March 15, 2010
We got a phone call this morning from a friendly old chap named Bill.
He owns a local Stamford, Connecticut website design company.
He was referred to us from a friend, one of our SEO clients.
Bill works mainly for start-up mom and pop shops, businesses just getting started that need a simple site.
Bill asked us point blank, “Hey, can you guys help me dominate my competition?”
We thought it was funny how he used that word “dominate” because our Marketing Manager, Richard Cagney, gave a speech at a Manhattan SEO conference last year about how to “dominate” your online competition.
So we pulled out the speech and read him the highlights right over the phone. Kind of goofy, but we had fun and he enjoyed the free consultation too.
The speech basically said that anyone can make millions starting and running their own successful business, online or offline, if they knew one simple trick.
Actually, online or offline isn’t really a determining factor because they are both just communication mediums. It’s really more in the marketing angle that you take which will determine whether you are successful or not. And that’s the trick.
The marketing angle we’re talking about is, first and foremost, you have to learn how to sell yourself. This is of the utmost importance because if you do it properly, then you will attract customers to you automatically.
Everyone wants to work with the best—-plain and simple.
Everyone would rather work with Stamford, Connecticut’s best realtor or doctor.
Everyone wants to go to the city’s best marketing firm or plastic surgeon.
Everyone wants to invest their money with the best financial planner in CT.
Everyone wants to eat at the best restaurants, and have the best fitness trainers.
You see, when you’re looked upon as “the best,” your prices are no longer relevant. You can charge twice as much as your competition.
Do you think Donald Trump regularly slashes his prices to compete with the mainstream market in order to make the deal? Does Mercedes? Of course they don’t!
Now, if you think you’re good, even VERY good, but perhaps not “the best,” then in fact that doesn’t matter as much as you might think it does.
You don’t really need to be “the absolute best,” because that is just relative and stems from opinion—whether it’s the opinion of your customers, or your opinion of yourself!
One way to “sell yourself,” and position yourself as “the best,” is to give without want. This simply means giving away valuable high-quality information to your target market.
When you do this, you are positioning yourself in your industry.
So, with this in mind, we told Bill that he should start writing articles describing “tips” on how to build a good website for cheap or perhaps explain the “top mistakes” people make when selecting an affordable Stamford, CT website design company.
We then suggested he optimize these articles with the right keywords (“Stamford, CT website design company” and “Connecticut web design company,” for example) and then submit them to all of the web article submission resource sites.
Now, when someone searches using Bill’s keywords, his articles rank high, providing readers with valuable information and suggestions.
Bill then mentioned he wanted to send potential clients a physical ad in the mail. He wanted advice on that.
We told him that if we were planning to do something like that we would not promote our prices or rates as the lead-in to the piece.
We might mention these in the ad (as many people may be interested in purchasing that day and would want to know the prices) but they wouldn’t be the primary focus.
Rather, we would promote our online Newsletter or perhaps some kind of FREE “Ten Top Tips For Small Businesses Who Need A Good Website For Cheap” Report.
The key is to sell “insider information” on the front end, which puts your company into the “sphere of influence” of your prospects. Doing so, you position yourself as the “go-to team.” Eventually you can sell your product or service on the backend.
We know that local small business owners are always looking for good information on a local Stamford, CT web design company that will keep them abreast of technology and help them make the best decision they can.
If Bill becomes the author of this information and links his articles to his website, then he automatically positions himself as the local expert in the arena. This will land him the calls.
Now, you may notice that we gave Bill this 100% free lead generation strategy right over the phone. Lots of marketing firms charge high fees for a consultation like this—but we gave it to Bill for free.
Make no mistake about it, he was grateful to us for all the free information we gave him. So grateful that he wanted to pay us to perform keyword research, write optimized content-rich articles for him, and post them online for him for the next 3 months. Bill also wanted 3 Press Releases.
Even better, he said that many of his clients—local Stamford, Connecticut business owners—wanted SEO services, and have asked him recently if he knows anybody he might recommend.
We told Bill we would provide him with top references from half-a-dozen SEO clients we are working with right now, all local, if he wanted to recommend us. He said absolutely.
See the value that giving away free information holds in business?
March 8, 2010
These days, your prospects and potential clients are contacting you through email more than ever before. If you’re selling a big-ticket item, you obviously want to do the best you can to get back to them on the phone and talk to them one-on-one.
But sometimes you only have email, and when that happens you better make sure you do your best to get it right. Every word really does count, and so does every idea you convey, especially in today’s economic and competitive landscape.
Words are particularly powerful, and that means every single word you use.
Today, I want you to think about the power of words. The smart marketing companies out there know this power very well…
Just consider some of the products you buy—like Nature’s Promise. Now those are two great words that are overflowing with goodness, aren’t they.
Or what about Pepperidge Farms. Sounds like a nice place, doesn’t it? Sounds like the kind of place I would like to visit with the family sometime soon!
The next email you send out to try to convince a potential client or customer to act, make sure you review your sales copy to ensure you followed some basic steps.
And when you have a big contract on the line, you better believe it’s worth paying a professional to make sure every word counts.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
FIRST: Make sure you use the right tone. Be respectful, stay positive and upbeat, try sounding professional, and if possible throw in a nice personal touch. Your email should read as though you are speaking directly to the customer—not stuffy and formal but also not as casual as if you were speaking to a friend.
SECOND: Explain what makes your products or services more valuable than your competitors. That means you need to understand the difference between a benefit and a feature. Features are the specific bells and whistles particular to a product or idea, like an electric pencil sharpener that hums a tune. Benefits are the advantages the reader will gain by having a particular feature, like not being bored next time you are sharpening your pencils. Benefits bring recognizable value to a product’s features by illustrating why the features are so valuable.
THIRD: Anticipate and address your readers concerns beforehand. Have you walked a mile in your client’s or customer’s shoes? Do you really understand their biggest fears, their greatest wants and needs? Probably the most important thing you can do to break down the barrier between your client and a sale is to show that you understand where your prospect is coming from. Show you have listened to him or her. Show you care.
FOURTH: Use scarcity. That means encouraging your reader to act within your timeframe—and that usually means right away. It’s a good idea to add an incentive that makes buying now advantageous to your customer. If they’re thinking of buying, giving them every reason to follow through as soon as possible. Statistics show that once they put the decision off to later, they’ll rarely come back to you.
FIFTH: Remove words that aren’t necessary. It’s always a good idea to be concise. Now, keep in mind concise doesn’t mean “short” necessarily. It’s a fact that long sales letters are more effective than shorter sales letters. But don’t just write for the sake of adding things to say. Be concise. Make your points and move on. More importantly, go through your copy and make sure there are no redundancies or content that is not absolutely imperative. Wasted words equal wasted real estate, and could make your client or customer feel you might not be the one for them.
These are just a few pointers. If you need professional help with any writing—grants, proposals, emails, RFPs, anything—don’t hesitate to contact All Access Unlimited either by email or phone: 203-276-9812
We’re Stamford, Connecticut’s (CT) top copywriting company with experienced marketing writers, SEO writers, and copywriters. We know how to sell your company, and we’ve been helping Connecticut businesses like yours for the past ten years.
March 3, 2010
Does your website suffer from “Revolving Door Syndrome”?
That’s when visitors come but don’t stay, browse but don’t buy.
Once they leave, you never hear back from them again.
For a conversion-savvy web design company like ours, this is totally unacceptable.
To begin with, it’s easy to find out how many visitors your website is getting, as well as other important info like how long they are staying, what pages they are visiting, and much more, through even the simplest Analytics tools.
Now, if your site is not being measured by analytics—and most local businesses with a website aren’t, according to a recent (unofficial) poll we conducted—then how are you gauging your website’s effectiveness?
As more website users get increasingly savvy, they are consciously spending less time perusing sites they come across.
The average person stays on a site for 6 seconds before deciding to click away (which is the more popular choice).
Studies show that often only one in every 400 – 500 visitors takes action—which is completely unacceptable to a web company that promises results (like we do).
Imagine if you had a brick and mortar clothing shop and only one in every 400 people who walked through the door bought anything, without really even paying too much attention to your clothing! Wow!
It wouldn’t be long before you went out of business, right?
So what steps can you take right now…today…to stop the “Revolving Door Syndrome” on your website?
One way is by giving your visitors a reason to interact with you—and I’m not talking about a “Contact” form either.
Actually, thinking that your “Contact” form covers a whole lot is one of the biggest mistakes small business owners make.
In fact, the “Contact” page is one of the least visited pages, according to most analytics measurements. And this is true for just about every industry.
Why? Because when visitors are first evaluating your company, they’re not interested in contacting you yet.
They’re reading your copy and looking at your overall site.
Contacting you is the last thing they’re going to do. What, then, is a good way to get these potential customers/clients to interact with you and your company?
The answer is, by offering a FREE GIVEAWAY that has high-perceived value.
That’s right, even though the word “FREE” has been abused to the point of hysteria these days, it’s still the most effective word in marketing.
Give your website visitors something free—something of value; something they came to your website looking for in the first place.
Think about it. What “Top Ten” list would your target audience find interesting? What tips, insights, resources would help them achieve their goals successfully?
Whatever the answer write the article or create a one or two page PDF Report, and offer it as a free download on your website.
Make sure you ask for an email address so you know where to send it.
By creating a platform that will allow you to email to your prospects, you are going a long way in jumpstarting interaction, creating leads, and laying the ground work for a future between you and your website visitors.
This can cut your 1-in-400 contact ratio way down, and put you on the right road to increasing your leads, sales and profits.
We offer these and many other profit-building techniques at All Access Unlimited, because when we build you a website we care more about just color, content, and design—we care about building your business.
Contact us today and let us help you stop Revolving Door Syndrome on your website: 203-276-9812
February 26, 2010
As a high-end web site design and online marketing company located in Stamford, Connecticut (and serving all towns in Fairfield County and beyond) we get calls almost daily by local Connecticut business owners asking about the extent of marketing services we provide.
The answer is, we can provide anything and everything you need—a vast wealth of PR and online marketing services at affordable prices. (We do offline marketing also).
Many of our clients are amazed at the wide range of PR and online marketing services we provide.
Here is a small sample. This is by no means an exhaustive list:
COPYWRITING
DIRECT MAIL
E-BOOKS
EDITING
EMAIL MARKETING CAMPAIGNS
FACT CHECKING
LINK BUILDING
MAGAZINE ARTICLES
NEWSLETTERS
PAY PER CLICK ADVERTISING
PRESS RELEASES
PROOFREADING
RESUME & COVER LETTER WRITING
SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION
SPEECH WRITING
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
COPYWRITING
SELL YOUR PRODUCTS AND BRING CREATIVITY TO DIRECT MAIL, ADS, BROCHURES, WEBSITES AND OTHER MARKETING
Sometimes, you don’t have the time to provide the content for advertisement. A copywriting service will offer you a professionally trained service that can provide content for your website, mail, brochures, and other marketing tools that will assure you the advertising you desire. You will improve your return on marketing investment with ease when you let trained professionals tell others about the services or products that you provide.
DIRECT MAIL (FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION)
PINPOINT YOUR SPECIAL OFFER AND SEND YOUR MESSAGE HOME
Direct mail campaigns can be time consuming, and it may be hard to determine a layout for your direct mail. Hiring a service to determine your layout can save you time and hassle, with trained individuals showcasing your special offers, products, and services in an attractive layout. Don’t waste time collecting supplies and trying to build a design – let a hired service drive home your message with quality design.
E-BOOK CREATION & PROMOTION
POSITION YOURSELF AS THE RECOGNIZED LEADER IN YOUR FIELD
One of the most popular marketing tools these days is an E-book. An E-book can provide information on you and your business in an attractive manner, right on the web. No longer is it necessary to email brochures to explain the history of the business or the proucts and services provided. With a service taking the time to build your E-book for you, clients can easily access and download the information they want to know about you and your business.
EDITING
POLISH YOUR FINAL DRAFT FOR ACCURACY AND STYLE, ENSURING YOU GET RESULTS
Never worry again about grammar, capitalization, punctuation, or any other problems you may have with the written English language. Build your draft, and let trained editors review your work, making the necessary corrections so that your materials, website, speeches, and all other written documents appear and sound professional.
EMAIL CAMPAIGNS
DELIVER TARGETED INFORMATION TO TARGETED MARKETS
Let our service set up your next email campaign, advertising and informing the customers most likely to purchase or use your products and services with targeted information. Don’t use your valuable time to collect email addresses and set up the automatic emails; invest in a professional service that has experience building email campaign templates that get the job done and increase your return on investment.
FACT CHECKING
ENSURE YOUR WRITING IS ACCURATE AND PREVENT EMBARASSING MISTAKES
Before publishing information that could be faulty or include inaccuracies, especially when dealing with specific facts or statistics, why not enlist the help of professionals to verify your information? If you provide inaccurate information to potential clients, they are not likely to trust your brand. This is easily prevented, insuring that you do not waste time publishing inaccurate information that could be detrimental to your profits.
LINK BUILDING SERVICES
BRING IN TARGETED TRAFFIC, INCREASE YOUR SEARCH ENGINE RANKINGS AND MULTIPLY YOUR SALES & REVENUE
Creating links that can be displayed on alternate related sites can help increase conversion rates, guaranteeing that the potential customer is already interested in a similar topic prior to entering your site. This will also place information about your site on other sites, multiplying your exposure so and assuring that your site is more prominently and frequently brought up by search engines. The more often your site is seen by searchers, the more likely you are to make a sale, meaning that revenue and overall profit are sure to increase.
MAGAZINE ARTICLE WRITING & SUBMISSION
CAPTIVATE READERS AND BECOME THE RECOGNIZED VOICE OF CURRENT EVENTS IN YOUR INDUSTRY
Collect the facts and data needed to produce an informative article and enlist the help of writers to add the finesse you need to wow your readers. Magazine articles are a great way to get your name out there so you can be recognized within your industry as the source of knowledge and events. With assistance in writing, editing, and laying out your articles, you’ll see the difference in reader reaction and level of satisfaction, as well as increased trust in your facts as well as your opinions.
NEWSLETTERS
CREATE INFORMATIVE REMINDERS TO CUSTOMERS ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS
While you may not have time to contact your customers without a specific purpose, hiring a service to provide a newsletter to your clients will let them know that you haven’t forgotten about them. It will also assure that they do not forget about your business. Newsletters can be used to inform clients about new services or products, as well as changes to your website or other information that can attract them back for another look. Newsletters are a great way to increase customer loyalty.
PAY PER CLICK
BE SEEN WHERE & WHEN YOUR MOST ELIGIBLE PROSPECTS ARE LOOKING
Pay per click advertisement allows you to choose what keywords will be associated with your site, guaranteeing you the client base and interest that you desire. It will also help minimize advertisement costs, since your website will be pulled up on search engines based solely on the keywords determined by you and never show up in searches that are unrelated to your site. Then, once your site is prominently displayed, you only pay a predetermined amount if the searcher clicks onto your site. Pay nothing if the searcher doesn’t enter your site.
PRESS RELEASE CREATION & SUBMISSION
GET YOUR COMPANY, PRODUCT OR SERVICES INTO THE HEADLINES COST-FREE
A professional press release is the cost-free way to let the world know about your business and its products or services. Hiring a company that has experience in writing these releases will allow you to increase exposure of your business at a low cost, increasing the chances for conversion and high profitability by leaps and bounds.
PROOFREADING
MAKE SURE YOUR WRITING SKILLS APPEAR PROFESSIONAL
Don’t be embarrassed by careless errors in your print, like a missed comma or reversed letters in a word. Proofreading services carefully dissect your writing, looking for the smallest mistype or clerical error so that your final copy comes out professionally perfect. This will leave a lasting impression on the customer as to your level of detail orientation, giving them a warm, fuzzy feeling about how well they will be accommodated by your service or product.
RESUME & COVER LETTER WRITING
ELOQUENTLY SHOWCASE YOUR EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE, AND HIGHLIGHT THE RESULTS YOUR EFFORTS GENERATE
Though individuals can find templates all over the web for resumes and cover letters, hiring a professional to provide these important documents allows you to add finesse and eloquence. Resumes and cover letters should showcase your history and talents, but at the same time, the attractiveness of the presentation and the speech used within the document can sell your labors just as well as your experience. Having these documents generated for you increases your chance of hire, as well as the possibility of higher pay!
SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION
IMPROVE YOUR RANK IN SEARCH RESULTS, INCREASES YOUR LEADS, AND GET FREE TRAFFIC
Search engine optimization has become the quickest way to advertise your site on the internet. With SEO, searches for keywords will bring your site to the top of the search return list and deliver free traffic to your site. This service will not only increase the exposure of your business, but also increase visits to your site by creating leads and offer the opportunity for higher sales and profitability.
SPEECHWRITING
RALLY TEAM MEMBERS AND BRING AUDIENCES TO THEIR FEET
Writing a speech isn’t always fun and games, and getting your point across while engaging the audience can be difficult. Hiring a trained professional to put together a speech offers the experience necessary to not only keep your audience from nodding off, but also to energize and enthuse them, making sure that your speech is not easily forgotten and that your points are well taken.
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
CREAT BUZZ THAT CAN HAVE RAMIFICATIONS ACROSS THE WORLD
We know how to use social networks, online communities, blogs, wikis or any other online collaborative media for marketing, sales, public relations and customer service. Some of the common social networking sites we use are Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Flickr and Youtube. For example, we can create buzz by producing and marketing a video and posting it on some of the video sharing sites like YouTube.
For more information on our professional Stamford, CT online marketing and offline marketing services, please don’t hesitate to email us or call us at 203-276-9812
February 22, 2010
As a high-end web design company located in Stamford, Connecticut (and serving all towns in Fairfield County and beyond) we get calls almost daily by local Connecticut business owners asking about the extent of the web design services we provide.
The answer is, we can provide anything and everything you need—a vast wealth of web design services and even software development at affordable prices.
Many of our clients are amazed at the wide range of websites and web design services we provide.
Here is a small sample. This is by no means an exhaustive list:
- ASP.NET
- AUTO RESPONDERS
- BANNER ADS
- BLOG TEMPLATES
- BROWSER TESTING
- CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
- CREDIT CARD PROCESSING
- E-COMMERCE
- EXTRANETS
- FLASH DEMOS
- FLASH DESIGN
- FLASH GAMES
- FLASH INTROS
- JAVASCRIPT
- LANDING PAGES
- LOADING PAGES
- MESSAGE BOARDS
- MICROSITES
- ONLINE FORMS
- RSS FEEDS
- SHOPPING CARTS
- STATIC WEBSITES
- 3-D FLASH
- 3-D GRAPHICS
- CBTs
- FLASH PRESENTATIONS
- INTERACTIVE CD-ROM
- INTERACTIVE TRAINING MODULES
- POWERPOINT TEMPLATES
- WBTs
If you live in greater New York City, Manhattan, Westchester or Connecticut (or anywhere in the U.S. or the world for that matter) here is a simple list of most of the professional web site design services we provide, along with some information you may find helpful:
ASP.NET
A SIMPLE WAY TO CREATE A WEBSITE WITH LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF CODE
ASP.net allows you to quickly and easily build your web applications utilizing a simple text editor, even something like notepad. You’ll be able to build your site in an html-style setup with very little knowledge of code required compared to PHP or JSP applications. ASP.net also offers tutorials and ‘getting started’ kits to help first-time users set up their web sites with templates and best practice guidelines.
AUTO RESPONDERS
PROVIDE INSTANT FOLLOW-UP
You have more valuable things to do with your time than monitor email, but at the same time, your clients deserve a quick response. A fast response shows dedication and customer service, making the client feel more comfortable working with your company. An auto responder program will allow you to quickly and efficiently get back to clients and let them know that they will not be ignored without keeping you tied to your email all day.
BANNER ADS
TARGET CUSTOMERS & DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE CONVERSION RATES
A banner ad can catch the attention of potential customers and redirect them to your site. The creation of banner ads will assist in improving conversion rates, meaning more business for you. A banner ad can be catchy and creative, utilizing bright colors to grab attention, then speak directly to the needs of the potential customer. Phrases can be short and to the point with little detail involved, and yet the banner ad will interest new customers with little effort.
BLOG TEMPLATES
SHOW YOUR OWN PERSONAL STYLE
A blog is just a blog without style. Personalize your blog with templates that show everyone your own personal style and image. A personalized blog will pull more attention to your site, and more traffic means more potential sales. Blog templates will improve the appearance of your blog site, making it appear more professional while catering to your personality and letting your true self shine through.
BROWSER TESTING
ENSURES YOUR SITE LOOKS RIGHT IN ALL WEB BROWSERS
Sometimes, the format in which you build your website will not appear as you wish in all web browsers. To make sure that your formatting appears correctly in every browser that the web page will be pulled up in, browser testing can be done. If you assure in advance that your site will look its best, clients are more likely to feel that you are a professional, and your site will be taken seriously. Browser testing is a major key to making your web site the best it can be and increasing profitability.
CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
GET A WEBSITE WITH EASY ACCESS TO UPDATE
YOUR CONTENT & PHOTOS
With a CMS, you don’t have to buy pricey additional software like PageFive or Dreamweaver. You simply log on to the site’s “back end,” add photos, change content and hit the “submit” button. Then go to your site and see your changes. Presto!
CREDIT CARD PROCESSING
ACCEPT PAYMENTS WORLDWIDE
With the invention of the internet, the information superhighway has made it a breeze for people to go online and complete a transaction without ever stepping away from their computer. By having the ability to accept and process credit cards straight from your website, you will increase your rate of conversion exponentially. No longer do customers want to be burdened with telephone calls, checks, or snail mail. Adding credit card processing to your site will make life easier for clients, meaning they’ll be more willing to spend their bucks on your bang
E-COMMERCE
ESTABLISH YOUR INDEPENDENT WEB STOREFRONT
Regardless of the product or service you are selling, you can’t expect to have a high sales rate if you don’t have a professional looking storefront. A professional, attractive appearance is one of the most important facets of E-commerce, intriguing clients and letting them know that your goods and services, based on the look of your website, will be carefully arranged and beautifully delivered.
EXTRANETS
ALLOW EASY 24/7 ACCESS TO INFORMATION FOR PRE-DETERMINED CLIENTS AND USERS
An extranet allows you to share information and data directly from your private network and intranet with customers, vendors, and other users in a secure manner. Set up this area of your site with a firewall and other security programs and allow access to large volumes of information that cannot easily be emailed or sent quickly and needs to be frequently updated. At the same time, limit the traffic to which your extranet is available so that only those you choose can view and utilize your private information.
FLASH DEMOS
DEMONSTRATE YOUR FULL-FUNCTION FEATURES
Flash demos are an excellent tool for demonstrating exactly what services you provide to clients. With a flash demo, a client can experience an example of the tools they can use, the services they’ll receive, and the attention they can expect from your company, so they know exactly what they can expect to receive for their money. A flash demo is a simple and yet professionally dazzling way to give your potential customers a taste of what you have to offer.
FLASH DESIGN
PUT YOUR IDEAS IN MOTION
Flash adds animation and interactivity to web pages, and provides full design control to maximize creativity, resulting in a consistent end-user experience. All Access Unlimited created the “Flash” design—the animated photo presentation—for TourItalyNow.com
FLASH GAMES
ENGAGE YOUR VISITORS, AND EXCITE THEM TO TELL THEIR FRIENDS
Add entertainment to your site with flash games. Visitors to your site will increase your exposure and advertisement for free through word of mouth after enjoying intriguing flash games on your site. The graphics and pleasant experience will stick in the minds of visitors to your site, causing them to come back again and again, as well as to refer their friends.
FLASH INTROS
BUILD EXCITEMENT & ANTICIPATION
When customers enter your website, a flash intro may be the tool to attract the most attention and cause the most anticipation. A flash intro will be inviting to the clients visiting your site and entertaining to those who may come across it even by accident, exciting them into curiosity. Flash intros will introduce your company and appear professional to visitors, increasing the possibility of a sale based on first impressions.
JAVASCRIPT
ENGAGE CUSTOMERS WITH GAMES, QUIZZES, CALCULATORS & MORE
What can entice visitors to a website better than fun activities? Javascript can provide you with the tools that your clients and web visitors crave, such as games, quizzes, and more. The more impressed and engaged a customer is with your site, the more likely that customer is to recommend that friends visit and use your site. Javascript provides entertainment for clients that encourages word-of-mouth advertisement for your site.
LANDING PAGES
FACILITATE YOUR MARKETING CAMPAIGNS
First impressions stick with customers and upon entering your website, the landing page is the first thing that viewers will see. This page has the power to create a very positive first impression that will stay fresh in people’s minds, making them want to come back to your site again and again. Let a trained professional assist in creating a landing page that will attract potential customers and encourage them to continue delving deeper into your site.
LOADING PAGES
MAKE AN EXCELLENT FIRST IMPRESSION
While your pages load, don’t leave customers hanging. A small graphic or flash message announcing that the page requested is loading will decrease impatience and frustration, helping to retain customers who are in the process of ordering products or services, as well as letting potential customers know that your page is functioning properly and has not become stuck. Loading pages will increase customer retention and conversion rate, ultimately increasing you level of profit.
MESSAGE BOARDS
PROVIDE YOUR VISITORS WITH AN ONLINE MEETING PLACE
Having a message board on your site will allow visitors to contact each other, share information, and learn about your business through mutual experience. Often, site members and visitors can answer each other’s questions without contacting you, meaning that you have more time to run the business without interruption to answer generic questions.
MICROSITES
SUPPLEMENT YOUR MAIN WEBSITE BY ADDING SPECIALIZED OR CURRENT INFORMATION
A community organization may have a main site with all of the organization’s basic information, but create a separate, temporary microsite to inform about a particular activity or event. Businesses use microsites to add editorial value. For instance, a retailer of party goods may create a microsite describing the history of Halloween. Beyond driving product sales, microsites add value to the site’s visitors for branding purposes and also provide editorial content and keywords allowing for greater chances of search engine inclusion.
ONLINE FORMS
COLLECT IMPORTANT MARKETING DATA
Of course, you could always spend the time and money to send out surveys or make phone calls in order to collect information regarding how clients are faring on your site. However, the best way to get people to complete a form is to make it available online. This saves you money, as well as offering a simple way for visitors to your site to provide feedback on their experience with your web page. This information will help you better your site and ultimately provide more turnover and profitability for you.
RSS FEEDS
SYNDICATE YOUR CONTENT
With an RSS feed, you can advertise your website’s latest developments and allow customers to track information with short “blog”-like pitches and a link to your site. This will keep clients and potential customers informed of the latest updates to your site and related activity, giving them reason to return for future patronage. Improve customer loyalty and conversion rate. All you have to do is allow other sites access to syndicate your material for greater exposure.
SHOPPING CARTS
ACCEPT ONLINE ORDERS
In today’s web-crazed society, it doesn’t matter how creative or attractive your site is; if you can’t accept orders online, then you won’t get as much business. A shopping cart allows your customers to collect all the items they wish to purchase from your site and pay for it all in one transaction, without ever leaving their computers. A shopping cart is the only way to truly do web business and is an essential part of your website!
STATIC WEBSITES
SHOW YOUR BUSINESS TO THE WORLD
Static websites are easy-to-maintain and can net you more customers by professionally showcasing your business, products and services. Many small and even mid-size companies simply set their static website and then forget it.
3-D FLASH
EXPLODE YOUR ANIMATION & CONVEY THE ESSENCE OF YOUR IDEA
If flash intros and presentations are great attention grabbers, imagine what having 3-D flash animation can do for your website. 3-D flash appears high-tech and impressive to potential clients, letting them know that you mean business. It can also provide high quality demos showcasing your services and/or products so that visitors to your site will know exactly what to expect from your company.
3-D GRAPHICS
BRING FLAT ARTWORK INTO THE THIRD DIMENSION
Graphics are always a great sales tool, but 3-D graphics will impress your audience to a greater degree, appearing more complex and professional than flat graphics. Improve the appearance of your site and watch your customer base grow as word of mouth spreads regarding your high-tech website!
CBTs
OFFER TRAINING TOOLS CONVENIENTLY TO THE DESKTOP
Computer based training is an easy, convenient way for people to learn a new skill. Offering CBT’s on your site will entice patrons to spend time and money on your endeavors, increasing your profit margins without any hassle on your part. Keep customers happy, offering them the opportunity to learn from home on their own desktop computer, never even having to leave the house to receive the training they need in your field.
FLASH PRESENTATIONS
CAPTURE ATTENTION WITH SHORT & HIGHLY-FOCUSED FILMS THAT STAY ON MESSAGE AND NEVER LOSE ENERGY
A flash presentation gets a message across in an entertaining way that also impresses a professional idea of your company on your customers. Not only is it a simple form of advertisement and information, but it can also keep up a momentum that will capture audience attention and not loosen its grasp until it ends. A flash presentation is a quick way to speak to potential clients, staying on topic without interruptions.
INTERACTIVE CD-ROM
IMPROVE RETENTION AND MAINTAINS FOCUS
An interactive CD-Rom is an excellent learning tool that can be applied to almost any project, service, or product that is sold or offered. Interactive CD-Roms can be used just about anywhere, are easily stored, and can travel, as well as be shared between multiple trainees. Interactive CD-Roms engage the student or customer in the learning process and are a proven way of helping users to grasp information more quickly and effectively.
INTERACTIVE TRAINING MODULES
ENGAGE YOUR EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION IN TRAINING SESSIONS
Engage your current and future employees to be eager participants in training programs with professional, interactive training tools. The more interested and eager an employee, the more likely they are to retain and utilize the information provided by the training session. Interactive courses aid in maintaining alertness and participation of trainees. This means that the trainee is more satisfied with a course that is not boring, and you, as the employer, are more satisfied with the outcome and resulting knowledge of your employees.
POWERPOINT TEMPLATES
COMMAND ATTENTION THAT MATCHES YOUR BRAND
Powerpoint presentations are probably the most frequently used multimedia formats in meetings, and it can be difficult to come up with something new and exciting that will draw the attention of the audience. Rather than trying to build a new Powerpoint presentation from scratch, it’s fast and simple to enlist the help of professionals with fresh templates for Powerpoint that are engaging and attention-grabbing from the start!
WBTs
ALLOW ACCESS TO TRAINING INFORMATION ANYWHERE THE INTERNET CAN BE ACCESSED
Web based training is one of the newest, fastest growing training methods available. Not only can skills and information be gained from home, but clients can access their learning account anywhere that internet access is available, and with wireless access becoming so prevalent, it’s possible to participate in training at any time in any place. Having interactive WBT’s on your site will increase the positive opinion of your web page, and word-of-mouth advertisement can raise your level of profitability.
For more information on our professional web site design and development services, please don’t hesitate to email us or call us at 203-276-9812
February 18, 2010
We are often amazed at the lack of importance some of our clients place on professional graphic design (the bulk of our long-term clients are based in Fairfield County, Westchester County & Manhattan).
You only have one opportunity to make a first impression with a memorable logo or professional design that gives your business that look of importance.
So why waste your chance?
AAU is a high-end graphic design studio that offers a vast wealth of professional graphic design services at affordable prices, including:
- BILLBOARDS
- BOOK & MAGAZINE COVERS
- BOOK LAYOUTS
- BROCHURES
- BUSINESS CARDS
- BUSINESS NAMES
- CATALOGS
- COUPONS
- FLYERS
- GREETING CARDS
- LETTERHEADS
- LOGOS
- PACKAGE DESIGN
- PAGE LAYOUTS
- POSTCARDS
- PRINT ADS
- STATIONERY
- CORPORATE ART
- GRAPHIC DESIGNS
- PACKAGE DESIGN
- PRODUCT LOGOS
If you live in greater New York City, Manhattan, Westchester or Connecticut (or anywhere in the U.S. or the world for that matter) here is a simple list of most of the professional graphic design services we provide, along with some information you may find helpful:
BILLBOARDS
SHOULD BE CREATED WITH AN EYE TOWARD NETTING EVERYONE IN SIGHT
Billboards can be a costly form of advertisement, so if you are going to make that kind of investment, you should be certain that the message you are trying to get across is prominently displayed in an attractive, eye catching fashion that is geared toward the entire population. A service with experience in such print advertisement knows how to get to the general public rather than aiming toward a target audience and can help you plan the billboard design and message so that all people take notice, meaning you are likely to reap greater gain based on the billboard advertisements.
BOOK & MAGAZINE COVERS
STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD AND GET PLENTY OF EXTRA SALES
Don’t judge a book by its cover, they say, but often, without an attractive cover design, no one will be interested in what is contained within the shiny exterior. A professional service can guarantee that your book or magazine will look its best and stand out on the shelf full of similar copies, guaranteeing increased sales. With the right layout, you’ll easily grab the attention of potential customers as they pass by and snag their interest, increasing your chance at a higher profitability margin.
BOOK LAYOUTS
DISPLAY YOUR WORKS IN A CLEAR, CONCISE MANNER THAT IS EYE-CATCHING AND EASY TO READ
All publications should be arranged attractively, and this is not always an easy task. Rather than take your valuable time that could be used to create future products to try to make everything attractive in a sensible order, make the small investment in a service to do so. Our service has trained professionals with lots of experience in providing attractive custom layouts that make your book appear more professional, as well as adding a certain style that will capture the meaning behind your book idea and showcase your personality.
BROCHURES
PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS THROUGH DIRECT-MAIL OR AT THE POINT-OF-SALE
An attractive brochure is an excellent sales tool, briefly describing all of your goods or services in a bright, colorful setting. Glossy brochures catch the eye of a consumer and can highlight the main points of your business in a small amount of space, illustrating all of the details you choose to include. Using a professional to create these brochures assures a sensible, intriguing layout that grabs the attention of the customer and gets them interested in what you have to offer. Brochures can be used in direct mail campaigns or simply be offered within a storefront at the point of sale, making it one of the easiest advertisement tools you can invest in.
BUSINESS CARDS
MARKET YOUR PRODUCTS & SERVICES, LOOK SERIOUS & PROFESSIONAL
While you could create your own business cards with downloadable templates and cheap card stock, the way to be taken seriously in any business is to have a professional service create your business cards. However, this doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Our service can create custom business card templates that relate to your business and give you access to a quick, simple form of advertisement. You’ll have a tool that you can pull right out of your wallet or purse to share your business information with anyone in a professional manner in a matter of moments.
BUSINESS NAMES
ENCOMPASS YOUR SERVICES AND CONVEY BENEFITS TO YOUR PROSPECTIVE CONSUMER
Enlist the aid of qualified individuals to assist in the creation of your company name. Your business name should advertise both your services and benefits to your potential customers, while still being catchy and creative. The name should stand out among the competition and sell your business, but should also be easy to remember. Using a service to help you choose a business name that defines your company is a small investment that can create excellent returns and profits.
CATALOGS
SHOWCASE YOUR GOODS IN SPICY DETAIL AND MAKE EVERYTHING EASY TO ORDER
Even in this age of the information superhighway, many consumers still either don’t have access to the internet or prefer to keep their personal information off the internet. Attract more buyers by having a complete catalog of your goods and services printed and delivered to potential as well as current customers so they can browse at their convenience and choose their preferred payment option. With a professional catalog design, you’ll be able to advertise your goods and services to anyone and everyone, whether through a direct mail campaign or a general mailing, guaranteeing that your client base will grow.
COUPONS
BE COMPELLING AND PROVOKE A DIRECT RESPONSE
Offering coupons is a great way to entice buyers to try your products and services, especially in attracting first-time customers. Coupons give consumers a sense of satisfaction at having saved money on their purchase, and at the same time, they advertise your company and brand name. This re-emphasizes your position and purpose to current clients and also entices potential customers to try purchase from you for the first time and compare you to competitors. Overall, the exposure from coupons is a great way to broaden your client base.
FLYERS
MAKE GREAT INSERTS AND PROVIDE UPDATED BENEFITS, PRICING & SCHEDULES
Flyers are a quick, inexpensive way to advertise your goods and services to the public. With a professional flyer design and layout, you are sure to draw attention to the brief message or sales copy that you’ve published. Using flyers as an insert will guarantee high, quality exposure, targeting audiences that are interested in the particular goods or services you have to offer. You can use flyers to provide updates, give out pricing, or advertise specially schedules events as well. The exposure is well worth the small investment in a company that can provide tried and true flyer templates.
GREETING CARDS
EXPRESS YOUR APPRECIATION AND LEAVE LASTING IMPRESSIONS
Anyone can purchase blank cards or preprinted messages at the nearest supermarket. Leave a good impression with your clients by having your greeting cards personalized, with your company name and logo preprinted, along with a personalized message that pertains to your business. Showing customer appreciation in a more intimate, personal fashion will increase customer loyalty and build an indestructible client base for your company, promising future sales.
LETTERHEADS
DISTINGUISH YOUR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE AND LOOK SMART AND SERIOUS
A company letterhead is a great way to make your company look serious, advertising your professionalism at a low cost. Having a professional letterhead designed for your use provides that unique appearance that customers will remember. It also delivers the message that you are no joke, adding recognition and an air of dependability to your business name. Adding a letterhead to your correspondence will distinguish you as a professional and certainly add to the likelyhood of gaining customers.
LOGOS
IMPRINT YOUR COMPANY’S UNIQUE & PROFESSIONAL TRADEMARK ONTO YOUR PROSPECT’S MINDS
Although having a name brilliantly visible on your products and literature can assist in brand name recognition, logos are a more effective way to make your products and services memorable to customers. A professional trademark or unique logo will greatly improve product recognition and make your product or service stand out among competitors, reminding clients and potential customers who you are and what you offer.
PAGE LAYOUTS
INVITE READERS, MAKE YOUR MATERIAL PLEASANT & DELIGHTFUL Delivering all your materials, whether booklets, brochures, flyers, or other printed media in the most attractive possible fashion is sure to entice customers and potential buyers to look closer at your message. Reap the benefits of professionals who are experts at page layouts, turning their knowledge and effort into your profit. Without even realizing the difference it makes, readers will dig deeper into your materials and information if it is displayed in an attractive, easy to follow layout.
POSTCARDS
DELIVER THE MESSAGE AFFORDABLY
Direct mail campaigns can be costly, especially in certain formats. Deliver a short message professionally by hiring a service to design a postcard that will present the message to the customer attractively as well as affordably. Get right to the point, stating your message, while still impressing the client with the professional delivery method and creative, colorful design.
PRINT ADS
GET YOUR AUDIENCE TO SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE
A print ad, through a creative, colorful graphic (usually a picture or graph) combined with a short paragraph describing the picture and the goods or services offered through your company is an effective way to entice customers. Most people are a little hesitant to invest their money in work purchased from a company about which they know nothing. A print ad offers a brief and concise description of your company and what you do, while appearing attractive to the potential customer. Also, the short, sweet, and to the point wording makes it more likely that customers seeing your print ad will take the time to read it and then contact you.
STATIONERY
BRING OUT YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, LET CLIENTS KNOW WHO YOU ARE
Personalized business stationery and letterhead is an inexpensive way to get your company name and basic information out to clients and potential customers in a manner in which they can easily reference it. Stationery looks professional, and making sure that all of your correspondence is sent on a letterhead with your company’s information is good assurance that clients always have an easy source of contact information for you. The decorative look is also a pleasant way to deliver any message to your customers.
CORPORATE ART
ADD BRAND STRENGTH & PROFESSIONALIZE YOUR PRESENTATION Having artwork to establish the company name draws attention to your brand. You could certainly publish your company name in nice block letters across your product or presentation, but you will catch much more attention and appear on a higher professional level if there is supporting artwork behind the company name. Even word art to display the name will add a sense of class and professionalism to your work.
GRAPHIC DESIGNS
ADD FLAVOR AND GIVE LIFE TO FACTS, FIGURES & PRESENTATIONS
Graphic designs are excellent visual aids that emphasize your data during presentations, or even in just explaining what your business has or will accomplish. A professional graphic design will brighten your showmanship and raise clients’ opinions of your ability, impressing a sense of quality in product upon them. Graphics designs are essential in providing information to your customers in an attractive manner.
PACKAGE DESIGN
MAKE YOUR PRODUCTS GET NOTICED IN A CROWD
By using professional package designs, you are guaranteed to have your product stand out, whether on a shelf or on the web. A professional package design will offer creativity, color, and advertisement that cannot be valued highly enough. If your product is more noticeable and attractive in a package than a competitor, then you will increase sales and profitability exponentially. Package design is an important service provided to help you build up the opinion of your product.
PRODUCT LOGOS
ADD BRAND STRENGTH & MAKE YOUR OFFERING INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE
You can easily make your product stand out among competitors with a product logo. Professional product logos offer strength in sales, as well as a simple way to recognize your product for its value. Without a product logo, your product could sit on a shelf, simply because your customer can’t remember which brand he or she preferred. Symbols are much more memorable than names, so a professioal product logo can increase sales volume in a hurry!
For more information on our professional graphic design services, please don’t hesitate to email us or call us at 203-276-9812
February 12, 2010
As a Stamford, Connecticut (CT) SEO (Search Engine Optimization) company providing advanced SEO services, we often get calls from local businesses asking for a free consultation.
One question that often comes up is, how can we do SEO for ourselves for free?
The answer is, there are plenty of ways, including this one particular—often overlooked— opportunity to drive business to your website from the Internet:
“Internet Search Directories”
What are Internet Search Directories?
There exist countless “directory sites” that draw their information from phone book data, and which have now become large suppliers of business information for people (and other businesses) who search for various products / services on the Internet.
Sure, Google is king of search, no one can dispute that… but the results that come up (meaning the links Google provides through “natural” search results) are likely to be these directory sites.
So if you’re thinking that internet search directories are important, you’re right on the money.
You can often go in and actively add information to, edit, update, and expand upon the listings they provide.
This is nothing short of excellent free-advertising.
Plus, there are a number of “paid options” to enhance or upgrade your listings, should you decide to go that route (However, we recommend testing the paid options in small ways first… and tracking all results carefully, in order to determine with certainty if it’s worth continuing or increasing your paid-ad commitments).
For local businesses—local Connecticut businesses—having their companies listed on local internet search directories is a must.
But, even for non-local Connecticut businesses many uses will make sense.
There are even directories that specialize in business-to-business (B2B).
Here are some good Internet Search Directories you can use, for starters:
www.superpages.com
www.yellowbook.com
www.yellowpages.com
www.yellow.com
www.theyellowpages.com
www.b2byellowpages.com
www.anywho.com
www.whitepages.com
www.switchboard.com
www.whowhere.com
www.citysearch.com
www.local.com
As a reputable and powerful Stamford, Connecticut (CT) SEO firm (Search Engine Optimization), we use Internet Search Directories to help our clients rank in the search engines.
It’s really a powerful way to gain rankings, one of many powerful ways that we employ.
For more information on our SEO (Search Engine Optimization) services, please don’t hesitate to email us or call us at 203-276-9812
February 9, 2010
We’ve been getting more calls and emails lately than ever before by businesses interested in marketing themselves on the Social Networks.
We’re hearing questions like:
What are all the Social Network sites that everyone is talking about?
How do we create an account—as individuals or as one company?
What exactly should we say once we’re on there?
When do we say what we’re supposed to say?
How much do we post and how often?
Can we sell anything or not?
Our answer to the newbie is always the same.
If you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s better to hire an experienced company to provide consulting, at least to get you started (yes, we do that here).
However, if you don’t have a budget, and you would like to try it out on your own, then the best thing to do at first is to watch and absorb—start with one or two social networks only. Be yourself. Try to have fun and interact. Don’t initially worry about selling.
While you’re on there, keep track of what other businesses are doing, what they are saying. Decide what you like and what you don’t like.
Once you feel comfortable, you can wade in slowly. Think touch and go—NOT media blitz.
Here are just a few social networking sites you may wish to start with:
Twitter: The big site right now, next to Facebook. As described by Twitter themselves: “The timely bits of information that spread through Twitter can help you make better choices and decisions and, should you so desire, creates a platform for you to influence what’s being talked about around the world. Search results spread across Twitter and in other ways across the Web so you can discover what’s happening on and off of Twitter.com, wherever you prefer.”
Squidoo: The world’s most popular site for building free, single pages about whatever topics you’re passionate about. Highlight books, videos, blogs, online shops, or just spread the word about what you love most. An added bonus is that you can raise money at the same time (even for charity). It’s fast, free, and simple to use.
Facebook: Here you can join networks organized by city, school, workplace, and region. The goal is to link up and interact with other people. You can also add friends and send messages, and update your personal or business profile. You can be successful if you provide useful and interesting content here, and if you interact in a fun and exciting way.
StumbleUpon: An online community that allows users to discover and rate Web pages, photos, and videos. Web pages are presented when the user clicks the “Stumble!” button on the browser’s toolbar. StumbleUpon chooses which Web page to display based on the user’s ratings of previous pages, ratings by his/her friends, and by the ratings of users with similar interests.
Digg: Digg is a place for people to discover and share content from anywhere on the web. From the biggest online destinations to the most obscure blog, Digg shows the best stuff as voted on by users. You won’t find editors at Digg — they’re there to provide a place where people can collectively determine the value of content; this site is known for some of the nastiest remarks online. It’s not for the faint of heart. Submit links or vote on the ones there.
YouTube: Video sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips. Unregistered users can watch the videos, while registered users are permitted to upload an unlimited number of videos. Accounts of registered users are called “channels.” If you supplement your copy with images and video and place them out there, it provides linkage back to you for users who might not otherwise access your site.
Flickr: Almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world. It has two main goals: 1) to help people make their content available to the people who matter to them; 2) to enable new ways of organizing photos and video.
Slashdot: A technology-related news website that features user-submitted and editor-evaluated current affairs news with a “nerdy” slant. Each story on the site has an Internet forum-style comments section attached. The summaries for the stories are generally submitted by Slashdot’s own readers with editors accepting or rejecting these contributions for general posting. Warning: if your content gets placed on Slashdot, make sure your servers can handle the traffic. Google the “slashdot effect” for more information.
Yelp: Yelp helps people find great local businesses like dentists, hair stylists and mechanics. As of February 2009, more than 20 million people looked up a business on Yelp in the past 30 days. Yelpers have written over 5 million local reviews, over 85% of them rating a business 3 stars or higher. You can use Yelp to find local events, lists and to talk with other yelpers. Every business owner (or manager) can setup a free account to post offers, photos and message customers.
LinkedIn: A professional community that was originally intended to act as a sort of job-reference site. The content you place here is all about you, so it can serve as a mini-resume to which (and from which) you can link. LinkedIn makes staying in touch simple, as you can find past and present colleagues and classmates quickly. You can discover inside connections when you’re looking for a job or new business opportunity. Your network is full of industry experts willing to share advice. Have a question? Just ask.
Technorati: The leading blog search engine, Technorati.com indexes millions of blog posts in real time and surfaces them in seconds. The site has become the definitive source for the top stories, opinions, photos and videos emerging across news, entertainment, technology, lifestyle, sports, politics and business. Technorati.com tracks not only the authority and influence of blogs, but also the most comprehensive and current index of who and what is most popular in the Blogosphere. Founded as the first blog search engine, Technorati has expanded to a full service media company providing services to the blogs and social media sites and connecting them with advertisers who want to join the conversation, and whose online properties introduce blog content to millions of consumers.
Newsvine: Updated continuously by citizens like you, Newsvine is an instant reflection of what the world is talking about at any given moment. You can submit stories here, but make sure that they’re newsworthy and not just advertorials.
Helium: This is one of the best content sites. Too often content sites are used by first-time writers looking to “publish” their work, and by companies desperate to get links to their site who will throw up an ad or even a paragraph and call it an article. Helium is a lot of content in a lot of areas, and while it’s not strictly speaking fact-checked, at least an editor takes a look at the material. It’s a good place for your content to appear.
Sphinn: This is a pretty good content site with a social community for Internet marketers. There is a lot of good SEO and other web marketing information and opinions. Users have the option to “sphinn” the content found here.
Wikihow: Just as Wikipedia offers information, WikiHow is a how-to site/community made up of user-generated content.
Reddit: Social news website where you can post links to whatever web content you like. Other users may then vote the posted links down or up, causing them to appear more or less prominently on the Reddit home page. Users may discuss the posted links and vote for or against. When there are enough votes against a given comment, it will not be displayed by default, although a reader can display it through a link or preference. If you submit lots of interesting that gets “vote ups” you receive “karma” points as a reward.
If you want to try social media marketing, take a look at these and other sites (new ones appear daily!) and see which ones might work best for your company, your product, your service. Then behave responsibly.
Remember, in the social network marketing world, it’s all about trust.
At All Access Unlimited, we advise small-to-mid-size businesses and organizations, as well as entrepreneurs and individuals on how to use social media marketing (also known as social network marketing) to build relationships and deliver value.
February 5, 2010
At a recent Social Media Marketing conference here in Connecticut, an esteemed panel member noted the increase in the use of social networking sites “as portals to the Internet.”
What does that mean exactly?…“portals” to the Internet?
That means there are more and more people who, instead of going online and searching for things using Google, Yahoo and MSN as their starting-place, are actually going online and visiting social networking sites instead.
Now, that’s a BIG deal!
If you’ve got a business, you NEED to start marketing on the social networks—period.
However, if you’re not really sure how to go about it, be careful.
Do your homework first—a warning you may have heard before.
You can easily destroy your reputation fast, and that won’t be good.
So, what Social Networks should you use to market your company?
And how should you be using them?
Good questions. The answer is, that really all depends.
SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING TIPS FOR CONNECTICUT BUSINESSES
My advice is to pick one first. These days, it can be daunting to try to bite off more than you can chew, with all the online communities out there, and more coming on the scene every second.
The first thing you should do is DON’T take action—just listen, at least for now. Observe, study, research, contemplate, reflect.
Pay particular attention to how people are interacting with each other, what they are saying, how they are saying it, what they are sharing, how they are sharing it, and so on.
You’re trying to envision at this stage how you might contribute.
Keep at it and it won’t be long before you realize that social communities are about presence, about people sharing things—ideas, experiences, stories.
That means that if you’re going to do any marketing through the social networks, you need to interact correctly.
Forget about all the marketing hype on your Sales Letter page—that won’t get you far here.
Instead, use these basic tips:
- Establish your “personal” presence. Do this early on, long before you try any advertising or marketing (if you even try any at all, at least in the traditional sense). Usually people will need to recognize you as a person before they listen to your recommendations, ideas, advice, and so on.
- Join the community. If you don’t have time to interact as much as possible, then pick and choose the right times and places when and where you can interact. Try to reflect and comment on a variety of things, not just topics and issues that affect your business. Remember, becoming a trusted “person” in a community goes a long way toward establishing your credibility.
- Take the necessary time. You shouldn’t look at social network marketing as some kind of quick fix. You need to become an active part of whatever community you’re targeting or you will not build the necessary trust to be successful marketing to it.
- Try to be as flexible as possible. Videos, images, and other creative approaches are at the core of most social networking communities. Try to use and incorporate these and other media as frequently and appropriately as possible. Don’t stop trying to find new and creative ways of getting community members interested in you, your products or services.
Keep in mind, with social networking, the phrase “content is king” applies more than ever. Getting your stuff onto these sites and getting it read, watched or otherwise listened to by a viral crowd may be challenging, but if you can swing it then you’re looking at appealing to a tremendously important demographic.
In a few days, Part II will look at some of the more popular sites, and how you can use them. Stay tuned.
February 1, 2010
We’ve received a greater response than usual to our last blog post, where we issued some tips for business owners suffering from shopping cart abandonment.
So we decided to add 7 more tips; these didn’t make the cut to our original list.
If you’re a business owners suffering from shopping cart abandonment, and you need help, please don’t hesitate to contact our Stamford, Connecticut web design and marketing headquarters today: 203-276-9812
Here we go:
#1 – Show Customers You’re An Honest Company. If you’re like most people, you’re always concerned before you post your credit card numbers online. Generally, most people get concerned during checkout. That’s why you should start thinking like your customer. Let them know you’re a real company by giving full contact info during the checkout process. Show photos of your company offices, people in your company, your brick and mortar addresses, trucks, t-shirts with your company logo worn by employees—anything that you think will build up the trust factor. If you’re wondering why the big corporations don’t need to do this, it’s because most people trust that they won’t get ripped off by these well-known firms, but with you (a smaller company) it’s different.
#2 – Add Third-Party Reinforcement Messages. Show buttons, logos and stickers that will help “prove” your company and website can be trusted. VeriSign, Credit Card Logos, and the BBB logo (Better Business Bureau) can increase conversions. A HACKERSAFE McAfee Secur rating certification can also help, aid and assist you. Think along these lines.
#3 – Reassure Your Customers (At Strategic Intervals). Have you ever been ready to buy something from an online merchant, but then found yourself wondering who exactly is going to be seeing your credit card information on the other end? I think we’ve all been there before. That’s why it’s important to reassure your customers that you’re a professional and honest merchant. And it’s important to do so at the right time and place. Do things like link to product warranties, indicate shipping costs, have return policies handy, show testimonials, and provide optional extended service plans. If this sounds like a total website revamp, don’t worry. All of this information can open up in a pop-up window. Most importantly, make your assurances at the right time and place.
#4 – Display A Progress Indicator On Checkout Pages. When we, as humans, start or engage in something—anything—we usually like to know “how long this is going to take” or “how many steps are involved.” How long is the car ride?—the movie?—how complicated is this project? And so on. It’s the same with buying something online. Regardless of how many steps in your checkout process, you should provide your customers with a play-by-play. You are now on step #3 of a 6-step process…You are now on step #4 of a 6-step process…etc. Number the steps, and, while you’re at it, you should also label the task-at-hand clearly for each step.
#5 – Make Editing The Shopping Cart Easy. It’s important to give shoppers an opportunity to review what they did in previous steps, while affording them a way to return to their current step if they go back. If your customers get frustrated with your shopping cart, you just lost a sale. Provide a way to change quantities or options, or delete an item from the shopping cart. If a product comes in different sizes, quantities or colors, make it easy to select or change values in the shopping cart.
#6 – Track Your Online Mistakes. It’s always important to be notified of errors during the checkout process. Develop a system that will help you improve your online checkout process. We noticed that with one of our clients, a small segment of his visitors had cookies turned off. We developed a cookie-free checkout option for him and his conversion rate and sales increased dramatically. It’s always important to stay focused on perfection.
#7 – Utilize An “Exit Survey.” If a visitor abandons checkout, offer an incentive to complete a very brief exit survey. A simple question might work well: “Did we do something wrong?” That visitor may tell you exactly why he/she didn’t complete that order.
If your company’s levels of shopping cart abandonment are too high, and you would like a professional and experienced team to help, please don’t hesitate to contact our Stamford, Connecticut web design and marketing headquarters today: 203-276-9812
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