Must have elements of a well designed website

Must Have Elements of a Well Designed Website

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We live in a digital world where it’s almost impossible not to find a business online. Technology has evolved and with it, businesses have adapted to the change in order to stay relevant and profitable.

Having a storefront is no longer the key to success; maintaining a strong online presence.

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Here’s why:

  • It’s a powerful marketing tool that lets people find you and the services you’re offering. Most consumers will do research on their needs and their search begins online
  • Having an online presence gives any business credibility. That’s because most consumers assume businesses will have a website. Without one, consumers might not take the business seriously. It’s important in order to establish a reputation.

Once you’ve decided that you need a website, you should maximize it to its full potential.

A well-designed website should include the following:

  • A purpose

Do you want to educate consumers about your business or organization? Is it a place for people to shop? Think about the type of consumer you’re trying to attract to your website. This will give yourself an idea of how your website should function in order to meet the needs of your consumers and generate more business. 

  • Content 

Content is an important part of any website. It gives you the opportunity to educate and communicate with your customers and connect with new ones. Whether you’re writing blog posts, or simply loading descriptions of your content/services, you want to capture your audience’s attention right away. Be conversational and speak directly to your reader. It will help them connect with you and will influence them in the buying process when it comes time to purchase a service or product. Also optimize your content with right keywords – this will help you rank in Google when someone is searching for your products or services.

  • Easy Navigation

The right type of content on your website is important, but so is the way it’s laid out on your website. That includes organizing the content into headings or categories and using bullet points for large pieces of text. Think about how  easy is for your consumer to navigate through the website to find what they’re looking for. Organizing your content into drop-down menus is a great way to keep everything in their rightful place on your website.

  • Simple fonts

You’ve got the content you want to post online and will have it properly organized. The next logical step in getting your content read is to ensure it’s readable. Present your content using a simple font. Picking a font that’s overly fancy may be distracting to the eye. Remember, you want your viewer’s experience to be a fun, yet purposeful one. Directing them to a page with fonts that don’t accurately represent your business (and aren’t pleasing to the eye) may prevent your viewer from completing their purpose on your site.

  • Don’t be afraid of colour

Choose a soft, yet colourful palette for your website. Complementing colours will create balance and help your content stand out if you use contrasting colours that are pleasing and professional.

When it comes to colours – think about what colour represents your business and your message. Every colour carries a meaning and feel. For brand recognition and continuity you want all your marketing materials to deliver your business message, so keep your website aligned with all your other marketing materials.

  • Add graphics

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, right? Leverage your business online by including infographics and other images that directly speak to your business. Often times, they can effectively communicate a thought and directly target your average consumer. There are plenty of free stock photo websites where you can find appropriate images to suit your needs.

Intact Marketing can make this happen for you

Designing a website and the content, infographics and images that go with it is a lot of work. If you don’t have experience in the design world, you may find it frustrating to create your own website while ensuring it has all of the above.

That’s where Intact Marketing comes in. We’re a full-service marketing company that can assist you with your digital imprint. Whether you need a brand new website designed, or need changes to your current one, we offer flexible packages to suit your needs.

We invite you to take a look at our extensive portfolio – Intact Marketing has designed and managed many company websites. You’ll notice they’re interactive, eye-catching and professional. All of these elements help your business thrive. That’s our mission when it comes to developing your website and personal brand online.

Make a strong impression online with a website that’s designed for success with Intact Marketing!

Successful Social Media Strategy

How To Create a Successful Social Media Strategy

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Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Vine, and the list goes on. There are a ton of social media channels, and most business are using them because they’re a great way to do the following:

  • Reach your target audience;
  • Grow your brand/reputation;
  • Generate sales/leads.

If you’re not on social media, chances are good your competitor is. That doesn’t mean it’s too late to join the social media world, but you have to do it right.

The first step in your social media marketing plan is to build a strategy, one that’s specifically designed to meet your business’ needs.

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It might seem like a lot of work, especially if you don’t know where to start.

Here are some tips to consider while you plan.

  • Pick your social networks

The social media network or channel you choose should work for your business. Perhaps you want a place to post awesome photos, or communicate directly with your audience. Think about why you want to use social media – this will help you make a decision as to what channel will work for you. Remember: you don’t have to be on every social media network; just the ones that are in line with your business goals.

  • Dedicate time and energy to doing it

Is your Instagram account designed to show off the latest and greatest products from your business? Are you using Facebook to provide valuable content? No matter what network you’re using, you have to devote time to being social online. Start off small – aim to spend at least half an hour a day on social media. This way, you can remain consistent without feeling like you’re overwhelmed.

  • Target the right demographic

Social media tools can help you determine which audiences are on what channel, as well as what they’re interested in. Play around with these tools so you can find out exactly where your customers are located. This way, you can reach them better on social media.

  • Complete your profile page

Your social media account(s) are a representation of your company. That’s why it’s important to spend time developing your channel and ensuring you upload information about your company, photos and more. You want your page to look authentic and real. Otherwise, users and potential customers may bypass it. With good visuals and content, your page will stand out from the rest.

  • Develop a strategy

This is where the fun happens! When it comes to social media, you have the ability to post content on specific dates, at specific times, and can even target your posts to specific demographics. With so many factors at play, it might be hard to do all of this at once!

Instead, pick one strategy and stick to it! If your goal is to publish relevant content, do it! Focus on posting without worrying about tracking time. If you’re more interested in posting frequently, then dedicate your time to strictly posting at any given time of the day. Alternatively, you can also be strategic about when you’re posting and focus your time on using the analytic tools within social media channels to determine when your followers are using social media. Track, then post away.

All three strategies are necessary to reach your social media goals (and grow your business). But doing all three at the same time might be too much to handle if you’re new to social media. Focus on taking your time and learning how to use social media before mastering the art.

  • Find your voice

When it comes to generating content, you want your readers to feel confident in you as a source of information. The same goes for social media. You need to find your voice and learn how to communicate in such a way that’s honest and true to you, but that will capture your audience’s attention.

  • Engage with your audience

Social media brings people together. It also brings peoples’ attention to your business. When you have followers who like and comment on your posts, communicate with them! Let them know that you’re paying attention and are a real person behind the page you’re managing.

Social media can seem like a wild new world to explore. If you need help getting your business online, why not contact an expert at Intact Marketing?  It’s our job to not only navigate you through the world of social media, but to help you every step of the way. We can set up your social media channels for you, put a content plan in place, engage with followers and more!

Get in touch with us, and see what a difference Intact Marketing can make in your social media marketing plan

Key To writing an engaging blog

The Key To Writing An Engaging Blog

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Everyone in the marketing industry will tell you that content is king. Why? Content, especially in the form of a blog, is a way for you – and your business – to stay in touch with current customers and entice new ones.

Writing for your audience is a way to grow your business by notifying people about your services, or educating them on what they should know.

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But coming up with the right content for your blog or email newsletter is not always easy. You need to capture your reader’s attention right away. When your audience needs something, your business or service will be top-of-mind.

Keep these tips in mind when you write:

Be conversational

When you sit down to right content, write as if you’re speaking to your audience in person. Make the written content casual by using language you use in everyday conversation. With this tip in mind, you’ll not only have an easier time writing, but your audience or reader will feel more connected because it’s been written with them in mind. On that same note, try not to use too much jargon – industry-related words. Keep your content simple and understandable.

Think quality over quantity

Don’t assume you need to write a 1,000-word blog post or email newsletter. You want to capture your audience’s attention, but you run the risk of losing that attention when a post is too long. After all, don’t you have a limited time to sit in front of the computer to read or check emails?

Keep your blog simple. Keep the message to the point. Provide quality content without worrying about quantity.

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Carefully craft your headline

The headline is the first written word your audience will see before they even begin reading your blog or email.

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After reading the headline, it could be the difference between continuing reading, or deleting the email or switching to a new webpage. In one simple line, summarize the point of your content, the main reason why someone should read it. Then, think about whether or not you would read it. Publish your content when you’re comfortable with what you’ve crafted.

Use proper formatting

The content itself should be easy to read, but so should the way the content is presented. If you’re writing a longer piece, format it so it’s easier for your audience to consume.

Using sub-headings will help keep your thoughts organized, thus keeping your audience focused.

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Using bullet points or numbers also makes it easier for your reader to follow the point you’re trying to get at.

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Finally, consider bolding key words to capture their attention. Bolding draws the readers’ eyes in to an important part of the content. It will also help them identify key points within the piece.

Add visuals

Your content is important, but your audience will appreciate a visual. Adding an image within the blog post or newsletter will not only break up the content, but also gives your reader something else to focus on, especially if that reader is a visual thinker. If you plan on repurposing this content on social media, the added visual is necessary to increase engagement.

Create call to action       

What’s the point of what you’re trying to tell your audience? You don’t want your reader to finish reading the email or blog post and ask themselves, “so what?”

Provide a call to action or solution at the end of the content to convince your audience of what they should do next

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Provide a call to action or solution at the end of the content to convince your audience of what they should do next especially if you are trying to get them to purchase one of your services. Not only will your content provide your reader with valuable information, but you’re also offering help or a solution at the same time.

Be honest!

You’re establishing a relationship with your audience by communicating with them. That’s why it’s important to be upfront and honest. Give your audience specific examples of what they need to know and don’t shy away from revealing some facts about yourself and your business. For example, if company revenues are an important part of your content creation, be upfront about it! Being authentic gives you an authoritative voice, one your readers will appreciate and seek out again.

To market yourself or your services, you need to tell people about it! If content marketing isn’t your forte, why not hire an expert in marketing? Intact Marketing has the tools and expertise to market your business. Check out our website to see what we’ve done for other business. Contact us to find out what Intact Marketing can do for yours.

 

How To market to millennials

How to Market to Millennials

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Millennials are setting trends, either with the adoption of social media, new technology, and even new ideas.  They’re the folks born roughly between 1980 and 1995: the so-called “Generation Y.”

A study by Forbes showed that only 1 per cent of millennials said an advertisement would make them trust a brand more.

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 The group is also the highest demographic of Internet users that install adblocking software.

In a study done by PageFair, 41 per cent millennials in the US have adblocking software of some kind installed.

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 In short, advertising campaigns are not very effective at reaching this demographic and even if they do see the ad, it isn’t going to have much effect.

They want social poofs

Millennials do not want to have something sold to them, but they do want recommendations from friends and family, experts, or even simply a person.

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They respond much better to social media content, conversation, stories, entertainment, and education rather than typical marketing messages and strategies.  For example, a brand like Taco Bell employs a social media strategy that involves humour and engaging with people on Twitter and Facebook.

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Many millennials will look at blogs and reviews before buying into a product, and

62 per cent say they are more likely to become a loyal customer if a brand engages them on social media, according to the Forbes study.

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Engagement, therefore, is key.

Typically most companies will develop a product and hope that their design works in their target market.  42 per cent of millennials, according to the Forbes study, say they’re interested in helping a company tailor a product to their desires.  Getting the customer involved in shaping a service will attract this demographic.  

A unique way to interact with clients and customers is to ask them to help you design something they would be interested in buying.

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 Not only are you creating a product that they will want to purchase, customers will see the effect their suggestions had on the final product.

Support a cause

Another method of attracting millennials attention is giving back to society.

Millennials, during their formative years in high school and college were bombarded with stories of corporate greed, record profits, financial meltdowns, and billion-dollar businesses.  Forbes says 75 per cent of them said it’s important for a company to give back to society in some way, usually through supporting local communities.  This isn’t a simple charitable donation: a bit of community involvement and participation in events can go a long way.

Go where the millennials are

For modern-day marketers hanging out where the Millennials hang out is crucial if you want to reach them. Considering that 85% of them have bought something after seeing it on social media, it’s essential to know just which social platforms they are hanging out in.

According to Social Media Today, Millennials’ top five social hangouts are:

  • YouTube (64%)
  • Facebook (51%)
  • Instagram (45%)
  • SnapChat (42%)
  • Twitter (28%)

The survey also found that video ads are the most effective for the younger portion of Millennials.

To see positive results in your marketing campaigns it is crucial to know your audience and learn how to appeal to them. Each generation comes with its own uniqueness, preferences, and priorities. The Millennial generation is tech-savvy, too smart to be pandered to, socially conscious, and not interested in the established norm. If you want to successfully market to Millennials, you have to work hard to capture their attention, be authentic, and give them the information that they are interested in.

So if you have a product or service that is targeting millennials keep these suggestions in mind. What worked 10 years ago might not be the best marketing strategy when your targeted clients are the GenerationY folks.  Be open to new strategies and mould your marketing tactics according to what works today.

 

Grow your email list

Why growing your eMail list is crucial to build your business?

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One of the biggest pitfalls people fall into when they’re trying to reach existing and potential customers is relying on social media to get the job done. The reality is that these tools — while important — actually don’t reach the people you want to get in touch with all that effectively.

The best way to get a hold of someone is to email them.

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That’s a basic mantra of modern day communications. If you email someone, they will certainly get it at some point. The same thing applies to your customers, and you should be using it to your advantage.

The money is in the list! But why?

The main reason is that the vast majority of people who use the Internet also use email (90 per cent of users, according to internetworldstats.com). Having an email address is almost synonymous with Internet usage. Also, changing your email address is always a pain and only happens after a lot of kicking and screaming. People still hang on to their old hotmail accounts. If you have someone’s email address, you have a more or less permanent way to get in touch with them, whereas a Facebook or Twitter account can be simply deleted or ignored.

If you have someone’s email address, you have a more permanent way to get in touch with them.

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Your email is much more likely to be read. Research has shown that the lifetime of a Facebook post is about four or five hours. Most people who are going to see the post will see it in that time, after which the likelihood of someone reading it goes down. For Twitter, this lifetime is only an hour. 75 per cent of people won’t even see your Facebook posts, and 90 per cent of Twitter followers will miss a tweet.

Email, on the other hand, will continue to be read at a stead pace for about 12 days before the likelihood of someone reading it goes down. Your email list will penetrate and actually be seen instead of ignored or missed entirely.

People check their email religiously, so having your message appear there will make it that much more effective.

Finally, an email is personal.

When someone subscribes to your email list, they’re extending a sort of trust towards you.

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Not only are they more likely to read something you send to them, they are also engaged on a personal level because they’ve invested that part of themselves to you already.

This makes it important to send whatever it is you send to your email list from an account you can reply with and never pester them with spam or junk mail.  Sometimes people may want to send you a message back with questions or comments. This allows you to talk to your subscribers in a one-on-one environment, a much more personal approach than a public post that anybody could stumble by and read.

Email is still the king of getting the message out, no matter what that message might be.