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What makes a good website design?

11/01/2023 by scmarketing

As a small business owner, you’re well aware the importance of having an effective online presence which can make a huge difference to your business in attracting and retaining business. One of the key aspects of creating a good online presence is with great website design. A website that’s user-friendly, visually appealing, and easy to navigate can go a long way in engaging with potential customers. But it can be challenging to know where to begin.

In this blog, we’ll break down some of the key elements of effective website design for small businesses.

1. Establish your goals

Before you start designing your website, it’s important to establish your goals. What do you want to achieve with your website? Do you want to increase sales, generate leads, or provide information about your product or service? Once you know what you want to accomplish with your website, you can begin to create a plan for how to achieve those goals.

2. Choose the right platform

There are many different options available, from content management systems (CMS) such as WordPress through to custom-built websites using HTML and CSS. It’s important to consider the features of each platform, as well as which one best fits your budget and technical abilities.

3. Design a user-friendly layout with clear navigation

Once you’ve chosen a platform for building your website, it’s time to start designing the layout of the site. When creating a user-friendly layout, there are several factors that should be taken into account such as navigation menus, page structure, and visual hierarchy.

The goal is to create an intuitive design that allows visitors, as well as search engines such as Google, to navigate your website simply, intuitively, and easily. It should guide your web visitors through your site and help them to find what they need quickly and efficiently. Visitors to your website should be able to find the information they’re looking for without being confused or lost. Therefore, a clean, concise, and well-organised navigation menu can improve your user experience.

A well-designed website encourages users to stay on your site longer and explore what you have to offer much more. A user-friendly design incorporates the use of easy-to-read fonts, contrasting colours, and effective images.

4. Effective branding

Your website is the face of your business, and it’s essential that your website embodies your branding. Your site’s colour schemes, logo, and message should complement your business’s branding. Consistency is critical, and it ensures that your customers can quickly recognise your brand when they come across your site. This will go a long way in building brand trust for your business.

5. Visual elements that are on brand

Visual elements such as images and videos can help make your website more engaging and memorable for visitors. When selecting visuals for your website, it’s important to keep in mind the overall look and feel of the website as well as any brand guidelines that need to be followed.

Use high-quality visuals that will look great on all devices and screen sizes.

6. Responsive design

With the rise of mobile and tablet browsing, responsive design is essential. It should automatically adjust to the size of the screen on which it is being viewed.

Most people now use mobile devices to access the internet rather than a desktop computer. So, it’s important to optimise your website for all devices. This helps to make your site more accessible to a wider audience.

7. Incorporate SEO strategies

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is also important to consider as part of creating your online presence and incorporated into a website design from the beginning stages of web development.

By optimising titles, meta descriptions, headings, image alt text, URLs. And, don’t forget clear call to actions. This all goes to making it easier for search engines like Google and Bing to index your webpages so they appear in search results when people are looking for products or services related to yours.

8. Quality and relevant content

Your content will form part of your ongoing SEO strategy. A website’s content is the driving force behind web traffic generation, and it’s important that your content should be of high quality. Content should be relevant, informative, and engaging so that it attracts and keeps your visitors’ attention.

By creating quality, regular and relevant content, you can attract and retain more web visitors. You can also reduce website bounce rates and help to boost your website ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs).

9. Optimise your website for speed

Page loading speed is an important factor when it comes to user experience on websites. If web pages take too long load users may become frustrated or leave before completing their desired action on the site such as making a purchase or booking an appointment.

10. Test your website

Before making your website live, it’s important that you test it thoroughly first. Check everything is working properly including buttons and links ensuring there are no errors or bugs present on the site.

This includes testing all functionality such as form submission or ecommerce checkout processes as well as ensuring all links are working correctly so visitors don’t get stuck navigating around the website unnecessarily.

11. Monitor performance & make adjustments as needed

It’s important that you monitor performance metrics on an ongoing basis. Understanding metrics such as page views, bounce rate or conversion rate will allow you to identify areas where improvements can be made in order increase engagement with visitors.

Web design Croydon

To create an effective website that helps your business grow, you must first understand what makes a good website design. From clear navigation to quality content, responsive design, and effective branding, your website must cater to your target audience’s needs, keeping their experience smooth and simple as possible. A well-designed website can increase your visibility, boost your brand’s awareness, and generate revenue.

Get in touch about our website design SEO services in Croydon. As a digital marketing agency business in Croydon, we can also provide local businesses with marketing support including social media marketing; pay per click advertising and ongoing SEO services.

What are Content Management Systems (CMS)?

10/25/2023 by scmarketing

How Can CMS websites help your business grow?

One of the most effective ways to achieve great online presence is through the development of a website that efficiently communicates your brand values and offers potential customers a seamless browsing experience.

Content Management Systems websites provide small business owners with a way of easily managing and updating content on their website. This helps streamline website modifications and helps to free up precious time.

Here, we explore what Content Management Systems software is, and how CMS websites can help your business grow.

What are CMS websites?

Content Management Systems (CMS) websites are platforms that allow non-technical users the ability to manage, modify, and publish digital content on their website.

CMS websites allow for the separation of a website’s design from its content, which makes it easy for business owners or employees to update their website without the need for extensive coding knowledge.

WordPress is the most popular CMS platform software used today, offering affordable and easy-to-use tools and plugins.

With CMS, it’s a lot easier to modify design templates such as colours, fonts and layouts to match your brand image and enables you to publish engaging content quickly.

What are the benefits of having a CMS website for my business?

For small business owners who are short on time and capital, CMS provides significant advantages, from reducing the time required for updates to increasing the efficiency of the website maintenance process.

With simplified access to websites, changes can be made quickly. This allows for new content to be uploaded regularly and enables businesses to share fresh and engaging material that matches their brand voice.

CMS also offer plugins that make scheduling and publishing content effortless, ensuring that your customers enjoy a seamless browsing experience each time they visit your website.

CMS solutions offer a greater level of control over your website’s search engine optimisation (SEO). You can optimise your website for search engines by adding meta tags, descriptions and relevant keywords which all help to make your website more visible in search engine results pages (SERPs).

How do I choose the right CMS platform for my business?

As a small business owner, choosing a CMS platform requires careful consideration. There are different CMS platforms such as WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, Wix – all of which offer different features, pricing, support, and scalability.

WordPress is perhaps one of the most popular platforms today offering scalability and a more customisable approach to website development.

You may want to begin by defining your website goals and technical requirements like the number of web pages or capability of plugins needed.

Once you have defined your requirements, you can select a platform that offers the capabilities that align with your business goals.

Web design consultants

This is where you may want to work with a website design and development agency. A team of professional experts can take your design ideas and business goal requirements and create the website for you.

The web developer can then provide training so that you can add content yourself moving forward. This way you will have a modern, visually stunning, on brand fully optimised and mobile friendly website that is easy to navigate for your web visitors and search engines alike.

You will have a great platform to then create and add content yourself, at your own pace and within your cost and time constraints.

Professional websites for business growth

Content Management Systems (CMS) websites can be useful for small business owners who want to create a professional website quickly and easily with the opportunity to manage it in the future.

CMS platforms provide enhanced functionality, search engine optimisation and website manageability. These websites offer an excellent alternative to traditional website development, making it easier for small business owners to build and maintain their businesses online.

When choosing a CMS platform, business owners may want to consider technical requirements, scalability, pricing, and the level of support options available. With the right approach, CMS can be a crucial element in helping your business grow online.

Talk to our team of web design experts about what may be the right platform for your business.

Key reasons why your business needs a website

10/18/2023 by scmarketing

Having a website for your business is essential. A website can help you establish an online presence, reach out to potential customers, and grow your business.

Unfortunately, many small business owners still shy away from having a website due to time, money, or technical expertise. Here, we discuss key reasons why your business needs a website and why not having one could impact your bottom line.

1. Establish your online presence

Having a website is essential for any business in today’s digital world. It’s vital for establishing your online presence. A website enables potential customers to learn about your products or services. It offers a place to book services or purchase items directly from you.

It serves as a platform for you to share news and updates about your business with the world and, importantly, to be found by search engine results pages (SERPs) when potential customers search online. A professional website makes you credible and helps you stand out against your competitors.

2. Grow your business

By having a place that people can refer to, a website can certainly help you grow your business. This eliminates the need for them to visit physical stores, which saves them time and money while allowing you to increase sales without having additional overhead costs associated with running brick-and-mortar stores. Having an eCommerce store on your website makes it easier for customers around the world to purchase items from you without having to worry about shipping costs or other logistics related issues.

3. Increase brand awareness

A website is one of the best ways for small businesses owners to increase brand awareness among their target audience. By creating content such as blog posts, videos, podcasts, infographics, small businesses owners can build relationships with their target audience and increase their visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) with the use of relevant keywords.

A well-designed website helps build trust among potential customers as they become familiar with your brand and messaging.

4. Enhance customer service

Enhance customer service by providing helpful information on your website such as FAQs (frequently asked questions) pages and customer support forums where customers can ask questions and receive answers quickly from knowledgeable staff members.

Websites allow businesses owners the opportunity to create customer loyalty programs which reward loyal customers with discounts or special offers which encourages them come back again in the future.

5. Generate leads

Having a website is one of the most effective ways small businesses owners can generate leads for their business.

A website can be used as a tool to reach new customers who may not have found out about your business otherwise. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram allow you to share links back to your website which makes it easier for potential customers to find out more about what you offer without having to leave the site they are already on.

Having an optimised website and with the use of other digital marketing tactics such as email marketing and social media posts you can help drive traffic to your website and introduce more people to your products or services.

Once on your website, forms with clear calls to action allow visitors to submit information so they can be contacted at a later date regarding promotions or new products/services being offered.

Remember – a website makes it easier for customers to refer friends or family members who may be interested in what you have to offer.

6. Build relationships

Your website can be a great way to build relationships with your customers and prospects. You can use your site to promote special events, offer helpful resources, and provide a way for people to contact you with questions or concerns.

Use your website to create a blog or newsletter that provides value to your customers and positions you as an industry thought leader.

7. Improve your online visibility and boost sales

Optimising your website and using the right keywords can improve your visibility online and potential sales. With the right keywords in place as part of your search engine optimisation (SEO) strategy will help your ranking in search engine results pages.

Making it easier for customers to do business with you can help increase your sales. With an e-commerce website, customers can browse and purchase your products online. You can provide detailed product descriptions, upload photos, and even include customer reviews to help potential customers make informed purchase decisions. You can also offer promotions and discounts to encourage customers to buy from your website.

But even if you aren’t selling products, a website is still vital. A simple brochure website is still important for businesses selling their services.

8. Analyse user behaviour

Gain valuable insights into user behaviour and use this knowledge to improve aspects of online presence. This can include increasing conversion rates through AvB testing different versions of webpages or optimising content based on user feedback collected through surveys or polls hosted on websites or via social media channels.

9. Stay ahead of Competitors

Get the edge over competitors who don’t have a good online presence. Your website allows you to stay ahead of competition by being able provide better service than those who don’t have an online presence. A well designed, optimised and mobile friendly website will help ensure that potential customers find the right information quickly when searching online.

10. Establish credibility

In today’s digital age, not having a website could actually hurt your business’s credibility. Consumers expect businesses to have a website where they can learn more about the business at a time and place suitable for them. If they can’t find your website, they may question your legitimacy or assume that you’re not tech savvy. A professional website can give your business a competitive edge and help establish trust with potential customers.

A website is at the centre of your marketing strategy

Having a professional website design is a crucial part of your marketing strategy. It can help you reach potential customers, establish your credibility, and grow your business. By building a professional website that is optimised for search engines and mobile devices, you can attract new customers, increase sales, and build lasting relationships.

Web design agency Croydon

Don’t let your business fall behind the competition. Invest in a website today and start reaping the benefits of a strong online presence.

For high-quality professional web design and development of WordPress websites, contact Smart Cow Marketing. We can work with you to tailor a modern, responsive website for your business growth needs.

Email Marketing: A strategic tool for small businesses

10/12/2023 by scmarketing

In today’s digital world, email marketing has become an effective way for small businesses to reach and engage their target audiences. Email campaigns allow businesses to connect with their customers and prospects on a regular basis, thus establishing strong and lasting relationships with them. Email marketing also helps companies to increase conversions, generate leads, and grow their businesses. In this blog, we explore the benefits of email marketing and how it can be used as a strategic tool for small business owners.

Direct line of communication: Email marketing is a direct and effective way for businesses to communicate with their customers and prospects. Through personalised emails, businesses can convey their brand message, promote upcoming products or services, share valuable content, and ask for feedback or reviews. Email marketing campaigns can be automated, which means that businesses can send targeted and relevant messages to specific segments of their audience based on their interests, behaviour, or demographic data.

Cost-effective: Email marketing is a cost-effective way for small businesses to promote their products or services. Unlike traditional marketing methods such as print or TV ads, email campaigns allow businesses to reach a large audience with a minimal budget.

Email marketing platforms such as Mailchimp or Hubspot, offer various features such as email templates, tracking, reporting, and analytics. This makes it easy for businesses to create and measure the success of their campaigns.

Increases brand awareness: Email marketing is a great tool to increase brand awareness and recognition. Through regular emails, businesses can position themselves as thought leaders in their industry, share their expertise, and showcase their products or services.

Adding social sharing buttons to emails can also encourage subscribers to share the content with their networks, thus increasing the reach and visibility of the brand. Including links back to your website also helps to improve your online presence.

Increases conversions: Email marketing campaigns can increase conversion rates by encouraging subscribers to take action. By including clear calls-to-action in emails, businesses can direct their subscribers to their website, online store, or landing page.

By offering exclusive deals, discounts, or promotions, businesses can motivate their subscribers to make a purchase and thus increase their revenue.

Builds trust and loyalty: Email marketing is a powerful tool for small businesses to build trust and loyalty with their customers and prospects. By consistently providing valuable and relevant content, engaging with their subscribers, and addressing their concerns or questions, businesses can establish a strong relationship with them.

Sending personalised emails such as welcome messages or birthday wishes can make subscribers feel appreciated and valued, which can lead to long-term loyalty.

Email marketing for Croydon businesses

Email marketing is a strategic tool that small businesses can use to reach and engage their target audiences, increase conversions, and grow their businesses. With its direct line of communication, cost-effective nature, ability to increase brand awareness, boost conversions, and build trust and loyalty, email campaigns are a smart investment for small businesses. By understanding the benefits of email marketing and implementing it effectively, small business owners can take their businesses to the next level and succeed in today’s competitive market.

Digital marketing services

Contact our digital marketing agency and discuss your next email marketing campaign as part of a wider digital marketing strategy. Our services include, email marketing, search engine optimisation services, web design, pay per click marketing and social media marketing.