The importance of a decent website cannot be underestimated.

Fifteen years ago, a website and on-line presence were considered the preserve of only the most progressive. Today, they’re absolutely essential. In fact, it’s no longer enough to just have an on-line presence: it needs to convey professionalism and slickness in every way. The fact is, countless South Africans in search of a product, service or more information will surf the internet until they find what they’re looking for. If your website doesn't convey the right impression or quickly show what they’re after, they'll continue looking. Which is a pity because you’ll have lost a potential sale. Whilst pretty much everyone living knows at least someone they can turn to to have a website designed, it will always make sense to use a website designer who knows their front-end from their back-end. To this end, I work with talented designers and programmers who take my website scripts and do them justice. The important thing with a website is to have it work online. Whilst this may be stating the glaringly obvious, too often clients ask for a beautiful-looking website when what’s more important to my mind is the need to have it visited by search engines, being seen by people and generating enquiries. For this reason, you’ll typically find me recommending sites built in Wordpress (Google LOVES Wordpress) in favour of sites built in Flash. (Search engines can’t read Flash). Incorporating the odd flash element into a Wordpress site is fine, but having your whole site built in Flash these days just doesn’t make sense. (From this, you’ll deduce that I’ll happily sacrifice animation and gadgetry on the altar of efficacy). There are two further advantages to having a Wordpress site: a) it will allow you to update or upload new content in real time, thus alleviating any waiting for your agency to schedule in your changes. zzzzzzzz. b) it’ll be less expensive than a Flash site. Get me involved and I’ll see to it that your online presence helps to boost your bottom line. In the meantime, here are a few sites we’ve built recently.

 

If you don’t yet have a website, I’d like to help you. And if you do, but are not sure whether it makes the grade, email me. If it’s good enough, I’ll say so. And if it’s not good enough, I’ll say so too.

 

Social Media

 

OK, so now your website’s live. What then?

Having a professionally-scripted and aesthetically-pleasing website is just the first step. The second is to optimise it so that it WORKS for you. If it's not correctly optimised for search engines, you're dead in the water - with a website that looks good, but which remains unvisited. Search engine optimisation is a highly specialised field requiring patience, understanding and skill. It is NOT something to be handed over to a designer who, as an aside, mentions “Oh yes, I do search engine optimisation too”. (If you’re told this, run for the hills). Once your website is correctly optimised, it needs to be promoted online. This is where the likes of Google Adwords, remarketing, blogging, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and You Tube take on great importance. Today, playing in the digital arena is a non-negotiable. You HAVE to do it. Whilst you may understand the processes involved, many are frightened by them. And understandably so. To get value out of social media, you need to ADD value. The hard-sell approach of forcing your product or service down people’s throats can backfire horribly. By adding value through the providing of advice, feedback or knowledge, you can build a community of followers who will in time become fans and even brand ambassadors. It’s all about giving back, building trust and enhancing your reputation - and it’s a process that takes time and patience. I work with people who live and breathe in the digital space and who can see to it that your on-line presence is the best it can be. (Yes, they’re that good). So instead of just being told you have a NICE website, you have one that delivers enquiries to your inbox and smartphone. Interested? You should be. In the meantime, here’s some of my work for a new client. (Note that the electronic newsletters are kept short and to the point. Ditto the Facebook timeline. It’s all about engaging and building. The selling will come).

 

 

If you’d like me to contact you about your website or other on-line marketing requirements, please call me on my landline number 087 805 9977 or 083 444 9888. Alternatively, email me on [email protected] with “Website or On-line Marketing” in the subject line. I’ll get back to you asap.