STAND OUT ONLINE
There is a common misconception that if you build a website you are going to get traffic or sales. This is very far from the truth. With the availability of DIY website builders, anyone and their mom can open a business and create a website. This is awesome for the new entrepreneur, but at the same time it means standing out online is now easier said than done.
So, our motto is: Just because you build it, does not mean they will come. You may have the most amazing product to sell, but your average, run-of-the-mill website is not going to produce the results you want to see. The Internet is just too big these days!
We are here to help you and your business succeed. Here are our three top tips to standing out online and getting the attention you deserve.
Start with a Unique Brand
Before you build your website, think about your brand and how it will help showcase your business on your website. Your brand is what sets your product or service apart from other companies that offer similar products or services. Branding your business may sound scary, but this is actually the fun part of starting your own business. You get to be creative here!
Some things to consider when branding your business are:
- The name of your business
- Color schemes and a unique logo
- The tone and voice of your business
- The message you want to share and what you want to be known for
Once you have a better idea of your unique brand, you can continue building your website. If you’re stuck in the branding phase and need help, check out our branding process and jump on a call with us!
Have a Professional, Easy-to-Use Website
There is so much more to your website than it looking pretty! We highly suggest hiring a professional website designer to help you launch the perfect website the first time around. The reason for this is because there are many technical aspects that should be taken into consideration when building your website that will cause it to perform better than others on the Internet. The technical areas are the ones that DIY websites can’t do for you. If you decide to create your own website, we highly suggest taking a few online courses or reading a few how-to technical guides. Outside of the technical aspects, here are three other things to keep in mind when designing a website:
Your Brand
The branding work you did for your business will come in handy when designing your website. By sticking to the branding decisions you made early on you can keep your website looking professional and your marketing message consistent across all platforms. Your color scheme will flow smoothly throughout the site and your words will come easily when you’ve chosen the tone of voice you’d like to convey.
Simplicity
You don’t need every widget and application available to man on your website. Choose a few simple features and make those work for you. Too many applications and frills will make your website less user friendly and people won’t want to come back!
Professionalism
At all costs, you must keep your website professional! Even if you built your website yourself, you don’t want it to look like you did. You want it to look professional and well thought out. Choose professional images, fonts, colors, and applications that match your brand. If you are struggling, reach out for help! Our team is ready to help you brand and build your site professionally.
Once your website is done, you’re ready to start sharing it with your audience.
Market Your Business
You’ve got a business, a brand, and a website. Now let’s get some sales and website traffic! Outside of the technical aspects we mentioned above there are other marketing efforts that you can implement to help drive traffic to your site. The more you get your brand and your website in front of people, the better. All you need to do is make your website more visible to your audience, which means showing up where your audience is.
There are some basic marketing moves that you can make that will help drive traffic to your site. These include:
- Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.)
- SEO through blogs and your website
- Networking
- Digital Advertising
- Print Advertising (direct mailers, business cards, signage, etc.)
Feeling Overwhelmed?
If the idea of branding, building a website, and marketing your business sounds overwhelming–have no fear! CAST Design Team is ready to take that stress away, so you can focus on the part of your business you love. Our team is comprised of professionals ready to brand, build, and market your business to success. Don’t waste any time, contact us today for a free consultation.
