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What makes a good website design?

04/19/2023 by scmarketing

As a small business owner, you’re well aware of the importance of reaching out to your customers in the best possible way. Having an effective online presence can make a huge difference. One of the key aspects of creating an online presence is 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.

Clear navigation

The navigation of your website should be simple, intuitive, and easy to use. It should guide your 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.

Responsive design

Your website must be responsive – that is, it should automatically adjust to the size of the screen on which it is being viewed. With the rise of mobile and tablet browsing, responsive design is essential.

Most people now use mobile devices to access the internet rather than a desktop computer. So, it’s important to optimise your website for these devices. A responsive website design ensures that users can access your website from any device. This helps to make your site more accessible to a wider audience.

Quality and relevant content

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 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).

Effective branding

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

User-friendly design

A well-designed website encourages users to stay longer and explore more. A user-friendly design incorporates the use of easy-to-read fonts, contrasting colours, and effective images.

Your website should be optimised for fast load times to ensure a great user experience. This should be part of a wider and ongoing Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) strategy. A website design SEO consultant can talk you through at early design stages.

A user-friendly website design can also help web visitors take the desired action including subscribing to a newsletter, purchasing a product, or booking a meeting.

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.

Getting personal: The changing landscape of LinkedIn posts

04/19/202304/17/2023 by scmarketing

It’s no secret that LinkedIn has long been the go-to platform for professionals looking to network and expand their careers. But lately, this social media giant has been undergoing a transformation of sorts. With more and more members sharing personal stories and thoughts, LinkedIn is no longer just the place to post your CV and industry news. But what sparked this shift? And what does it mean for small business owners who use LinkedIn to connect with potential clients and partners?

In this article, we’ll explore how the pandemic, Zoom meetings, and a growing desire for authenticity in professional settings have all contributed to this new trend of “getting personal” on LinkedIn.

Showcasing skills

For many years, LinkedIn has been viewed as a place to showcase one’s professional skills and accomplishments. The platform serves as a digital CV, allowing members to highlight their careers and connect with others in their industry. It wasn’t entirely uncommon to see articles and posts related to industry trends and business best practices, but personal stories were few and far between.

However, in recent times, that has changed. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shift to remote work created a sense of isolation for many people. Face-to-face interactions were replaced with Zoom calls, which can often feel impersonal and disconnected. Many LinkedIn members began to use the platform as a way to share their personal experiences and connect with others on a more emotional level.

Be authentic

The desire for authenticity in professional settings has been growing for some time. In a world where social media filters and staged Instagram photos dominate our feeds, LinkedIn members have been seeking out more genuine and relatable content. Personal stories that touch on topics like mental health, work-life balance, and career setbacks have all become more common on the platform.

But should these personal posts be restricted to Facebook or Instagram? Many argue that LinkedIn is not the place for such content, and that personal stories do not belong in a professional setting.

However, there is evidence to suggest that sharing personal stories on LinkedIn can actually be beneficial. For one, it allows small business owners to connect with potential clients on a more direct and personal level. When clients feel that they know and trust a business owner, they are more likely to work with them.

Sharing personal stories can help establish a business owner’s brand and position themselves as an expert in their industry. By sharing insights gained from personal experiences, business owners can demonstrate leadership and a unique perspective that sets them apart from competitors.

One of the significant advantages of sharing personal stories on LinkedIn is the increased visibility that comes with it. The LinkedIn algorithm prioritises content that generates engagement, meaning posts that spark discussion or elicit an emotional response from others. Personal stories often fall into this category, as they tend to resonate with others on a deeper level.

Connecting on a personal level

The landscape of LinkedIn has undergone a significant shift in recent years, and personal posts are becoming increasingly common. While some may argue that such content belongs on Facebook, there are several benefits to sharing personal stories on LinkedIn, especially for small business owners.

By connecting with potential clients on a more personal level, establishing brand, and increasing visibility, business owners can leverage the power of the platform to help grow their businesses. As we continue to adapt with hybrid/remote work and seek out genuine connections in our professional lives, it’s likely that this trend of “getting personal” on LinkedIn will continue to grow.

Exploring the benefits of PPC for generating leads and increasing sales

04/19/202304/13/2023 by scmarketing

As a business owner, you’re constantly looking for ways to increase your visibility and reach new customers. One effective marketing strategy you can use to accomplish this goal is Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising. With a PPC campaign, you pay each time someone clicks on one of your ads, which can help to increase your website traffic and generate leads for your business.

In this article, we’ll explore the many benefits of a PPC campaign and how it can help your business grow.

Increased visibility

PPC campaigns such as Google Ads can help to increase the visibility of your website. When people search for keywords related to your business, your ad will appear at the top of the search results such as in Google, which increases the likelihood customers will click on it. This can significantly increase traffic to your website and help to generate leads, ultimately leading to an increase in sales.

Targeted advertising

One of the most significant benefits of PPC advertising is that it allows you to target your ad to a specific audience by selecting the right keywords. With keyword targeting, this helps your ad appear in search results that are relevant to your business. You can also select the location and time of day for maximum impact.

Cost-effective

PPC campaigns can be a cost-effective marketing strategy because you only pay when someone clicks on your ad. This means that you’re targeting your advertising to people who are more likely to be interested in your product or service. Additionally, the cost per click can be lower than other advertising methods, making it a more affordable option for small businesses.

Increased brand awareness

Having your ad appear at the top of the search results can help to increase brand awareness among potential customers. Even if someone doesn’t click on your ad, they are still seeing your brand name, logo, and message. This can help to create brand recognition, which may result in future sales from the same customer.

Landing pages

Once a prospect clicks on your ad you must also ensure that the information on your website landing page is relevant and easy to navigate. This can further help to encourage sales, bookings or downloads.

Measurable results

One of the main benefits of a PPC campaign is that you can track your results and measure your return on investment (ROI). This means you can see what keywords and ad campaigns are performing the best and adjust your strategy accordingly. By having access to detailed Google analytics (or other search engine results), you can make informed decisions about your marketing spend and optimise your campaigns for maximum performance.

PPC marketing for Croydon business owners

A well-executed PPC campaign can be a powerful tool for small business owners looking to increase their visibility, generate leads, and ultimately grow their business. The benefits of PPC advertising include increased visibility, targeted advertising, cost-effectiveness, increased brand awareness, and measurable results. By leveraging these benefits, you can create a successful PPC campaign that helps your business achieve its growth goals.

We’re a PPC agency in Croydon and can help local businesses set up your first Google ads campaign and provide monthly PPC management services. We can also review your current campaign and help save you money on your ad spend.

Find out more about all our digital marketing services here.

Email Marketing: A great way to reach your target audience

04/19/202303/21/2023 by scmarketing

With the digital world constantly evolving, a myriad of marketing tactics are available for small businesses to reach their target audience. While most business owners focus on the more modern digital marketing methods, it’s easy to forget about one of the oldest and most effective ways of increasing website traffic–email marketing. With an estimated 4 billion users daily, email is still a great way to reach your target audience. Let’s explore why you should consider email marketing.

How does email marketing work?

In simple terms, email marketing involves sending emails from your business to your customers or prospects in order to encourage them to engage, take action and visit your website. Content could include anything from monthly e-newsletters and special offers, to highlighting latest blog posts and events notifications. The goal is always the same – get customers back on your website!

With so many people using email every day (around 4 billion!) it makes sense that email should be part of any good digital marketing strategy. Not only does it give you the chance to engage directly with your customers and potential customers, but it also helps build relationships with them over time. This increases customer loyalty and builds brand recognition – both of which are essential for long-term success in any industry.

And let’s not forget about SEO! By sending emails to potential customers that link back to your website, you’re also helping improve its search engine visibility over time by increasing the number of links pointing back to it from other websites or sources – something that is incredibly important for SEO purposes!

Why use email marketing?

Email marketing offers a variety of benefits for business owners. It allows you to send personalised messages directly to customers that can be tailored to their interests or needs. As well as being highly cost-effective, this method also allows you to track how successful your campaigns are. You can measure open rates and click-throughs so that you know what kind of content resonates with your customers best and adjust your strategy accordingly.

You can get direct access to your target audience whether they are at home, work or on the go, allowing you to provide timely updates and information about special offers or discounts they may be interested in.

You can also segment your customer base into different groups based on their interests or preferences. This means that rather than sending out generic emails that don’t engage anyone in particular, you can tailor each message specifically for each group so that everyone receives content relevant to them—increasing the chances of success significantly!

Drive more web traffic with email marketing

Email marketing is an effective way of driving more traffic to your website. With billions of people using email every day, there’s no better time than now for small businesses owners looking for an efficient way of reaching their target audience and increasing their online presence! So, if you haven’t already started using email as part of your digital strategy then now might just be the perfect time!