In the last few years, small businesses have increased investments in the websites for their companies. Michael Fauscette at GigaOm writes: ‘In a survey of 1,500 US consumers that purchase products and services from small or medium-sized businesses, 75 percent said that a company’s website was either a “very important” or “somewhat important” factor in their purchasing decision. Additionally, almost 60 percent of respondents said they were likely to spend more with a small business…
Recently I was invited to give a presentation about marketing for a lunch and learn for Tandem Innovation Group, which describes themselves as “affiliate firm of Independent Professional CFO’s, Controllers, Project Accountants and Bookkeepers.” Tandem is a network that connects those with a need for fractional accounting with qualified accountants. Keeping with the spirit of working with outside professionals, my presentation entitled ‘Outsourcing Marketing Effectively’ discusses marketing tactics where low-cost can be prioritized, marketing tactics where…
Readers have been clamoring for the fourth installment of eBridge’s ‘eCommerce Marketing Hierarchy of Needs’. If you haven’t yet read the first, second, or third posts in this series, you’re highly encouraged to-do-so! The first three posts helped to identify marketing priorities for organizations as they prove their business concept, make their first moves into eCommerce, and specialize in a niche market. This fourth installment focuses on priorities for companies who are looking to scale…
This is part two of a five part series called the eCommerce Hierarchy of Needs. Part One discussed marketing tactics for very early stage start-ups trying to prove their business concept. This installment is for companies who have proven their concept and determined it worthwhile pursuing and investing in. The biggest need for entrepreneurs at this stage is the basic building block of every eCommerce company — a functional website. For each tier in the…
I’ve watched more episodes of MTV’s Catfish than I’m proud of. I’ve seen enough to know that each episode of Catfish follows the same dramatic formula. A confused young adult, finding themselves duped by an online romance, receives assistance finding out the real identity of their fake companion. Eventually they will meet the imposter in real life and confront them with angst and heartache. Often the imposter has been misrepresenting their appearance, gender, marital-status, age,…
An important strategy for growing your business’ sales is to get new customers – this is what marketing and promotion are all about and for many businesses this revolves around their website. However, many business owners make the mistake of focusing on the amount of traffic and the number of visitors they get. While these are important metrics, they don’t mean anything if that traffic isn’t converting into sales! In a previous post, we’ve gone…
For a business, there isn’t anything more important than the website when it comes to online marketing. It’s the focal point of your business’ online presence and your success rides on its ability to deliver to visitors a great experience. Follow these 10 website usability tips to ensure that your business’ site is doing exactly that. 1) Make sure that visitors understand immediately what you do. Many companies make the mistake of assuming that their…
Refreshing or redesigning a website that is past its prime is an important way to ensure that your business meets its online marketing goals and takes advantage of the best internet marketing solutions currently at your disposal. But many businesses will hold off on updating their websites. Whether it’s for budgetary reasons. Or a lack of manpower or resources to actually manage the project. Or the belief that there are more important things to concentrate…