Original Article from IntelliSites, the smart choice for web design (and SEO!)
Your website is no longer just a place for people to gather information. It’s a hub for all your activities online and is one of your most important sales tools. With all these functions, keeping a consistent message and brand across your website can be tricky. With just a few simple steps, you can ensure this continuity and make your website a brand powerhouse.
As mentioned, your website is the center for all of your activities on the internet. But it’s also the place interested consumers visit after interacting with your advertising and any other public platform you use for publicity. Before reading any copy, people must be able to visually identify your company. The design of your webpage is essential, so use your branding touchpoints and standards to keep the key elements consistent.
Understand that every time someone visits your website, they are having a brand experience. The cornerstone of branding is a strong, consistent message. Make sure your message is clear and in keeping with your brand throughout all pages on your website. Similarly, use the same phrasing and tone throughout the website.
Your actual website probably isn’t the only webpage you maintain online. Chances are you also have social media pages, such as Twitter, Facebook and even LinkedIn. Carry the design and message from your website over to your social media pages to help instantly identify your company. You can incorporate social media activities on your website, so taking the time to ensure your branding is consistent will help improve the overall performance of your website as an informational and sales tool.
Finally, remember what you have promised your audience. What value or function are they expecting when they visit your website? Your customers need to be assured of this promise when examining your website. This reassurance is a core function of branding, and helps to familiarize your customer base with your product and help drive sales your way.
Showing posts with label brand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label brand. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Reputation is Everything
Original Article from IntelliSites, the smart choice for web design (and SEO!)
Your reputation – it’s everything to you and your business. You work hard to be known as a quality, trustworthy business and drive referrals to your door. Once upon a time, you could just monitor what the local business reporter had to say about you, but no longer. Now you need to be concerned with what’s being said about you online.
Some might suggest just ignoring your online brand reputation (if you don’t know it’s bad, how bad could it be, right?). That’s bad advice, friend. Follow this quick primer on monitoring your online brand reputation.
Set up an alert system through Google or Yahoo. You can choose the keywords that you want reports on, and these services will send regular updates on where those keywords are showing up online.
Troll online forums and referral websites. Websites like Angie’s List are increasingly popular, where your customers can post reviews on your work. Use this feedback as market research and as a virtual focus group to determine how to tweak your product or service.
Check in with the places your customers frequent. Do they tweet, use Facebook, read a certain blog or online version of a publication? Search the archives and entries on these websites to get the “inside scoop” on what people really think about you. Reply to commentors, moderators and contributors and offer your perspective on the situation.
You could also consider hiring the help of a web company with Search Engine Marketing (SEM) experience to patrol the internet for you and develop practices. Most importantly, be active in promoting a positive brand experience online and check in often. The web waits for no one!
Your reputation – it’s everything to you and your business. You work hard to be known as a quality, trustworthy business and drive referrals to your door. Once upon a time, you could just monitor what the local business reporter had to say about you, but no longer. Now you need to be concerned with what’s being said about you online.
Some might suggest just ignoring your online brand reputation (if you don’t know it’s bad, how bad could it be, right?). That’s bad advice, friend. Follow this quick primer on monitoring your online brand reputation.
Set up an alert system through Google or Yahoo. You can choose the keywords that you want reports on, and these services will send regular updates on where those keywords are showing up online.
Troll online forums and referral websites. Websites like Angie’s List are increasingly popular, where your customers can post reviews on your work. Use this feedback as market research and as a virtual focus group to determine how to tweak your product or service.
Check in with the places your customers frequent. Do they tweet, use Facebook, read a certain blog or online version of a publication? Search the archives and entries on these websites to get the “inside scoop” on what people really think about you. Reply to commentors, moderators and contributors and offer your perspective on the situation.
You could also consider hiring the help of a web company with Search Engine Marketing (SEM) experience to patrol the internet for you and develop practices. Most importantly, be active in promoting a positive brand experience online and check in often. The web waits for no one!
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