Businesses often realize the need to be virtually present and create a website and social media profiles in order to be visible to their target audiences. The website becomes the central hub that is a pivotal point for your company branding and marketing schemes. These common mistakes can cause a lot of lost time and wasted money, so take care to avoid them from the beginning.
Failing to Direct the Consumer Path
One big mistake that businesses make is trying to promote all of their wares at the same time. It is too confusing and chaotic to push every item, service, and idea at the same time. Understandably, business owners believe that many of their ideas, products, the logo, and their CTA buttons are all important, but what often results is a website in conflict with every part vying for attention at the same time.
If you are wondering if this is a bad thing, picture the chaos when Wall Street opens and brokers are shouting on the stock exchange floor. Is that how you want your consumer to feel on a visit—torn in every direction and overwhelmed by distraction? Consider carefully what your audience wants and how you can encourage them to get there with as few twists, turns, and rabbit holes as possible.
Shouting Into the Void
Good content doesn’t make an impact if no one sees it. One of the biggest struggles facing new businesses (or businesses with new websites) is getting their content in the top of search results and in the face of the public they wish to captivate. In order to get attention from the right audience, you have to create visibility for your content in the right places.
Following Urgency Over Understanding
Businesses that follow urgency often seem desperate instead of relevant. Don’t slip into the mistake of considering your own needs as important to the marketing campaigns and site design. Always put the customer first. By understanding your customer, your business becomes relevant and trustworthy.
Stale and Lacking Updates
It is a mistake to get in over your head and have platforms that go unmanaged and fall out-of-date. Your website will need regular updates with important dates, updates, and content. Your social media pages will need management by someone who understands the platform etiquette, can keep up with the constant demand of connecting with the public, and knows how to respond appropriately to every question and concern.
Resigning to Poor Design
Whether you are attempting a DIY website or trying to find the lowest bid, remember, you get what you pay for. Websites with poor design are more difficult for the visitor to connect with, navigate, and appreciate. Just like you want your physical store to be impressive with clean floors, uncluttered workspaces, and an inviting atmosphere, you will also want your website prepared to make a best first impression.
People will come to your website expecting easy access and good content. Don’t get caught up in overloading information, poor navigation, scattered attentiveness, or other similar problems websites often have. Your website is your first connection with your audience, so make it really count.