Featured article by Russel Emmental, Independent Technology Author
When it comes to attracting customers, having a strong brand identity is essential. Without it, customers can’t get a sense of how your products or services differ from others.
But, how do you create a voice for your brand, and what resources can you use to make the process easier? We’re going to share some great tips to help you get started developing your website and brand.
Work with a Web Design Studio
Web development requires an understanding of HTML and CSS, two coding languages used by designers to create functional and aesthetically pleasing websites.
Learning to code can take up a lot of time you might rather spend doing something else related to your business. Hire a team of experts to help you create a well-developed website.
The result will be much more professional-looking. Don’t hesitate to involve yourself during the process. Sure, the studio would be responsible for creating the site, but you are responsible for making sure your brand’s personality comes through and that you have a well developed website.
Write Consistent Copy
The written content on your website should be concise and clear. Write the way that you think your target market will, and be consistent across all of your site’s pages.
For example, if you use the phrase “log in,” make sure you always use that same phrase and not an alternative expression like “sign in.” Even though this may seem minor, it shows that you paid attention to small details.
In addition to being consistent, you should use conversational English. It’s normal for people to spice up their written work by adding unique vocabulary and letting their sentences run on too long.
When you are trying to sell someone something, it’s best to be informal and casual so they trust you more.
Take Advantage of SEO
SEO, or search engine optimization, is an essential part of maintaining a high-performing website. Using SEO, you can drive traffic toward your website and earn organic exposure.
One example of SEO is the use of keywords. Keywords are words or short phrases that people use when searching for something on the web via a search engine.
You can research which keywords are most popular in your business’s category. For example, a popular keyword for bakeries in New York City might be “bakery NYC.”
You should include keywords in your website’s content frequently. It will help you rank higher in search engines.
Create Unique Landing Pages
When you or the web design studio that you hired begin building your website, make use of landing pages.
Landing pages are pages on your site dedicated to relevant topics. For example, you should have different pages for your website’s “about” section and its “shop” section.
If you included all of your site’s content on the homepage, it would likely stop customers from continuing to browse your website.
Use Lots of Images
Images are a great way to tell a story or share information with website visitors. People are way more likely to spend time looking at photos than they are to read long paragraphs.
Always break up the copy on your website with high-quality images. Stock photos work great if you can’t take your own product shots, but the more original the content is, the better.
If you don’t sell a product, you should still use images, animations, and illustrations to attract the attention of users.
Make Updates Constantly
If you have a loyal customer base, you must keep them engaged. You should create new products and content every once in a while, so your clients stay interested.
If you are working with a web design studio, the team will probably perform regular maintenance and updates for your site.
