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Ways To Ensure Your Website Helps Your Business Grow

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article, Ways To Ensure Your Website Helps Your Business Grow

Having a business website is a significant step, especially if you want to beat the stiff competition in whatever industry you run your operations. Nonetheless, just having a website is not enough – you must ensure that it plays a role in helping your business grow. If that feels overwhelming, this article will be a pretty essential tool to help you understand how you can ensure your business website contributes to your entrepreneurial success. That is why it is recommended to follow along with the information explained below to get a clearer glimpse.

Working With Professionals

Modern technology is not stagnant, meaning the experts in that sector keep making significant changes and improvements. You can create a website yourself, but it will not be as good as when you procure professional web design Raleigh NC-based services. Fortunately, web designing contractors have increased over the last few years, considering that the demand for their services has also escalated. Therefore, you have a wide variety to choose from when hiring such a technological expert.

Create Attractive Content

The content you post on your business website determines how high or low the traffic will be. Increasing traffic on your website starts by having excellent and impeccable content on your website to attract visitors to it. An increase in visitors is a sure way to achieve a higher conversion rate. Additionally, if you consistently post great content, you will be enhancing your current clients’ loyalty to your products. Research shows that having great posts, images, and articles on your website boosts people’s trust in whatever goods or services you offer on the market.

Consider Search Engine Optimization

Clients get interested in businesses whose websites appear top on different search engines. Optimizing your website for search engines is one of the best ways to ensure your clients and prospects have an easy time finding you online. The convenience of an optimized website is unrivaled, which is what most clients are looking for today. Luckily, there are many contractors to help you with SEO optimization, and most of them will charge you reasonable amounts. That is because competition in the industry has gone up. Once you get such services, your website will appear among the first on Google and other search engines. That means you will get more traffic, and your website will help promote your enterprise.

Embrace Prompt Responsiveness

One of the critical things that clients look for on different websites is how fast they get replies to their questions, comments, reviews, and concerns. Therefore, if you want to keep such individuals attracted to your products, you must be willing to sacrifice your time to ensure you are always online to address any issues.

Running a business website is not a walk in the park. You must be vigilant to ensure you are ahead of your competitors. There are several ways to achieve that, but the ones explained above are the most effective. Therefore, ensure you follow them to the letter if you want to see your website help you grow your enterprise.

5 Ways to Eliminate Comment Spam and Boost Real Conversations

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article, 5 Ways to Eliminate Comment Spam and Boost Real Conversations

Blogging is one of the best marketing tools for businesses and influencers. It’s a great way to share one’s knowledge, expertise and opinions. It’s also a great way to build a community of like-minded people.

The only way you can really create that sense of community though, is to boost real conversations among your readers.

Not only do comments make many bloggers feel good, knowing their work has been seen and appreciated, but it’s also a really great way to connect with your audience on a more human level. It allows people to ask questions and get answers, to offer their support, to express their opinions and even build new friendships.

Which is why it’s important to make your blog’s comment section an inviting space.

1. Eliminate Comment Spam

As many bloggers and blog readers know, comment spam is just a part of life online. The bigger your blog grows, the more comment spam there is. It’s never ending, but that doesn’t mean you have to give in.

What is Comment Spam?

So, what is comment spam? Well, comment spam is a term used to describe a broad range of comments that are unwelcome. Often, these are comments left by people advertising products or trying to get people to click on whatever link they’ve left.

Comment spam doesn’t add any value and needs to be eliminated if you want to boost real conversations.

Why You Need to Eliminate Comment Spam

Comment spam is a big deal. It’s not just annoying, but it has a few negative effects on your blog and your reputation.

First of all, if you allow comment spam to sit around, Google will punish your domain by ranking you lower on search engine results. Google sees comment spam as a bad thing, too. Even if you just have spam links in your comment section, Google might assume you have it on other places on your website and can greatly affect your pageviews. Just check your analytics and you’ll see.

Comment spam actually puts your readers in danger. You want your website to be a safe place that people can trust. If a reader clicks on a link left in your comments that directs them to a malware site, their computer could be infected with spyware. That reader won’t feel safe on your site again and likely won’t come back.

Leaving comment spam makes you look like you don’t care. You should be taking the time to clean out any unwelcome comments, which could be links to anything from advertisements to even porn sites or viruses. People won’t want to leave a comment if it looks like you don’t take the time to look through them.

How to Eliminate Comment Spam

Now that you know why it’s necessary to eliminate comment spam, you need to know how to do it.

There are five main ways to eliminate comment spam on your blog:

  1. Configure WordPress to minimize comment spam. Do this by setting it so comments must be manually approved before they are posted. If you’re still new to WordPress, you can read up on the basics here that’ll guide you through how to set your site up.
  2. Install an anti-spam plugin.
  3. Use a third-party comment-hosting platform.
  4. Shift the conversation to social media.
  5. Remove comments from your blog completely.

It might seem easier to just get rid of comments altogether, but allowing comments on your blog is a great way to continue the conversation.

So assuming you don’t want to remove comments from your blog or shift the conversation to social media, you should focus on the first three steps.

Interested in learning how to boost real conversation in your comment section? Keep reading.

2. Make It Easy

Some blogs make it incredibly difficult to leave a comment. Some require you to fill out robot tests, others require you to sign into Facebook, or even require you to share your email address. If it’s too much work, though, people aren’t going to bother leaving a comment at all.

There are a number of commenting systems that make leaving comments a lot easier. Even better, some commenting systems make it easier to keep track of comments you’ve left on other blogs so you can reply easier and continue the conversation.

Most people aren’t going to go back to the blogs they’ve commented on to see if they got a reply, so having a commenting system would really help.

Commenting systems also make it easier to moderate comments, fight spam, notify commenters of replies, offers lead generation, and more. They’re also easy to install on any WordPress blog no matter what hosting you have.

3. Write Compelling Content

If you want people to leave comments you need to give them a reason to. Quality content that’s thought-provoking and interesting will make it more likely that people will leave meaningful comments.

Surprisingly, one of the best techniques to really take your content to the next level and inspire people to comment is emotion. Add emotion into your blog posts and you’re much more likely to receive more comments.

There are a number of emotions you can try to provoke. It can be inspirational, it can be sad, or exciting, or it can even be upsetting. If you get someone to feel something, they’ll likely want to express it.

In fact, blog posts that discuss controversial topics are much more likely to get more comments that boost real conversations among people.

4. Ask Questions

A lot of bloggers now ask at least one question at the end of every blog post in hopes it will inspire their readers to answer it in the comment section. For many of these bloggers, the closing paragraph is often something like, “What would you add to this list?” But that’s not going to get people to comment.

If you really want to increase reader engagement you should ask questions throughout your blog post that actually gets people to think.

According to ProBlogger there are seven types of questions you should ask. These questions include:

  • What do you think?
  • How do you feel?
  • What will you do?
  • What is your opinion?
  • What is your story?
  • What is your experience?
  • What have you been working on?

So, for example, if you’re writing a blog post about a book you read, you can ask your readers if they have read it, what they thought of it, how it made them feel, or even if they would recommend it to someone and why. Always ask open-ended questions to guarantee a response.

5. Reply to All Comments

Any time you do get a comment you should reply to it right away. A lot of people comment for a reason. They might want to elaborate on what you said, ask a question, share their own experience related to the topic, or even thank you for sharing. So if you’re really interested in boosting real conversations in your comment section, keep the conversation going by replying to comments.

If people come across your blog and see you don’t take the time to reply, they won’t want to comment at all.

Keep the Conversation Going

Now that you know how to eliminate comment spam and boost real conversations, it’s time to head over to your blog and implement these ideas. Once they’re implemented, start your own email marketing campaign to ensure your audience stays up to date with your content and boost your conversations even further.

Strategies to Improve Your Online Presence

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article, Strategies to Improve Your Online Presence

The world is online, even if your business isn’t. Refraining from having a website, and associated local listings and social accounts is how you remain invisible to all but your locals. Now, this might seem like a great thing, when you’re, say, a local mechanic, but there are people just outside of your neighborhood who could use your services as well, only because you aren’t online, they can’t find you. Improving your online presence is how you’ll be found, it is how you’ll increase business, and it is how you’ll further your success. To improve your online presence, follow these tips:

1. Start (or Improve) Your Website

You need a website that uses cloud hosting. This is how you’ll ensure that you have miniscule chance of downtime, and how you’ll gain full customization options. You need your website to not just look good, but you need it to be fast and you also need it to be on-site SEO friendly. These three traits are what make a website perfect. Google will rank you based on your speed, and users may not go through your site if it takes ages to load. Similarly, you need the website to look great in order to convey professionalism, so that users can trust you before they even know you.

StrategyDriven Online Marketer & Website Developer Magazine

2. Grow a Genuine Community

Buying followers and likes on Instagram, Facebook, and any other social site is a waste of money. Keeping up the appearance is nowhere near as important as creating an organic, genuine community. You can use social media to increase your website visits and even your sales, but you need to do it the right way. This means crafting bespoke, unique posts with great pictures. It also means engaging with your community at large, before and after they follow you.

A great social media marketing campaign can get you the awareness you need, but you need to respond and be engaged with what your community is saying and doing to be on top of trends, and to nurture these relationships. A repeat customer is more valuable than a one-off sale any day.

3. Get Listed

If you are a local business, you have so many options to be referenced, referred to, and listed. This is great both for the organic hits from these second-party sites, and it’s also excellent for SEO. For instance, if you are a local boutique retailer, you can easily list your business on all directories, like Google or even TripAdvisor. You can also provide your local news agencies of any events you might be holding, since they are more likely to publish a local piece that promotes their neighborhood. This means that you’ll not only gain more traffic from these sites, but Google will rank your website higher due to the number of back-links. Additionally you have to learn local SEO tactics and strategies to increase traffic.

Being smart about your online presence is how you can not only be found by more people, it’s also how you’ll be trusted by more people. Trust, and greater visibility, will lead to success.

7 Effective WordPress Website Design Principles to Follow

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article, 7 Effective WordPress Website Design Principles to Follow

If you are looking to start a website, or are in the process of redesigning your current website, it is important to understand some effective WordPress website design principles. By following these guidelines, you can create a website that is both visually appealing and user-friendly. We will go over some of the most important principles to follow when designing your website using WordPress.

1. Muted Colors are the Way to Go

In general, muted web colors work best on websites. These are colors that come from the color spectrum that have been slightly “muted” down by adding gray. Bright colors can be too overpowering and distracting on your site, which is why muted colors are often best for your website. Just make sure not to go too extreme in the other direction by choosing only black and white. Also, be aware of color schemes. The difference between a color scheme and color choices is that a color scheme includes more than one color.

2. Resize Your Graphics Well for Online Use

When designing your site, be aware that you will not always be using it on a large screen. For this reason, it is important to resize your graphics for use online. By maintaining the original resolution of your image, you can ensure that it will not get distorted when used on a smaller screen. That way, your users will be able to view the same high-quality image that you intended them to see.

3. Parallax Effects Are Good But Don’t Overdo It

A parallax effect is a scrolling technique that gives the illusion of depth, dimension, and movement. They have been used on many sites to give viewers an exciting visual experience. While these effects can definitely boost the appeal of your website, be careful not to overdo it. Too much parallax scrolling can become distracting and even nauseating for some users. Find a balance.

4. Fonts Matter

Fonts are a very important aspect of your web design in Long Island. By choosing the right fonts, you can create a unique and creative look for your site. There are many great options out there to choose from, so make sure to take advantage of them. Just be careful not to use too many different fonts. Also, keep in mind that a font may look perfect on your computer, but may not look so great when used on another. So always test it out before making the final decision.

5. Think About a Minimalist Design

Another important thing to consider when designing your WordPress website is a minimalist design. This means keeping the site free of unnecessary graphics and clutter. Too much clutter can get in the way of what you are trying to convey. By using a simpler design, users will be able to focus on your content instead of having to sift through a bunch of other stuff.

6. Incorporate 3D Visuals and Illustrations

3D visuals and illustrations are a great way to incorporate an extra element into your site. Whether you use them for backgrounds or overlays, they are sure to give your site a creative feel. Just be careful not to overdo it with 3D visuals since they can become distracting.

7. Be Consistent

Finally, it is important to maintain consistency throughout your website design. This includes everything from the images you choose to use to the color scheme. By maintaining a similar look throughout your site, you can keep it visually appealing. This will also make it more user-friendly for your visitors.

There are many different things to keep in mind when designing your WordPress website. By following some of these critical rules, you can ensure that your site will be user-friendly and eye-catching as well. If you’re looking to design a WordPress website, you can consider hiring a WordPress web design company that will touch on all aspects for maximum effectiveness and efficiency.

5 Reasons for Organizers to Take Event Registration Online

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article, 5 Reasons for Organizers to Take Event Registration OnlineCreating a list of attendees for the upcoming event can be a lot of work for organizers. You need the list to be effective to save time and avoid inconveniences. Manual verification can prove hectic and time-wasting. However, the process is easy and effective when the registration is online. The availability of an online event attendee registration system and solution can help meet your expectations. Here is why organizers should take event registration online.

You Gain an Insight on Your Attendees

You get insight and know your guests better when you use the event registration system. Online event registration software has components that dictate the attendees’ key in specific details to help you know more about them. Managing the event becomes easier when you collect necessary information from your guests. You also find it easy to prepare and arrange the right meals and drinks as per your guests’ preference after gaining insight into them.

Secure and Effortless Payment Processing

Processing payments when registering to attend an event is among the hectic jobs organizers have to do. Using manual processing methods can have a lot of setbacks. However, taking the event registration process online comes along with several benefits. It is effortless and secure as the system provides the right avenue to utilize it. As an event organizer, you get access to an active and easy-to-use payment system that your guests can also utilize effortlessly.

Improves Event Efficiency

You want registration, seating arrangement, and other things need to be proper before the event commences. This calls for efficiency in your operations as the event organizer. You also need to save time, money, and resources for the event to succeed. When you consider online event registration solutions, the administrative tasks become bearable. You improve efficiency and prepare for more activities as you have the time and space to do more. Your guests gain more from the event when there is efficiency.

You Get a Customized Registration Process

Dealing with gate-crashers at your event can be overwhelming. You need to avoid embarrassing or confusing situations that might affect the event’s relevance. It is crucial to match the guest’s faces with the details you have on them. This is possible when you utilize the best online event attendee registration solutions as an organizer. The right system will help you customize the registration process and increase efficiency in the end.

Improves Your Marketing Efforts

The chances that your potential customers are on the guest list are higher. Utilizing online event registration solutions is one way to market your business and services. The central management system you utilize can help you send notifications for upcoming events, venues, and rates. You can also get feedback on previous events and understand where to improve. You can also reach a wide network of guests for the upcoming events through referrals and recommendations after using the event registration solution.

The event registration process can be hectic, especially when you have to receive payment and develop a proper list of attendees. While going manual can be helpful, the positive results are likely to be lower. As an event organizer, your efforts bear positive results when you take the registration process online.

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