When launching a small business, it can be easy for a person to become overwhelmed. You have many hands-on things to worry about — like hiring and providing for employees, finding an office or manufacturing space, and much more. When it comes to having an online presence, you may find yourself unable to decide what to do next. This is why many small business owners find themselves choosing an online marketing agency to aid them in strengthening their business’s online presence. Of course, an online marketing agency can do much more than that. The expertise of persons working for such firms is quite diverse. They can help you ensure that you’re using technology in the most efficient way possible — and therefore help you save money in turn. The truth is that in this day and age, it can be difficult for a company to be successful at all if it isn’t successful online. This doesn’t mean selling products online. It means having the right kind of presence and image. Below, we’ll discuss a few ways that you can make sure that your website — and use of technology is as efficient and forward-thinking as possible.
1. Moving To The Cloud
Yes, we know that the cloud is intimidating. But moving much of your technology use to the cloud is a way of staying current and up to date. The fact is that 87% of companies are now operating on the cloud. In the future, it’s likely that operating on the cloud will be like using the internet. For any companies that want to stay relevant and competitive, staying off of the cloud is not possible. With that being said, you don’t have to move all applications to the cloud. When polled, 25% of respondents said that if they had to move one application the cloud, the one they would choose would be storage. But there are other means through which the cloud is helpful. By moving to the cloud, you can streamline your company’s technological workings and save a good bit of money. A reported 82% of companies saved money by moving to the cloud. For that matter, 80% of companies that adopted the cloud saw improvements within six months of making the change. Of course, moving to cloud servers is not the only way you can streamline your website.
2. Streamlined Web Design
Web design is a major factor in the success of your website. A website can really make or break the image of your company. If a website is bulky or difficult to navigate, potential clients or customers will be turned off. It should be both aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly, explaining your business’s purpose simply and efficiently. This can be done through proper web design — but many small business owners do not know how to design advanced websites on their own. Hiring an online marketing firm means that you can have your site designed for you. Not only does this save you the money you would have spent on hiring an independent web designer — it will also save you a lot of time and money. But web design isn’t all that matters; what is on the website is also important to consider.
3. Search Engine Marketing
Search engine marketing, or SEM, is vital to a company’s success. For one thing, a small business should take part in search engine optimization strategies. This can include, but is not limited to using things like articles and lists to appeal to a potential client or customer organically. By utilizing the same keywords repeatedly, these techniques will ensure that the website featuring these lists and articles will be among the first to appear when these keywords are searched for. Social media marketing is also a viable strategy. By having a presence on certainly social media websites, a small business can change its image entirely — often for the better.
By utilizing these tips, a small business can ensure that its online presence is strong and forward-thinking.