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Want More People to Notice Your Website? 5 Things That You Need to Include

Strategy Driven Online Marketing and Website Development Article | Want More People to Notice Your Website? 5 Things That You Need to Include

Do you have a website for your business that simply isn’t pulling the numbers that you need it to? If so, it may be time to look into investing a bit of money in your website’s design and its SEO. Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is a critical aspect of any website’s success. It involves a wide variety of techniques and strategies that help to increase a website’s visibility and ranking in search engine results pages. In 2023, SEO is not only a requirement for websites to succeed, but it is a necessity!

So, in this article, some of the key elements that websites need to get good SEO will be explored, so you can identify where your website may need a bit of a brush-up.

Keyword Research

One of the most important elements of SEO is identifying the keywords and phrases that your target audience is using to search for the products or services that you offer. This research should be conducted before you create any content for your website, as it will help you to optimize your content for the right keywords. And, with a website designed by Concept4 or another website company, these keywords will be placed in clever locations, such as the blog and landing page, and will not be crammed into your website’s content.

On-Page Optimization

On-page optimization refers to the various elements of your website that can be optimized to improve your SEO. This includes your page titles, meta descriptions, header tags, image alt tags, and internal linking structure. By optimizing these elements, you can help search engines to better understand the content of your website and improve your visibility in search engine results pages.


Content Creation

High-quality content is one of the most important factors in SEO and for your website, you should aim to create content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to your target audience. This can include blog posts, articles, infographics, videos, and more. By consistently creating high-quality content, you can help to establish your website as an authoritative source of information in your industry. However, in order to comply with the Google algorithm and to ensure that you get the ranking needed for your website to be spotted by those who you are aiming your services at, you will need to make sure that all of the content is plagiarism free.

Link Building

Link building refers to the process of acquiring backlinks from other websites. Backlinks are important because they signal to search engines that other websites consider your content to be valuable and worth linking to. There are many different strategies for acquiring backlinks, including guest posting, broken link building, and creating linkable assets such as infographics or original research.

Mobile Optimization

With more and more people using mobile devices to access the internet, it’s essential that your website is optimized for mobile users, or else, you may be turning away up to and over 80% of all internet users!

Making sure this applies to your website includes using responsive design to ensure that your website looks great on all devices, as well as optimizing your site’s load times and navigation for mobile users.

Of course, the best way to make sure that your website is able to compete online is to hire a website designer and a marketing team, so it may be time to start looking!

9 Reasons To Hire A Professional Web Designer

StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article | 9 Reasons To Hire A Professional Web Designer

In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for any business or organization. A website is often the first point of contact between a company and its potential customers, making it essential to have a functional and user-friendly website. While many website builders and templates are available online, hiring a professional web designer can bring significant benefits to your website.

In this blog post, we will explore why hiring a professional web designer is important and how they can help you create a website that will stand out in the competitive online world.

1. Professionalism

Professional designers have the training, expertise, and experience to create functional and effective websites that represent your brand in the best possible way. They understand the importance of delivering quality work on time, meeting your requirements and objectives, and providing excellent customer service. For example, if you run an e-commerce business, a professional web designer can create a website that has the necessary features, such as an easy-to-use shopping cart, secure payment processing, and product recommendations that can increase sales and improve customer satisfaction.

2. Mobile-Friendly Design

Mobile-friendly design is an essential aspect of web design in today’s world, as more and more people are using their mobile devices to access websites. A professional web designer can create a responsive website design that adapts to different screen sizes and resolutions. For instance, a professional WordPress web designer can create a website optimized for mobile devices by ensuring the site’s layout is easy to navigate, the content is legible, and the site loads quickly. With a mobile-friendly design, businesses can ensure their websites are accessible to a wider audience, leading to more traffic, higher engagement, and increased conversions.

3. Time-Saving

A professional web designer can complete the project efficiently, ensuring the website is up and running quickly. This means you can focus on other aspects of your business while the designer creates a website that meets your needs. For example, if you run a small business, you may not have the time or expertise to design a website. Hiring a professional web designer can free up your time and focus on marketing your business while the designer takes care of the website design process.

4. Customization

A professional web designer will work with you to understand your business goals, target audience, and brand identity to create a website tailored to your specific needs. They have the knowledge and experience to design a website that looks great and functions seamlessly while providing a positive user experience for visitors. Working with a professional web designer ensures that your website reflects your unique brand and helps you stand out from competitors in a crowded online marketplace.

5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing a website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). SEO is an essential aspect of website design and development, and it is crucial for attracting organic traffic and generating leads and sales. Here are some reasons why hiring a professional web designer for SEO is essential:

  • Keyword research: Keyword research helps identify terms and phrases being searched by potential customers. A professional web designer can conduct keyword research to identify the most relevant keywords for your business and integrate them into your website content and metadata.
  • Content optimization: Content is king when it comes to SEO, and a professional web designer can optimize your website content to rank higher in search engine results pages. This includes optimizing the title tags, header tags, meta descriptions, and content to ensure they include relevant keywords and are structured correctly.
  • Link building: Link building is a crucial aspect of SEO and involves acquiring backlinks from high-quality websites to improve your website’s authority and ranking. A professional web designer can help you develop a link-building strategy to acquire high-quality backlinks and improve your website’s ranking.

6. Effective Call to Action

Professional web designers have the expertise to design and place CTAs strategically on the website to guide visitors toward taking the desired action, whether it’s making a purchase, filling out a form, or signing up for a newsletter. A professional web designer can also ensure that the CTAs are visually appealing and consistent with the website’s overall design, further increasing the likelihood of a successful conversion.

7. Security

A professional web designer has the knowledge and expertise to implement security measures such as SSL certificates, firewalls, and regular backups to protect your website from hackers and other online threats. For example, a professional web designer can ensure that your website is PCI compliant if you are handling online transactions and protecting your customers’ sensitive information from cyber-attacks. They can also implement multi-factor authentication and other security protocols to safeguard your website and prevent unauthorized access.

8. Ongoing Support

A professional web designer can provide ongoing maintenance and support to address any issues that may arise with your websites, such as broken links or outdated content. For example, if you run an e-commerce website, you may need to update product descriptions or add new products regularly. A professional web designer can handle these tasks for you, saving you time and ensuring that your website is always functioning properly. Additionally, they can provide technical support to troubleshoot any issues with your website and make necessary updates to keep it secure and running smoothly.

9. Cost-Effective

A professional web designer can create a website that is optimized for conversions, ensuring that it generates more leads and sales for your business. A well-designed website can also help you save money on advertising costs, as it can attract organic traffic from search engines and social media. Additionally, a professional web designer can ensure that your website is scalable and can accommodate future growth, saving you the cost of a complete redesign down the line. In short, investing in a professional web designer may require an upfront cost, but it can ultimately save you money and help your business succeed.

Conclusion

Hiring a professional web designer can significantly impact the success of your online presence. With their expertise in design, usability, and functionality, they can create a visually appealing website that functions seamlessly. A professional web designer can save you time and money in the long run by creating a website optimized for search engines that is user-friendly. They can also ensure that your website is mobile responsive, which is essential in today’s world, where mobile devices account for a significant portion of web traffic. Overall, investing in a professional web designer can be a wise decision for any business or individual looking to create a strong online presence.

The Rise of 3D Content in Digital Storytelling

StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article | The Rise of 3D Content in Digital Storytelling

The business value of 3D content for digital storytelling is obvious: it enables you to take your customers through a customized world that demonstrates what you can do. While some still cling to the prejudice that 3D content is ‘gimmicky’, this kind of experience can illustrate your products and solutions in action using realistic settings that your customer will recognize. This makes 3D content a unique asset for your digital storytelling arsenal, provided your digital storytelling software can handle this kind of content.

How 3D Content Tells Your Story in a Unique Way

Using 3D content, your business can draw the invisible connections between physical assets or to show how services are connected, even when they’re physically distant from one another. Some sectors struggle to show the value of their connected products – especially in the software and high-tech sectors, where the ‘action’ can be intangible or invisible. 3D content can visualize these situations.

For example, a technical product manufacturer can show their interconnected solutions in action on a refinery, how these are linked to related solutions in international pipelines, storage facilities, carbon capture, wind power, and power storage. Understanding interlinked concepts like this can be hard without something three-dimensional we can truly grasp.

Another unique quality that 3D content has is the ability to show new possibilities that just don’t exist yet. This means that new technology or products can be shown in a realistic setting, even when there are no existing examples that you can show in action.

The Metaverse: a 3D Internet

The metaverse has gained a lot of attention in recent years, but many feel that it has failed to live up to the promises. It’s important with emerging technologies to take hyperbolic claims with a pinch of salt. Forget the hype and poorly conceived demonstrations and look at ‘the metaverse’ for what it truly is: a 3D internet.

When you strip it down to this basic concept the true potential is laid bare.

Working ‘in the metaverse’ might be a number of years away, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore this incredible technology.  Solid applications for 3D content in the metaverse already exist. Digital storytelling provides measurable value to business, and this will certainly be one of the things that makes a successful jump into the metaverse.

Businesses can gain an advantage by getting to grips with 3D content early-on and exploring how they can use it. Before it becomes necessary to have these capabilities it is wise for companies to already understand how to use 3D content to generate business value.

Starting with a demonstrably practical application like digital storytelling, companies can learn to master 3D content without stretching their resources for merely hypothetical gains.

Using 3D Content With Digital Storytelling Software

Digital storytelling is remarkable for its ability to engage audiences and form strong emotional responses that cement memories in our brains. Things are easier to understand when they’re communicated in the format of ‘a story’, and digital media makes it possible to do this prolifically.  

Businesses typically use professional digital storytelling software to deploy digital stories across multiple distribution points, organize media into a single library, and create multiple targeted versions of stories that reach specific audience groups.

Engagement

When it comes to video content, even digital stories, our attention span is limited. By adding this kind of engaging content to digital stories, it can create a natural ‘break’ that resets the viewers attention span and keeps it interesting.

Interaction

Many companies struggle to find ways of fostering interaction with their digital storytelling. This is especially crucial for immersive Customer Experience Centers, which are the perfect venue for displaying your 3D content. By exploring a three-dimensional model of your product, or walking through a virtual factory, you can give your customers a special and interactive experience that brings them closer to your brand.

Customizable

3D media can also be customizable, by creating multiple variations of virtual environments that display your customer’s own factory using your robots, or showing their branded store with your products. Common elements can be reused, and different ‘rooms’ can be added when needed. Your digital storytelling software helps you achieve this and deploy these customized experiences with minimal effort.

When you add engaging 3D content to digital stories, it can add a new dimension to the experience. So, it’s worthwhile selecting digital storytelling software that can handle 3D content.

The Right Setting for 3D Content in Business

While the value and capabilities of 3D are already becoming clear, what is not clear is the best way of using it.

Is there a ‘right’ setting for 3D content? There are numerous ways that we can experience 3D environments, and businesses will want to know how to direct their investment. Some prognostication would be useful here, but in reality, it is hard to know which technologies will become the most popular ways to explore 3D content in the future.

There are many ways you can display 3D content today. Let’s look at some of the options on the market right now.

VR Goggles

VR goggles have been around for about 30 years, starting with the SEGA VR. Working examples were uncommon for several years, and the technology has struggled to gain popularity. As it became easier to produce 3D content in the 2000s, VR goggles started to return to the public consciousness. Many find them clunky and distracting, and this can limit their applicability. Interaction also relies on a third technology such as gloves or gesture sensors.

Small Screens

From smartphones to desktop computers, smaller screens are the most common way that people explore 3D content. This may remain the primary way for people to interact with the metaverse for a number of years.

Large Screens and Briefing Centers

Briefing centers have a lot to gain from 3D content. These environments are already well set up for this kind of content, as they typically have large screens and digital signage. By interacting directly with a touch-capable screen, customers can easily explore 3D environments and make them curious to learn more.

Customer Experience Centers and Immersive Experiences

Customer experience centers bring a new level of brand experience to the traditional briefing center, often exceeding customer preconceptions. Experience centers often use immersive technologies such as immersive experience rooms to show digital stories and presentations. These are the ideal environment for 3D content because they’re totally immersive without having the drawbacks of cumbersome goggles.

Games and D2C Content

Gamification has become a real buzzword for marketers wanting to create engaging brand experiences and events for their customers. These are especially valuable as part of a D2C initiative as games can help solidify attachment to a brand by encouraging customers to invest themselves (time spent) on building a relationship via a game. 3D content can bring these to life, make them more interactive and engaging.

YouTube Content or Website Videos

Video content has grown immensely in value, and it accounts for a staggering share of internet traffic. Most people prefer to watch a video than read the equivalent text. In many cases, your video content will be the very first point of contact with your brand. Adding 3D content judiciously can boost engagement and help you demonstrate things that are intangible or otherwise hard to show.

Wherever You Want

It’s good to know that with the right digital storytelling software, it doesn’t matter which screen or device your customers use to experience your 3D content. The process for creating the content itself is largely the same, regardless of how you intend to deploy it. This means that you can reuse your 3D content in any setting, provided your digital storytelling software supports it.

Using 3D Content With Your Digital Storytelling

While still developing rapidly, 3D content has already made a niche for itself. Younger generations will become more adept with this kind of content, for whom it is already part of their digital landscape.

One thing is certain: 3D content isn’t going away and will only become more important in the future.

When businesses recognize that the much-hyped ‘metaverse’ is essentially a 3D internet, it is clearer that ignoring it is a dangerous path to take. Mastering 3D content is the first step toward building a metaverse presence, and companies can immediately start to generate value from this content.

If you’re still feeling hesitant, it’s worth reflecting on those poor retailers and businesses that shunned the internet as a ‘fad’ in the 1990s. Ignoring the immense potential of this technology out of fear of the technical aspects is to be done at your peril.

More information about this available on https://www.purplestorytelling.com/.

7 Ways to Ensure Your Startup Gets the Media Attention It Deserves

StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article | 7 Ways to Ensure Your Startup Gets the Media Attention It Deserves

As a startup, one of the big struggles you will face is how to get the word out about your brand. Brand recognition is a goal that all entrepreneurs aim to achieve, and there are many ways to go about it. While creative ad campaigns and clever marketing can make a difference, one of the best ways to establish your initial reputation is by being featured in the media.

But how do you get media coverage when you are just starting?

According to the United States Census Bureau, nearly 5.4 million new business applications were filed during the 2021 calendar year. That’s 5.4 million brands trying to make their mark, attract media attention, and build a reputation. So, how are you going to stand out?

Attracting media attention is a great opportunity, especially for startups. In this article, we are going to look at seven ways that you can engage journalists and media outlets, earn media coverage, and build a solid brand reputation with minimal or no budget:

  1. Write a Press Release
  2. Email a Unique and Customized Pitch
  3. Introduce Yourself on Social Media
  4. Contact Specific Journalists or Reporters by Phone
  5. Pitch Media on Help a Reporter Out (HARO)
  6. Attract Media Attention Using Content Marketing
  7. Get Involved Locally

Write a Press Release

One of the most direct routes for reaching out to the media is to write a press release. Brands often use this technique to showcase major events or milestones in their business. An effective press release is short and sweet at approximately 400-600 words. 

When you finish writing your press release, you can submit it to thousands of media outlets for consideration through PRWeb or PR Newswire.

Email a Unique and Customized Pitch

Rather than waiting for journalists and media organizations to find you and your startup, why not reach out and put yourself in their inbox? This approach is commonly done by pitching journalists and reporters through a carefully worded email. Unfortunately, one of the biggest mistakes business owners make when pitching is sending out a copy and paste pitch to everyone in the hopes that someone will pick it up. As a result, journalists get hundreds of these template-style pitches and often delete them.

Instead, take the time to write a unique pitch for each journalist. Before writing, take some time to read through the articles previously written by that journalist so that you better understand the topics they focus on and how they approach a story. This research will give you some insight to help you write a pitch highlighting why their audience wants to hear your story and how you can provide value.

Your email should share some context on who you are and why they should be interested in what you have to offer. At the same time, you want to keep your pitch concise and to the point. Be upfront about what you pitch and why the editor receiving your email should be interested in covering it. According to The State of Journalism 2020, over 60% of journalists prefer to receive pitches no longer than three paragraphs.  

Introduce Yourself on Social Media

Leveraging social media to reach the media is an underrated strategy. Too often, social media is seen only as a marketing tool, but it’s also a great campaign tool when you get creative.

To begin, write a clear and concise bio on each social media platform that you use. Then, when connecting with reporters, don’t just jump to pitching your brand as a story. Instead, use the platform as an opportunity to connect and engage with journalists and media personnel with whom you want to work.

Like building a relationship with a sales lead, connecting with reporters on social media starts with establishing a connection. You want to be proactive in getting to know them and building a relationship while introducing your new business and its purpose. Not only will this help you to get the attention of the media in the beginning, but it will also create working relationships that can help you in the future with new product launches, announcing brand events, and other newsworthy developments.

Contact Specific Journalists or Reporters by Phone

If there are certain media outlets or journalists that you want to work with, you may wish to make it a priority to reach out to them individually. Journalists and reporters receive email pitches and social media messages every day. A great way to make yourself stand out is to take the time to contact each of these individuals by phone.

First, list the journalists, reporters, and media outlets you consider the most important for sharing your brand’s story. Some factors include the publications that they write for, their location and their writing style. Next, find a phone number for each media contact on your list. 

Finally, set aside a day to make some phone calls. Make sure each conversation is unique to the person you are contacting.

Pitch Media on Help a Reporter Out (HARO)

Another simple (and FREE) way to earn media attention is by pitching reporters on the Help A Reporter Out (HARO) website. Journalists working on a story in your industry will share a query explaining what information they need. 

It could be an answer to a specific question or a quote for a piece they are writing. You can pitch the reporter if you see a query that you believe fits your expertise well. The goal is to help them know that you would be the right expert for their recent piece, earning free press coverage for you and your brand.

Attract Media Attention Using Content Marketing

The Content Marketing Institute defines content marketing as “a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience.” When discussing content marketing, the audience in question is usually an audience of potential clients you hope to attract. However, that’s not the only opportunity to use content marketing to your advantage.

Create content that will showcase your knowledge and expertise to attract the media’s attention when covering topics related to your industry. You win the attention you’re seeking by positioning yourself as an expert in your field.

What content can you create to showcase your competence? This content includes written, video, and audio content such as blog posts, newsletters, emails, and social media posts. Create high-quality content answering common questions or solving problems within your industry. You will come to mind as an expert when journalists work on a piece related to your profession.

Get Involved Locally

Is your startup a locally based business? Pay careful attention to any events that may be occurring in your area that would attract media attention while also aligning with your brand. For example, if you want to build rapport and trust with your clients (and potential clients), you may wish to speak at a local convention or industry event. 

Speaking to an audience in your niche helps you to showcase your knowledge and expertise. If you are more focused on introducing your brand to the community and local media, try volunteering with your staff at a local charitable event. You can showcase how many of you are present from your company by having staff wear company swag or brand colors. And once you manage to build that initial connection, don’t stop. Send simple gestures of appreciation such as thank you cards to let your audience feel that your brand is human. People love brands that connect with them on a personal level.

If you want to make a splash in your community, why not plan your event? Designing your event will ensure the connection between the event and your company is clear and your involvement is noticed. At the same time, you can make a difference and build a reputation that will showcase your startup in the best light possible.

By focusing on these seven strategies, you can position your startup in a way that will attract journalists and media organizations. 

This approach will help you build a brand reputation, highlight your expertise, and begin to establish notoriety in your industry. It’s an investment today that will continue to pay off for years down the road.

Top 7 Factors to Consider When Building Law Firm Websites

StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article, Top 7 Factors to Consider When Building Law Firm Websites

Did you know that 87% of law firms have implemented a mobile strategy?

And if your law firm is serious about doing business and reaching clients, you need a mobile strategy too. And what better way to achieve this than through a law firm website and a good design?

But choosing a website design can be intimidating, especially if you are not tech-savvy. So read below to learn the seven factors to consider when building law firm websites.

1. Your Target Audience

Knowing the firm’s potential clients and their needs allow website designers to tailor the site to meet those needs. The website should cater to target demographics. You should consider their age, income, location, legal practice interests, etc.

2. Your Firm’s Design Aesthetic

The design aesthetic must be carefully considered when designing or updating a law firm’s website. The design should reflect the firm’s positioning, culture, and target market.

Pleasing aesthetics will help visitors feel comfortable and encourage them to learn more about the firm and its services. The design colors, layout, fonts, and images should reflect the principle of a firm. And the overall look of the site should show the professional and trust-inspiring image a law firm wishes to convey.

The colors should project an image of reliability, stability, and seriousness. The design should be well-constructed, simple to understand, and easy to navigate. The images should be of high quality and fit with the goal of the firm and its message.

If you want to see this example, check out Alpha Accident Lawyers and their website.

3. User Experience

You need to optimize your web user experience to ensure users have an enjoyable, intuitive, and efficient experience. Key elements should include intuitive navigation and aesthetically pleasing design.

Users should also have easy access to information and helpful resources. And you should incorporate clear calls to action and a modern blog.

Navigation should be organized and logical. You should display your content so that users can access what they need without getting overwhelmed. The design should be modern, unique, and appealing for users to remember.

Access to information should be easy and intuitive, including being visible up front and center on the website. Resources should be available to provide visitors with helpful information on various legal topics and services.

Calls to action should be clear and concise. They should encourage users to take action, such as filling out the contact form or scheduling a consultation. And adding a blog and providing useful, engaging content can help build a loyal audience who come to the site for helpful information.

4. Mobile-Friendliness

Studies have found that over 59% of web traffic originates from smartphones. So as more and more users are switching to mobile devices to access websites, creating a mobile-friendly website is essential.

Developing a mobile version of the law firm’s website can help enhance the visitor experience. It ensures a more successful website launch. Mobile optimization helps to provide better performance and increase website usability.


5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

In the age of digital marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) increases website traffic. And there are vital elements to consider when constructing a website for a law firm and optimizing for SEO.

First, consider the keywords for the law firm and the related topics where appropriate. Second, create content that targets the intended niche, and that utilizes the keywords from the research. Third, ensure that titles and metadata are meta-tagged with relevant keywords.

Fourth, create backlinks from other legal sites and business websites, as well as through social media and blogger reviews. Fifth, optimize website loading speed. Sixth, use alt-tags to help search engines index images and videos.

And you have to leverage SEO. Include inbound and outbound links, utilize headings, and build a customer feedback system. These will all show authority and build trust for the law firm.

6. Social Media Integration

Social media integration is one of the critical factors to consider when building a law firm website. Social media can promote a law firm’s services. It can also help you connect with potential clients and build relationships with new and existing clients.

Integrating social media into your web design budget allows visitors to find and interact with your firm. And it provides extra content to generate leads.

Connecting with interested clients through social media content can then help build relationships. This is while developing greater brand recognition and a more extensive follower base.

Additionally, providing accessible social media links allows visitors to find blogs fast. And establishing an integrated social media strategy can help reinforce the law firm’s identity.

7. Site Security & Quality Assurance

Site security and quality assurance are essential when building a website for marketing law firms. It is crucial to encrypt all website content. And malware and other malicious software mustn’t be present on or accessible through the website.

The law firm should use high-quality assurance standards for auditing its website security measures. They might also need these standards in conducting ongoing software updates. This will help to identify potential security loopholes and enable the firm to keep the website up-to-date and risk-free.

Furthermore, the law firm should have a clear website privacy policy. This ensures they can protect the data they collect from their users. This includes monitoring user activities and limiting access to delicate information.

A secure, trustworthy and reliable website is the foundation for a successful law firm website. So it should be given the highest priority.

Start Your Journey By Building Law Firm Websites Now

Effectively building law firm websites should go beyond aesthetically pleasing designs.

They must consider the seven factors discussed above. Take the time to ensure these key components are addressed to create an online presence that reaches and engages potential clients.

What are you waiting for? Build your law firm website today and boost your presence online!

Do you want more trivia and advice? Then, keep scrolling through our blog for more fascinating reads.