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It can be tricky to know how to make the most of the web. It seems to come easy to some companies. But they often employ others to do the work for them, know how to analyze data, or have been through a long process of trial and error. So here are some tips to get you started.
Don’t Neglect the Power of Digital Marketing
If there’s one thing that can accelerate business growth across the web, it’s digital marketing. Digital marketing includes things like pay-per-click campaigns, search engine optimization, and social media advertising. These are all things you can learn, but they take time, skill, and effort to master. So while you focus on your business, you can leave digital marketing to the experts. Fortunately, you can find marketers no matter your industry. For example, you can find marketing for heating and air conditioning, information technology, and eCommerce retail.
Branch Out into the Internet of Things
You might have heard of the internet of things (IoT) but don’t know what it is. Well, they’re devices that essentially talk to each other using the web. It can be challenging to describe and follow. But for for a solid explanation, Wikipedia describes the Internet of Things as follows:
“… physical objects with sensors, processing ability, software, and other technologies that connect and exchange data …”.
So, how can this help your business? Well, suppose you manufacture standard light bulbs. Then, you can venture into making LED bulbs usable by smartphones, a growing trend in the light bulb industry. It stands to reason that in ten years, all bulbs will be smart devices.
Make the Most of the Web with an App
Apps are everywhere. And there’s one for just about anything. And if you don’t have an app for your business, here’s why you need one; revenue. An app has many benefits:
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You have direct communication with customers.
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You can boost your branding efforts.
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Customers can access products on the go.
But the main reason is that you can capitalize on other brands’ appetite for advertising. Ad revenue from apps is expected to reach almost $1 trillion in the next couple of years. That’s an insane amount of money that you can use to make your business even better.
Make an Excellent Business Website
Of course, if you haven’t already established a business website, you are severely lagging behind. One of the simplest ways to use the web is with a site. It’s cheap, powerful, and easier than ever. You can use site builders like WordPress, GoDaddy, and Wix to make a site in less than an hour. A business website allows customers to find you and gives you the opportunity to provide them with information. You can explain your services, tell your story and even show examples of your work. However, it would help if you had SEO for increased traffic.
Attach a Blog to Your Website
SEO is a complex subject with many different aspects. However, one of the easiest ways of incorporating SEO on your site is to attach a blog. You can use a blog to write helpful posts related to your business. And in those posts, you include phrases that people might search for in your sector, such as “senior dog grooming with electric tools.” The point is to write things that people look for that make your site show up when they search. It’s hard to do this, and you need to perform keyword research. However, a digital marketing agency will do it for you.
Improve the User Experience
User experience (UX) is a hot topic in web trends these days. One of the main reasons is that Google now uses it alongside your SEO score to determine your ranking on results pages. But how do you improve your UX? Here are some powerful tips to please your customers:
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Keep your website design simple.
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Ensure users can reach everything in no more than three clicks.
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Provide categories and menus.
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Include customer services such as email, contact details, and Live Chat.
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Use a responsive theme for all devices.
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Provide feedback resources so you can improve.
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Keep your posts, pages, and design consistent.
Getting the user experience right is tricky. And you might take some time to get it right. But with a bit of practice and some revisions, you will get there. Just remember these simple tips. However, if you aren’t confident, you can hire a reputable web designer to do it for you.
Engage with Customers on Social Media
Social media is more than rants, “hot dogs or legs?” and political division. From a business point of view, it’s one of the most powerful web tools you can use. Consider there are over 5 billion social media users online every day. The pool of potential customers is massive. But You need to access that pool. The best way to attract customers and increase the base is to interact. You will have to pay for ads. But you can engage for free. Most marketers agree that social media engagement increases sales by around 10% per year and builds long-term brand loyalty.
Keep Up with IT and Cyber News
The web operates over the internet. And anyone has access, even criminals. Your web host will provide some protection against cybercrime, and you can hire a managed IT service for more in-depth security. But it also helps if you keep your ear to the ground and educate any employees. You might be new to the web and online business, but you will soon find you are learning more than you expected. You could be amending site code, watching data, and testing security in no time. Therefore, you can protect your business by staying informed.
Use Open-Source to Make the Most of the Web
Software is one of the largest expenses a business has, and most small businesses spend around $6,000 per year on IT, excluding engineer salaries. And software licensing is a significant part of that expense. However, you might not be aware that you can use many open-source software packages for free or at a much lower cost than more prominent brands. For example, you can use OpenOffice instead of Microsoft Office. Or GIMP instead of Adobe Photoshop. They don’t have the bells and whistles, but they’re usually more than adequate.
Offer Remote Work to Your Employees
Remote working isn’t anything new. But there is a massive increase in people doing it because of COVID-19. The pandemic, for all its tragic consequences, had some benefits. It highlighted that high-quality work isn’t restricted to the office. Apps like Zoom and Teams allow a business to continue when meeting in person isn’t possible. Additionally, collaboration apps and OS upload systems mean you can contribute from your home or another location. Because of this, most companies continue remote work, and 55% of employees now expect it as an option.
Actively Monitor Competitors
Of course, your competitors will be doing all the things listed above to use the web to their advantage, which is fair enough. But what they may not have thought of doing is looking at you and everyone else in your niche. Yet nothing is stopping you from browsing their website, reading their blog posts, or testing their user experience. If you feel you are lacking in something or are stuck for ideas, see what they are doing. Imitate their successes and improve where they fail. So long as you don’t copy intellectual property, you can improve by learning from others.
Summary
With these tips, you can begin to make the most of the web for better business opportunities and improved customer satisfaction. Some of the best ways to get started include mastering digital marketing, improving the customer experience, and learning from your competitors.
