Oops! Five Common Mistakes Businesses Make Getting Online.
Recently, Forbes Advisor noted that there are 1.09 billion websites on the internet with 252K more created every day or about one every three seconds. As of 2023, 71% of businesses have a website but almost half of them intend to invest in website performance complaining of low website traffic issues. “In today’s digital age, having a well-performing website is crucial for businesses, and addressing this issue is essential for success in the competitive online landscape.” Forbes Advisor. Top Website Statistics for 2024
Unfortunately, web surfers are a tough crowd forming an opinion of a website in less than a second so the design has to be compelling enough to grab a reader’s attention and get them to look at your content. The average business owner is just not equipped for this to be a DIY project; however, even when they do trust the work to a “professional”, they aren't able to judge the work provided. This is where the service of an Online Presence Manager is critical. Here’s a look at five common mistakes we see daily when reviewing a client's online presence.
5. Website is not Mobile Friendly. More than half of all web searching is done on phones but many custom sites only have a single version of the site resulting in a tiny version of the full site being displayed. Even if the web design platform does include a mobile version of the site, each page must be checked and adjusted for small device viewing. Moral: Get a Mobile Site and always check every page of your site on your phone. Your customers will.
4. No Business Pages on Social Media Sites. Online Presence doesn't stop at building a website. A website only thrives with traffic and the best source of traffic next to the search engines are Social Media Sites. They recognize this and most provide for a unique page, separate from your personal page, to showcase your company and drive customers to your website. Once a page is established, content can be shared with your network and ads can be purchased to spread your message to huge pools of potential buyers. Moral: Business pages on Social Media Sites act as free remote hubs driving traffic to your door. Use them!
3. Not having a custom email address. Everyone knows they need a unique web address (domain) on the internet. And while creating a new Gmail address for your company is easy, let’s face it - it looks unprofessional. At the very least, get one email address like info @yourcompany.com when you get your domain name. Most domain providers provide a simple method for creating an email address when you get your domain name at a minimal expense. You can even direct it to your current email reader so any potential contacts will pop-up directly on your phone. Moral: Any professional designer worth his salt will provide a custom email along with their design. If you don’t have one, get one!
2. Not getting a Google Business Profile. This is often overlooked. A shocking 92% of global traffic comes from Google Search and a GBP is a guaranteed way of being at the top of the search results when a user types in your company name. The old system involved sending out postcards with codes but the new system can generate a profile with a couple of clicks - even if you don't have a brick and mortar presence. Moral: You need to have your billboard up on the internet highway.
1. Not Blogging. Content is King on the Internet. A web log (Blog) is the fastest way to convey to your audience that you have a particular expertise in your field. This takes consistency though. Sitting down to write a Blog entry could, for some, be an all day task but it will ultimately pay dividends as potential customers see you as the expert they need. Better yet, search engines are constantly scouring the web looking for good content to share with their users giving you free advertising. Moral: Set aside at least one day a month to create new content for your site that will keep buyers coming back to your door.
Certainly none of these mistakes spell disaster for your brand but they will delay the results of your investment in your online presence. In case you didn’t get to the end of the article I referenced (I get it, there were 40 bullet points!), the average cost of a website in 2023 was $3,200 and took, on average, three months to deliver. This is a substantial expense especially for smaller businesses and avoiding these simple mistakes will help you save time and money.
At Operamera, we manage the entire online presence enterprise, including website design, social media page creation, SEO and reputation management, as well as business consulting services. Contact us at Operamera.com
