I’ve always felt that it’s important for my clients to LOVE their own websites. When you love your website, you are proud to refer people to visit, which is very important because your website should be the hub of your marketing plan. Now let me clarify, your website shouldn’t be your entire marketing plan–just the hub–the place where all of your other marketing takes your prospective clients. Why? Your website is the place where you have complete control over the content. At some point, Facebook and other social media channels could disappear without your consent or take a drastic turn that makes them no longer a viable option for you (think: My Space). If your marketing is completely wrapped up in that marketing channel, you could lose all your previous hard work, or it could just be ineffective. The key is to have “all roads lead home”…your website.
If you don’t absolutely LOVE your website, it’s time to think about a change. If it’s not meeting your needs and the needs of your potential customers, it’s time to think about a change. If you have a web designer who has disappeared or isn’t responsive, it’s time to think about a change. If you have no idea how to market your business to attract your ideal target market, it’s time to think about a change. These are all issues that I deal with for my clients on a regular basis–and have for over 13 years.
There are several “types” of people who call themselves web designers:
- The Programer who focuses the back-end coding of a site.
- The Search Engine Optimization Expert who focuses on getting found in the search engines through robotic visitors.
- The Copywriter who focuses on the content of a website for human readers.
- The Artist who focuses on the beauty of a site.
- The Marketer who focuses on the marketing of a site.
Each of these aspects is important, but focusing solely on one will not give you the balance that you need to make your site successful. Over the years, I have worked hard to balance these focuses and become a well-rounded web designer. I do tend to lean a little heavier in the “Marketing Camp,” simply because all of the other aspects need to be considered in your marketing plan. For example, if your site isn’t Search Engine Optimized, it will be harder to be found in the search engines, which is a part of your marketing plan.
As a Marketing Consultant for Small Businesses, I am able to advise my clients on the best way to find and attract their ideal customers. Many small business owners don’t have a marketing plan or even how to create one. That’s where I come in. I help them to really identify and narrow the focus of who they should be trying to reach and how to reach them. Having worked with small businesses for well over a decade, I have been able to identify what marketing methods work best for them and how they can be implemented at a reasonable cost because that’s very important when you’re running your own business!
How about you? Do you LOVE your website? Is it meeting your needs and that of your potential customers? Is your web designer available and responsive? Do you have a marketing plan that is working to attract your ideal customers? If not, I would love to talk to you about how I might be able to help you! Give me a call or drop me an email–let’s talk!
