While most businesses now have online stores or business websites, there are many who still haven’t embraced social media to the fullest. If you already have a Facebook fan page for your small business, why not add your Google+ page next.

Like Facebook, Google+ allows you to post and share photos, videos, messages, and other information of value to your customers and circle of virtual friends.

Create a Page

• To setup your own Google+ page, you must have a Google Account so register one if you don’t. Once logged in you can now create your Google+ page.

Showcase Yourself

• Sign in with your Google account, a “Create a page” section will be available and you will be asked to select the best category that fits your business — Local Business or Place; Product or Brand; Company, Institution, or Organization; Arts, Entertainment or Sports.

• Add your business name, tagline, logo or profile photo, address, store hours, contact info and a descriptive information about your company on the about link.

• Aside from the main icon or photo, you should also upload five photos that can work as a page banner or photo strip under your page name.

• You can also post several links to your business website, marketing blog and other social profiles.

Build Your Network

• Add existing contacts or invite people to your Circles. With circles, you can easily interact with your customers online and receive feedback about your products or service.

• Add your colleagues, employees, business suppliers, vendors, resellers and partners. Ask them to spread the word about your new page.

Maintain Visibility and Share

• Share your business blog posts publicly on your Google+ page. It’s a fast and easy way to post new information to your circles. Also, by connecting and following thought leaders in your industry, you can easily share articles written by them on your Google+ page that would in turn, be of value to your customers.

• According to comScore, Google continues to be the top search engine with 65.4% of overall internet use, with Microsoft Bing and Yahoo in the coveted second place. While things may not exactly remain when it comes to the web, at least for now, Google still reigns supreme.

• Are you already using Google+ pages for your business? Then share your thoughts and comments.

• For more tech tools and tips on how to effectively promote your business website, subscribe to this blog and follow us on Facebook. Of course, we’re on Google+ too.

In a social world where just about anything has become shareable, people love to talk about great deals and services both online and offline —from excellent restaurants to the hottest product or the latest online exclusive.

In an October 2011 study by Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA), survey shows that the typical American drops specific brand names about 60 times in a conversation, may it be online or offline. This is one of the principles behind word of mouth marketing—a common strategy of start-ups, local entrepreneurs, and small businesses.

The Association defines word of mouth marketing as any business strategy that warrants customer recommendation and subsequent purchasing of a product or service.

Happy Customers have Power

• Preference. Consumers are highly-critical when it comes to major purchases, and friend recommendation is a highly influential factor during decision-making.

• Purchase. Great reviews establish trust and credibility for your business, getting you more sales.

• Sharing. A satisfied customer will always share to a friend who will later on share to another friend. Word of mouth marketing is a viral cycle. Many a success story has been achieved just because a star blogger raved about a certain product online, and next thing you know, audiences and readers are lining up to see what the rave is all about.

5 Principles of WOMMA and how we could all learn from it

1. Credible. False advertising, fake reviews, no matter how profitable, is deemed as unethical. Statements about a product between sellers and buyers or between peers should be authentic.

2. Respectful. Transparency begets trust which, in turn, produces strong relationships. A customer who feels secure about his/her business transactions with a company can easily recommend the said services to a friend.

3. Social. Word of mouth marketing is focused on spreading and sharing conversations.Through these stories, a friend of the buyer will remember these recommendations even if they’re not looking to buy for now.

4. Measurable. Monitoring and evaluation is important for endeavors that are on beta or testing stage. This is true for marketing since the success of advertising is always dependent on the reception of people.

5. Repeatable. Marketing strategies should easily be replicated to establish a “talkable” brand. In the age of Retweets, Share, and Reblogs, it is important to release eye-catching statements that will become the talk of the town, virtually or not.

So How to Earn Customer Recommendations?

• Aim to be the best product or service in a specific category. Target local customers or a specific niche market first and they will be the first to rave about you if you’re looking to expand in the future.

• Provide a quality customer experience — as any business man would know, every customer counts.

• Solidify buyer-seller relationship by giving incentives to loyal clients and followers.

• Showcase customer testimonials and reviews by posting them on your business website and share them on Facebook or Twitter.

And if you’re thinking of  giving your business the online exposure it needs on social and beyond, take a look at our business website designs and small business marketing packages at thedesignpeople.com/business.

With more people using smart phones, iPads and other tablet devices, many business websites have moved from the old computer screen to the mobile interface—fusing mcommerce or mobile commerce and online shopping.

People with busy lifestyles turn to the convenience of browsing and ordering items through their phones while going about their daily tasks. And business transactions can now be done through the mobile version of websites or mobile apps provided by establishments such as banks, restaurants, retail stores and cinema houses.

Let’s take a preview at how top retail companies are leveraging mobile apps, mobile websites and ecommerce web design to reach their customers:

Amazon is one of the major players the industry of online shopping and they have developed their mobile app wherein you can access your account in a streamlined dashboard and easily shop from your wishlist, deals and recommendations lists.

Pottery Barn on the other hand has an elegant catalog app where shoppers can view, flip, search and shop from their latest issue. You can zoom in on any product, read about it, view related videos and click to buy, all right on your iPhone or iPad.

Tesco, a global retailer headquartered in the United Kingdom, also expanded its business through mobile commerce. Tesco’s iPhone app has a store finder, a barcode scanning feature on their groceries app and also integrates an iPad recipes app.

Walmart’s mobile apps allows you to search and buy online, locate the nearest store, check holiday specials, view rollbacks and local ads and more.

Toys-R-Us has also ventured into mobile marketing. This toy store has occupied 35 countries through more than 600 physical stores. Customers can choose to receive special deals and alerts on their mobile devices and they also developed several game apps and a store finder app for the iPad and iPhone.

The advancement of mobile technology helped retailers reach more people and build a more solid clientele. Interested in getting your own mobile-compatible website or mobile app for your business? Visit us at The Design People or at info@thedesignpeople.

Best practice tip: Write for humans, not solely for search engines.

Site readability is a must when you have a website. Studies have shown that web readers don’t read everything on a page and that we consume content by skimming through chunks of text. As you would have on a physical store, customer experience is key to good business, and your business website should be user-friendly as you can make it.

Aside from having search engine-optimized content, you also need to have readable typography, concise text and supporting images on your page.  Some tips:

• Text contrast. If you have a light background, it’s common sense not to put white text on top of it. No matter how good their eyesight are, people won’t be able to read it.

• Brevity. Keep your paragraphs short so that your visitors can absorb as much important information as possible. Use the inverted pyramid method when writing. Prioritize important information at the beginning then follow it up with supporting details. End with relevant, but not as important data. You can include a  “read more” or “see details” that they can click for more info.

• Tone. Decide what your goal in writing is. Whether you’re describing a new listing or discussing how your service differs from other agents, go for a tone which potential clients will find more appealing.

• Headings to divide text. A Nielsen study¹ has shown that readers are more likely to read web text that has been split into categories. Information in chunks is much easier to understand and you can do this by using headlines and subheadings. Bullet points also work. As do putting text in boxes or beside a graphic icon.

• Keywords. Catch readers’ attention by using key terms in your titles and section headings.

• Clean layout. Allot enough margin space on your page and space between paragraphs, too. Your web designer knows best so trust his suggestions on layout and color palette.

Finally, remember that good grammar and structure always make your content easier to read. Make as many drafts as you need to before publishing your text. With all these tips in check, you’re sure to give a whole new meaning to reader experience.

¹ Jakob Nielsen

With the Internet becoming a more and more competitive arena for businesses, new channels are constantly being explored to build brand recognition. One effective strategy is the rapid rise of online video marketing, which is used to promote both products and services.

• Using video to help sell your product or service is a highly effective way of increasing traffic to your business website. With popular video hosting sites such as YouTube and Vimeo, online videos are also effectively used in viral marketing.

There are several key benefits to creating a business marketing video. Primarily, video is a powerful format when making a sales pitch. Aside from being engaging, video adds a personable approach to selling rather than reading a product’s marketing text. With video, you can tug at your customers’ heartstrings and use your charm to win over people’s trust – something not as easy to achieve in print.

• Also, with the number of online scams and fraudulent transactions on the rise, consumers are rightfully wary of doing business on the web, unless you can convince them of your company’s credibility. With most people always in a rush while browsing, video is a powerful tool to attract their attention before they navigate away from your page.

• Of course, it goes without saying that the quality of your video has to be up to par. One that is poorly made will have a negative impact on the image of your company. You can create an effective marketing video by following a few tips:

Know your product by heart – Layout the essentials of what you are selling before your shoot. Your delivery will appear more convincing if you speak in a relaxed, casual manner rather than adhering to a stiff script. Be natural, smile and don’t overwhelm people with too much detail.

Use the best lighting – It’s amazing how proper lighting makes a world of difference, so you use it in your favor. If you’re selling a product, make sure to showcase them using the best angles. A professional videographer will certainly make this an easy task.

Call to action – Promote your brand and let people remember it. Always end your video with a next step so your viewer can act on it immediately. If you want people to call for more information, give out your contact number and end it with a statement like “call us now to learn more”. You may also promote your business website or invite people to your company fan page.

If you need help on adding product videos on your business website, contact our marketing specialists at 800.850.7707 or sign-up for a Free Consultation.

Social media has now become an integral part of internet marketing. No longer limited to business branding and promotion, it is now also a well-utilized  channel  for customer service. The great thing about using social sites to reach your customers is that you don’t need to be a corporate giant to gain exposure.

Marsha Collier, author of The Ultimate Online Customer Service Guide, believes that small businesses are better equipped to gain more from social media. Given their size, it’s easier for them to focus on their customers and communicate with them.  To stay in the lead, every kind of business has to be present where the consumers are, so social platforms are a great way to be up-to-date on customer demands and market trends.

Here are some great ways on how you can maximize social media for customer service:

• Post your social links on your business website. First off, let people find you. Make sure that your business website has icon links to your official company fan pages or social profiles. Great examples are icon links on the homepages of   Michael Collins and Karen Parker.

• Keep track of client reviews. When posted on popular channels, feedbacks about your product or services can spread like wildfire on the internet. To keep a close watch on your online reputation or customer feedback, check out Tweetbeep or HootSuite, social management platform that  give you constant updates on converstions that mention your brand, product or company. You can also use Socialmention, a real time social media search and analysis platform that gives you a comprehensive stream of user-generated content.

• Make quick response. Once you’ve provided an answer to a negative feedback, make a follow up post that the issue is resolved and make sure that the client is happy. Your goal is to turnaround negative situations with quick solutions that will impress both your existing and future clients.

• Keep your fans informed. Customers won’t need to call in for more information on a product when you utilize social media with informative posts and product updates. Upload instructional videos on YouTube and/or Facebook and post how-to articles on your blog.

• Offer convenience. People are always looking for the easiest way to do things. Make things convenient for your client by adding a Store feature or free consultation form on your page. Here is one example.

• Create an outlet for discussion. Encourage customers to talk about your products through interactive commenting.

• Showcase happy clients. Leave a lasting impression on your fans by showing them your gratitude. Use social media to share videos, photos, and stories of your customers enjoying your product or service.

Being relatively new, using social media as an avenue for customer service still has its own snags. However, when utilized correctly, the advantages to your business are valuable. Being “socially active” lends a more approachable and personal touch to your business. Your transparency leads to the trust of your customers, thus setting you apart from the thousands of impersonal businesses with similar services.

For more social media marketing tips and advice on how to have the best business website, visit us at The Design People or get a Free Consultation.

Given the fact that people have already been on the internet for a long time and have looked at thousands of websites, they can easily tell if one is good or not. Not mentioning the fact that when it comes to choices available online, the consumer’s options are literally endless.

Your small business website is one way of tapping into your customers’ psyche and it is important to understand how good business web design affects consumer behavior.

It only takes seconds for the mind to form an opinion if your website is worth people’s browsing time so learn how to make the most of it by keeping the following essential items in check:

• Make it easy for readers. Not everyone has a fast internet connection so don’t fill every corner of your website with text and graphics. Nowadays, people browse using smart phones and tablets that don’t always support graphics-intensive websites. Balance empty space with well-chosen content and make sure that your site can be viewed properly on mobile devices.

• Harmonize those colors. You might have already heard that some colors are naturally appealing to the human eye. This is because we easily associate certain colors with the world around us—so neutrals and colors that commonly appear in nature are always safe bets. Work out a defined color palette with your designer that will be consistent with your branding. Choose your accent colors carefully so that it will complement your intended color scheme instead of becoming a distraction. You can also opt for the classic black text on a white background. This was how we learned to read, so anything designed this way is easy to look at. Using dark text against  a light background is also more search-engine friendly.

• Make your homepage engaging. It’s the first thing people will see, so utilize it to showcase who you are. At a glance, people should already have an idea about your company’s services and expertise. Unless you have many varieties of products and services, small business websites don’t need a lot of pages, so give special attention to your homepage.  Your website’s goal is to reinforce brand recognition and build brand loyalty, so structure your content well.

• Go easy on the text. When presented with a huge bulk of text, people will tend to skip it and scan to the next area of your page. This is why compelling headlines and carefully-chosen chunks of texts are important. When you have interesting headlines and titles that catch people’s attention, it’s likely your online readers will stay longer on your site. Update your content frequently, since outdated information turns web visitors away.

• Think of your customer’s security. The desire to feel secure is indeed a psychological need. Assure your web visitors that making transactions within your website is safe. Be clear about payment processes and use trusted accounts like PayPal or ClickBank. When your customers feel safe, they’ll definitely want to do business. Make sure you also include links to your terms of service, disclaimer or private policy pages.

• Make calls to action easy. To get feedback, make your call to action forms and buttons visible. Explain the benefits of downloading something or have exclusive promos available when your potential clients respond to subscription or mailing list prompts.

• Web design or web development? Although both fields are related, they are two distinct specializations. Web designers focus on the front-end of your website, making sure that navigation is easy and content and design elements are carefully laid out by using certain principles of design. They study the aspects of website usability that will maximize a customers’ online experience. Consult your web designer on how you can effectively present your brand and showcase your services or products on your website.

Web developers work from the back end. They’re more concerned with the functional structure of a website — things like coding, website functionality, stability and maintenance. They make sure that the customer can get things done on the website, so you’ll need to work with expert web developers for your e-commerce features for payment or when adding custom forms or features on your site.

If you need help in designing or improving the efficiency of your Ecommerce or small business website, you may contact our web experts  for a free consultation at 1.800.850.7707 or visit us at The Design People.

A poorly-designed landing page can ruin your marketing efforts in an instant, which would be a pity considering you’ve managed to convince people to go that far into your business website. Having an effective internet marketing plan that succeeds in getting potential clients involves having a well-thought out landing page that is both appealing and convincing. Follow these simple tips to make sure your landing page works for you rather than against you:

1. Keep it Short and Sweet – Once your visitors are on your landing page, give them clear and simple directions. Icon links usually work best for this purpose, accompanied by a short call to action of no more than five words, such as “Show me my report”. Cut to the chase and give them what you promised them.
2. Don’t Be Pushy – Nothing could be worse than overwhelming people with additional questions and hard to read text – a surefire way to turn them off completely. The reason they have arrived at your landing page is because they are interested in what you have to offer. Don’t intimidate them with 20 questions and demand them to answer yes to everything. Instead, explain the benefits they will get when they sign up and show them what you can do for them in the long run.
3. Easy to Read Text – Keep your copy simple and easy to read. Nothing could be more off-putting than lengthy text on a landing page. All it should do is convince the reader to complete the final part of a process – and that usually only entails them signing up for something. Make sure the text is large enough for everyone to read. Ideally, you want to use 12 points at the very least, and stick to standard fonts at all times.
4. Keep your Links to a Minimum – There is always the temptation to spruce up your landing page with more features of your site with a scattering of links to accompany it. Since web users have a very short attention span, you want to keep them focused on your landing page and just lead them where you need them to be. Resist the urge to overload them with more information and confusing links as this will only delay the decision-making process or ruin it altogether.
5. Promote Yourself Wisely – Show off the feathers in your cap in your website’s “About” page and leave it there. Chances are your visitors have already read that, so don’t bore them by repeating all of it in your landing page. Your sole goal at this stage is to find leads and hopefully create a conversion. Keep your eye on the ball and who knows, you might have just earned yourself a new client before you know it.

Always remember that your website content is key to prospective customer patronage so use it to your advantage. If you need more information on how to get the best business website, contact our web specialists at 800.850.7707 or sign-up for a Free Consultation.

Following up on last week’s post on “Reach Out to International Markets with Your Ecommerce Website,” here are 10 practical tips to help you on your way to reaping the rewards of eCommerce for your small business.

Good eCommerce web design is all about thinking what your customer’s needs are and anticipating what they will look for when they visit your site. To maximize the chances of converting visits to sales, there are several features you should have that will make the process smooth and efficient for everyone.

1. Search Field – This is the first thing visitors will look for that will make finding stuff on your site easy and convenient. Place it prominently at the top where no one can miss it.
2. Clear Product Labels – It is important that you give as much info as possible when describing your product or service. Include all the specs necessary so that interested buyers will know at a glance if it is indeed what they are looking for. Showcase a photo large enough for them to appreciate, but not too big to the point that it slows down page loading time.
3. Contact Info – Prominently display your email address and contact number. Customers will always have questions and concerns so the easier you make it for them to reach you, the sooner you can expect to make a sale.
4. User-friendly Navigation – Make your business website as intuitive for visitors to navigate as possible. Users should be able to browse your entire site with just a few clicks and always have the shopping cart accessible at their disposal as they go along.
5. Data Security – Peace of mind is at the forefront of every online shopper’s mind so assuring them that your site is secure is another must. Sign up with a privacy specialist such as TRUSTe and display that info at the bottom of your homepage.
6. Suggested Products – Basing on a customer’s search, you can promote other relevant products that you think could be of interest to your visitors. Select some of your bestsellers and have these visible somewhere in your homepage along with any special offers they might like to know about. You can also incorporate a wish list feature to store their saved searches for future purchases.
7. Return, Refund and Exchange Policies – To demonstrate that you are committed to consumer satisfaction, develop and promote these policies whenever customers make a purchase. Include policy details in the checkout section and have your customers “agree” to the terms and conditions before getting their payment information.
8. Delivery Services – Be specific about what mode of shipping you will employ and manage their expectations with a timeline. As much as possible, include a tracking feature so that they can monitor the whereabouts of their orders.
9. Newsletter Subscription – Give customers the option to sign up for free updates simply by providing you with their email address. This is a great way to build a database that you can refer to for targeted marketing campaigns.
10. Social Media – If you are on Facebook or Twitter, let your customers know by including status update widgets and icon links on your homepage. Social media is a great channel for customer support and gives your company added exposure and online presence.

If you are interested to know more about designing your Ecommerce website or small business website, contact us at 1.800.850.7707 or visit us at The Design People.