5 Steps to eCommerce Website Greatness

If your business is ready to build an ecommerce website, then there are a few steps to take in order to achieve greatness. 

 

1. Have a plan to drive traffic

Just because you build it doesn't mean they will come. When you build an ecommerce website, you need a clear and strategic plan to drive traffic to it. This also means you will need a part of your budget dedicated to marketing. Whether you outsource or do your marketing internally, you need to have a cohesive plan to promote the site and business.

2. Listen to feedback

Listening to your customers is important. In order to drive heavy business to your website, you need to be sensitive and open to the thoughts and ideas of those that shop there. If they find something difficult, cumbersome, or excellent, learn from those comments and make changes accordingly when you build an ecommerce website.

3. Stay focused

If your site tries to do too much, then it looses the attention of customers. Stay focused on your original products or services. Don't try to be all things to your customer. There is always time to develop and grow your company in new areas, but when launching a website, stay true to your roots and promote what you are already good at doing.

4.Be customer-centric

Remember your audience when you build an ecommerce website. The point is to provide your target market with a tool that unites them with your products and services. If the site isn't created with them in mind, you will lose customers to those companies that are customer-centric. Be sure your site is clear, professional, easy to use, and can be viewed on various devices.

5. Run periodic audits

There is no way to know how you are doing, unless you build metrics into your system in order to measure success. Know what areas get clicks, how long viewers stayed there, what channels encouraged sharing of your site, and how much business is increasing through your website. By running periodic audits, you will know what works and what doesn't, so you don't waste your time and money on areas of poor performance.

If you would like to learn more about how to build an ecommerce website in the Dallas, Texas, area, click here!

5 Signs Your Website Isn't Working

A web development company can help if you've recently done an audit of your marketing department and realized that your website hasn't been getting you new business lately. It is time to take a look at what is causing the problem. Websites are necessary tools for any business today. They are the first place customers want to go to learn about you and your services or products. With a quick look into what you have and don't have, you can get your site back up and running, working hard for you.

1. There is not enough traffic

One of the first ways you know your website is failing you is if you see there is no traffic going to it. There could be a number of reasons, but a web development company can help you gain traffic, through inbound links, social media, content strategies, or other means. If your site isn't getting traffic, it isn't doing it's job.

2. The viewers don't purchase

If your site has traffic, but no one makes a purchase, there could be a problem with who you are attracting to your site. The content on your site should be geared towards those that are in your target market and ready to purchase. Otherwise, your efforts are wasted. There should also be a clear call to action to let those that are ready know exactly what to do for the next step.

3. There is too much content

Today's customer doesn't want their time wasted. They don't want to sift through sensational fluff or to have to drill down five clicks to find what they need. Your content should be clear, easy to read, and be focused on the customer. There should also be good-quality graphics, but not so many that they are distracting.

4. It's on the sixth page of a search

One of the most obvious ways to know that your website is not providing a return on your investment is if you do a search and your site is not listed on the first page of results. A web development company can work with you to optimize your site, so you have premium placement. Customers don't want to dig to find you. Help them by working on your SEO and improving your search result listing.

5. It can't be viewed on a mobile device

These days, many people look for a business or product while on their phone or tablet. If you your website isn't easily viewed on a device, then customers will become frustrated and simply go elsewhere for their needs. A web development company has experience creating a website design that can be viewed and used in any environment.

If you would like to learn more about a web development company in the Dallas, Texas, area, visit Creative Options.

5 Signs It's Time for A New Branding and Marketing Strategy

If you are considering creating a new branding and marketing strategy for your company, but aren't sure if it is necessary to spend time and money on such a venture, explore these five signs. Your current marketing plan just might be in need of a make over.

1. Your plan lacks integration

A well designed plan should be integrated in every aspect of your business. If your logo, colors, and tagline all change depending on the platform they are in, there needs to be a change to your plan. The brand should be clearly and consistently placed across all platforms. That is the key to growing your bottom line with branding and marketing.

2. Visitors and sales are lagging

If your image has grown dusty, or doesn't come to your customer's mind, then visitors to your storefronts and websites could be lagging. You have lost touch with your target audience. That affects sales. Reinvigorate your brand with a redesign and wow customers into coming back for services and products and remind them why they love to do business with you.

3. Your plan has been in place for over a decade

While many tried and true branding and marketing methods are still good ways to promote business, there are too many new options that are being missed if your plan hasn't been updated in a few years. Customers now shop from mobile devices and the social networks are always changing. Your website and plan should be updated to reflect these changes.

4. Website and collateral is overly promotional

The previous attempt to get the attention of shoppers by plastering ads, websites, and marketing collateral with neon-colored callout boxes featuring a number of sales items and closeouts is a thing of the past. Know what your customer wants, but simply make the site easy for them to find it. Try not to shove it in their face.

5. You plan to grow

If you plan to introduce a new product or service line, or open in new markets, then it is a great time to update your branding and marketing strategy. The right brand redesign can inform customers of the changes to look for and prove that you are ready for the increased business.

If you would like to learn more about branding and marketing in the Dallas, Texas, area, click here!

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Building an E-Commerce Site

There are many pitfalls to look out for when you build an e-commerce website. A site is a tool to make your goods known to customers and to encourage sales. If the site is poorly designed, doesn't work well, or hard to use, customers will go elsewhere with their business, even if you have better service, products, and prices. By avoiding a few mistakes in the design phase, you can be on your way to a harder working, and more profitable, site.

1. Awkward domain name

Some company names convert easily to a domain name. For those that don't, there are options. If your company is named Kalamazoo Outboard Motors, pass on the awkward www.kalamazoooutboardmotors.com option. Try a descriptive word about what business is performed there (www.motors.com) or use an acronym (www.kom.com).

2. Unprofessional appearance

For a company with a focus on Internet sales, the website is not the place to skimp on the budget. Do the research to find a good-fit agency to build an e-commerce website that is professional, attractive, and easy to use. The revenue received when the site is running will prove the worth of the expense.

3. Loading time that drags

For shoppers, Internet use is about ease. The site might be a work of art with rich graphics and video content, but if it takes too long to load, then it is no longer considered easy, and shoppers will go elsewhere. Remember that a growing number of shoppers search online from mobile devices, and your site should open and operate equally well for those formats.

4. Poor promotion

It may be true for baseball fields, but when you build an e-commerce website, just because you build it, doesn't mean they will come. Find where your customers go and create ads to draw them to your site, or better yet, utilize the help of a professional marketing agency that can help you create a solid marketing plan for your site.

5. No focus

Internet shoppers don't want to be bothered to sort through promotional pop-ups, myriads of drop-down lists, and general disorganization. Your site needs to be focused and user-friendly. With a clear plan of what you promote and where, your site can be a go-to tool for shoppers to find what they need.

If you would like to learn more about how to build an e-commerce website in the Dallas, Texas, area, click here!

What Does a Branding Agency Do?

A branding agency helps you create a cohesive image that is in step with your company's mission. They can then put that image, or brand identity, to work for you by applying it to all of your marketing initiatives.

A branding agency should first and foremost listen to you when creating your brand. Outline those characteristics that define your business. What is your industry? Your strengths? Who are your competitors? What values do you want to evoke? Do you want your look to be classic and formal, or edgy and modern? Branding isn't simply about a logo. It is who you are, summed up in a comprehensive image.

That image is then translated to your print and media in a branding campaign. Anything that leaves your company to be seen by a potential customer can be designed with your brand in mind. From your website, emails, ad layouts, letterhead, and business cards, to the boxes you use to ship products, everything is an opportunity.

The purpose of branding is recognition. When a customer is in need of your service, it is important that they are able to think of you first. A branding agency can help you create a look that can make you stand out against your competitors. Any business can benefit from a branding agency. From huge corporations, to local non-profits, a brand can make the difference of whether or not you come to mind when a potential customer is in need.

When you hire a branding agency, it's a good opportunity to review and asses the focus of your business. Define your market and your customer. Knowing those will help define your new branding image, as well as where and how to promote it. A well executed brand can be a powerful thing.

For more information about branding agencies, click here!

5 Tips for Working with Your Media Planning Agency

In order for a digital media planning agency to be effective, they not only need the right experience, but also need the right information from you. Here are a few things to keep in mind when trying to find an agency that meets your needs.

1. Express your goal

Is your reason for hiring a digital media planning agency specific or broad? Explain whether you want to increase general awareness about your business, or if there is a specific product or service you would like to promote. Especially let them know if need help navigating a sensitive industry.

2. Define your target

Take a moment to decide who your target audience is. It most likely isn't the general public, so make a description of the person or business that could benefit from your company. Decide where they are and what will get their attention.

3. They have negotiation power

Because digital media planning agencies represent multiple clients in various industries and often work with the same media outlets, they often have buying power. They can negotiate rates and value-added benefits better than you could on your own.

4. They know the latest technology

Not only will an agency know what new technology is available, but they will also know how to use it and how to measure the success rates. With an ever-expanding list of Internet outlet opportunities, it is easy to miss or misuse an option.

5. Choose your conduit wisely

When you hire a digital media planning agency, they become the link between you and your customer and between you and the media outlets. Be sure to hire someone you can trust, since the success of your marketing efforts and your customer's brand experience are in their hands.

For more information about digital media planning agencies, click here!