Top 2 mistakes you're likely making on your website

I love designing websites. I approach every project from a strategic point of view and begin everything with the end-goal in mind. Because I see everything through a ‘marketing’ lens, I get asked often to audit, review, or offer insight into someone’s existing website instead of designing a new one from scratch.

These are the top two things I see often on websites that once changed, can make your website feel as good as new.

You haven’t clearly said what your business does

This is the #1 thing I see on someone’s website when I’m doing an audit of it. Their website should answer (above the fold) what they do in a very clear, concise way. If people land on your website and can’t tell what you do within 3-5 seconds of landing on your site, then their most likely to leave - which hurts your Search Engine Optimization. Every type of website needs a clear statement near the top of the homepage that spells it out for your website viewer.

How do you fix it? Have a large description near the top of your website that clearly articulates what you do, what makes you different, and how your product/service/offer will change your user’s life.

Your website is too copy-heavy

I’d say about 80% of websites I audit have way too much copywriting on them. When there’s too much text and copywriting on your website, your website viewer doesn’t know where to look, what to read first, or what to do on the site.

Too much text and clutter will lead to confusion – and when people are confused they’re more likely to bounce from your website - again, hurting your Search Engine Optimization. It shouldn't be your website viewers’ job to sift through all the information to figure out what you actually do, or how your business can benefit them. Your website should be a strategic marketing tool NOT a giant hub or warehouse of information about your company. Read more about this on our 7 tips for writing content for your website blog.

Let’s face it - People just don’t read anymore! They’re scrolling way too fast to read all that flowery language you wrote. It’s time to take it out and only leave what’s pertinent.

Looking for an audit of your current website? Contact us and we’ll get started!

How to Brand Your Instagram Profile

Your Instagram profile is an extension of your online brand on social media. To create a strong brand you need to consider the following:

USE A PROFILE PHOTO

If your business is recognizable by the logo, upload your logo in a way that can be easily read and fits perfectly in the profile photo circle (400px x 400px is ideal).

If your business is a personal brand, use a professional headshot of yourself. A great way to show your customers who you are is by featuring, well…you - especially if you’re the primary point of contact for your business.

OPTIMIZE YOUR BIO

Besides your profile photo, your Instagram bio is the first thing that a prospective follower is going to see. Make sure that you are using the right keywords, call-to-action, and personal touches. In mid-2018 Instagram allowed the use of clickable hashtags and @tags to be added to the bio. Adding your location’s hashtag or any parent-companies @tag will increase your relevancy in Instagram search results.

SHARE BRAND-RELEVANT CONTENT

All of the content that you share should be relevant to you, your brand, and your business’s offers. Don’t want to share random content that isn’t going to appeal to your audience. That said, using hashtags that are specific to your business is also important. Using hashtags unrelated to your content will not attract the right kind of audience and will not lead to meaningful engagements.

WRITE CAPTIONS IN YOUR OWN VOICE

Your social media brand is so much more than the photos that you share and the colors of your graphics. Your caption copy, comments, and direct messages should be written in your brand’s voice. Writing posts with the right copywriting can help attract your ideal client to your profile and will also lead to more meaningful engagements with your audience.

USE THE RIGHT HASHTAGS

You should be using hashtags on your posts. Hashtags are the best way to stimulate organic engagement. The best mix of hashtags to use is a variety of niche hashtags (50k-100k used) with a mix of popular hashtags (100k+ used). This is a great way to get your content seen by the right audience and helps your account grow organically. 

ADD BRANDED HIGHLIGHT COVERS

Highlights are where you can save stories for longer than 24 hours, and they are stored directly under your link in your bio. Adding branded highlight covers (how-to blog is coming soon!) is a great way to additionally showcase your brand and your voice.

Looking to take your social media strategy to the next level? Contact us to get a free social media audit!