discontinue old ones. In this case, a web design refresh can fit your needs. You might even decide that it’s time for a company rebranding—which calls for a complete website overhaul. Your new website can accurately represent your brand and appeal to your target demographic.
When it’s time for a brand new website or a web design refresh, you can turn to the experts at Smargasy to get the job done right the first time. We pride ourselves on our close collaboration with our clients, which enables us to develop a deep understanding of how they want their websites to look and function. Contact our office in Fort Myers, FL, at (239) 214-8592 for a free consultation.
If you don’t yet have a business website, it’s definitely time to invest in one. This is especially true given the new normal of the COVID era. COVID has changed how people are interacting with others and with businesses. Much of everyday life—from buying groceries to chatting with loved ones—now takes place in the digital world. As such, your business needs to meet your customers where they are.
Many people are being careful about limiting their in-person interactions. They often prefer to find what they need online. Your business website can allow your customers—and your staff—to support public health and safety by reducing unnecessary trips out into the community.
A business website can keep your company running even when your physical location has had to close its doors. This can be true even for businesses that typically require an in-person presence. For example, consider a hair salon. A hair salon owner can keep the company going by using the business website to offer curbside pickup and delivery of professionally mixed hair dye for customers.
Customers no longer take for granted that a business will be open when they arrive at the location during normal hours. You can use your business website to post important announcements, such as changes in hours or policies on mask-wearing.
Few businesses are truly one-of-a-kind. Chances are your company is competing with many other similar businesses in your area. One of the most significant ways people choose a particular company is by evaluating its perceived credibility and trustworthiness. With a business website, your company will appear more trustworthy and authoritative. This is crucial for standing out from the crowd during the COVID era, in which consumers are being more careful with their dollars.
Even though COVID-related restrictions have eased in many areas, health-conscious individuals are often still hesitant to spend too much time in populated places. They prefer to find what they need online. If you have a business website, your company can market to your demographic, even if they’re stuck at home.
When you’re ready to take your business to the next level with a custom-designed website, get in touch with the friendly folks at Smargasy. As cybersecurity experts, we build top-notch security directly into every website we design. Call us in Fort Myers, FL, at (239) 214-8592 to chat about your vision for your business website.
Choosing a web hosting provider for your business website isn’t as easy as it might sound. There are certainly plenty of options out there, but they aren’t all created equally. It’s important to choose a web hosting provider that will allow your website to grow with your business. You’ll need reliability, security, and outstanding technical support.
Uptime is the time that the servers remain up and running. In other words, it’s the amount of time that your customers will be able to access your business website. Guaranteed uptime is expressed as a percentage. It’s ideal to choose a web hosting provider that guarantees at least 99% uptime. Of course, a higher percentage is always better. It’s virtually impossible to guarantee 100% uptime, as unexpected problems can and do occur. However, a guaranteed uptime of 99.9% is pretty close to perfect.
It’s customary for web hosting providers to offer technical support. Typically, customers will need to submit a ticket for help via email or chat, or call the customer support line. Many web hosting providers only offer limited hours for technical support. However, problems with your business website can occur at any time of day. It’s best to choose a web hosting provider that offers 24/7 technical support every day of the year—including holidays. In addition, look for a company that offers a quick response time.
Solid cybersecurity is absolutely essential for a business website. Choose a web hosting provider that doesn’t cut corners when it comes to security. You need the peace of mind that comes from knowing your company’s proprietary information and your customers’ sensitive financial and personal data are as protected as possible.
There are many reasons why our customers choose Smargasy for their web hosting needs. These include our 24/7 technical support, emphasis on cybersecurity, and our guaranteed uptime of 99.9%. Partner with our company today and find out for yourself why our customers consistently give us rave reviews. You can reach our office in Fort Myers at (239) 214-8592 to discuss your web hosting needs.
Some digital marketing techniques rely on an organic approach to bring in web users and introduce them to a company’s products or services. Other techniques involve paid advertisements, such as pay per click (PPC) ads. PPC ads offer an excellent way to enhance brand awareness, particularly for small business owners, and to encourage more traffic and conversions.
Search engines like Google process countless search queries every hour. Each time a user types in a search query, the search engine results pages (SERPs) feature PPC ads that are relevant to that search query. This allows marketers to place highly targeted paid advertisements on relevant pages. And, as the name suggests, pay per click ads are cost-effective. You’ll only pay for an ad when someone actually clicks on it—making it the ideal solution for budget-minded small business owners.
The first step is to determine your PPC budget. One major benefit of PPC ads is that you can work within virtually any budget. First, figure out your monthly budget for these ads, and then divide by 30 to get your daily budget. Then, follow these next steps:
The last steps are to write your ad copy and identify the URL you want your visitors to land on. If you find this process confusing, don’t worry! You can easily outsource the work to a digital marketing team.
Smargasy, Inc. is a digital marketing firm based in Fort Myers, FL. We specialize in working with local businesses to build brand awareness and increase conversions. We also provide complete IT solutions, enabling small businesses to scale more efficiently. Get in touch today at (239) 214-8592 to request your free consultation with one of our PPC marketing experts.
One of the things marketers love about digital marketing is that it offers an incredible array of diverse channels. Each of those channels presents unique opportunities to reach new customers and nudge existing customers to make more purchases. For example, display ads are an important component of your marketing plan—or at least, they should be. Here’s a quick look at how they work.
Display ads use visuals and text to advertise products or services on third-party websites. Marketers often use the Google Display Network to manage display ad campaigns. These ads are typically paid for on a cost per click (CPC) basis.
Display ads can be easily understood by first exploring what they are not. You’re likely already familiar with Google search ads, which appear when a user types a search query into Google. In this situation, the user already knows what they are looking for, and the ads that appear correspond to keywords relevant to their search. This is a “pull” approach that relies on the user’s intentions.
In contrast, display ads use a “push” approach that strives to create demand, rather than cater to it. The ads that pop up on relevant third-party websites create awareness about products or services, and cultivate interest from users that encourages them to click to learn more.
Display ads are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. You’re probably already familiar with the ubiquitous banner ad, which is one possible form of a display ad. Others include the following:
Smargasy, Inc. is your all-in-one solution for your brand’s digital marketing needs. Our team of SEO experts develops comprehensive, multi-channel marketing campaigns for all types of businesses throughout the Fort Myers, FL, area. Contact us today at (239) 214-8592 to request your free consultation.
Small and mid-size business owners often think that only large corporations can effectively use video marketing. After all, this particular marketing technique sounds rather expensive. However, it’s important to keep in mind that video marketing is incredibly effective. In fact, about 76% of marketers state that it produces more conversions than other channels. Plus, it can be more cost-effective than you might think.
Have you ever tried to communicate subtle humor to someone via a text message or Facebook comment? It doesn’t work very well, as the message isn’t accompanied by those all-important non-verbal communication cues, like facial expressions and body language. Marketers often encounter the same problem with printed ads and digital display ads. Video marketing is great for communicating nuanced marketing messages to consumers. After all, viewers can see a live person, cartoon character, or other illustration adding depth and context to the marketing message.
Since virtually every consumer uses Google, it’s a smart idea to craft your marketing campaign around the search engine’s preferences. Google tends to reward websites that have embedded videos, whether they are primarily for educational, entertainment, or video marketing purposes. Furthermore, Google now owns YouTube. This is why you’ll often see YouTube videos embedded directly in search engine results pages (SERPs). In short, the use of video marketing for businesses of any size is smart for SEO purposes.
Another reason why marketing experts highly recommend using video marketing is because it appeals to mobile users. More than ever before, consumers are viewing videos on their smartphones and other connected devices. Your business needs to produce videos in order to cash in on this trend.
At Smargasy, Inc., you’ll find a full spectrum of digital marketing services designed to position your brand for success. From reputation management and remarketing to SEO and PPC, we do it all! Call us in Fort Myers, FL, at (239) 214-8592 for your free consultation with our Internet marketing team.
Every time a user types a search query into Google, they see paid advertisements on the search engine results pages (SERPs). These Google Ads are targeted to the user’s keywords. For example, if a user searches for a plumber in Fort Myers, they’ll see ads for plumbers in that area. As you can see, the Google Ads tool is a smart option for marketing a brand’s products or services.
Your brand needs a comprehensive digital marketing strategy that includes both organic strategies (search engine optimization or SEO) and paid advertisements, such as Google Ads. One reason why every good marketing strategy needs both approaches is because SEO is a marathon-like strategy—it can take a while to see results. In contrast, paid advertisements through Google Ads are like a sprint, and can quickly get customers knocking on your door.
No business owner wants to spend more than they really have to on advertising. The good news is that running Google Ads is a highly cost-effective option. In fact, you won’t have to pay a cent for users to view your advertisements. You’ll only pay when someone actually clicks on your ad and goes to your website or landing page. In other words, you’ll create brand awareness free of charge, and only pay for hot leads.
There’s no point in marketing to people who would never purchase your products or services. For example, if you own a hair salon, you wouldn’t want to pay to advertise to bald individuals. Google Ads allows you to only target consumers who are actively searching for what you’re selling. You can target broad keyword search terms, such as “hair salon,” or more specific long-tail keywords, such as “hair salon selling Bumble and bumble hair care products.” As a result of this hyper-specificity, you can enjoy seeing your conversion rates skyrocket.
At Smargasy, Inc., our digital marketing experts understand how to seamlessly weave together marketing strategies to create interest among consumers. We use a variety of techniques designed to bring both rapid and long-term results. Call our office in Fort Myers, FL, at (239) 214-8592 to schedule a free consultation with one of our friendly marketing experts.
Email marketing is a great way to connect with your customers and keep them up to date on sales, products, and services that may interest them. Email marketing has been around longer than some newer digital marketing strategies that get a lot of attention. However, it is a tried-and-true way of maintaining an ongoing conversation with people who have demonstrated an interest in your brand. Even better, it may turn one-time purchasers into loyal customers. Keep these tips in mind as you create marketing emails.
Customers are much more likely to open emails that look like they’re from a real person. So, you should create an email address that uses a real person’s name to send your marketing emails. You should also personalize emails with merge tags to address audience members by name in your messages. Finally, you may choose to email specific segments of your audience with offers they’d be the most interested in rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach with your emails.
Emails that have multiple typefaces, colors, and text blocks look cluttered and overwhelming to recipients. Keep your design clean, so that your email is easy to read. Customers are not only more likely to open and read well-designed emails, but they’re also more likely to click and make a purchase.
The best marketing emails are between 500 and 650 pixels wide. Anything wider than that will require the reader to scroll horizontally to read the message on a computer or mobile device. This is a bad user experience and will cause people to click away from your message.
Smargasy, Inc. knows the ins and outs of email marketing and is here to ensure that your campaign nets the results you want. You can reach us at (239) 214-8592 or by emailing [email protected].