How to Grow Your Business by Optimizing Your Website

  • June 7, 2022

Website Optimization: The Secret to Growing Your Business

Prioritize Creating a Data Recovery Plan

Unfortunately, business owners too often minimize the importance of cybersecurity until after their company has been targeted and compromised by cyberattackers. Rather than waiting until disaster strikes, it’s imperative to educate yourself about cybersecurity data protection and be proactive about protecting your company’s website.

Coming up with a cyber-recovery plan to safeguard your company’s digital assets – including your website – should be your number one priority. This will allow you to get your website back up and running quickly in the event of a cyberattack. You’ll want to establish a proposed timeline with your preferred “deadlines” for system recovery, as well as details about which programs and applications will have to be addressed in order to execute recovery. Finally, make note of who will be responsible for conducting each task included in your recovery plan.

Develop Educational Content

Sure, your website is a sales and marketing platform – but it can also serve as a vehicle for customer education. Whether your typical customer is another small business, a nonprofit organization, or an individual consumer in your area, you can establish your website as a place that visitors can turn to for up-to-date resources on everything from product use cases to new developments in your industry.

So, how can you ensure that your marketing content is also educational? Business 2 Community recommends publishing blog posts that address your audience’s most common “pain points,” hosting live video lessons with product demonstrations on your website or even establishing a special membership section of your site with bonus content for paying subscribers.

Integrate Your CRM & ERP

Your customer relationship management (CRM) system and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software are both indispensable to your business. From tracking and capturing leads to managing your overall operations, these software programs can be leveraged to carry out a plethora of key business functions. You can use these programs to their fullest potential by integrating them and then connecting the internal, integrated system to your website. In doing so, not only will you boost your team’s productivity and efficiency but you’ll also be able to seamlessly transfer information from your website to these interconnected programs.

User-Friendly Design

Have you ever had an unpleasant experience while browsing a particular website? Maybe you found it difficult to find the particular page you were looking for. Perhaps you tried to use the search function to find an important piece of content, but it didn’t deliver accurate results. Or, maybe you were seeking contact information so that you could get in touch with a customer support specialist – but no matter how hard you looked, you didn’t see any contact forms, email addresses, or phone numbers.

Crafting an enjoyable user experience should be at the heart of your website design and management approach. But, how can you go the extra mile to make sure that your customers can easily navigate your website and make the best use of all its features? Rock Content recommends designing a clear menu that allows your customers to visit key sections of your website with one click, including an easy-to-find contact form.

In addition, it’s also essential to make sure that your overall site layout looks attractive – after all, visually appealing content might prompt visitors to stay on your website longer (and the longer visitors stay on your site, the more likely they are to take action, such as making a purchase or booking an appointment). If you can’t find a theme that you like with your current content management system, you might consider enlisting the services of a professional web design and development firm that can create a custom layout for your site.

Local SEO: How to Get Found Online by Customers in Your Area

You might be acquainted with the basic principles of search engine optimization (SEO), and perhaps you’ve even been incorporating some useful keywords into your website content already. But have you taken the time to focus on local SEO? By emphasizing local SEO in your website strategy, you can specifically target customers in your area who are seeking products and services like those that you offer.

What can you do to reach customers nearby using SEO tactics? BrainChild Studios recommends putting your city and state on your homepage, adding your city to your page title tags (including the local schema code in your website pages), claiming your Google Business Profile listing, and including your business in local online directories.

Boost Your Conversion Rate

The ultimate goal of your business’s website is to convert visitors into paying customers. Therefore, you need to find ways to boost conversion rates with your website. While implementing user-friendly website design principles can help in this area, there are also some other steps you can take.

A/B testing is key to increasing conversions – you can run tests to analyze your conversion rates with your current site features. Then, as you implement new features like headlines, calls to action, or contact forms, you can run additional tests to compare their effectiveness. By conducting multiple A/B tests at once, you won’t have to wait until a new feature has been thoroughly tested to analyze the impact of another.

Speed Up Your Website

The ultimate goal of your business’s website is to convert visitors into paying customers. Therefore, you need to find ways to boost conversion rates with your website. While implementing user-friendly website design principles can help in this area, there are also some other steps you can take.

A/B testing is key to increasing conversions – you can run tests to analyze your conversion rates with your current site features. Then, as you implement new features like headlines, calls to action, or contact forms, you can run additional tests to compare their effectiveness. By conducting multiple A/B tests at once, you won’t have to wait until a new feature has been thoroughly tested to analyze the impact of another.

Final Thoughts

Your website doesn’t exist just so your company will show up in search engines. In reality, your website might be an unrealized tool for your business’s growth. If you haven’t prioritized growing your business by maximizing your website’s potential, you can get started by integrating some of these recommendations.

If you need help with your website optimization, creating a new website from scratch, boosting your SEO for greater discoverability in Google searches, or any other aspect of your digital marketing, you don’t have to go it alone! HighClick Media is here to help! Call 252.814.2150 today or drop us a line here to see how we can help elevate your brand!

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Guest blogger Cody McBride’s love for computers stems from high school when he built his own computer. Today he is a trained IT technician and knows how the inner workings of computers can be confusing to most. He is the creator of TechDeck.info where he offers easy-to-understand, tech-related advice, and troubleshooting tips.

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4 Secrets of Success for Independent Retailers

  • July 23, 2020

4 Secrets of Success for Independent Retailers

independent retailers

July is Independent Retailer Month, a month-long celebration that encourages consumers to shop locally at independent retailers.

 

Local independent retailers contribute a good chunk of their income to the local economy. Supporting the local economy is crucial to preserving communities, as these contributions benefit schools, road construction, emergency services, and much more. Keeping money in the local economy allows businesses to employ local people, creates greater economic opportunities, and generates tax revenue for city services.

 

The Challenges of Being an Independent Retailer

It can be quite challenging for indie retailers to stay afloat in the digital age when consumers can order merchandise and get it delivered free at the click of a button.

Large corporations have robust and intricate websites, as well as the resources to hire people to work on those websites. More often than not, independent retailers are responsible for creating their own websites and don’t generally have the expertise to design sites that will rank high in Google searches or are outfitted with ecommerce capabilities. Typically, indie retailers also have smaller budgets for marketing, expansion, and store maintenance.

Another drawback to being an independent retailer is a lack of negotiating power and group discounts for merchandise. Since priority shipping is more often than not given to large orders, indie retailers may also lose out on best-selling items. Simply because they’re smaller, they’re considered a lower priority.

 

The Benefits of Being an Independent Retailer

At the same time, there are distinct benefits and advantages to running an indie retail business that you just can’t get in a large-scale operation.

Owning an independent retail company gives you certain freedoms that you wouldn’t enjoy otherwise. You can create your own unique space and be creative with it. You can choose whom you want to work with and set your own schedule. You can also be a positive influence in the community and with your customers.

Agility is another significant benefit of an independently owned retail operation. Smaller companies can react quickly to local trends, including weather conditions. Owners are often available to personally communicate with customers when they wish to share their concerns. As a result, local businesses become keenly aware of their customers’ specific wants and needs.

Independent retailers can quickly adjust when the retail climate changes. Larger retailers can’t do so as easily and end up scrambling to change the way they do business in clumsy, inefficient ways.

 

Secrets of Success for Independent Retailers

Savvy indie retailers know what it takes to not only stay in business but thrive. Here are four secrets to continued success for independent retailers:

1) Change with the Times

Being an independent retailer will keep you on your toes. Stay current with trends and welcome change – don’t fear it! Be on the lookout for new vendors, find ways to broaden your client base, and implement ongoing training for your staff.

 

2) Focus on Top-Notch Customer Service

Excellent customer service breeds enduring success. As an indie retailer, you must be the local authority for all things related to your field. This allows you to advise your customers confidently. If you don’t have an answer to a customer’s question, acknowledge that you don’t. Customers respect truthfulness in businesses, as it helps build trust with them. When customers trust your business, they will keep coming back to you.

 

3) Take Calculated Risks

Keep learning and evolving your way of thinking. Be willing to try out new ideas in a judicious manner. When experimenting with new methods or processes, always think long-term, keeping a careful eye on your cash flow as well.

 

4) Be Exclusive

Aim to get as many exclusive lines of merchandise in your store as possible. Customers will continue to shop with you when they know that your products are unique. Rely on the expertise of your buyers to bring in a regional assortment that appeals to consumers.

Final Thoughts

If you are an independent retailer struggling to regain your balance in these uncertain times, HighClick Media can help! We can create a professionally designed website for your business, implement search engine optimization for your website to help increase brand awareness, boost your presence on social media, and help with any kind of paid advertising you may be considering. Call us today at 252.814.2150 or drop us a line here to see how we can help you #elevateyourbrand!

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7 Benefits of SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

7 Benefits of SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

7 Benefits of SEO
  • June 25, 2018
If you’re a business owner, you should definitely invest in search engine optimization (SEO), the process of optimizing your website to maximize organic traffic from search engines such as Google, Bing, YouTube, etc.
 
Search engine optimization is an essential component of any successful digital marketing strategy.
 
The benefits of SEO are far more valuable than many realize, and for those of you that don’t have an effective SEO strategy, you are making a mistake, and I am very disappointed in you…
 

Kidding, of course! You don’t know what you don’t know, but that’s where we come in!

Without further ado, we present 7 benefits of search engine optimization:

 

1. Customers Use Search Engines Daily

Over 3 billion people are using the Internet daily, and 93% of online activities begin on a search engine. There are TONS of search engines out there. Like most people, Google is one of my go-to’s. According to live statistics, Google alone processes over 40,000 searches every second. That is more than a trillion searches per year worldwide. The opportunities for your business to be discovered on search engines are never-ending!

 

2. SEO Attracts Quality Traffic

Search engine traffic is the best traffic you could ask for. Why? Because people are searching for the problem you solve.

“People don’t care about your business. They care about their problems. Be the solution they’re looking for.”

With this particular component of digital marketing, you don’t have to persuade people to buy or hound them with advertisements. When they type something into a search engine, they are already interested in what you have to offer. The SEO industry is worth $65 billion for a reason, am I right?

 

3. SEO Strengthens Your Reputation

In Google we trust. Seriously, people use it every day to find what they’re looking for. Having a high search engine ranking builds trust and credibility with your audience. On the first page alone, the first five organic results account for nearly 70% of all search engine clicks. The numbers do not lie.

 

4. SEO Increases Brand Awareness

There is no such thing as too much exposure. Search engine optimization will help people become aware of your brand. Even if your website visitor isn’t ready to make a purchase, by being aware of your offerings, they’re more likely to do business with you in the future.

 

5. SEO Is Measurable

SEO allows you to measure your conversions and the source of your conversions. Not only that, but you can also measure the progression of your website rankings and organic traffic. With the right setup (or the right agency), measuring which search keywords are the most beneficial is a piece of cake!

 

6. SEO Is Mobile

Mobile is the future. Over 50% of internet users are searching from their smartphones, and that number is going nowhere but up. By optimizing your website for SEO, you are thinking ahead and considering the next generation of marketing. Search engines will favor your website when it is optimized for mobile.

 

7. SEO Helps Attract the Appropriate Talent

Google is the starting point for someone searching for a job. You can optimize your website for a high Google ranking for the positions you are hiring for. Investing in an SEO strategy could help you avoid recruiting fees.

 

Final Thoughts

These are simply a tiny handful of SEO benefits. We could go on for hours, but long story short, it’s the smartest marketing investment you can make. It’s a long-term asset that generates traffic, leads, and sales.

Your customers are using a search engine right now, and one of your competitors is growing significantly from it. Don’t fall behind. HighClick can help you with an SEO campaign today!

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Creating an Effective SEO Strategy That Will Get You Noticed

Creating an Effective SEO Strategy That Will Get You Noticed
  • August 11, 2020

Creating an Effective SEO Strategy That Will Get You Noticed

As brands increasingly focus their efforts on securing an expanded customer base in social media and search engines, they find themselves contending more and more with companies outside their usual network. The added competitive pressure has made getting seen online more essential than ever, especially for understaffed small businesses that are now faced with challenging much larger companies.

If you’re overseeing a small business, your search engine optimization (SEO) strategy is a crucial factor in how you attract attention and appear online. While the best course of action is to consult an expert to help boost your page rankings, limited budgets, and revenue might inhibit your ability to do so. Undertaking some tasks on your own, such as the ones listed below, can help you reduce costs without hurting your business.

 

Consistently Create Compelling & Relevant Content

While not groundbreaking advice, this remains the most significant, ongoing action you can take to advance your SEO efforts. The highest-ranking sites in search results are the ones that have helpful, timely information. This information should be geared toward addressing users’ questions while simultaneously marketing your business and promoting its value to customers.

It can be difficult to know what search engine users are searching for. But fortunately, there are several useful tools that offer valuable insight into what’s trending on certain search engines. Google Trends, for example, is a simple yet effective tool that allows you to “explore what the world is searching for.” There you can identify which search terms are currently trending, and even pinpoint regional variations in search terms. This can help you specifically determine what’s most important to your prospective customers.

Bing’s Keyword Research tool allows registered users to compile a considerable amount of useful data. “All query volumes and keyword suggestions are based on organic search, not on paid search or search advertising data, giving you the most natural ideas and accurate numbers,” the service explains.

Integrating popular keywords into your website may be as effortless as posting a blog or statement that outlines your company’s COVID-19 cleaning guidelines or reopening procedures, for example. Staying informed about popular searches can help you spruce up your website and take advantage of users’ current interests.

 

Think Outside the Google Box

Google has become so omnipresent that we often use the brand itself when we mean “search online.” But Google isn’t the whole internet! Some search sites actually have considerably better conversion rates than Google.

While you may have more users on Google, you might have more buyers on other search engines, such as Bing, Yahoo!, or DuckDuckGo.

Taking into account the particulars of individual search engines other than Google can be beneficial. Google carries a lot of weight, of course, but worshiping at the altar of a solitary search engine can translate into missed opportunities.

Search for your business and appropriate keywords on several different search engines. If you’re not happy with the results you’re seeing, it’s time to get to work!

 

Accurately Determine Your Keywords, Meta Tags, Links, & Hyperlocal Information

When Google changed its algorithm to exclude meta descriptions in page ranking, you may have decided to ignore those descriptions going forward. But you can’t afford to do so if you care about other search engine results.

Certain search engines factor meta tags in their results, so ensuring that they’re complete and accurate does make a difference. Similarly, keywords and high-quality links are factored in for some search engines, but each search algorithm may function a bit differently.

With the vast number of searches being performed on mobile devices, paired with Google’s immensely potent ability to collect user data, your website might appear in local searches on Google even if you don’t employ locally focused keywords. On other search engines, not so much.

Ultimately, spending a little extra time deciphering what affects search results from a variety of search engines can enhance your overall visibility, even in an ever-changing climate.

 

Don’t Fixate Only on Mobile Searches

The temperamental atmosphere created by COVID-19 has altered the way we’re connecting to and consuming internet content. That may mean that you need to revamp your web content a bit.

A recent study by The New York Times reported that the rapid, pre-pandemic increase in mobile searches has shifted back toward computer-based searches since the widespread outbreak of the virus. This means all the attention that you (or your IT team) spent optimizing your site for mobile users and focusing on data that helps your site rank high in mobile-based searches may actually affect the way users find your business on the internet.

It’s been particularly difficult for many small businesses to keep generating revenue while the world tries to make sense of “the new normal.” But the fundamental significance of your company’s website simply can’t be overstated.

You wouldn’t neglect cleaning your storefront windows, would you? In the same fashion, your website should be filled with practical, pertinent, and prudent information and optimized to deliver online searchers to your virtual door.

 

When to Contact the Professionals

Developing and managing an SEO strategy on your own can be a daunting task. But when done right, it can pay serious dividends to your business. If you find that it’s more than you can handle, don’t give up! The digital marketing experts at HighClick Media can create a powerful SEO strategy that will elevate the growth of your business while keeping down the costs of advertising. Call us today at 252.814.2150 or drop us a line here!

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10 Overlooked Benefits of a Google Business Profile

  • June 14, 2021

10 Overlooked Benefits of a Google Business Profile

If you’re a local business seeking to succeed in the digital age, you’re probably already using Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business). The tech giant’s extensive, listing-based platform is geared toward helping internet audiences discover and connect with businesses of all shapes and sizes.

Functioning as a kind of online directory, Google Business Profile (GBP) enables businesses to transmit reliable information about their company across the web, along with providing tools for engaging with customers (current and potential), sharing important updates, and evaluating data insights. Utilizing Google Business Profiles is a no-brainer for local businesses aiming to broaden their audience – and ultimately – increase sales.

 

Blatant Benefits of Google Business Profile

There are several clear advantages to making use of the GBP platform. Let’s take a look at a few:

 

It’s Free

You can start promoting your business, developing your brand, and forging customer relationships – all important goals – without having to shell out tons of your hard-earned money. Google Business Profile is a free tool that allows you to start marketing your business easily and economically.

In addition, signing up for GBP isn’t a long-drawn-out or elaborate process. Getting your business included on this free platform is an easy, budget-friendly way to start building your business.

 

Consistency

You want to be sure that any information about your business that’s posted online is factual – regardless of where your customers might find it. Google Business Profile allows you to enter, manage, and update the relevant details about your business across the internet in one directory, ensuring that searchers are receiving the correct information via search engine inquiries. However, this comes with a caveat: you must keep the information up to date in order to reap the full benefits of this Google-powered tool.

 

Local SEO Boost

GBP can be a critical component of your local search engine optimization (SEO) and marketing strategy, helping local customers find you and improving your business’s search engine rankings.

 

Easily Manageable

Providing audiences with information about your business can be done effortlessly on one master dashboard within Google Business Profile. This offers you a hassle-free way to boost the visibility of your business online. Furthermore, GBP has its own app for easy management when you’re on the go.

 

Create a Favorable First Impression

Crafting an accurate and comprehensive Google Business Profile listing can help present your business in the best light. By availing yourself of GBP’s photo and video upload features, you can provide your customers with the most comprehensive representation of what your business can offer them.

 

Streamlined Review Management

Track, manage, and reply to reviews from your Google Business Profile dashboard in order to keep engaged with customers and improve relationships with them.

I Love Making Connections - David, Schitt's Creek ~ Google My Business

Additional Engagement Opportunities

You don’t want audiences to simply find your business; you want them to connect with you. GBP provides a number of opportunities for customer interaction, such as posts and messaging, and makes it easy to cultivate relationships with your audiences.

Valuable Insights - Google My Business

Valuable Insights

Google Business Profile provides you with insider knowledge about your business listing, delivering useful insights into what’s working and what isn’t. These insights pinpoint exactly how customers locate your listing on Search and Maps, and what they do after finding it. This will help you make any relevant updates in order to improve your listing – and, by extension, your business.

 

Fresh Perspective

With profound insights, review integration, and customer interaction features, GBP lets you gain perspective on the online reputation of your business. Understanding how audiences regard your business will help you improve and grow.

 

10 Overlooked Benefits of Google Business Profile

It’s plain to see that taking advantage of GBP’s vast array of features can help you manage your business information and market your company effortlessly.

But what about the less-obvious benefits of Google Business Profile? Are there hidden perks to this service? Unquestionably! Here are ten top-notch features and benefits of GBP that you might not be aware of:

 

Bookings

Whenever you’re offering a service to prospective and returning customers, you don’t want to overburden them by requiring them to jump through convoluted procedural hoops in order to contact you or track down relevant information.

In conjunction with an integrated provider, GBP’s Bookings feature makes it simple for visitors to schedule appointments directly through your listing. Within a single online interface, it’s also much easier for you to manage those bookings.

 

Greater ROI

Research has shown that local search delivers a greater ROI than other digital marketing channels. Not only that, but local search also delivers higher-quality leads and better engagement (i.e., clicks and calls).

When you optimize your Google Business Profile listing, you’re making significant headway toward building your local SEO and attracting customers to your business. That’s a HUGE plus!

 

Menu Tool

If you’re a local restaurant, salon, or other business that offers list-style services, you can use GBP’s Menu tool to showcase to audiences what you offer directly within their Google search.

Without having to engage a third-party service, you can modify menu selections, including titles, prices, descriptions, and even nutritional stats. Consequently, your audiences won’t have to scour the web for the info they want to know about your business’ offerings. Customers will appreciate the practicality and user-friendliness of this.

 

Heatmap Insights

Along with basic insights about how customers are arriving at your GBP listing, Google also lets you keep track of which areas customers are requesting directions from to get to your business, and at a range of zoom levels such as zip code, city, and country.

This offers valuable insights into which geographical areas are being drawn to your business. In turn, this can help you design and execute your marketing efforts more efficiently. Heatmap insights can be reached via your Google Business Profile dashboard.

 

Offer Post Tool

It’s common knowledge that people are intrigued by a good deal. GBP offers you an easy way to market to value-conscious shoppers with Offer Posts, through which you can advertise discounts and solicit new business. As an added bonus, it’s absolutely free to use!

 

“People Also Search For” Footer

While you would certainly prefer that audiences take a fancy to just your business, GBP delivers simple but helpful insights into your business’ competitors with its “People Also Search For” feature.

Positioned at the bottom of your Google Business Profile listing, this footer enables you to see what other kinds of products customers might be searching for, and which other businesses might be similar or otherwise related to yours. By familiarizing yourself with the competition, you can step up your efforts to provide the best value in your field through your business.

 

Website Builder Tool

Did you know that you can generate a free, customizable, mobile-friendly website through GBP? Their easy-to-use builder tool enables you to create, edit, and publish a simple, yet professional page site that users can access through a Google Search to get in touch with your business. Not only that, but you can equip your site with a customized domain and link it with Google Ads for easy advertising integration.

 

Relationship-Building Opportunity

Creating and managing a Google Business Profile listing isn’t a unilateral effort; it’s a golden opportunity to form engaging, mutually beneficial relationships with customers before you even meet them in person.

By creating a comprehensive business listing, updating it frequently, and connecting with audiences through posts, responding to reviews, and messaging, you not only exemplify strong customer service skills but a bona fide interest in making personal connections.

 

Community

Due to the fact that it’s Google, GBP grants you access to a wide-ranging and internet-savvy community that can help as you navigate the tool and attempt to optimize your listing. Within the community, you can request information, gather educational resources, and find solutions to how-to questions as well as best practices.

 

Partnership

Ingratiating yourself with Google by deploying its tools is never a bad idea for your business. In point of fact, engaging with the “search engine to end all search engines” can only help your business in the long run. Allying with Google’s virtual preeminence will help you establish and boost brand visibility.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, Google Business Profile is good for your business. Making the best use of this tool isn’t just about having easily accessible hours of operation info or a few flashy photos on an online directory.

Harnessing the full gamut of GBP’s extensive and useful features in order to create and maximize your listing can take your organization to the next level of growth. You’ll generate new leads, develop strong customer relationships, and cultivate a favorable online reputation.

If you haven’t done so already, you can get started building your listing on the Google Business Profile website. Or, if you prefer, you can enlist the services of a digital marketing agency like HighClick Media to set up and optimize your GBP listing for immediate and prolonged success.

When you’re ready to elevate your brand, give us a call at 252.814.2150 or visit highclickmedia.com to find out more about the various services we offer.

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An earlier version of this article appeared at Podium.com.

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