There’s no denying it: in every aspect of our lives, the Internet has arrived, taken hold, and is here to stay.
This couldn’t be truer for those in the business of selling— brands and businesses that have migrated their operations online fully to support on-ground selling. If, in the past, the requirement was just to showcase your offerings to your customers on a snazzy new website or via a clever email mailing list, today it’s all about having the best digital marketing tools, the best tech, the best art, and the best teams that work together to prove that your brand can truly thrive in the 21st century.
In the process of establishing a robust online presence, there are two things brands should never overlook: strong SEO strategy and smart website design.
SEO, having so much to do with visibility in the right online platforms and in building credibility and authority, is no longer just an option. Brands that fail to invest in SEO strategies miss out on golden opportunities and are sure to lag behind competition.
The same can be said for brands that neglect creating a great website experience.
Maximize the flexibility of a website; it’s your chance to show off everything in your catalogue in the most creative and engaging ways. Never underestimate how your brand’s “home” on the Internet can either make customers seek you out time and time again, or repel them.
So what are the common mistakes that you should watch out for?
Failing to understand your audience’s voice
One of the goals of good SEO is figuring out what keywords and phrases your customers use to find your products and services online. Take the time to learn how they talk about your brand, the language they use to describe what you sell, and the qualities they associate or look for when it comes to your products and services.
Not maximizing the optimization of images
Apply SEO in your images that appear in your website or social media by using the right file names; use the right keywords and phrases that increase the chances that your customers find their way to you.
Dissolving your old website too soon
Brands that migrate websites or create completely new ones might not realize that keeping their old one for reference is critical. The old website provides a sort of blueprint for what has worked before; if the website encounters glitches, the old one can help sort them out.
Prioritizing aesthetics over functionality
Never trade user experience for aesthetics. Your website may be the most beautiful there is, but it serves no real purpose if all it is is a work of art that is difficult and confusing for customers to use. Functionality is just as important as looks.
Taken together, the combined influence of proper SEO strat and website design can hold the power to make your brand a leader and competitors simply players in a game of catch-up.
