An offline registry is a Windows registry that’s stored in files that Windows is not currently using. Each file is stored in specific locations, as shown in the table below. One popular way to edit the Windows registry is to use the Regedit utility.

how to check errors windows 10

It could also be due to the corruption of the third-party app, causing it to interfere with the Microsoft Office process. If a third-party program is causing this error, then a clean boot or getting rid of the program entirely should resolve the conflict and eliminate the error message on your PC. Once you’ve opened the command prompt window, the next steps are the same on all versions of Windows. You can follow this process for Windows 10 repairs, or to repair Windows 7 and 8 system files.

Option One: Revert to a Previous Version of Windows

Sometimes, cybercriminals send pop-up ads to trick users into thinking their PC has a virus. They insist the user download their antivirus program to remove the threat. However, the antivirus download is a fake one, and it infects the user’s computer with a virus. A computer virus is a malicious piece of computer code designed to spread from device to device. A subset of malware, these self-copying threats are usually designed to damage a device or steal data. Backing up data is the foremost data prevention strategy that every user should adopt.

  • A hard drive with bad sectors could also cause these errors.
  • It is essential to communicate a data loss incident to customers, but it can inadvertently result in a lack of trust and discontentment.
  • There are more than one billion Windows 10 devices out there.
  • While some programming errors may appear to be time bombs , virtually all intentional logical bombs are malicious.
  • If you use Microsoft’s Windows Defender, you’re already off to a good start when it comes to protecting your data from viruses.

A vulnerability is a potential entry point through which a website’s functionality or data can be damaged, downloaded, or manipulated. A typical website may have thousands of potential vulnerabilities. I had read about this before but had to search again for this article which is quite Geeky and may be beyond many of us.

What is the Chernobyl virus?

An extremely corrupt registry will prevent your computer from booting on altogether and if the corruption isn’t severe, you may encounter the blue Code 9C57 screen error every now and then. Frequent Blue Screen errors will further deteriorate your computer’s condition so fixing a corrupt registry editor as soon as possible is very important. If a recent change to your system caused errors in your registry, you can revert your computer’s registry settings using a Windows restore point. If your computer has System Restore enabled, restore points will be created automatically when major changes are made to the system, such as the installation of new drivers. Each one uses very little hard drive space, but the operating system still has to filter through all of them, which slows it down a bit.

Want to dispose of old iMac but concerned about data on hard drive that actually can be downloaded even if computer does not work. The safest thing to do is to remove the hard drive and manually destroy it – power drill, hammer, etc. (wear safety goggles!). If you don’t know where it is, a moderately computer-savvy friend should be able to help.

Hit the Edit button to change the permissions for each user as desired. You'll now see a dialog box titled Select User or Group. Inside this, in the Enter the object name to select box, type the account name of the new folder owner. This can be either an account username, or a group of users on your PC. This is to keep everyone's files on a computer private.

Windows will perform a quick scan without attempting any repairs. On the Properties window, go to the Tools tab and then click the Check button in the Error checking section. From the given path, copy the files – DEFAULT, SAM, SECURITY, SOFTWARE, and SYSTEM. In Troubleshoot options you will find two options; one is Reset PC and the other one is Advanced Options.

The Piriform staff claims that this change has been made to meet legal requirements and give users more transparency over their privacy. But now, CCleaner is not an ‘essential utility’ for your computer anymore. After Avast acquired CCleaner in 2017, it experienced two major attacks by hackers in the span of two years. After going through all of that it will be of some comfort to know that updating your device drivers has a direct impact on improving your computer’s overall performance.

Regardless of the reason, Windows 10 has several ways to update a device driver, including Windows Update, Device Manager, and auto-update assistants from device manufacturers. Windows—especially Windows 10—automatically keeps your drivers reasonably up-to-date for you. For starters, they offer bug fixes and security patches to help protect your computer from vulnerabilities and potential threats. Installing updates ensures that your operating system is up to date and can defend against the most recent security threats. “The offer block will be removed once a partner has posted an updated driver,” Microsoft explained. Click and select ‘Optional updates’ under ‘Additional options’.

Is CCleaner Safe?

1) Download the correct AMD Full Set of drivers from AMD Support. Make sure your Windows is fully updated via Windows Update. The AMD driver crashing in Windows 11 issue can occur if there is too much dust or dirt on the GPU fan. You can either install both kinds of updates or just stick with the Recommended ones. We certainly hope at least one of these solutions helped you resolve the problem with the AMD drivers. Then, simply open the program and, if a new update is available, you will be notified.

will windows update update drivers

If you want a license for multiple devices, Avast Cleanup Premium can bring more bang for your buck. Any utility not owned by a major tech company is less appealing to supply chain attackers. The most recent testimonials from Trustpilot users are proof that the popular utility has been safe to use. And the majority of the CCleaner reviews posted on the platform over the past 12 months were positive.

Also, charge the device battery to at least 40% so that the flashing process will not be interrupted by low battery. Interrupting the firmware installation process could damage your phone. The updater app does not support upgrades from one version of LineageOS to another, and will block installation to any update for a different version. Upgrading manually requires similar steps to installing LineageOS for the first time. The first step is to download your preferred custom recovery on your PC that you want to install on your Poco X3 Pro device. So, you have to get a custom recovery and then install the custom ROM with the recovery, Below, we have described how you can do that easily. If you are searching for proper ways to unleash the potential power of your Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro device, which is only possible after rooting the device, then here you go.

  • If you have any issues or queries, feel free to ask in the comments below.
  • It's wide enough to enclose the large camera module, and it also carries the Poco logo, which slightly reflects incoming light according to the viewing angle.
  • And Xiaomi has to innovate on its software in my opinion.
  • There’s no optical image stabilisation (OIS), so you’ll get a touch of hand-shake, but colours really pop, and a 48Mp sensor is still enough to pack in tons of detail.

We are recommended to buy XIAOMI POCO X3 NFC for daily activity and fun. Since we took a very detailed look at the specs of this phone as well as its design features and its price, you must already have an idea on whether you like it or not. However, here are the pros and cons of Poco X3 Pro to help you decide if you want to get this smartphone. Along with the high performance that it offers, the phone’s battery life is quite lengthy as well. Featuring a 5160 mAh Li-Po battery, you can expect to use this phone for quite a while without having to charge. Besides, since it can charge quite quickly, you won’t have to wait for too long. According to the advertised value, this phone can charge to 59% in 30 minutes and to 100% in one hour.

The developers of this OS prioritized customizability, reliability, and performance; thus, you’ll enjoy a perfect experience using this OS. Poco X3 Pro USB Driver allows you to connect your Poco Smartphone to the Windows Computer without installing the Poco PC Suite Application. The Poco X3 Pro Pro Driver can be helpful if you’re trying to transfer your files from the Mobile to the Computer or from the Computer to the Poco Device. If you have gained root access through any of the aforementioned five methods, then it’s time to enjoy the full power of your device.

  • As per the tests, the X3 Pro's CPU performance frequently dips below 60 percent after 15 minutes and drops to as low as 55 percent in a 30-minute test.
  • Every smartphone has its unique interface and features in its stock ROM.
  • Poco X3 Pro is the latest device from Xiaomi’s global brand Poco.
  • The Poco X3 Pro is a spiritual successor to the Poco F1 and an upgrade to the Poco X3.
  • I bought it about 3 months ago and I am very satisfied, nfc has 256 GB.

The equipment list of the Poco X3 Pro is quite impressive considering the starting price of 250 Euros (~$305) that Xiaomi has set for its mid-range smartphone. In terms of battery life, both phones can easily last a full day with moderate usage. But I did notice that the Poco X3 Pro offers slightly better battery life than the Poco M4 Pro 5G.

poco x3 pro stock rom

You can also use it during the Firmware (OS) Flashing or Installing process on the device or fixing any Software-related issues. That’s all, you have successfully rooted Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro. We click Here need money to operate the project, and almost all of it come from ads.

Updating your computer’s driver is a necessity, if not a little time-consuming of a task. Luckily, there are utility programs created to save you from the tedious task of keeping your drivers up-to-date. This software is capable of scanning, updating, and fixing your hardware. It can update and automatically fix more than 127, 000 drivers to make computers run in optimal condition. It can scan your computer in a matter of seconds and give you a full list of out-of-date drivers.

  • Every software has a unique license type that you can find on the program page, search, or the webpage of category.
  • Some people say they can’t remove or uninstall the Avast Driver Updater application from their computer.
  • Download and install the latest drivers for all your hardware devices with just a click!
  • There are only minor differences between the two product lines.
  • This is because the SFC scan replaces corrupted system files with their cached copies and should be able to fix many commonly-faced Windows errors.

Demos are usually not time-limited (like Trial software) but the functionality is limited. Every product that we recommend is heavily inspected and tested for security against hackers, viruses, malware, and any other intruders that may want to steal your information. AVG Driver Updater will primarily get supported by the AVG Help team, which also offers help for its antivirus software. You also get unlimited access to the company’s live chat assistance and toll-free premium support line as a Premium client. However, to contact their staff if you are a free user, you must first submit a support request on their website. Therefore, free and premium users may contact AVG directly using the website’s email ticket form.

hp-detect-load-my-device-portlet

For example, you are now dealing with Windows corruption issues. But because none of these deals with corruption issues, try using System Maintenance. Windows will run some basic maintenance routines, such as synchronizing the system clock.

  • We figure a bunch of folks have suffered the problem of the Razer Kraken drivers not working; well, here is our guide to getting you well on your way to fixing this issue.
  • Time-saving software and hardware expertise that helps 200M users yearly.
  • Although it might be obvious, but if you're not connected to the internet, you won't be able to download and install updates.

Developed by Bit Guardian, this software updates drivers hassle-freely and ensures smooth and optimum PC performance. Is very useful when we don’t know the exact model no. of our hardware, because without that we will be unable to download the exact device driver. Some times a wrong device driver get installed and it may cause the performance or compatibility issue. A driver updater software can automatically find the exact driver and can also install that automatically. Outdated device drivers can cause system instability and performance slowdowns. Avast driver updater is designed to automatically detect the outdated drivers. When it detects an outdated driver, it will automatically update the driver to the latest version with one-click and protect your computer from potential future problems.

Diagnose Windows or Hardware Problems

rocketdrivers.com

Your private and personal data are starting to face a threat. If you are currently using the Avast updater like this, remove the avast driver updater from your system. Instead, download it from the official website and go for the paid service. And many unauthorized service providers are offering free service. When you ask about the driver’s security, we must always go for the paid service. Many users are complaining about Avast driver updater malware. But in reality, this is not applicable when you are going to download it from the authentic source and the official website.

where to update drivers license

Updaters like the AVG solution know where to look for new drivers and take care of everything without the user even noticing it. They automatically start during system launch and scan 24/7.

Wie Sie ein solches Backup erstellen, lesen Sie hier. Folgen Sie unserer Schritt-für-Schritt-Anleitung oder lesen die Kurzanleitung. Sie haben ein Backup erstellt und möchten es jetzt mit Windows 10 oder Windows 11 wiederherstellen? Oder vielleicht startet es zwar, stürzt aber häufig ab. In jedem Fall müssen Sie das Problem beheben, bevor Sie Ihren Laptop verwenden können. Wenn Ihr Bildschirm gedreht ist, haben wir eine einfache Lösung für dieses Problem. Wenn das Betriebssystem langsamer als eine Melasse startet, können Sie auch die Energieeinstellungen verwenden, um den Start zu beschleunigen.

sind Treiber für DLL-Dateien

Windows wird einige Sekunden bis Minuten brauchen, um das Problem zu beheben. (Es kann sein, dass es nicht gelingt.) Wenn Sie kein Startproblem haben, wird es auch sagen, dass es das Problem nicht beheben kann. Besonders praktisch ist, dass eure Einstellungen hierbei nicht verloren gehen. Habt ihr euer System perfekt an eure Bedürfnisse angepasst, müsst ihr anschließend keine Zeit in einen Neuaufsatz investieren. Allerdings hilft das Zurücksetzen eures Windows nicht immer. In einigen Fällen hilft nur noch eine saubere Neuinstallation eures Betriebssystems oder andere Tipps, mit denen ihr euer OS repariert. Im nächsten Praxistipp zeigen wir Ihnen, wie Sie WLAN-Probleme unter Windows 10 lösen.

Media Creation Tool für Windows 10 22H2 (Oktober 2022 Update) #19045.2006

Ansonsten finden Sie hier ein paar Möglichkeiten, Windows 10 zu reparieren. Funktioniert Windows 10 nicht mehr richtig, können Sie das Betriebssystem komplett wiederherstellen, auch ohne CD. Ist ein gravierendes Problem unter Windows 10 entstanden, können Sie die Systemwiederherstellung nutzen. Wie das Tool genau funktioniert, erklären wir Ihnen in diesem Praxistipp. Funktioniert Ihr Computer unter Windows 10 nicht mehr richtig, hilft meist eine Systemwiederherstellung.

  • Ansonsten finden Sie hier ein paar Möglichkeiten, Windows 10 zu reparieren.
  • Habt ihr euer System perfekt an eure Bedürfnisse angepasst, müsst ihr anschließend keine Zeit in einen Neuaufsatz investieren.
  • Windows wird einige Sekunden bis Minuten brauchen, um das Problem zu beheben.
  • Navigieren Sie zum Menü Erweiterte Startoptionen von Windows 10.
  • In einigen Fällen hilft nur noch eine saubere Neuinstallation eures Betriebssystems oder andere Tipps, mit denen ihr euer OS repariert dllfiles.de/microsoft-corporation/opengl32.

Um Ihre Dateien zu sichern, sollten Sie regelmäßig ein Backup erstellen. Wie Sie ein Backup mit Windows erstellen, erklären wir hier. Dabei ist es egal, ob das Backup unter Windows 10 / Windows 11 erstellt wurde oder Sie eine Datei von Windows 7 wiederherstellen möchten.

Mit den Wiederherstellungspunkten in Windows 10 und Windows 11 setzt ihr das Betriebssystem auf einen früheren Zeitpunkt zurück. Wenn unter Windows 10 und Windows 11 der PC Probleme bereitet, kann es an Änderungen oder fehlerhaften Installationen liegen. Im nächsten Praxistipp zeigen wir Ihnen, wie Sie Backup-Dateien unter Windows 10 löschen. Im nächsten Artikel erklären wir Ihnen, wie Sie das Update von Windows 10 zu Windows 11 durchführen. Wenn Sie ein Abbild des Systems erstellt haben, folgen Sie unserer Schritt-für-Schritt-Anleitung oder schauen sich die Kurzanleitung an.

Diese Variante können Sie nutzen, wenn nicht das komplette Windows wiederherstellen werden soll, sondern nur einzelne Daten oder Ordner. Die Methode basiert auf der Backup-Funktion von Windows 7. Es können deshalb unter Windows 7 erstellte Backups verwendet werden. Aber auch unter Windows 10 und Windows 11 können Sie mit dieser Methode Backups erstellen und später wiederherstellen.

Samsung SM-T2105 is a budget-friendly tablet designed for those who are looking for an affordable yet powerful device. It comes with a 7-inch display, runs on Android Jelly Bean operating system and features a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor. This tablet is an excellent choice for people who want to stay connected with their loved ones, browse the internet, watch videos, listen to music, and play games on the go.

Design and Display

The Samsung SM-T2105 has a sleek and compact design that makes it easy to hold in one hand. The tablet measures 193.4 x 116.4 x 9.7 mm and weighs only 310 grams, which makes it highly portable. It has a 7-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 600 x 1024 pixels. The screen is bright and vibrant, and the colors are accurate with good viewing angles. The tablet also has a front-facing camera for video chat or taking selfies.

Performance and Battery Life

The Samsung SM-T2105 is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and 1 GB of RAM. This combination provides a smooth and responsive performance, allowing you to run multiple apps simultaneously without any lag. The tablet also has 8 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 32 GB through a microSD card. The battery life of the tablet is impressive, and it can last for up to 8 hours on a single charge, depending on usage.

Camera and Connectivity

The Samsung SM-T2105 has a 2-megapixel rear camera that allows you to capture decent photos and videos. There is also a front-facing VGA camera that can be used for video chat. In terms of connectivity, the tablet supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v3.0, GPS, and micro-USB 2.0. The tablet also has a headphone jack and a microSD card slot.

Software and Features

The Samsung SM-T2105 runs on Android Jelly Bean operating system with Samsung's TouchWiz UI on top. The tablet comes pre-loaded with various apps such as Google Play Store, Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, and more. There are also some pre-installed Samsung apps such as ChatON, Samsung Apps, Samsung Link, and more. The tablet also has some useful features such as Multi Window, which allows you to run two apps simultaneously side by side.

Conclusion

The Samsung SM-T2105 is an excellent budget-friendly tablet that offers good performance and features. It has a sleek and compact design, a bright and vibrant display, decent camera quality, and long battery life. The tablet is perfect for people who are looking for an affordable device for browsing the internet, watching videos, listening to music, and playing games on the go. If you are planning to buy a budget-friendly tablet, then the Samsung SM-T2105 is definitely worth considering.

One of the key questions surrounding online dating is whether these platforms lead to long-term relationships. Some 53% of adults under 30 have ever used a dating site or app – including a quarter who have used one in the past year. This compares with 37% of those ages 30 to 49 who have ever tried online dating and smaller shares of those 50 to 64 (20%) and 65 and older (13%) who say the same.

  • “They are being tricked meeting up with people. And once they are getting there, they are actually taking money from them and things like that.”
  • Additionally, male profiles that had a biography received 69 matches while those without received only 16 matches .
  • There are also useful questionnaires that give you insight into your actually any traits and compatibility skills, which can help australia online dating game regardless of really hookup you end up using the most.
  • According to Pew’s survey, 44 percent of online daters say they are looking for a long-term partner, 40 percent are interested in casual dating, 24 percent want casual sex, and 22 percent are just interested in friendship.

Pluralities also believe that whether a couple met online or in person has little effect on the success of their relationship. There are some groups who are particularly wary of the idea of meeting someone through dating platforms.

Tip 2: Build a genuine connection

Dating experts reveal the common blunders singles make with their photos, bios and prompts. Here are the new rules around ending a relationship by Zoom or texts. Furthermore, when describing themselves, people will often present their best selves while leaving out flaws. Some users may even deceptively present inaccurate information on their profile merely to get someone interested in them. Of course, hobbies and sports are always a great way to mingle. Consider joining a sports club or take lessons for an activity you want to start doing. Some people recommend Meet Upas a fun way to find people nearby who are interested in the same activities, whether that’s skating or going to museums or concerts.

The New Happy Has 500k Instagram Followers—Here’s How the Founder Built a Real Community

Once the quiz is completed, you fill out your profile with prompts, photos, and icons to indicate your hobbies and interest. Our tester says the profile took at least 20 minutes to complete, although not all users include the same level of detail on their profiles. Every Thursday, the app comes to life with people near you who also want to meet that day. In the time it takes to order a drink on one date, you’ll be matched with 3 users in your area that match your preferences. As sparks typically fly in just moments, these mini-dates save users time and energy–all from the comfort of your couch. We believe in quality over quantity, and that smart daily recommendations are better for busy people than an unlimited buffet of options. We let you set ultra-specific preferences and only suggest you a few Prospects a day that we think you will actually like.

A few of the best or cheapest competitors reaped significant gains while many former domestic champions or viable competitors lost out. These sites also generate significant levels of inequality, especially for men. One analyst found that“like inequality” for men on Tinderis higher than income inequality in the United States . Ananalyst at Hinge foundthat women’s inequality on that site was roughly equal to the average income inequality for the world’s countries (aGini coefficientof 0.376), similar to Western Europe.

Pure is a perfect match for those who value confidentiality, as profiles are removed every 24 hours. You can also send random pictures that will self-destruct a few seconds after your partner sees them. Even though Tinder claims to cater to all types of dating, everyone knows it’s best for one-night stands. Swipe right to meet people or left to remove them from your view. Priced at the higher $32 to $40 a month depending on age, all the Tinder Gold and Plus benefits are included at this tier.

Get Better Results Faster With A Partner You Can Trust

You've probably heard of the saying, “Don't put all your eggs in one basket.”

It means that you shouldn't risk everything in one risky situation because there's always a chance it'll be bad. The same principle applies to your business website. You don't want to spend all of your time and money on a website, but you also don't want to have done so little ‘maintenance' on it that it's no longer useful.

In other words, there must be a balance between giving your site some TLC and outsourcing the job to a web designer who specializes in maintenance contracts.

The following are seven reasons you should consider outsourcing your website maintenance.

Save Money

The more time and money you spend on your site, the sooner you'll need to contract its maintenance out.

Get An Expert

Outsourcing your maintenance doesn't mean that you won't be able to edit your website at all, but it does mean that you'll save time and won't have to learn how. With an expert on your side, you can add whatever information is needed to keep your business growing while also saving some cash.

Don't Overwork Yourself 

Sometimes, small business owners get carried away with updating their website and their business dwindles as a result. Save yourself the trouble and save your time by outsourcing website maintenance to an expert.

Outsource Your Worries

If you're not familiar with how HTML works or what makes a good website, outsourcing your worry will definitely be worth it. You can ensure that your site is up-to-date and safe from hackers and whatnot, which is definitely worth the price.

Keep Your Focus

Being able to focus on your business instead of worrying about bugs in your website will definitely be worth it. Let the pros handle the tough stuff while you keep working hard and making money.

Keep It Up-To-Date

Websites can change a lot, even over the course of six months (let alone six years). So, outsourcing your website maintenance will ensure that you're always up-to-date and looking your best.

Your business' website is an important asset, and if you actually put some effort into it or work with a company that does, then surely your customers/clients will notice. If you're not experienced (and no matter how smart and creative you are), contracting out the task of maintaining your website might be the best decision for your growing business.

There's no reason to pay for websites that don't do anything but collect dust on your shelf. Outsource your maintenance needs so you can have an expert handle it. Not only are you getting a good deal with web maintenance that professionals will give you, but you're also getting to rest easy knowing that your website is in good hands.

We hope you’ve found this article helpful and informative! Sharp Tack Media is a leading website development company offering top-quality service. If you need assistance with your own website, please contact us for more information or to get started today!

Setup & Start Using Google Pay

Today's digital world has made it easier than ever for consumers to make purchases online. And with the growing use of mobile devices, it's likely that this trend will continue, meaning small business owners need to ensure they are doing everything possible to streamline their checkout process and increase conversions.

Google Pay allows you to simplify your customer experience without compromising on security or speed. With this simple integration of payment processing services, you can enable your customers to pay more securely and on their own terms. It is an easy-to-use online service that allows users to store credit card information for future purchases. It enables quick and secure transactions without the need to enter any details twice.

If you have a small business and haven't quite got around to implementing Google Pay as part of your checkout process yet, then now is the time to do so. This article will show you how to get started with Google Pay and also give you some reasons why it can help your business thrive.

Why Should You Use Google Pay For Your Business

To get things started, all you need is a valid Google account and a small website, blog or online store. It's really simple to get started with Google Pay since it works seamlessly with most checkout options you already have in place.

Here are five reasons why your business should be using Google Pay now:

  • Enhances security for transactions with added verification steps that include emails, SMS messages and cards marked as “safe to shop with”
  • Keeps things simple for your customer when they are shopping online, which helps to boost conversion rates
  • Gives you the choice of using Google Pay with multiple payment processors, including Braintree, BlueSnap, Regpack and more
  • Avoids chargebacks by locking down your website's security so customers know their payment details are being handled securely
  • Lets customers access what they need quickly and easily with a modern, easy-to-use design that is always available to them

How To Use Google Pay For Your Business

Creating a Google account that is designed to be used with your business is quick and simple. You can start by creating a G Suite account, which provides you with all the tools you need to create an online presence for your business, from custom emails to web storage. Once you're ready to go live, there are two easy ways you can start accepting payments with Google Pay:

  1. Use the Payment Request API for websites, which allows you to integrate secure checkout functionality directly into your website without the need for external plugins.
  2. Utilize the Checkout button in Gmail, which will allow customers to check out on your website when they are replying to an email or making a purchase from your site directly through an email message.

Take Advantage Today!

Google Pay is set to do big things in the world of online payment, so it's important that your small business takes advantage of this option now before everyone else does. The above article will help you get started and show you why using Google Pay is the smart move for your business today.

Now that you know the advantages of using Google Pay for your business, it’s time to get started! If you have any questions or need help setting up this tool on your website, don’t hesitate to reach out. Sharp Tack Media is here to provide all of the expertise and support needed in order to make sure that everything runs smoothly. We can assist with anything from account setup through integration into an e-commerce platform. So what are you waiting for? Let us take care of everything so that your company never has a problem accepting credit cards again!

The Best Way To Get Paid Online

“What's in this for me?” You're probably asking yourself that question right now. What's in it for you? How would accepting credit card payments online help your small business? The answer is simple: increased revenue, reduced costs, and less time managing finances.

Online payment processing is a very competitive industry. You can expect to have a lot of providers to choose from. There are, however, a few things you should do before choosing one:

  • Compare the rates and fees offered by different providers. Do they offer what you need? What about customer service or security features?
  • Check that the payment provider's website is secure and encrypted. If your customers' data is stolen, then this could be harmful for your business.
  • Check that the payment provider's website is easy to use , and that processes are clear. Your customers will judge you based on how easily they can do business with you. If your site looks complicated, then they might just shop elsewhere.

With the above in mind, let's talk about how we can actually go about accepting credit card payments online:

Option A:  Set Up A Merchant Account On Your Own

You can set up a merchant account on your own. This option has several benefits and drawbacks. The biggest benefit is that you do not need more than one account. Also, if you decide to expand your business, you will already have everything in place. Not to mention the fact that the setup process itself is fairly straightforward.

The biggest drawback is that you will need to be very familiar with how payments work. This means having a good idea of the rates and fees involved, as well as knowing what your customers expect from you whenever they place an order. Another potential issue is that you will most likely be working with fewer payment providers than if you set up shop elsewhere.

Option B: Online Payment Processing Gateway

You can choose to sign up with an online payment processing gateway. You could visit this page for a list of the top providers. Payment gateways have become very popular over the last decade because they make it extremely easy for small businesses to accept credit card payments online. All you need to do is contact a service provider, choose how you would like to receive your money, and start selling.

The biggest advantage of this is that the signup process only takes a few minutes. However, there are some drawbacks as well. The main drawback is that you will need to be familiar with these payment providers' rates and fees. It's also important to check what kinds of merchant accounts they offer.

Option C: Choose To Work With A Company

You could also choose to work with a company that offers all of the above services. This way you can set up your service in no time at all and be ready to start earning money right away. Just like with payment gateways, they provide you with everything you need and handle most of the work for you. This means that all you have to worry about is marketing.

The biggest advantage to this kind of provider is convenience. Most providers do everything in-house, so there's no need to deal with multiple parties who specialize in different kinds of services. The best part is that you can be sure your provider has enough resources to handle all of your customers' needs no matter how large your customer base becomes.

The biggest downside to this option is the cost. While there are cheap providers out there, most companies charge a significant amount for their services. The advantage they have however, is that it's much easier for them to get the equipment and software they need than it is for you.

So what kind of business should I go with? Well, that depends on your needs. If you're just starting out and don't know where you will be selling, then a gateway might be good for you. If you like to plan ahead, partnering up with an all-in-one provider might be best.

The Truth Is, We’ve All Been There

There are times when you want to sell something and no one wants to take your credit card number over the phone or online. We get it; we don’t like giving out our information either! But what if we told you that with a Sharp Tack Media account, not only can your customers pay for their purchase using cash on delivery but also by credit card? That means more convenience for them and easier accounting for you. We know that investing in an e-commerce store can be daunting so call us today and let us help make this happen together!

Increase Your Sales With A Smart Shopping Cart

We are often asked by small business owners about the best shopping cart software for their business. We have prepared this Shopping Cart Buying Guide to help you make the best decision when purchasing a shopping cart solution for your online store.

What Is A Shopping Cart?

A shopping cart is an e-commerce application that allows an individual to collect items to be purchased, so they can buy them all at once.

What Is The Purpose Of A Shopping Cart?

The purpose of a shopping cart is for online stores to have an e-commerce solution that allows customers to purchase multiple items within one transaction. This eliminates the double entry of data which helps increase the likelihood that an order  will be placed.

What Kind Of Shopping Carts Are There?

There are two main types of shopping carts for e-commerce stores: 

Hosted Shopping Carts

These have the least amount of work needed on your end because they are hosted on someone else's servers. This kind of shopping cart software typically has limitations on things to track for your store, but are generally very easy to use.

Self-Hosted Shopping Carts

These require you or your employees to upload the files to a server that you own. This means that there are no limitations other than what you set yourself. We recommend this kind of shopping cart for most e-commerce stores because it gives you the freedom to have everything your store needs.

Types Of Shopping Carts

There are several different types of shopping carts that can be used by online merchants. Some of the most popular carts are:

  • Full Page/Header & Footer Banners

A full page shopping cart is a shopping cart design where images on the site are directly linked to products on your online store. All of the products have links that allow people to purchase them, and there is no need for separate pages for checkout.

  • Single Product Layouts

A single product layout is shopping cart design where all of the products are listed on one page with each item having its own shortcode or link that directs people to the checkout page.

  • Mini/Light Box Layouts

A mini (light box) layout is a shopping cart design that has images of the products on your site while linking to a separate page for more information.

  • Advanced Layouts

An advanced layout is shopping cart design where all of the different types of layouts are combined into one complete shopping cart.

Deliver Best Shopping Cart Experience

One of the most important things to remember when it comes to shopping cart abandonment is that there's no such thing as a “one size fits all” solution. Everyone has different needs and preferences, so listening to your customers and understanding their specific pain points will help you deliver an experience they'll return for again and again. If we're helping you with this issue, let us know how we can be of assistance! It doesn't matter if you need more shoppers on-site or less abandoned carts – our team at Sharp Tack Media are experts in both conversion optimization AND customer retention. What does your store do differently than others? Let us know!

How NOT To Design Your Website (And How To Fix It)

A website redesign can be a good thing, but if you do it wrong, the whole Internet might stop working for visitors. Here are seven things to avoid when planning your redesign.

Forgetting To Keep Key Pages Intact

When you're redesigning your website, make sure that your most important pages stay intact, such as your main services and products pages. If you completely redesign them, you could confuse visitors to the point where they quit trying to use your site or even take another company's services. You should also consider keeping your contact page and an about us page available in a different location than usual (so that visitors can find it without too much trouble) and still easily accessible to the public.

Making Your Site Mobile-Unfriendly

This is a time when you need to make sure your website is mobile-friendly . The statistics for mobile device usage are pretty staggering: as of June, 2013, 59% of smartphone users accessed the Internet only through their devices (rather than laptops or desktops). Also, 70% of tablet owners used them to access the Internet. If your website doesn't have a mobile version , it will be nearly useless for all those users.

Forgetting To Consider Your Search Engine Optimization

As you're designing your website, don't forget about search engine optimization. The company should keep the design current so it still looks good in a few months, but remember to use the same keywords and phrases that attracted visitors in the first place.

Building Something That Is Too Complicated To Use

Planning a website is definitely not easy, but you might be going overboard if your new design includes features that no one has ever heard of before.

Forgetting To Make Your Site Faster

How long does it take for your website to load? If it's too slow, you might lose visitors. Focus on your site's speed as you redesign it, and try some of the tips offered by Google on their developer page , which includes using JavaScript responsibly, making sure images are compressed, minifying files, and more.

Using Too Many Pictures Or Not Enough Pictures

One of the biggest mistakes to make when redesigning your website is to use too many pictures or not enough pictures. When you have too few images, it looks amateurish — some might even say boring . However, don't go overboard with images either, since they can slow down the loading time of your website.

Using Too Many Ornaments And Other Heavy Distractions

When you're redesigning your website, avoid adding too many ornaments and other heavy distractions to the design; they can take away from what you're trying to communicate , and distract visitors from what is really important.

We consider all your needs and desires, not just what we want you to see or do on your website. Give a specific example from our list that resonates with your audience so they can get an idea for how these mistakes can affect conversion rates. Finally, don’t forget about mobile optimization! If you need help redesigning your website or crafting a marketing plan that will leave both customers and search engines satisfied, give us a call at Sharp Tack Media today! Let's chat!

Start Building And Improving Your Website Today

You can create a professional website in under an hour. As many of us know, professional websites are not cheap. It comes with a hefty price tag if the site is going to be anything more than just text on a page with one or two pages.

However, there is hope for the small business owners who would like to have a professional looking website but can't afford an expensive price tag.  If you follow these steps closely, then you too will be on your way to creating a professional looking website that might just give your small business just the edge it needs over its competitors.

How to Create a Professional Website in Under an Hour 

Pick Out The Domain Name

Before you can even start making your website, you're going to need somewhere for it to live on the internet; a web address.  This is your domain name and will be the first step in creating a professional website.

Pick Out A Template

Once you've acquired the URL of the site you'd like to have for your business, it's time to find the template. There are many website templates that can be found online that you can use for your e-commerce site. These range in style, but the most popular template seems to be a blog-style layout with multiple pages.  It's important though to make sure that whatever template you pick has all of the features you'll need.  Some of these features may include:

Customize Your Template

Now is the time to pick out the colors you'd like to use on your site.  Don't be afraid to go bold!  If you're not sure what colors would look best with the template that you've chosen, then feel free to ask for help or do some online research to find a color scheme that works well together.

After picking out your colors, it's time to make your site all yours by customizing the layout of the template.  With a little bit of patience, you can easily drag and drop different elements on your template to organize them in the best way possible for your needs.  

Write Out Some Content

Now that you've got a template for your site and you've customized it to make it look the way that you want, it's time to write out some content.  This will be the heart of your website where people can learn more about your products and services.

Build It And They Will Come

Once you've written out your content, then it's time to start building your site! There are different website builders available that make the process of constructing a website much easier.  You'll need to decide on a builder based on your needs.

Promote Your Business

After you've built out a professional looking site, then it's time to let the world know about it!  If done correctly, this could be just what your small business needs to take off and get the attention that it deserves.

When done correctly, a professional website can do wonders for your small business.  With just a little bit of time and hard work, you can have a website up and running that will be beneficial for both your customers and yourself!

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” If that was true, then we would only need one to get your attention and make you want more information about how Sharp Tack Media can create an amazing website for your business in under an hour! We know you don't have time to spend hours on creating a professional looking site from scratch when there are so many other things going on in life. That's why our team of experts at Sharp Tack Media will take care of EVERYTHING – design, programming, hosting – all with just one phone call or email. You'll be able to focus on what really matters while knowing Sharp Tack Media has taken care of everything. Call us today!

Getting Ahead In Business And Life

At some point in time, many entrepreneurs have faced challenges when it comes to making their startup successful.

If you're about to start your own company or are currently facing issues with your startup, read more to learn about website tips that may come in handy.

Have The Right Kind Of Traffic

The key to having a successful startup's website is having the right kind of traffic. If you need to, pay for advertisements so that more people will know about your site and your products which, in turn, may lead to sales or enquiries. Make use of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter in order to let potential customers know about your site.

Online Payment Available

The next thing to do is have an online payment system in place to process payments for your products. This is an efficient way to track sales and monitor how well you are doing in terms of financial matters. There are many ecommerce platforms that you can choose from when it comes to having an online payment system in place so be sure to do your research first before deciding on anything.

Choose The Convenient Payment Processor

Choose a payment processor that is convenient for you, costs less and provides great services. One of the most popular among many entrepreneurs is PayPal due to its ease of use and speed in completing transactions which are all factors for having a successful startup's website. However, if people using other online payment systems find your site, you may still let them pay via their preferred method.

Branding

Startup branding is also a big factor when it comes to attracting the right kind of customers. Whether you're selling clothes or mobile phones, having a startup logo that represents your brand and products will be helpful in terms of boosting sales.

Although your logo will appear in your website, social media sites and other marketing materials, you may want to think of a unique design so that it will stand out from the rest. One way of achieving this is by having a “sticker” or small graphic representing your brand which you can add on anything such as laptops, phones and even people's clothing.

In the end, having a successful startup is not just about coming up with new products or services that people may love but also knowing how to promote it efficiently online using the right kind of marketing strategies. SEO, social media and paid advertisements are just some of the many methods that you can use to make sure that your website is more visible among the rest. Although it may be a lot of work, startups will have an easier time finding success with these tips in mind.

Let Us Help You Get Started

The key to starting a successful company is finding the right balance of discipline, creativity, and risk-taking. It also takes an open mind that can adapt quickly to changing circumstances or technologies. Sharp Tack Media has been there for startups since day one with professional web design services at affordable prices. Call us today!

Create a Stunning Website

If you own or run a small business, chances are you've already heard about the importance of having a website. And if you haven't already gotten around to setting up your own site, now is definitely the time. About 75 percent of companies with revenues less than $5 million say that they don't have an online presence—and this can cost them potential business.

As your company grows, you may want to consider adding content beyond simple text and images; things like video, social media feeds, files (such as PDFs) and forms can make your site more interactive for visitors—and more profitable for you. But while building your site is an important first step, it's not the only one. To give your small company the big-time exposure it deserves, you'll need to continue updating and promoting it, while also making sure that your other online assets—such as social media—are in tip-top shape.

Here are nine ways you can keep your small business' website fresh, relevant, and attracting new visitors.

  • Add A Blog

A blog is an effective way to enhance your website with fresh, relevant content that can answer questions, show off your industry expertise, and increase customer loyalty.

  • Add Call-To-Action Buttons

Call-to-action buttons are called just that for a reason: they push visitors toward taking action in some way—for example, signing up for your e-newsletter, checking out your products in more detail, or making a purchase.

  • Add Social Sharing Buttons

These make it easy for site visitors to share pages with friends on their favorite social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter—which can bring you new business when users follow the links they see in their news feeds.

  • Add Video

Videos can help you showcase your business and explain your products—and they're great for SEO purposes, too (they increase the number of times people link to your site when they mention it in blog posts or social media).

  • Add QR Codes

QR (or quick response) codes are the small black-and-white blocks that were originally designed for formatting in manufacturing. Today, you can use them to easily share pages of your site on mobile devices—which is a great way to boost traffic on the go.

  • Add Widgets And Feeds From Other Sites

These add new content to your page without having to actually create it, and can help your site seem fresh, relevant, and active—which will attract repeat visitors.

  • Add Industry News

This is a great way to show off your blog's strengths (since you'll be able to aggregate content), while also staying current with the latest goings-on in your field—which will keep you and your readers on the cutting edge.

  • Add Forms And Contact Information

People who visit your site may want to get in touch with you—whether it's about a current order, a new project, or just some general questions—so make sure they can do so easily by including contact buttons, phone numbers/e-mails, and a contact form.

  • Add Photos And Videos Of Your Products In Action

Videos allow you to demonstrate how your product works, what it looks like out of the box, and why customers should buy it—all without using a single word. And as long as you're not using copyrighted material (or trying to make a buck off of another company's brand), photos and videos of your products in action can be used for marketing purposes, too.

When it comes to providing an optimal experience for your site visitors, you can't just expect your demo or template to “do all the work.”

With these nine ideas, you'll be able to create a website that's both functional and fun for your customers. To get started with any of the following suggestions, just reach out to Sharp Tack Media! We're here to help make sure your business has a clear idea on how they want their site designed and what features it should have. Do you need an online store? A blog? Contact us and we can get started designing the perfect web presence for your small business!

How To Craft A Page Title That Will Make Visitors Stay

Page titles and meta descriptions are often overlooked but can be very beneficial for your search engine optimization. A page title is the first thing someone sees when they come to a website and is usually what they look at to determine how useful the article will be. The description is basically another advertisement, this time for Google though, as it shows up on searches.

What Is The Perfect Title? 

There are several components that make up a good page title.

  • Keywords Or Phrases (Used In Moderation)

Knowing what keywords will get you the most traffic is important, but it's also important not to overdo it with repeating words throughout your meta description and page title as it becomes spammy and looks like you're trying too hard.

  • Avoid Clichés

People might think that they are original, but some phrases have been used so many times that it's really not worth the time to use them again.

  • Unique

You don't want your website to look like a carbon copy of another site, so be sure to add something unique to your page titles and meta descriptions that haven't been used before.

  • Grammar and Spelling

This one seems like common sense but you'd be surprised how many people don't follow it. If your page title is misspelled, Google can assume that your website is not trustworthy and may penalize you without warning. Correct grammar is also important, but you can get away with more mistakes in the meta description.

  • Limit Your Number Of Words

Google prefers a title that is between 50 and 60 characters long, but it's not going to penalize you for going longer. However, if you go much shorter than 50-60 characters, things start getting cut off in the SERPs (Search Engine Result Pages) which ruins your SEO efforts.

  • No More Than 2 Or 3 Tags

You want to write a page title that fits within the character limit, but you also don't want to make your website look like spam and put off visitors before they even get there.

  • Don't Use Catch Phrases, Slang, Or Profanity

Google has a filter which stops certain phrases from showing up in their search results. So, while your awesome catch phrase may be awesome and get you a lot of traffic, it will also get filtered and your website won't show up for that keyword.

  • Make Titles Accurate

Don't write titles like “Huge Sale” when the only thing you're having a sale on is a single item. If you're going to have a sale on a product, then make sure the title says “50% off iPhone Cases” or something similar. That's not only more accurate but also tells people what they can expect from your website if they click through.

  • No Multiple URLs

Google prefers that you keep all of your inbound links pointing to a single page. If you have multiple versions of the same page, make sure to redirect them or else Google will think that there are two separate websites and your link juice will be split between them.

  • Be Mobile-Friendly

Site speed is important so people can quickly get what they came for and bounce back to Google. If your website is too slow, people will bounce before it even loads which means they don't get what they are looking for and are never seen again.

The perfect page title combines creativity with the elements that Google needs to list your website in their search results. Without a good page title, you can't hope to rank on the front page for even the most competitive of keywords. By following these steps and using a professional SEO service, your internet marketing campaign will be well on its way to success.

Make Your Visitors Stay

The title of your blog post is the most important element in drawing visitors to stay on your page. It should be catchy, interesting and enticing enough that they will want to know more about what you have for them. You can use a number of keywords or phrases in order to make this happen including action verbs like “how-to”, stats such as “80% off!” or sensationalist statements like “you'll never believe what happened next.” We at Sharp Tack Media are experts when it comes to crafting compelling titles that get people's attention so give us a call today if you're looking for help with yours!

Avoid Critical Website Mistakes That Kill Your Conversions

So you've got a local business, and you want the world to know about it? You want people to drive miles out of their way to be your best customer. Maybe you even make them feel like they're family. It's all because you “treat them right,” and that's what keeps them coming back for more.

You have a local business that does good business in your community, and you want the world to know about it. But how do you get them to take notice? How do you keep them coming back for more when they're so blown away by your commitment to treating your customers right? You make sure you make an impression, and that's what keeps them coming back for more.

So how do you build the perfect website? What are some of the steps to make your business look like a million bucks on the Internet? To keep it simple, let's break it down into seven deadly sins that can easily sink any local business' online image.

  • Having The Bandwidth To Support It

If you can't load the site, or it takes five minutes to download a simple JPEG, people will assume that your business is just as shoddy. Don't let this be you! Make sure your website is designed with the support of wide bandwidth in mind. If it's not, you'll have to rely on your reputation for people to take the chance your site won't go south at any given moment.

  • Being Search Engine Inaccessible

If you build a website that no search engine can ever find, then why are you building it? Your local business' online presence needs to be accessible by the major search engines. If you do nothing else but this, it's already a step in the right direction.

  • Creating A Site That Will Be Outdated In Five Years

Their site is still stuck on that annoying song from last year? Yeah…that doesn't make any sense. Try updating somewhat regularly to keep your website looking hip and relevant.

  • A Terrible Theme

Seriously, I've seen some of the most God-awful themes in my time working in web design. And when it comes to website themes, please do yourself a favor and avoid anything with animation or video embedding. There are dozens of free themes out there, so try sticking with one of them.

  • Not Using A Strategic Keyword Strategy

Sure, your business name is great PR. But if you want to really get more customers coming through the door, make sure your website contains some keywords that are more likely to be searched on by would-be clients.

  • Having A Cluttered Layout

A cluttered layout is difficult to read, annoying, and most people will leave your site without ever looking at it. Make sure you have plenty of negative white space, or “breathing room.”

  • Not Constructing The Site For Your Customers Rather Than Just Yourself

If the first thing that comes to mind when you look at your website is that it reminds you of yourself, then chances are good that people will feel like they're reading an autobiography. You need to visualize what your customers would see when they check out the site, and construct it for them rather than just for yourself.

And there you have it! If you can keep these seven deadly sins in mind when designing your local business' website, chances are good that you'll walk away with a great looking online presence. Remember to build it for your customers and not just yourself, keep it up to date, think of keywords that people might search on when they're in the market for something related to your business, and create a layout with plenty of breathing room.

How Small Businesses Get Indexed By Google

You've worked hard to build your small business. Now you're wondering how to attract attention, generate more leads and sales for your business, and grow your profits.

If you are searching for easy, affordable online marketing strategies that can help take your small business to the next level, consider search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines are the primary way that most people find websites online. Search engines are used by more than 90% of internet users to find information on products and services, meaning your website needs to be visible in search engine results pages (SERPs) like Google™.

The more visible you are in SERPs, the higher your chances of attracting attention and generating leads and sales for your business.

What Is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Search engine optimization, or SEO, simply refers to any marketing tactics that help rank your website higher in SERPs. This means people can find you more easily and refer you to other potential customers.

SEO Basics: How Search Engines Work

Search engines work by spidering across the web and indexing content from websites based on keywords. The best way to improve rankings is to make sure your site is properly optimized for targeted keywords. Good SEO practices can help you attract more customers and generate leads by improving your website's visibility in SERPs.

How Can I Use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) For My Small Business?

You can use search engine optimization in many ways that will help you improve the visibility of your business website in SERPs to attract attention and generate leads.

  • Submit Keywords To Search Engines

Submit keywords to search engines so your site is easier for people to find from popular keywords searches. Having the right keywords will help you rank higher in SERPs, which will help potential customers find you more easily.

  • Have A Unique Content

Create unique content on your website that clearly describes your products or services. This is another way you can improve the visibility of your site in SERPs by targeting specific keywords related to what people are searching for on search engines.

  • Get Listed

Expand customer reach and increase sales by getting listed on local directories, forums, blogs, social networks and other popular websites. By bringing more attention to your business and improving the ranking of your website in SERPs, you can attract more customers and generate more leads.

  • Create Pages and Content With Your Targeted Keywords

These must be original and related to your business, so don't bulk-write content that is of no value to your business. The quality of the content you offer is important for staying out of Google's sandbox, or being at risk of getting banned from search engines.

  • Interlink Your Site With Related Web Pages

Lastly, you need to interlink your website with other related websites by linking out to related pages on your site and pointing external links at your own website. This helps search engines find your website easier, which will help bring more traffic to your site.

Small businesses need to be online and visible in order to succeed, so you can't afford not to use search engine optimization. Search engines are the primary way people find sites across the web, including small businesses like yours. By following these steps on how to get indexed by Google™, you will have a better chance of attracting more customers and generating more leads and sales for your business.

Get Indexed With Us

To be successful in the digital age, small businesses need to take advantage of all available tools. A key one is SEO or search engine optimization. At Sharp Tack Media we offer a variety of services designed for SMB’s like you that want to get your company found by customers who are searching online. We can help with everything from keyword selection and website design to content creation and social media strategy! Contact us today at if this sounds like something you might need – our team will be happy to chat with you about what we do best!

Get More Visitors With These Killer Tips!

Every day, millions of people around the world go online to search for information. While some sites like Facebook and Twitter are free to use, many require you to pay a monthly fee for content or services.

If you own or manage an organization's website (a business, blog, etc.) it is especially important that your site receives traffic. Traffic is the number of people who visit your site. The more traffic you have, the higher chance your website has reaching people in order to bring in revenue.

Here are five tricks for increasing your website's traffic, that can be done at no or very little cost:

  • Use Social Media To Spread The Word About Your Website

Social media is an excellent way to promote your website. Social channels like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest are free to use and their simple interface lets you post links with one click. When your friends or followers visit these sites, they will see the links at the top of their screens when they scroll through their newsfeed or who pin what boards.

  • Post Your Website On Relevant Online Communities

There are several online communities where users share links with each other. These sites include Quora, Reddit and Digg. Sometimes you need to register in order to submit a link or an answer, while others are open for anyone to join. By sharing your content on these communities, you ask for people's opinion while simultaneously providing great content for them.

  • Optimize Your Website For Search Engines

Doing a Google search can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when you use it to find information specific to what you're looking for. To make your life easier, Google has created an algorithm that ranks websites from the most relevant to the least relevant. In less technical terms, this essentially means that Google ranks websites from most relevant to least based on how many links point to a particular site and how trustworthy they consider that website to be.

  • Include Your Keywords In The Title/URL Of Your Webpage And Throughout Your Content

When you write posts for your blog or articles for your business, you should include the keywords in your title and throughout your content. By doing this, Google will be able to find you easier when people search for certain words or phrases. Keep in mind that readers will mostly see the url of the page (the address bar at the top), not necessarily what is written on it, if they decide to share it.

  • Build Backlinks To Your Webpage

Backlinks are hyperlinks that point to another website, usually on another webpage. These links tell search engines what other sites consider your site to be most relevant when someone searches for something related to the link's content. The more trustworthy the site is, the more value it provides, meaning you want to get backlinks from sites that are popular and well-established, not brand new websites.

Websites that receive more traffic tend to see an increase in revenue and business, whereas websites that do not bring in less money. By following these five steps, you will improve the reach of your website without having to spend a lot of time or money on it.

Contact Us!

We hope you’ve found these tricks helpful. If not, we want to know! Leave us a comment below and let us know what is most important for your business in terms of increasing website traffic. Sharp Tack Media specializes in getting businesses the results they need by implementing marketing strategies that work with their budget and goals. Our team members are ready to help you today if this is something you want! Give us a call or contact our digital strategists online now.

How Do I Get My Business Online?

You would like to create your own website. You have some great ideas and you've even drawn up some sketches that will guide the design process. The only problem is, you're not a designer. How do you start? Here are five things to look at before starting to design a website for yourself or someone else!

  • Give Thought To The Overall Purpose Of Your Site

What do you want to accomplish? What problem are you looking to solve? When a person's mind is occupied with a problem, they will look for answers on Google. If you're providing those answers, it means that your site is going to help people out and be successful.

  • What Will Be On Your Site?

You have a great idea for a site, but you're going to need more than just great ideas for it to work out. You'll need content! Content can include photos, videos, infographics, blog posts and so much more. In preparation of the content you need to have, learn the difference between a blog and a newsletter. A blog is dynamic content that people can interact with on your site, while a newsletter is static content that you send out to customers or potential customers.

  • What's Your Brand?

This goes hand in hand with #1. Since you're looking for answers on Google, think about how you want to present yourself on the site. What's your brand feel going to be? How does a person come across you? For example, if you're a flower shop, what would your branding look like? Do you have bold colors or calm colors? Are there lots of flowers shown or not as many? Use these questions as inspiration when creating your brand.

  • What's Your Audience?

You want to solve a problem, but do you know who is going to be looking for that problem's solution? Think about the demographics of the people you will be targeting and how old they are. Are they mostly male or female? How educated are they? Do they have children or pets? What are their hobbies? These are all questions to consider when targeting your audience.

  • Is It Responsive?

How will you be viewing the website – on a laptop, tablet or phone? Most sites now are visited across multiple devices, so don't disregard this important question! If you want visitors to have the best possible experience with your site, make sure it is responsive and easy to view across all devices.

It's Up To You

It's ok if this is overwhelming; it can be a lot to take in! Do what you can and don't rush.  There are plenty of online tools you can use to help! If you're still in need of a helping hand, check out Sharp Tack Media. We have a lot of professional developers that can create a website for you in no time at all!

The Best Keywords Will Help You Find Your Audience

If you want your small business to be successful, you need to make sure it's being found online. One of the best ways to do that is by using keywords that people are searching for. When it comes to search engine optimization, keywords are key. But not all keywords are created equal. If you want your business to be found by more people online, you need to align your site with the best keywords for your niche. In this article, we'll show you how to find the right keywords for your business and align them with your marketing strategy.

Keyword Research

The first step is to do some keyword research. There are a number of different tools and techniques you can use for this, but one of the best is to use Google's Keyword Planner . This tool lets you see how many people are searching for a particular keyword each month. It also shows you how competitive that keyword is, as well as related keywords that you might want to consider.

Another great tool for finding keywords is the Google search bar itself. Simply type in a few potential keywords and see what comes up. This will give you an idea of what people are actually searching for.

Remember, when it comes to keywords, you want to find words or phrases that are relevant to your business and that people are actually searching for. Don't go overboard with long-tail keywords or overly specific phrases. You want to find keywords that are relevant to your business, but that also have a high search volume.

Incorporate Keywords Into Your Marketing Strategy

Once you've determined which keywords you want to target, it's time to start incorporating them into your marketing strategy. As you put together your marketing strategy, make sure to include the keywords you've chosen in different areas of your business . For example, these could be included in:  

  • The title of each blog post or page on your site
  • The meta tags of each page
  • The headline of your email marketing campaigns
  • The text of your social media posts
  • Your website's navigation

The idea is to make sure that the keywords are included in as many places as possible. This will help you to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Incorporating keywords into your marketing strategy is important, but it's not the only thing you can do. You can also make sure that your website contains certain elements, such as:

  • A blog
  • Unique and useful content
  • Relevant images

Why Is This Important?

Rank Higher in SERPs

First, incorporating keywords into your marketing will help you to rank higher in SERPs. This means that more people will see your site when they search for relevant terms.

Attract More Visitors

Second, using the right keywords can help you to attract more visitors to your site. Keywords are often used by search engines to decide which results should be prioritized. So, if your keywords are relevant, you're more likely to rank highly in SERPs. This means that you'll get more clicks on your site and become a primary destination for people interested in these subjects.

Helps You Stay Relevant

To make sure your website is as relevant as possible, make sure to create original content that people will find useful. This can include blog posts, articles, videos and infographics. You should also use quality images on your site, because these are often shared online through social media platforms like Pinterest and Tumblr.

Reach Potential Customers

Finally, it's important to remember that you need to vary your keywords. Rather than using the same keywords in every blog post and social media update, try to incorporate a variety of keywords into your language. This will help you to reach more potential customers and rank higher in SERPs.

Remember, when it comes to SEO for your website, there's more than one way to get results. Keywords are an important part of this process, but your website needs to be properly optimized and loaded with relevant content.

Create The Best Keywords With Us

We know it can be a daunting task to align your business with the right keywords, but we have found some pretty awesome tips that will help you get started. Not only do these techniques increase search engine optimization and organic traffic, they also help improve conversion rates by helping customers find exactly what they are looking for at any given time of day or night. Want more information? Give Sharp Tack Media a call today!

Proven Strategies for Building Your Online Presence

If you're like most small business owners, you don't have time to waste on creating a new website. You need to be focused on your business, not on learning how to use a content management system. But what if there was an easy way to launch a new website for your business? Well, there is – and we're going to show you how it's done. In this article, we'll walk you through the entire process of setting up a new website in minutes, without having to learn any coding or design skills. So whether you're starting from scratch or just looking for an easy way to make some updates to your existing site, keep reading!

Logo Design

First things first, you need a new logo. If your current logo is more than a couple years old, it might be time to refresh or update it. A fresh new logo will make your site feel modern and inspire trust in visitors who are viewing your site for the very first time. To get started, browse our library of free logo templates. We've got dozens of templates to choose from, so you're sure to find one that suits your business.

Website Builder

Next, you'll need a website builder. A website builder is a tool that allows you to create a website without any coding or design skills. It's perfect for small business owners who want a new website but don't want to spend time and effort learning how to create a site from scratch.

Domain Name And Hosting

Once you've chosen a logo and a website builder, you'll need to purchase a domain name and hosting. A domain name is the address of your website (e.g. www.yourbusiness.com) and hosting is the service that stores your website's files on a server. There are a number of different domain name providers and hosting companies, so do your research and find one that best suits your business needs.

Import Your Existing Content

Once you've chosen a domain name and hosting, you need to find a website builder that allows you to import your existing content from another site builder or CMS. The next step is to create your new website using the steps outlined in your chosen website builder's help center. Nowadays, most websites work across devices and browsers. So if you're making a few updates to your existing website, it's important to make sure that your site looks great and performs well on mobile devices and tablets. If you're starting from scratch, we recommend using our responsive templates. These templates are designed to look great on any device, so you don't have to worry about your website falling down on mobile devices.

Go Live!

Once you've finished building your new website, it's time to put it live! Copy and paste the HTML code that appears in your builder into the source code of your existing site (or into an existing page if you're launching a new site). Your website will go live instantly – no updates necessary. Just make sure you don't delete any old pages or posts from your site until after your new page goes live, as you never want to delete content from a live website.

Update Your Email Signature And Social Media Profile Regularly

Finally, be sure to update the link in your email signature and social media profiles. This will make updating your profile even easier down the road! And that's it – you've just launched a new website for your business!

Launch Your Website Now

Your new website is just a phone call away!  We're experts at creating custom websites that communicate your brand and boost sales. Our team will create an affordable, effective solution for you with the help of our designers and web developers who know how to make your site stand out from the competition. If you want more information on how we can design a new website for your business please contact Sharp Tack Media today!

Website Traffic Is A Sales Funnel

Do you have a website for your small business? If not, you're missing out on a powerful tool to help you sell your products or services. A website can be turned into a sales funnel that directs potential buyers right to your door. It's not difficult to do, and this article will show you how. So grab a cup of coffee and get ready to start selling!

Create A Landing Page

Your landing page should be simple and easy to read. It should not contain distracting elements such as pictures or buttons that say ‘click here.' Remember, the only thing that should be on your landing page is what is needed to sell your product or service. include a brief description of what you're selling, a price, and an easy way to contact you.

Include A Sales Funnel

A sales funnel is the process that potential buyers go through to purchase your product or service. It should be easy for them to find information about your product or service, and they should be able to easily contact you. Have a professional sales funnel designed, or create your own. In either case, make sure to include the following elements:

About Page

This page should contain a brief description of what you're selling and who it's for.

Contact Form

Potential buyers need an easy way to get in touch with you. Make this process as easy as possible by providing a professional contact form.

Purchase Now Button

Potential buyers need to know how much your product or service costs and they also need to easily contact you. Make all of this information easy to find with an eye-catching Purchase Now button.

Contact Page

This should contain full contact information for you, including a physical address and phone number.

Testimonials

Include testimonials from happy customers to help potential buyers feel more confident about making a purchase.

Product Or Service Details

This is where you provide in-depth information about your product or service.

FAQs

Potential buyers often have questions about your product or service. Answer these questions on an FAQ page to help them make a decision.

Add Social Media Buttons

Make it easy for potential buyers to follow you on social media by adding social media buttons to your website.

Make It Easy To Navigate

Your website should be easy to navigate so that potential buyers can find the information they need quickly and easily.

The Design

Your website should look professional. It doesn't have to be flashy, but it does need to be easy on the eyes.

Have A Powerful Sales Funnel

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that the web is an excellent place for sales. But did you also know that it's possible to turn your website into one giant funnel? That’s right, by taking advantage of certain design principles and practices, you can make sure all visitors are exposed to things like high-quality images or product videos before they ever get the chance to leave your site. If this sounds interesting, call Sharp Tack Media today. We’d love nothing better than helping take your business from good …to great!

Keep The Hackers Out

If you're a small business owner, your website is probably one of the most important parts of your day-to-day operations. Whether it's used to sell products or just provide information about your company, you need to ensure that your site is as secure as possible. 

The Web has become a dangerous place. This article will show you how easy it can be to fix these vulnerabilities so that hackers don't get their hands on sensitive information like credit card numbers and passwords. When it comes to your website, there are a lot of different threats out there. It's important to be aware of them so that you can defend yourself and your customers against the hackers trying to steal their data. To keep your site and your customers safe, it’s important to know the most common website security threats and how to protect yourself against them.

Most Common Website Security Threats

So, what are some of the most common website security threats?

Malware

Malware is a type of software that is designed to damage or disable computers. It can also be used to gain access to a computer and collect information. Hackers will often send harmful viruses, worms, and other types of malware through email attachments or compromised websites. That means that if you open an email attachment or visit a suspicious website, your computer can become infected with malware. Malware can then spread from your computer to the rest of your network and give hackers access to all of your sensitive data. 

Phishing

Phishing is a type of scam where hackers try to get personal information like passwords and credit card numbers from unsuspecting victims. They do this by sending fake emails or creating fake websites that look like legitimate ones. The goal is to trick the victim into entering their personal information into the fake site. 

Cross-Site Scripting

Cross-site scripting (XSS) is a vulnerability that allows hackers to inject malicious code into websites. This code can then be used to steal information or take control of the victim's computer. XSS is a very serious vulnerability, and it can be difficult to detect. 

SQL Injection

SQL injection is a vulnerability that allows hackers to inject SQL code into websites. This code can then be used to access and steal data from the website's database. Similar to XSS, SQL injection is also difficult to detect. 

Protect Your Website From These Common Threats

So, how can you protect your website from these common security threats?

Have The Latest Security Patches

One of the best ways to protect your website is to make sure that you're using all of the latest security patches. Security patches are updates that are released by software vendors to fix known vulnerabilities. If you're not using the latest security patches, your site is vulnerable to attack.

Secure Web Hosting Provider

A secure web hosting provider will have measures in place to defend against malware, phishing, and other types of attacks. They'll also have staff that are trained in security best practices and will be able to help you protect your website.

Be Vigilant When You're Online

Be aware of the types of attacks that are happening and take precautions when you're dealing with email attachments or websites that you don't know. By being proactive and taking steps to protect your website, you can help keep yourself and your customers safe from these common security threats.

Secure Your Website Now

Hey there, your website is a little bit broken. Or maybe it's not just a little bit – you could be experiencing serious vulnerabilities that are costing you money and compromising the security of your sensitive data! If this sounds like something you need to worry about, don't worry – we can help. Sharp Tack Media specializes in fixing what other companies can't fix with our expert team of developers, designers, and content specialists who work as one unified whole for scalable results. So call us today to get started on saving those vulnerable elements from being exploited by hackers or ruining your search rankings due to poor quality SEO efforts. Remember- none of these issues have to stay neglected any longer! 

Get Peace Of Mind, Protect Your Business Today

From the WordPress theme and plugin repository to any other third-party source, there are thousands of tools available for you to add to your website. Many of these offer additional functionality that can help improve how your site looks and/or performs.

Unfortunately, there is also a downside: many of these tools require access to sensitive information such as database credentials, API keys and user passwords. This poses a significant security risk as many of these tools are vulnerable to exploitation by hackers, especially those that allow remote access such as desktop applications or mobile apps.

What Can I Do To Secure My WordPress Website? 

Check Your Third-Party Tools

You can easily check if your website is currently using any third-party tool with access to sensitive information by going to the Tools > Export menu in your WordPress dashboard and exporting the “Sensitive Data” report. If you see any tools listed that you don’t recognise or no longer use, then you should remove them immediately.

Use Strong Passwords And Two-Factor Authentication

One of the simplest and most effective ways to secure your WordPress website is to use strong passwords and two-factor authentication. This means using passwords that are difficult to guess and combining them with a second layer of authentication, such as a one-time code generated by an app like Google Authenticator or Authy.

Review Your Website Permissions

Another important step is to review the permissions of the tools you are currently using on your website. For example, if you are using a caching plugin, find out if it requires access to sensitive information such as your database credentials. If so, then you need to either remove that plugin or only allow access to the bare minimum amount of information required for it to function properly.

Perform Regular Automated Audits Of Your Website

Whilst following the steps above is important, there are many other tools on your site that may have been installed without your knowledge. This could be due to hidden plugins or themes, automatic updates or third-party tools with out of date access credentials. To check for this, you can use one of the many free and paid WordPress security audit tools available online.

Use A Secure WordPress Hosting Provider

Finally, the most important step you can take to secure your WordPress website is to use a hosting provider that takes security seriously. This includes using firewalls, malware scanning and intrusion detection systems. WP Engine is one such provider that offers all of these features as standard as well as a wide range of security-focused features such as server-side scanning, automatic backups and malware removal.

Whilst the steps above provide a good starting point, it is important to remember that website security is an ongoing process. By following these tips and using a host like WP Engine, you can help secure your WordPress website and prevent unnecessary damage caused by hackers.

Avoid Potential Website Threats!

The end of the year is a great time to take stock and make sure that your company’s website or blog are in tip-top shape. WordPress websites, for example, require much more maintenance than other platforms because they are open source, which means there are many plugins available on the internet. To avoid any potential security breaches you should be taking these 4 steps today! Call our team at Sharp Tack Media today if you need help securing your site so we can ensure it is running smoothly during this busy holiday season. Don't hesitate to contact us today!

The Secret To Attracting Customers Online

Are you a small business owner who's been putting off creating a website? You're not alone – in fact, a lot of business owners don't have one, either because they don't think they need one or they simply don't know how to go about creating one. But the truth is, if you want your business to grow and succeed, you need to have a website. Here are the reasons why.

  • It Is An Essential Part Of Your Marketing Mix

A website gives you a place to showcase your products or services, tells your story, and provides information about your company and how to contact you. It also makes it easy for customers to find out about your latest news and specials. A website is a valuable marketing tool that can help you reach a larger audience and grow your business.

  • A Cost-Effective Way To Promote Your Business

A website is one of the most cost-effective ways to promote your business. You can create a website for a fraction of the cost of traditional marketing methods, such as print advertising, radio or television spots and direct mail.

  • Help You Attract New Customers And Stay In Touch With Existing Ones

Many consumers look online first to search for information on local products or services, before making a purchase decision. You can use your website to generate leads by offering special promotions, such as coupons or discounts to encourage visitors to contact you. And, you can use your website to keep in touch with existing customers by providing them with updates on new products or services, special events, or sales.

  • Valuable Resource For Customers

A website is a great way to provide valuable information to your customers. You can include detailed product and service information, pricing, photos, articles, and even testimonials. This information can help customers learn more about your company and what you have to offer.

  • Makes It Easy For Customers To Find You

A website gives your business a professional online presence that makes it easy for customers to find you. When potential customers search the Internet for local products or services, they are likely to find your website. And, since more and more people are using smartphones and tablets to search for information online, it’s important to have a website that is designed for mobile devices.

  • Helps You Build Relationships With Customers

A website can be a valuable tool for building relationships with your customers. You can use your website to provide valuable content, such as articles, tips and advice, or even video tutorials. This content can help you position yourself as an expert in your field and help customers learn more about your company and what you have to offer.

  • Stand Out From Your Competitors

Your website is a place where you can stand out from your competitors and be unique. You can customize your website to reflect the personality of your business, while providing information that is tailored to your customers.

  • Establish Trust And Credibility With Potential Customers

A well-designed website demonstrates professionalism, credibility, and trustworthiness. It can even help you build a strong reputation for your brand among potential customers.

  •  Brings In New Business 24 Hours A Day, 7 Days A Week

A website gives you the opportunity to attract new customers around the clock, every day of the week. You can also use your website to provide customers with information about your products and services, or to take orders online.

  • Valuable Business Asset

A website is a valuable business asset that can help you grow your business. It can help you attract new customers, increase sales, and build a strong reputation for your brand. A well-designed website makes you look more professional, and it can even help improve your search engine rankings.

A website is an important business tool that you cannot afford to be without. It can help you expand your customer base, increase sales and improve the image of your brand. Make sure that your website speaks for itself by creating a design that reflects the personality of your business and provides information about all of your products and services. Call Sharp Tack Media today and we’ll help you succeed online! 

Be  A+ Rank In Search Engines

Sometimes you might get asked by a client, “do you know how to get your site indexed by Google?” Wondering what indexing means? Or maybe you've already been told that if your site isn't indexed it's useless and should be abandoned. I'm here to tell you that not only is it NOT useless, but getting indexed by Google is ESSENTIAL to the success of your small business. Click here and I'll tell you why.

What Is Indexing?

Indexing is the process of adding your website to Google's search results. When someone types in a query on Google, they're given a list of websites that match that query. By being indexed, your site has the opportunity to be one of those websites.

Now, there are a few things you need to understand before you can get indexed.

Be Live and Accessible

First, your website needs to be live and accessible to the public. This means that it's not in the process of being built or under construction.

Have A Quality Content

Second, your website must have quality content. This doesn't mean you need to be a content writing machine, but rather that your website's content should be well-written, informative, and interesting to read.

Be Updated

And finally, your website's content must be up-to-date. Google loves fresh content, so make sure you're adding new articles, blog posts, and pages to your website on a regular basis.

Get Indexed

Assuming you have a live website with quality content that's updated regularly, the next step is to get it indexed. The easiest way to do this is by using Google's Webmaster Tools. This free tool allows you to submit your website for indexing, track your website's search traffic, and identify any errors that might be preventing your website from being indexed.

So now you know why getting indexed by Google is so important, and you also know how to go about getting your website indexed. But what if you're already indexed and still aren't seeing any traffic from Google? Don't worry, you're not alone. Many businesses struggle to get traffic from Google, even after being indexed. The good news is that there are a few things you can do to increase your traffic from Google.

Ensure Your Website's SEO

One thing you can do is make sure your website's SEO is in tip-top shape. This means making sure your website's title tags, meta descriptions, and H1 tags are all properly optimized. You should also make sure your website's internal linking structure is set up properly. Internal linking allows you to connect your website's pages back to a “home” or “landing page,” which makes it easier for Google and other search engines to crawl and index your site.

Use Keywords

Finally, when adding new content to your website, make sure it contains lots of keywords that relate to your business. This will help Google and other search engines understand what your website is all about, and it will increase your chances of ranking high in the search results.

Get More Clients With Us!

So there you have it – everything you need to know about indexing and how to get started. Follow these tips, and you'll be on your way to getting more traffic from Google. And, as an added bonus, you'll be one step ahead of your competition. Remember, Google is constantly striving to give its users the best possible results, so by getting indexed and following these tips, you're already winning. So what are you waiting for? Call Sharp Tack Media for your FREE Consultation! 

How To Launch A Website Like A Pro

If you're like most small business owners, you're probably in the process of launching a new website. Congratulations! A website is a critical piece of your marketing plan, and can help you grow your business. However, there are some common mistakes that many business owners make when launching their website – mistakes that can hurt your website's performance and impact your bottom line.

Your website should have a specific purpose, and you should have specific goals in mind for it. Too often, business owners launch a website without any clear idea of what they want it to accomplish. This can lead to a disjointed, unfocused website that doesn't convert visitors into customers. Instead of just launching your site because you feel it's time, take a few minutes to write down the goals you have for your site and what you want it to accomplish. That way, when you launch it, you can be sure that you've hit those goals.

Getting a new website up and running is both exciting and challenging. Inevitably, when you begin this journey there will be mistakes made along the way. Here are more information about the most common errors to avoid when launching a site:

  • No Clear Goals From The Start     

You need a clearly defined goal in mind before you start a website. If you don't have a goal, your chances of success are slim. You should define what you want your site to accomplish in the short-term and long-term. This includes quantifiable objectives like increased revenue or reduced customer acquisition costs .

  1. No Mobile Version      

According to Google , half of all internet users are now using a mobile device to access the web. If your website isn't optimized for mobile devices, you're missing out on a large chunk of potential customers. Make sure your site is responsive and looks good on all types of screens.

  • Slow Loading Times    

If your website takes too long to load, visitors will leave. Make sure your images are properly optimized and that you're using a good hosting provider. You should also avoid using too many plugins.

  • Lack Of SEO Strategy    

SEO is critical for any website looking to achieve success online. Without a solid SEO strategy, your site will struggle to rank in search engines. Make sure you research the best SEO tactics before you start building your site.

  • Confusing Or Cluttered Design   

Your website's design should be user-friendly and easy to navigate. Don't overload your pages with too much text or graphics. Keep your design simple and streamlined.

  •  Inability To Collect User Data     

If you can't collect any information from your website visitors, how will you market to them in the future? Be sure that your site has a way for users to contact you or sign up for a newsletter. This is also a good place to add social media widgets so that they're easily accessible.

  • Unclear Call To Action       

Once visitors arrive at your website, you need to let them know what they should do next. Make sure the CTA is clear and that you're not requiring unnecessary information from users. This will help increase conversions on your site .

If you avoid these common mistakes, you'll be well on your way to launching a successful website. By setting clear goals, designing for mobile devices, optimizing for SEO, and using a strong call to action, you can ensure that your site is off to a great start.

We’ve been there. And it doesn’t have to be this way! Sharp Tack Media will work with you through the process of launching your new website, ensuring that all 7 mistakes are avoided and maximizing potential for success in a sustainable manner. Call our team today so we can get started on your project ASAP!

Learn How To Secure Your Website In Minutes

Do you know how hackers can access your website and data? Have you taken the necessary steps to protect yourself from these cyber criminals? If not, please read more as we discuss how to secure your site against hacking. 

In today's time, hacking has become a huge problem of the internet. In earlier years , it was only the popular websites that were hacked but now even small sites are getting hacked. This is due to lack of awareness and security on part of website owners.

How To Secure Your Website Against Hacking

First, you need to understand how hackers can access your website. There are mainly four ways through which they can do that:

  1. By exploiting vulnerabilities in your website's code
  2. By stealing your login credentials
  3. By compromising your hosting server
  4. By using malware to take control of your website

Updating your website's code is one of the most important things to do. This is because hackers always look for loopholes in your site's code that they can exploit and harm you. Most of the time these loopholes are due to old plugins or obsolete codes. So keep an eye on them and update them as soon as you find out.

Never use weak passwords because they can be guessed easily. Make sure that your password is a combination of numbers, letters and special characters. You should also change your passwords from time to time or whenever you feel necessary.

In addition to this, make sure that your hosting server is secure as well. In simple words, check how much control you have over it . If you have a lot of control over it, it can be dangerous as you will need to keep updating its security settings . So the best thing is to go for a shared hosting server.

No matter what you're selling online, it's important to make sure that your website is secure. Here are four ways to do that:

  • Use A Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Certificate

An SSL certificate is an electronic document that uses cryptography to create a secure connection between a web server and a browser. This ensures that all data sent between the two is encrypted so that it cannot be read if intercepted by a third party.

  • Use HTTPS URLs

On an SSL-enabled website, all pages will have HTTPs in place of their standard HTTP URLs. If a website only has an HTTP address, it may not secure your information with encryption and could allow sensitive data to be stolen.

  • Use Strong Passwords

One of the most common ways for hackers to gain access to websites is by using weak passwords. Make sure your passwords are strong and unique, and never use the same password on more than one site.

  • Install A Firewall

A firewall is a piece of software or hardware that acts as a barrier between your computer and the internet. It can help protect your website from unauthorized access, as well as malware and other online threats.

  • Keep Your Website Safe From Malware

A virus is an executable code that sneaks into your site and does something harmful without your knowledge. It can do anything from stealing your data to taking control of your website. So it is important to have malware protection software installed on your site.

Your website is an extension of your business, and it’s important to protect the integrity of both. The tips we have outlined in this blog post should help you understand how to secure your site from hackers and keep yourself safe from malware that can infect a computer or device. In order for these measures to be effective, they need to be implemented correctly – by someone who understands what they are doing – which is why SharpTack Media offers cybersecurity services tailored specifically for small businesses like yours. Call us today!

Increase Your Profits Today

Boosting your Google rankings can be a great way to help your small business grow. By improving your website’s visibility, you can attract more customers and improve your bottom line.

There are a number of things you can do to improve your Google rankings. One of the most important is to make sure your website is well-optimized for search engines. You should make sure your titles, descriptions, and keywords are all relevant and optimized for your target audience.

Another important factor is link building. By building links to your website, you can improve your Google rankings. There are a number of ways to do this, including asking other websites to link back to you and building links on your own website.

Google also uses its search algorithms to determine where certain types of businesses should rank. For instance, if you have products or services that are likely to be purchased by people in a particular geographical area, your business may be ranked higher in Google Maps.

Here are several things you can do to improve your Google ranking, and most of them are fairly simple. Here are a few tips:

  • Optimized Website For Search Engines

Make sure your website is properly optimized for search engines. This includes using the right keywords and phrases, as well as optimizing your titles and descriptions.

  • Build Links

By building links to your website, you can improve your Google ranking. There are a number of ways to do this, including asking other websites to link back to you and building links on your own website.

  • Optimize Your Site for Local Searches

Google uses its search algorithms to determine where certain types of businesses should rank. For instance, if you have products or services that are likely to be purchased by people in a particular geographical area, your business may be ranked higher in Google Maps.

  • Use Social Media Effectively

Social media can be an effective way to promote your business and improve its search engine ranking. But you need to use social media effectively, and post content that is relevant to your target audience.

  • High-Quality Content

Publish high-quality content on a regular basis. This will help to show Google that your website is a valuable resource for consumers.

  • Right Keywords

Conduct keyword research to find the right keywords to target. This will help ensure that your website is found when consumers search for certain products, services, or topics.

  • Post Videos

Post videos on YouTube. Videos can provide additional information about your business, which will help Google understand what you do and who you serve better.

  • Use Google Analytics

Use Google Analytics to track your website’s traffic and see how you can improve your ranking.

  • Keep Your Website Updated

Make sure you keep your website updated with fresh, relevant content. This will help improve your Google ranking and attract more visitors.

By following these tips, you can help your small business grow and thrive online. Boosting your Google ranking can be a great way to attract more customers and improve your bottom line.

Have you considered what Google thinks about when it ranks your site? Is there any way to make sure that the search engine will rank your site in a high position for all of those important keywords without much effort on your part? We’ve got some great tips to help with this. You may be wondering how I can get my website ranked higher by Google and have more visitors come through so they can purchase from me, or sign up for one of our services. What are you waiting for? Call Sharp Tack Media today!

The Best Way To Pick The Right Keywords For Your Website

So, you've decided to make a website. Maybe it's for your business, maybe it's personal landscaping work, or maybe you've got a passion and wanted to spread the word about it. But now you run into a problem: what do I name my site? Now there are several factors that go into finding the right name; we'll discuss those in another article. But assuming you've got your name picked out, the next step is to choose a good keyword for SEO.

What Is SEO?

SEO stands for “Search Engine Optimization”. It is the process of improving the ranking of a website on search engines. The higher the ranking, the more likely people are to find your website.

Why Is SEO Important?

In today's online world, it is essential to have a strong online presence. Not having one can be detrimental to your business. A strong online presence starts with a well-optimized website.

How Do I Choose A Keyword for SEO?

There are a few factors that go into choosing a good keyword for SEO.

  • Make Sure The Keyword Is Relevant To Your Content

While it's true that relevancy isn't everything, you want to make sure your content matches as closely as possible with whatever keyword you choose. Perceived relevance is one of those things search engines take into account when ranking websites.

  • Make Sure The Keyword Is Searched Frequently

You also want to make sure the keyword you choose is searched frequently. The more people who are searching for a keyword, the more likely you are to get traffic from those searches.

  • Make Sure The Keyword Is Not Too Competitive

Finally, you want to make sure the keyword is not too competitive. If it is, it will be harder to rank your website for that keyword.

How Do I Optimize My Site For The Keyword I Chose?

Once you've chosen your keyword, it's time to optimize your website so that search engines rank it higher. Don't forget to include your keyword to the following parts of your site:

  • Title, URL, meta tags, body text, anchor text, images, and ALT attribute of every image on your site.
  • Domain name, company name, email address, phone number, blogs, and social media of your site.
  • Website's footer, copyright statement, terms of use, privacy policy, and about us page.

Make sure the keyword is included in any other pages on your site that are relevant to it. Finally, make sure you link to your site from other websites. The more links you have, the higher your website will rank in search engines.

Start Ranking Your Website Higher In Google

SEO is a complicated and often frustrating process. One of the most important steps in creating an optimized website for Google search results, however, is choosing your keywords or keyword phrases to target. Choosing wisely can help you get more traffic from people searching on those terms so that they find your site organically rather than by paying for it through advertising like Facebook ads or Adwords campaigns. If you’re not sure where to start with this step, don’t worry! Sharp Tack Media specializes in digital marketing and has successfully helped hundreds of businesses create their own SEO-optimized websites with keywords tailored precisely to their business goals. Contact us today!

Content Marketing For Small Businesses

Content marketing is a powerful tool for generating leads. It's also one of the most effective ways to acquire new customers. By creating high-quality content, you can attract potential customers and persuade them to do business with you. Content marketing educates people about your product or service before they ever reach out to you with questions, concerns, or inquiries. The secret to success with content marketing is finding topics that are relevant and interesting for your target audience. If you can do this, then it won't be long before you start seeing results in the form of more traffic and more conversions on your site!

Here are a few tips for generating leads with content marketing:

  • Publish Helpful Blog Posts

Your blog is the perfect place to publish helpful content that will attract potential customers. Make sure your blog posts are relevant to your target audience and provide valuable information they can use.

  • Create Infographics

Infographics are a great way to share information in an engaging and visually appealing way. They can help you attract new leads and persuade them to do business with you.

  • Publish Case Studies

Case studies are a great way to show potential customers how your products or services have helped other businesses achieve success. They can be extremely persuasive and help generate new leads.

  • Promote Your Content On Social Media

Your content is valuable and has the potential to go viral, so make sure you promote it on social media platforms like Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn and Google+ . You can also use a tool to schedule posts in advance.

  • Post On Relevant Forums

There are several niche forums where you can promote your content and generate new leads. For example, if you're a professional plumber, consider promoting your blog posts on forums that target the plumbing industry.

  • Add A Lead Generation Form To Your Website

You can also add a lead generation form to your website to collect contact information from potential customers. This is a great way to gather leads and increase your database of potential customers.

  • Run A Contest

A content marketing campaign is not complete without a giveaway or some form of promotion to increase engagement with your target audience. Running contests on social media can help generate new leads and increase traffic to your website, so keep this in mind when planning your content strategy.

  • Add A Call-To-Action To Your Email Signature

Finally, you can add a call-to-action to the bottom of your emails to encourage customers and potential leads to do business with you.

Great content marketing strategies generate new leads and improve your customer base. By following these tips, you'll be able to generate leads and increase your customer base. 

If you’re looking for a new way to generate leads, get in touch with Sharp Tack Media. Our team is ready and waiting with an expert plan that helps businesses generate leads through engaging content marketing strategies. You can also feel free to drop us a line anytime if there are specific questions you have on the topic—we want all our clients informed and happy!

Dominate The Social Media Space

You've probably heard that social media is a great way to market your business, and you may have even tried using it yourself. But if you're like most small business owners, you haven't seen the results you were hoping for. Don't worry – you're not alone. In this article, we'll share the secret to successful social media campaigns, so you can start seeing real results.

The people behind successful social media campaigns use the following habits:

  • They Focus On One Main Objective For Their Campaign

When you're creating a social media campaign, it's important to focus on one main objective. This could be anything from increasing brand awareness to driving traffic to your website. Trying to accomplish too many things at once will only lead to confusion and frustration.

  • They Research Their Target Audience

If you want your campaign to be successful, it's important that you know who you're trying to reach with the campaign. By doing some research on your target audience, you'll be able to identify some key demographics as well as their interests and preferences. This will allow you to create a more targeted campaign, which is more likely to achieve results.

  • They Come Up With A Creative Idea

In order to stand out from the crowd, your social media campaign needs to be creative. This means thinking outside the box and coming up with something new and exciting. If you can't come up with an idea yourself, there are plenty of online resources that can help you get started.

  • They Plan Ahead

One of the biggest mistakes people make with social media campaigns is not planning ahead. If you don't have a plan, you'll likely end up wasting time and energy on tasks that don't matter. By taking the time to plan your campaign before you start, you'll be able to stay on track and achieve your goals.

  • They Do A Test Run

Once you feel like your campaign is ready to be put into action, test it out first. Just because it worked for one person doesn't mean it will work for everyone, so you need to make sure that what you're doing is right before you go live with the campaign. By testing it first, you'll be able to see what changes need to be made before moving forward.

If you're looking to improve your social media marketing efforts, following these five habits will help you see better results. By focusing on one main objective, researching your target audience, coming up with a creative idea, planning ahead, and doing a test run, you'll be able to create a successful campaign that achieves your desired results.

Ensure A Successful Social Media Campaign 

If you’re looking for a social media campaign that will be successful, it all starts with the right mindset. The key to success is thinking outside of the box and not being afraid to take risks or try new things. This can mean taking on different marketing strategies, focusing more on your product than just sales pitches, or even adding an element of humor into posts when appropriate. Find out what works best for you by trying something new! We at Sharp Tack Media are always available to help make sure your next social media campaign succeeds like never before. Contact us today for our free consultation service so we can get started building your strategy together!

 

Get More Customers With Better Social Presence

Social media is an integral part of any business' marketing strategy. It's a great way to increase your web presence and reach new people who may be interested in what you have to offer. Small business owners – are you feeling lost when it comes to social media? Don't worry, you're not alone. While most people seem to inherently understand how to use social media for personal reasons, translating that over to a business can be tricky. But don't worry, here are six great ways for you to increase your web presence with social media! Keep reading to learn more.

  • Use Both Twitter And Facebook

There are tons of different social media sites out there today, and they're not all created equal. That being said, when it comes to increasing your web presence with social media, you should definitely use both Twitter and Facebook! While some people only like to use one or the other, you can really increase your overall web presence by using them both.

  • Be A Bit More Human

If you have a personal Facebook account, you'll know that when you go to someone's profile, it will say “Facebook official” under their name if they're currently listed as your friend. What this means is that you've connected your Facebook account with your business page, and any time someone checks out your business page, they'll see that it's Facebook official. This is a great way to show your customers that you're legitimate, and it also makes you more human. People like businesses that they feel are personal, so being Facebook official is a great way to accomplish this.

  • Get Active On LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great site for businesses because it's geared specifically towards professionals. This means that you can connect with your customers on a more personal level, and it also gives you the opportunity to show off your skills and expertise. If you're not currently using LinkedIn, I highly recommend that you start!

  • Use Social Media To Answer Questions

One great way to use social media for business is to answer customer questions. This can be a great way to show your customers that you're available and that you're willing to help them out. It can also help you build a relationship with your customers, and it can make them more likely to come to you for help in the future.

  • Use Social Media To Promote Your Events

Social media can also be a great way to promote your events. This can be a great way to get people interested in what you have to offer, and it can also help you connect with potential customers. If you're not currently using social media to promote your events, I highly recommend that you start!

  • Make Sure That You Keep Up With Current Trends

Lastly, it's important to make sure that you keep up with current social media trends. What do I mean by this? Well, what was popular last year may not be popular anymore, so you need to make sure that you're using the latest and greatest social media sites and tools.

When it comes to increasing your web presence with social media, there are a lot of different things that you can do. However, the eight tips that I listed above are a great place to start. So, if you're not currently using social media to promote your business, then start using it today! It can be a great way to connect with your customers and to build a relationship with them.

Increase Your Web Presence With Us

At Sharp Tack Media, we know that social media is a powerful tool for increasing your web presence and driving traffic to your site. Our team of SEO and marketing experts can help you identify which platforms are best suited for the goals you want to achieve online. Call us today or send an email through our website contact form with some information about what type of assistance you need. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible! Have any questions? Don't hesitate to ask them below in the comments section!

Get The Right Branding For Your Business

The days of “build it and they will come” are long gone. The internet is now the hub for all things. Social media branding has become an essential part of any marketing strategy. With so much activity happening online, you need to make sure your business shows up in the right places, with the right message at the right time.

Continue reading to find out why this is important and how you can leverage social media branding to reach your target audience!

  • Social Media Branding Will Help You Reach Your Target Audience

Social media outlets have become the talk of the town. They are a great way for people to connect, share and engage with each other online. The best part? You can use social networks to engage with your customers, fans and prospects directly from your company’s account. This gives you the opportunity to reach a much larger audience than you would through other means of marketing. You can also fine-tune your message to ensure that it reaches the right people. With social media branding, you can target people based on their interests, demographics and even their location.

  • Social Media Branding Will Help You Build Relationships With Customers

Online relationships are key to a successful business. By branding your company on social media, you are opening the door for customers and clients to develop a relationship with you. When customers feel like they know you and your company, they are more likely to do business with you. They will also be more likely to recommend you to their friends and followers. You can work on developing a relationship with your fans by providing them with the content they want. Social media branding will also help boost customer service as well as increase retention rates because people will feel like they know, like and trust you.

  • Social Media Branding Increases Traffic To Your Website

People are naturally drawn to social networks, so it is important that you have a strong presence there. Having a link on your company’s social profile, as well as using social media logos on all of your promotional materials will help increase the amount of people who end up at your website. When people visit your website, you want to make sure that you are able to convert them into customers. This is where your social media branding comes in handy. By providing them with compelling content, you can keep them interested in what you have to offer and persuade them to buy from you.

  • Social Media Branding Helps Build Your Brand Identity

In order to be successful, you need to have a strong brand identity. This is what customers will remember you by and it will help them distinguish you from your competitors. Having a social media branding strategy in place will help you create this identity. You can use social media to share your company’s story and what you’re all about. This will allow people to see the real you and why your business is relevant.

  • Social Media Branding Will Help Increase Conversions

Think of social media as having a conversation with your customers instead of talking to them. Whether they are prospects or loyal followers, this dialogue will give you an opportunity to learn what they want and need from you. You can then use this information to create content that is relevant to them and that will help persuade them to buy from you. When you are able to produce the right kind of content, it will result in more conversions.

Social media branding is an important part of any successful online marketing strategy. By establishing a strong presence on social media, you can reach more people, build relationships with customers and increase traffic to your website. You can also use social media to create a powerful brand identity that will help you stand out from the competition. Finally, social media branding will help you increase conversions and create a better relationship with potential and existing customers.

It’s Time For A Social Media Strategy

You need a brand that stands out and connects with your audience in the most effective way possible. Let Sharp Tack Media help you get started today! We can create custom graphics, design logos, or even give you tips on how to use Facebook Live. Our team of experts are ready and waiting to partner with you to make sure your company is well-represented online. Call us now!

Get More Traffic To Your Website

Are you struggling to increase your website's organic traffic? Don't worry, you're not alone. A lot of small business owners have the same problem. But don't fret, an affordable SEO can help increase your traffic. In this article, we'll discuss some of the best ways to boost your organic traffic. So read on and learn how you can start getting more website visitors today!

  • Publish Valuable Content

One of the best ways to increase your organic traffic is by publishing valuable content on your website. If people find your content useful, they’re more likely to visit your site again in the future. Additionally, Google will see your website as a valuable resource and will rank it higher in search results.

  • Optimize Your Website For SEO

Another way to increase your organic traffic is by optimizing your website for SEO. This means making sure your website is search engine friendly and that your content is keyword rich. By doing this, you’ll improve your chances of ranking higher in search results, which will result in more visitors to your website.

A search engine friendly website means making text on the page readable and understandable by both humans and computers, using semantic markup where appropriate, following coding conventions of the language in question, etc. Optimizing for SEO also involves incorporating keywords throughout your content so you can increase visibility to search engines while not overwhelming human readers with meaningless keywords.

  • Increase Social Shares

A great way to increase your organic traffic is by increasing your social shares. When people share your content on social media, it helps to spread the word about your website and attracts more visitors. Additionally, social media platforms like Google+, Facebook and Twitter have a high ranking in search results, so sharing your content on these platforms can help to improve your website’s visibility.

  • Advertise

Another way to increase your organic traffic is by advertising on other sites. Google’s Adwords, for example, allows you to advertise across the web and pay only when a visitor clicks an ad. By running ads on relevant websites, you can attract more visitors while spending less money than traditional marketing methods like print advertisements or television commercials.

  • Engage In Guest Blogging

Guest blogging is another great way to increase your organic traffic. When you guest blog on a high-quality website, you’ll get exposure to a new audience and attract more visitors to your website. Additionally, you’ll also improve your website’s SEO because you’ll be able to add more links back to your website, and guest blogging is a good way to get other people to link back to you and potentially increase your search engine rankings. Besides increasing organic traffic, guest posting also helps develop relationships with other bloggers, which means that if they write a post that gets a lot of attention, they might be more likely to promote your content to their audience.

It’s time to stop overthinking your marketing and start focusing on the type of content that will help increase organic traffic. The best way to do this is by asking yourself “How does my customer think?” If you can tap into how they think at different stages in their buying process, then it might be easier for you to engage them with more relevant content that will result in increased product sales. If this sounds like something that interests you or if it’s just not working as well as you thought it would – give us a call today! Our team of experts at Sharp Tack Media will be happy to find answers with an audit of your SEO strategy. We know there is no one-size-fits all solution when it comes to marketing so we offer personalized solutions tailored specifically towards YOUR business goals.

The Secret Weapon For Your Brand

Have you ever considered using social media design principles to build your small business brand? Social media is an effective way for you to reach out to customers in a direct manner, but it can also be used as an effective promotional tool. 

Why Use Social Media To Build Your Brand?

Firstly, social media is a cost effective way to reach out to a large number of people. Secondly, it allows businesses to connect with customers directly, which can create a more personal connection and help to build customer loyalty. Finally, it enables businesses to distribute content more easily and this can help you to increase your search engine optimization.

How Do Small Business Owners Get Started With Social Media

The answer is building a social media strategy that will work for your company. 

Define Your Goals

This could also include increasing brand awareness, encouraging visitors to take action, or growing customer loyalty. 

Outline Your Main Objectives

Then you should outline the main objectives that you want your social media campaign to achieve and create a plan of how you will reach these goals. 

Test It First

Finally, before launching a social media marketing campaign it is a good idea to trial it by posting some content and seeing how it performs. This process will allow you to identify any potential issues before making a large commitment.

 

Early on it is important to be focused and consistent with your social media marketing efforts, as this will have the biggest impact on the success of your company's online presence. Once you have nailed down your strategy then you can begin to refine it further by fine tuning some specific tasks that are directly related to your goals. 

How To Build Your Brand

Social media platforms are a great way for small businesses to build their brand and connect with customers. By using social media design principles, businesses can create visually appealing posts that will help them stand out from the competition. Here are some tips for using social media to build your brand:

  • Use High-Quality Visuals

When creating posts for social media, use high-quality visuals to capture attention. Images and videos that are well-designed will help you stand out from the crowd and get your message across.

  • Make Use Of Templates

Templates can be a great way to create visually appealing posts quickly and easily. There are a variety of free templates available, including templates designed specifically for social media posts.

  • Interact With Your Audience

Customers are more likely to follow a brand if they feel like they are part of the company's community. Social media gives businesses the opportunity to interact with their customers and help them feel connected to the product or service being offered.

  • Share Third-Party Content

Sharing third-party content can help you show your customers that you are in tune with what's going on in the industry, and keep them coming back for updates. This also helps to position your brand as a leader in its field.

  • Post Regularly

Using social media frequently is a great way to build up an audience. If you can post interesting and engaging content on a regular basis, you'll keep people coming back for more.

  • Use Hashtags

Hashtags are an effective way to reach a wider audience. When used correctly, hashtags can help you connect with potential customers who are looking for content related to your business.

  • Make Use of Tools and Apps

There are a variety of tools and apps available that can help you with your social media marketing. These tools can automate tasks such as scheduling posts, creating graphics, and analyzing data.

 

The rise of digital marketing has given small businesses the opportunity to compete with larger brands in a way that wasn’t possible before. Social media is the best way for small business owners to make their brand name known within their industry or niche market. You may not be able to afford expensive TV ads or billboards but you can post on social media sites like these every day! Let Sharp Tack Media help your company develop an affordable plan tailored just for you today!

 

What Is A Positive Online Presence

Why Your Online Presence Matters

Online Presence differs from a digital presence. An online presence refers to the amount of people who are aware of you and your company on the web, whereas a digital presence is more about how popular your website is which contributes to your online presence, how many likes/followers you have on social media accounts, etc.

Make It Convenient For Your Customers

In order for a business to have a positive online presence, it's important to make sure any and all information on your website is up-to-date. Be sure to include these things so it's convenient for customers to access your information when needed! Also, remember that anything you post on social media is also a representation of your company so try not to get too personal or negative in posts

When it comes to online interactions, you want to make sure that any content posted on your website is not only relevant but also interesting. It's important for businesses to have a website or page dedicated to their business so customers can find information about the company itself as well as how they can contact them.

Ensure Positive Online Presence

While having a presence online is important, you also want to make sure that your online presence is positive. This means exploring different options in terms of the content that's going on your website. For example, a lot of companies post blog posts in order to give customers a sense of their expertise in the field and let them know more about what they do on a daily basis so it's important to make sure this content is not only up-to-date but also relevant to the target audience.

Every business needs a strong online presence in order for it to have growth potential. It's important for companies to be active on social media sites, have a website that they can continuously update with new content and information about the company itself as well as other blog posts and articles that can be informative to the customers who are visiting your website. Always make sure you're posting valuable information on your website rather than just random things that may or may not get responses!

Tips On How To Create A Positive Online Presence For Small Businesses

Have Current Content

This means to have a website with current content that's interesting, relevant and informative.

Keep Up With The Trends

Make sure your business has an active social media presence by following/liking other social media accounts in order to keep up with trends. It also allows you to connect with customers if they are following you on social media as well.

Your Post Reflects Your Company

It's important to remember what you post online because it reflects your company. Make sure to steer away from negativity or things that can be deemed inappropriate in your posts. Of course, there will be slight slip ups but it's best not to get too personal on social media websites.

Be Up-To-Date

Always make sure any content posted on your website is up-to-date and relevant to the target audience. Not only that, but make sure it's interesting and not just random things about the company itself.

Create Valuable Content

If you have a business page on social media sites such as Facebook, make sure the content is about your company and not just personal information. This can get you in trouble if it's not related to what you do so be careful! Steer away from posting random things about the business on social media sites or your website. Make sure the information is interesting, educational and useful to customers who are reading it. If not, try not to post it at all!

A positive online presence can be hard to come by. With so much competition on the web, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle and not stand out from your competitors. But there are some simple things you can do to build a strong brand identity for yourself or business that will help customers find you more easily than ever before.  What is one thing you could try today? Maybe start with having an updated website design! Call Sharp Tack Media for your FREE Consultation today. 

Improve Your Business Ranking With This Guide

If you've recently created a website for your small business, the first thing you'll want to do is submit it to the major search engines. This process is relatively simple, and can help your site rank higher in the search results pages. In this article, we'll walk you through the steps involved in submitting your website to Google, Yahoo!, and Bing. Let's get started!

Why Submit Your Website to Search Engines

When you submit your site to the search engines, you're allowing them to crawl it and add its pages to their index. This will allow searchers to find your website when they use keywords or phrases that are related to the content on your site.   Generally speaking, the more places your website appears in the search results (in this case, the higher it will rank), the more traffic you'll receive.

How to Submit Your Website to Google

Create A Sitemap

The first step is to create a sitemap for your website. A sitemap is simply a list of all the pages on your website, and it's important for two reasons. First, it helps the search engines index your site more quickly and accurately. Second, it makes it easy for visitors to navigate your website. If you're using WordPress, there are several plugins that can help you create a sitemap. If you're not using WordPress, you can use a free online tool like Google Sitemaps.

Submit Your Site to Google

Once you've created your sitemap, the next step is to submit it to Google. To do this, simply go to Google's Sitemap Submitter page, and enter the URL of your sitemap. If you already have an account with Google Webmaster Tools, you can just log in and submit your sitemap from there. Once you've submitted your site to Google, wait a few days for it to become indexed.

Submit Your Site to Yahoo!

The process for submitting your site to Yahoo! is very similar to Google. Simply go to Yahoo!'s Sitemap Submission page, and enter the URL of your sitemap. If you already have an account with Yahoo! Site Explorer, you can submit your sitemap from there. Again, wait a few days for your site to be indexed.

Submit Your Site to Bing

The process for submitting your site to Bing is a little different. First, you'll need to create a Microsoft account if you don't already have one. Then, go to the Bing Webmaster Tools page, and sign in with your Microsoft account. Once you're logged in, click on the Add a Site button, and enter the URL of your sitemap. Again, wait a few days for your site to be indexed.

That's it! You've now submitted your website to the three major search engines. By doing this, you'll help your site rank higher in the search results pages, and attract more visitors.

Submit Your Site Today

If your website is not optimized for search engines, you’re missing out. You may be wondering how to get started with SEO and submitting your site to the major search engines like Google or Bing. The answer? Give us a call! We are an expert in all things digital marketing including SEO that will help drive more traffic to your business through top rankings on SERPS (search engine results pages). Don't let yourself miss out on this opportunity – contact Sharp Tack Media today!

Why You Must Be Mobile-Friendly Now

Google announced that it will start to rank websites with mobile-friendly designs higher in its search engine results pages. This is an important step towards a more mobile-friendly web and we want to help make sure your site is ready for the big change. It's not enough to just know you need a responsive design, here are 7 ways you can get started on improving your site today: 

  • Update Your Site Content  

One of the best ways to make sure your site is ready for mobile is to update your content. Make sure that all of your pages are mobile-friendly and easy to read on a small screen. Most importantly, focus on creating short, concise content that is easy to digest.

  • Check Your Links

Another important part of making sure your website is mobile-friendly is to make sure your links work properly. You don't want a broken link or image to ruin the user experience. Verify that all of your links are working and if any images need replacing, do it now!

  • Make Sure You're Not Doing Anything To Limit The Screen Size

One of the problems with mobile devices is that they have smaller screens than a desktop. This can be a problem for sites that are designed for desktop users, as it can limit the amount of content that is visible on the screen. Avoid using fixed width layouts and make sure your site is scalable for different screen sizes.

  • Add A Responsive Menu

One of the best ways to make sure your website is ready for mobile is to have a responsive menu. Don't force users to scroll down, or worse, navigate via drop-down menus. Make sure that there are large tappable areas on all of your pages so users can quickly get where they want to go.

  • Create Different Versions Of Images For Mobile

Another thing you'll want to do is create different versions of your images for mobile users. You can do this by changing the size or file type (jpeg vs png) of your images without affecting their quality. Most image editing programs allow you to change the parameters, like width and height, without losing quality in the image.

  • Use Google Chrome To Test Your Website On Mobile Devices

Google Chrome has a great tool that allows you to see how your website looks on different types of mobile devices. This is a great way to troubleshoot any problems with your website's design and make sure it looks good on all devices.

  • Optimize Your Site For Smartphones And Tablets

Last but not least, make sure that your site is optimized for smartphones and tablets. While the change to mobile-friendly sites may hurt some websites, it can also help with search results on smartphone devices. Make sure you are following Google's guidelines on how to optimize for smart phones/tablet devices.

As you can see, Google has made it clear they want to make the web more mobile friendly. Don't let your site become the next big fail! Follow these simple steps to start making your site ready for Google's Mobile Update. If you have any questions about how to improve your site, please feel free to contact Sharp Tack Media  and we'll be happy to help!

 

Keep Your Website Safe From Google Penalties

It happens to the best of us. One day, you're on top of your game, ranking at the top of Google's search engine for all sorts of keywords that are relevant to your business. And then suddenly – BAM! You wake up one morning and find out that you've been penalized by Google and now can't rank for anything. 

First Thing To Do: Figure Out The Cause

The first thing to do when this happens is figure out what caused it in the first place so you know how not to do it again in future blog posts or social media content updates. But before we get into some tips for avoiding penalties altogether, let's take a look at what exactly happened this time around.

Overused Keywords

Stuffing your site full of keywords to the point where it's no longer readable or making your content difficult to follow is a sure way to get dinged by Google's search engine algorithms. So instead of cramming in as many keywords as possible, try to use them naturally throughout your content and only when relevant.

Low-Quality Backlinks

If you've been engaging in any link-building schemes that involve buying links or exchanging them with other sites, then you're likely to get penalized sooner rather than later. Instead, focus on getting links from high-quality sites that are relevant to your own.

Lack Of Engagement

If your blog posts, products, and services aren't being shared on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter or any other site where users can easily share content with their friends and acquaintances, then you probably won't have the backlinks necessary to rank high in Google's search engine. Engagement doesn't necessarily mean that you need tons of followers on social media sites. But it does mean that you need to be active and start custom campaigns as well as contests to generate some buzz about your brand.

How To Avoid Google Penalties

If you're a small business, it's important to avoid any Google penalties. Penalties can be costly and frustrating, and they can seriously impact your business. Here are a few tips to help you avoid Google penalties:

  • Make Sure Your Website Is Compliant With Google's Guidelines

Google has a number of guidelines that your website must comply with in order to avoid penalties. Make sure you familiarize yourself with these guidelines and make sure your website is compliant.

  • Stay Away From Black Hat SEO Techniques

Black hat SEO techniques are techniques that violate Google's guidelines and can lead to penalties. Stay away from these techniques and you'll be less likely to get penalized.

  • Set Up An Analytics Account To Track Your Website's Traffic And Performance

Setting up an analytics account is a crucial step in avoiding Google penalties because it will help you monitor the performance of your website, and it can help you discover what problems need to be fixed so that you don't get penalized.

  • Regularly Audit Your Website For Any Compliance Issues

You should regularly audit your website to make sure it's still compliant with Google's guidelines. This will help you catch any potential problems before they lead to penalties.

  • Use A Quality SEO Provider

Quality SEO providers know Google's guidelines inside and out and they can help you ensure that your website is compliant and that you avoid penalties.

  • Learn More About Google Penalties

Google offers some resources that can teach you what kinds of penalties are out there and how to avoid them. Check these resources out, follow Google's guidelines, and you should be able to avoid any penalties.

Avoid Getting Penalized 

If you’ve been wondering how to avoid a Google penalty, we have the answer for you. And it isn't as difficult as you might think! Follow these simple steps and never worry about being penalized again.  Call Sharp Tack Media Today! We can help your business with any or all of these tasks so that there is no need to fret over penalties ever again.

Turning New Customers Into Loyal Ones

If you're like most small business owners, you're always on the lookout for new and effective link building strategies. After all, links are still a major factor in search engine rankings, and the more high-quality links you have pointing to your website, the better. So what are some of the best link building tactics that actually work? Here are six approaches that will help you get started.

  • Market Your Content To Relevant Places

One of the best ways to drive traffic and increase your visibility is to market your content on sites that exist for the very purpose of helping people find great stuff online.

  • Publish Guest Posts On High-Profile Blogs

Guest blogging is a great way to get your content in front of new readers, and it can also help you build valuable links. When you publish a guest post on a high-profile blog, you're providing that blog's readers with valuable content, and you're also establishing yourself as an expert in your field. In addition, most high-profile blogs will include a link to your website in the author bio section.

  • Leverage Social Media

If you're active on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, you can use your influence to drive traffic and links to your website. When you share links to your content on social media, many of your friends will see them, click through to read the post, and hopefully come away impressed enough with what they've read to add a link back from their own websites.

  • Optimize Your Site For Search Engines

Search engine optimization remains one of the best ways to increase your visibility on major search engines, so it's definitely worth taking the time to configure your site in a way that makes it easy for search engines to crawl and index every page.

  • Guest Post On Other Sites

Like guest blogging, creating content for other sites is a great way to drive traffic to your site and build valuable links back to your homepage. There are several ways you can leverage guest posting as a link building strategy. For example, if you're active on LinkedIn, you can post your articles to the Answers section of the site. Or, you can submit guest posts to small blogs that accept contributions from outside writers.

  • Include Your URL In Your Signature

While this link building technique may seem pretty simple – or even unimportant – adding your website URL to your email signature is a great way to get it in front of potential links seekers. Whenever you correspond with someone by email, there's a good chance they'll take a quick look at your signature, and if your website looks like a good resource, they may add a link from their own site.

As you can see, there are many different ways to build links to your website. These are just a few of the many link building strategies that actually work. By implementing one or more of these tactics, you'll be well on your way to increasing the visibility and ranking of your website. So get started today and see the results for yourself!

Call Sharp Tack Media Today! We know that link building can seem like an overwhelming task, but don't worry. Our professionals will handle everything for you and make it look easy. All of the strategies we've discussed are proven to work because they're tried and true methods from our years in marketing. What's more is that all of these tactics have been shown to be effective at reducing your website’s bounce rate. So what are you waiting for? Let us help turn a seemingly impossible project into a guaranteed success story with one call today!

Get Noticed By Your Customers

Small business owners know that in order to be successful, they need to be where their customers are. And thanks to the internet, those customers can be anywhere in the world. That's why it's so important for small businesses to have a local landing page for each of their locations. A local landing page allows customers in that specific area to find out more about your business and what services you offer. Plus, it helps you rank higher in search engine results pages for local queries. So how do you create a local landing page? Keep reading to find out!

Have A Landing Page For Each Locations

The first thing you need to do is create a landing page for each of your locations. This can be done using a website builder like WordPress, or you can create a landing page using HTML and CSS. If you're not familiar with coding, don't worry – there are plenty of online tools and resources that can help you.

Add Business Location Information

Once you have created your landing page, you'll need to add information about your business's location. This includes your address, phone number, and hours of operation.

Optimize For Local Search

This includes adding location-specific information like your address, phone number, and hours of operation. You can also add keywords and phrases that are specific to your area.

Don't Forget To Include Information About Your Services, Products, Or Offerings

You'll also need to include information about your business's services, products, or offerings in that specific location. For example, if you're a restaurant located in California, then your California local landing page should talk about the types of food you serve and specialties like lunchtime specials. This will help convince customers who are looking for those items to visit your restaurant.

Have A Map

In addition, you'll need to include a map. This encourages customers who are looking for directions to come to your business. You may also want to include photos of your location as well as the surrounding area so customers know what it looks like and will feel more comfortable going there. Be sure to proofread your local landing page to make sure all the information is accurate and up-to-date.

Share And Promote

Once you've created your local landing page, it's important to share it with as many people as possible. You can promote it on social media, in your email signature, on your website, and even in your storefront. The more people who see your local landing page, the more customers you'll get!

Link It To Your Main Page

Finally, you'll want to make sure your landing pages are linked to your website's main page. This helps ensure that potential customers can find your business no matter where they are searching online.

In the age of the internet and social media, competition is everywhere. Having a local landing page is a great way for small businesses to stand out from their competitors. Now that you know how to create a local landing page, it's time to start creating your online presence for your business.

Creating local landing pages is a great way to help your business' online presence. A local landing page tells potential customers exactly where you are and what services you offer. Plus, it can be a great way to rank higher in search engine results pages for keywords and phrases related to your location.

Create A Landing Page For Your Locations

With Sharp Tack Media, you can have a landing page for each location. You may be wondering how this is better than just having one generic website that covers all your locations. The answer is simple! When people are looking to buy something from you in another town or state, they're going to want to see their local store on the site where they'll be buying it from- not somewhere else. That means more visibility and higher conversion rates if you use our service! Ask us about these services today by calling us – we'd love to hear from you!

Your Website Should Look Great On All Devices

Ever since Steve Jobs launched the iPhone, mobile phone users have been increasing rapidly. According to a study conducted by Flurry, an app analytics company, we can see that every day more than 322 million people around the world use apps and play with their mobile devices. This number is expected to increase even further as new innovative technology gets introduced to the market. This is why having a mobile version of your website can mean the difference between success and failure.

Mainstream Internet Usage

Mobile devices are no longer complementary devices, but instead they represent mainstream internet usage with more than 50% of users browsing from their smartphones and tablets. Mobile apps have become an essential part for small businesses to thrive online presence in today's market. However, not having a mobile-friendly site can lead to losing potential customers who are using their mobiles to browse the internet.

Why Is It Crucial For You

According to Google, 61% of users are unlikely to return to a website that's difficult to use on a mobile phone. This is why it is crucial for small businesses owners to invest in making their website mobile-friendly. The number of people using their mobile devices to access the internet will only increase over time, while desktop users are here to stay.

A mobile-friendly website is easy for customers to use on smartphones or tablets while they are browsing the web. A mobile friendly site allows visitors to easily navigate through search results, articles and other content without the need to zoom in and out constantly. Having a poorly developed site can make your customers leave almost immediately after landing on it.

Mobile-friendly websites are more convenient for customers, but they also offer other benefits that you might not have thought about before. They load faster than their desktop counterparts, they're cheaper to maintain and they give you the ability to track user engagement data in ways that you couldn't before.

Developing a mobile-friendly website for your small business is no longer an option, it's a necessity. With more than 50% of users browsing from their smartphones and tablets, not having a mobile-friendly site can lead to losing potential customers who are using their mobiles to browse the internet.

If you're not sure where to start, there are plenty of online resources that can help you get started. Investing in making your website mobile-friendly is a decision that you won't regret.

5 Benefits Of Having A Mobile Version of Your Site

  1. More Convenient for Customers
  2. Loads Faster Than Desktop Counterparts
  3. Cheaper to Maintain
  4. Can Track User Engagement Data in Ways You Couldn't Before
  5. Necessity in Today's Market

Making your site mobile-friendly is no longer an option, it's a necessity. Investing in a mobile version of your website can mean the difference between success and failure. Not having a mobile friendly site can lead to losing potential customers who are using their mobiles to browse the internet. With more than 50% of users browsing from their smartphones and tablets, not having a mobile-friendly site can lead to losing potential customers who are using their mobiles to browse the internet. Having a mobile version of your website is more convenient for customers, cheaper to maintain and it gives you the ability to track user engagement data in ways that you couldn't before.

Avoid Losing Your Customers

With more people using smartphones than computers, it’s important to have a mobile-friendly site design. If you don’t take the time to create one, your business could be losing out on potential customers who are ready and willing to buy from you—provided they can find your website in their phone browser. You might not know how many visitors are visiting your site through their phones when compared with desktop browsers, but if it’s 10%, 20% or even 50%, that is still an immense number of potential sales being missed! Call Sharp Tack Media today for help making sure you're giving all of your web traffic the best possible experience at every stage in the customer journey.

Get Backlinks From Your Competitors For Free

Link building is one of the most important aspects of SEO. However, it can be difficult to get started. This is especially true if you don’t have a large budget to spend on outreach. If you're looking for ways to get your competitors to link build for you, look no further! Here are six tactics that will help you achieve this goal:

1. Create Valuable Content

One of the best ways to get your competitors to link build for you is to create valuable content that is worth linking to. When you create content that is truly exceptional, your competitors will take notice and may be more likely to link to it from their own websites.

2. Reach Out To Them

Another way to get your competitors to link build for you is to reach out to them and ask for a link. Be sure to make your request as easy as possible for them to comply with. For example, if they have already linked to one of your pages within the past three months, you can ask them to also link to another page or two on your website that is related. Keep in mind that only asking for links when it is truly relevant will add value for people who are reading their blog posts.

3. Make Sure Your Website Is Easy To Navigate

Ensure that your website is easy to navigate so that when people visit it, they can find all of the information relevant to their queries without having to click around too much. This way, you won't turn away potential visitors who are looking for more information on your site about a topic you've already written about.

4. Use A Resource Box At The End Of Each Blog Post

Make sure to include a resource box at the end of each blog post that is on your website. In this resource box, you can include information that lets visitors know where they can find more valuable content from other websites related to the topic you just wrote about. You can invite other website owners to link to your content in their own resource box, which you can then include within a blog post of yours to start building valuable backlinks.

5. Use Social Media Marketing Tactics

Another way to get your competitors to build for you is by using social media marketing tactics such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+. Once you have established a strong social media presence, you can then invite people from your competitor's communities to link to you.

6. Search For Them In Search Engines

Finally, another way to get your competitors to link build for you is by using search engine optimization tactics. One of these SEO tactics is using the Google Advanced Search Operators such as “link:yourwebsite.com” to find people who are discussing your competitors in their own blog posts, then decide if it is worth reaching out to them and asking for a link.

Get your competitors to link build for you using these six simple tactics! All it takes is a bit of creativity and the willingness to put forth the effort. 

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to get your competitors to link build for you. We hope that this post has given you some valuable ideas on how to use these 6 strategies in your own marketing strategy. If not, don’t worry! You can always give us a call at Sharp Tack Media and we will help make sure that the content of your website is optimized for search engine rankings so that people find it when they google what they want or need most from their local business providers like yourself! So if any one of these tactics seem appealing but aren't quite working out for you, then please contact our team today – I'm confident we'll have just the right solution for all of your digital marketing. 

Get More Leads For Your Business

As you likely know by now, there are many steps to an effective marketing campaign. Of course, the first step is creating a website that accurately reflects your business and attracts visitors. But once they get there, many people immediately leave again. This is where conversion comes into play.

A lot of websites today are built with a focus on search engine optimization, or SEO. This is because there's a perception that the more people see your pages pop up when they search for certain keywords, the better. While it's true that SEO is a factor in whether someone decides to do business with you, website conversion takes first priority.

What Is Conversion?

It's the percentage of site visitors who take the desired action, whether that's signing up for a newsletter, making a purchase, or filling out a contact form. Depending on your business, the desired action may vary. But if you're not seeing the conversion rate you want, there are steps you can take to improve it.

Let's go into more detail on why website conversion is so important and how you can get the most out of your marketing dollars.

Why Website Conversion Matters for Small Businesses

When you're a small business, it's even more important to make sure your marketing campaign reflects your strengths. The last thing you want is for customers to head to your website, only to bounce back within seconds. They may not click on anything at all; they might look around for five minutes and leave; or they might find what they need, but it takes too long for them to find it.

The end result is that you lose potential customers who head over to another company's website instead. When you consider that not everyone who visits your website is interested in what you have to offer, it's even more important to increase the percentage of people who convert and take the desired action.

Factors That Influence Conversion Rates

If you're unsure about how to approach this, there are some easy solutions for small businesses that anyone can use. But first, let's take a look at some of the factors that influence conversion rates.

The Design Of Your Website

This includes everything from the layout to the colors you use. If it's difficult to navigate and your message isn't clear, many people will leave without clicking on anything.

The Main Focus Of Your Website

What do you want visitors to do when they get there? Do you offer an email newsletter that you want them to sign up for? Are you selling a product or service? Whatever it is, make sure your message is clear and easy to spot.

Strength And Relevance Of Your Brand

Remember, many of the people who arrive at your website won't be familiar with you. They'll want reassurance that you're a good company they can trust before they do business with you. Make sure everything from your About page to any social media profiles and branded materials make you look like the best choice.

Quality Of Your Content

You want to say as much as possible about what you offer, but that doesn't mean cramming your website with every single detail. Use informative descriptions and images that help paint a picture of how people can benefit from choosing you over someone else.

Your Customer Service

Just because you don't sell directly from your website doesn't mean customers won't contact you. Make sure that any phone numbers or emails are easy to find, and have a clear process for handling inquiries online.

Website Conversion: The Bottom Line

When it comes down to it, increasing website conversion should be one of your main priorities if you want to maximize your budget and see results from your marketing efforts. There are many things you can do to increase conversion rates, but these are a few of the most important ones to focus on. It is important for small businesses to have a website that converts visitors into customers. This will help with their branding and marketing efforts. Call Sharp Tack Media today or visit our contact page for more information on how we can help you reach your goals!

 

Be On Google’s Page 1 For Competitive Keywords

Let's face it. If your company is in an industry that is competitive, then you are going to have a difficult time getting your site to rank number one on Google for certain keywords. It takes constant effort and thousands of dollars just to get the top spot for ten keywords in any given industry!  Well, not really. You see, even if your company is in a competitive industry, there are still ways to get your site ranked number one on Google.

These are the five steps that you can use to rank your site on Google for competitive keywords.

  • Determine Your Website's Topic or Niche

The first step is determining your website's topic or niche. By this, I mean your website should be about one certain thing, not many different things. For example, if your company sells shoes, then your website should be about shoes. Not about running shoes or biking shoes or dress shoes.

Your site should have one focus because it will be much easier to rank highly on Google for specific keywords when you are narrowed down in this way. You see, most industries are filled with many competitors vying for the top spot on Google. However, if you focus your website's content on one specific topic, then you will have a much better chance at ranking number one.

  • Research Your Chosen Keywords

The second step is researching your chosen keywords. This involves finding the right keywords to target that are relevant to your website's topic or niche. You can use Google's Keyword Tool to do this. This step is necessary because it will help you to not waste time writing content for keywords that have zero searches per month or zero competition in Google.

  • Create Unique Content For Your Chosen Keywords

The third step is creating unique content for your chosen keywords! Many companies invest hundreds of dollars into creating content that is not unique and, as a result, they never rank number one on Google. By creating unique content, you will be able to differentiate your website from all of the other websites out there that are targeting the same keywords.

  • Use Social Media To Spread The Word About Your Content

The fourth step is using social media to spread the word about your content. This involves sharing your content on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.

  • Monitor Your Website's Rankings and Adjust Accordingly

The fifth and final step is monitoring your website's rankings and adjusting accordingly. This is necessary because you will probably not rank number one on Google for your chosen keywords immediately. You may have to tweak certain aspects of your website and keep track of your rankings in order to get those coveted top spots!

Just remember that it does take time to rank number one on Google, but with all five steps combined, you will be on your way!

Rank Higher With Us

If you want to rank your site on Google for competitive keywords, we can help. Our team of SEO experts has the knowledge and skills needed to get your website ranking at the top of Google search results pages (SERPs). We’ve helped countless businesses improve their rankings with our expert strategies that address every aspect of an effective SEO campaign. Give us a call today so we can answer all of your questions and give you a free quote! Don’t wait another minute before getting started. Call Sharp Tack Media Today!

A Guide To Working With An SEO Outsourcing Partner

In web development, the phrase “outsourcing” is a fancy word for “sending your work to someone else,” and that's how it works with SEO as well. If you're looking for high quality links to your website, an outsourced SEO agency can help by finding websites in which you have a strategic interest and engaging them on your behalf. 

The basic workflow is this: You give your outsourced SEO firm a list of sites that you want links from. They figure out who really owns the website in question, and confirm it's someone you're okay with talking to about linking to your site. They send an email or set up a call with the person in charge of the site you want a link from, and ask them to add your link.

This is a high-level summary of what an outsourced SEO agency does on your behalf. There are some other smaller tasks that they do as well, such as monitoring new links that go up on websites that have previously linked to you, and reporting to you on these links.

Here’s how you get started with working with your SEO outsourcing partner:

  • Get to know your SEO outsourcing partner

Your SEO partner needs to have a good grasp of your industry and the kinds of sites that you’re interested in linking from. You need to trust them, so it’s important that you get along with them personally. 

  • Define The Scope Of Work

Ensure that you’re clear on what your SEO partner will be doing on your behalf. Will they be contacting potential sites for links, or are you looking to them to do some outreach themselves? Are you hiring an SEO firm to look into new link opportunities for your site, or are you expecting them to submit a weekly report of all the new links added to your site?

  • Create A Tracking Progress System

Create a system that will track progress, identify risks, and measure success. Since you’re not going to be working with your SEO outsourcing agency on a daily basis, it’s important that there is a system in place for reviewing and acting upon the reports they provide. 

  • Review Reports

The regular monthly or weekly progress reports are opportunities for you to review all of the work being done on your behalf, and to confirm that your goals are being met.

  • Be Open to Feedback

As your SEO partner is doing work on your behalf, they may notice that you’re making some strategic errors. For instance, if you’re buying links from sites that are against Google’s guidelines, your outsourced agency will want to let you know about it so that you can rectify the situation before Google penalizes your site.

Have you been looking for an SEO partner to help grow your business? Let us show you the way. Our team of experts will work with you on a custom plan that is tailored to meet your needs and budget, all while providing ongoing support through our monthly reports showing how we're working together to make sure your site ranks at the top of Google! If this sounds like something worth exploring, schedule a free consultation today before someone else takes advantage of these opportunities. 

Need To Get In The Top Rankings? 

Search engine submission is the process of notifying a search engine that your website exists and providing information about it so that the search engine can add it to its database. This is an important step in optimizing your website for search engines, as it helps ensure that your site will be included in the results when people search for keywords related to your business. If you don't submit your site to the search engines, they won't know it exists and therefore won't feature it in any searches.  

How Quickly Do Search Engines Cache Web Pages?

They can do so within minutes or hours depending on their caching policies and frequency of crawling popular pages. The basic idea is that pages that are regularly updated (such as pages with blog content) will be crawled and cached more often than pages that are not updated often (such as an “About Us” page).

When you submit your website to a search engine, it will crawl your site to determine its contents and add it to its database. This process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, so it's important to be patient and allow the search engine enough time to index your site. In general, the more pages you have on your website, the longer it will take for the search engine to crawl and index all of them.

Once your website is indexed, it will start appearing in the search engine results pages (SERPs) for relevant keywords. The higher your website's ranking, the more likely people are to find it when they search for those keywords. To improve your website's ranking, you'll need to optimize it for the search engines by using keyword-rich titles, descriptions, and anchor text. You can also submit your website to directories and other websites that are related to your business.

By submitting your website to the search engines, you're not only increasing its chances of being found, but you're also letting the world know that it exists. This can help increase traffic to your site and boost your business's online presence. So don't wait – submit your website today!

Why Is Search Engine Submission Important?

  • Not submitting to search engines means that they don't know your website exists
  • Search engine submission helps ensure that your site will be included in the results when people search for keywords related to your business
  • The submission process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, so it's important to be patient
  • Indexing your website can help improve your website's ranking and increase traffic to your site
  • Submitting to directories and other websites related to your business can help boost your online presence.

So, why is search engine submission important? Well, simply put, if you don't submit to the search engines, they won't know you exist. But if you do, they'll index your website and in turn, increase traffic to your site which is good for business.

Why Should You Do It?

We know you’ve heard that submitting your website to search engines is a good idea, but do you understand what it means? What does it entail and why should you care about the process of search engine submission. Call Sharp Tack Media today to learn more about how we can help with this process. Our team has been providing these types of digital marketing solutions so trust us when we say we have plenty of experience helping businesses succeed online using cutting-edge strategies tailored specifically to their needs. You deserve nothing less than the best from our team at Sharp Tack Media because only then will your business grow and prosper online. Let's talk now!

Increase Your Presence, Increase Your Leads

You invest tons of time and money into your business, getting it started and making it grow. The success of your company depends on how people react to what you make, whether they love it or hate it. But there is one big piece missing for this to all come together: YOU!

This is where social media comes in… connecting you with the world. It is a powerful tool to create a great first impression, showcase your work and connect with people who can help take your business to the next level.

Your social media profile is like your digital business card. It is the first thing people see when they discover you online and it is your opportunity to make a great first impression. You may feel like you don't need a social media profile, that it's just for the young and “hip,” but this couldn't be further from the truth. The fact of the matter is that more than half of all internet users have a social media profile and your potential customers are likely to find you (or not find you) on social media.

So how do you create a social media profile that will help your business succeed?

Complete Your Profile

Make sure your profile is complete. This means adding a profile picture, a cover photo, a brief bio, and your website link.

Be Consistent With Your Branding

Make sure your profile is consistent with your branding. Your profile should be consistent with the look and feel of your website, business cards, etc.

Be Interesting And Have Relevant Content

Next, post interesting and relevant content. This could be anything from blog posts to photos to infographics. Be sure to keep it fresh and engaging!

Connect With Other Businesses

Connect with other businesses that have a similar customer base. This will help give your brand more exposure and credibility in the eyes of potential customers!

Update Regularly

Make sure your profile is updated regularly. Post interesting and engaging content that showcases your work and speaks to your target audience.

Search Engine Optimization

Make sure your profile is optimized for search engines. Use relevant keywords and phrases in your bio and post titles to help people find you online.

Don't Be Afraid To Ask

And lastly, don't be afraid to ask for likes, comments, and shares. These are all great indications that you are doing something right!

Today's social media landscape is constantly changing so it can feel overwhelming trying to keep up with it all. It can feel like an impossible task to create a social media profile that does everything you want it to do, but there are plenty of resources available to help you out (Pinterest has some great tips for creating stunning visuals.)

So take the time now to make your social media profiles match the high-quality brand you have worked so hard to create!

It's not just your company that is being judged by your social media profiles, you are too. Your profile represents you and the brand of work that you do. Potential clients are going to get a feel for whom you are based on how professional your page looks and what it contains, so make sure that everything reflects positively on you.

Sharpen Your Digital Business Card 

We know, we know. You're a busy professional with tons of things on your plate and you don't have time to worry about the rest. That's why it’s important that when you go online, you make sure your digital business card is up-to-date so people can find out more about what makes YOU special! Give Sharp Tack Media a call today. One of our experts will get in touch with you shortly!

Which Strategy Should You Choose For Your Business? 

There is a big difference between black hat and white hat social media optimization. Black hat social media optimization is all about getting quick results by any means possible. This includes things like using automated tools to create fake followers or gaming the system to get your content seen more often. While black hat tactics can give you short-term gains, they will not build a long-term audience for your brand.

White hat social media optimization, on the other hand, is focused on building relationships with your community and getting genuine engagement from people who care about your company. White hat strategies take more time, but the results are worth it. In this article, we'll discuss some of the key differences between black hat and white hat social media optimization so you can make the best decision for your business.

Here are the key differences between black hat and white hat SEO:

Approach To Followers

The first key difference between black hat and white hat social media optimization is how they approach followers. Black hat tactics often involve buying or artificially inflating your follower count. This might give you a temporary boost in numbers, but it won't help you in the long run. White hat social media optimization focuses on building connections with your audience, and that means getting genuine people to follow your brand. You can do this by sharing valuable content that is relevant to your target market.

Instead of using black hat tactics like auto-blasting, white hat social media optimization focuses on creating and sharing great content that your followers will want to read and share with their friends. One of the best ways to do this is by hosting a contest or giveaway on your social media pages. A contest is a win-win for both you and your community, as it rewards people who engage with your brand while also getting more eyes on your products and services.

Content Creation

Another key difference between black hat and white hat social media optimization is how they approach content creation. Black hat tactics often involve posting duplicate or low-quality content that will boost your numbers but doesn't help you in the long run. White hat strategies create unique content that helps you stand out from the crowd so your brand becomes a trusted authority. This will help your brand develop a loyal following who trusts your opinions and recommendations.

Instead of using black hat tactics like auto-posting, white hat social media optimization focuses on creating content that is relevant to your business and resonates with the people you want to connect with. In addition to finding topics that are interesting to your audience, you should also be creating content that adds value. If your followers trust your advice on social media marketing, for example, they are more likely to turn to you before making any major buying decisions.

Moreover, instead of using black hat tactics like auto-following and direct messaging, white hat social media optimization focuses on developing relationships with people. This means taking the time to engage with your followers, comment on their posts, and share valuable content that they will appreciate. Black hat strategies are all about getting quick results by any means possible. White hat social media optimization is focused on building relationships, which takes more time but gives you much stronger connections in the long run.

Let Us Help You!

There are many other key differences between black hat and white hat social media optimization, but these are the most important ones to consider. Deciding which approach is right for your business can be difficult, but it's important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The best strategy is the one that fits your unique needs and goals. If you're looking for more information on how to get started, consider hiring Sharp Tack Media. We can help you develop the right social media strategy for your business. What are you waiting for? Call us now!

Stop Wasting Time And Hire An Expert Agency

Successful SEO campaigns are successful because of their outsourced element. When you outsource your SEO, the benefits are great for any business no matter what industry or market you are in. It is a great way to get your business the online attention it deserves. By choosing the right company to work with, you can benefit from increased website traffic, higher search engine rankings, and an overall better online presence. When done correctly, SEO outsourcing can be the key to your business' success.

Here are seven reasons why outsourcing your SEO campaign will help you grow and succeed.

Save Your Time

Outsourcing your SEO helps you save time. You should be spending your time working on other aspects of your business not worrying about whether or not all the best practices are being put into play for your company's website. By outsourcing this important aspect of your business plan, you can focus on what is really important to grow and develop your business. Also, you can decide to outsource different areas of your SEO campaign which means that you will always have the best practices being used.

Access To A Higher Level Of Expertise

Outsourcing also gives you access to a higher level of expertise from people that are experts in their field. Everyone on your internal team is going to be a generalist rather than a specialist. Specialists have more knowledge and experience in a certain area and can help take your SEO campaign to the next level. When you outsource, you have access to these specialists which can help increase your website's visibility, traffic and ultimately sales.

Focus On Your Core Business

Outsourcing also gives you the ability to focus on your core business. You should not be spending time trying to learn about SEO and how to improve your website's ranking; you should be working on making your product or service the best that it can be. Leave the SEO to the experts and focus on what you do best – running your business.

Scale Your SEO

SEO outsourcing also gives you the ability to scale your SEO campaign up or down as needed. If you are trying out the SEO waters, you are going to need to have someone on your team that can help scale up this area of your business. On the other hand, if you are already established online and see huge success from your current marketing strategies then you may want to scale down this aspect of your business until new changes or strategies come into play that warrant more attention.

Real Time Updates On Your Campaign

When you outsource your SEO, you are also able to receive real time updates on the progress of your campaign. You will have a team that is dedicated to reporting on your website's analytics and making sure that you are getting the most return on investment (ROI) possible. This means that you can track your progress, spot problems early on and take steps to address them quickly.

Access To A Pool Of Talent

Outsourcing your SEO also gives you access to a pool of talent that you may not have been able to access internally. When you outsource, you can choose from a pool of talented providers that have both the knowledge and experience in their specific field to get the job done right.

These are just some of the benefits that come with outsourcing your SEO campaign. When you make the decision to outsource, you are making a decision that will help your business grow and succeed. Make sure to do your research and find a company that can provide you with the best services possible. With the right team behind you, anything is possible.

Outsource Your SEO Today!

Outsourcing your SEO to an expert is the best way to ensure that you are investing in your company’s success. Sharp Tack Media can help you create a plan for how much outsourcing will benefit your business and provide insights on what it takes to become successful with this process. If you want more information, call us today!

Things You Should Be Doing Before Hiring An SEO Company

How Do I Know If My SEO Is Working?

It's great to hear that you're finally ready to start working with an SEO company. How do you find the right one for your business? It can be hard to know where to even begin, but we've broken down the process:

Get Recommendations

Considering you're looking for an SEO company, it makes sense to start by getting recommendations from other business owners. You can do this in person at networking events , ask your friends and family or check out online reviews . There's nothing like word-of-mouth recommendations when it comes to finding business professionals, so take full advantage of your network. If you're an ecommerce or mobile app business , then get recommendations from your users!

Do Some Research

Once you've got a shortlist of potential SEO companies, it's time to do some more research. Take a look at their website and social media profiles and check out their blog . You might want to try the company's services yourself so you can see if it's a good match, but make sure to ask current customers for feedback before committing.

What Is The Process Of Working With An SEO Company?

Every SEO company will differ in how they work with clients, but after getting recommendations and doing your research, you'll need to speak to them directly. Some things that are important to ask include:

Amount Of Communication

The amount of communication you're expected to have with the SEO company.  Existing clients should be able to tell you how often they were contacted by the company and about what.

The Methods The SEO Company Use To Improve Rankings

Every company has a different way of improving rankings for clients, so it's important to understand what they'll be doing. For example, some companies focus on increasing keyword appearances in Google searches , while others create content that ranks highly for keywords .

What Results You Can Expect To See

Again, it's important to remember that SEO is a long-term investment and results may not be seen overnight.

Price Of Services

It's always best to get an idea of the cost upfront so there are no surprises down the road.

What Other Services The SEO Company Offers

Many companies provide additional services such as social media marketing, PPC management and conversion rate optimization.

When Do They Start Working On My Website?

You may have been told that you need to wait for a certain amount of time before starting a campaign, so make sure you understand what this means for your website.

How regularly will I speak with the SEO company? You should expect to have regular conversations with your agency. Some businesses prefer weekly or even daily contact, but not everyone works best under pressure!

Questions to Ask Before Hiring an SEO Company

If you've found an SEO company that looks promising, it's time to start asking questions. Before hiring them, look for the following information:

  • How long have they been in business? While there are some new businesses operating entirely with the best of intentions, most experts recommend sticking with more established companies.  
  • What are their methods? 
  • Do they use techniques such as link building and on-page optimization? 
  • How do they choose their keywords? 
  • Keywords are an important part of SEO, so you should know how your company plans to use them. 
  • What is their fee structure? The best way to answer this question will depend on your business needs. If you want a monthly retainer, ask the SEO company if they can accommodate that. 
  • How much input do I have? Most experts recommend staying involved throughout the process so that you know what is being done with your website at every step of the way.
  • Will you provide reports? While many businesses are happy to simply work away in the background, others want to see detailed reports.

How will this agency keep my website safe? Look for an SEO company that uses HTTPS on its own website, as this is a sign of secure browsing. Look for one that also has a proven track record in keeping your site safe from hackers and malware.

Your Guide To Retaining More Clients Through Your Social Media Presence

Small businesses can find it challenging to attract potential customers looking for your product or service. After contact is established, you still need to retain their interest and ensure they come back for more. A little advice might go a long way in doing this successfully.

Here are some tips on retaining customers on social media for small business owners:

Post Often

You need to post regularly on social media sites in order to engage and retain your customer base. By posting once a week, you can keep them coming back and visiting your site for more information. If you don't have the time or energy to post that frequently, then try to post at least twice a month.

Respond to Inquiries

If people are dropping by your site, they might have questions or requests. You need to be available when they do in order to retain their interest. Remember that you're not only selling the product; you're selling yourself and your business as well.

Ask Questions

Getting customers involved is an excellent way to keep them coming back. You can do this by asking easy questions that invite discussion or feedback – like what their favorite item on the menu is, for example.

Offer Promotions

Another tried and true method of attracting customers is through promotional offers. People love when they get an unexpected bonus! This will help you attract repeat visitors and gain new ones as well.

Use Social Media Marketing Tools

There are a lot of social media marketing tools out there that small business owners can benefit from. The more you use them, the better your chances of gaining and retaining customers. Hootsuite is one such tool that allows you to schedule future posts and check on the success of others.

Work with Others

It's never a bad idea to work with other small business owners in your area. By offering up free items for an honest review, you can gain valuable feedback and build bridges with other like-minded individuals. The more people who know about you and your product, the better your chances of gaining clients.

Be Adaptable

No matter how great your business is, people will always have other options. You need to be prepared to adapt to any situation or circumstance that might arise in order to retain customers and stay ahead of the competition.

Social media can be a very valuable tool if you know what you're doing. By following these simple guidelines, you can make a big difference in attracting and retaining customers on social media for small business owners.

By following the simple steps outlined above, you can make a big difference in attracting and retaining customers on social media. Social media has become an excellent place to do business for many companies, but it takes work to get ahead of the game.

We’ve talked about how to grow your customer base with social media, but now let's talk about how you can retain those customers. The best way to do that is by communicating on a personal level and being consistent! It may sound like common sense, but so many people miss the basics of marketing because they think it has to be complicated or expensive. Let Sharp Tack Media help you out. Give us a call today!

The Secret To Getting More Leads

The main way to generate leads for your small business is by utilizing social media. Social Media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn provide people with the ability to connect all over the world. Also it allows companies to get in front of these communities directly by placing ads that are relevant to them where they spend their time online – which is mainly on Social Media sites.

What most businesses don't realize is that there is a secondary way social media can provide leads. By sharing great content with their followers and friends, they are providing value to those communities and can greatly increase the amount of people who will see and potentially share their business message.  

Lead generation is an important part of the business process, but it must be done in a way that doesn't annoy your future customers. There are ways to generate leads in a non-intrusive way so that they might be willing to see what you have to say.

Use Social Media

One of those ways is by using Social Media as a tool for generating leads. If you can find a way to provide value to your social media followers and friends, they will be more likely to listen when you promote something that might interest them or help them in some way – even if it doesn't directly benefit you.

Social media is also a great tool to use for lead generation because it's such a common part of our daily lives now. It's not as though we have to make special efforts to go out and do something – we're already on social media sites every day doing the things we do – reading status updates, checking up on friends, etc. So it's easier to incorporate social media with the things we are already used to doing every day.

And by making Social Media a natural part of our lives it doesn't feel so much like marketing or sales – which is what lead generation really is – but more like connecting and engaging with people who share similar interests. And as long as we can do that without being pushy or annoying, we're more likely to build a positive rapport with the people we're looking to engage and convert over to our side.  

Since social media is such a common part of our daily lives now, it has the ability to generate leads in a much more non-intrusive way. We all use social media sites every day, so it's easier to incorporate social media with our daily lives and make it a part of the process without feeling like we're doing something wrong or bad for us.  

How Can You Generate Leads Using Social Media

So how can you use Social Media for generating leads? You need to establish your presence online and comment and share content regularly and frequently so that people get to know you. If possible, you want to make sure you are interacting with other people, not just pushing your own lead generation ads.

By using Social Media as a tool for generating leads you are taking advantage of the ease and comfortability that comes with using social media sites every day, while also being able to provide value without feeling pushy or awkward. And people are more likely to trust you if they know you, so establishing your presence online is absolutely key when it comes to lead generation through social media.

Generate More Leads

To generate leads, you need to understand how people think and what motivates them. You also need an understanding of your prospects’ pain points. Once you know this information, it is time to present a solution that will resonate with their problem-solving needs. If any of this sounds like gibberish or if you want help implementing these principles into your marketing strategy, give us a call! Sharp Tack Media’s team can go over all the options for generating leads in person to see which one would be best suited for your company's unique goals and objectives. We are ready when YOU are – so don't wait another minute! Which lead generation technique have you implemented?

The Best Way to Get Your Business Online

If you're a small business owner, then odds are you want your business to appear in Google's first few pages. If so, we've got some good news for you: it's possible.  

The first step is to make sure your site's fully optimized for SEO. We know it can be overwhelming, for more details here are some basics you should cover before you even think about marketing your business online.

Create Great Content

Google wants to send people to pages that have content that answers their questions. If nobody searches for your product, then it doesn't exist. Content is king!

Make Your Site Mobile-Friendly

It's more mobile-preferred, but that's a story for another time. Google wants to make it easier for people to find what they're looking for when they browse on their phones. The good news is you don't need an iPhone or Android phone to do this–you just need to ensure your website looks good and functions well on all devices.

Optimize Your Site for Local Search

If you're a restaurant, for instance, then Google wants to send people who search for “Italian Restaurants” in your town right to your door. What does that mean? It means your business should be listed on the results page for anyone who searches that phrase, and you should have content on your site about what types of food you serve, with contact information.

Make Content Optimized

When people search for what you're selling, Google gives them the option to filter their results to show only “similar” content. If your page isn't optimized, Google won't even know how similar your product is, and nobody will ever find you.

Create Unique Titles

Your page's title is the first thing people will see. Make sure it describes what you're selling, and isn't too generic or unoriginal.

Create Unique Descriptions

The description tells Google why your product is similar to other products. As with titles, Google wants unique content so consumers know exactly how and where your product fits in the market.

Create Unique Meta Descriptions

These are the descriptions that pop up when people click on your title. They're short, so they should be a summary of what you offer. Make sure to optimize each category with a unique meta description.

Try Profiles and Local Listings

It's extremely important to make sure you have all five profiles (name, address, description of your business, logo and a photo) made for every location. It's also important to have some strong reviews from different sources so consumers can see how you stand up against other companies in your industry.

Use Social Media

Make sure you post regularly on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you're not sure what to post about, try asking your followers. People love getting recommendations from others, so consider hosting a contest or doing product giveaways to get people interested in your page.

Use Keywords

Your products need to be found by Google, so use keywords that people are searching for. However, make sure you don't stuff too many keywords into one paragraph (this looks like spam to Google). Additionally , the more relevant your keyword is “in context” with other words on the page, the easier it is for Google to “guess” what your page is about.

Call Us Today!

If you're looking to get your small business on Google's first page, then Sharp Tack Media can help! Our team of experts are ready and waiting to partner with you in order to give your company the best chance at success. Whether it be SEO or marketing strategy, our digital marketing agency will work out a plan that suits both your needs and budget. We've helped hundreds of businesses grow their online presence through search engine optimization (SEO) services like link building and content creation, so don't hesitate – call us today for more information.

Could Your Business Be Doing Better?

Web-based businesses are increasingly finding that not doing SEO is like ignoring the elephant in the room.

The search engines are changing the way they do things, and if you're spending all of your time focusing on how to get more leads through other channels (like paid search), then it's easy to neglect one area where there has been less change – search engine rankings. However, if you neglect them for too long, it will become increasingly difficult to optimize your site effectively and get back into the good graces of Google.

SEO is no longer just about technical optimization – optimizing images, ensuring that your website loads quickly on desktops and mobile devices, making sure that you have a mobile website, etc. Google is looking to create the best user experience for its users – if your site does not have good content or engaging images, it's likely that you are going to get left behind in terms of rankings. This is because Google wants quality sites with relevant information to rank highly on their results pages so that they can provide the best experience for their users.

Continue reading to know more details on what happens if you don't do SEO. One fun fact about SEO is that the average person who searches for something via Google probably ends up clicking on one of the first three search results, meaning it's important to look at SEO from a variety of perspectives, including the search engine's results pages.

Niche Businesses Lose Traffic

Small businesses that focus on being very niche run the risk of getting lost in Google's search results – if you only have one or two locations, this is particularly worrisome as you're going to be buried by local competitors.

It's important to keep in mind that there are many ways to search for things – some people look at the map listings right away, and others search by typing in the full address. If your site only comes up on the map listings (and you don't have a high enough click-through rate on those listings), it's likely that people aren't going to find you, even if they're looking for your location.

This is where SEO can help small businesses – as long as they focus on the user experience (not just keyword optimization) and provide valuable content, it will be much easier to gain traffic in organic search results.

Get Left Behind By Big Brands

Search engines are looking for quality over quantity – which means that if you're doing SEO for your brand, there's no better time than now to catch the search engine's eye. By gaining more visibility in organic search results, small businesses can make sure they're not getting lost behind their larger counterparts.

If you've decided to run your website without SEO, that means that your site is just barely clinging to the first page of Google's SERP for your keywords – if a large corporate competitor decides to start doing SEO, it will only be a matter of time before they outrank you.

It's important to plan ahead in order to avoid this fate!

Cheap Marketing Tactics Don't Work

It's true that if you want to build links, there are plenty of tactics that will work – but not all of them are going to be effective. Even the low-hanging fruit has started to disappear as search engines do everything they can to combat spammy link building. The important thing to keep in mind with SEO is that it's the only marketing tactic that is not likely to fail.

If you're not getting any traffic from SEO now, that means it's time to take a step back and figure out where your campaign is going wrong. It's important to remember that if you want to avoid being left behind by the competition, your site needs to have top-notch SEO. Sharp Tack Media is here to help with our expertise in search engine optimization and online marketing as well as a team of professionals who are happy to chat about what we can do for you. Give us a call so we can get started on putting together the perfect plan for your company – today!

Why Do You Need Links In The First Place? 

First off, what is a link? A link is any time someone clicks on a hyperlink pointing to another website. In other words, if there's a “hotlink” from your website to theirs. There are several reasons why it helps your site if someone has linked to you:

There's a lot more to link building than just getting someone to click on your link and visit your website. But for the sake of simplicity, click here and we'll walk you through this process.

  • Find Prospects

The first step is to find prospects for your link building campaign. These people should already have websites and their own business interests. There are a lot of sites that can give you access to information about other people's websites, like the number of links pointing to their website and how many sites are linking back to them.

  • Build Your List

When you have a list of prospects that have websites that have a lot of traffic or popular websites, then it's time to build your list of prospects using search engines' webmaster tools. Webmaster tools will help you find emails of employees at large companies.

  • Offer Exchange Of Links

Email your prospects with an offer to exchange links, so long as their site's link comes before yours on the page or in a sidebar. You'll have to do this manually until it becomes beyond your time management skills, but there are other ways to automate the process once you've built a large enough list.

  • Build Your Website

After you've contacted your prospects and received email responses that they're interested in your link exchange, then it's time to build a website for the company. Make sure the site has high quality content — this will give your prospect more incentive to link back to you since there's more incentive for them to direct their traffic to a website with good content. The site does not have to be anything special, but it should include at least a few pages of original content.

  • Update Your Site Regularly 

Update the site regularly, adding or changing some of its content until your link is published with their hyperlink. Make sure that before you publish the link that you use tools like Google Webmaster Tools, Google Analytics or other similar tools to make sure your link isn't causing any errors.

  • Revisit Step 3

Now it's time to do the same process on your own website for all of the prospects that signed up with you. This is basically just a continuation of Step 3 except that it'll be you adding their link to your site, unless you're using software to automate the process.

  • Always Track Your Links

Track your link building campaign's success by recording results in analytics. If your traffic is increasing, then it means your campaign was successful, so long as your traffic stays high or increases after a few months have passed since you started the campaign.

Want More Exposure? 

If you’re wondering how to get your small business some more exposure, Sharp Tack Media can help. Our link building services are designed for any sized company and will give you the boost of traffic that you need in order to grow. Let's talk about what kind of return on investment (ROI) or Return On Time Invested (ROTI) numbers would be most beneficial for your particular marketing strategy. Fill out this form today and soon enough you'll find yourself reaching new heights in search engine rankings!

 

Outsourcing SEO? Here's What You Need To Know.

Outsourcing is the practice of contracting with a third party to perform seo is becoming increasingly popular. And for good reason: it makes sense in many situations, especially when you simply don't have time to do it yourself. But if you've never done it before, outsourcing the technical side of the job can be intimidating. SEO company for small businesses outsourcing can be a good choice if you have no previous experience in SEO, time restrictions or budget limitations, but you still want to learn more about the technical side of the SEO industry.

In this article, we'll walk through the things you need to consider before you outsource SEO. 

Why Outsource SEO?

Why do people outsource their SEO? There are a number of good reasons, but here are the most common ones: You don't have time to do it yourself. You don't know how or you lack the skills. Your company doesn't believe in the need for SEO and/or thinks it's too expensive. You don't know enough about SEO to meet your own objectives.

Even if you're a skilled and knowledgeable SEO, there are good reasons to outsource: You can spend more time building client relationships. You can focus on other parts of the business that need attention, like content or promotions. It may be cheaper than hiring someone who can do it.

So now that you know why people outsource, let's look at how to work with an SEO agency.

What To Outsource?

Outsourcing SEO is usually done with the help of either an SEO consultant, agency, or marketing department. Here are some things you can outsource:

  • Technical on-site optimization

You may need someone to optimize specific URLs or rewrite entire pages. You should also consider having someone audit your site and offer suggestions on what they can do to improve it.

  • Off-site optimization

This includes getting high quality links from other websites, which helps you get higher rankings in the search engines. You could also outsource your content promotion, which will help you get links naturally through social media or guest blogging.

  • Technical implementation

If you are doing technical SEO yourself, it might be worth hiring someone to handle the tedious implementation tasks for you. This will free up your time so you can write better content or find more customers online.

  • Email outreach

You can outsource your email outreach campaigns so they stay fresh and current, or you can bring someone in-house to help with this task. Email is still one of the most effective ways to reach customers online, so whether you need quality content written for emails or just want someone to manage your email list, it's worth the cost.

Start Outsourcing Your SEO Today

Outsourcing your SEO can be a smart move, but it’s important to know what you’re getting into. Here at Sharp Tack Media, we want to help you figure out the best SEO strategy for your business. Whether you’re looking to take on a project from start-to-finish, or just need some advice with one aspect of an existing campaign, we can do it all! Check out our free consultation today and see how we can make things easier for your company!

Social Media Optimization 101

Whether you are new to social media or have already created a profile on the major sites, it is important to understand what you are doing. You might even want to hire a SEO company to help you.  For starters, your goal in social media optimization (SMO) is to reach people with information about your business. You want people to read what you write and share that information with others who might need it.

While this sounds simple enough, you need to follow a few guidelines to make sure what you share is viewed and read by others. The more people who view your content, the more likely they will be to click on a link or buy a product from you.

Setting Up Your Profile

Creating an account on social media sites and having a profile is not enough. You should set up your profile so it appears professional and gives people an idea of what you do and who you are. You can also link all or some of your social media accounts together so they share the same information. This will make your information easier to find for search engines.

Creating Content With Social Media Optimization

Now that you have profiles set up, it's time to create some content for people to read and share with their own networks. The content you share can vary depending on where you are, who is in your network and what people in that network would like to read about. You can share content from others too!

Repurposing Content For Social Media Optimization

When you share other people's posts, it also gives you a chance to repurpose the content for your own use. If you find something online that would be useful for your followers or customers, consider rewriting it before sharing it on social media sites.

Boosting Your Content's Popularity With Social Media Optimization

Once you have some posts up and ready for people to read, it's time to get the word out. Unlike when you were just creating your online profiles, you should include links in these posts so people can easily click on them and go to your site. Adding a link that goes to your business's website is one of the best ways to gain new followers and customers. However, you should still use search engine optimization best practices when adding links on social media sites.

Monitoring Social Media Optimization

Before you start creating posts and sharing them on your social media accounts, it's a good idea to take a close look at what other people in your industry are doing. You can find out who these competitors are by looking for them online.

How Often Should You Post On Social Media?

When you're just starting out with social media optimization, it can seem like a good idea to post about your company or website often. However, this could cause problems when trying to build a reputation online. Avoid overloading people who connect with you on social media, making them less likely to pay attention to your posts.

How to Know If Your Posts Are Good?

Monitor what other people are saying on social media accounts and you will get a better idea of what works and what doesn't. When someone reads your post and likes it, they will share it with their own followers or comment on it. If you don't get any comments or shares, the only people who see your posts are your existing connections. When this happens, you can make changes to how you write your posts in order to get more attention.

Finally, don't be afraid to try new things when you're using social media optimization. Just remember that it's more important to have a few people who are really excited about what you have to offer than a larger number of people who aren't interested at all.

Attract More Customers!

Social media optimization is a powerful tool to attract customers and grow your business. We’ve covered the basics, now it’s time for you to start optimizing! If you have any questions about how we can help you create an effective social media strategy that will fit into your marketing plan, don't hesitate to call us today.

Let's Be Real For A Second

The chances of you being discovered by someone if you don't have any online presence are pretty slim. If I put myself in the shoes of someone who wants to find a small business, chances are I'm not going to consider you as a viable option unless you have an online presence.

So how do we do it?

 Answer: Best seo company for small businesses.

In order to increase your online presence, you need a number of factors to fall in place. 

There are two ways to increase your online presence – either get more traffic on your main website, or have new websites out there which focus on certain verticals.  Getting the word out on your main website can be done easily and for free.

Getting your site out there as a strong contender in certain verticals will take time and money, but it is well worth it as you'll be able to focus all of your energy on those few targeted websites instead of having to spread yourself thin over many different online platforms.

To increase your online presence, you need to know your goals.  Are you interested in getting customers or would you rather get more sales?

SEO And Social Media Marketing

If your focus is on getting customers, then the best way to do that will be to focus on organic traffic through SEO and social media marketing. This process takes time and a lot of effort which not every small business owner can afford to invest.

Lead Generation Company Or PPC Ads

If you want to generate leads , then your best bet will be either a lead generation company or PPC ads. This is going to cost you money, but if done right it will bring in immediate results through the number of leads that you'll get daily.

Don't forget that both options are great for customer acquisition. You should use your budget to help you decide which one would be the best for you, but both are great methods of getting new customers through different means.

No matter what course you decide to take, don't ever stop putting in effort on increasing your online presence. The internet is a tough place and if you don't stay active, then you'll find that your competitors will be stealing all of the vital leads that you worked so hard to acquire.

If you can manage to afford it, try using both methods at once (organic traffic through SEO and social media marketing as well as PPC ads).  Try getting yourself out there on different platforms (blogs, guest posts, forums) and start interacting with your audience.

Once you build up a healthy flow of leads , then you'll be able to see what works best for you.  If one method isn't working out the way that you want it to, then don't hesitate on switching gears and try something new. Finally, don't ever let yourself get lazy. Keep trying to increase your online presence. It's an ongoing process that you need to keep working at if you want it to be effective in the long term.

Increase Online Presence And Generate More Leads

If you want to increase your online presence, trust our team of expert marketers. Sharp Tack Media have a proven track record for success and we’d love the opportunity to work with you! Call us today and one of our friendly experts will be more than happy to get started on making your business stronger!

Learn How To Target Your Audience

If you are in the process of starting a new business, then this article is for you! You may have come up with several key reasons to be successful in your endeavor. But there are still many things to plan out. One of the initial steps before you start working on your product or service is to determine what your target audience is.

So, who should you be targeting? You know that at the end of the day, your product is for someone to use and benefit from. In order to accomplish this properly, you must determine exactly what kind of people would most likely go out and buy your product.

Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter offer a lot of information about what users like and want. You can easily create ads that target key demographics. This article will guide you through the process of determining who you should be targeting with your business.

Target Market

Who is the most likely candidate that would purchase your product? Consumer interest drives businesses, so it is important to target those that are going to be interested in what you have to offer.

Who is your ideal customer? 

This may be the most challenging step to take, but it will be worth it in the end. To begin, ask yourself these four questions:

-Do you know who your target market is and what they want?

-What makes them unique from others?

-How do they spend their free time?

-What are their pain points and how can you help them find a solution?  

If this is your first business, then it will be hard to answer these questions. In order to narrow down who your audience is, begin using social media or even performing surveys on those that fit your ideal customer.

If you are already in the business of making a certain product, then there's no better way to find out what your target audience is than by asking them.  

Don't assume who may or may not be interested in buying your product– ask them! Use this questionnaire when speaking with potential customers in order to get a better idea of who they are and what is important to them:

  1. Why do you like/dislike our product/service?
  2. What is your favorite feature about this product/service?
  3. How often would you use this service?  
  4. What other features would you like to see on this product/service?
  5. How much would you be willing to pay for our product/service?

Hear what people like, but know that there may be some things people will say they want that may not actually be feasible for your business. For example, if someone says they want a certain feature added to your product, then you can tell them if it is possible or not.

Target Audience Demographics

These are some general categories to give you a better idea of who your audience is.

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Income Level
  • Education Level
  • Ethnicity        

This information will help you in the long run, when creating that perfect product or service that fits your customer's needs. If you are still unsure about what your target audience should be, then gather more information using the methods mentioned above.

It is important to be able to understand your audience on a deeper level in order to reach them properly with your product. Businesses are always looking for ways to improve their sales, so target those that would most likely buy what you have to offer!  

Know Your Target Audience

The most important aspect of any marketing strategy is knowing your target audience. If you have a diverse customer base, it's more difficult to know what appeals to whom. So the first step in creating an effective marketing plan for your company is determining who exactly you're selling too. Sharp Tack Media can help with that because we have experts on staff ready and waiting to analyze every facet of how people think so they can craft compelling copy designed just for them. Call us today to get started right now!

Get More Likes And Clicks On Your Posts

Is your small business struggling to get noticed on Facebook? You're not alone. With more than 1 billion people actively using the social media platform, getting found is a real challenge. If your company is like most small businesses, it only spends about 3 percent of its marketing budget on social media. But Facebook offers some of the best opportunities for engaging with new customers and generating leads. There's an ocean of details in here, but don't worry — this article is designed to help you get a handle on the site. Let's get started!

  • Focus on the Reach and Frequency of Posts

There are 7,000 stories in the naked news feed, but it appears as though there are only 187 stories. Facebook's algorithm weeds out duplicate and spammy stories, but it's also designed to determine which stories you might want based on your previous likes and shares.

  • Ask for Likes, Shares and Comments

Go into your post options and be sure to use every possible type of call to action. If you're trying to build your business or brand, it's important to make sure that Facebook knows about you.

  • Auto Engage Your Visitors to Drive Interaction with Content

If your posts score high on the “engagement” metric, Facebook will hold them higher in the algorithm and they'll have a better chance of being seen by others. The more people that see your posts, the higher your reach will be.

  • Use Video to Engage and Elevate Appearing Popularity

Facebook has become the second-largest search engine, making it a great place to connect with people. Join groups that are relevant to your brand or business to meet potential customers. People share videos on Facebook much more often than graphics or images. Videos invoke a feeling of empathy and can quickly show the human side of your brand.

  • Use Facebook Ads to Gain Specific Business Goals

With paid ads, you can target your content to a very specific audience. Facebook ads allow you to use detailed targeting options, making them a great way to get your message in front of the right people.

  • Use Facebook Retargeting to Target Visitors Who've Left Your Site

It's easy to monitor traffic and see where visitors are coming from, but one of the best ways to get them back is by using Facebook retargeting. It's a great way to bring customers back and remind them about your brand or business.

  • Try Custom Conversions & Optimize Your Ads With Data

A simple conversion allows you to set up advertising goals based on how long a user stays on your website. Facebook will report back and let you know if people completed the goal, or if they left the website.

  • Use Optimization to Boost Engagement

You can use online tools to test different images and ad copy on your posts. You may find that one post performs significantly better than others, which allows you to boost engagement levels by using that particular type of post.

  • Use Facebook Live to Engage with More People

Facebook Live is a tool that lets you broadcast live video for your followers to see. Because people like the idea of “being there,” they're likely to engage more often with videos than images or text.

  • Monitor Engagement With Varying Frequency

If your page has been up for a while and you've been using different types of posts, you may find that some ones perform better than others over a period of time. Monitor engagement to see what works for you and adjust accordingly.

In the end, one post is not going to be a magic bullet for Facebook's algorithm–it takes many different types of posts to build the type of following you want. Relevancy is key, and find out what works for your audience in order to get more organic reach.

Increase Your Facebook Reach With Us

We’ve shown you 10 ways to increase your Facebook reach, but we can do more. Call Sharp Tack Media today and let us help you take the next steps in getting more out of what your social media account has to offer.

Engage Your Audience On Twitter

Twitter isn't just for staying in touch and sharing the most trivial of details about your life with your friends. You can also use Twitter to promote a product, service, or brand you have on Twitter almost instantly – if you know how to do it right. Here are little known facts that will help spark your imagination and generate effective twitter marketing strategies.

Tweet Conversations With Customers And Salespeople

You should always seek to make your customers happy but it doesn't hurt if their happiness comes with a healthy dose of loyalty and word-of-mouth too. A simple tweet asking the customer how their experience with your product or service was can provide invaluable feedback that you can then use to improve your product or service.

Take Advantage Of Other People's Tweets

If you simply search for hashtags like #twitter or #socialmedia, you'll find that many people are prepared to give helpful information without expecting anything in return. You can therefore use these people as a tool to promote your product or service. Many users post tweets every day asking for advice on how they can increase the number of followers they have.

Take Advantage Of ‘Thank You' Tweets Via Your Product Or Service

You should consider creating a specific hashtag to be used when people sign up for your website or download your app. This will help you keep track of what success you are having through your marketing efforts.

Monitor Your Brand And Competitors On The Platform

Whenever someone mentions your brand on Twitter, you should aim to get in touch with them via a direct message or through replying to their tweet. This might seem obvious but it's surprising how many companies don't actually do this. Monitoring your brand also helps reduce the risk of customer complaints going unnoticed or being lost in their previous tweets.

Use Twitter To Lead Users To Your Own Website Or Another Landing Page

You should consider using shortened links that will direct people straight to your website or landing page. Remember that your website needs to be as user friendly as possible in order to entice people.

Get The Most Out Of Twitter Analytics

The easiest way to keep track of your progress is by using Twitter Analytics. This will help you to see how many people are following you, who they are and where they come from. You can also get information about your most effective tweets, which hashtags people use when talking about your brand and the number of times each hashtag has been used. If these analytics show that you do not have a lot of followers, it might be time to consider some Twitter advertising.

Simply put, if you want to use Twitter for marketing then you need to make sure that you work on your engagement levels and do all you can to ensure that your tweets are well received. This includes the number of times each hashtag is used by people talking about your brand, the number of followers you have and even how many people retweet your tweets.

Use Twitter To Your Advantage

Twitter is a social media platform where you can share and promote your thoughts, ideas, and products with millions of people. It’s the perfect place to build relationships with potential customers or community members. But it may seem like too much work for those who don’t know how to use this tool effectively. If that sounds like you, we have just the solution! Sharp Tack Media employs experts in all fields of marketing including digital marketing strategies such as SEO and analytics tracking software development that will help you grow your following on twitter. Contact us today if you want more information about our services. You'll be glad you did!

Increase Traffic With Effective Social Media Management

The majority of start-up's today recognize the value and importance of social media; however, very few actually incorporate it into their businesses effectively. Because of this, many start-up businesses are missing out on the opportunity to build their brands online.

This is where social media management comes in. Social media management services allow new business owners to focus their attention on what matters most – building up their brand, which will inevitably increase ROI.

The following will help you ease into managing your company's online presence:

  • Take All Advice With A Grain Of Salt

It takes time to develop an effective strategy and the path you take will be specific to your business and target audience. With that said, we can move on to issues which we all face. Before jumping into social media management, determine who is going to be in charge of the accounts. In most cases it will probably be a team effort but some companies prefer one person as overall head of social media.

  • It Should Be A Full-Time Job For You

It is important to keep in mind that social media management should not be a full-time job. Don't try to do everything yourself if you want to run a business as well as maintain an active social presence. Find out what works for your team but make sure they are dedicating enough time to the project(s).

On the same token, social media management should not take up a large portion of your time. It is meant to be a small but integral part of maintaining a business. Let it run its course and don't let it take over what you do. In order for this system to work efficiently, have one person own each account. 

  • Make Sure Everyone Is Onboard

Make sure everyone on your team understands their role and why it is important. It is paramount for every social media account to have an effective vision, but this cannot be achieved without upfront planning. Take the time to determine what you will post and what your company wants to portray.

  • Be Consistent

This is almost certainly the most difficult part of social media management for start-ups. After spending time coming up with a solid strategy and vision it should be easier to follow through with consistency. Remember what works for your company so you can repeat it when possible. This will vary greatly depending on the type of company you have. There is no exact science as to what works best so experiment with a few different things and go from there.

  • Keep Track

Follow up on what your team is doing regularly. Social media managers should take the initiative to evaluate their accounts' success and determine where they can improve. If something isn't working, don't be afraid to change it. Don't be afraid to use tools to help keep track of your accounts. It is a popular application for users who manage multiple social media pages and want an all-in-one solution. These features should be used, but this doesn't mean that these are a necessity—use what you can work with.

Streamline Your Social Media Management With Us

The good news is that Sharp Tack Media can help you streamline your social media management and get back to doing what you love. From Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and more – or even just one of them – our team will take care of all the heavy lifting so that there’s never a lapse in engagement with your audience. If this sounds great to you but not quite enough for your needs yet also not too much work on top of everything else already going on at the company, let us know! We understand that most businesses want something they can rely on without feeling like it's taking over their life. 

Design. Social. Traffic. Sales. Done!

In the competitive world of business, marketing is a critical component to achieving success. Marketers use many different tactics, from television and radio commercials to online social networks, in order to sell their products. It has been found that using social media can help marketers connect with consumers on a more personal level and increase sales.

Consumers are quickly becoming the most important part of the marketing equation. Social media allows marketers to gather new insights into who their customers are and how they interact with their products. This new information helps them create more targeted marketing campaigns, which can be effective in increasing sales by as much as 30 percent.

Data Mining

One way that social media is helping marketers stay competitive is through data mining. Data mining is when marketers analyze social networks to discover information about their customers that they would not be able to find otherwise.

Data mining helps marketers learn more about their clients so they can develop new ways of reaching out to them in the future. This kind of marketing provides companies with a competitive advantage in the marketplace by helping them find unique ways to connect with customers.

Targeted And Personalized Messages

In the past, marketers would use a one-size-fits all approach in their marketing campaigns, but this is becoming less common. Social media allows them to make their messages more targeted and personalized for their target audience. This helps create greater customer loyalty and increased sales because clients feel that they are receiving a more relevant message.

Interactive Campaigns

Because of the increased popularity in using social media, marketers are able to make more informed decisions about their campaigns. They can see how people are reacting to their products and even what parts of advertising resonate most with consumers. This information allows them to make changes or adjustments much faster than in the past when they relied solely on traditional methods.

Marketers can use these new insights to better connect with their target audience by creating more interactive campaigns. They are finding that integrating social media into their campaigns makes them more successful. In fact, companies have seen a 30 percent increase in sales when they use social media compared to only three percent without it.

Stay More Connected With The Customers

One reason for this success is that marketers are using social media to stay more connected with their customers. While before they were limited to traditional methods of reaching out, like television and radio commercials, social media allows them to post updates and interact directly with the public.

Social media is becoming an increasingly important component in marketing strategies because it allows companies to communicate directly with customers on a personal level. Marketers are using social media as a way to build stronger relationships with consumers and make the sales process easier. It improves customer service by allowing companies to quickly respond when issues arise or when customers are unhappy with a product. This helps build trust between the company and their customers, which can lead to increased sales in the long run.

Marketing campaigns in social media provide businesses with a competitive advantage by helping them stay connected with customers and discover more about their needs. Because of this, social media has become an integral part of marketing plans and can help companies increase sales by as much as thirty percent. By using social media, marketers are able to create more interactive campaigns that connect with their audience on a personal level. Companies have seen great success when they integrate social media into their marketing strategies, so it is likely that they will continue to use this method in the future.

Create Your Marketing Campaign With Us!

If your marketing campaign is failing to generate the results you want, it might be time for a change. These tips will help get your social media strategy on track and start generating more conversions. The first step should always be planning. What type of content do you need? Who are your target audience members? Where can they find what they’re looking for from you online? Get in touch with Sharp Tack Media today to know what would work well for your business!

Best Way To Start Your Social Media Channels

There are many reasons that you, as a business owner, should establish your social media presence in social media channels. It can help create and maintain relationships with existing customers and potential new customers; it can assist in the growth of your business; and it can help build your professional image.

The world is changing, and it's changing quickly. If you haven't already established a social media presence it's time to get started or risk losing out on future customers who are heavily reliant on social media.

Here's what you can do to start establishing your social media presence:

  • Use Social Media As A Way To Get In Touch With Your Customers

Keep in touch with old customers by posting links to relevant blog posts, news about your products and company. Social media is all about building relationships, so don't wait until you need something from them before you “ping” them!

  • Use Social Media To Further Engage Potential Customers

Provide offers that are only valid if they're seen on Facebook or Twitter. For example, if you're running a sale on towels for July 4th weekend say that 1 in 10 customers could receive free shipping if they share the promotion on Facebook and “tag” 3 friends.

  • Keep Your Social Media Accounts Open To The Public

Simply put information about your business online and have a bit of a presence. Don't worry if you aren't an expert in social media, just start getting your name out there and the rest will come in time!

  • Post Relevant, Interesting Content That Will Engage Your Audience

When people comment on your posts, reply back. If you want them to receive news about your business, post it. You can use free apps to manage all of your social media accounts at the same time so you don't have to log in and out of each one separately.

  • Offer Followers Something Of Value For Following You Or Liking Your Page

This can be useful information, offers, coupons or giveaways. Make sure that what you are offering is something your customers will actually use!

  • Respond Quickly And Authentically To Any Customer Service Issues That Arise

It's easy to respond on social media so it can actually save you time in the long run if a customer complains online rather than calling or emailing.

  • Be Relevant To Your Market

Finally, try to establish your business as an authority in your industry by using social media to share content that is relevant to your market. This will help build trust with potential customers who are looking for relevant information about your industry.

Ultimately, the more you share the better off you'll be. Remember that social media is not just another way to advertise what you're selling. Social media can help build relationships with people who are interested in your business and will want to work with you long-term.

Get More Followers And Engagement

The world of social media can be a scary place for small businesses. It seems to have changed so much in the last few years that it's hard to keep up with what’s going on and how you should respond. But, Sharp Tack Media can help! Our team is made up of experts from all different backgrounds who are ready to partner with your company today and start building an online marketing strategy that works for you. Give us a call or send us an email – whichever one suits your style best! We're always happy to chat about our expertise in small business digital marketing strategies and how they will work for you. Just tell us where to find you!

Stay On Top Of Social Media Marketing

People need to talk about something and there's no better place than the Internet. Twitter and Facebook were founded years ago and since then, they've both become a big part of society and culture. People complained on social media before but it wasn't until recently that people started offering compliments or criticisms through them as well. And with this, businesses started to realize that they need a formal plan of action when it comes to social media and customer service.

This is how the customer-business relationship has changed and why companies should start caring about their reputation: 

Social Media Is Public

We live in a world where information can be leaked so fast. This means that, if you screw up, everybody's going to know about it.

Social Media Is Free

It costs nothing for people to complain on social media because they already have accounts set up for this reason. And, if a business doesn't listen to their customers' complaints, they'll spread the news even farther.

Social Media Is Instant

Things go viral so quickly these days and businesses have no control over that.The best thing you can do as a business is take care of your customers and answer any complaints in a timely manner.

Social Media Is Multi-Channel

There's no platform that cannot be used to complain about a company or share praises.  Everyone has access to social media and also knows how to use it, thus giving businesses lots of different channels to monitor and take care of.

Social Media Is Multi-Device

Customers aren't restricted to computers anymore, everyone has a phone and uses it for social media purposes. The reach of social media is no longer limited to people using their home computer or laptop; now, even mobile phone users have the opportunity to complain or share positive experiences.

Social Media Is Multi-Language

Different cultures use different sites and each social media site has a specific target audience so this allows for more ways to get in touch with customers from all over the world.

Social media is everywhere these days so businesses need to be prepared to work with these platforms. And if you want your customers to be happy, it's suggested that you should take advantage of the following two social media platforms for customer service:

  • Facebook  

It's where most people spend their time when they're online. Developing a Facebook page for your business is the best way to interact with customers because it's free and you can answer any complaints or queries they have. Everything that goes on your wall becomes public information, which means all of your customers will see what you post there.

  • Twitter

It's a great way to respond to customers and it doesn't cost anything. You can quickly take care of any complaints and, if necessary, you can post updates and special promotions on your account as well. People following your business will see everything that you tweet so this is a good way to make sure your posts stick. 

Customers need to know that it's okay for them to take advantage of social media and, more importantly, they need to know that businesses are willing to listen. It doesn't matter what you post on social media as long as your customers are satisfied and that they know you're willing to listen and help them. Social media has turned into a necessary tool for businesses and their customers and it's the way of the future; we all need to get used to it because it won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

Provide Stellar Customer Service

Have you ever had a frustrating experience with customer service? You’re not alone. In fact, over 75% of customers have experienced some form of frustration when contacting the company they purchased from for help. That’s why it is so important to find ways that your business can provide stellar customer service via social media channels like Facebook and Twitter. And we know just how to do it! Contact Sharp Tack Media today about our latest Social Media For Customer Service program. 

The Importance Of A Strong Social Media Campaign For Your Business

Your potential customers are on social media, so even if you don't have a presence there yourself, your competition most likely does. Social media is an effective way to not only promote your services and products but connect with current and future customers as well. The Harvard Business Review reported that companies which create consumer-oriented content receive 19% more web traffic than companies which do not.

What follows is a list of five reasons why social media presence matters for small businesses:

  •  It Can Help You Find New Customers

Small businesses typically have a limited marketing budget, and because of that, they often rely on referrals from current customers to spread the word about their company. If at all possible, try to keep your accounts consistent; if your company already has a website domain, try to create social media accounts that use the same username. Consistency is key when it comes to branding, so making it as simple as possible for people to find all of your social media sites will help you in the long run.

  • It Can Boost Your SEO Rankings

Another way to get more people to find out about your small business is through search engine optimization, or SEO. When you create social media pages for your business, try to include targeted keywords that are relevant to your industry. You can also use these keyword tools to research the keywords that your potential customers are using while they're searching online.

  •  It Gives People Another Way To Connect With Your Company

Many small businesses also rely on referrals from past customers; if someone had a good experience with your company, they might be inclined to tell their friends about you. However, it can be hard to get people who have never heard of your business to become your customers. This is where social media comes in; if someone likes what you have to offer, they can easily share a post with their friends on Facebook or Twitter.

  • It's Free Advertising

Social media is that it's completely free, so long as you only use the sites and services that are provided for free. This is especially useful if you don't want to spend money on marketing your small business. You can easily set up your social media accounts yourself, which is a good way to save money.

  • It's Effective For Customer Service

Many people are familiar with the fact that small businesses have to rely on word-of-mouth advertising , but not everyone knows that this process often starts with social media. If a customer has had a bad experience with your business , they might take to their social media accounts to voice their complaints. If a number of people complain about the same issue, it could snowball into a public relations nightmare. However, if you address each customer complaint individually on Twitter or Facebook,  you can turn these one-time customers into long-term fans.

This is just a quick list of some of the reasons why social media matters for businesses that are just starting out. Of course, there are plenty others out there who have different opinions. What matters most is that you take time to research why social media is important for small businesses, and how it can help you to grow. If you want examples of what kind of things people are doing on social media, try searching for some hashtags or keywords related to your business.

If you need help setting up your social media accounts so they work best for your business, professionals like here at Sharp Tack Media can help. You can contact us today if you'd like to learn more about how social media can help your company grow.

 

Five Tips For Creating An Online Presence

So you're interested in creating an online presence for your small business, but simply don't know where to start. There are so many social media sites and tools out there that it can be confusing figuring out which ones will benefit your company the most, how they work, and what kind of content should be shared. With the growing popularity of social media sites and tools comes a whole new wave of people that would benefit from your products or services. It is no longer enough just to have a website – nowadays consumers expect companies to be active on social media sites as well.

These are five tips that every small business owner needs to know before they begin creating an online presence through social media.

  • Determine Which Social Media Sites Are Right For Your Company

There are hundreds of social media sites out there, and it can be difficult trying to figure out which ones to use. But the reality is that you don't have to be on every single one of them. Each social media site has its own unique audience, determine which social media sites are most relevant to your business and focus on those sites first.

  • Interact With Your Audience

It is important for a company to be as transparent as possible, so let's begin with the obvious: yes, you will have an “about” page on all of your social media sites. But it might be more beneficial – and a lot more fun – to start this page off with a few interesting facts about the founder or company.

  • Don't “Like” Everything You Post

Don't post content that your company wouldn't be willing to elaborate on. If you can't come up with at least one compelling point about the article or picture you're posting, then it's probably best left untouched.

  • Show Your Personality

Businesses are not just faceless entities that exist only to make money – they are run by people. You might have a great product or service, but if you're always posting articles about your latest deals without showing any personality then it makes it very difficult for anyone to like or follow you.

  • Be Consistent

It's easy for many small businesses to sign up for social media sites, create an account, and then post here and there without thinking about it too much. But if you want to really create a following for your brand it might be helpful to plan out what you want to post at least a few days in advance. You don't have to turn into an “expert” by any means, but planning out what you're going to post – and when you're going to post it – can be helpful for keeping your brand consistent.

The key to social media marketing success is knowing who you're trying to reach, what platforms are most effective, and how you can best engage with that audience.

If done correctly, being consistent on all of your social media sites could help attract new customers at a much lower cost than traditional advertising methods. But it's important to remember that, while there are no set rules for what you should post about online, you also need to know when to stop.

If your posts become too self-promotional then people will eventually begin ignoring them – and if they're not interesting in the first place then why would anyone want to follow you? Posting great content consistently is one of the biggest keys to social media marketing success, so make sure you don't forget it.

Boost Your Business Sales With Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool for any company to use when it comes to marketing and promoting their brand. It’s an excellent way of connecting with potential customers, building trust in your business, and staying on top of the latest trends. But how do you get started? Let Sharp Tack Media help you! We can offer tips about creating an online presence through social media that will make sure your small business thrives from day one. What are some other ways we can support you as part of our partnership? Give us a call today!

Grow Your Business With Social Media

Are you a business owner looking for ways to get more leads? Many people think that social media is not the way to go. However, with all of the pros and cons surrounding it, there are significant benefits to using social media marketing for lead generation. In this article, I will explain how to use social media for lead generation so you can get more customers and clients.

1) Find Your Audience on Social Media

The first step to finding success with your social media marketing for lead generation is to find your audience on social media. You need to do research so you know where your potential customers are hanging out online. You can track keywords, hashtags, or other forms of metadata to find this information. Once you discover where your audience is, check out their profiles and see what they like and follow those who interest you as well.

2) Post Regularly- But Don't Spam

The next step in using social media for lead generation is posting regularly but not spamming your posts on social media. Try to post at least three times a week, but don't post so often that your followers get annoyed with you. If you offer valuable content and promote others' posts (and website links), then people will be more open to following and retweeting your posts.

3) Use Images and Videos to Get Attention

When getting attention on social media, images and videos are one of the best ways to go. If you can post images and videos that your potential clients would like, then you will see more engagement with your posts. For example, if I was selling pens that were designed for left-handed people, I could post an image of someone who is left-handed holding the pen in their natural position. Or, if I was a social media manager for an electrician, I could make a video of an electrician showing how to install a light switch in someone's house. This type of content is engaging and will get people talking about your business.

4) Use Hashtags on Social Media

You can also use hashtags on social media to make sure you get seen by everybody who is following a specific hashtag. It is very similar to using keywords and metadata. For example, if I was promoting landscaping services in Dallas, TX for my business, I would include the keyword “#Dallas”, “#Landscaping”, and “#LandscapeServices” throughout all of my social media content.

5) Try to Position Yourself as an Industry Authority

The final step in using social media for lead generation is positioning yourself as an industry authority. You can do this by promoting your website links in relevant places, like the bios of other relevant accounts (both on Twitter and Instagram). If you are truly an authority within your industry, then people will look to you for up-to-date information and industry trends. By positioning yourself as an authority, your business will receive more leads.

These are some of the best ways to use social media for lead generation. If you use social media effectively, you can get more customers and clients coming through your doors which will help your business grow. Just remember, social media is a great promotional tool but it should not be your only source of lead generation. Make sure to have a well-designed website and convert visitors into leads with PPC ads or conversion rate optimization. These strategies will help you get more leads for your business so you can grow and expand.

If you're looking for a way to generate more leads, social media may be the answer. We hope this will help you increase your sales by using Social Media!  Do any of these ideas sound like something that might work well with your company? Give Sharp Tack Media a call today and we'll see if we can put together an affordable SEO or marketing plan that meets all of your needs!

Boost Sales With Social Media

Are you looking to bring more visitors to your website by utilizing the power of social media? Social Media is also known as “Word-of-Mouth” Marketing. And it works. In fact, study shows that a majority of consumers trust recommendations from friends and family over other forms of advertising.

But what if you're not one of the big guys? What if you don't have a big advertising budget? If that's the case, then this post is for you. Here is how you can use social media traffic to grow your business. If you're doing this for the first time, it'll be tough too. But once you get the hang of it, it's actually very simple.

Social Media is an important aspect of marketing and growing a small business. It has been shown that more people are turning to social media networks such as Facebook or Twitter in order to find companies they need. As a result, it's becoming increasingly important for smaller businesses to have a presence on these networks too. 

The truth is, there are many ways to utilize social media platforms to increase traffic to your website. But here are some of the most important ones:

  • Getting Likes And Followers On Facebook

Yes, Facebook is still king. And while you can get social media traffic from Pinterest & Twitter, you should concentrate on Facebook first because it has the biggest audience out of all of them. However, people are spending less time on Facebook these days compared to 6 years ago. And this means that if you rely too much on Facebook to send traffic to your website, then you're going to get less and less visitors over time. Instead of relying on Facebook alone, try using it along with the other sites like Pinterest & Twitter for people to find you.

  • Pinterest

If you want to drive a ton of traffic to your website, then you should definitely try Pinterest. Pinterest is always on the top of the list when it comes to social media traffic because people pin their favorite products. And some of these pins actually end up on the first page of Google at times too.

  • Twitter Traffic      

Create a list of keywords which are relevant to your website and use hashtags. That way, when people search for those keywords, your tweets will show up. Then make sure to use those as hashtags when talking about your business because Twitter's algorithm uses those as a way to measure relevance and popularity. And the more times you use these, the higher your chances are of getting social media traffic.

If you’re looking for a way to generate more traffic, but don't have the budget of some larger companies, social media is your best bet. The good news is that it doesn’t take much time or money on your part to reap the benefits! We know how frustrating it can be when there's so many things competing for people's attention these days and we're here to help you get ahead with our expert marketing services. Take advantage of our free consultation today – call Sharp Tack Media now! 

Get The Most Out Of Your Social Media Marketing

Measuring the success of your social media marketing is not an easy task. There are many ways to measure it, but they all come with their own set of challenges. One way to do it is by looking at your engagement rates on each platform and comparing them. But again, this doesn't take into account how well you're doing in other areas such as lead generation or brand awareness. It's important to have a holistic approach when measuring the effectiveness of your social media marketing so that you can see what works best for you and where improvements can be made.

The first step would be figuring out which platforms work best for your business and then taking a look at which metrics matter most to you before starting any campaign just so you know what will give you the most insight when it's time to analyze your numbers. Once this is done and you've started a social media marketing campaign, track all of your efforts and measure their success by seeing what impact they had on key metrics such as engagement rates, lead generation and brand awareness.

Regardless of your motivation for measuring effectiveness, it is vital to assess whether or not your social media marketing efforts are effective. Here's how to go about doing it.

Google Analytics Or Another Tracking Program

The first way is using Google Analytics or another tracking program.  This requires setting up specific goals for each piece of content that you post on various social channels, and then measuring if people actually reached those goals.  For example, you could set it up so that when someone actually makes a purchase after clicking on one of your links in a post, then Google Analytics will recognize them as someone who completed the goal “Social Media Purchase”. This is helpful because you can look at your overall company analytics later on and see if there was an actual increase in sales number.  

Ask Your Customers

Another way of measuring the effectiveness of your social media marketing is by simply asking your customers how they heard about you. Just ask them on the check out page!  This gives you good information about where your customers are finding you. It is important to remember that it takes time for social media marketing to have an effect on your company.  You need to stay consistent and be prepared for longer than you might think.  

Understand The Relationship With Other Marketing Efforts

Finally, don't forget about your other marketing efforts!  If someone finds you on Google, sees a link in one of your Facebook posts, then goes on to purchase something from your website, that counts as social media marketing success.  You need to remember that there is always synergy between every type of marketing.  

The effectiveness of your social media marketing can be measured by checking analytics, asking customers where they heard about you, and understanding the relationship with other marketing efforts.  This can be done over time to see if there was an actual effect on your business.

Social media marketing is starting to play a larger role in the success of any business. It takes time, consistency, and synergy with other marketing efforts to really become effective.

We Can Help You Reach Your Goals

If you think that your social media marketing may not be as effective as you think. Sharp Tack Media can help! Call us today and find out how our team of experts can help your company make the most of their social media strategy to generate more leads, drive traffic, and increase conversions for your business. We’ve helped hundreds of companies just like yours get better results from their marketing efforts online-and we would love to do the same for you! Now that you know what’s possible with a little expert guidance on social media marketing, are there any questions or comments? If so, please don't hesitate to contact us today!

You've Built Your Brand, Now It's Time To Build An Audience

Have you ever wondered how some businesses are able to have thousands of followers on social media? Well, it is no magic trick – it simply takes hard work and patience with your business's social media accounts. There are several ways that can help make sure you are doing everything possible to increase your following on all the major social media platforms. The more followers you have on social media the more likely potential customers will find you. Remember that input equals output. Here are tips to help you get started!

Set A Goal

Before you can work towards a goal you need to set one. Set a goal that is achievable and measurable. Regardless of the type of goal set, one that is measurable and achievable. If you try and set a number so big that it seems unreachable then you will struggle to keep up with the plan because it just won't be feasible. Your social media following will grow naturally over time.

Build Your Following

Use promotions, giveaways, contests to build your following. Create a competition on social media and get people involved. The more followers you get the better chance at more new followers. You can offer an incentive for joining such as free samples or coupons which will get them clicking through to your site.

Be Consistent

Be consistent with what you post, how often and when you post it. Do not go a day without posting. Post regularly on a daily basis and keep your posts relevant to your business or industry. There are plenty of study's on the best day and time to post on social media but, according to some research if you want greater engagement it is better to post during the early morning hours from 5am-9am. The best time to get retweets is 8-9pm on Wednesday, not on the weekend.

Be Authentic

Social media is one of the best ways to build relationships with your customers and prospects, but if they think you're being insincere they won't build a relationship with you. You can use social media as an opportunity to listen and engage in conversation, without trying to sell them products or services directly. Listen to what their concerns are and respond to it; this will be invaluable information for your company and future products/services created. If people see that you are listening to their concerns they will be more likely to return to your site.

Be Prepared To Respond

When customers are checking out your business on social media, look for negative or positive feedback, either way make sure you respond. If people complain about pricing, make it right if possible, let them know you value their input and use it to improve your business. When people compliment you, thank them and let them or other's know that their feedback is appreciated.

If there are problems with your service don't ignore the customer, look for potential solutions to resolve it as soon as possible. If a customer criticizes you, don't argue back, apologize and make it right if possible because that will be great for your business in the long run. Your customers value honesty and if they see that then their trust will increase which will result in more sales for you down the road.

Create Interesting Content

Try to post content that is helpful and interesting. Make sure your posts are funny, quirky, or possibly controversial so people will want to share them with their friends. If you have a lot of good content then people will be more likely to follow you because they want the latest updates. To increase your post reach, use hashtags on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to connect with other people who might be interested in what you have to say.

The bottom line is that getting more followers on social media can be a lot of work. But if you don’t have the time for it, don’t worry! Sharp Tack Media has your back, and we want to help make it easier for you by handling all your marketing needs so you can focus on what really matters—growing your business.  If this sounds like something up your alley, give us a call today!

Get Your Social Media Under Control

Any small business owner will agree that social media is the way to go. You can talk about your product or service, learn about other people's pain points, brainstorm ideas with fellow entrepreneurs and have a conversation without ever lifting a finger.

But if you are not careful, social media can start to rule your life. Once you start a social media account, it is very hard to stop. You see people posting all sorts of things that seem interesting and fun. You feel left out if you turn off your computer or phone during a Tweet Chat. If you are not careful, social media can consume you completely.

That's why it is so important to have an organized strategy for social media. Here are 3 ways to solve your social media overload:

  • Set up A Social Media Calendar

This is the easiest way to stay organized with your social media accounts. You simply create a calendar and enter each of the posts you want to make on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and any other sites where you have an account. The calendar will also show you how often you are posting, the days of the week you are planning to post and other useful information that can help you monitor your social media accounts.

  • Have A Social Media Workflow

This is an extension of the calendar. Once you have planned your posts for each site, you should automate them so that they can run by themselves without any effort on your part. You can hire someone to post on your behalf or find software that allows you to schedule posts in advance. Or if writing is not your forte, you can hire a writer to create posts for you.

  • Social Media Dashboard

This is the hub where all your social media accounts will come together so that you can check on them in one place. This way, instead of logging on to each account separately, you go to this dashboard to monitor what's going on with all your social media accounts. This is where automation can come in very handy. You may choose to use one of the many scheduling apps that are available for social media dashboards or you can keep track of things manually by checking each account frequently.

  • Engage in Conversations, Not Marketing

If you are using social media just for marketing but not getting any value out of it, then it is probably time to shift your strategy. Social media sites like Twitter are perfect for conversations, not selling. If you learn how to engage in conversations without trying too hard to sell your products or services, then social media can be very rewarding.

No matter how you choose to solve your social media overload, the most important thing is to have a plan. Once you have your social media accounts arranged the way you want, it should be easy for you to monitor them without any effort on your part.

Remember that social media is supposed to help your business, not make it more difficult. By using one of these three strategies, you can stay on top of all your social media accounts and keep them from taking over your life. Social media overload for small business owners is easy to solve with a social media calendar, hiring a virtual assistant and engaging in conversations not marketing.

So what are you waiting for? Call us today! Our team of experts can help you create a social media strategy that will get your message in front of the right people, at the right time. No more feeling overwhelmed with too many posts to manage or not knowing what content is worth promoting on any given day. Let Sharp Tack Media take care of it all so you don't have to worry about how best to spend your precious marketing resources. 

A Simple Plan For Publishing Perfect Content

So, you want to schedule the perfect post? But how do you actually go about doing that? We all know that social media is important. But how do you actually go about scheduling the perfect post? It can be hard to juggle your responsibilities as a business owner, and sometimes it feels like there's never enough time in the day to get everything done. That's why we're going to provide you with some tips for scheduling posts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Keep reading below! 

  • Create A Social Media Calendar

The first task you'll need to complete will be to create your social media calendar. This should include dates, holidays, and special events that are important to your business or might influence what you share for the month. It's also a good idea to keep track of any relevant trends that could impact the type of content you end up sharing. This will prevent you from sharing something that isn't relevant to your audience, and it will help you promote content that is timely.

  • Schedule The Perfect Post!

Once your calendar is set up, it's time to schedule the perfect post! But, don't do it all at once. It can be tempting to schedule a ton of posts in one day. But remember that Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter all have algorithms that can determine what you share. If you spam them with content they'll reduce the amount of times it's seen by your followers. Instead, schedule posts one day at a time to ensure that each piece of content has enough time to be shared multiple times.

  • Plan Ahead

This is especially important if you manage social media accounts for business pages. Always try to post content at the same time every day. If you don't, it can cause inconsistencies in which posts are shared and when. This can be very confusing for your followers, who may miss important posts because they weren't around when it was posted.

  • Have A Consistent Theme

It's also a good idea to keep a consistent theme for all of your posts. If you post something related to politics, make it clear that this is the theme of all upcoming posts. This will prevent your followers from being confused if they see a mix of content that doesn't relate to each other.

It's also important to remember that no two accounts are exactly alike! Your followers may find certain images more engaging than others. So feel free to play around with what you share and when! For example, if you use Buffer's app to schedule your posts, you can experiment with different days and times of day for each post. Try scheduling some at the beginning of the workday and some later in the afternoon or evening for a different perspective.

  • Always Include Promotions

Finally, don't forget to include promotions! In this day and age it's important to spread awareness about the different deals and sales you have going on. Include promotional posts around your usual content so that followers don't miss them! If you're doing a big promotion for Cyber Monday or Black Friday, why not adjust your schedule to ensure that you can promote it even more?

That's about it! Remember, don't spend all of your time scheduling posts at once. Instead, plan ahead and experiment with different content types for optimal social media engagement. So now that we know how to schedule the perfect post, let's all go and do it!

Schedule The Perfect Post With Us

It’s time for us to share our secrets with you! Schedule a call today and we can show you what it takes to be successful on social media, so your business is seen by as many people as possible. We have tips, tricks and more that will help make this process easier than ever before. Ready? Set? Go schedule an appointment with Sharp Tack Media right now!

Become A Top 10 Search Result In Your Local Area

Business owners are now investing time and money into making their websites more attractive to social media users. The new business websites are planned and designed specifically to work on the latest version of every browser, allowing for fast load speeds and easy sharing.

Once optimized, these sites can be incredibly powerful tools to grow an existing brand's business. While the Internet makes it possible for companies to sell goods online without ever having a physical storefront, many still rely on brick and mortar locations.

Businesses of all types can benefit from the marketing opportunities afforded by a modern website, but some more than others. If a company has a physical storefront for customers to buy its products, making it easier for them to find the store using search engines is key to increasing sales. In addition, adding interactive elements to a site will allow it to be shared with friends and colleagues. More sharing means more exposure, which can increase the amount of visitors a company's website gets.

Easy Social Media Optimization Tips

Using a social media optimized website can help boost your business' online presence, improve customer engagement, and increase traffic to go along with increased leads. The best part? It's easy to do by following these 3 tips:

  • Have A Mobile-Friendly Website

You've likely heard before that your website needs to be mobile friendly. If you have a social media optimized website, it's going to look great on all devices because its responsive design means it will resize to fit the screen of any device from desktop computer monitor to handheld smartphone or tablet. A 2013 Google study found that 47% of users will abandon a website they were intending to use if it doesn't look good on their mobile device.

  • Accessible Contact Information

In the one-screen, real-time world of social connectedness, your customers want information they can get from your company when and where they need it. Your social media optimized website needs to provide a platform for this instant gratification. Customers expect to be able to access your products, services, and contact information with ease – if they can't find it on your site, they're likely to go elsewhere.

  • Always Have Fresh Content

One of the biggest flaws in most business websites is that they don't provide updated or interesting content. Social media optimized websites are designed not only with regular, fresh content in mind, but also leave room for customers to contribute their thoughts and ideas through comments or social media share buttons.

Get More Traffic To Your Business With Social Media Optimized Websites

The next time you’re looking to grow your business with a new website, think about what type of site would be most effective for the way people use social media. You may have heard that websites should be optimized for SEO and conversion rates, but did you know they can also be optimized for how users interact on Facebook or Twitter? If so, we have just the thing! Our team is ready to help create a website from scratch or upgrade an existing one so it captures more leads by being linked in all your favorite social networks. We want to partner with you and make sure that every visitor has a great experience while browsing through your content. So don’t wait any longer—call Sharp Tack Media today!

Your Ultimate Guide To Creative Social Media Marketing Strategies And Techniques

Did you know that there are over 2.5 billion social media users worldwide? That's a lot of people to be reaching out to, but it can also feel overwhelming when you're trying to figure out how best to get your business noticed on these sites. Luckily for small businesses everywhere, there are many creative ways in which you can use social media marketing to boost your online presence and gain more exposure for your brand. Keep reading below for some great ideas! 

Social media is a great way to grow your business and can be an invaluable tool for entrepreneurs. It is an effective way for any company or business owner looking to expand their reach and increase the number of customers they have coming through their doors. Here are 8 ways that you can use to help jumpstart your efforts!

  • Paid Advertisements Like Sponsored Posts, Ads, And Boosted Posts And Tweets

You can't miss them! Sponsored or promoted posts typically appear in the news feed of relevant users; ads appear in the pages of users who are more likely to have an interest in the product being advertised; and promotional posts/tweets can be ‘boosted' by increasing their reach to a larger audience.

  • Engaging With Other Users Through The Platform

By leaving comments and responses on your and other users' posts, tweeting out content that is relevant to your target audience, following active accounts, you'll increase the likelihood of those people checking out your profile and deciding whether or not they want to follow you as well.

  • Consider Adding Your Competitors To A List Or Lists

This is a great way to keep track of what kind of content they're tweeting out and see how well it's doing. It will also show analytics on their account, such as when they tend to post, who they follow, and more.

  • Create A Series Of Recurring Posts

Another thing you can do for your social media exposure is create a series of recurring posts that will be pushed out at different times throughout the week. For example, you could start by tweeting out ‘Quote of the Day', this is a great way to spread positivity and inspire others. Then, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, you can post a blog article that you've written to your blog. On Fridays, tweet out a cool infographic or other type of image with content from one of your recent articles.

  • Get Creative With Your Content

You can also get creative with producing your own content (e.g., blog posts, videos, images) that is optimized for whatever social media platform you plan on distributing it through. For example, if you create a video with the goal of posting it to YouTube, make sure to optimize it for SEO purposes. Then, once the video is posted, you can tweet out links to it with relevant hashtags, attach the video to blog posts, share the link on Facebook with a catchy description or title.

  • Have Fun With Your Social Media Exposure Efforts

Users will be more likely to follow you/your brand if they find your content humorous, entertaining, etc. No matter what you tweet/share/post/ think about how it can be interpreted in a humorous way (and keep your brand image in mind). Don't forget to include trending hashtags when necessary (e.g., #ThrowbackThursday), because this will make it easier for users to find your content when they search those hashtags on Twitter.

Get More Exposure On Social Media

You have to move your business out of the digital sphere and into reality. Call Sharp Tack Media today! We can help you with that by providing creative ways for your company to get more exposure on social media, including but not limited to advertising in a relevant industry trade journal or hosting an open house event at headquarters. Remember, if it’s not seen, it doesn’t exist—so let our team do their magic so we can all see what you have going on over there. Don't be shy about asking–we're ready and waiting for your call!

Ensure Your Online Success 

The world of marketing is changing, and it's changing fast. With the many different online mediums available to marketers today, it can be difficult for a business or brand to keep up with the times and remain competitive in this ever-shifting sphere.

There is no “one size fits all” approach to marketing: what works for one company may not work for another, and the only way to truly succeed in this industry is to keep up with the trends.

For more information, here are just a few tips on how to do exactly that:

Do Your Research

First things first: researching your competition is the best place to start when you're looking towards marketing your business or brand in today's market. Due to the ever-changing nature of online marketing, it's important to know what your competitors are doing, and how you can do it better.

Find out which social media networks they're using, which keywords they're targeting in search engines, and which content is proving to be most popular with their audience. You can use this knowledge as a springboard for your own marketing plan.

Tie Personalities To Emotion (And Be Creative!)

Today's marketers are faced with the challenge of standing out in a sea of other companies all vying for the same market share. Creating brand personas that resonate with people on an emotional level is key to stand out from the competition. Don't assume that people will care about you or your business unless you give them a reason.

The best way to create an emotional connection between you and your customers is by being different, creative, and authentic in the ways that you market your brand. For example, if it's possible for you to team up with someone popular in the industry- whether it's another brand or a celebrity- give it a shot!

Emulate Early Adopters & Non-Traditional Businesses

Ecommerce is becoming more and more popular by the day, but traditional brick and mortar businesses are still thriving. How can you use that to your advantage? Online marketing for businesses of this kind has become about working in the margins of a mature industry.

Early adopters and non-traditional businesses are the ones that have changed with the times, and shifted their business model to suit a more online-orientated society. By emulating these companies, you can ensure your success in today's market.

Don't be Afraid To Adapt Your Approach & Strategy As Necessary

In the “old days,” you could make a social media post and expect it to be seen by thousands of people. In today's online world, that isn't always the case: companies need to adapt or fail. If something isn't working for your company or brand, don't be afraid to switch things up!

You never know what will work better until you try it out. Find a new social media platform to post on, or a new way of marketing your content; these things can make all the difference in your online presence and success.

As you've seen, there's more than one right answer when it comes to succeeding in today's market: sure, there are some things you can do that will work for everyone, but the best way to gain market share is by doing your research.

Research what your competition is doing- whether it be another brand or a similar type of business- and emulate their approach in order to have success yourself. Remember, the only constant in the world of online marketing is change: if you don't adapt, your competitors will.

Let Us Help You Succeed Online

If you've made it this far, hopefully you have a sense for how we can help. We're ready to give your company the boost of success they deserve! Call Sharp Tack Media today or fill out our contact form and let's get started on building an SEO strategy that will drive sales by understanding how people think online. 

Get Traffic From Social Media

When it comes to social media, most businesses aren't getting the reach they desire.

The biggest draw of using social media is that all you have to do is post once and your followers will see it in their feed. However, if no one is clicking on your content or actively engaging with it (by liking, sharing, etc.), it won't matter how many people are following you.

Given that 80% of social media posts get less than 10 likes, it's clear that people just aren't talking about businesses. Why is this? Perhaps they're not interesting enough to gain attention. Perhaps there are too many competitors performing similar actions on the same platform. Or perhaps your followers are simply too immersed in their own lives and aren't paying attention to your posts.

But don't give up! There is hope for growing your social media presence. The following three ways will help you get more discussions going about your company:

  • Participate In Conversations With Others On The Same Platform

Finding people talking about a similar topic as your business and interjecting yourself into the conversation can lead to great results. You can either join in on a current discussion or start your own one (with an eye-catching title) and wait for people to come to you.

Be careful, though—if someone mentions something negative about your industry, you don't want to simply reply with “no, it isn't” or “that doesn't happen.” You'll look like you don't know anything about your own company (which may be the case) and appear unprofessional. Instead, find a way to turn their complaint into a positive statement about how they benefit from what you do.

  • Talk More In-Depth About The Things You're Already Posting

Don't just post a picture of your restaurant's perfect steak and ask people to come in for dinner—that isn't going to get anyone talking about your business. Instead, talk about the equipment you use to cook, the farmers who raise the cows, and even something more personal like why you think organic meat is better than conventionally farmed meat. What you talk about isn't as important as how you approach it; people want to feel like they're getting to know the real you, not just your business.

  • Use Hashtags (If Appropriate)

Hashtags are a great way to get more eyes on your post if someone who might be interested searches that term. However, using hashtags your industry isn't known for could make people confused or even annoyed. Don't be afraid to get creative with hashtags—just make sure they actually make sense with what you're trying to say.

Get More People Talking About Your Business By Taking Advantage Of Social Media 

It’s never been easier to get the word out about your business. And, with all of these new social media platforms popping up on a regular basis, it can be hard to know where to start. We want you to succeed! That’s why we are offering free consultation. This is the perfect way for anyone who wants more people talking about their company or brand. So call us today at Sharp Tack Media if you're interested in learning how powerful social media marketing can be when done right!

Your Business Can Be Found In The Right Places By The Right People

An online presence is one of the most important factors for attracting new customers. With so many people doing business on their computers or with mobile devices, it's critical to make sure your message reaches them in an authentic way. 

A positive online presence demonstrates that you care about your customers and value their opinions. Once potential customers see that you are willing to engage with them in a meaningful way, they are much more likely to trust you when looking for advice.

Click here if you want to know more about establishing your online identity. Although it can be time consuming, creating a successful online presence is essential for growing your business!

Here are a few tips on how you online presence will attract new customers:

Be Listed On Major Directories

The first step to an online presence is getting your business listed on all the major directories. If you are selling a product, make sure that it's on Amazon.com or eBay. You can also be more targeted if you are targeting specific clients. Even if your specific audience isn't on that website, you can still get valuable listings on sites.

Build Your Online Presence Starting With Social Media

If there is a good fit for your business, you should launch accounts on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Social media accounts are free and easy to set up; however, make sure that your account looks professional and isn't cluttered with too much information. You want visitors to easily find out more about your company and products. You can also add links to your website or blog, but make sure that the links will give potential customers more information about what you offer.

Post Often And Engage With Your Customers

Write short messages that relate to what they're interested in; but always be professional. If you want to use humor, make sure it's appropriate and not offensive. Your goal is to build online relationships with your potential customers. If you start getting messages that complain about the difficulty of using your website, for example, then respond to them! It can be frustrating when people communicate with you through social media, but don't respond.

Create A Blog Or Website

The next step in your online profile is creating a blog or website where you can post articles related to what your business offers. If you don't have the time or resources to build a website, try starting with a blog. Writing articles for your blog is similar to writing Tweets; focus on valuable information that relates to your product or service. You want people to come back because they are interested in what you posted, not just because they found something helpful.

Promote Your Business

Once you have created great online content and social media profiles, it's important to promote them. After all, if people don't know about them, they can't contribute to your business! Try sharing blog posts on social media accounts and mention the articles at relevant websites. You can also find out which online directories you've been listed on and see if there is any way for people to link to your website or blog.

Be Patient

Once you have created your online presence, the most important thing is patience. Growing your business online takes time, just like how it would take time to grow a brick and mortar business. Just make sure that you're always updating your profiles or writing new blog posts with relevant links and people will start trickling in.

Your Business Needs An Online Presence To Attract New Customers

Call Sharp Tack Media today for help! We can provide you with the tools and strategies needed to expand your reach, increase sales, and improve customer retention rates. You may think that there are no benefits of digital marketing or SEO services if you already have a successful brick-and-mortar store but our team is here to show you how wrong this assumption is. With just one consultation session, we'll identify any gaps in your current strategy so that we can begin working on solutions together right away. Now's the time to get started – don't hesitate another second before contacting us today! Ready? Let's go!

Create A Winning Social Media Marketing Campaign

Maintaining your brand's online presence is one of the most important aspects of digital marketing. While traditional channels of advertising can still prove profitable, social media has become a breeding ground for savvy marketers to reach new audiences and increase their visibility on search engines. By using various forms of social media, you can stay in touch with your target audience while also presenting them with opportunities to share your messaging organically.

Social media is becoming increasingly popular among consumers and marketers alike. Social media marketing refers to paid, earned and owned ways in which you can promote your business through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and Pinterest.

The important aspects of social media marketing is having the perfect social media design and convenient URL linking back to your company's website. This not only communicates that you are active on social media but allows consumers to visit your site with the click of a single button.

To promote your business on social media, you must establish a set of goals and plan the steps required to meet them. Though your goals may vary depending on whether you use your personal or business account, it is important to find ways to engage with followers and keep them coming back for more.

Here are five effective social media marketing strategy that may help you:

  • Understand The Needs Of Your Audience

Social media sites are constantly evolving, so ensure you keep up with current developments. The best way to stay ahead of the competition is by understanding what your audience needs and how they prefer to engage with you.

  • Create A Content Calendar

Create a content calendar to stay organized and maximize your time spent on social media marketing. If you plan each month out in advance, it will be much easier for you to post relevant content at optimal times while keeping your followers engaged.

  • Stay Relevant

While it's important to have a presence on each of the most popular social media venues, your strategy should focus on a select few that are most relevant to your brand. Identify which sites best fit your demographic and determine whether you're looking for a large following or simply want interactions with high-quality leads.

  • Choose Appropriate Social Media Site

Keep in mind that not all social media sites are appropriate for every industry. While some outlets, such as LinkedIn and YouTube, can be used by almost any business with a website, others may only work with particular types of companies.

  • Identify Your Goals

Leverage social media to achieve marketing objectives from lead generation to increasing conversions on your site. When identifying your goals, keep your target audience in mind and think about how you want them to behave.

If you’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed with all the social media options out there and how to implement them, we can help! We know that social media marketing is tough. Our team of experts have put together 5 effective strategies for leveraging your time on these platforms so you can get back to what really matters- building relationships with those who matter most. Call Sharp Tack Media today!

Know That Content Is King

Creating quality content to push your marketing efforts forward is difficult. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, right? After work, commuting, exercising, you are lucky to get 6 hours of sleep before it starts over again. While you may feel like you don't have time to create content, or ‘content fatigue' has taken over your life and you can't be bothered to think of new ideas, everyone needs a bit of help. This article will offer some easy ways for you to get on track and start creating content that your customers will love, while improving your business overall. The best marketing strategy you can employ is to give value in your content.  How do you do this?  Answer questions, provide resources, create how-to guides with screenshots and checklists, give product reviews, all of these things will help your customers while giving them even more reason to come back to you for future purchases. If you can do this, you win.

You need ideas for blog posts, eBooks or white papers. There are so many, how do you know which content will be effective?

The answer is simple, but it's not easy: create content your customers love. Your customers have to come first in every aspect of the marketing process.

If you come across content that is spammy, offers no value and reflects poorly on the brand that created it. Why would you, as a customer, ever go back to that site again? Content must be educational and it must provide something of value to help me solve my problems or answer my questions. If you want increased traffic, leads and revenue from your content marketing efforts, your customers must be satisfied with what you are offering.

It is important to understand that your content doesn't always have to be something “new” in the world of your industry—it just has to give your customers what they are looking for. 

And when you start a business, it can be difficult to know what content your customers want or expect from you. This article will offer 3 easy steps that you can take to produce the kinds of content your customers want to consume.

  • Do Your Research

You may have an amazing idea for a blog post that would appeal to others in your industry, but if you research your topic and discover that it's already been done to death, then there really is no point in churning out yet another piece of content on the same old topic.

  • Give Your Customers What They Want

When you're thinking about content ideas for your business, it might be a good idea to tap into what your customers want from your brand. For example, if you consider your business to be unique in some way or your products/services are particularly luxurious, then it would be a good idea to tap into the current “Luxury Lifestyle” trends.

  • How-To Content

We already touched on this above, but creating how-to content can really help customers who have problems that your business can solve. And if you provide content that will help them solve their problems, then they're more likely to trust you and become a loyal customer for life!

Create Quality Content With Us

If you’re looking to bolster your content marketing strategy, Sharp Tack Media can help. Our team of experts are ready and waiting to partner with you to create a stellar plan that drives sales by considering how your customers think. Which of these strategies have you applied to increase your product sales online? We also offer free consultations for businesses who want guidance on their content marketing strategies! Give us a call today.

Make Your Website Stand Out From Competitors

Social media is evolving quickly. That is why it's so important to stay on top of the latest strategies and best-practices, which are constantly changing. It's never been more important to have a remarkable social media strategy that sets you apart from the competition.

Social networks are continuing to evolve – users are demanding more professionalism out of their favorite brands, more of an emphasis on visuals, and more of a focus on customer service.

As brands struggle to stay relevant, more are turning toward social media for assistance. But how can you really create the best social media strategy?

Social Media Is About Listening First

The most effective social strategies start with learning as much as possible about your target audience. What are their interests? What content do they share most often? These are all valuable pieces of information that can be used to strategize your company's social media efforts.

As you learn about your target audience, start creating engagement strategies that will resonate with them. Aim to really understand what drives your customers, and tailor your strategy around their interests.

Start Integrating Visual Content Into Your Social Media Strategy

Visuals are extremely effective on social media – if done well. Brands that incorporate visuals into their social strategies can gain more exposure than those who fail to do so. As users continue to join the various social networks, they're sharing and engaging with more images, video, and other visual content than ever before.

Here are some tips to help you succeed with visual content:

  • Visuals can be anything – images, infographics, charts, videos, screenshots, quotes etc.
  • Use visuals to tell your story and entertain your followers.
  • Caption all of your images, don't assume that your audience knows what's going on in your post.
  • Use visual hashtags to make it easier for people to find your content.

Emphasize Customer Service Through Social Media

As the importance of social media continues to grow, so does its impact on customer service. The majority of consumers expect brands to have a social media presence. They don't want to have to call or email a company – they'd much rather post a message on Facebook and receive a quick response. As a result, the number of complaints about customer service via social media has risen exponentially in recent years.

If you're able to effectively incorporate customer service into your social media strategy, your brand will gain more positive attention than ever before. Ensure that you're always well-prepared for any customer service questions or issues that may arise on social networks. Here are some tips to help you successfully incorporate customer service into your social media strategy:

  • Make it clear in your profile what type of inquiries you'll be able to help with.
  • Have a social media management system in place so that you can respond quickly.
  • Respond to every complaint, no matter how small – this will show your customers that you care.
  • Be attentive and quick when responding to your customers on social media.
  • Go the extra mile, start a conversation with your customers. Ask them questions about their experience and offer advice based on their answers.

Strive To Really Understand What Makes Your Target Audience Tick

As you work towards creating a social media strategy that will help boost your business, it's important to know as much as possible about your audience. Understand their interests, their habits, and what they like to do on social media. Keep this knowledge in mind as you work on your strategies and you're sure to see increased success!

Social Media Strategy: A Key Component Of Your Marketing Plan

Sharp Tack Media is more than just a social media agency. Our team is on the ground every day, living and breathing your business to create an impactful content strategy that will generate results for you in all areas of digital marketing – not just social media. Get ready to take your brand's story from ordinary to remarkable with our free consultation today!

Build A Brand With Social Media For Small Businesses

You've probably heard that in today's world, social media is a must for all businesses. It's a well-known fact that social media is a powerful tool for marketing and sales. It can be used to build relationships with customers, promote your products or services, create word of mouth advertising, and recruit new employees. But what if you're not the most savvy when it comes to using these platforms? The good news is that there are many resources available online to help you get started.  You'll find that implementing even one or two of these five ways will improve your ability to reach your customers, which means you'll be able to increase sales.

These are the benefits of social media for your small business:

  1. Attract More Customers With Better Customer Service. 
  2. Build Trust Over Time with Strategic Marketing. 
  3. Increase Brand Recognition by Being Consistent with Your Marketing. 
  4. Improve Customer Relationships With Communication Tools. 
  5. Attract New Customers through Networking and Referrals.

Social media should not be something that intimidates you because it has many benefits which can translate into increased revenue for your small business! Here are five ways social media can help your small business grow:

Social Media Gets You Found Online

If you have a website or are thinking of having one created, it needs to be optimized for search engines. Social media is a great place to drive relevant traffic to your website or blog because it allows you to post links that can be found by people searching for what you have available.

Social Media Gives Your Business Exposure

It's important as a small business owner to get as much exposure as you can because the more people that are aware of your business, the more people you will have the chance to reach. Social media allows you to connect with other businesses in your industry and potential customers that may not already know about what you offer.

Social Media Lets You Communicate Quickly & Easily

Social media is a great way for businesses like yours to connect with potential customers quickly. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter allow you to connect with users all around the world, which means that when something important is happening within your business or industry it can spread like wildfire in just a matter of minutes.

Social Media Lets You Interact in Real Time

The beauty about social media is that you can interact with your market. Posting to Facebook or Twitter allows for instant feedback because the users you are targeting are already online and checking their social media accounts.

Social Media is Cost Effective

Social media is free to use which makes it an extremely cost effective way for small businesses like yours to get in touch with their market. Social media allows you to reach more people for less money than spending large amounts on print advertisements.

Navigate The World Of Social Media Marketing With Us

Social media can be a powerful tool for your small business. Whether you’re looking to connect with potential customers, raise brand awareness or promote events, social media is an effective way to get the word out and stay top of mind in today's busy world. Sharp Tack Media offers free consultations on how we can help you take advantage of this marketing opportunity! Reach out now and let us know what type of services might work best for your company!

The Secret To Getting More Clicks And Conversions

Social media advertising is an effective way to reach out to your target audience. Every social media marketer knows that the headline is the most important part of any ad. It needs to be clear, concise and accurate. It must resonate with the target audience. It has to leave them wanting more. But, how do you come up with a headline that is high converting? Well here are some techniques for writing headlines that will get people clicking on your ads.

  • An Innocent Question

People love reading mysteries and crime fiction so it follows that an innocent question can be highly effective when it comes to writing a headline. A question is alluring, especially for people who are curious about something. For example, you can ask questions like “How Are You Going To Get There?” or even just simply asking something that can be answered in the affirmative or negative such as “Would You Like To Know More?”.

  • A Contradiction Or A Paradox

Everyone loves a good mystery and thus, love reading about contradictions and paradoxes as well. People are enticed by things that they cannot figure out or things that go against their expectations. For example, you can write a headline that states “Hidden Benefits Of Social Media Advertising You Never Knew About”.

  • Make A Bold Statement Or Promise

Headlines that make bold statements and promises about the content it contains attracts clickers. This is because people will be curious as to what this bold statement or promise is so they will click on the link to find out more. For example, it can be something like “7 Ways To Make A Lot Of Money With Advertising On Social Media” or even just simply state something that is true such as “Social Media Marketing Is The Next Big Thing”. 

  • Answer A Question Or State Something Obvious

Another effective way of crafting a headline is by answering a question or stating something that is obvious. People will read content if they know it answers their questions and since this type of headline tells them what to expect from the article it will have greater chances of being clicked on.

  • Be Direct And Straightforward

Direct and straightforward headlines will receive clickers because people want to know the truth and not be tricked. For example, writing “Advertising On Social Media Sucks” is a direct statement that people will most likely read more about.

  • Curb The Curiosity Of Your Audience With A Counterclaim

This method involves responding to an obvious question that your audience might have in a way that creates curiosity. People love controversy so by stating something controversial in your headline, you will receive more clicks than usual. For example, you can use the headline “Why Social Media Advertising Doesn't Work” and then state a counterclaim such as “Because It's Not Done Right!”

Headlines Are The Most Important Part Of Your Ad

People will not know what your ad is about if you do not have a catchy headline which is why it is best to use one of these techniques when writing a social media advertising headline. Spend time crafting each headline and then take note how people respond by checking out the number of clicks and likes it gets.

Are you looking for a way to get more engagement on your social media posts? If so, then we have some exciting news. You can use high converting headlines that will help increase the number of followers and clicks you receive! This is just one of many secrets our team has uncovered in their years working with companies like yours. At this point, it may seem like there’s nothing left to learn about how content affects customer behavior online but if that were true why would everyone be trying SO hard to figure out what works best? Let Sharp Tack Media show you how easy it could be by providing you with a free consultation today!

What's Working In The World Of Social Media?

Social media is a powerful tool. Not only does it help you connect with your audience on a more personal level, but it can also give you insightful data that you wouldn't normally get.

The average person spends at least one hour per day on social media, which adds up to about 5 years of their lives throughout their lifetime. As the major social media networks are becoming more crowded, it will become harder for businesses to reach their target audience.

That's why it's crucial that you take social media seriously and use it as a marketing tool. You should have a company account on all major platforms to make sure your brand is easily recognisable by current and future customers. Do you want to know more details on how you make the most of your social media presence? 

In this article, we'll share all the data you need to know when it comes to using social media for business. From showing you which networks are currently dominating, to explaining how having a Facebook page differs from a company website, we've got it all. Let's get started!

82% Of Consumers Prefer To Connect With A Business On Social Media Rather Than Over The Phone

This is no surprise, as almost everyone is active on at least one platform, and businesses are catching on fast. Also, it's much easier for people to complain when they are upset with a company. 96% of unhappy customers will tell others about their experiences, and 78% of those people will tell more than 10 people about their negative experience. 

The last thing you want is a bad review or a rant on social media, as it can severely hurt your business and your brand image. You should make sure to always respond to people who contact you through social media, as this will show them that you are willing to help.

On Average, Brands Respond To Only 42% Of The Posts They Receive On Social Media

This is why it's crucial that you have a team dedicated to monitoring your social media accounts. If someone has a question or complaint about your product or service, they are much more likely to get in touch if they see that someone has already responded.

You should also be posting regularly, as this gives you the opportunity to create a relationship with your audience. Just try to keep it relevant and engaging, or else it could backfire on you. The best time to post is between 1 pm and 4 pm, as this is when people are most likely to be online.

In addition, it's a good idea to have a close eye on your competitor's social media accounts. This way, you can find out what they're up to and how their followers engage with them. You can also keep an eye on their new marketing campaigns and future marketing strategies.

Social Media Usage Is Highest Among The 18-29 Age Group

76% of people in this age bracket report that they use social media. It's no surprise that millennials are the ones who spend the most time on social media, as they grew up with technology and love to share their lives online. As a result, they are the ones who are most likely to be influenced by social media posts and advertisements, so it's crucial that you keep them in mind when creating your social media accounts.

Leverage Social Media For Your Business

If you're reading this, then it's likely that you own a business. And if that's the case, chances are your social media marketing is important to you and your company – at least enough for an hour of research every week or so. But with all the different platforms out there, how can one make sure they aren't missing anything? There are no guarantees when it comes to digital marketing strategies, but we've got some tips on making sure yours will work best for you. Call Sharp Tack Media today and let our experts tailor something just for your needs!

5 Things You're Doing With Social Media That Are Killing Your Business

If you were to ask people what the most effective way is to market their business online they would probably tell you social media. There are now countless tools and social media design services available that help companies connect with their customers through different platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The fact however remains that all this technology can be quite intimidating. It's really easy to do this wrong and lose money in the process. Here are 5 things you're doing with social media that are killing your business.

Advertising On Facebook Greatly Reduces Reach

Social media is used by millions of people around the world, so it only makes sense companies want their page to be found. This means they advertise on platforms like Facebook. The unfortunate thing is that these advertisements are not targeting who their customers are, which essentially means they're just throwing money out the window. Without using specific customer data Facebook users are catered to with ads on their newsfeeds. This way it's possible for companies to waste a lot of time and money on click-bait, which leads to a diminished audience.

Failing To Integrate Social Media Into Traditional Marketing

How many times have you been working on your computer and suddenly an ad pops up for a company you recently visited on your phone? This is what's called cross-platform marketing. In other words that business was able to track you across devices and make the most out of your time spent with their brand.

Unfortunately, companies still struggle to implement social media into this very same type of marketing. It's crazy how much extra content is created for each platform that never sees the light of day on other websites or blogs. You may think it's excessive to post the same content on 3 different platforms, but they're all aimed at bringing in new customers. You can never have too much of that!

Ignoring The Analytics Of Social Media

Social media is great for helping companies understand who their audience is and what makes them tick. Unfortunately, most companies fail to understand the analytics behind each post. Without using data, companies are essentially doing all their marketing blindfolded and it'll be hard for them to improve if they don't see what's not working.

Using Social Media To Sell, Rather Than Engage

Businesses need to realize that social media isn't just a place to post ads about their company or website. This is a mistake many startups who have jumped on the bandwagon still believe in. If people were looking for a sales pitch they would just go to a website and buy something.

Social media is the best way to get in touch with your customers and establish a relationship. If you're not finding ways to engage people who aren't necessarily looking to purchase anything, then they may never become actual customers.

Ignoring The Mobile Experience

Nearly everyone has a smartphone nowadays and they're using it to research products and services before making a purchase. Unfortunately, many companies still aren't catering their website's content to the mobile experience. It stands to reason that if you want people checking out your page, then it has to be compatible with all devices and no one will bother looking at it if it isn't.

Don't let your business fall into the trap of ignoring social media when you're trying to market your products and services. Make sure you understand all these statistics before that happens! 

Many people are frustrated with social media, and it’s not hard to see why. If you're feeling like your business is sinking under the weight of all these channels, don't worry — Sharp Tack Media can help! We've compiled five simple things that small businesses do on social media that actually make their marketing worse; if this sounds familiar, give us a call today so we can show you how to turn things around!

Secret Ingredients Of A Successful Digital Strategy 

Today, more than ever before, it is important to have a well designed website. Not only should your site be aesthetically pleasing, but it should also compliment your intended message to your target demographic. To design your website successfully you must use social media to promote yourself properly. You can't just launch into Facebook or Twitter and expect success overnight. You must be patient and build a solid foundation before expecting results.

In order to effectively use social media you need to commit yourself to your online community. If you don't, you will lose your audience's attention very quickly. It is important not only to create a presence for yourself on social media but also actively engage with the people who follow you.

Social media is all about the people and your ability to interact with them. If you are struggling to reach your goal audience through social media, you need to reboot your strategy and employ the best social media design service available. Social media is constantly evolving and what may have worked for you in the past is now obsolete.

Here are tips on how to design your website using social media:

  • Focus on Quality Over Quantity

The best social media networks will only let the most active users into their communities. You should focus on quality engagement rather than a high number of followers/friends/connections.

  • Create a Presence

There is no such thing as being too visible when it comes to social media. You don't have to be everywhere but you should focus on at least one social network where your target market uses the most. Make sure you update all of your sites regularly with interesting and relevant content that people will want to share.

  • Improve Your Writing Skills

One of the strongest compliments you can give a person is to say that they write engaging content. In order to be successful on social media you need to make sure all of your writing is concise, well organized and interesting enough to keep people reading. Nobody likes to read advertisements, they are by nature boring.

  • Strive for Transparency

Your audience wants to know what you stand for, not just how great your business is. When writing content on social media sites you should strive to be as transparent as possible. If you want people to find value in your business or products, show them how it will improve their lives.

  • Use Hashtags to Connect with Other People

Your primary objective when using hashtags should be to participate in trending topics and conversations that are relevant to the content of your post. The more you can connect with other people who share your interests the higher your chances of success.

  • Don't Repost/Spam Other People's Content

Your content should be entirely unique, well written and valuable to your readership. Do not repost or re-tweet other people's content unless you add something new to it that will make it worth reading for your audience. Before you share a piece of content on social media make sure it will add something new to the conversation and that you fully understand what it takes to create quality, engaging content.

Increase Your Online Presence

Learning how to design your website using social media sites is a great way to increase the popularity of your online presence. Sharp Tack Media wants to make sure you know how important it is that your website design has social media integration. You’ve worked hard on building up an audience of followers and friends, you should be able to use them to help grow your business! If this sounds like something you need but don’t have the time or know-how for, give us a call today so we can start designing your perfect site together.

What Is The New Business Card?

It is a website created for yourself with your contact information.  You can share this link when you email or meet someone and it provides more info than just an email address and mobile number. Why would I want to invest in a website?

There are many advantages:

  • It helps others to remember you
  • It is your virtual business card
  • You can easily update it with events, products/services you offer, changes to your contact information
  • You are an early adopter of the latest development in technology 

Why Should I Use A Custom Domain Name?

It makes the website look more professional because it looks like an online business rather than your personal blog.  Before the internet, businessmen would have their company letterhead, stationary and business card printed with their name on it to give out when meeting new contacts.  Now you can do that ONE better with a custom domain name, which will rank higher in search engines than a free blog platform such as Blogger or WordPress etc. Therefore, when people search for you in Google, they will see your custom domain name and know you are a professional.

I Have A Domain Name…What Should I Do Next?

It's up to you!  Some people choose to just use the free blog platform that comes with their domain name and that is completely fine. However, by getting set up on a custom platform such as WordPress, you will be able to have your website look much more professional.  You can make your website as simple or complex as you like depending on your skill level and budget. There are many free apps available to create the foundations of a site, such as blog posts with images, quotes, and videos.

How Do I Get Traffic?

Now you are ready to run with it!  There is no better feeling than getting your new site up and running and knowing that in time it will pay for itself due to the extra business it brings you.  It is much easier to market your new website than it was when you had no online presence.

You can start small by telling family and friends about the site, sharing it on Facebook and Twitter etc. Then when you get time, begin creating content so that Google starts to recognize your website as an authority in its field.  

This is done by writing blog posts, sharing images and videos on social media. Then you will start seeing your website take off with traffic naturally.  There are many free services which track the volume of traffic to your site including Google Analytics, that shows how much organic search traffic you are getting from Google.

It provides the most benefit when someone is trying to find you in Google or any other search engine and they see your website on the first page of results, rather than seeing it on the 10th. This will happen when you have your own custom domain name which links back to yourself and is in Google's index in a high page rank.

When people search for you they will see your website at the top of the list linking back to yourself instead of your competitors. You get a better chance of making a sale and becoming known in your industry when you get more views online.

But, The Real Question Is – Are You Ready For It?

If you're not yet sure about your website's design or content strategy, then don't worry! Sharp Tack Media can help with just about anything from logo creation to social media marketing and everything in between. Our custom domain name service will give your business a great first impression when people find out more information on the internet. Don't wait another second – call us today so we can get started designing your brand-new custom domain name before someone else does!

Subdomains Are The New URLs 

Subdomains are a way of managing multiple websites from one hosting account. For example, you could manage www.example.com and support.example.com from the same location using subdomains.

What Is A Subdomain?

In this context, a “subdomain” is a domain which relates to another domain in some way – for example, if the main domain is example.com, a subdomain would be support.example.com

Why Use Subdomains For Small Businesses?

Small businesses often find it difficult to manage additional domains on top of their primary website; using subdomains can help these businesses manage multiple websites without needing another hosting account and all of the overhead that entails.

Here are the 6 Benefits of Subdomains:

  • Keep Your Brand Consistent

One of the most important things you want to do is maintain your brand's image and consistency across all platforms. A subdomain lets you keep all of your branding information the same while also making sure that all of your sites are connected together in one way or another.

  • You Can Have Different Content On Each Subdomain

Having multiple pages on the same site with the same exact information can get a little boring, even when you're giving all the details about your products or services. A subdomain solves this problem by letting you have one site with different pages that are focused on individual parts of your business. 

  • You Can Better Organize Your Sites

Keeping your websites organized is important, especially if you want to make it easier for people to find what they're looking for when they visit one of your sites. If you have a complex website with multiple pages, you can put certain topics on their own subdomain so that they appear as their own section on your main page. This allows for an organized site map across all of the different sections of your site, and also lets visitors navigate to specific parts without having to go through a lot of unnecessary scrolling.

  • Search Engines Crawl Subdomains Just Like They Do Websites

Since subdomains are essentially smaller websites, they're crawled by search engine bots just like any other site. This means that in addition to your website showing up when people search for your business name, you can also benefit from having individual pages rank well when people look for more specific topics or keywords.

  • You Can Target Different Geographic Regions

If your small business has a physical location in a specific area, you might want to target that location specifically when sharing information on your website about services and products offered in that area. A subdomain lets you do this by having each separate region have its own site that is only available to people in that specific area. This makes it easy for visitors to find the information they want without having to go through any of your other sites, and also allows you to further target your advertising efforts by driving people who are physically located near you directly to your business.

  • You Can Better Promote Your Subdomains On Social Media

Since a subdomain is a specific website within a larger one, you can also promote it on social media platforms. This allows you to target people who are specifically interested in the topic at hand and get them to visit your site directly instead of linking out to it or having them search for your business name.

Segment Your Content

There are so many benefits for small businesses when it comes to using subdomains. By creating smaller websites within your larger one, you can better target certain topics or geographic regions so that people can find all of the information they're looking for, while also keeping your branding consistent.

Subdomains are a great way to segment your content and help improve SEO. If you’ve been thinking about adding subdomains or domains, now is the perfect time! We can give you all of the information that you need on how they work and what benefits come with them for free during our Free Consultation. Call us today at Sharp Tack Media to get started!

Start Your Business With The Perfect Domain Name

Domain names are one of the first aspects a marketer should consider when starting a website. In general, marketers want to choose a domain name that is specific and accurate, but also one that converts well.

What do we mean by “converting well?” A domain name that converts is one that is easy to remember and that accurately describes the site's content. When customers can immediately and easily identify a site's purpose, they're more likely to choose it over competing options.

What's in a Name? A Lot, Actually

Here are some other things to consider when choosing a domain name:

Choosing a domain name for your site is one of the most important decisions you'll make because it has a tremendous impact on almost every aspect of your business. 

If you want to learn more about what makes an effective domain name, keep reading! We've put together some additional information about how to choose a domain name that converts.

  • Choose a Memorable Domain Name

A memorable domain name is one that's easy to remember, which makes it more likely that customers will visit the site in the future. 

There are several factors to consider when choosing a memorable domain name:

Length

The shorter your domain name, the easier it is for people to remember. 

Word Order

Cluster similar words together to make your domain name easier to remember. 

Spelling

Use common misspellings of longer words in your domain name so that customers can find the site when they're searching on a mobile device or when they're in a hurry.

  • Choose A Domain Name That Is Clear And Accurate

Your domain name should accurately convey the site's purpose so that customers can easily identify its purpose.

  • Choose A Domain Name That Converts Well

The name should be short and easy to remember so that customers are more likely to choose it over competitors. 

When customers can identify the site's purpose and immediately recognize its content, they're more likely to choose it over others. 

As a result, your business experiences less turnover and makes more sales!

  • Target Your Audience When Choosing a Domain Name

Some audiences are easier to sell to than others, so choosing a domain name that appeals to your target audience is important.

  • Choose an Unbranded Domain Name

If you prefer not to use your business or brand name as the domain name, you may want to consider an unbranded name.

An unbranded domain can give you greater flexibility because it isn't directly associated with your business or brand. 

Choosing an unbranded domain can also reduce advertising costs because your business won't have to compete for top search results with other brands that are using the same or similar keywords.

  • Make Sure You Can Secure Your Preferred Domain Name

Before choosing a domain name, you should research to learn whether your preferred version of the name is available. If it isn't, be prepared to choose a different one and take other steps to secure it.

  • Build Your Website Once You've Chosen a Domain Name

The final step is to build your website once you have chosen a domain name! 

If you need help, an experienced web designer can assist you, so contact us today if you'd like to hire one.  

Have The Perfect Domain Name

If you’ve been looking for the perfect domain name, we can help! We offer a free consultation and will work with you to find your best match on our search engine. Let us know what type of website or business you have in mind so that we can get started finding it today.

How Your Website Can Be The Best Investment You Make In Your Business

When it comes to your business, you probably spend a lot of time thinking about how best to invest your money. After all, you want to make sure that any spending you do is going to produce the highest possible return. What makes a good investment? Think about stocks and bonds: they pay interest or dividends, which means your initial investment continues to grow over time. What about physical goods? If you buy a car, there's no guarantee that it won't break down in short order. However, if you invest your money into an item with possible resale value–like art or antiques–you could actually make more money than you originally put in.

But have you thought about how your website and online presence might be the best investment you could make in your business? Good investments don't just lead to short term gains; they also produce value over time. Your website is no exception: even if it takes a year or longer for traffic to start converting into sales, those future returns can outweigh whatever initial costs went into setting the site up. As your investment continues to grow in value, you'll want to keep it well maintained and protected.

Investing In Your Website

When you invest in something like stocks or bonds, the profits come from interest or dividends. It takes time for these investments to pay off–which is why they're seen as less-risky than other types of investments. Similarly, any money you put into your website will be tied up for some time; however, the returns you get can be even greater than if you had invested in something like gold or silver. Here are just a few reasons why:

Your online presence is like an investment in real estate–but it doesn't require you to buy a physical building. So, when you invest in your website, you're buying a house that's going to generate revenue–without the hassle of actually owning it. Just think: if a realtor can sell a home within 24 hours , most likely they're going to get more money out of it than someone who simply keeps it for themselves.

Your Site Is An Investment, Not Just A Business Expense

Your site is like an investment in real estate: it will continue to generate revenue over time. But, when you think about it, most people don't consider their website a business expense–they simply see it as something they bought and paid for, so there's nothing else they need to do. In reality, however, owning the site isn't enough: it's going to need constant upkeep and maintenance if you want the returns on your investment to stay strong.

Your Website Can Expand Your Product And Service Offerings

Remember when your parents would tell you that money doesn't grow on trees? Well, it does–and you can find it on your website. How? By expanding your product and service offerings.

Your site becomes a virtual storefront that allows people to browse the products or services that you offer. Of course, you'll need to make sure that they're priced competitively and that you have high-quality images of each one. But, once you've done that, the sky's the limit.

Invest In Your Website Today

It’s true, investing in your website can be one of the best investments you make for your business. This is because a well-designed and optimized site will increase traffic to your company, which means more potential customers and increased sales! If you need help building an awesome website that gets noticed by search engines like Google or Bing so it ranks higher than all those other companies out there with websites who haven’t invested as much time into their digital marketing strategy – call us today! We have experts waiting on the phone ready to chat about what we do here at Sharp Tack Media and how we can partner together to create an amazing web design experience for anyone visiting our site!

Ready to Sell? Let's Go

Having a shopping cart on your site is important for online business owners because it increases the likelihood that someone will purchase something. It creates a more streamlined checkout process, which reduces cart abandonment rates and helps increase your average order value.

What Does A Shopping Cart Do For Online Business Owners?

A shopping cart benefits your business by increasing sales and improving checkout conversion rates so more buyers complete their desired purchases on your site. It creates a streamlined process of adding products to a person's online shopping cart and encourages users to go through with the checkout process because their items are already there.

What Makes For A Good Shopping Cart Solution?

There are several qualities that make for a good shopping cart solution:

Easily Customizable Shopping Cart

The best online businesses rely on variety. If you have a lot of different products that your business sells, then you need a shopping cart that will easily allow you to create new product pages and integrate them into your site.

Ability To Add Custom Fields

Adding custom fields to your shopping cart allows you to customize your product pages so shoppers can find the information they need about your products easily. For example, if you are selling t-shirts, you might want customers to be able to pick which color of shirt they would like on each page of your online store.

Ability To Add Products Quickly

The more products that you sell, the bigger your site will be and you need a shopping cart that allows you to add new product pages quickly. It is important to stay up-to-date with your website as it grows so it doesn't become too hard for you or search engines to find individual products.

Option For Coupon Code Generator

A coupon code generator helps businesses give discounts to customers without the customer having to remember any kind of special PIN number or keyword when they go to checkout. It is a great way for businesses with smaller budgets to give shoppers discount prices and help encourage sales throughout the year.

Responsive Design Shopping Cart

Most online shopping carts work across all devices, but the best shopping carts are responsive solutions that change to fit any screen size. This is important for e-commerce sites because it helps keep checkout efficient for customers with different kinds of smartphones and tablets.

What Are The Downfalls Of Using My Own Shopping Cart?

Some online business owners choose to build their own shopping cart. However, there are a lot of issues that have to be considered when doing this:

  • It is difficult to find a developer who can build a custom solution
  • Security vulnerabilities increase as you build your code yourself
  • The cost for each line of code will increase
  • You might miss out on updates and new features from the software company
  • You can't rely on someone else for customer support

However,  a lot of these issues can be overcome by outsourcing to a developer or digital agency. You might also consider outsourcing if you need someone to make updates and changes with your e-commerce site on a regular basis.

If you want to find out how we can help, let us know! Sharp Tack Media will be happy to set up a meeting with one of our expert team members. And don't forget – it's free! Let's get started today and see what this shopping cart thing is all about.

Social Media Content Marketing Made Easy

Content marketing is more than just a buzzword. For those who don't know, it's using your company's content (blog posts, videos, etc.) to attract new customers and generate interest in your brand. You can also use some of the same strategies on social media. Social media can be overwhelming. There are so many platforms, rules, and ways to use each one that it's easy to feel lost. But with the right plan in place, you can easily see how social media will benefit your small business. 

Social media is actually one of the best ways to get free content, and it doesn't have to be a hassle. Here are five ways you can use social media to support your content marketing campaign:

Be Timely

Posting relevant updates about your business can help drive traffic to your site at peak hours. You may want to schedule some posts in advance if necessary.  All you need is your blog content and an application to schedule posts.

You can also use social media to alert customers about sales or deals. If you have a brick-and-mortar store, check in on social media when the business is closed for weather emergencies or unexpected closures due to low traffic. 

Give Value

Be sure that the content you post on social media is helpful and beneficial to your customers. If possible, provide links so they can learn more or buy products directly from your website.

Be Active

Sharing your content actively on all of your social media platforms will help attract more customers. Customers are also more likely to discover you on sites where you're active than on ones that receive very little attention. You can share links, pictures, videos, and quotes from the articles you publish on your blog.

Be Consistent Across All Platforms

You shouldn't use different strategies for each platform because it looks unprofessional. Rather, stick to a simple posting schedule that fits into your workflow and adjust as necessary.  

Listen To Your Audience

Monitor what your audience is discussing on social media to help you create valuable content that they'll want to read. You should also respond to comments or questions whenever possible. This will show customers that you're listening and makes them more likely to purchase from you in the future. 

Be Helpful Instead Of Just Selling

Most people don't want to be sold to 24/7 – it's annoying. Instead, provide helpful advice to potential customers so they feel more inclined to do business with you. Share your expertise and knowledge. Offer tips, strategies, and even step-by-step instructions for solving problems. People love learning something new and may come back to your page later for more information or buy products from you. 

As you can see, social media doesn't have to be a necessary evil – it can actually help benefit your content marketing campaign. By being timely, giving value, remaining active, being consistent across all platforms and listening to your audience, you'll be able to see how social media can support content marketing in no time. 

Tap Into The Power Of Social Media 

It’s time to start thinking about how you can use social media to your advantage. Sharp Tack Media wants you to be successful in your content marketing efforts, so we are giving away a free consultation with one our experts, who will help guide you through the process and answer any questions that arise for you along the way. If this sounds like something that may benefit your business, contact us today!

The Only Thing Standing Between Your Business And Success Is Traffic

Small business owners are always looking for ways to grow their company. One of the best ways to do that is by getting more traffic on your website.  It's easier than ever today with all the social networking and blogging platforms available. But what happens when you increase your website traffic by 10%? What about 20%? What if 90% of that traffic is just bouncing off your site without giving you money in return?  You're not alone. Reasons why you're not getting enough website traffic is a common problem that many small business owners face every day.

Here are 5 reasons why it might be happening to you:

  • You Don't Have A Mobile-Friendly Site

With over half of all internet users now accessing the web from a mobile device, it's important to make sure your site is responsive and looks good on any sized screen. 

  • You Don't Have Enough Content

Whether you're doing blogging or social networking, it's important to always be creating new content that helps people and engages them. Think of it this way: if every piece of content is the same, if every post is the same, then it doesn't make a lasting impression on people.

  • You Don't Have Enough Quality Content

What's worse than having a site with no content? Having a site with low-quality content that is just taking up space and not doing anything to help you. It's important to always be creating quality content that always helps people in some way.

  • Your Site Loads Too Slowly

40% of people expect a site to load in 2 seconds or less. When your website takes longer than that, chances are they're going to go someplace else. A slow loading time isn't just annoying – it can affect how much revenue you bring in each month as well! 

  • You Lack Social Media Presence 

Whether it's Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc., you need to have some kind of social media presence if you want people to know about your site. The number of people on social media continues to grow, so it's more important than ever to have a strong social media presence. 

  • You're Not Actively Promoting Your Site

No one is going to stumble upon your website without you putting in some effort into getting the word out. Set up a blog and submit articles to directories, share on social media, and email your contact list about new posts!

Struggling To Get Enough Website Traffic?

Fear not! There are plenty of ways to increase your online reach. Consider these reasons why your business may be suffering from a lack of web presence and see if any apply to you. Once you've identified the issue, take steps toward solving it with our help by requesting one of our free consultations today! Sharp Tack Media will review all the details about what is preventing growth for your company and offer solutions that will boost your visibility on Google or other search engines. Ready? Let's go!

Website Design Can Make Or Break Your Business

The importance of website appearance is to make an impact on potential clients and customers, especially if you are a startup. With the competition always increasing people will quickly dismiss your business over something as small as bad design.

Design is one of, if not the greatest factors in establishing a good website. A good design will catch the eye of any visitor and make them want to stay for longer periods of time. Though the design may be the greatest factor in gaining visitors it doesn't end there. Good content is also crucial in keeping your visitors interested and returning to the site.

If people are not seeing what they want from your website they will simply find a different one that does meet their needs. It has been said that the average person only focuses on about 20% of their entire surroundings and it is the same with websites. People simply do not have the time or desire to look around and read everything on a site.

Why People Move On From Your Site

In the first few seconds of looking at a website, visitors make judgments about it and decide if they want to stay or leave. There are many factors that influence those decisions, including how well the site is designed and how much content is on the page. If visitors get too few results when searching, if they can't figure out how to navigate around the site or if there is too much information on the page (or not enough), they will leave.

Poor Design

Visitors are looking for sites that load fast, look good and work well across all devices. If your site doesn't look good on mobile devices, if it is hard to navigate or takes a long time to load, visitors won't be interested and will go elsewhere.

Content 

Visitors want information that solves their problems and helps them make decisions. If your site doesn't provide them with useful content – whether it is too little, not optimized for search engines or too much – visitors will leave.

Navigation

Visitors expect an easy, logical and intuitive way to navigate around your site. If they can't easily figure out where content is located or how to complete their next action, they'll go somewhere else.

Why Do We Want To Keep Them On Our Site

The statistics are clear: Poorly designed sites, with few visitors and no conversions will fail. There are many possible causes for these problems, but bad website design is almost always at the root of them.

  • With so much competition online it's more important than ever to have a solid site design that looks professional, regardless of the sector you are in.
  • You can use web analytics tools to measure how users are really using your site. This will help you understand what is working and where visitors are dropping off so you can improve it.

When developing a site or designing new pages for an existing site it is important to think about the key elements of good web design. These include:

  • Clarity and simplicity so users easily understand what your site is about and how to use it.
  • Flexibility, taking into account that visitors will use different devices (such as phones or tablets) to access your site. You should also test your site in different browsers and devices to ensure it works well for everyone.
  • Keeping content relevant so visitors can quickly find what they are looking for and take the next step you want them to (such as making a purchase).
  • Usability best practices like sign-up forms, testimonials and share buttons to make your site more interactive.

So, when you’re ready to take the next step in your marketing journey and really make a big difference for your business online with an updated website design that will attract more customers, give Sharp Tack Media a call. We know how important it is to have a site that looks good on every device and has all of the features you need today. You deserve our best work – our team are experts at what they do! And because we want your experience with us to be as pleasant as possible from start to finish, we offer FREE consultations that you can avail today! 

Get Your Business On The Go

There is no denying it, mobile technologies are changing the way we live. People around the world are ditching their desktop computers and adopting smartphones and tablets on a massive scale; some of us even carry multiple computing devices!

This behavior translates into how small businesses need to operate in order to succeed. Consumers want everything on-demand—from information to entertainment and it's your responsibility as a business owner to anticipate your consumer needs and provide these services through mobile applications.

The following information will help you get started with building your business mobile apps.

What Is A Mobile App?

Mobile apps are software applications that run on smartphones, tablets or other portable devices. They're designed for mobility—which is why they're so popular these days.

It's important to mention that there are two major types of mobile apps—native and web or ‘hybrid' apps. Native or ‘real' apps use the specific programming language for each device, whereas hybrid apps are cross-compatible with multiple operating systems (although usually not as smooth as native).

Finding Your Market

If you know exactly who you're targeting and what they need, you will be able to make informed decisions on the features and design of your mobile apps.

Who Is Your Target Market?

Using Google Trends, you can see what people are searching for within your target market. Knowing what they want is important for building an app that people actually want to use.

What Problem Does Your App Solve?

Once you know who your customer is, focus on finding out what they need from a mobile app—what will make their lives easier. If you know the feature list inside and out, it becomes much easier to pitch your product to those who can make it happen.

Choosing A Platform & App Name

Once you've decided on your app type, it's time to pick a platform. What devices are you targeting? While there are many options available, these days Apple's iOS and Google's Android lead the pack in terms of market share.

Revenue Model

Picking a revenue model is important when you're ready to launch. Your options include charging for the app itself, offering in-app purchases or asking users to subscribe. It's a good idea to have a revenue model in place before you begin building—as this will help determine how your features are built and ultimately affect the price point of both your app and in-app purchases.

Planning & Building Your App

To do this, you'll need a team of developers and designers who will help design and build what you've envisioned. The cost associated with these roles varies greatly—while it may be tempting to hire offshore contractors, it's usually best to build a dedicated in-house team.

Testing & Launch

Finally, you're ready for launch! Once the app is finished being built, you'll need to add some final touches and then test your product. This step tends to be one of the most time consuming—so make sure to plan plenty of time for iterations, testing and bug fixes.

Once you feel your app is ready to go, it's time to launch! Make sure you let everyone know that your product is available.

Marketing Your Mobile App

As the last step in your app development process, it's time to market your new product. You'll need a team of people who can help spread the word about your newly launched application—or apps. This might include hiring someone full-time or simply paying for ads and reviews.

Launch Your Business Mobile With Us

Taking your business mobile will open up many opportunities for both you and your customers, but there are risks that come with launching any new product or service. Make sure to plan ahead and thoroughly test your product before launch. Sharp Tack Media have mobile marketing strategies that are perfect for any business. Whether your goal is to increase traffic or sell more products online, we’ll help you find the right strategy. If all of this sounds intimidating and you want help enacting these principles, let us know. Avail our free consultation today!

A Custom Domain Name Is Important For Small Businesses To Gain An Online Presence

A custom domain name is your website's street address on the World Wide Web. Custom domain names, also known as “vanity URLs”, are easy to remember, more affordable than they have ever been before, and have the added bonus of being simple to set up and maintain without any special web design knowledge or skills. Since they are under the ownership of the business, there is flexibility in how they position themselves over time. Such an approach means that businesses can easily change their website address without having to worry about losing traffic or search engine rankings if a name becomes outdated.

This last point is particularly important to any business looking to maintain a strong online presence. Where pure SEO campaigns can take months or even years, the simple act of buying and then redirecting an already credible name – such as www.mybusinessname.com – can quickly help businesses gain much sought-after search engine rankings based upon previous content marketing efforts.

Continue reading to know more details on the importance of a custom domain name for your business.

Custom Domain Names Are Growing In Popularity As Search Engine Rankings Rise

In the world of online marketing, it's now common practice for businesses looking to enjoy competitive advantage over their rivals to invest in professional SEO campaigns. In this context, search engine optimization refers to the process of helping a website rank higher in relevant queries when someone does a search on Google, Yahoo or any other major player.

The reason for this is simple: the more often a business shows up near the top of organic results when consumers conduct research, the more likely it is they'll be visited and, as a result, become more successful.

Easy To Remember

A custom domain name makes it as easy as possible for a prospect to remember a business' website address. In an age where consumers are constantly being bombarded with new brands and websites, the last thing any business wants is for its information to get lost among the deluge of additional offers competing for attention at any given moment.

The best way to ensure that website visitors are able to recall the information they are looking for when it's needed is to invest in a custom domain name – something which has been proven to greatly improve the chances of success in the world of online marketing.

Improves Brand Recall

At its most basic level, any business with an online presence is looking to engage with potential customers and, in most cases, become a trusted provider of information. By developing a custom domain name for their website, business owners are able to play a greater role in the lives of existing and future clients, providing them with relevant content that can help them through any stage of the buying process.

One of the main ways in which businesses can do this is through the use of custom domain names. By establishing their brand as a more approachable and trustworthy option through high-quality content, companies – no matter how small or large they might be – can increase their chances of developing long-term relationships with prospects and customers alike.

Why It's Important To Have A Custom Domain Name

In an increasingly crowded digital space, businesses have to be sure they are investing wisely in order to get the most from their SEO strategies. This is where a custom domain name can make a huge difference to any business looking to improve its online standing.

By developing a custom name for your website, you'll be doing several things at once, including:

  • ensuring your remembering the domain name when you come to use it
  • giving potential customers an easy way of finding you on search engines
  • increasing the chances of people remembering who you are in the future

Domain Name Is The Cornerstone Of Your Online Marketing

Remember, a good domain name is only the first step in building your online presence – so don't settle for anything less than truly effective web hosting services and all-round customer support. Your domain name should be customized to reflect what you do and who you are as a business, so it stands out from other websites in search engines. If you need some guidance on how to choose the perfect custom domain name that matches your company’s personality and values, Sharp Tack Media can help with our Free Consultation service. Call us today!

Effective Public Relations for Small Business

Compelling, consistent brand messaging is essential in creating the experience your customers want to have when they interact with your brand. Your company's message must align across all channels of communication that are relevant to your customers or you risk losing them because there will be no clear point of contact.

Consumers expect relevant content, whether it's a website, social media channel or email. Your brand's message is the end-product of the content you're creating and distributing. If you don't know what your company stands for, how can you possibly communicate it to your target audience?

Here are some tips on communicating effectively online:

Know Who You're Talking To

Do the proper research to make sure you know your target audience like the back of your hand. Research their behavior, preferences and interests so you can create content that speaks directly to them in a language they understand. When creating content, ask yourself: What's in it for my customer? How does what I'm saying help them accomplish something meaningful in their lives?

Brand Consistency

Consistency is key in branding. It's been said that a brand is only as good as the last thing it did. So make sure to always follow through with what you say, even if your action goes against your original plans. In other words, once you've made a commitment, make sure to stick with it.

Be Consistent Across All Channels

Whether it's a website, social media page or email, your messaging needs to be consistent and relevant across platforms and device types (i.e., mobile and tablet). Your customers expect consistency with the user experiences they encounter online; they don't care which platform you used to deliver your brand message—they just know they expect a brand experience when they visit your social media page and when they're on your website.

Be Consistent With All Content Created For Public Consumption 

For example, if you release a print ad in an industry magazine that promises to do X and then deliver Y, make sure that it's true online as well. You can launch online ads to promote your brand through social media pages, blog posts, websites or web banners.

Create Quality Content

If you want customers to engage with your brand, you have to create useful and valuable content for them. People are more likely to buy from a company that shares information that's relevant and engaging.

Don't Be Overly Promotional With Your Content

Give, give, give and then promote your brand's message in an interesting or relevant way that shows you're more concerned with providing value than selling a product.

Continue The Conversation

You need to capture people's attention to maintain their interest, so always be on the lookout for creative ways to continue the conversation online.

Remember The 80/20 Rule

20 percent of the content you create will bring 80 percent of the benefits to your brand. So don't get caught up in creating a ton of different pieces of content just for the sake of it; instead focus on making sure that every piece counts.

Never Stop Learning

The minute you think you know everything there is to know about branding, or social media marketing or search engine optimization is the moment your company starts failing. Always keep learning and improving.

Make Sure What Works On One Device Doesn't Fail On Another

Consistency is key in branding, but different platforms require different strategies. For example, if you have a website with a call-to-action button that leads to the user getting walked through the checkout process, make sure it works well on mobile devices so your customers can complete their purchase anywhere.

Don't Be Afraid Of Failure

Brand building and marketing require taking risks. So don't worry about trying something and failing. Instead, take risks and learn from the mistakes you make along the way.

We've talked about the importance of having a strong brand vision and how to communicate that online. You should now be able to take your business from good to great by following these tips. But don't worry, this is not all you'll need! Our team at Sharp Tack Media can help guide you through creating an effective marketing plan with our Free Consultation service so contact us today if you want to get started on increasing sales for your business.

Create A Winning Digital Strategy

The world of digital marketing is constantly changing. What worked for your business in the past may not work now, and what works today might not be effective tomorrow. Keeping up with these changes can be difficult to say the least. Luckily, there are resources that will help you stay on top of things, such as branding packages which offer helpful techniques for small businesses looking to make their brands stand out from competitors'. 

Before their success takes off, most professional brands have secrets they've uncovered. You will learn from this article what they are, and how you can emulate their success. Every successful product or business has a few secrets up it's sleeve. Unfortunately, those secrets can't be shared lightly. However, we've compiled some of the most important points that separate professional brands from unsuccessful ones and put our own spin on them.

Create A Company Image Customers Can Connect With

Professional brands are familiar, but not boring. Using branding packages to develop a logo and website design that is professional, but still sticks with you can help customers feel comfortable doing business with you. This means it's important to know your consumer so you can present yourself in the way they expect or want to see you.

If you have a business that's meant for a younger, more casual customer base, branding packages will help you design a website or logo that reflects this.

Make Sure Your Products Or Services Include Something Unique

A successful brand is going to have a competitive advantage over competitors. Something they can offer better than everyone else in their field. This may be something as simple as a fantastic warranty, or an experience customers won't soon forget.

Whatever the product is that's going to set you apart from others in your industry, it should be included in your branding packages so customers can better understand what they get when doing business with your company.

Find Out What Drives Your Competition Crazy

If there's one thing professional brands know, it's their competition. If you want to succeed and live by the motto “competition drives success,” learning everything there is about your competitors and what makes them tick will be an invaluable tool in growing your business.

Once you find out what drives them crazy or makes them nervous, this can also help shape your branding packages so that you're always a step ahead of them.

Learn From Others Who Have Been There Before

One of the most important things you can do as a new business owner is learn from those who came before you and experienced success in the industry. Look at marketing strategies, customer service practices, and anything else that was successful for other brands so you can apply this information to your own business.

Taking the time to research other companies in your business field, looking at what worked for them and what didn't is a great way to use branding packages to make sure you're ahead of the game.

Successful brands are well known throughout their industry, but there's still plenty of work that goes into building their reputation.

The better you understand your customers and the industry they're in, the easier it will be to create a professional brand that's going to help you succeed. Use these important points when making decisions for your own company and watch your business grow.

Knowing Is Half The Battle!

How can I learn the secrets of professional brands? Get in touch with us today! Sharp Tack Media would love to help you figure out how to develop a plan that will work for your company. If you’re looking for an expert who has helped other businesses grow, we want to hear from you. Give our team a call and let's chat about what opportunities await you!

Create A Brand For Your Business In 5 Steps

Small business owners are constantly looking for ways to grow their company. One of the best ways is by branding your small business. A brand is a representation of what your company stands for, and it can be used to differentiate yours from competitors in the marketplace. 

There are different ways to brand your small business, but having a professional company design and create one is by far the best way. A small business branding package will include various items that promote your company for any type of buyer or clientele. When creating a logo, business cards, letterheads or website pages, there are several different options you can go with regarding color, design and layout. Do not be afraid to ask for assistance when designing these items either. A lot of small business owners are very creative in what they offer their clients or customers, but branding your company may require the expertise of a graphic designer.

By following these four easy steps, you'll have an effective marketing strategy that will help with growing your small business! 

  • Determine What Makes Your Company Unique

One of the first steps in branding your small business is to think about what makes your company unique. While it's important to consider all of the different aspects of your business, you should focus on the one thing that separates you from competitors. For example, Google Inc.'s core brand strategy was built around innovation and simplifying the search experience for users. It was this idea that guided the company's decisions, which ultimately led to their success.

  • Create A Marketing Strategy

Once you have your unique selling proposition, it's important to create an effective marketing plan for reaching your customers with this message. This could include creating a promotional video or putting together a written marketing piece, but make sure that you're communicating what makes your company unique. Remember, this should be the central idea around which all of your branding choices are made!

  • Use A Small Business Branding Package

To make sure that you have a cohesive brand, it's important to use a small business branding package . A small business branding package will provide you with the materials that you need to communicate your unique selling proposition, including print materials like business cards and brochures, as well as digital items like web graphics.

  • Integrate Your Marketing Efforts

Once you have your small business branding package, you'll need to think about how all of your marketing materials fit together. Using color schemes and logos that are similar across all pieces will help with brand recognition, so take the time to make sure that everything looks cohesive.

  • Include Elements That Represent Who You Are As A Company

Finally, you'll want to make sure that the small business branding package includes elements that represent who you are as a company or person. While this may not be necessary for everyone, it can help with connecting your customers with your brand if they feel like they know more about it. This could be in the form of including photos on promotional materials or talking about your personal background in blog posts and other marketing materials.

Don't Take The Risk And Leave Your Branding To Chance

Now that you know how to brand your small business, it's time to get started! Remember that small business branding takes time and effort, so don't be discouraged if progress isn't immediate. By following these steps and using a small business branding package , you'll see results soon enough! For more information on how to create a cohesive brand identity, be sure to contact Sharp Tack Media today!

How To Build A Website That Converts Your Visitors Into Customers

You've built a website and now you want to know how to turn your visitors into customers. Everyone has heard it before: “Build it and they will come.” 

Your site is live, fresh and ready for business – however, nobody's coming! What do you do? This is where conversion optimization needs to start. When your site isn't converting, you need to know why. What's working? What's not?

The following are common problems that exist in most sites and how to fix them:

Problem #1 – You're Missing A Clear Call-To-Action 

This is the crux of your site. What do you want people to do? Headings and subheadings aren't calls-to-action. You need a button or link that says “Order Now” or “Subscribe.”

Try simple design techniques like contrasting colors, big text sizes, and bold lettering to make it as obvious as possible. Make sure your call-to-action stands out from the rest of the content and makes it clear what you want your visitors to do.

Problem #2 – Your Website Is Cluttered With Too Much Text

People won't read long articles unless they're interested in what you have to say. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, charts and lists whenever possible. If you must use a large block of text, use headings and subheadings to break it up.

White spaces are your friend! Visitors will scroll if they're interested in what you have to say, but they won't read every word on the page. Keep your copy short and interesting so visitors will actually take the time to read it.

Problem #3 – Your Site Is Boring 

If your visitors aren't interested in what you're selling, they will leave. Make sure there's plenty of interesting and relevant content that encourages visitors to stay on your site and explore. 

People want information about the products and services you offer when they visit a website; make it easy for them to find!

A good rule of thumb is that every page on your site should have at least one call-to-action. This can be a link to a product, newsletter sign up form, etc. Make your CTA clear and easy to find where you want visitors to click on it!

Problem #4 – Your Website Takes Too Long To Load 

Nobody likes to wait, especially for a website to load. Visitors will hit the back button and leave your site before it's done loading if their patience runs thin. Slow page loads can also cause problems with search engine rankings as well.

Make sure you have a fast hosting provider, use a no-code or low resolution template, and compress your images. This should help your site load in a matter of seconds!

When a website doesn't convert visitors into customers, it can be frustrating. The good news is that you're not alone. Take the time to analyze your site's performance, make improvements when necessary, and measure results along the way. In short order, you should see your conversion rates increase.

By following these steps, you will be on your way to building a website that converts visitors into customers. If you want help with any of the aspects we’ve discussed, give Sharp Tack Media a call today! We would love to chat and brainstorm with you about how we can make this happen for your business. Plus, our team is always available to answer questions as they come up along the way during development so don't hesitate to reach out if something doesn't seem clear or if there's anything else we can do for you.

Use Branding To Grow Your Business

Branding is important for any business that wants to grow and succeed. A brand is the face of your business, it's what people see first when they think about you, and it needs to be memorable. Branding can help attract new customers, increase sales, establish authority in your field, and improve the way you look online. If done right, branding will give your small business a huge boost forward! 

The term branding is usually associated with bigger companies but in actuality this has become increasingly important for small businesses. While branding is also about the history of your company, it's mostly about how you present yourself to people in today's day and age — especially online.

Brand recognition is important for any business because consumers are exposed to so many messages that it's nearly impossible for them all to be remembered. Studies have shown that people can only remember about five or six things at any given time, and that number is lowered considerably if the information is visual rather than word-based. This means that it's vital for your small business to make an impact by standing out from other companies so that consumers remember you. Click here if you want to know more about the many elements to branding. There are many elements to branding but today we will be focusing on the visual aspects such as colors and logo design.

The Colors

There are many colors to choose from, but the best colors for a small business is to pick two or three that stand out so they can be used in many different ways throughout your branding. Let's take a look at Starbucks' branding for example:

Starbucks' use of two colors is very effective because the green accents tie the menu and drink names to their iconic logo. This can be seen in many places such as on their cups, napkins, and even straws. The color green also helps convey a sense of freshness and health, which ties into most of their products.

The Logo

There's a reason that the Starbucks logo is so iconic — it works! The green circle with “Starbucks Coffee” written in black and white not only ties into their company but also makes it stand out amongst other logos. While this may seem like common sense, many businesses don't take the time to plan out what will work best for their company. A logo only needs to be simple, so don't overthink it!

Logo Size And Placement

The size of your logo is very important because it's what people will see first when they interact with you. Your small business should use its logo in many different places but the most common are the header of your website, your business cards, and all promotional materials.

Placement is also important because you want to make sure that it's clear where the company name ends and the logo begins. So if your company name runs into part of the logo then simply adjust its size or move it a little bit until it creates a nice separation between the two without looking cluttered.

The last thing to consider when it comes to branding is how you present your logo online because this will be what people see first when they find you on social media, search engines, or any other type of website. Just like with colors and placement, having a simple logo that stands out is what counts! You can always have different logo sizes to use when necessary to make sure that it's seen in all the right places.

Small businesses should take branding seriously if they want to boost their business and get noticed by customers and potential customers. With all of this information you'll be able to create a brand that works for your company, so get started with Sharp Tack Media today! Give us a call and avail our free consultation now. 

Get Found Online

So you've launched your website and now you're wondering, “How am I going to get people to visit my site?” You'd like to start getting more visitors as soon as possible. For more information, here are three ways that can help drive traffic to your site:

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a method of getting higher rankings in search engines, such as Google. To do this you must optimize your website and try to rank high for keywords or phrases that people searching for your product or service might be using. Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is the process of gaining traffic from paid advertisements on search engines. This is accomplished by buying ads on Google, Yahoo, Bing and other search engines. Social Media Marketing (SMM) – In this method you utilize social media websites such as Facebook to promote your website.

Although each of these methods can be used on their own, the results are usually better when more than one of them is combined together. This way you cover all your bases and get the most traffic to your site.

Here's a brief description of what each method entails:

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 

This is the process of obtaining higher rankings in the natural, or unpaid, search results when someone types in a query related to your business. You can do this by incorporating keywords and phrases into all aspects of your website: content, titles, meta descriptions, ALT tags on images are just a few examples. To get visitors to stay longer you should create content that keeps their attention and adds value to what they're finding online. By doing this you'll be able to reach existing customers better while reaching out to new people who may not have heard about your business otherwise.

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) 

SEM is the process of utilizing various online advertisements – such as text ads, banner advertisements and product listing ads – to drive traffic to your website. The difference between SEM and other forms of advertising is that you're paying a fee each time someone clicks on one of your ads. You can also include negative keywords which make your ad show up less often if someone types in a word or phrase you don't want associated with your product or service.

Social Media Marketing (SMM) 

Lastly, SMM is the process of gaining traffic from social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Even though this is accomplished by using free web pages, the results can be extremely effective if done correctly. An effective SMM campaign includes a combination of contests, lead magnets and informative blog posts.

While this method of obtaining traffic can be used on its own it's usually more effective when combined with another marketing strategy. For example, if you create a new Facebook page you'll need to drive traffic to that page from your website or other online advertisements. By using SMM to drive traffic you're not only broadening your audience, but also getting more exposure for your website.

Three Ways to Reach Your Target Audience Online

When it comes to getting visitors to an initial landing page or website, there are various ways of doing so, and while each method can be used alone, the results are much better when combined. Optimizing your website, utilizing SEM and SMM can all help drive traffic to your site as long as you also provide valuable content that keeps visitors coming back for more.

Reach Your Target Audience With Us

If you’re looking for a marketing strategy that delivers strong results, it can be hard to know where to start. There are many different channels and methods of reaching your target audience – from paid advertising on social media networks like Facebook or Twitter, to email newsletters, direct mail campaigns, search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing strategies such as blogging and guest posting. The good news is we have found three ways to reach your target audience in our free consultation. Give us a call today!

Get Found By Customers

The internet is a wonderful place, full of endless information and social media outlets to connect with other people. But let's face it, without an online presence you are up the creek without a paddle. How do you bring in customers? How can customers find your business? What drives traffic to your website or blog? Don't leave these questions unanswered.

Before you do anything to improve your online presence, figure out how many customers are coming to your business. If you have real-life customers, ask them where they heard about your company. If the majority of your customers come from social media outlets, optimize your website for search engines. However, if new customers are no longer finding their way to your business, you may want to work on your online presence first.

Here are a few ways you can improve your small business‘ online presence.

Website Or Blog?

Without content that is well written, interesting, and relevant your blog will not gain any traction. The blog should be able to stand on its own without being connected to your website.

Social Media Sites

Another way to gain an online presence is through social media sites. These are free avenues for you to promote your business and connect with customers. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ are among the many different types of social media available. The more social media outlets you use, the better.

Online Reviews

The internet is full of review sites where customers can rate your business on a variety of criteria. This can be incredibly helpful or detrimental to your online presence depending upon what customers are saying about you. Sites like Yelp are extremely useful for gaining exposure for your business and increased sales. Other sites, such as Angie's List, can be harmful to your business if you are not receiving positive reviews. Make sure you claim and manage your online presence by responding to reviewers and keeping the dialogue open with potential customers.

Testimonials

Testimonials can be posted on your website or blog as well as social media sites. They help gain trust with future customers by showing them what existing customers have said about you. It can be as simple as a photo with a quote or a video. People love to see photos of happy people, especially weddings and family portraits!

Creating Content

Creating content for your blog is extremely beneficial. This includes images and videos of your business' work and events—anything that engages your customers. Capture photos of your products being used and uploaded to Flickr or Instagram with a brief description. This gives the customer an idea of what they are buying as well as free advertising for you.

Don't Have Time To Clean Up Your Online Presence?

Remember that you are not alone when it comes to improving your business' online presence. We all have access to information from one another, which means that each of us can help improve your online presence. You are not alone! Contact Sharp Tack Media for more information on how we can help you improve your business' image–both online and off.    

Why Are You Not Ranking High Enough?

When most people think of search engine optimization, they usually focus on ranking better in the results pages of Google. But with all the recent changes in how Google ranks web-pages along with the introduction of many new social networks that are being indexed by Google, there are several other areas that should be considered when trying to improve your search engine rankings. 

There are 5 tips to get better Google rankings so you can reach more targeted, potential customers.

  • Have a Unique Content Strategy

Google wants unique content for your website because it wants to give the best results to its users. If you have duplicate content from other websites on your own website, Google might see this as spam and  punish you for it. So, you should prepare your content strategy in advance before doing anything else to get better Google rankings .

  • Link Your Social Accounts With Google

If you want to get more unique visitors from search results on Google or other search engines, you need to link your social media accounts with the major search engine platforms. One of the best ways to do this is to create an author page on each search engine that links back to your social media profiles. This will get more people into your community who are interested in what you have to say, which can help improve your search engine rankings for various searches.

  • High-Quality Content Can Increase Your Rankings

While Google is focused on providing the best results to its users, it also understands that many of them want high-quality content. If your website and blog posts are marked as low-quality or spammy, then you could end up with penalties that hurt your rankings. You can improve your standing by focusing on unique content and creating valuable posts that give insight into your industry.

  • Target Long Tail Keywords

One of the best ways to improve your rankings for any targeted keyword is by using long-tail keywords. While it is difficult to rank well on major search terms, you can use long-term keywords to get more exposure for multiple products and services.

  • Use Anchor Text

In the past, many webmasters had a difficult time with Google because of their use of overly-optimized anchor text. This includes buying links and using keyword stuffed anchor text for back-links. However, it is still possible to get better Google rankings by using quality links from external websites that are relevant to your industry.

Get Better Google Rankings

If you want to get better google rankings but don’t know where to start, Sharp Tack Media can help. Schedule a free consultation with our team of experts today and see how they can make your business more visible on the web. With their years of experience in digital marketing, there is no project too big or small for them to handle! Contact us now so we talk more about what needs improvement and how we will put together an SEO plan that works best for you.

How To Improve Website Navigation For Better User Experience

It's no secret that a website with bad navigation is less likely to convert visitors into customers. The more complicated the site, the more frustrating it can be for people to find what they're looking for. Nowadays, sites need to be as easy as possible so your visitors don't get frustrated and leave. Let's talk about how to create a user-friendly experience for your visitors. Some of these tips will be more relevant for big ecommerce sites than small business websites, but all can apply no matter what kind of site you're running:

  •  Focus on SEO

SEO is incredibly important for how people find your site, so of course you should be optimizing it as much as possible! This means making sure that keywords are included naturally in pages and headlines where relevant, not stuffed into pages with irrelevant content. It also means clearly marking up your HTML to indicate what each page is about. Google offers a guide to SEO for webmasters that will walk you through the process.

  • Make it Mobile-Friendly

Nearly half of all website traffic comes from mobile devices, so creating a responsive or mobile-friendly site is an absolute must! Not only does this ensure your users have the best possible experience, it also ensures you're not losing out on nearly half of your potential traffic.

  • Make Sure It's Easy to Navigate

Your website needs to be easy for people to use! This means ensuring that links are clearly marked and easy to click on mobile devices as well as desktops. If your menu is too high up on the page, people won't see it! Use breadcrumbs to indicate where they are on your site. Speaking of menus, if you have a lot of links in them (or anywhere on the site), group them into categories if possible.

  • Make Sure Your Site Loads Fast

If your website is slow, visitors will leave. You can use Google's PageSpeed Insights to find out how optimized your site is and where you may be able to improve. Your hosting provider should also offer a tool like this one, which will give you suggestions for optimizing your website's speed.

  • Keep the Navigation in View

Some sites put their navigation at the bottom or top of the screen. This is a big no-no! A top menu might be out of view when your visitor scrolls down your page, and a bottom one will quickly get lost in oblivion as they skim through articles or product pages. Putting it at the top ensures that anyone using your site can easily find all of the links they're looking for.

Improve Your Website's Usability 

The navigation on your website is one of the most important elements that can determine whether visitors are able to find what they're looking for quickly and easily. If you have a large site with lots of content, it's not always easy to know where everything is. If you want an expert opinion about how well your site's navigation works or if you need help reworking it yourself, contact our Sharp Tack Media today! We offer free consultations in which we'll provide honest feedback about any design issue – big or small.

Your Website Is Your Business

Do you know that the average conversion rate of a website is only 2.8%? That means for every 100 visitors, less than 3 will convert to leads. It's no wonder so many businesses are struggling! Luckily, there are some things you can do to increase your website conversion rate and bring in more business. 

What to do?

If you want to make the most of your website, you'll need a good web designer and a web developer. And be sure to use these 7 tactics for increasing conversions on your site.

Use Useful Content

People scan through websites quickly, so be sure your content is easy to digest. Break up your writing with bullet points, images and videos. Make it easy to read by keeping paragraphs short.

Share Other People's Content 

By sharing other people's articles or blog posts, you can drive traffic to your site without having to do all the work yourself. You'll be benefiting yourself and others at the same time!

Build Your Email List

Having an email list for your business is essential. People who sign up to hear from you are more likely to return and buy. Plus, email marketing is one of the best ways to turn website visitors into leads . You can also take advantage of social media like Facebook or Google+, but email is still king.

Make Your Site Mobile-Friendly

More people are turning to their smartphones to browse the web, so make sure your site looks great on any device. People expect a website they visit on their phone to look just as good as it does when they're using a computer. Plus, Google takes mobile-friendliness into account when ranking websites, so it's important to make sure you're optimized for all devices.

Leverage Social Media

Social media is a great way to engage with your customers (and potential customers). It can be hard to post relevant content on multiple different platforms though, which is why many web developers and designers recommend Hootsuite or Buffer . With these apps, you can schedule all of your posts for one time and then share them across different social media sites.

Use A/B Testing

A/B testing is the process of alternating two versions of a website to see which one performs better. You can try out different headlines, images and even color schemes to see which combination gets the most click-throughs. Once you find what works, keep it up!

Include A Testimonial Or Two

Having a great product is one thing, but letting your customers do the talking for you can be just as effective. A couple industry reviews and testimonials can help your site visitors trust you and want to buy from you.

Of course, there are many more ways to increase conversions on your site. The most important thing is that you're aware of what's possible. If you can implement even a few of these tactics today, you'll be well on your way to bringing in significantly more business. These tactics are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to increasing conversions on your website though. If you're ready for some expert advice, contact us today at Sharp Tack Media!

 

Importance Of Linking Between Pages On Your Site

If your website is like most, you've probably never thought much about the outgoing links on your site. But if you're trying to improve SEO and make sure Google knows what's important on your site, it might be time to rethink that. Outgoing links are actually a pretty big deal for search engine optimization (SEO). You see, any link that points away from your site tells Google something about the content of those pages. It shows them where they should put those pages in their rankings – which can affect how people find and interact with them!

In fact, it's been found that outgoing links can have a significant impact on how well your site ranks for certain keywords. And if you've ever tried to improve SEO , you know this is bad news! If Google thinks those pages are important and they're linking to them, then they'll probably rank much better than the pages on your website. This could leave you ranking lower than sites that aren't as “authoritative.”

Help Google Understand How Important Your Pages Are

Start by making sure every page on your site has outgoing links back to relevant, high-quality websites. You might also want to link out to content related to yours when appropriate – but only if it's high quality! Google wants to see your site engaging with other people in the industry. They want you to be a part of the community and they'll reward you for it.

But what if you're worried about losing all your rankings? Will Google place so much emphasis on pages that link back to other sites that they forget about your content? That's actually very unlikely. As long as your outgoing links aren't bad, such as affiliate links or other types of spammy relationships, you shouldn't have to worry about losing rankings. Google is smart enough to know that they'll be able to find the content they're looking for, even on pages with outgoing links.

Don’t Go Overboard

However, it's important to note that you shouldn't go overboard here. Links back only help your SEO if those pages are actually high quality and relevant! Google isn't going to reward sites built only of outgoing links. So don't worry too much about finding links – just try to find the best sites you can and link back to them, whether on individual pages or somewhere like your homepage where it makes sense.

In the end, you might have to work a little harder for those links. But they can help your SEO more than you realize – as long as you only link back to high-quality websites. If you're trying to improve SEO , make sure your site takes advantage of outgoing links. It's a great way to build authority with Google and it'll help you start moving up the rankings! Take control of your own website – begin using outgoing links.

If you're still not entirely clear on how they work, feel free to leave a comment and we'll try to help you out. You can also avail our FREE Consultation to know more about outgoing links and SEO. Message Sharp Tack Media today!

Make Your Site Easy For Users To Navigate

A user-friendly navigation makes it easy for your visitors to find the information they're looking for. When done correctly, navigation should feel natural and intuitive while still leading people in the direction you want them to go.

The navigational structure of your site is one of the most important aspects you can optimize for better conversions. Your navigation should appear prominently on every page of your site. The more prominent, the better conversion rate your pages will see. 

One common mistake made with navigation is to display certain links only when they're relevant to the page – for example, displaying a menu with your contact information only on pages with contact forms.

Finding the right balance between different types of navigation can be difficult, but always ask yourself if people will expect to see something in your primary or secondary navigation bar when they visit each page on your site.

The main objectives of good navigational structure are:

  1. Make sure that all website content is accessible to all visitors.
  2. Keep the number of clicks required to access any given website content at a minimum.
  3. Provide contextual information about where your visitor is and what they can expect next.

Use the following 5 steps to ensure that your website's navigational structure is user-friendly.

  • Find And List All Of The Website Content And Remove Any Unnecessary Items 

This ensures that you're building a complete and accurate map of your site before you begin putting the pieces together. It also serves as a good opportunity to reduce clutter by removing anything that's not necessary or doesn't fit with your current design.

  • Group Related Items Together

If you have a lot of content, this could mean multiple groupings. Instead of one long list, break things up into groups and sub-groups. This helps to reduce the amount of scrolling required for your visitors to access any given piece of information. Keep in mind that you don't want to group things together based on their position on the page. Grouping items by type is sufficient – if they're formatted the same way, use a similar color scheme, or are used in related places across your site!

  • Use Sub-Navigational Elements To Provide Additional Contextual Information When Necessary

This may take the form of a drop down menu, list of tabs, or other means through which you can condense multiple pieces of information into one simple click. This is especially useful for long menus that are split across several screens.

  • Keep Your Navigation Consistent In Terms Of Style And Functionality

Don't use a set of links on one part of your page and a different kind of navigational tool somewhere else! Use the same color scheme, style, and placement throughout your site to create a consistent user experience.

  • Do Not Sacrifice Space For Navigation

You should always be trying to maximize the amount of content that you can put on any given screen, whether it's your home page or a detailed single product page. Don't put navigation ahead of content – do whatever you can to maximize the amount of content while simultaneously making sure that people can get where they need to go quickly and easily.

Want More Visitors? Fix The Navigational Structure!

We’ve all been there. You click on a link to what you thought was an article or blog post, only to find yourself staring at the same homepage again with no idea how it happened. That feeling of frustration is enough for some users to abandon their online shopping cart and go elsewhere, but not anymore! There are plenty of ways that web designers can make your site easy for visitors to navigate around without getting lost in the process. Whether you want more people coming back or if you just want them making purchases from start-to-finish, we have the right solution for you! Contact our Sharp Tack Media today and let us know if any of these navigation tips can help improve your user experience!

CMS Made Easy For You

Many owners of small businesses are turning to Content Management Systems as their web strategy grows in complexity, traffic and sales opportunities. It's necessary that you have a website that can be managed by others on your web team. Just like computers, servers and software all upgraded regularly, your website needs to be reliable, easy for others to understand and can grow with your business. A Content Management System is an excellent solution that enables the growth of the website into a more complex system without any overhead costs on time or resources thanks to its intuitive design.

CMSs are very helpful tools which simplify web development drastically and make it much easier, faster and more affordable. There are many different content management systems available on the market nowadays; some of them help with maintenance or creation of a blog while others come packaged with useful features for building websites from scratch. The key to success when using this kind of tool is to choose the right CMS for your purpose. The market is literally swamped with content management systems which makes this task difficult for beginners.

It can help with blog & personal sites, shopping cart solutions for small to medium-sized businesses and custom web publishing. The number of choices can be overwhelming. Click here to know more about the basics of CMS. Whether you are looking for a CMS for your blog, business, organization or non-profit the first step is to decide what type of system will best fit your needs.

What Content Management Systems Are Available?

There are three major types of content management systems: 

  • Blog & Personal Sites
  • Shopping Cart Solution for Small to Medium-sized Businesses
  • Custom Web Publishing CMSs

Custom CMSs are extensions of the above three types. They are designed to do one thing very well. It's necessary to choose which type of web project you need for your business so that you can get the best solution within your price range without needing any customizations.

Why Do You Need A Content Management System?

All businesses need to communicate. It's necessary to provide information about your business, products and services to potential customers. Content Management Systems make it easier for you and others on your web team to do this without needing any technical or design skills.

Content can be maintained by a number of users, giving them access rights within specific guidelines that the site owner sets.

It's Easy To Reuse And Share Content

Content is organized logically and can be searched quickly, resulting in a better browsing experience for your users. Users will see the latest changes instantly on their screens as soon as they are made by other members of the web team without having to wait for any technical expertise such as a designer, programmer or webmaster to make the changes for them.

Once you've decided what type of website you want and know how many people need to be able to update the content on the site it's time to check out some Content Management Systems that fit your needs. There are hundreds available but not all of them will help with all types of websites. Make a list of features you see as necessary and check those out first to narrow down the number of systems available for your site.

It's necessary to choose a Content Management System that best fits your business needs. By doing things such as understanding the type of site you need, what features are necessary and how many people will be updating the content a Content Management System makes your website a breeze!

If you are considering a Content Management System for your company, contact us today. We have the experience and expertise to help make it easy! Have you started using one yet? Let’s chat about how we can be of service. Sharp Tack Media offers FREE consultation which you can avail today. 

Make Your Website Work Harder For You

Are you looking to increase the conversion rate of your website? Most companies are!  If you want your business to be more profitable, one of the first things that needs to happen is increasing your conversion rate.  After all, what good is it if people like your site, but they simply aren't buying anything?

A professional website design agency can help you out here. They will use strong branding packages to make your website more professional and trustworthy, plus create a unique brand for your company that gets customers excited about what you have to offer them!

What Is A Brand?

Before we go into what a brand package is, let's talk briefly about branding in general.  A brand is what identifies your business to the public.  It's made up of the feelings that you want people to associate with your company, plus it establishes a consumer loyalty. Your branding package will take into consideration the feelings that you want your company associated with, and create ads that reflect those feelings.

What Is A Brand Package?

A branding package is the creative material that will be used to represent your business online.  You have a logo, stationery sets, advertisements, website, etc. It's everything you need to make your business look like the million dollar business that you want it to be.

The website design agency will help your company choose everything that is included in your brand package, along with the colors and images that fit best with what you are trying to convey about your company.  It takes a lot of forethought and planning before this process even begins!

By the time a branding package is done, your customers should know you as a company and recall what it is that makes you stand out from everyone else.  You may have a 100% conversion rate by now!

How Will Brand Packages Improve Your Conversion Rate?

There are several ways that a good branding package will improve your conversion rate, and we're going to discuss just some of them here.  First of all, strong branding packages give your customer confidence that your company is trustworthy and reliable.  You wouldn't want to do business with a company that had a sloppy logo or poor stationery, right?

A good branding package also tells your customer what they can expect from your business.  If you're selling clothes on the internet, it will be easy for customers to tell what kinds of outfits are offered on their website.

Another thing that branding packages can do for you, is eliminate worries that your customers have about the quality of your products.  It's no secret that online shopping has made it harder to tell if a product will be high quality or not, so this is important! A professional branding package will show your customer that you have nothing to hide.  Professional looking stationery, a website that looks trustworthy, and an overall presence of trustworthiness just makes it easier for people to decide that they want to do business with you!

Ways Branding Packages Can Improve Your Conversion Rate

  • Improve your website's appearance
  • Give customers confidence about doing business with you
  • Let customers know what to expect from your business
  • Eliminate worries about product quality and appearance
  • Help you appear trustworthy and professional
  • Increase customer loyalty
  • Increase your conversion rate!

Increase Conversions With Us

Sharp Tack Media can help you improve your website conversion rate. Whether it’s getting people to buy more, get on the phone with a customer service representative, or sign up for your newsletter – we have the tools and strategies in place for success! Call us today to learn how our experts will work with you to increase your conversion rates.

Getting Started With Website Navigation and IA 

Your website is your business's digital storefront – it needs to be designed to make a great first impression. But what do you think about when you're designing a store? The layout, the products on display, and how customers can find their way around. What if I told you that there's more to it than that? Your website is also an information architecture – which means that navigation matters just as much as design! In this article we'll talk about why good site navigation matters and how to create a user-friendly experience for your visitors.

Do you want to have visitors that are satisfied, happy, and eager to return? Of course! We all do. You need small business branding packages to achieve this goal. Getting the basics down is absolutely necessary for good site navigation design – but it's just the beginning. The next step is turning those essential components into a navigational masterpiece. 

Navigation Components And Design Principles 

The main goal of any navigation system is to help your visitors find what they're looking for. That's really all it is – knowing what your visitors expect and delivering on those expectations, every single time. Here are some components of a good navigational system:

Navigational Heuristics

Do you ever wonder what people expect from the website you made? Wonder no more! In an effort to bring organizations together to understand web design, wordsmiths created the following principles of good web design.

These are some of the most important concepts when it comes to user-friendly navigational structure:

Visibility 

This is all about knowing where you're going – and signaling that to your visitors. The more information you give people, the less time they will have to spend searching for what they're looking for.

Page Architecture

When you're laying out a website, it's important that information is easy to find – and easily digestible. The most efficient navigation systems have a clear visual hierarchy that makes finding information quick and intuitive.

Context 

It's all about understanding where your visitors are coming from, and considering that context when you're designing your site. You may have the most intuitive layout in the world, but if your visitors are still confused about what's going on – then it doesn't matter how uncomplicated it is.

Job-to-be-Done

When someone visits your website, they often have a very specific goal in mind. Understanding what your visitors want to do is a crucial step in creating a successful navigational structure.

Sitemaps 

A sitemap doesn't have to be complicated – or even written down! You can use simple breadcrumbs, clear language, and well-designed labels to make sure that everyone knows where they are. The idea here is present, not exact. If people know where they are, that's basically all that matters.

Structural Components And Design Principles

Once you've got the navigational basics down, it's time to think about how information is organized in your site. Even if you put together a great navigational system – without correct hierarchical structure, things can get messy quick!

Good navigational structure is as much about visual presentation as it is about user expectations. Quickly organizing information by priority and category helps visitors find what they need quickly – without wasting time searching for a needle in a haystack.

Start Today, Your Site Will Thank You Later

Ready to get started and start making your website more user-friendly? We’re ready for you! Contact Sharp Tack Media today to schedule a free consultation. Our team is here, waiting and eager to help take your company into the future with an improved site that will attract customers like never before. Don't wait any longer – contact us now!

Start Using Facebook Ads

You might be wondering how to make the most out of your Facebook ads for a small business. Sure, you need to upload great pictures and have a catchy headline – but what else? This article  will show you how to use minimal efforts on Facebook Ads.

Use the lowest amount of money possible per ad, while still achieving your goals. The idea behind this is that you want to get over some quick wins at first in order to build momentum and encourage more people to invest in your product or service. After you have achieved enough of these quick wins, you can scale back your Facebook ad spend. 

Get Customers To Sign Up For An Email List

Your first campaign should be focused on getting customers to sign up for an email list. As soon as customers are signing up, get them to agree to receive future emails from you. These emails will be used shortly after this point in order to drive more traffic to your site.

Use Facebook Retargeting Ads

After you have people's email addresses, you can take advantage of retargeting ads in order to drive more traffic to your website.  Use Facebook retargeting ads in order to ensure that your site is being seen by people who have already expressed interest in your product or service. Facebook only charges you when someone actually clicks on your site.

Many people make the mistake of using retargeting ads to get people back to their site who have already purchased something. This is a BIG no-no, since you will be wasting your money for every person that sees or clicks on your ad that has already bought from you. The proper way to do this would be to send people who click on your ad straight to a “Thank you” page. By doing this, Facebook will still charge you only when someone actually clicks through and signs up for your email list.

Conversion Pixel

Remember to set up a conversion pixel as soon as possible after someone signs up for your email list (in order to retarget them). If you do this, your Facebook ads will become much more efficient and cost effective.

Promote A Specific Offer

The next step is to promote a specific offer or promotion to your customers who have already purchased from you. You should be aware that these customers are far less likely to purchase again if they haven't been interacted with in 30 days' time. For this reason, your Facebook ad should focus more on getting people to purchase again rather than selling something new.

Scale Back Your Facebook Ad Spend

After you have completed these steps, it is time to scale back your Facebook ad spend and turn the attention of your ads towards new potential customers. You will now not only want to retarget current customers, but past customers as well as those who have shown interest in your product or service. This is now the time to continue with remarketing ads which serve users an ad for your site when they visit other sites which run Facebook's advertising. You will want to aim to get people back on your site and then try to sell them something else.

Make Sure Your Facebook Ads Are Working

The key to understanding how people respond to Facebook ads is knowing what they are looking for. It’s not enough just to have a good offer, you need the right offer at the right time in order for it to be successful. If you want help figuring out your marketing strategy on Facebook and maximizing ROI with minimal investment of money, call Sharp Tack Media Today! We can work together on an effective plan that will convert customers using minimum effort from you.

Your Online Presence And Branding Are Essential For Your Business

Do you feel like you don't stand out from the crowd? Do you want to build a brand that will put your small business ahead of the competition and help it grow into something great? The best small business branding packages will help your small business to stand out from the crowd and give it a unique selling point that will bring in new customers and keep them coming back for more.

In today's world, you have to stand out from the competition. To get noticed you have to have a unique selling point or else customers won't know why they should choose your small business over a competitor who might offer virtually the same products and services.

Small businesses need branding just as much as larger corporations do. In fact, it is even more important for small businesses than large companies because the competition is so much greater. Without proper branding, you could be in danger of falling to the bottom of potential customer lists or failing to stand out in any way. Perhaps this isn't quite as true when your business is just starting out but when you are trying to compete with well-known brands and chains, you need every advantage you can get.

If you are looking for ways to build a brand for your small business, here are some great tips that will help.

A Distinct Logo That Stands Out

The first thing that you need to have is a logo that will be the face of your company. You should have this logo on all of your products and marketing materials so that customers recognize it. One great thing about creating your own logo is that you know what it is supposed to look like, so you are more likely to have a better one than you would if you were paying someone else to design it for you.

A Logo Is Only The Beginning

Your logo is just the beginning of building a brand. You need to go over and beyond just a simple logo and actually build your brand. You can do this with your products or even your company culture, both of which will give you an image that potential customers recognize and associate with you.

This Branding Ties In With Your Mission Statement And Values

You should be sure to tie in the branding with your mission statement and values as well, so that you can make a complete brand. This will help build up the image of your small business and give it a good foundation to stand on.

Your Branding Should Be Consistent

Once you have built up your branding, you need to keep everything consistent. This includes things like your logo, the way that you answer phone calls, the products that you sell and even your online presence. You want to be sure that everything ties into what you are trying to accomplish with branding your small business.

When it comes to branding, having a strong logo is just the beginning. You need to build on this by creating your own brand image, having a consistent brand throughout your business and tying it back into your mission statement. If you are looking for ways to stand out from the crowd, branding is the best way to do this.

Stand Out From The Crowd

We’re so excited to be a part of your team and help you take the next step towards branding your small business. If you want to make sure that every customer who comes through your door knows exactly what they can expect from their experience with your company, we would love to talk about how our brand strategy services could help you create an identity for yourself online as well as in-person. Give Sharp Tack Media a call today!

Reasons Why You Should Hire A Professional Digital Agency To Promote Your Small Business

So you have a small business, and you are trying to increase your exposure online. You've probably already scoured the internet for advice on how to market your small business online, but that only turned up dozens of results telling you how important social media marketing is. There's no denying that social media is one of the most effective ways to reach your target audience, but it can be difficult to know where to start. Instead of trying to figure out the best social media campaign for your small business, why not hire a professional digital agency?    

When you log onto Twitter or Facebook or even when you search “social media marketing” on Google, what are the first results that pop up? Thousands upon thousands of social media profiles. One reason why they pop up so quickly is because they are promoted by digital agencies, who would like the opportunity to help you reach your target audience.

It Takes Time And Effort To Build An Effective Social Media Campaign

Social media is a relatively recent phenomenon, and no two platforms are alike. If you have time to spend learning how each platform works in order to build a following that will be genuinely interested in what you have to offer, then more power to you. However, if your focus is on running your small business and you would rather have the professionals handle the social media, then hiring a professional digital agency is the way to go.

Professional Digital Agencies Are Masters Of Their Craft

They know what it takes to reach your target audience on all of the most popular social media platforms, and they can assist you in building an impressive following that will bring new customers into your store every single day. Social media may be one of the most powerful tools when it comes to growing your small business, but professional digital agencies can make sure you use it effectively.

When you hire a professional digital agency to handle your social media marketing, you will get access to new, innovative strategies and techniques that haven't even been invented yet. These agencies are always on top of the latest trends in digital marketing, so you can rest easy knowing that your campaign is being handled by people who are passionate about their work.

Digital agencies have extensive knowledge of social media platforms, and they know what it takes to keep your customers interested. They can help you reach out to new audiences all over the world using the best social media tools at their disposal, and they can help you create an effective digital marketing campaign that will bring new customers into your business every single day.

Hire A Professional Digital Agency Now!

If you are interested in hiring a professional digital agency to handle your social media marketing, then you should contact the experts at Sharp Tack Media. We are more than happy to set up a free consultation where we can get to know you and your small business, and we can go over all of the different ways that we can help you reach your target audience using today's most popular social media platforms.

So if you're ready to take the first step towards building an effective digital marketing campaign for your small business, then contact Sharp Tack Media today. We offer a free consultation where we can get to know your business and discuss your goals in detail, so contact us right today.

Boost Lead Generation With Our High-Converting Landing Pages

A landing page is a one-page website with the goal of converting visitors into leads or customers. It's your chance to make an excellent first impression and get people excited about what you have to offer. In this article, we'll cover how to create high-converting landing pages that will help take your business from good to great!

Your landing page is the most important part of your online marketing strategy. It's the only chance you have to convince people to take action and become customers. A simple home page with no clear offer will turn visitors away in droves, while a strong promotion on an optimized landing page can deliver exceptional results for your business.

That's why you need to make sure that your landing page is set up for success. 

How To Create A High-Converting Landing Pages

  • Pick The Right Design Template

Your first step is picking the right design template, which will influence everything from your call to action to your conversion rates. Using a quality web design service or making your own landing page in HTML are both good options if you don't have much experience with this. Either way, you need to work on the copywriting before you do anything else.

The biggest mistake that businesses make when writing their landing page copy is treating it like a sales pitch. We all know what it feels like to get pitched one too many times by people who are just trying to sell us something rather than help us solve our problem. Your landing page is your opportunity to prove that you're not like all the other companies trying to make a quick buck. Instead, you're in this for the long game and want to build a relationship with customers who are happy to pay for your product or service.

Your copy needs to speak their language by using keywords they would search for and explaining how your product will help them. The only time you should talk about the features of your product is after you've sold them on the benefits they can expect from those features. You need to tell them not just what they're going to get, but why it matters to them!

  • Include Pictures

You may have heard that a picture is worth a thousand words, and it's never been truer than on your landing page. Remember that you need to craft a compelling offer for people who may not be ready to buy yet, so they'll understand the value of what you're offering and take action. You can include pictures or screenshots of some of your product features but don't get carried away with it. Too many images on your landing page will just slow down the load time and cause your visitors to leave.

  • Pay Attention To Your Analytics Data

Your design doesn't need to be perfect, but it does need to be clear. Remember that the only thing you're selling on this page is your product or service so everything else should support that goal. If there's any confusion over what your page is about, you'll lose a lot of conversions and reduce the effectiveness of your inbound marketing strategy.

The most important thing to remember when it comes to writing landing page copy is that different audiences look for different things. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that they all want or need the same things as your potential customers. You need to know who else is offering a similar product or service so you can position yourself as an alternative.

Always pay attention to your analytics data to see how people are interacting with your landing page. If they're leaving immediately after coming to it, something's wrong. You should have optimization goals set up to find out which elements are performing the best so you can adjust your copywriting accordingly.

With these tips, you should have the knowledge to create landing pages that will help take your business from good to great!

Get More Leads & Sales With Us

Now that you’ve learned how to create high-converting landing pages, it's time for the moment of truth. It's up to you whether or not your page will be a success! If this all sounds overwhelming and you're in need of assistance in developing your site, don’t hesitate to contact us at Sharp Tack Media. We offer free consultations where we can help guide you through different marketing strategies based on what best fits your business goals. Talk soon!

How To Pick One Marketing Channel

Each online marketing channel has a unique value proposition.

Pay-per-click (PPC) ads are great when you have a set budget and a limited amount of time to promote your business, for example. With PPC ads, you only pay when people click on your ad or add it into their search engine. However, if you are looking for a longer term solution, PPC ads might not be the best choice.

SEO is another very powerful marketing channel that focuses on organic traffic. With SEO, you need to spend time setting up your business' online operations and blogs so that search engines can find them easily. The idea behind an SEO campaign is that, if you spend time and energy on building highly valuable content for your audience over a long period of time, Google will reward you by sending more organic traffic to your site. This makes it possible to get top search engine results without paying for ads. However, SEO also takes a significant amount of time to yield any result; for this reason, many marketers focus on a single channel at a time.

Depending on your objectives and business' situation, it is very possible that by prioritizing one channel over another, you can achieve better results for you and your bottom line. Here are the pros and cons of choosing each marketing channel:

Pay-Per-Click Ads

Pros

Quick and easy to set up. PPC ads can get results faster than SEO. Good for short-term business objectives. Show clients that your company is active and willing to invest in their projects

Cons

Limited budget per campaign. You have to keep an eye on budgets at all times. Useless once your ads stop getting clicks. Always have to spend money when you might not have the budget

Search Engine Optimization

Pros

Can bring organic traffic to your site without paying for ads or even a website. Can help increase a brand's authority and make it easier to rank in the future. SEO campaigns can create a significant positive ROI once they get rolling.

Cons

Takes time to set up. SEO campaigns take a lot of work before yielding any results. Can be expensive depending on the number of backlinks you need to acquire

PPC Ads vs. SEO

For many businesses who do not have access to long term funds or who are looking for immediate results, PPC ads might be the most beneficial and profitable choice. For businesses who want to focus on one channel at a time, PPC ads can set an initial budget and give the business profit as soon as possible. However, it is important for businesses looking to continue investing in their online presence to choose SEO over PPC because it will yield better long term results.

If you are looking for specific results or if you want to invest in one channel at a time, consider the pros and cons of each marketing channel before choosing which is best suited for your business. Visit Sharp Tack Media for more articles like this one and avail our FREE consultation today.

Why Is It Important To Monitor Your Ranking?

If you're a small business owner, there's no doubt that you have a lot going on. Running a business doesn't leave much time to worry about the latest happenings in SEO and social media marketing. But with so many people using these platforms as their main source of information, it's important to stay up-to-date with what is happening – especially if your business relies heavily on digital marketing channels. If you want to be successful in this day and age of technology, then monitoring your rankings is imperative for any company that wants to grow and succeed.  

Here are five reasons why every small business should monitor their rankings.

  • To Track Progress in Online Marketing

With over two million new blog posts published each day, it's important that your company is staying up-to-date with the latest happenings in the world of SEO. Tracking your rankings can give you an idea of how much progress you're making in the digital world. By being aware of how your website is ranking on search engines, you can better understand your online marketing efforts.

  • To Avoid Being Caught Off-Guard

As a small business owner, it's important to know when you need to make changes to improve your rankings. Monitoring your rankings allows you to see the current state of your website, which helps you identify what might be holding back your site from ranking higher. When you're aware of how your site is currently performing on search engines, then you can make changes to improve its performance.

  • Know What People Are Saying About You

There are many ways to monitor your rankings, including webmaster tools and Google Alerts. By monitoring these channels regularly, you will be able to see how often people are mentioning your brand online (and potentially in traditional media). If something negative is said about your business that has the potential to turn customers away from your brand, you will have the opportunity to address their concerns and potentially offer them a solution.

  • Identify Opportunities

Monitoring your rankings can also help you identify new opportunities that would benefit your business. Some examples include:

  • Creating partnerships with like companies
  • Finding new referral sources
  • Discovering additional ways to expand your brand online
  • Track Your Competition

One of the best reasons to monitor your rankings is that you can also see what your competition is doing. If they are ranking higher than you, why? Are they taking advantage of social media marketing? Have they created more content recently? Are they targeting a different keyword? By monitoring your rankings, you will be able to see where they're winning and use that information to improve your own business.

In the modern age of internet marketing, it is necessary for all small businesses to monitor their rankings. If you want to grow your company and maximize your digital presence, then these are key steps in order to do so. If you want to learn more about how your small business can benefit from digital marketing, contact us at Sharp Tack Media today!

Have Backlinks That Google Loves

The struggle of getting backlinks, without being penalized by google is a real one. It's hard to make a website stand out in the search engines with all the competition and it's even harder when you can't get links from other websites. But there are actually some ways for small businesses to get free backlinks without risking their SEO status. Here is how you can still get high-quality backlinks without the risk of penalties by following these steps: 

  • Build An Authoritative Website

This means that your content should be unique and valuable to your audience. Avoid keyword stuffing and other strategies that might trick Google into thinking you're spammy. Instead, give people great content that they'll want to share on their social media channels or recommend to friends in person! 

  • Create A Press Release For Your Site

Most businesses have newsworthy content from time to time that would be of interest to publications in their local area or industry as a whole. And if you have a hunch that someone may write about your company, it's always good to be prepared! Your press release should include an eye-catching title, an engaging description of what the article is about with some exciting quotes from yourself or influencers. It should also include information about the who/what/where, when and why that is relevant to your company.

  • Highlight Your Best Content On Social Media. 

If you have a business that has written about some important or useful topic and it's gotten lots of great feedback, share the article with your audience and ask them to share the post too! This will help get more eyes on the article and make it easier for others to find it. 

  • Use Quality Blog Networks With High Domain Authority

If you are unable to get backlinks from other websites, there are still some trusted blog networks with high Domain Authority that will allow you to place your ads on their site in exchange for a link back to yours! These sites might be a bit more expensive than the others, but the backlinks are worth it. 

  • Give Value Through Blogging Posts

If you really want to gain quality backlinks, the best way to do it is by posting content on your blog! You can create a new post and link it from one of your social media channels; this will help boost visits to both your website and social media profile.

  • Write Guest Posts On Other Blogs Within Your Industry

Guest posts are a great way to get backlinks for your website, but it can mean that you have to give up some of your own content in the process. While this may be an issue for some businesses, many people actually see this as a positive because they want their website to be the “go-to” place for this particular topic.

Stop Getting Link Building Penalties

Sharp Tack Media can help you get backlinks without being penalized. Ready to take your website ranking and social media exposure to the next level? Our team of experts are ready and waiting to partner with you on a plan that will give your business the boost it needs while also maintaining Google’s trust in your site. Get started by availing our FREE consultation today!

Professional Reputation Management For Businesses

For some reason, small business owners think that they can get away with their reputation not being that important. This is why many of them are afraid of using digital marketing agencies to help them promote themselves online. There are two ways of looking at this issue:

The first one suggests that you should try working on your own business reputation because it's your responsibility. After all, if you don't promote yourself and you fail, nobody else is to blame but you. This way of thinking makes sense for small business owners who haven't really experienced failure yet and don't know what it feels like. However, the second perspective on this issue states that many people who think like this eventually become another statistic. The statistics of failed businesses show that most of them fail not because they aren't good at their work, but because the market failed to recognize what they had to offer. This is why thinking that you can manage your personal brand without help is naïve and why working with a professional digital marketing agency becomes vital for small business success.

This is the only way to see your business grow. If you want to be sure that your brand becomes recognized, there's no better way than working with a professional digital marketing agency. Basic online reputation management is not enough for this and here's why:

  • You Can't Manage It On Your Own

First of all, a digital marketing agency is a team of specialists. They only do the one thing that they're good at, and this allows them to dedicate all their efforts into making your brand become visible online. This means that whenever you want to increase your small business reputation , you'll be able to do it very quickly because your digital marketing agency partner will work on it 24/7.

  • It Works Even When You Don't

Digital marketing agencies know what it takes to make your business succeed online. They know what needs to be done and how this should be done in order for people to recognize, like and trust you more than your competitors. This is why if you work with an expert digital marketing agency , you'll get not just one or two tools that are guaranteed to bring you success, but a complete strategy.

  • It's Social Proof

Professional digital marketing agencies use social media in order to get your business online exposure. This is how they make people talk about you and like what they see when they search for you. Working with this type of agency can help you become a brand that's recognized online and that people are eager to support.

  • It's About Your Bottom Line

Many small business owners think that working with an expert digital marketing agency is too expensive for them, but the truth is that it pays off. The return on investment comes quickly and it's much bigger than you expected because this is how your business becomes more visible not just to everyone, but to the right people. If you're a small business owner and you know that your company belongs on top of search engine results pages, don't hesitate to work with a professional digital marketing agency straightaway. This way, not only will you get the help you need in growing your business, but you'll also work with people who are truly passionate about what they do.

How to Increase Your Business Reputation with Digital Marketing Agency

If you’re looking for a company who can help your business grow with the power of digital marketing, we are here to help. We have helped many businesses in our community become more successful by using modern ways to get their message out there on social media and internet search engines. At Sharp Tack Media, we know that every business is different. That's why we offer customized plans based on what will work best for your specific needs as well as budget constraints. Call us today because it takes less than 30 seconds!

Boost Your Website's Organic Ranking with a Simple Internal Linking Strategy

Internal linking is the act of hyperlinking one page of your website to another page on the same site. It's like telling Google “Hey, this other page you can find under this URL has some good stuff too!” It is the process of linking pages on your site so that one page can easily lead to another. This is important to Google and other search engines because it means that if a reader lands on one page and then clicks “next” (or you could say, the next page in line) they will not be taken out of your site. This helps maintain user engagement and ensures they can easily view multiple pages on your site without having to click their way through each page separately.

Benefits To Internal Linking

  • Helps with SEO (Search engine optimization) by giving more content for Google bots to crawl and index
  • Helps the user because it creates a bread crumb trail of where they are in your site so if they hit the Back button, or go through a couple links from social media, or bookmark an item then come back to that page later (or share that item/bookmark with someone else) they can still get back to where they were
  • Helps with navigation because it creates multiple, shorter paths that users/bots can follow within your site. If you have a lot of pages on one specific topic, internal linking lets Google's bots know about all the other relevant content so they don't just crawl the main page and ignore everything else.
  • Helps the user and Google's bots understand what is important, and thus will help with SEO
  • Helps with indexing so new content appears on Google sooner (because new content is linked from existing pages)

Best Practices for Internal Linking

Use Keywords In Your Internal Links

When linking from one page to another on your own site, it's important to use keywords wherever possible. The more descriptive you are, the more likely people will be to click on the link and follow it.

Make Them Clickable

If internal links are text that is underlined or blue then you are making them clickable. If they are just regular text, you are not allowing them to be clicked. Use blue or underlined text so people know exactly what is a link and can choose whether or not to follow it.

Use Images As Links

If the words in your links are hard for Google to read, find another way to make them clickable. One way is to use images instead of text for the links. For example, you might have your logo on each page and make that link back to the home page in some way.

Use Anchor Links

Use anchor links when linking between two separate pages. That just means adding “#” in front of the section you want to link to. So if someone is looking at the page you are linking to, they can simply click on “#here” and it will take them directly to that section on the other page you are linking to. This will help your site rank for long tail keywords by improving user experience.

Never Link Backwards

If Google crawls your site and there is a broken outgoing link, this can negatively affect your site's ranking. To prevent that from happening, ensure that any links on the pages you've created are pointing to other pages on your website and never backwards or to an external page that is not relevant to your topic.

Internal linking is the process of connecting one page on your website to another. The purpose? To increase traffic and enhance user experience by keeping them on your site for longer periods of time. If you're looking to improve internal linking, let us know! We'll be happy to provide a free consultation with our team of experts so that you can get started today. Contact Sharp Tack Media now before it's too late!

Local SEO Strategy Is Important

Does your small business take advantage of all the free information available to them? If not, they may be missing out on a great opportunity. The internet is vast and there are so many tools at their disposal that can help improve their local search engine optimization. In this article, we will discuss how you can take control of your own SEO.

Today, Google has over 77% of the internet market share in the United States. By using local SEO strategies on your website to optimize for locally related searches, you are putting yourself into a position to reach your target audience through relevant search results.

Google can be used as a very powerful tool for any business looking to reach new clients within their specific area. By using local SEO, you are optimizing for Google's local rankings which can give you a higher chance of getting your website up on the first page of search results. This is especially effective if you are trying to get new clients in your area who use mobile devices, such as an iPhone or Android, to find nearby businesses via search engines.

Google's local search results are displayed differently on mobile devices vs. desktop computers, so it is important to optimize accordingly if you want your website to show up for mobile searches. For example, the local rankings include many different factors when displaying results on a mobile device such as “prominence” or how well known your business is in the area, SSL certificates for mobile websites, and positive reviews.

When optimizing for Google's local rankings, it is important to understand the different factors that are taken into consideration when displaying results on a mobile device vs. a desktop computer. This will help you optimize your website accordingly to get your business higher up on the search engines ranks locally within certain areas.

The following are just a few of the free tools that can help you optimize your website for local rankings by providing relevant info to Google's algorithms.

  • Get Your Business Listed On Google My Business

If you do not have a listing for your business on Google, start here. If you already have a listing, make sure it is complete and up to date.

  • Optimize Your Website With Keywords

One way to optimize a blog post for local rankings is to include relevant city and state names in the article or within the title of the article. This can influence where that particular blog will rank when people search for specific cities or regions. Optimizing your website in this way can be a good practice, but it is important to not go overboard with keyword stuffing. Google's algorithms are becoming smarter and detecting when websites are being forced into the rankings by over-optimization.

  • Get Reviews For Your Business On Third-Party Websites 

Once you have listed your business on Google and optimized your website with keywords, it is time to start getting reviews for your company. This will provide positive feedback to the algorithms used in Google's local rankings.

  • Optimize Your Website For Mobile Devices

It is becoming increasingly important these days to have a website that displays properly on all different types of phones and tablets. 

Start Focusing On Local SEO 

If you are not familiar with what local SEO is, here are the basics. It is all about trying to get your company higher up in local search results within certain areas. When it comes to SEO, some people think that all you need is a website and your business will be on the first page of Google. This is true for national search results, but not so much when it comes to local listings. If you want to rank higher in searches like “restaurants near me” or “plumbers nearby” then you have to focus on local SEO strategies. A lot of businesses still don’t know about this strategy because they're more focused on rankings than actually getting new customers. Let Sharp Tack Media help educate your team with our free consultation service today!

Your Guide to Building Links

Link building is a method of boosting a web page's rank in search engine results by getting links from other websites to point at your web pages. This is especially important if you want to have a website that ranks high on Google, because Google looks for sites with the most relevant information when it comes to ranking content. In order for them to determine if your information is relevant, they look at the amount and quality of links pointing to that piece of content. This is why it's truly important that you build high-quality links with link building. Not only does this help keep your page relevant, but it also helps improve conversions. 

Why Do We Need To Build Links?

Link building is important for improving search engine rankings because it helps with page relevance. When you build links, your site gains more expertise in the eyes of Google by pointing to trusted sources that are relevant (other similar sites). 

Relevance and reliability are two of the major pillars that search engines look for when ranking websites, so building links is key to making it to first page rankings. It's important, though, that you build high-quality links only! Spammy links will be penalized by Google.

What Are The Benefits of Getting Links?

  • Provides Credibility 

Getting links from highly-qualified sources adds credibility to your website. Google looks for sites that are most relevant, so if you have relevant sites linking back to yours, it's more likely that you'll rank higher in search engine results pages.

  • Increases Conversions 

As people visit your site and see the content that is available, the more likely they are to convert. Link building helps with conversions because it's an effective way to get people interested in your product or service by providing them with high-quality information that they can trust. This is important for improving sales, leading to more income and higher revenues.

  • Boosts Traffic

Links help boost traffic because as people visit your site, they're more likely to come back. In fact, it's been said that once a website gets ranked highly on Google, it can take years for another site to outrank them. This is because the number of links pointing at your content provides longevity in page rankings. Link building helps you achieve this by providing your site with the means to stay relevant in years to come.

  • Enhances User Experience

Good link building helps improve user experience by providing them with trusted sources that help them get their problems solved or questions answered. When you solve a problem for a visitor, they're more likely to come back and visit again if they have another issue, leading to higher conversions (and more revenue). 

  • Becomes Easier

Link building is very important in the early stages of starting up your website, but after time it actually becomes easier. This is because you already have sources that link back to your site and with time, you can create new content with better keywords, leading to higher rankings.

What Type of Links To Look For?

The type of links that you want to build are contextual links. These are links that point back to your site from another website with relevant content. This is what Google looks for because the more relevant the link, the more likely it's going to help with your rankings.

Start Building Your Links With Us

Link building is a powerful SEO technique that can help your business reach new customers and generate more leads. It involves strategically acquiring links from other websites to improve the ranking of your website in search engines like Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.  We know all about link building services—the good, the bad and the ugly side of it. And Sharp Tack Media got some great ideas on how you can use this strategy for your business! Interested? Give us a call or email us today for a free consultation so we can get started helping you grow your online presence with our proven methods.

Your Brand Is More Than A Logo

Brand voice is a term that many marketers are beginning to hear more about. But what does your brand’s personality mean? It’s more than just catchphrases, it has to do with how you interact.

Is your brand known for being wacky and fun? Or are you more friendly and informative? Every business or company is different, so each should have a unique tone of voice that reflects their personality and the way they like to interact with current and potential customers.

Brand voice is the feeling of the company or product, and it’s how people see your message or advertisement as an extension of their brand . If you talk to someone over the phone, they can get a feel of your personality, and if you’re marketing through an advertisement, the same thing applies. This is why it’s important for your brand to establish its online personality.

Brand voice is an important part of online marketing because it allows the consumer to connect with a company or product on a deeper level – creating a stronger bond. If you have a strong connection with your customer, they’re much more likely to keep buying from you and refer friends and family to try out your products.

But How Does One Go About Developing A Brand Voice? 

  1. Know what your brand represents
  2. Take inventory of your current advertising efforts to determine whether or not they mesh with your actual values as a company
  3. Begin to build your voice around these values

Let’s Take A Look At Each Step In More Detail Now

Step 1: Know What Your Brand Represents

This means answering questions about who it is for, what they aspire to be, and what are the things that it stands for . This ensures that you know what you’re trying to say with your brand voice.

Step 2: Take Inventory of Your Current Advertising Efforts

You should take inventory of things like tone, language, and type of messaging currently being used in current advertisements. Is it the same as what you defined in step 1? If not, how can you use these findings to improve your brand’s voice?

Step 3: Begin to Build Your Voice Around These Values

Now that you know the things your brand stands for and how it is perceived in current advertisements, what can you do to improve it? What should be added or removed in order to build a consistent brand voice?

It might be helpful to take inventory of your brand’s personality. Is your voice quirky?

Is it more serious? And remember, you want to make sure that the language you use is something that people within your target audience will understand.

Developing a clear brand voice helps connect customers with who you are as a company, which ultimately will help you generate more leads and conversions.

That’s It!

You’ve got a brand, but is it the right one for your company? It could be that you need to rethink how you are presenting yourself online. Maybe your branding isn’t strong enough or congruent with what customers expect of you. Whatever the case may be, don't worry! Our web design team here at Sharp Tack Media has had success in helping companies craft their own unique internet identity through custom web design projects and more. If this sounds like something up your alley, give us a call today!

Attract Customers With A Small Business Website

If you're a small business owner, you know that your first responsibility is to keep the lights on. You've got enough on your plate without having to worry about marketing and sales. That's where a web design company comes in with two ways for small businesses to convert traffic into customers! 

Paid advertising

Facebook Ads are one of the most cost-effective ways to advertise online with an average click through rate of .06%. It's not just free clicks either; these ads can be set up so they only display when users are interested in what you have to offer. 

Content Marketing

Blogs, infographics, eBooks, videos–content marketing relies on publishing high quality information that people will want to read or watch for free. If you've got the goods, people will share them with their friends and family. What's more is that this free content can be repurposed into paid ads like white papers or eBooks for sale on your website. Content marketing converts traffic into relationships with potential customers who are eager to do business with you when they need it!

Paid advertising and content marketing are a great way for small businesses to get their product in front of people who want to buy right now, but our real goal is leads. We don't want to make a sale out of every thousand impressions or clicks, we want to get new email subscribers or phone calls from potential customers that may be ready to do business with us at some point down the road. That's where SEO and Social Media come in!

Search Engine Optimization

It is the process of getting your website to rank highly on Google and other search engines for certain keywords that people are typing into search bars. This has been a great way to get potential customers looking at your website because they were already searching for your business. There are two ways to use SEO in the small business world; rising tides and diverging paths, which can work together or independently of each other depending on your budget.

Rising Tides

If you already have a website for your small business, chances are it's optimized at least somewhat for local search such as keywords in the business name, address, phone number, etc. You can use paid ads to drive traffic to your website when people search locally for your product or service. As they visit your website and see what you have to offer, follow up with free content marketing opportunities! 

Diverging Paths

If you don't have a website yet, or if your site isn't optimized for local search, create one with the express purpose of putting information out there that people want to find. This can be done by offering valuable content in the form of blogging, infographics, eBooks and videos. The goal is to get as many people as possible sharing your content so you start getting social media referrals from all over the world. With great content and a little paid marketing, you can build your small business' brand to the point where people are actively seeking out more information on their own rather than waiting for Google to send them your way.

Convert Traffic Into Customers With Us

So there you have it; two simple strategies that any small business can use to get more of their target audience to become aware, interested, and engaged with their company to the point where they're ready to buy. It takes time and effort, but it's well worth it in the end. No one said that business is easy, but we can do what we can, when we can, and as often as we can to make our small businesses grow.

If you're ready to increase your conversion rates and get more customers, contact us here at Sharp Tack Media for a free consultation. We'll discuss how we can improve the user experience of your site with copywriting changes or website design adjustments so that it's easier for visitors to find what they want and convert into buyers!

5 SEO Outsourcing Mistakes You Should Avoid

Outsourcing SEO has taken the Internet marketing world by storm, with more and more businesses turning to outside help for performing certain tasks. There are many benefits to outsourcing your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. But in this article, let’s look at some of the most common mistakes companies make when outsourcing their SEO and how you can avoid making these same mistakes.

  • Focusing Too Much On Getting Rankings And Not Enough On Building Links

One of the first things many people think about when they hear “SEO” is rankings. The problem with this line of thinking is that it fails to take into account that rankings are just one part of a larger equation: building links. To build traffic and revenue the way you want, you also need to do two things: get people linking to your site organically (through good content) and get other sites to publish links back to yours (usually through some kind of promotional offer).

  • Failing To Keep Tabs On Outsourced SEO

Many outsourcers will claim that their process is “white-hat,” which simply means that it follows the rules of Google and other search engines perfectly. While this might be true in some cases, you can’t always trust an outsourcer to properly follow the rules. One of the biggest problems with SEO outsourcing is that before long you start to lose control over how your website ranks and what kind of traffic it’s driving.

  • Ignoring Technical SEO Issues

This is a common mistake made by companies that outsource their SEO is that they ignore certain technical issues with their website. Even if you hire the best SEO firm on the planet, they’re not going to do a whole lot for your website if it has issues like this that prevent Google from crawling all of your pages. While these won’t necessarily hurt your rankings, they can prevent Google from properly indexing your website, which in turn hurts your overall organic search visibility.

  • Not Knowing What You Want to Achieve

The problem with many outsourced SEO firms is that they’re quick to promise huge rankings and lots of traffic, even though there’s no way they can know what it will take to achieve them. This is why it’s important to have a clear list of keywords that you want your SEO firm to target, along with a set of rankings that must be achieved within specific timeframes.

  • Not Considering The ROI Of Outsourced SEO

When you hire an outsourcer, they’ll usually charge a monthly fee for their services; however, these fees can be so expensive that it takes forever to break even. If you don’t properly account for the time it takes to break even, then it’s easy to run into serious problems with your outsourcer.

Start SEO Outsourcing Today!

You’ve read this far, it means that SEO outsourcing is something in which you are interested- or at least curious about. You may be wondering what mistakes to avoid when hiring an outsourcer for your business. If you’re looking for a reliable and trustworthy SEO partner, contact us today. We'll help you avoid the most common mistakes in outsourcing your work. Contact Sharp Tack Media today with any questions or concerns – our team of experts will be happy to provide free consultation services!

Quality Content Is The Foundation Of SEO Success

Content optimization is essential for start-ups because it helps your product appeal to the people you're trying to sell it to and helps attract new customers. It's also a way of search engine optimization services, which makes your website more visible.

When writing content for an online platform, there are three things you need to keep in mind:

1. Create Engaging Content

Engaging content is the best way to increase your views and get more people to share it. The information has to be engaging and entertaining, for starters. This will keep people engaged with your product longer and make them more likely to share it. The information has to be thorough. Don't leave anything out, and don't skimp on details – because your potential customers won't appreciate it if you do! 

Another technique to produce more engaging content is by bolding text or using bullet points. This practice can help to highlight important information more easily.

Your content has to be specific to your target audience. You have to know who you're talking about and what they would like to see from your product. This will help them identify with it more, ultimately increasing your customer’s likelihood of sharing it. You have to know what they want for this article writing idea to work!

Quality over quantity means that quality content is the best way to increase your views (and, therefore, your revenue). It would be best if you tried to create less content of higher quality. A few well-crafted articles with appropriate keywords are more likely to bring in traffic than a lot of poorly written content.

2. Utilize Keywords

It would be best to target a keyword or phrase relevant to your product, but don't overdo it. If you're only trying to appeal to SEO rankings by stuffing keywords into your copy, you're going to lose people.

You need to include different variations for your keywords. This will help increase the likelihood that search engines can find your product based on specific searches. It also enables you to expand your market by appealing to more customers since it's not completely limited to the word or phrase you initially targeted.

For example, suppose you made an app that helps people find local restaurants. In that case, your keywords might be “local restaurant” or “finding local restaurants.” Suppose you included variations of your keywords. In that case, you might say something like this: “Looking for a new place to eat around here? Our app is free, and it's as easy as 1-2-3 to find a great local restaurant.”

Top Content Optimization Services For Small Businesses

Content optimization is essential for start-ups because it helps your product appeal to the people you're trying to sell it to and attracts new customers. It's also a way of search engine marketing yourself, which makes your website more visible.

Our expert team at Sharp Tack Media can help you with content optimization. We know how to make your product more appealing and increase the likelihood of people sharing it with others.

Which is right for your business?

If we take a good look at today’s scenario it would be clear to us that designing and developing mobile friendly websites is no longer an option. Having a website which doesn’t support mobile type will make your site extremely difficult to view on smaller screens. Responsive designs are gaining prominence as improved technology has made browser devices more advanced and it is now part of everyone’s online strategy. 

The good news is that many web developers are now working to make their sites mobile friendly and responsive. But, in this race of becoming mobile friendly, there are some factors which need to be kept in mind before designing the user interface. Here we will discuss these factors.

First Thing First: What Could Be The Requirements Or Benefits Of Mobile App Development?

If your project scope involves: offline usage, multiple device types and features, more control over the user experience, and high-level security then it is good to go for a Mobile Application Development. 

However, a website which is mobile friendly offers some substantial benefits to the business owners as well as users. No matter whether you are developing your site from scratch or redesigning one, it is important that if you want to make it mobile friendly then you must go for a responsive design.

On the other hand, a mobile app is a powerful tool which provides exceptional user experience and that too without any efforts from your side. Installing an app from an e-store makes it available with all operating systems and thus there are no compatibility issues as well. You will be able to view it on your PC as well as all mobile devices.

With mobile app development, you can make use of push notifications which will notify users about new updates or events on a real-time basis making it a powerful tool. But developing an app requires a huge time and money investment from your side.

So keeping these things in mind, if you want to make your business site mobile-friendly and responsive, we recommend you to go for a Mobile Friendly Web Design.

Why A Responsive Design Is More Favorable Than A Mobile App

A responsive web design can be used to provide better user experience on any device without making additional investments in apps and updates. A responsive web design will cost significantly less of your time and money investment compared to a mobile app development. There is no need to develop a separate website for the mobile app which will require a lot of time and money. Compared to building a mobile app, responsive design is much easier and faster to implement because it only requires the designing of one site that can transform itself into different layouts depending on screen size.

A version built specifically for smartphones will have limited ability as compared to a regular website. Meanwhile, responsive designs are up to date and always compatible with the latest technologies while mobile apps need frequent updates and may not be compatible with older systems or devices. A responsive site will work regardless of the type of device used, making it more accessible to users.

Building an app requires you to attract your target audience and convince them to download the app upon release which is not possible for every business. On the contrary, a responsive site can provide information about new updates and events without any effort from your end. A good user interface can be enough to convince people to visit your site.

Finally, a responsive design is the only way to make your site mobile-friendly which provides exceptional user experience while a mobile app is only one of many ways.

Hope this article has helped you in understanding the benefits of responsive web design vs. development of an app for business purposes. If you need any further clarifications or have any questions, then feel free to contact our support team here at Sharp Tack Media! 

White Hat SEO Techniques That Will Get You Great Rankings On Google Today

If you're not an SEO expert, the words “white hat” might sound a little strange. But if you've been struggling to earn traffic for your website and just want to know what's working now, this blog post is for you! In it, we'll cover what white hat SEO techniques are and why they work so well. 

What Are White Hat SEO Techniques?

It is an umbrella term that refers to ethical, high-quality link building. At their core, white hat SEO techniques are tactics that abide by search engine rules and regulations as well as strict guidelines for links. Meanwhile, black hats will try to scam Google and earn links that don't actually help their rankings. The main difference between white hat link building and black hat tactics is that white hats always get results without breaking the rules or worrying about getting penalized.

What Makes White Hat SEO Techniques So Effective?

The fact that white hats are using methods within Google's guidelines means that they'll work even better than many older link building strategies. Google has a lot to track and keep up with, especially when it comes down to the latest link-building schemes black hats come up with. White hat techniques have been battle tested. The better white hat SEO techniques take advantage of the methods that Google knows work and then use those same tactics to build even more links.

Why Do White Hat SEO Techniques Work?

White-hat link building gets results because it works just like all good marketing should: by targeting your customers and prospects with relevant content. The best white hat strategies are optimized for people first and then search engines second. This means that they're using natural optimization techniques that lead search engines to the pages you want them to see, which is why it's better than any black hat SEO tactic you might come across.

Why Should I Use White Hat SEO Techniques?

White hats only use legitimate optimization methods that abide by search engine rules, which means that there's no risk of penalties or frustrations at a later date. Although some of these methods might seem like they take more time than others, using white-hat SEO is actually much faster in the long run. Using black hat tactics might seem like an easy solution but it's only a matter of time before you run into problems with search engines or other websites owners who are upset you violated their terms of service. White hats don't need to worry about these issues; they can focus on their customers and make sure that the work they do benefits everyone who comes across it.

How Can I Use White Hat Techniques?

There are countless ways to use white hat SEO and here are some of the best white hat techniques you can use to improve your marketing:

  • Building links naturally through content creation and outreach, not spammy email or comment link requests
  • Using on-page optimization that targets people first by making sure your site is mobile friendly and helps users find what they're looking for quickly and easily
  • Optimizing for local searches and taking advantage of local search tools to help you get better results
  • Combining social media and content marketing with onsite optimization by creating a mixture of evergreen and time sensitive posts that work together to attract more customers
  • Using tools like Google Analytics and Google Webmaster Tools to identify problems and fix them

If you're looking for a solid way to get natural, consistent traffic on your site, the best solution is always going to be white hat SEO techniques. And here at Sharp Tack Media, we offer SEO services that are built on data-driven SEO or white hat techniques. If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to reach out and take advantage of our free consultation today! 

Your Website Is Your Online Business Card

If you're like most business owners, your website is the first point of contact for your customers and prospects. It's also a major factor in how they perceive your company and their overall experience with you. And if it's not easy to find what they want on your site or there are too many steps involved, that can be frustrating for them and lead them to go elsewhere. That means lost revenue for you! 

That's why you need a website design that works for you.

A properly designed, well-functioning site is vital to your success. That means it must be fast and easy for your customers to find what they're looking for quickly, get the information they're seeking without too many clicks or obstacles, and then complete their transactions. It should look great and give your company a professional image. It should draw visitors in, make it easy for them to get the information they want and to contact you for more information or to make a purchase.

Every day, more and more of your customers are going online to find a business like yours. As a result, they're expecting more from the websites they visit—and that includes you. They want it easy to use, attractive and filled with useful content written for your target market. Plus, if you have an e-commerce site, it should be easy to use and secure.

How can you make sure your site is effective? Investing in a small business website design company should be part of your online marketing plan, especially if you're looking at other digital marketing services like SEO or PPC (pay-per-click). Without the right expertise, it's like trying to do your own dental work. You can do it, but you're likely to miss something important.

With so much potential riding on the outcome of your website—and with so many bad websites out there—you need to know what makes a great site and how to find an expert who will deliver the results you need.

Your Website Needs

  • A site that is mobile-friendly and works on any device (desktop, laptop, tablet, phone) so your customers can find what they need no matter where they are
  • Easy navigation to make it simple to get around the site, even for people who aren't familiar with your industry
  • A design that makes your visitors feel welcome and comfortable
  • The ability to easily update your site yourself, so you can quickly make changes as needed without worrying about hiring an expensive web designer
  • An effective call to action that drives visitors to take the next step with you

We Create Websites That Work For You

At Sharp Tack Media, we create websites that work for you. We'll design a site that is both beautiful and easy to navigate, so your customers will have a great experience from start to finish. Our sites are mobile-friendly and can be easily edited yourself. They also employ the latest SEO (Search Engine Optimization) techniques to drive more traffic to your site. And they are all custom-designed to reflect your brand.

We'll show you how to make it easy for your customers to find what they want, start a transaction and complete it—how to turn visitors into paying customers. We'll also give you tips on using social media effectively so you can engage with prospects and nurture relationships that result in sales. Let Sharp Tack Media show you how to get a website that works for you!

SEO & IA: The Key to Success

An information architecture (IA) refers to how people organize their web pages by links and titles so users can easily understand the structure of a website. It is the way you organize your website to make it easy for people to find what they are looking for.  Google and other search engines make use of the way your valuable information is organized as a sign of how people will find content on it.  Not only will people be able to find content more easily on your website, but Google will reward you with better placement and higher ranks in search results. The key to having good information architecture is making it obvious for users how they can get around your website and find what they're looking for.  

Learn more about the basic best practices you can apply to your site's information architecture to optimize for both humans and search engines.

Be Consistent

If you are using a certain naming structure for your pages, don't use another one. Keep it simple and make sure all of your titles are the same. For example if every page on the site has “(page-name)” in its title then do that everywhere. The more consistent your site is, the easier it will be for both you and your visitors.

Use Short Titles

It's important to use short titles so that web crawlers can actually read them and understand what they are linking to. The title of a page should not be longer than 70 or 80 characters (including spaces). Google displays only this much in its search results.

Long Titles are Hard to Read

Long titles can be hard for humans to read as well. If the title is too long, try shortening it or combining separate keywords into one word. For example instead of “Grandma's Homemade Jams and Preserves Recipe” you might go with “Homemade Jams and Preserves”.

Put the Most Important Keyword First

This is one of Google's newest search engine ranking factors. It states that if your page contains only keywords without any context, you are less likely to be ranked highly for those keywords. Put your most important keyword first and use it in sentences rather than as a string of words separated by commas.

Secure Your Pages

Google will not crawl or index your site if you have security enabled on your web server. Ensure that everything is working properly by putting up a temporary “Under Construction” page so you can see if Googlebot visits your site at all. If it doesn't, you are probably experiencing some sort of security issue.

Keep Your Content Unique

Make sure that the content on your site is unique and not duplicated anywhere else. Google understands when you are using information from another source but it doesn't want to see it more than once or twice on your website. This will make a huge difference in how well your pages rank.

Learn The Latest Best Practices For Information Architecture

If you’re not sure how to structure your content for an SEO-friendly website or what the best practices are when it comes to information architecture, we can help! Sharp Tack Media offers free consultations that will give you a thorough understanding of our process and show you how simple it is. So if you want more traffic coming in from search engines, don't wait another minute before contacting us. You won't regret it!

What Is Your Brand's Personality?

A brand is an important part of any business. It's the face you show to your customers, and it can be hard to maintain when you're juggling so many other things. Whether you're just starting out or have been in the game for decades, developing your own personal style and voice will only lead to more success. And if you're reading this, you're probably wondering what your company is doing to stand out in the digital age. You may have tried some traditional marketing tactics like TV or radio ads, but don't want to spend a fortune on those forms of advertising for one segment of your target audience. If so, online branding could be the answer. 

Read more to know how to build yourself into a recognizable figurehead, check out these Elements of Effective Branding: 

  • Express Yourself Honestly

While you don't want to promote yourself in a negative light, it's important to be upfront and honest about who you are and what you offer. If there's something that makes your business unique or different from the rest, highlight it! Everyone has different skills and talents; find out what they are and let them shine. You don't have to put on a facade or pretend to be something you're not. If your business is targeted towards children, paint your walls pink and stock up on toys! Wear bright colors and talk with enthusiasm about all the fun things you offer. If it's a bakery, use words like “delicious” and “sweet.” Get people interested and curious by focusing on the details and benefits.

  • Be Unique

No one likes a copycat, so make sure your brand is all your own! You can take inspiration from other successful businesses or models, but don't try to recreate their success. Instead, use those as building blocks for something better and bigger than before. People will be drawn to your unique spin on the world, and that's something you can't buy or fake. 

  • Communicate With Your Audience

It seems like a simple concept, but most people forget to do it! When creating an effective brand, stay positive and keep the lines of communication open with everyone who interacts with you. Whether it's a short Facebook post, a witty Instagram photo or a formal business email, make sure you're making connections with your community. It'll be a sad day when the only words from you are “delinquent” and “overdue.”

  • Build A Solid Foundation

You need to lay down some groundwork before you can start thinking about growing your business. When developing a brand, you need to set up some essential elements that keep the momentum going. A strong foundation can be created through your website, logo, color schemes and overall style. Make sure everything ties in together so it's easier for customers to recognize you when they see you out in public or on another website.

  • Know Your Competition

One of the best ways to establish your brand and find your voice is by examining other successful businesses in your industry. Analyzing their marketing strategies and techniques can be a great resource for inspiration–and you might learn something along the way. Odds are, there will always be someone who has what you want–and by looking at their past, you can better predict their future.

  • Be Genuine And Authentic

When attempting to build your brand and spread your ideas, remember that it's way more effective when done honestly. Don't say something just because you think it'll get people talking; focus on what you believe in and let your audience know why you're passionate about your message. Remember that successful businesses are driven by genuine individuals who speak their mind and stay true to themselves. 

We have been working with small businesses for over 10 years and we know how important branding is to a successful business. If you're interested in learning more about how Sharp Tack Media can help with either creating or maintaining your company's digital presence, please contact us! With our team of experts at hand, it won't be long before your online visibility skyrockets! Are there any other questions you have?

Increase Sales and Visibility With Our Custom Web Design Process

You may have heard that the internet is a big place with trillions of websites. You might be thinking that your business can't compete with all these existing sites, but you'd be wrong! With custom website design, you are guaranteed to have an original site for your company. Custom website design can be an excellent tool for any small business because of its ability to allow for specific customization. Read more to learn more about how custom web design can really take your company to the next level!

Video

Video adds a human element to any website to your website. Video is one of the best ways to connect with your customers and show them exactly what you do. It is also beneficial in advertising, because it might help increase conversion rates for your business., so try having videos of your workers talking about the services you offer.

E-Commerce

Custom web design can also be helpful with e-commerce. For example, if your small business is online only and sells items, then custom web design could allow for a shopping cart to be added to your site. The advantage of this approach is that you don't have to use a pre-made cart and you can use your own cart to sell things on your website.

Blog

Custom web design will allow for a blog on the site. This is a great way to connect with customers as well as show off what you do if it's not readily apparent from the website itself. In fact, many websites now have a video about their company and a blog – which is an excellent way to connect with your customers and potential clients.

Social Media

Custom web design can also incorporate social media, like Facebook or Twitter. This can be useful for many businesses because it makes it easy for you to share information about your company on the social networks that people use everyday. With this feature, you can make it super easy for your customers to share your content with their friends. That can lead to more exposure and business for your website. The prices of custom web design are often far less than people think, which gives your company the chance to get a great site without spending all that much money.

No matter what your company does, custom web design will make your website stand out in the midst of the trillions of sites on the Internet. If you want to be able to capture your audience quickly and effectively, then doing things with custom web design is a must. Custom web design will set you apart from the competition and help to get your company name out there!

In today's market, it can be more important than ever for a small business to have an online presence. If possible, companies should try to have a website where people can learn all about their products and services. Custom web design can be an excellent tool for any company that wants to develop a strong online presence.

Customize Your Website

Small businesses can benefit greatly from custom web design. Make sure to get your website designed by a professional who knows what they're doing, and you will be able to get an exclusive site that enhances your business' image. With custom web design, you are guaranteed to have an original site for your business. 

Interested in making your business more successful? Custom web design can help you accomplish this goal. Sharp Tack Media already helped hundreds of businesses just like yours get the online presence they deserve, so contact us for a free consultation to find out how we can do the same for you!

How To Achieve Results In Your Business

So you've decided to try your hand at internet marketing. Great news! Now the only thing you have to do is figure out what makes people want to read your stuff. Businesses should place a high priority on improving their Internet marketing strategies because it's one of the best ways to gain exposure, improve customer loyalty and increase profits. Here are internet marketing tactics for small businesses:

  • Use Your Customer's Language

As you create content for your site, make sure to use the language that speaks directly to your target audience. It may be a pain to constantly rewrite a post or a sales page just because you don't want to use the word “discount,” but it will ultimately help improve traffic and conversions.

  • Optimize For Search Engines

If you're looking to attract new customers, make sure your site is optimized for search engines. Google and other search engines look at factors such as keywords and page rank when returning results, so make sure these elements are included on your pages if you want people to find them.

  • Make A Company Blog

If you want to attract new customers through your site, make a company blog and use it to publish quality content related to your product or services. Google and other search engines look at the number of links that point back to a particular site when determining its rank, so the more relevant sites that link to yours, the higher your site will rank when someone searches for your product or services.

  • Use Social Media Sites

More and more people are using social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter every day, so it only makes sense to take advantage of these sites in order to attract new customers. To improve customer loyalty and increase traffic, create a business page on these sites and use it to publish content that your customers will find interesting.

  • Offer An Email Newsletter

One of the best internet marketing tips for small businesses is to offer a free email newsletter that customers can sign up for on your website. Just be sure not to spam people with too many emails, or else they might get annoyed and unsubscribe.

  • Write Guest Posts

The more people write about your product or services on other popular sites, the more traffic you will get to your site. So one of the best internet marketing tips for small businesses is to look for reputable blogs related to your industry and offer to write a guest post for them.

  • Make Videos

Videos can help teach your customers about your product and services, and they also make it easier to rank in search engines since you can upload a video directly rather than having to write out pages and pages of content. Search engines such as Google prioritize video sites such as YouTube, so getting one of your videos to rank on the first page could help you attract hundreds or even thousands of new customers.

  • Comment On Others' Sites

Don't be afraid to leave comments on other people's sites related to your industry, especially if what you have to say is relevant and interesting. Since search engines look for links between different sites, a comment on a reputable site related to your industry will help you attract new customers.

  •  Be A Resource

If people can go to one of your pages and learn about the latest news in your field, they will be more likely to visit your site again in the future when they have additional questions or need more information on a subject. 

  • Add An FAQ Section

FAQ sections are a great way to provide all the answers to any questions that potential customers might have about your industry, as well as help search engines such as Google return more accurate results since they include relevant content.

Internet marketing can be baffling for many new entrepreneurs. What steps should you take to get the most out of your online presence? If any of this sounds too complicated, contact us! Sharp Tack Media offers free consultations; we’re here to help make your business successful and grow with the digital age. 

The Secret To Stand Out From The Crowd

How are your branding efforts going? Are you getting the results that you want? If not, it may be time to rethink your marketing strategy. One of the most important aspects of marketing is using imagery to represent your company. This can be done by posting relevant images on social media. It's worth taking some time to think about how people perceive your brand and what they would like to see more of if they were shopping for products or services that fit into this category. 

If your brand is looking for ways to have higher rankings and more leads, then you need to make sure that you’re focused on doing so through visual platforms and relevant text. We'll go over ways to improve upon any current branding efforts so that you can get better results!

The Importance Of Visuals

It should come as no surprise that visuals are the way to go when you want people to remember your brand. After all, it's much easier to identify things if they're properly labeled. Without captivating imagery, it would be impossible to convey who you are and what products or services you offer. You can always go the easy route and use stock photography for all of your postings, but you can also hire an actual photographer or videographer to take compelling visuals that represent who you are as a business. This is one of the best ways to make sure that you're tapping into the benefits of social media marketing if you use images that are engaging.

Let's Talk About Text

Once you've decided that images are going to play an important role in your branding efforts, it's time to think about some text content. If you're not thinking about this, you might end up with something like a logo that doesn't really say anything. While this is better than nothing, it can be porous if your audience looks for deeper meaning.

The best way to approach text content is by having some basic information on hand so that you have something to fall back on when the time comes. This includes the location of your business, some basic facts about the customers that you serve, and anything else that's relevant as well as consistent. This is where you can get creative if you want to convey vibes or messages through text. 

Back It Up With Engagement

One of the most important aspects of any marketing campaign is engagement. If you're able to drive positive attention to your brand, then it will be much easier to gain traction. This doesn't mean that you should post anything and everything on social media, though. When users see that they can interact with your content, they'll be more inclined to do so. 

The Final Word on Success

Having visuals that are engaging is important, but it's equally vital to include text that's interesting. Being able to spell everything out for your audience can make it much easier to get eyes on your brand. Without this, you might end up with something bland that won't really stick in the minds of customers. When you're able to accomplish both goals at the same time, you'll see a rise in traffic and conversions. This can be the difference between a successful brand and something that doesn't do much in the way of promotion. If your content is compelling enough to stand out among other businesses in your industry, then you're going to have no problem getting people talking about it. If your brand is able to stand out among other similar businesses, it will help you gain more traction than ever before. 

So, Is Your Branding Working? 

If so, congratulations! You’ve got it all figured out and we can help you keep up the good work. But if not – don’t worry! It doesn’t mean that what you're doing isn't right or wrong; just that maybe there are some things about how people think and process information that might be worth trying to incorporate into your marketing strategy. Sharp Tack Media could offer insight on how best to make use of our services in order to better reach your goals. Have a free consultation with us today! 

Does Your Business Have A Website? 

If you don't, then you're missing out on a huge opportunity for getting customers in the door. You may be thinking “well I'm not really that big of a company,” but even small businesses need to invest in their online presence these days! This article will provide some tips and tricks on how to get people coming through your door from your website. Let's get started!

  • Keep Your Pages Under Four Minutes

This is a big one! Unfortunately, most websites are over three minutes in length, and they will leave the viewer wanting to click away from your page before it's done. If you keep all of your pages under four minutes long, then people will be much more likely to actually watch them in their entirety.

  • Add Videos To Your Website

Videos are HUGE right now! If you want to keep people's attention for longer, then adding a video to your page is essential. Watching a video on something (brushing teeth, shaving faces, drinking whiskey) can relieve boredom and make viewers more comfortable with the content they're reading.

  • Include Infographics On Your Blog Posts

This is similar to adding videos to your website, but it's different because it can help readers visualize something or expand upon an idea you're trying to get across with the text you wrote. The goal of infographics (which can be either static images or GIFs) is to help your website seem refined and professional, which is great for improving customer's first impressions.

  • Add Testimonials To Your Website

People want to know what other people think of you before they're willing to give you their own money! Include testimonials with real names attached to them on every page of your site so that people know you're who they think you are.

  • Integrate social media into your pages

Make sure that you integrate social media into all of your website's pages to get more eyeballs on your content (and on yourself) which will lead to new customers.

  • Give Free Samples And Gifts Away

This is a big one: give your customers free stuff! How can they resist? Plus, nothing brings people in like the phrase “free gift” or “free sample.” If you don't believe us, go to your local fruit stand and say that they would hook you up if you gave them your email address. They will hook you up with free stuff, and people love some free stuff!

  • Offer Coupons

People always want a good deal, so make sure that you offer coupons on your website for at least 20% off to get more customers coming in through your door. It's also a wise idea to post the expiration date clearly so that people know there's a limited time to take advantage of your coupon.

  • Have An Up-To-Date Calendar On Your Blog

If something is happening at your business, make sure that you tell people about it! Post an updated calendar with all of the upcoming events, product releases, and sales that are happening at your business. People love to know what's coming up, and they will often go to your website for this sort of information before they make a purchase.

  • Show Off Your Products Or Services

People like knowing what you're offering them, so it's important to show off your items on all of your website's pages. If you have a new product that hasn't been released or are offering a limited time special, then make sure that people know about it!

  • Keep Your Website Simple

Last but not least, keep things simple on your website. People aren't going to spend all day on your site unless you have a really awesome product, so it's important to keep your site streamlined and easy to navigate. 

So, how can you best get customers coming in your door? One way is to be the only store that knows their needs. We’d love to offer you a free consultation and show you first-hand how we work! What else does your company or business need right now? Let Sharp Tack Media help and ensure success at every turn!

Setting up a website can be daunting if you've never done it before – there's so much information out there about what hosting service to use, what type of site builder would work best for your needs, which domain name is the right one but don't worry! We’ll break down all those decisions into easy steps that will have your new website live in no time.

What Should The Purpose Of My Website Be?

The first thing you need to do is sit down and think about why you're setting up a website in the first place. Is it because your business needs an online presence, or did you create a company purely for the sake of having a web portal? Do you own the domain name free and clear? Are you using social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to advertise your products and services? If so, get ready to set up pages for these internally linked profiles on your new site.

How Should I Go About Finding A Website Design Company?

Now that you know why you want a website, it's time to start looking for the right team of designers and programmers. Perhaps try putting out an open request on social media asking your friends and followers if they have any recommendations for small business web design companies. If all else fails, try Googling “best small business web design company” and go from there.

What Features Should My Site Have?

Your website could have anything from a basic blog to a custom-built ecommerce platform. A great place to start when planning your site is by asking how you want to be perceived: do you want to look like a premium brand, or more of an affordable and approachable company? Do you deal in a product that demands regular customer feedback and reviews? 

How Should I Get My Website Hosted?

Once you've chosen a web design company, it's time to talk about hosting. Will your new site be accessible via mobile devices like phones and tablets? If so, make sure that your host offers mobile site functionality. How much content do you plan on having? Also ensure that they back up your site for safekeeping and provide as many security measures as possible.

Do I Need To Set Up A Blog?

If you plan on attracting customers through regularly scheduled posts with giveaways or promotions, then yes – definitely! Blogging can also be used as an SEO tool, allowing Google to find and index your new site – not only will this make it easier for people to find your business, but it will also be a boon with regards to ranking in search engines.

What About Security?

Think through the security measures you want to have on your site. Do you want to be able to accept credit cards and other forms of digital payments? If you plan on doing any sort of business-to-business transactions, make sure that your host offers a secure storage server for your customers.

So I've Found My Website Design Company And We've Picked A Hosting Platform – Now What?

Now you're ready to set up your brand new website! Don't forget to have a content strategy in place – this is something you should definitely consider going into the project. It's also a good idea to have a list of all of your pages pre-drafted so that nothing gets overlooked or accidentally left out. The more prepared you are, the better!

What Do I Need To Keep In Mind Post-Launch?

After you've launched your new site, continue to monitor your analytics and look for ways you can improve the performance of the page. Keeping an eye on these things will help you stay ahead of any potential problems and prevent them from becoming issues in the future.

Your small business website is the single most important tool you have to get your message out. That’s why it should be designed with extreme care and attention, using every trick in the book to maximize usability for visitors while also maximizing conversion rates. Sharp Tack Media can help you create an amazing digital experience that will drive more traffic, convert more leads, and ultimately generate more revenue than ever before! Avail our free consultation today!

Email Marketing Is The Key To Online Business Success

Did you know that the average business owner spends over 10 hours per week on email marketing? And for some, it's even more. But what if there was a way to streamline this process and save time while spending less money on your marketing efforts? Well, there is! With these four easy steps you can get started with a successful email campaign today. 

The key to any successful digital marketing campaign is understanding how best to reach your target audience through channels they're most likely to engage with.

One of the quickest and most effective ways to reach more people is through email marketing. It's nearly universal, with all but the smallest businesses having an email list of some form. But not everyone who has an email address is on your list! That means you need to find a way to get them there, naturally raising your exposure and open rates.

Here are four steps to make your email campaigns the best:

  • Capture emails in-app or in person 

This is one of the most effective ways to get an opt-in, especially if you're doing customer service, registration for an event, hosting a webinar, etc. There usually is an opportunity to ask for their email when they're already engaging with your business. They'll be happy you asked, and if it's done in a non-intrusive way then they'll likely give you what you want!

  • Solicit emails during transactions

This is similar to the first point, but instead of having the interaction in-person or within the app/website, you're having it through a transaction (e.g., an ecommerce purchase). Since they're actively engaging with you for this reason, there is rarely a point during which you can ask for their email.

  •  Send out coupons and promotions

Sometimes people engage with your business for a specific reason and that's all they want. You'll increase your exposure and open rate by sending out coupons and promotions every once in a while. If you're not sure what kind of discounts to offer, go with something related to the last email you sent them! It's likely they've shown interest in it already.

  •  Run a contest 

Everyone loves the chance to add one more email (most likely already on their list) and possibly win something! The number of emails you get in return will probably outweigh the efforts required. Plus, it's great for social media engagement too since people love telling others about winning things just as much as they enjoy winning them!

The strategies you’ve learned in this article will help you create more effective emails that drive sales.Don't forget that email marketing is just one of the many strategies available to you. What you choose to do with these emails can vary depending on what your specific goals are. 

If you want to take your email marketing game up a notch, consider these expert tips for crafting successful messages that get opened and read. Or if you need some professional guidance before taking the leap into digital marketing, schedule a free consultation with us today! Sharp Tack Media is ready to work one-on-one with clients of any size or industry so don't hesitate to reach out if we can assist. 

 

Is It Worth It To Hire An SEO Expert?

Search Engine Optimization is a complex and ever-changing field. What SEO services do you need to take your business to the next level? SEO consultants focus on hands-on tasks, such as keyword research or content creation, but also offer advice on more general topics like design and development. SEO agencies are one of the most popular types of service providers because they can provide a variety of services in house: consulting, link building, content writing, social media management and so much more. Meanwhile, in-house SEO is a growing service as well but it can be costly. 

Let’s talk about the key points to keep in mind when you’re deciding which SEO service to hire.

SEO Consultant

Having an SEO consultant on board may help you understand SEO better. However, they can be costly and time consuming. And this may not be the best choice for small companies or those who are just starting up. SEO is a long term strategy that can take years to show results, SEO consultants will help you get started but in the end it's going to be your efforts and time that determine how successful your SEO campaign ends up being.

SEO consultants can definitely benefit any business looking to improve SEO. However, it is important to keep in mind the time and money you will be spending on SEO consultants. Also, consider your own skills when deciding if hiring an SEO consultant would benefit your business or not.

SEO Agencies

SEO agencies can be a great resource to most businesses and it is more cost effective. SEO is constantly evolving and SEO agencies have the expertise and knowledge of what it takes to rank on search engines like Google, Bing, etc. They will also know how important link building is in the world of SEO as well as social media marketing and outreach campaigns that push your business to the front of the pack. 

SEO companies are experts at driving leads through carefully planned out SEO strategies designed for your business. SEO companies can provide you with all of the knowledge and tools necessary to create a strategy that will work for your business and they also know how important link building is in the world of SEO as well as social media marketing and outreach campaigns that push your business to the front of the pack.  SEO agencies can also provide SEO consulting and training, which is a must have for businesses who need to keep their SEO skills sharp.

In-House SEO

In-House SEO can produce better results because employees are already familiar with your company and goals so optimization can be more focused on these points rather than driving traffic to the site which agencies focus on.

However, it is a challenging job. In-House SEOs usually have to answer questions from different stakeholders such as marketing, sales, product management and legal departments. They also need to worry about the technical feasibility of a given idea or project which can be time consuming and may potentially distract In-House SEOs' attention from the most important part of their job which is building and managing high quality links. In addition, In-house SEOs often need to divide limited resources among multiple projects which can make it difficult for them to get traction on all fronts.

Now that you know the differences between SEO consultants, agencies, and in-house marketing departments, it’s time to decide which route is best for your business. If you want to save time and money while still getting great results consider partnering with an SEO agency like Sharp Tack Media. We will work one-on-one with you through every step of the process. We are always available to answer any questions or concerns that might arise along the way so it’s much easier than trying to do this yourself. Contact us now for your free consultation!

Your Business Deserves A Professional Digital Agency

Since starting your own business is an exciting prospect, it's easy for any entrepreneur to get caught up in the thrill of finally being their own boss. But with that comes a lot of responsibility and stress. Thankfully, there are plenty of tools out there that can help you manage your time better so you don't burn out before you're able to take on additional clients or staff members. Click here if you want to stay organized using web design packages for small businesses! 

Use Email Marketing Services

Using email marketing services can help keep your stress levels down is good email marketing software. There are a lot of excellent options out there, but not all of them will fit your company's needs – from the type of products or services you offer to your target demographics, every business is unique. Even within a specific industry, each business has something different to offer and should have a separate email strategy accordingly.

For example, if you're a consultant and you focus mainly on offering advice, patients or clients will want to sign up for your email list so they can ask you questions when they come up. On the other hand, companies like us who offer email marketing services might send out news updates to our customers every once in a while.

Use Search Engine Optimization Services

SEO is another essential component to growing your customer base. If people can't find you on Google, they certainly won't be able to contact you or buy your products! While SEO has changed a lot over the past few years, one thing remains true – It's not something you should do yourself .

You've already got enough on your plate. You can't afford to spend hours on end trying to figure out how to increase your website's search rankings – that is, unless you want to risk losing a lot of potential sales and having a damaged reputation. Instead, rely on our experience and expertise so we can help with this important aspect of your business.

Use Web Design Packages

If you aren't sure what to do first, start with a website. Websites make it easy for people to find information about your company's products and services. In turn, they can easily contact you if they want to buy anything or sign up for any of your services. Plus, there are all kinds of other benefits like branding and search engine optimization.

To get started with a website, contact us today and we can help you choose the packages that will best suit your company's needs. We work with different budgets so don't worry about not having enough money to launch a new site! We're confident you'll be satisfied with our services.

Make Your Small Business Standout With Us

There are many decisions to make when launching a new company – what type of product or service should I offer? Where will my business be located? What should my logo look like? Adding these questions on top of all the regular worries entrepreneurs have is enough to make anyone anxious. But once you get your website up and running, it's one less thing to worry about. Let us take care of the hard work so you can focus on what's important – growing your business. Contact Sharp Tack Media for more information about our web design packages today!

Nowadays, Web Design Is Vital In Running A Business 

Your web design helps generate more sales by creating brand awareness, designed for your target audience, and developing strategies to achieve your company’s goals. Marketing yourself as a business is important, but having a web design partner to help you achieve this will have even more of an impact. You can then focus on running your business instead of worrying about your online presence. Having a great marketing plan, won't do much if you don't choose the right web design team to partner with.

Here are several good reasons why you should work together with a web design team.

1. One-Time Investment vs Monthly Costs 

Choosing to partner with a web design team means that you can focus on running your business and leave their online marketing activities to them. Once they are equipped with the knowledge needed, there is no longer a need for future meetings or discussions because everything should have already been agreed upon.  

2. Offering Specific Services 

Web design partners offer businesses encompassing online marketing strategies. For example, targeted ads which are only sent to your desired target audience by way of email or social media.

3. Flexibility And Scalability 

You can approach a business for their expertise in one area, but you may require their services in another area. Web design companies already have teams of specialists who can help with various aspects of your company's online marketing through your website. This ensures that when something needs to be changed, scale up or down, your web design partner is able to help you.

4. Better branding 

Having a professional business handle your advertising can help improve your brand image while saving money in the long-term. With their experience, they are able to provide recommendations about how you can make improvements which will increase your sales and profits and positively impact the way people view you and/or your product/service.

Work With A Web Design Partner That Delivers Results

As you can see, there are many benefits to hiring a web design partner. It's important that you find someone who really understands your business as this will increase the likelihood of them being able to provide you with the right advice and solutions so it is essential that you choose carefully. Your web design partner should have previous experience working with companies in your industry.

Don't be afraid to ask about their past clients and how they were able to help them increase sales. You can also look at their client list online. It is also a good idea for you to contact some of these businesses and question them on how satisfied they are with the services provided by the marketing company, how the business relationship works, and whether their marketing partner was able to provide them with improved sales. It's important that you find a marketing partner who understands your industry.

It is necessary that you choose your marketing partner carefully because they will be responsible for managing all your online activities which will influence how potential customers view your company. This is why it is important that you choose a marketing partner who has extensive knowledge and experience in your industry.

We do it all, from start to finish

There are significant benefits to working with a professional business in the world of web designing, but it is essential that you choose a reliable one so keep in mind all these points when choosing a web design partner. Consult us for free at Sharp Tack Media to know more! 

Take Control Of Your Marketing Today

SEO is a great way to market your business, but it can get tricky. In this article we'll talk about how marketing automation and SEO work together to help you grow your business. 

In today's digital world, it's not enough to have just one marketing strategy for promoting your brand. You need a strong social media presence and the right content strategies in order to stand out from the crowd of competition online. But if you're still relying on traditional methods like emailing prospects or driving website traffic with Pay-Per-Click advertising, then you're probably going about things all wrong! SEO needs Marketing Automation too – after all, who cares if people see what you're doing online when they don't even know you exist?

What Is Marketing Automation?

Marketing automation is made up of a combination of technologies that automate marketing tasks like lead scoring, trigger nurturing campaigns, scheduling content campaigns, and managing outreach to name a few. It's a great way to increase productivity while scaling your business online by leveraging our proprietary software solutions which will send you targeted emails based on certain actions taken on the website such as signup forms submitted or Live Chat messages posted in order to achieve more success!

Automated emails are triggered when certain actions are taken on your site. For example, when someone subscribes to receive updates from your company or visits your pricing page, they could receive an automated email with information relevant to them based on their activity. With marketing automation, you can send targeted messages to people at the exact moment they're most likely to take action. 

In fact, studies have shown that automated emails can increase your click-through rate by 592% compared to sending a one-off email. Automated emails also help you establish a long-term relationship with customers because you send them content that's based on previous behavior rather than generic marketing messages. Not to mention how automated emails can help you scale your efforts across thousands of users, increasing the efficiency of lead generation.

Upon receiving an automated email with relevant content, prospects will feel like they already know you and are more likely to follow through on your call-to-action. By capturing prospects' information via email, marketing automation helps generate qualified leads and increase your conversion rate. Automated emails also help drive more traffic to your website since they provide links back to important pages on your site.

SEO And Marketing Automation Go Hand In Hand

SEO is all about driving traffic to your website, and marketing automation helps you turn those visitors into leads and customers through personalized communication. While each tool can work well on its own, combining them together can boost your business by creating a more effective marketing strategy that scales as you grow.

If you want to learn more about how marketing automation and SEO work together, reach out and we'll be happy to help you. Get started on converting your website traffic into leads with Sharp Tack Media today!

Content is King, Consistency is Queen

Your business is on the internet. Whether you're running a small local store or a major international company, chances are your customers are searching for information about your products and services online. So how do you make sure they find what they're looking for? Google it of course! 

For many businesses, ranking higher on Google can mean more sales leads and increased revenue. Here are five tips to rank higher in search engines without breaking the bank. 

  • Write Blog Posts Consistently

Consistency will help drive organic traffic from social media sites as well as from websites with high domain authority who might republish your blog post. Google will more likely rank you higher if you have regular updates on your site, so blogging can help with rankings as well as bring in organic traffic.

  • Improve Ranking Keywords

Target people who are searching for your products/services by improving the list of keywords that appear in your content. You'll have a better chance of ranking higher on Google if you're using more specific keywords that may be used by your target audience when they search for something online, and they will be more likely to notice you on the first page since you're ranked higher.

  • Don't Just Publish Blog Posts, Create Valuable Content

Nobody wants to read an article that has no value or information. Try to answer questions related to your product/service with informative blog posts, how-to's and articles. Avoid publishing empty articles that contain little more than a few sentences about your business. 

  • Create Valuable Videos

Videos are quickly becoming one of the most effective ways to market your products or services. By optimizing your videos with keywords and descriptions that contain important search terms related to your products/services, you'll be more likely to rank higher on Google from people searching for what you have to offer.

  • Write Guest Posts

Guest posting can help you build high-quality links that are likely to improve your search engine rankings. The trick is to focus on writing content for blogs or websites in your industry with a large number of followers or with domain authority – these sites are more likely to publish your articles and give you a link back.

If All Else Fails, Simply Write About What You Know 

This might sound rather obvious, but writing about what you know will help you rank higher on Google. If all your content is relevant to your business and your specific field, it will make it easier for Google to infer that people searching for what you have to offer are more likely to find your site. Remember these tips when blogging or creating new content for your website – Google is increasingly moving towards focusing on fresh content that's relevant, informative and current.

Increase Organic Traffic With Our Simple Solutions

So, what have you learned about content consistency? That it’s important for SEO. What are your next steps to take in order to rank higher on Google? Sharp Tack Media can help! Contact our team of experts today and schedule a free consultation where we will sit down with you one-on-one and brainstorm ways that your web marketing strategy could be improved by considering the power of content consistency.

Boost Your Business With Mobile Friendly Responsive Website Designs

Saving time and money is very significant in the day-to-day life of any individual. This can be equally true in terms of an online business, especially with regard to the websites that it has.

On average, a company will need at least two different versions of their website design; one for mobile phones and another for desktop computers. This means that a business will need at least two different websites, a website design for desktop computers and a mobile-friendly design website. You can imagine how much time and money it would take to design these.

But the good news is, there is a way around this – by having just one website for all devices – desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. All devices are easily able to access your website and you can save loads of time and money. This piece explains how to make the most out of your mobile website design.

Responsive Web Design

This entails designing your website so that it adjusts to different screen sizes and changes with the device being used to view it. The best thing about this sort of design is that it can be done accurately without any form of complication. You are able to make your website appear great on every device regardless of the size or functionality offered by it.

Simplifying The Layout Of Your Page

This makes sure that everything you want people to see is at their fingertips. You want to make it as clear as possible for people on the go who are using a mobile device and also save on data usage.

Have A Contact Button That Is Easy To Find And Tap On

When you prepare your website design, ensure that this is very visible and placed right where the customer needs it the most – whether that be at the top, bottom, left, or right of the page. Also, be sure to keep your page as streamlined as possible. This means that you should have just one solid idea per page and that the navigation system is simple and easy to use. 

Do Not Be Afraid To Work In White Space

When creating your website design, do not be afraid to work in white space. This means that you should avoid cramming up your page with words and pictures every time it seems possible because this only creates a cluttered look for the customer. Also remember that many people who browse on their phone often use keywords to find information.

Stick to a single column design with clearly delineated headers and subheads. This makes for easier scrolling and reading and people do not have to struggle so much as they glance through the site, which is what you want them to do.

Efficient Search Engine System

Remember that your website design needs an efficient search engine system. You need to make sure that people who use a phone will be able to find the information they are looking for quickly and easily. This means that your site needs to have an XML site map, which informs search engine crawlers about all the pages in your website from the start.

Take Advantage Of Social Networking Sites

People today love communicating with businesses online and these sites are an excellent way to do that. Put the sharing option right into your site design for optimum customer service.

Your website needs to be as user-friendly as possible for mobile users. Remember that you are designing a brief version of your page with concise information, not an extensive one with all the bells and whistles. Only use the elements you feel are necessary and your website will be optimized for mobile devices in no time. Ensure that your website is user-friendly with us. Contact Sharp Tack Media today for your FREE Consultation! 

Your Guide To Conducting Market Research For Your Business

Are you planning on starting to grow business online? Well, congratulations! Starting a new venture can be thrilling.

However, one of the most important steps in starting your own business is market research; this step should not be taken lightly. Market research will help you identify and target your clients’ pain points. It will also help you market your product or service towards your targeted audience.  

Here are a few tips that will help you conduct successful market research:

  • Understand Your Target Audience's Pain Points and Desires

The first thing you need to do is to identify who your clients/customers really are and what they want out of your product or service. You can do this by using social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter. The more insight you have about your prospective clients, the better it will be for your business. This will help you to identify what problems they are facing, what their greatest desires are, etc.

  • Research The Competition

After identifying who your clients really are, the next step is to find out who your competition is. You can do this by checking out their websites and social media pages.   Having a strong knowledge of the competitors will help you create an edge above them.

Also, take note of what services/products your competitors are offering, as well as their business strategy. Doing this will give you an idea on how to distinguish yourself in the industry.

  • Use The Internet

Finally, you need to conduct online research before starting your own business. Make sure to use Google and other search engines to find out useful information about your competitors and what people are saying about them. Additionally, you should also check out popular forums, where people discuss different topics.   The more information you have, the better it will be for your business.

You've Done Your Market Research, Now What?

  • Create A Demand For Your Product Or Service By Analyzing What Your Clients Want Even Further

After conducting market research, the next step is to create a demand for your product or service by identifying what are their pain points. So, how can you do that? You should ask them directly! The more information you have about your clients’ needs and desires, the better it will be for your business. This strategy enables you to create an effective marketing plan, which will help you boost your sales and generate a greater return on investment (ROI).

  • Develop A Business Plan

After conducting market research and analyzing what your clients really want, the next step is to develop a business plan. This way, you will be able to keep track of all steps that you have made so far.

Doing these steps before starting your own business will help you create a strong foundation for your new venture. But it's only the start because you still need to take care of your marketing needs. This is where our expertise comes in. We provide digital marketing services and are experts in web design and development to help you advertise your business more efficiently. To know more about our offers, call Sharp Tack Media today!

SEO is a complicated and nuanced process, but most people know that it's important. When you're running a business, SEO is one of the most effective ways to get your company in front of more potential customers. And you've heard it before: “If you want to rank on Google, you need an SEO agency”. But what services should your SEO agency be doing for you?

The more information your agency can give you, the better. How well does your SEO agency understand your business? Beyond just whether or not they're well-versed in Google, there are dozens of other areas that should be scrutinized to find out if they really know their stuff. In this article we're going to give 6 things your SEO agency should be doing for you. 

  • Regular Monitoring Of Website Performance

Regular reporting of analytics is a necessity for savvy business owners, and it's no different with SEO. The more information your agency has about how your website performs, the better they'll be able to prioritize your efforts and drive traffic to high-converting pages. 

  • Effective Strategy To Increase Number Of Visitors

Your agency should be showing you things like the number of keywords driving traffic to your site and how those keywords are currently performing. They should also be able to tell you which pages on your site are getting the most organic searches as well as how much traffic each page is generating. This information will help you and your agency in formulating a better strategy. 

  • Create Relevant Content 

They should create content that is relevant and interesting for your audience, but also helps with SEO optimization.  It's a delicate balance, but if your agency can find it, then they're worth their weight in gold.

  • Image Optimization

Optimize images so they will rank better in Google image search results.  The days of stuffing keywords into alt tags are long gone, but there's still a lot that can be done with images. The description and name for each image should have relevant keywords if possible. 

  • Promote In Social Media Platforms

Use social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to talk about new blog posts or other news going on at the company.  It might not be a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but this is another way to increase website traffic.

  • Link Building With Authority Websites

This one goes hand-in-hand with building links from relevant websites and blog posts. By finding a balance between guest blogging and link outreach, your agency should be able to find a way to grow your authority through relevant sites.

  • Email Marketing Campaign

Create an email marketing campaign that includes a sign-up form for subscribers who want more information from you about what you're doing online.

Suitable SEO Agency For Your Business

When you choose a SEO agency for your small business, be sure that the company understands both Google and good customer service. And Sharp Tack Media can help you with that! Let’s chat and see how we can work together. Do any of these items sound like something your SEO agency could do for you? Contact us today to set up a free consultation. 

Things You Should Know Before Launching An SEO Campaign

If you are planning to launch an SEO campaign, perhaps you should ask yourself why this is important. There are plenty of companies that offer SEO services, so if you want to take the lead in your market niche, it is essential that you understand what sets you apart from your competitors. That way, not only will potential customers recognize your business as an industry leader, but search engine algorithms will recognize your business as well. 

Read more to learn about the things you should know before launching an SEO Campaign.

  • Research Your Competitors

Before you set out to optimize your own website for keyword phrases, you have to have a good idea what keywords are being used by your competitors in their site's metadata and in their on-page content. All of these factors help search engine algorithms decide where certain websites rank. You can then analyze what keywords work best for them, whether they are overused or under-utilized, exactly where on the site they are using these keywords or how many times they are used.

  • Develop Your SEO Strategy

Once you have done your competitor research, you can begin to develop an SEO strategy for yourself that will make your site stand out in search engine results pages (SERPs). The best way to do this is by using keyword phrases in key areas of your website including page titles, keyword rich content and link building. 

  • Create Meta Tags

Meta tags are HTML elements that define a website's metadata or content disposition. Search engines use meta tags to help categorize websites, so it's important that these tags are descriptive. The three most important meta tags for optimizing your site are title tags, description tags, and keywords tags.

  • Create Strategic Linking Campaigns

Link building is extremely important for SEO, but it needs to be done strategically. It is important that your incoming links come from quality websites with good domain authority (DA). There are several ways you can begin building these types of relationships that will help boost your rankings in search results pages. Such as promoting your content on social media sites, forums, and article directories that will generate links back to your site. Make sure these links are accompanied with keywords so they aren't filtered out.

  • Monitor Your Rankings

It is important to monitor your progress so you can determine whether or not your SEO campaign is actually working. There are numerous tools with which you can do this, including Google Analytics and AccuRanker . You should also be checking back on your bookmarks regularly to make sure all of the links are still live.

Need Help In Launching An SEO Campaign? 

Launching an SEO campaign can help your web traffic and online visibility as well as aid in boosting your brand's authority. Before beginning a campaign, it is important to do competitor research so you can determine what keywords you should be ranking for and how much weight you should be attributing to each factor within your campaign. Are you planning to launch an SEO campaign and want some extra help? Check out our FREE consultation at Sharp Tack Media today! 

6 Effective Marketing Tactics To Boost Your Business

​In reality, your marketing budget is going to be tight especially when you are still starting. Tying the line between what is effective and what is not can be difficult especially if you are an online business.

There are different marketing tactics that you can take advantage of for your small business. This article will show how effective each one of these tactics are for your budget, time, and effort. The truth is that sometimes, some tactics work better than others. Here are six effective marketing tactics your small business can use for pennies on the dollar, and they're all basic web design packages.

  • Search Engines

There's a reason that “search engine optimization” (SEO) is one of the most popular methods of marketing: it works like crazy! The idea here is to make sure that your site shows up when potential customers search for the products and services you offer. If your site doesn't show up when people search, they'll never find it!

  • Social Media Marketing 

Social media marketing is about building relationships with your audience, connecting with them on a more personal level, and helping them to pass your site along to their friends. Blogging is the best way to build an effective marketing campaign via social media. Then use things like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, and other social sites to get your posts out there.

  • Email Marketing

Email marketing is great because it can be automated and customized to target specific groups of people. You can set up an email newsletter signup form on your site and include it in all of your web design packages and social media profiles, and you'll get a steady stream of new readers like clockwork! The key here is to actually write useful information that your customers will want to read. If you don't, they'll just delete it without a second thought!

  • Article Marketing 

This is one of the most cost effective ways to get your business in front of new customers, and it's also one of the easiest! Simply write some articles about topics related to what you do, submit them to article directories, and you're done! The best part is that Google loves original articles with unique content: the more unique text your site has, the better chance it has of showing up when people search.

  • Pay Per Click (PPC) Campaigns

You've probably seen all those ads on top of Google, right? They're known as PPC (pay per click) campaigns, and they're one of the most popular ways to attract new customers. Basically, you pay Google a small fee for each visitor who clicks on your ad. This gets them routed directly to your site! Now if you have a good enough offer, this can be very effective. The key here is to have a great landing page that sells your product or service really well!

  • Link Building

Link building is a very powerful way to get new customers and generate sales for your business, but it can be quite time consuming depending on what you're doing! There are tons of different link building techniques, but the main idea is to get links to your site from external sites that already have a high domain authority (DA). The higher the DA, the more powerful the effect will be! It's also important not to overdo it – especially if you're trying out shady tactics like spamming blogs.

Ready For A Marketing Overhaul? We Can Help.

Our team of experts can help you in designing and managing websites. We know what it takes to make your website stand out from the crowd and get noticed by potential customers. Get in touch with us today, at Sharp Tack Media, if you need more information on our web design packages or would like a free consultation about how we can improve your online presence!

Create A Successful Website

A great website does not need to be flashy or showy, but it should have a strong online presence and leave users feeling satisfied. There are little details that help make a website great, from the structure to the content.

To create a truly great website, developers must carefully plan out every part of the design process and SEO strategy. Everything from the navigation to content, developers must think about how every page on the website will function.

A properly planned website is easy to navigate for visitors. There should be apparent paths that lead throughout the site and back to the homepage. Many people leave a website after not finding what they were looking for or if they can’t find their way back easily.

1. Great Content

Great websites have a lot of content, but not too much.  Visitors want to know what they are getting into before committing to a long page, so developers should keep content on one page as short as possible without detracting from the message they want to convey.  In addition, people don’t want to wade through large blocks of text or click on multiple links to find the information they are looking for.

2. Ease Of Use

Great websites strongly focus on the user experience with clean designs that don’t distract or confuse users. A great website will have content that people want to read and images worthy of being featured on social media.

Websites should have a strong structure with the content placed strategically to avoid confusion for those using the site. People want quick solutions, and if they can’t easily find them, they will leave the site as quickly as possible. In addition, clean design elements such as white space help make the website easy to use.

Great websites tell their users what to do next by guiding them along with their site journey with labels, colors, and text.  There should be obvious buttons to click, links to follow, and ways to find what they are looking for.

3. Great Visuals

Another important element of a great website is visuals.  The structure, typeface, colors, and images should be cohesive and support the overall message you want your site to convey.  One way including too many images can cause confusion is if they don’t relate to the text.  These images should be relevant for visuals to support one another.

Great content also means excellent images. Great websites have a mix of images that convey a message and enhance the website without being distracting.  When using stock images, they should also be of high quality and relevant to the topic.

4. Effective Use of multimedia

The last element of a great website is effectively utilizing multimedia like videos and pictures to engage people visiting the site.  A great website doesn’t have to look flashy or showy, but it should have a strong presence and leave users feeling satisfied.

Organizing Great Websites

So what makes a website great? Many factors make up a great website, but easy navigation, quality content, and an easy user experience are the most critical elements. Great websites often have all of these elements working together to create a strong presence on the internet for users.

Our team at Sharp Tack Media will work to make a website as great as possible through branding, web design, and development. We want our clients’ websites to tell their stories both on and offline. You can start this process by reaching out to us at Sharp Tack Media today!

 

Content Consistency Is A Key To Your Success In SEO

Content consistency is one of the least understood parts of Search Engine Optimization. The concept of ‘content consistency' refers to how well-matched your post topics are to the terms people use when they search for information. 

Your business is only as good as the content you put out. If your content is inconsistent, there's a high chance that Google will penalize you for it and rank your site lower than other sites with more consistent, quality content. However, if you're proactive about making sure all of your posts are written in an engaging way and on-brand for your company then you can avoid any penalties from Google or other search engines.  

Read on to find out what you can do to up your content game and keep Google happy.

What Content Consistency Means For Your SEO Campaign

When users are doing research about companies or brands, they'll often turn to search engines for answers. If one of the first results is an article that looks wildly different than most other articles on the  company's site, a potential customer might assume that the company has a lot of down time, isn't an expert in their field, or is just generally disorganized.

This doesn't have to be the case. By being proactive about your content so it matches up with your brand voice and image you can avoid any penalties from Google and instead attract a much larger audience.

When you're consistent with your content, the majority of your articles will come up in a search engine as either a Featured Snippet or an Answer Box. This is beneficial to the consumer because they'll get all of their information within seconds without having to click through to your site and read any more of your content.

On the flip side, if your website is inconsistent and has articles with very different tones or styles all within one company, then there's a high chance that your site will receive an unnatural links penalty. 

What You Can Do To Improve Your Content Consistency

As you're writing out your content, just keep in mind that you want it to be cohesive. If your company's tone is generally more formal or academic, then stick with that style for all of your articles. If your company has an upbeat voice, try to stay away from writing about serious topics.

Also remember to not plagiarize any content. When you copy information from another website or an article, it can come across as unoriginal and make you look bad. If your content isn't consistent then Google's going to punish you for that. When you write a new article, just think about how this piece of content will fit into the rest of your site. It should contribute to your company as a whole, not just be a random article written with no purpose.

If all else fails, you can write your content and then have someone edit it for any inconsistencies or awkward phrases that don't fit the tone of the piece. Always keep user experience in mind and Google will reward your site with higher rankings and more leads!

Improve Your Content Consistency With Us

Successful companies put weight on their content consistency as part of their marketing strategy; if that sounds like something that would work for your business, contact us today! The best part is that our team of experts guarantee results and unparalleled service. Have your free consultation with us today! 

Tips on Hiring the Best Web Design Agency

For many small companies, establishing a web presence is crucial to their success. A company website provides a platform for business development and marketing, instills trust in potential customers, and builds loyalty from existing ones. You can also reduce operating costs as it replaces traditional marketing while making it more convenient for the customers. 

As such, many companies are looking to hire web design agencies that can create a customer-friendly website with all the modern bells and whistles. There are countless web design agencies out there, but make sure to go with one who has the experience and expertise for what you need.

Below are effective tips to help you hire the best web design agency.

1. Make A List Of Your Needs And Requirements.

First, make a list of the features that your website must have. Based on this, you can determine if any given agency can deliver the results you need. For example, if you need e-Commerce capabilities for business transactions, make sure that your choice of web design agency can provide the necessary shopping cart system. Make sure the agency has the knowledge and tools to deliver your needs and requirements.

2. Do Your Research.

Look up reviews on its services, check out its portfolio, and read testimonials from clients who have used their service before. You can also contact some of these people for honest feedback on whether they liked working with the company or not.

3. See If It Fits Your Budget.

Check out how much it charges for its services, then compare this to the other options you have. However, don't immediately dismiss an agency whose rates are higher than similar agencies because that may not be an indicator of their quality of service. It may just have a very specific niche that you do not need for your business.

4. Consider Agencies With Excellent Customer Service.

Good customer service as it will be the one to answer all your queries and requests is crucial. Aside from phone calls, email, chat or other similar means, some agencies have a live support feature on their website that enables clients to ask questions and get quick replies. Also consider an agency that offers a comprehensive training program for you and your team if they do not offer 24/7 customer service online.

5. Look For An Agency With Experience In Your Industry.

An experienced web design agency knows how to present your company in the best positive light. It will understand what information you want on your site and where it must go, so that users do not have difficulty finding the necessary data they need. An experienced web design agency also has experience working with companies similar to yours so it can recreate the features of your competitors' websites.

6. Check If The Web Design Agency Is Accessible.

Lastly, check if the agency is easily contactable especially during emergencies or when you need quick responses to your requests and questions. You should see whether the company's business hours fit within yours so that you can discuss urgent matters at any time of the day. You can also check if the agency has a live chat feature on its site.

7. Test The Waters With A Free Trial Period.

Once you have checked all these factors, you should go ahead and test out their services through a trial period or free consultation to see how they work for your business model and your team. This will help you prepare your questions and observations, so that when you hire them for their services, your website is up and running in the best way possible.

Get Started with your Web Design Today! 

Don’t know where to start? Contact us for a FREE consult meeting and grow your online presence with Sharp Tack Media. We aim to provide companies like yours with attractive and effective customized web design packages for each company's unique needs and goals. 

It's Time to Optimize Your On-Page SEO

At first glance, on-page optimization might seem like an intimidating task. There are keywords to think about, headers, meta tags – the list goes on and on!

Don't worry; everything becomes easier with time and experience. This article will help you get started by explaining some of the basics of on-page optimization SEO services.

The Basics Of On-Page Optimization

On-Page Optimization is the process of optimizing a web page for the major search engines – Google, Bing, and Yahoo! It is called ‘on page' because it takes place on the actual page that people see when they visit your site.

There are three main categories to think about when optimizing a web page: Meta Tags, Keywords, and Image Search Optimization.

#1: Meta Tags

Meta tags are HTML elements that provide information about your web page and tell the search engines what it is about. Here is a list of some meta tags:

Title Tag

This tells the search engine at a glance what your page is about. It is usually shown as the blue link on the search engine results page, and it is the first thing that people read on your website.

Description Tag

This tells a bit more about what your website is all about, and it appears directly underneath the title tag in most browsers.

#2: Keywords Tag

This describes some of the keywords or keyphrases that describe what your website is all about. This tag is important because it tells the search engine what words to look for when indexing your page.

When utilizing keywords, here are a few best practices:

  • Use 1-2 good complimentary keywords in your title tag and one or two in the description tag. Including them too much  in these tags will make it look like you're trying too hard to rank for specific keywords.
  • Although some advice says that two long tailed keywords are enough, it’s still up to you to include how many keywords you want on average – but don't stuff keywords in there just to rank for them. This practice is considered a ‘black hat' and will harm your ranking and look spammy to web visitors. The best way to go about this is to include as many related (not same) keywords as possible.

#3: Image Search Optimization

When people want to find your website, they often just search for the images that you use on your site. To help show up in image search results, here are some essential tips:

  • Make sure you have descriptive alt tags for each picture. This tells the search engine what the image is about.
  • You may also use keywords in your filenames. This tells the search engine at a glance what the image is about.
  • Link it to your page about that subject. If you have a post or page about ‘yummy cupcakes,' link your cupcake images to that URL.

Remember that optimizing images on your web page is essential because the search engines can't actually see what your web page is about. All they see are text and images, so optimizing them matters!

Top SEO Services For Best Results

At Sharp Tack Media, we are experts on On-Page Optimization. We'll optimize your web page for the search engines, making it more visible and easier to find what people are looking for online.

We have a team of SEO consultants who will analyze your site, then provide you with a full report. This detailed document will highlight problems that are keeping your site from being found online.

Sharp Tack Media will then work on fixing these problems and get you the results that you want. Our proven track record of working with small businesses, startups, artists, and bloggers got them to where they want to be in search engine results- whether it's page 1 or #1.

Contact us today to find out how we can provide you with excellent On-Page Optimization services!

Strategies To Ranking Higher In Google Search Results

Social SEO is something you need to take seriously if your blog posts are going to make the front page of Google. Social Media Optimization (SMO) involves optimizing your social presence through social signals for search engines to get your content in front of the target audience.

You want people to read all of the content on your site, not just the headlines. So take a few minutes before writing each post and think about what might interest readers. 

What problem does this post help solve? What will be new information for them? Continue reading to know more about this.

  • Create A Blog Post That Is Engaging And Interesting

The first thing you should do is to make sure that your blog posts are engaging. SMO only works when your content is good and engaging enough that other bloggers want to share it with their audience.  Don't forget to include pictures and links! 

  • Share Your Blog Post On Social Media Channels 

Share on one or two networks at a time – don't spam them all at once. Sharing should be a slow and steady process. Make sure your blog post has been shared a few times before you submit it to social network sites. Somes sites have a lot of spam submissions, so if you just jump in and start submitting without doing your homework, you might get banned from the site. 

  • If You're Not On These Platforms Yet It's Time To Start! 

SMO requires you to be on sites like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. If you aren't already on these sites, sign up and start building your online presence! Social Network Sites is where you can get in front of your target audience. Leveraging social media channels can bring targeted readers from other blogs to your website.

  • Study The Top Bloggers In Your Niche And Learn From Them

What kind of content do they share? How often do they tweet or update their Facebook or LinkedIn status? Join a social media site that your top competitors aren't using yet. This will give you an edge and allow you to stand out from the crowd.  Social media is the key to dominating Google.

  • Optimize For Search Engines So Google Can Find You! 

Add keywords to the title of the blog post. Use SEO techniques like keyword density and meta tags to make sure Google knows what's inside of your blog posts. Don’t forget to submit your blog post on the actual search engines after you have completed it! 

Begin Your Success With Us! 

Have you had any success with your blog posts on the front page of Google? If not, we can help! Our team is ready to partner with you in order for you to get that coveted spot. Contact us today at Sharp Tack Media and let’s discuss how we might be able to work together.

Social Media Has Become The Rage In The Last Few Years 

Social media is no longer just something people do when they get home from school or work, it is now a big part of life for most people. It is no longer only used as a way to keep in touch with family or friends, but now social media can be used to connect with your customers, find your target audience and keep in touch with people that are interested in your product or service. 

Social media has become so important to businesses that they are starting to hire Social Media Managers or Social Media Marketers to handle social media for their business. If you want your company to survive in today's fast-paced world, you absolutely need social media marketing. 

Here are a few tips on how you can start dominating your market through social media: 

  • Define Your Audience 

Entertain your audience, but make sure it fits with your brand. Social media allows for your brand to have an online voice so people can get to know you better. It is about connecting with your audience, not just pushing ads at them. 

  • Create A Social Media Marketing Plan 

Social media marketing is not a “set it and forget it” strategy, so you need to constantly track what people are saying about your brand or products. This is why you need to have a social media marketing plan to target the needs of your audience.

  • Integrate Social Media Into All Aspects Of Your Business

Social media campaigns usually engage people more than traditional advertising,  it is the new way of marketing.  It is not only about connecting with your target audience, but it is also about having fun and giving them the opportunity to socialize with you. 

  • Manage And Measure Results With Analytics Tools 

Social media sites allow you to develop a website that's completely dedicated to your business. This gives marketers endless possibilities when it comes to exposing their brand, increasing traffic and engaging with their audience.

  • Utilize Visual Content Like Photos or Videos 

Visual content will engage your viewers in an emotional way. Social media sites allow for you to create a visually appealing page on your website. Upload a visual marketing campaign that will make a professional impression on potential customers and increase traffic to your site. 

Dominate Your Market

If you want to dominate your market segment, it’s time to start using social media. Start by getting a free consultation with Sharp Tack Media and our team of experts will take care of all the heavy lifting while still keeping your company’s voice intact. Contact us today for more information about how we can make sure your business dominates its niche through social media marketing!

Enjoy The Benefits Of Having An Effective Customer Support System

With the rise in eCommerce, businesses have had to re-tool their customer support system. Gone are the days of going into a store and saying hi to your favorite cashier, or calling up a customer service line and waiting for an agent to help you out with your problem. Now, there are shipping times, tracking numbers, drop-offs at courier locations, and email responses.

The best customer support system for your business may depend on what industry you are in. But here are some of the most common systems out there today.

Email

The easiest to set up and also one of the most widely used systems is email. Not everyone checks their email all day long, so it is common to set up autoresponders for your business that are sent when someone fills in a contact us form or if an order is placed. This ensures you are always getting feedback from customers. Customers also like email because it is easy to access, and they don't need any special equipment or software to be able to check their inboxes. 

However, one of the biggest downsides to email is that it can get lost in all the other emails you receive, and customers may give up on getting a response if they don't see it straight away. Another downside is that email isn't the best method of communication in an emergency. It can be difficult to cater and resolve the issues of customers who are experiencing major problems with their orders unless you are checking your inbox every hour. 

Dropbox

Dropbox allows you to easily search and share files and folders, unlike a traditional file server that will take time to find the information you are looking for. This saves time wasted going through multiple folders or searching through your email inboxes, which can help you help customers faster. It is also easy to use with customers as everyone has access to it from their desktop or mobile devices. They can upload images to the shared folder, or even reply directly to an email with files they want to attach without the need of installing any special software. 

The main downside of this is that isn't physically located on your premises so you don't have control over it as you do with a traditional file server. You also need to find a third party to help you set it up, which can be expensive.

Spiceworks

Spiceworks is an IT management tool that allows you to manage all your customer support tickets in one place. This includes everything from phone calls, emails, and website inquiries that come into the business via different channels. Customers can have the ticket number to look up their product or answer any questions about it – everything from logging into a website to fixing that printer isn't impossible. 

Best Customer Support Within your Reach

Ensure customer satisfaction and grow your company by having the best customer support for your business. To find the best customer support system for your business, consider first your main requirements – do you want to be able to access information from anywhere? Do you need something with multiple channels of communication? Do you need to be able to share files easily? Here at Sharp Tack Media we offer you the best 24/7 customer support that can cater to your needs, anytime and anywhere. 

 

First Impression Lasts

If you are looking to attract customers with your company website, then it is essential that you create a user-friendly design that's informative and not cluttered. First impressions are important when reaching out to potential consumers or clients. Most people will judge or make assumptions about what they read on the internet. This is why it is crucial for you to make a good first impression.

Your website is the main platform where potential clients can learn about your company and your services before contacting you, visiting your location or making a purchase. Since all of those things are possible through the internet and it is usually much easier and cheaper than the other means (such as print), it has become one of the main ways for businesses to market themselves both locally and internationally.

There are many factors that contribute to the success or failure of your website, including its design, content, readability and functionality.

Design

The design should be simple yet professional, easy to navigate through with clear calls-to-action (such as “contact us” or “visit our store”). It should also be clear what the purpose of your business is, what you are selling or offering.

Content

Content is important in order to attract visitors, so it is essential that your content be informative and engaging. The content should be well written in a way that is informative and easy to understand, covering all the important points about your company. This is also where you will showcase your writing skills.

Readability

Readability refers to the ease in which people read what you have written on your website, ensuring that users are able to navigate through without getting confused or bored. It can impact your business as users tend to have an easier time finding information on sites that are easy to read. Your website needs to be up to date in order for customers to find you when they are looking for you, keeping the content fresh with new photos, articles or press releases.

Functionality

Functionality means the capability of your site being able to run smoothly, both when it's being accessed by one user or many. It is also important for the design of the site to be responsive so that it can be used easily wherever you are accessing it. This deals with how easy it is for users to contact you or purchase your product or service, such as an order form or “add to cart” button. It is also important to design your site so that it can be operated on a mobile device. Thus, this implies that the site should be functional on all devices.

Your website is an important tool to attract potential customers. It provides information about your company and what you are offering them, therefore it is crucial that you make a good first impression!

Still wondering how a website affects your business? Want to know more information about what you just read? Simply go ahead and click here! Remember, the main goal is to attract customers and prospects with a helpful and informative website.

Get The Right Message To The Right Audience At The Right Time.

We've all heard the old adage that content is king. But how do you know if your content marketing strategy is working? What should it entail and how can you scale it? 

Content marketing has been around since the beginning of time, but in today's digital age, new methods have emerged with social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The goal of any company looking into this type of campaign is to create engaging material that will resonate with its audience while increasing brand awareness or engagement rates–and then get people talking about them! This may seem like a daunting task, but with the right strategy and with the help from a SEO Service, it can be a success.

What Is Content Marketing? 

The term “Content Marketing” is actually very broad as there are many routes you can take to achieve your overall goal. Generally speaking, content marketing includes any type of marketing campaign where you use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or social media to help reach new leads. 

How Does This Work?  

The first step in any content marketing strategy is to determine who your audience is. Who are you targeting and what type of material do they want to read? Once you have a better idea of your target audience, it's time to start planning the types of posts that will keep them engaged and reading more about your product or service. 

Now that you have your content plan all mapped out, it's time to start building an SEO plan that includes the steps you need to take to get your pages on the first page of search engine results. Once you begin to see your site moving up in search engine rankings, it's time to market! There are two ways to market your material: SEO and Social Media. SEO is basically taking the content you post and creating links to it from other external sources, such as other blogs or news publications. By doing this, it shows Google that people are interested in this topic —oftentimes, it will increase your search rankings as a result.

What Types Of Content Can I Create? 

The sky's the limit when it comes to content marketing. As long as it has SEO potential, you can create almost any type of content that your company could need in order to be successful. 

Who Should Be Doing This? 

Content marketing isn't just for big businesses; it can be used by any size company to increase engagement and website traffic. Start small, take your time, and always keep the end goal in mind — this way, you'll get results that will help grow your business!

Use Content Marketing To Scale Your Business

Content marketing services combined with the best SEO strategies can help scale your website so that you get more customers, which means more revenue. With the right strategy, you'll be able to target specific industries, which can help expand your brand's reach. Take advantage of SEO services along with high-quality content marketing strategy to achieve your goals. 

Comments? Questions? Feel free to leave a comment below! Want more SEO tips and tricks for your business? To learn more about content marketing and SEO strategies that can help scale your business, message us at Sharp Tack Media today!

Avoid The Most Common Social Media Marketing Mistakes

The Social Media marketing industry is growing steadily every year. It has evolved into more than just social network sites – it's an entirely new way to communicate in many ways. Social media websites, despite their apparent difference in purpose, are all competing for being the social media platform of choice. As a small business owner, you have probably seen the benefits of Social Media Marketing along with its cons. 

It  is not always easy, especially if you are new to the whole process. It requires constant updating and it can be difficult to think of things to post on a regular basis. Social media is also the reason behind many internet marketing mistakes which can affect your website's ranking in search engines like Google and Bing. There are several benefits to Social Media Marketing. Social media gives you instant access to people all over the world, which means that it can get your products/services noticed by a large audience for very little cost. It has many benefits and it can be a great tool for your business or organization, however there are several common Social Media Marketing mistakes that small businesses and organizations make.

  • Not Taking Social Media Marketing Seriously

Most business owners fail to realize Social Media Marketing's potential. Social Media is still being thought of by many companies as just another marketing channel. Social media Marketing is far more than just Social Networking. It is all about Social Collaboration, Selling, and Sharing.

  • Failing to Engage

Social Media should be treated as a tool within your business to improve collaboration between consumers and your brand. It can be used to facilitate customer feedback and engage with them to take on their suggestions for the company’s improvement. 

  • Using Hashtags Incorrectly

Hashtags are an important tool because they enable Social Media users to follow conversations on a certain topic. It can help your customers easily find your content and keep up with what you have published. But the problem is that hashtags have a time and a place. The golden rule for Social Media marketers is to only include 1-2 relevant hashtags per post. This makes it easier for Social Media users to follow your brand's message, as well as develop a sense of trust in you as a business.

  • Posting Boring Posts

Social Media Marketers should post content on Social Media Networks at least every 2-3 days , otherwise Social Media users will get bored and unfollow your brand or blog. Social media uses are constantly scrolling through their feeds, so it's important to have an interesting Social Media Strategy!

  • Not Understanding Social Media Optimization

Social SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is an integral part of Social Media Marketing. It is the use of Social Media to create an effective and targeted website that can increase organic traffic within social networks which will result in increased web traffic regardless if the site has a social media presence or not. This includes Social Networking Sites which can help websites find relevant viewers increasing their organic traffic; providing organic traffic is the only way Social SEO can be done. 

Consult a Social Media Marketing Company

Here at Sharp Tack Media we want to help promote your business! We want to help you create an effective social media marketing strategy, and increase your social media presence. We hope that this article helps you begin marketing your business using Social SEO and Social Media Marketing! 

Outsource Your SEO To The Industry Experts

If you're a business owner, there is a lot on your plate. You have to worry about everything from marketing and sales to accounting and HR. But if you don't have the time or resources for SEO, it's not going to get done. SEO is a lot of work. If you're trying to do it for your business, there's SEO on the website itself and then content marketing, social media posts, blog posts, and more that all need to be done to rank well. 

You may not have the time or expertise for this task if you're running a small business. But there are high-quality services that fit your budget that can help your business grow successfully. Read further for more information about the benefits of outsourcing your SEO.

  • Frees Up Your Time

It frees up your time so you can focus on other aspects of running the business. SEO requires a lot of work. It often changes and keeping up with the latest SEO trends can be exhausting if you're doing everything in-house. Outsourcing allows you to tap into SEO experts who are already familiar with SEO trends. SEO experts are also more knowledgeable on SEO strategies, so they can carry out SEO tasks effectively.

  • Ensures Consistency with All Content

SEO links and SEO blog posts not only take time to create, but they can also become inconsistent when you don't have an SEO expert overseeing the process. When SEO is outsourced, you ensure that all your SEO content is consistent in tone and quality. 

  • Your Outsourcer Will Know How Best To Rank Your Site

Outsourcers know the SEO ranking factors and how to rank a site. They will also know which SEO strategies work and don't work, so you won't see money wasted on SEO techniques that don't do anything to help your website. SEO Outsourcing ensures your SEO is always working as it should be and that SEO tactics such as SEO link building and SEO blog posts are done well.

  • Tailored Contents Relevant To What You Offer

SEO Outsourcers create content tailored specifically for keywords relevant to what you offer. Knowing what your target audience is searching for can help you create content designed to attract them. They will ensure that the SEO content they create for you is relevant to the products and services you offer, so it's clear to Google  that your site is the best result for those search terms.

  • The Cost Is Often Much Lower Than Doing It

Outsourcing is much less expensive than SEO in-house. SEO can be difficult to master without the right training, and it takes up a lot of time. You lose money when your SEO hires aren't doing much SEO work. With outsourcing, you're hiring people with years of experience to do SEO for you.

To sum it up, outsourcing is worth looking into if you want to rank high in search engines. It ensures that tasks are carried out consistently and that money isn't wasted on SEO tactics that don't work. SEO links and posts will be tailored to what you offer, so they're relevant to searchers. It can also free up time to focus on other areas of your business. For more SEO tips, tricks and guides visit Sharp Tack Media today and get your free consultation! 

The Key to Getting More Customers Online for Your Business

If you are looking to market your small business online, start here. Marketing your business can be difficult, but it is extremely important. If you have an online presence, or are even thinking of having one in the near future, it is essential that effective marketing strategy! If you don't know where to start? Then hire an expert to help you increase your online presence.

SEO is highly beneficial especially in promoting any business, whether you’re a big or small company. The idea behind it is to create content in a way that search engines will rank you higher in their results. It can be complicated, but there are definitely some ways that can help simplify it if done correctly. Basically, this is all about improving your ranking in search engine results. It will help get your website found on popular search engines, which can lead to more traffic and even more customers.

However, the thing about SEO is that there are definitely ways to go wrong. There are many “tricks” that have been exploited, and the search engines have adapted to try to weed out all of these tricks. In order to have SEO success there are a few things that need to happen:

  • Optimize Your Site For Search Engines

Optimize the content of your website with keywords and phrases that will be searched by potential customers.  It is important that you have useful and informative content on your site, having links to your website from other sites in appropriate places, and not getting penalized for “spammy” SEO practices. 

  • Promote Articles Through Social Media 

This will increase your website’s visibility and traffic. When you have a website, make sure to establish a social media presence. The key is not so much how many followers or fans you have on these sites, but instead it's more important to establish yourself as an authority in your industry. The more often your articles are shared and retweeted, the more you gain SEO value from these sites, which will in turn increase your site's visibility to potential new customers.

  • Update The Information Regularly

You need to update the information regularly so it doesn't become outdated or irrelevant. SEO requirements change regularly, the information you read today may be wrong tomorrow. If your SEO campaign isn't working, make sure you are using updated SEO strategies to improve your site's presence in search engine rankings.

  • Include Backlinks

Include links back to other articles about SEO on your website as well as external websites in order to build credibility, authority, and trustworthiness. This will improve the SEO value of your website.  If you can't find SEO specific articles to link back to, just link back to another page on your site that has SEO related content. This is especially important when it comes to web pages that are popular and well linked-to, such as the home page. 

SEO is a complicated topic which can be difficult to navigate, especially as Google and other search engines update their algorithms. And If your efforts aren't creating results, don't be afraid to hire us, Sharp Tack Media to help you get started today! 

Setting Up Your Business Success Through SEO

If you're reading this, chances are you've heard of SEO and know it's important for your business. But what is SEO? And how do I get started on the right foot and avoid the common SEO mistakes? Never fear! This post will provide a quick rundown of what SEO is and how to start optimizing your site

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. Generally, search engines such as Google rank websites higher in their results pages if they follow certain rules or best practices set out by algorithms that determine their relevance. These “rules” include things like the number of words per sentence. It also includes keyword density or how often keywords appear on a page and how many times they're repeated. Of course, the more relevant your website is to a given search term, the higher you'll rank in search results. What does this mean? If someone types in “funky earrings,” your funky earring company will show up at the top of the list when they conduct a Google or Bing search. 

When it comes to SEO basics, there are certain best practices that every SEO consultant will probably agree on without hesitation. Here are some SEO basics to get you started:

  • Not An Instant Solution

SEO takes time and effort, so choose SEO consultants who are willing to dedicate the time necessary to improve rankings over the long term.

  • Requires Consistency To Have Tangible Results

SEO efforts should be ongoing and continuous rather than a one off campaign. Efforts should not be limited to an SEO company's package, but instead SEO activities should continue even after you have already started working with an SEO Company.

  • Holistic Website

This isn't just about writing pages that are keyword rich, it's also having links between different parts of your site as well as links from other sites that point to your site. Campaigns usually start by optimizing individual pages, but SEO best practices also highlight the importance of internal links and external links. Thus, websites should be considered as a whole rather than individual pages or posts.

  • Always Be In Line With Goals And Target Audience

Employ SEO strategies that are appropriate for an organization's goals and target audience. It is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Campaigns should focus on SEO best practices that will help your business achieve its goals. SEO campaigns that are not achieving ideal results should be discarded in favor of new and efficient strategies that target a business' actual goals and target audience. 

Choosing The Correct SEO Strategy

When it comes to SEO, everyone has something to say about what the best methods are. Not surprisingly, many consultants disagree on best practices. It is an ongoing process of trial and error, where consultants implement methods that they believe will be best practices in SEO campaigns; however, sometimes these SEO efforts fall flat. If your campaign isn't producing the results that you want, don't hesitate to change things up. The worst thing you can do is continue SEO efforts that aren't delivering ideal results. Things change quickly in this industry and if you want expert help with your website- look no further than Sharp Tack Media! 

8 Tips To Make Your Web Design Stand Out

When web designers are just starting, they sometimes find that their website designs are a little too derivative. This is especially true for new designers that use tools like Photoshop and Illustrator during the design process. Fortunately, you can do simple things to make your website stand out from all of those cookie-cutter sites out there. Some tricks require a little bit of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or jQuery knowledge. But don't worry if you are not a developer–even using some of these tricks are as simple as copying and pasting some code provided on the Web.

1. Create Unique Gradient Backgrounds With CSS3

One of the easiest ways to make your site stand out is adding unique gradient backgrounds, which are possible with CSS3. You may find Gradient Generators on the Web that may help you create the best backgrounds.

2. Make Your Social Media Buttons Unique With CSS3

If you are using social media icons on your site (for example, Facebook likes or Twitter follow buttons), adding an icon to indicate a link is a way to make your site stand out from the crowd. In this case, you can use CSS3 to add arrows beside these buttons by simply adding an indicator as a semi-transparent PNG file and setting it as a background image with CSS.

3. Use 3D Transforms With WebKit Only

Transforms are one of the most impressive features in CSS3. For example, you can use them to make your pages look like they are part of a game. But currently, only WebKit browsers (Chrome and Safari) support 3D Transforms.

4. Use Transitions Instead Of Animations

Animated GIFs have long been used as an alternative to Flash. But fortunately, there is now a better way of showing animations on your site without using animated GIFs by CSS3 transitions. It means that you can animate any element on your page just by changing its background color rather than creating an animated GIF for each different effect.

5. Add A Parallax Effect To Your Site

If you want to take your site to the next level, then adding a parallax effect (where the background moves slower than elements on top) is something you should try. There are several tutorials online for this type of effect. Still, if you are not interested in creating an HTML5 game or an animated 2D or 3D scene to achieve this effect, you can use a parallax script that is easy to implement.

6. Add A Tilt Shift Effect To Your Site

Adding a tilt-shift effect to your site makes it look like a miniature model or toy. You can create many different effects by using HTML5 canvas in combination with jQuery.

7. Add Shadows And Bevels To Your Site With CSS3

One of the easiest ways to make your site stand out is by adding shadows and angles to any element on your page (including text). You can use CSS3 to create this effect, but currently, only WebKit browsers support these effects, which means that you will also need to add a fallback for other browsers.

8. Add An Amazing 3D Cube To Your Site With CSS3 And jQuery

Another way to make your site stand out is by adding a rotating cube that you can use as a menu, header, or even a call-to-action box on any site page. You can create this effect yourself with HTML, CSS, and jQuery, or you can use a tool like http://csscube.com/ to generate the code for you in just a few minutes.

Make your Website Standout with Us

These tricks will help you make your website stand out from the crowd, and they are all very simple to implement. They may require a little bit of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript knowledge, but if you don't know how to do any of this yourself, there is no need to worry, Sharp Tack Media is here to assist you! 

How To Improve Your Brand Image

Do you have a vision for your brand? Are you confident about the direction in which it is headed? If the answer to either question is no, then you could be missing out on opportunities that would help improve your company’s image. 

Even if there are already some aspects of your image that may not need to be changed, there are still ways that you can improve your online company branding. Here are just some of the brand image must haves for you:

The Logo

One of the most important aspects of a brand and its image is the logo. It must stand out and attract attention while also clearly conveying what company or organization it belongs to. There are many different components to the logo that you may change to help improve your image. For instance, you can change colors or font type if it does not work well for your brand.

The Website

Another essential aspect of branding is the website. If the website looks unprofessional, outdated, or does not connect well to your brand, then it can be a turn-off for potential customers. It is also vital that the website looks clean and professional, is easy to navigate, and has good accessibility with mobile devices.

The Packaging

If you plan on selling a product or service, it is very important that the packaging reflects your brand image. The product or service packaging must make it easy for customers to identify what is inside and be appealing.

The Service

If a product or a service is excellent, then there’s a good chance it will sell itself. However, if you want better sales and for your company to be recognized as the best in its industry, the quality of your service and brand’s image is important. The more a product or service can make customers happy and feel looked after, the more likely they will return and recommend it to others.

The Environment

Another way that may enhance a brand image is by improving the environment. For instance, if you are trying to market your brand as eco-friendly or sustainable, it would make sense that an aspect of your office that reflects that would also help improve your image. Well-decorated and clean office space will increase morale and work satisfaction, reflecting a positive image of the brand.

Be Different

While it is essential to identify a brand and its image with some key characteristics, sometimes being different from others in your industry is one of the best ways to stand out. Some brands have successfully done this by breaking the rules to establish themselves as the ones to watch in their industry.

Improve your Brand Image with us

If you can incorporate some or all of these methods, then there is a good chance that your brand image will have improved drastically. Remember, any changes you make should be carefully considered and not made just for being different. If you want to enhance your brand image, simply follow these steps and see how it transforms your company's public perception. 

Better yet, call any of our representatives today. With our website design expertise and top notch digital marketing services, you’ll get the brand image you’ve always wanted!

 

Quality Content For Your Business Needs

If you were to be asked, what's the most important part of your website?

Email sign up?

The About Me page?

Your Product or Service pages?

No, no, yes? But what about the CONTENT of your website?! If you're reading this article, chances are YOU know how important your product is. If not, why are you here?

Your website is basically an online brochure or flyer for your business. You wouldn't hand out a half-empty brochure when you're trying to promote your excellent service/product… Would you?

But there's no need to have a website just because everyone else has one – And there's no need to fill it with tons of meaningless content. Your website should offer high-quality content that is engaging, friendly, and informative. Here's what you should include in your business site:

  • Product or Service Information

First and foremost, include information about what value you provide or product you sell. This is the most important part of your website. Why? So people can find your website AND make sense of it.

If you're trying to sell a product, telling what the product is, the price and how we can order it. If you're promoting your service, then go into detail about what kind of services you offer and their costs.

Also, promote your latest product/service on your homepage, not the older ones you're trying to get rid of.

  • Contact Information

The second most important part of your website is your contact information so potential customers can get in touch with you. You would be surprised how many websites completely skip this part! 

  • About Me Page

Add an About Me page so people know who is behind the website and why they should trust you/your products. You can also talk about your organization's history, its mission, and its vision for the future.

Talking about the people and team behind your website can also help people know the quality of the services and products you're selling.

  • Videos

Have a video on your site. Videos are great because it’s an interesting and bite-sized way to give potential customers a good idea of what the product/service is and how it works. 

  • Relevant Images

Don't overload your site with too many images – If you have too many images, chances are that people will just overlook it!

  • Testimonials

Add testimonials from existing customers on your website. This immediately adds credibility to your business. Whether it’s through texts and images, testimonials will always be great social proofs of what your business can do.

With these tips , you have created a website that's easy to read and use. Remember, only add so much content on your site that's necessary. Not only will this help you focus on what's most important, but it also makes your website load faster so people can get in touch with you sooner. Don't forget to proofread the content of your website, too!

If you're ever unsure about what content to include, our team of experts in Sharp Tack Media can help you. Give us a call today so we can create the content your business needs!

Win Your Customers Through Excellent Support

It is becoming more common for businesses to have online communities, both on their own website and elsewhere. Whether the goal is to increase customer reach or to win their loyalty, excellent support is not an option, but a responsibility that businesses need to comply with. One way to succeed with your business is to have excellent customer support that will cater to the needs raised by your loyal customers. 

Possible Concerns on Online Community Support 

While having an online community is great for social networking with customers or providing support, there are some downsides that you need to be aware of so you don't upset your customers.

One of the biggest concerns for companies is how much time they want to spend on these online communities. Many people expect responses in a timely manner and if they don't get one it can cause customers to lose faith in your business. Some companies don't want to spend too much time monitoring the concerns they receive. However, without regular updates, new comments might not be noticed for hours at a time which can cause frustration for some users.

Another concern is how your company will respond to negative comments or complaints. While you may choose not to give any response at all, it can also be bad because customers might assume that you do not care about them or their opinions at all anymore.

Therefore, businesses should take the time to monitor their online communities and respond to those who have taken the time to comment on their website. If you don't, your online community may lose users and that could cause a negative impact on how many customers you receive in general.

How Your Business Can Provide Online Community Support?

Now, you know that your business needs online community support for the benefit of both your customers and the business. So, how do you provide this support? There are several ways to go about it:

You could have one person who makes sure all comments are replied to within the day they are made. This might work if you don't get many comments on your website. Or, you could allow anyone in the business to respond if they notice a comment that needs responding to. But it might not work as effectively because there is no one person who is dedicated solely to this task.

You may also consider hiring someone who is dedicated to monitoring comments on your website, but this could be an added expense that you are not prepared for.

Working with outside companies to provide this community support could also be beneficial. This allows the business to focus on other needs while still providing online community support. 

Deciding whether or not you should have a person or people who monitor and respond to comments is something that only you can decide. However, many people find it worthwhile because it helps provide support for customers as well as a way for customers to provide feedback and suggestions on how they can be helped.

Professional Customer Support For Your Needs

Having online community support for your business is a great way to help your customers and improve your business. If you need help finding a company that can provide this service, try contacting our professionals from Sharp Tack Media! Not only do we provide excellent web design, we also offer social media and reputation management services to win your customers!

Maximize Your Website Through These Tips

What comes to your mind when you think of marketing promotions? A lot of things, right? Some of us would probably think about billboards and ads on TV. However, we may also use our tools in a completely different way: by using our website for online marketing promotions!

Although it may sound difficult, it's really not that hard. You can use your website for marketing promotions by these simple steps.

Although it may sound difficult, it's really not that hard. You can use your website for marketing promotions by these simple steps:

  1. Set up a contest on your website
  2. Publicize it as much as possible
  3. Watch as people flock to your website from all over the world!

Now, let's break it down into more detail!

Step 1: Set up a contest on your website

You can set up a contest on your website by following a very simple list of steps:

  1. Decide what you want to give away. This  could be anything from a free product to an all-inclusive trip. You may also consider  holding contests that don't necessarily involve giving something away, but instead incentivizing website visitors to vote for you.
  2. Decide the timeframe in which the contest will be held. You should make it short enough so people are intrigued and want to participate, but long enough so there's ample time to market your contest!  
  3. Decide what you want people to do for a chance to win it. For example, do you want them to create a video of themselves doing your new dance? Or tweet about you? Or make a poster of their favorite song by you and post it on their Facebook wall? It's totally up to you!

Step 2: Publicize it as much as possible

The best possible way to publicize your contest is through word-of-mouth. If you have a fan base of any kind, ask them to help promote it for you! You can also promote it on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

You may even make a webpage on your website dedicated to the contest and give away. For example, if you're giving away a trip and want people to make posters of their favorite song by you, then create a page called “Posters for Arianna.”

There are already several websites where you can host contests for free, so use those sites as models for creating your own contest webpage!

Step 3: Watch as people flock to your website from all over the world!

Once you have set up your contest and promoted it, you can watch as people from all over the world flock to your website. From there on out, you can track how many people are entering into your contest!

Website Design For Your Marketing Promotions

When you use your website for marketing promotions, you can watch as people from all over the world flock to your website! It's a great way to promote and advertise your business. Word-of-mouth is an incredibly powerful tool; be sure to make the most of it by creating a contest and making it public as much as possible.

So what are you waiting for? Start using your website for marketing promotions and increase your views, sales, and profit! If you need help, you may contact our team at Sharp Tack Media  so we can help you increase your website's value and gain more viewers.

 

Website Maintenance 101

Website maintenance covers a wide range of tasks that are required to keep your website healthy. If you have ever built or updated a website, you know how easy things can go wrong. One tiny error could lead to an entire site malfunction.

This type of service includes any work that needs to be done on either an existing site or a new site built. A website is an investment, and it should be examined for problems regularly to determine what needs to be updated or repaired. Website maintenance can include:

  • Content Updates

There are many reasons you may need your content updated, such as changing the information about an event or adding new blog posts. Content updates should be evaluated regularly to make sure your site is entirely up-to-date.

  • Search Engine Optimization

SEO services include submitting a sitemap to Google and checking for broken links. SEO is significant for your site because it helps to increase visibility. Poor SEO could cause lower rankings with Google, which means fewer people will be able to see your website.

  • Site Maintenance

Site maintenance includes any updates to the site that needs to be done all at once. This type of maintenance may consist of updating your CSS, changing the logo, or changing the website design entirely. Updating plugins, themes, and extensions are should also be included in regular site maintenance.

  • Monitoring

Any time changes are made to a site. It needs to be monitored to ensure that other areas aren't affected negatively. Monitoring can be as simple as checking analytics after updates are made to ensure nothing is broken.

  • Security

Website maintenance can also include checking for malware, ensuring security certificates and software updates. An outdated website is more vulnerable to hackers who can corrupt your site or steal your private information.

  • Site Speed

Website speed is one of the most significant factors that affect your overall user experience. If it takes too long for pages to load on mobile devices, then visitors will leave quickly. Slow websites can be frustrating to visitors and could affect conversions on mobile traffic. That's why maintaining site speed is essential.

  • Backups

Backups are essential to preserving the website. If there is an issue with the current site, you can restore it from a backup to ensure your site never goes down for extended periods. This needs to be done regularly, depending on how often changes are made. If you don't want to handle website maintenance on your own, hiring a professional is the best way to go.

Choose The Right Web Maintenance Service Provider

With all of these different types of website updates, it's clear that this service covers a wide variety of tasks required to ensure your website's health. This is why it's crucial to have a professional handle all aspects of website maintenance so you can focus on growing your company.

If you're running a business, it's crucial to invest in this type of service to keep up with all of the changes made to search engine requirements. This will make sure your site is always optimized and able to rank well if you want more traffic.

With so many services available, it's essential to use a company that puts together custom packages for each client to ensure all the right tasks are done. If you have a website that needs maintenance,  find a company that can complete all of the tasks on your list, so you have one less thing to worry about.

Content Is King: Keep It Fresh And Relevant For Your Customers

Customers are visiting websites to find answers or information they need, which is what good website content provides. And that's why customers are more likely to go for websites that already have the accurate information they need.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a business owner is posting outdated content on your website. This does not only mean that the information might be false after some time, but it also means that search engine crawlers will have difficulties crawling and indexing pages with obsolete content.

Below are some of the reasons why updated website contents are important.

Your Site Will Be Less Competitive

When you publish an article on your site, it is expected that you will keep the information as up-to-date as possible. This means that if someone finds obsolete content, customers might not revisit your website because they don't know how current the information you post is. This will affect the number of visitors that your site receives.

Content With Old Information Is Less Likely To Be Shared On Social Media Sites

When you update your website, the information on it becomes fresh. It means that people are more likely to share its content on their social media profiles because they find it useful. If you post outdated content, you might not get as many shares. Fresh contents also give third-party sites a reason to link to your website, further increasing its rankings on search engine sites.

Search Engines Prefer Updated Contents

Google is now using artificial intelligence to crawl the internet and find information to index for their databases. When they come across outdated content, it takes them longer to crawl your website, making it less competitive than other sites with fresh content.

Your Site Might Be Penalized Or Deindexed

If search engine crawlers come across pages with obsolete information, your site might be penalized or even deindexed from their databases. Because of this, visitors will have a hard time finding your website when trying to look for the products and services you offer.

It is not enough that you post fresh and useful content on your website now and then. Your information needs to be kept as up-to-date as possible so you can enjoy the organic traffic that only search engine crawlers can provide.

Google Loves Updated Content Because It Is More Relevant To Users

With the increasing number of businesses going digital, the competition for rankings has become stiffer than ever. That's why google finds a way to crawl the site to check whether there's relevant and fresh content.

When you publish an article on your website, Google spiders can easily index it so that users can find it when they type something related into the search bar. Fresh contents are indexed more efficiently, and they provide a way for users to find your site.

Bottomline

If you want your business to succeed online, you must update content on your website. This does not only give readers information about what you have been up to lately, but it also helps search engines index your content so that a wider audience can find it.

Simple Steps You Need For An Effective Web Maintenance Plan

Digitalizing your business doesn't stop once you have a website. Your plan for your business should include a schedule to maintain your website so that you can ensure everything runs smoothly and no problems will arise in the future, or at least you are prepared if any do come up. An excellent way to do this is by setting up a plan.

Creating a maintenance plan is essential if you want your website to run smoothly. Here are some steps on how to construct one:

1. Schedule

Create a schedule for updates and make sure the entire team agrees with it. Updates should be planned at least once per month, but remember that more extensive updates can take more time and should be carried out in a series of stages.

2. Notify Your Visitors

Free up a ‘home' page for notifications and make sure it is the first page potential visitors will see when accessing your website. This is where you can list details about any ongoing updates, maintenance work, or site malfunctions. You should also add a disclaimer to explain why certain pages are difficult to access. This is also an excellent place to add your contact details and indicate when the website is estimated to be fully functional again.

It is essential to include an estimated time range so your visitors will know when they can expect full access.

3. Ensure Accessibility

If possible, ensure that the back-end of your website remains functional so you can still make changes even during maintenance work. You should also set up a system for employees or representatives to input information even when you are unavailable.

4. Identify the Problem Areas

As part of your maintenance plan, you need to identify any problem areas and be on the lookout for anything suspicious or unusual on your website. This way, you can prevent downtime and errors before they become a severe issue. Make sure all members of your team know what to do if something goes wrong.

5. Backup

Any changes to your website should be documented and printed out as a record of what was changed. A backup can also be useful if an update creates an unforeseen problem and you need to revert to the previous version of the website. It is recommended that you keep at least three backups on file – one on the server and at least two others in a different location.

6. Monitor Your Site

After your maintenance plan is set up, you should monitor your website regularly to make sure the updates are working, and no new problems have arisen. Set up alerts for different URLs or parts of your site so that you always get notified if something isn't working. Through multiple checkups, you can avoid major problems from arising and be able to detect more minor issues before they escalate.

Bottomline

A good maintenance plan ensures your website runs smoothly for your customers. It is an essential aspect of digitalizing your business, so make sure you follow a schedule that works best for you and your team!

 

Website Maintenance: What You Need To Know

Website maintenance is usually thought of as a mundane or even tedious task. Sometimes it may be an expense rather than an essential part of keeping a website relevant for visitors and search engines alike. But not maintaining your site is more costly in the long run.

Read more to learn about the seven essential facts about website maintenance that you should know:

1. Website Maintenance Is Essential To SEO

Search engines love fresh, updated content, and so do your visitors. When was the last time you added a new page or post to your site? If it's been more than a couple of weeks, then you're losing out on potential traffic and SEO value.

2. Without Maintenance, Your Site Will Get The “Sandbox Effect.”

If your site has been around for a while but hasn't been touched, then Google will put you into what's called the “sandbox effect,” which is essentially a timeout period where your site is isolated from achieving high rankings. While this might sound great, it can last anywhere from weeks to months, depending on how long it's been since you've added fresh content or worked on your site's link building.

3. The Content On Your Site Will Tend To Get Outdated

If you've been to a website recently and found that it hasn't been updated in a while, then you probably moved on pretty quickly, didn't you? Well, that's why content gets outdated fast, and search engines take notice of such things. Websites that haven't been updated in several months tend to get demoted as people's attention spans go elsewhere.

4. Visitors Will Tend To Think Your Site Is Neglected If It Isn't Maintained

There's a psychological reason why we know not to touch things that we think are dirty or neglected, and the same thing applies to websites. If your site hasn't been updated in a while, visitors will think that it's either neglected or obsolete, and they'll take their attention elsewhere.

5. You Run The Risk Of Having Your Site Hacked When It Isn't Maintained

Security problems with websites are more common than most people realize, mainly because those responsible for updating their sites usually aren't technical whizzes. Websites tend to become more vulnerable if they haven't been updated in a while, which opens the door to hackers who can infect your site with malware or viruses that could be used to collect information about visitors. So it's important to maintain your site!

6. Nobody Will Be Able To Find Your Site When It Isn't Maintained

Websites that aren't maintained don't stay indexed on the web. This means that if you decide to take a break from updating your site, then search engines will stop indexing it after a while, making it virtually impossible for anyone to find your website again.

7. Your Site Could Have Technical Or Reliability Problems When It Isn't Maintained

New updates and bug fixes are often provided as the web evolves, including those that improve your site's overall performance. What happens if you don't keep up with such things? If you're not familiar with technical issues,  it could be difficult to find a solution when they arise.

8. Your Site Might Even Malfunction When It Isn't Maintained

Today, most websites use plugins or extensions, whether offered for free or purchased from a third party. Such items may not work as they should if you don't update them, and therein lies the problem: your site will have technical issues and might even malfunction.

These are just a few of the reasons why it's so essential to maintain your website or blog regularly, especially if you want to attract more traffic and keep them coming back for more again and again.

SEO Strategies For Profitability

SEO or search engine optimization is the practice of increasing your website's visibility on SERPs ( Search Engine Results Pages). One of the ways to get excellent and affordable SEO is to hire an experienced team of professionals to help you with it.

But with the vast array of SEO services out there, which are the ones you should genuinely get? Let's find out!

Most Common Forms Of SEO Services

All forms of SEO offer their own unique and effective services to help you rank better. They include:

• On-Page Optimization

This service ensures that there is nothing preventing customers from finding your website, such as broken links, spelling mistakes, etc. It also includes general on-page optimization like title tags, meta tags, alt tags, meta descriptions, and keyword density.

• Off-Page Optimization

This type of SEO service gives your website an online boost by increasing the number of websites linking back to you and getting good reviews from customers about your products.

However, this may depend on a few factors. These factors include the keywords you desire to rank for, their search volume, and how many people are currently using the keywords.

Now that we have established some of the essential SEO services you should get, let's look at a few of them in detail:

1. Technical SEO Audit

Experts perform a technical SEO audit to ensure that there are no errors in your website. There are many different types of audits. Some examples include:

• Title Tag Audit

This ensures that the title tags on each website page are unique and not too long or short for search engines to understand. It also provides that there is only one metatag per web page, with no different keywords than what is needed.

• Broken Link Audit

This ensures that your website does not contain broken links and to remove them if they appear. It also lets you know which links do work and how many customers clicked on them. If many people click on the same link, it implies this is a good link and should be kept.

• Google Analytics Audit

This lets you know your website's Google Analytics statistics and how the web page owner can improve them.

2. Content Optimization

Your content must be well optimized for search engines. The following are some services that will help you achieve this:

• SEO Title Creation

This service ensures that your website's title tags are unique, relevant to the page they're on, and do not exceed the character limit. They should also be descriptive but not too long as search engine crawlers ignore words after a certain number of characters.

• SEO Content Creation

These services help you create content for your website, ensuring unique and well-optimized search engines. These services include:

• On-Page Content Creation

This service ensures that your content is well written, informative, and has a clear flow from one topic to another. It also helps write clear CTA(Call to Action) statements so customers know what they should expect on the website.

• Off-Page Content Creation

This service helps you create content for external blogs and websites that link back to your website.

3. SEO Image Optimization

A lot of search engine optimization practices require good-quality images. Here are some services that can help you optimize these images:

• Image Title Tags

These services help create SEO-friendly image titles and ensure that they are unique and relevant to the page's content.

• Image Meta Tags

This service ensures that you have well-written and accurate meta tags for your images. Hence, customers know what to expect when they view them.

• Image Description

These services write succinct yet informative descriptions for each of your images and ensure that they're unique and relevant to the image itself.

• Image Keyword Insertion

These services ensure that you include all of your target keywords in each one of your images, so search engine crawlers know how to best rank them.

Affordable SEO Services For Your Small Business

It can be pretty expensive to get all of these services for your website. The good news is that you don't have to do them all yourself. There are many affordable SEO companies out there that will perform the services described above. If you're not sure where to start, hire our team from Sharp Tack Media today!

Social media marketing as an integral part of any business

Are you aiming to reach a wider range of audiences through social media? If you are, then an affordable SEO service is what you need. 

Why is Social Media important for your business?

It is no secret that social media has grown in popularity over the years. Facebook has reported that there are more than 2 billion active users on their site alone. Social media is a great opportunity for businesses to tap into this growing market and grow their business with social media marketing. It is also an essential part of SEO because it can help with both your organic and paid search efforts in many different ways. 

Social Media Marketing is the use of social media platforms and websites to promote a product or service. It is the use of social networking sites and blogs to promote your website, brand, or business. This includes the use of video, photos, text updates – anything that people can engage with online via likes, shares, or comments. Posts are generally in the form of status updates on Facebook or Tweets on Twitter but they could include links to blog posts, photos, or videos on Instagram or Pinterest.

It is one of the most important aspects of digital marketing which provides businesses incredible benefits by reaching millions of customers worldwide. They help you to connect with the customers, increase your brand awareness, and boost your leads and sales. Moreover, it provides companies with an effective way to engage with existing customers and reach new ones while allowing them to promote their desired culture, mission, or tone.

Social media marketing has purpose-built data analytics tools that provide companies with a way to engage with existing customers and reach new ones while allowing them to promote their desired culture, mission, or tone. The purpose-built data analytics tools also allow marketers to track the success of their efforts. It only requires a minimal advertising budget and an opportunity to compete in the online space.

Business owners can utilize many different channels including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and many more, to reach potential customers who are actively seeking out content that is related to their industry or niche market. This type of marketing is advantageous to companies with limited resources because this is an opportunity for them to compete in the online space. 

Through social signals, Google determines how high you rank for certain keywords so if people are interacting with your content, you'll see better SEO results. Similarly, if people are sharing/liking/retweeting posts about your brand or company it helps to build trust and improve brand awareness which also leads to higher rankings. 

Reach a wider audience through Affordable SEO Services 

There are many different types of social publishing including simple posts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn – as well as paid ads that appear across these platforms. Social media allows you to connect with your customers, increase brand awareness and boost leads and sales. If you want to start growing your business through social media and SEO, don’t hesitate to consult us at Sharp Tack Media! 

Want More Leads? Try These Tricks!

If you're a business trying to grow and make a name for yourself, you know how important it is to keep your clients happy. One of the most potent ways to do that is by building trust between you and them. To do this, some employ agencies that offer complete and affordable SEO services, and so much more. If you’re looking for an expert team to help you, you may click here to get started.

How To Make Your Clients Trust You

It's no secret that one of the best ways to establish trust with your clients is by being knowledgeable about what you do. But, even if you are trustworthy, it could also be hard for clients to take you seriously if they don’t see the value of what you can offer. Luckily, there are tons of quick and easy ways to fix this problem.

1. Find Your Clients' Pain Points And Offer Solutions

If you want your clients to trust that you are equipped to handle their needs, the best way is to demonstrate that you know what they're going through. One of the best ways to do this is by finding out where their pain points are and offering solutions. You can do this by talking with them over the phone or creating an online survey.

2. Write Error-Free Content

Do you know how most businesses out there claim to be SEO experts? How many of them actually back up that assertion by offering top-notch content with no grammatical errors? If you want your clients to trust you, it's best to avoid falling into this trap by proofreading everything you publish on the web.

3. Get On Track With Mobile-Friendly Design

Many people are using their mobile devices to get online nowadays, which means that websites need to be user-friendly for them. If your website isn't optimized for these smartphone users, it's time to get on track with a mobile-friendly design. There are a lot of quick and easy ways to do this.

4. Use Video Marketing In Your Online Strategy

In today's day and age, the most successful brands out there have learned how powerful video marketing can be. If you want your clients to understand that they're in good hands, offering them videos on your site is a great way to do so.

5. Utilize Social Media Marketing To Your Advantage

Social media can be an excellent tool for building trust with your clients if you know how to use it. For example, if someone shares one of your posts on Facebook, Twitter, or even LinkedIn, they're essentially giving you a seal of approval. That means that when their friends read about your business, they'll be inclined to trust it as well.

If you want more leads and conversions for your website, why not consider hiring a professional SEO agency? With so many businesses offering top-notch services in this area, becoming the best isn't as hard as you think.

6. Stay Away From Black Hat Search Engine Optimization Tactics

While it may seem like a quick and easy way to get ahead, SEO professionals know that black hat search engine optimization tactics will only end up hurting your business in the long run. These include things such as buying links from third-party websites, spamming forums with links, and so much more.

When you use black hat SEO tactics to get ahead, while it may seem like a good idea at first, your site could quickly get banned by Google due to spam or low-quality content. This means that you won't have an online presence anymore. To avoid this is by avoiding black hat SEO tactics altogether.

7. Don't Steal Content From Other Sites

This should go without saying, but many people mistake stealing content from other websites to use on their website. The problem is that they're not giving credit to the original source, resulting in legal issues down the road.

Trustworthy And Affordable SEO Services For Your Needs

Keep your clients happy by doing what it takes to connect with them. With Sharp Tack Media's affordable and trustworthy SEO services, we'll be able to solve your problems together and grow your company's reputation.

As the digital marketing industry has evolved, SEO has become a critical part of any company's marketing strategy. 

Are you looking for an affordable SEO service? SEO is an advertising practice that can make your website show up higher in search engine results. This involves many techniques which are constantly being developed and tested to help web pages rank as highly as possible by the major search engines. Here are some of the common mistakes made by small businesses that you should know before you start to avail SEO services: 

Not taking SEO seriously

Many small businesses claim SEO is not essential. They think SEO will “happen” on its own or because most people use social media to communicate today instead of search engines. On the contrary, SEO is just as important as it has always been. SEO can be a great way to bring targeted traffic to a small business website and help them get leads and sales from that traffic.

Ignoring local SEO 

Small businesses often ignore local SEO, even though it is the most important form of SEO. SEO can dramatically impact how much traffic a website gets from search engines and ranks that traffic by geographic location to send it to the site best suited for that audience. It helps a business appear in search engine results when people search online using their smartphone, tablet, or desktop for local businesses. SEO should be used to drive traffic to a business's website by targeting the SEO efforts towards the geographic location of their target market. 

Ignoring content marketing

Content marketing generates a large amount of keyword-rich content that helps a website rank higher in search engine results for those specific keywords. Search engines love to rank websites with a lot of fresh, relevant content on them because it means they are being updated frequently and should be legitimate sites maintained by active businesses who actually care about what they do. 

Having a terrible website

A website that is unattractive and loaded with advertisements or links that bring people to other sites rather than the business' site itself will not capture the attention of those who are looking for your local business through search engines. This is why it's important to have a nice-looking, well-made website free of grammatical errors and loaded with informative content aimed at the target market for each business to get more customers through search engine results pages.

Not hiring an expert

Of course, websites can get visibility and traffic from the major search engines without hiring an expert or professional to help. Still, it is much easier if the person in charge of optimization has the expertise and experience. While it's possible to learn how to do SEO for a website, making mistakes along the way cannot be avoided, and it can be time-consuming. Hiring someone experienced with optimizing websites will not only make things easier, but they are also more likely to help a business get on the right track with its SEO marketing efforts. 

There are many things to consider in finding the SEO Service that offers high-quality service that fits your budget and helps your business grow. But with the right SEO strategy, your business will surely succeed online and offline. 

Important Factors To Consider When Choosing A Web Maintenance Company

To get the most out of your website, you must hire a company to provide routine maintenance for optimal performance. However, many factors to consider when hiring a maintenance provider can make or break your website's mission. In this article, we will explore six things to consider before hiring a website maintenance provider.

  • Experience

First and foremost, you should consider experience when hiring a website maintenance provider. The amount of experience a company has is directly related to how familiar they are with your site's current state and how much insight they have into possible future problems before those problems arise. After all, prevention is the best cure! Having been in the field for a long time enables them to build a playbook to deal with problems.

  • Security

Security is critical to the success and safety of your business in the online world. Not only should you consider if they provide security, but how much security do they offer? What kind of experience do they have with securing other types of websites? Is the security they provide custom to your needs, or are they reusing a one-size-fits-all solution that may not be perfect for you?

  • Monitoring And Maintenance

Do you want a company to watch over everything and every minute of the day, or would you rather have someone monitor key points and send reports to tell you when something is amiss? Both have their advantages. If you want a company watching everything all of the time, they will most likely be able to deal with problems that arise immediately for you.

However, this also means higher costs for routine maintenance. If you would rather have someone who checks key factors of your website on a set schedule, they may be able to find problems before they become serious. You will most likely incur lower costs this way, but you will also need to know how to fix the problem yourself or contact them when something does go wrong.

  • Communication

Having proper communication is vital in all aspects of business, but it's important for website maintenance providers because they need to communicate with you about your site. Do they provide reports? How often are these reports sent out? Are the best ways for you to contact them via email, phone, chat, etc.? What is their response time? How quickly can they respond/resolve any problems that arise, and are there any costs associated with their response?

  • What Is Included?

Verify if there is an extra fee for every detail, such as fixing broken links, spam removal, etc. For instance, do they charge extra fees for SSL certificates? Should you have to pay an extra fee for a shopping cart if you want one? Find out exactly what is included with your package and what isn't.

  • What Do They Offer In Regards To Customizing The Experience For Your Site?

Some companies treat all clients equally, but other companies tailor their service specifically to your needs. If you have a unique site, make sure you choose a company that can deal with your uniqueness.

Conclusion

There are many different website maintenance providers, and each has its own unique set of features. You should make sure you choose the one that best fits your needs before choosing anyone in particular. Remember to look for experience, security, monitoring/maintenance, communication, costs associated with response time, what is included in all packages compared to extra fees, and how they handle customizing the experience for your site.

Turn Visitors Into Customers!

For many people, losing weight can be a real challenge. With so much conflicting advice around, it can seem challenging to know where to start. It can be frustrating and demotivating for people to lose weight if they don't have a clear idea of what they're doing. But for fitness website owners, it's an opportunity to help people achieve their goals.

Introducing a food diary and planner within your site's design is one-way people can monitor their progress and what they eat. These types of food diary and planner tools can be beneficial for people looking to lose weight through a healthy diet and gain weight if they're doing a bodybuilding program.

How Web Food Diary And Planner Can Turn Website Visitors Into Customers

Offering free tools with lots of functionality also encourages people to come back to your site. Below are ways to turn your web visitors into loyal customers by providing a food diary and planner.

1.   Increase Traffic And Conversions

When you put a food diary and planner on your website, people will be able to start logging their diets and workouts right away – without having to leave the site. This helps people see your site as being helpful and resourceful – which is an excellent way to increase traffic and conversions.

2.   Increase Loyalty And Trustworthiness

If your website is very successful at helping people lose weight, they'll be more likely to build trust in your expertise. When people get results from the food diary and planner you've offered on your site, they're more likely to remain loyal to it for future use.

3.   Encourage Engagement

A food diary and planner can encourage engagement between website visitors and customers. People will be able to make comments online about what they think of specific recipes or ideas and make it easy for people to post photos of their progress – which is a great way to engage with your customers. This keeps people coming back to your site for more useful tools and information.

4.   Increase Brand Awareness

Having a food diary and planner on your website can also help increase brand awareness by making people familiar with the type of recipes you offer or the services you provide. Including a tool such as this can be an excellent way to remind people about your brand and remind them to log their food intake for the day.

5.   Promote Competitions

Running regular competitions and giving prizes for winners can be an excellent way to encourage people to come back to your site again and again. You may use each user's food diary and planner to make a leader board, making people use the tool more frequently. This can turn visitors into customers because it becomes part of their routine to log their food intake and workouts to win prizes.

Final Words

If you're looking for ways to increase customer loyalty and engagement, having a food diary and planner on your fitness website can be one of the best options. This is because it's an easy tool for people to use without having to sign up or download anything – which makes people feel like they are getting instant results within minutes. Getting more traffic and conversions is just one of the many ways this tool can benefit your fitness website.

Why You Should Consider Adding A Blog Post Page

Health and wellness are becoming most people's priorities. That's why the demand for fitness websites increases as well. The increasing demand is a good thing for fitness website owners. However, it also means that competition has increased. No matter how good your fitness website is, if nobody visits it and nobody trusts it. You'll have a hard time maintaining and improving your business, let alone make a profit from it.

To improve your standing in the fitness industry, you can provide valuable information to your readers, and one of the best ways to do that is through a blog post page.

Below are the benefits of adding a blog post page to your fitness website.

1. Search Engine Optimization Ranking

A blog post page can help you improve your search engine optimization (SEO). The reason is that each post in the blog section of your website functions as a web page. It contains information about its keywords, metadata, and other key elements that keep visitors coming to your site.

It is also an excellent way to increase the number of backlinks pointing at your site, which will help improve its SEO ranking. This way, your content is more visible to those who are browsing for related information.

2. More Engagement And Better Content

People want to know where they can go for information. One of the best ways to provide them with what they need is a blog page. With one, you can post your ideas and opinions about various fitness topics, which will help improve engagement on your site. You can write new content as well as feature other people's content.

3. A Way To Build Relationships With Others

Having a blog post page on your fitness website is a great way to build relationships with influencers in the same industry as you are. For example, you can host guest posts from famous fitness bloggers. If their content becomes widespread, it can help improve your website's SEO ranking.

4. Build Trust And Credibility With Your Readers

A great way to build trust with your readers is to feature other people's content on your blog post page, which can help increase their website traffic, popularity, and engagement in the fitness industry. It also makes it easier to contact you if they have any questions since you feature their content on your site.

5. Improved Visitors' Experience

Choosing to have a blog post page is also a good idea because it can improve your site's visitors' experience. By providing them with different posts that may be related to what they're looking for, you're able to keep them focused on your site. You can also provide them with different and unique opinions and ideas on various fitness topics, which will help you stand out from the competition.

Conclusion

Adding a blog page to your fitness website is an excellent idea because it can provide different advantages that you can benefit from, such as improving SEO ranking and increasing traffic. It's also a perfect way to build relationships with others in the industry. In addition, it can help improve visitors' experience on your site because they will get an easier browsing experience.

What Can A Testimonial Page Do For Your Fitness Website?

Fitness has become more and more popular as we try to live a healthy life. Many fitness websites are offering different services with different approaches. But how can you tell who is the best for your needs? One way is to see what past clients have done after being involved with specific programs or coaches. That's the reason why testimonials pages are essential if you own a fitness website.

What Type Of Testimonials Can You Get?

There are different types of testimonials you can get: positive statements, video testimonials, or pictures. Pictures and videos can capture emotions and make your website appealing to many people who like the site's look and feel. But you may also get negative statements that can make or break your business depending on how you'll handle them. As scary as it may seem, you can get the most out of every testimonial by showing appreciation and ensuring that your clients know their opinions matter to you.

How Can Testimonials Affect Your Business?

There are many benefits to using testimonials. 

  • Potential Customers Tend To Stick With Those Who Have A Good Track Record 

People now more than ever want to invest in new businesses. But they want proof that the company will work before they do something with it. Testimonials can help ease their decision of whether or not you are the right fit for them; when people see that others like your business, they might feel secure that this is what they need.

  • Testimonials Can Increase The Number Of Returning Customers

Sometimes businesses won't be able to please all customers at first. But you can eventually get them back if they see how others like the business. People like to do business with those that others already patronize. Testimonials can help attract people who didn't take the chance at first by letting them know that there are satisfied customers out there, and they should consider rejoining in on your fitness business too!

  • Testimonials Can Boost Your Credibility And Trustworthiness In The Market

When potential customers see a long list of testimonials from satisfied clients, they tend to feel secure that this business is the right choice for them. You can be seen as someone who knows what they are doing and has no problems using it with others. In other words, people will see you as a professional in your field.

  • Negative Statements  Like Complaints Can Help You Correct Deficiencies

Sometimes you will get negative statements in testimonials. The best way to handle these things is by showing that you care and want to do something about it. People don't like complaining, and the company doesn't turn their words into actions. So when you get negative comments, turn them around and show the customers that their voice matters to you, and by taking care of complaining customers, they will come back for more business.

There are many types of business out there. But one way to be successful is to equip yourself with testimonials that can show people your worth in the market!

Nutritionist Website Content Checklist

A nutritionist website is a valuable tool that can help reach more people and share all the information needed to improve their health and physical appearance. Like a gym web design, a nutritionist's website has to be well-made and comprehensive to reach the targeted visitors who are health conscious and whose goal is to be fit.

This article provides you with a list of things that every nutritionist website should contain, depending on the goals and target audience: 

An About Web Page

To help your visitors know more about you, provide them with an “about” webpage. Put information on what a nutritionist is and how it can benefit people's lives.

  • List Your Expertise

List of the most important certifications and areas of expertise that would help your clients find the right specialist for themselves.

  • Proof Of Credentials & Qualifications

This information helps your potential clients to know more about you and have peace of mind regarding your expertise. Some examples include specializations, years in the business, and other relevant experience.

An Introduction To Nutrition

An introduction to nutrition might also include other interesting information: reading a nutritional label, the best diet for weight loss, the difference between fat and sugar, and much more. Giving your website visitors this information will help you to establish yourself as a reliable nutritionist.

Health & Nutrition News

Give your website visitors the best nutritional advice in the news, but don't forget to give them enough information to understand what is going on with different health studies.

List Of Services Or Product You Offer

Have a page that lists all the services or products your website offers, such as consultations, meal preparation, and many more.

Contact Us Page

A contact us page is a must. This information helps establish you as a serious and trustworthy website, keeping the clients' privacy in mind. Provide your visitors with clear instructions regarding how they can get in touch with you. For example: by telephone, email, or text message.

Blog Posts

A blog is a great way to establish yourself as an expert in your field, and it allows you to share all the health-related information that interests people. Website visitors need to know how often they can expect new blog posts and cover topics.

Testimonials From Clients

A testimonials page is essential when it comes to establishing your reputation as a nutritionist. Thank your clients for taking their time to provide you with feedback and let them speak on your behalf.

Food Diary/Planner

A simple food diary might be just what your website visitors need to stay on track and achieve their goals. Include articles on dealing with cravings, what foods are the most beneficial for people, and much more.

FAQs Page

You can save yourself valuable time by publishing frequently asked questions on your website. This will help your clients find answers without having to send an email or making a phone call.

Social Media Platform Buttons

Social media platforms are great for promoting your website, engaging with your visitors, and raising awareness regarding the services that you offer. Make it easy for your visitors to become part of this online community by including social media platform buttons on your page.

Final Words

A nutrition website does not have to be complicated or take months to build. All you need is a good nutritionist web design company to help you create a high-quality site for your business. This way, you'll get the exposure you need to establish your name and grow your client base.

Why You Should Care About Your Mobile Optimization

Mobile devices are becoming more and more popular with each passing day, meaning that most people will be using their phone or tablet to connect to the web rather than a full-size computer. As this is becoming more common, businesses need to make sure their website is mobile-friendly – if not completely mobile – to avoid losing customers. Here are some important reasons as to why maintaining your mobile version of the website is so important:

Unmanaged Mobile Versions Might  Make Your Site Less User Friendly

  • People who use mobile devices tend to have less patience than those using full-size computers, so if a site takes too long to load on their phone, they'll likely leave and find another business with a website that's less of a hassle to use. Since many mobile users use their devices on the go, websites need to load quickly to avoid losing customers.
  • Many people who own smartphones or tablets have downloaded “apps” that give them instant access to information. Still, these applications usually have ads and may even cost money. Your website mustn't take too long to load on mobile devices not to be passed up by these third-party applications, which often will save people time and give them more of the information they're searching for.
  • As many smartphones don't have full-size keyboards, it's necessary for websites to quickly deliver information clearly and concisely so that the user doesn't have to waste time figuring out how to access it. This is especially important for mobile versions of sites selling products because if someone has trouble finding the product they're looking for on your site, they'll go elsewhere.
  • The easier your website is to use on a mobile phone, the more likely you'll have repeat customers. A lot of companies are now offering special discounts to people who access their website using a mobile phone, so this could potentially be an excellent way to get extra business from your existing customers.

The Use of Mobile Devices Will Continue To Increase

As more and more people use smartphones and tablets to access the web, it is becoming increasingly important for companies to have mobile versions of their websites without losing customers. This is especially true for sites that sell products directly to the consumer since many people who own smartphones or tablets download apps that give them access to information more quickly than trying to use your website on their phone.

However, having many people accessing your website's mobile version can also jeopardize its performance as the website becomes slower and often crashes when it receives too much traffic. That's why making sure to have a mobile version of your site that professionals maintain becomes important to avoid losing customers due to slow load times or crashes.

Maintaining A Mobile Version Of Your Site Is Cost-Effective

Maintainance is far cheaper than creating a new mobile version of your website or fixing a faulty mobile version that your business might have. Fixing a faulty mobile website might cost thousands of dollars depending on the damage, whereas hiring professionals to maintain the site is far more affordable and will ensure your site's performance stays high.

Having your website maintained by professionals is far less expensive than paying someone else to build you a brand new site, which can be costly depending on what content it holds and how much traffic it gets. This is especially true for customers looking to have e-commerce enabled online stores, as this requires more work than simply setting up a mobile version of the company's website.

Conclusion

Having a mobile version of your website is important if you want to keep in touch with customers using their phones or tablets to access the web. Suppose customers cannot use your site because it's too slow. In that case, they'll either find another business with an easier website to use or download third-party applications that give them instant information, which will take away from your business.

The Effects Of Having An Unmanaged Website

Your business website is, quite literally, your online face. It's where potential customers and clients will look first to see what you do and who you are. Your website is also the most important tool for building new business relationships.

So why would anyone want to jeopardize all this by having an unmanaged website? The answer is easy—because having an unmanaged website seems like the easiest option. However, when you choose this route, you're doing this to put your business in grave danger of collapsing without its key marketing asset.

A poorly managed website can lead to lost business opportunities, customer dissatisfaction, and damage to your company's image—none of which are things you want to be tied to your company's name.

Why Avoid Having An Unmanaged Website?

Your website is a tool for business. It must be considered as necessary as any other sales or marketing tool you have at your disposal—which makes it similar to a shopfront. Just as people expect a shopfront to be presentable and accessible, so too do potential customers who want to see the same of your website.

  • Unmanaged Websites Are Easy To Hack

No matter how experienced you are at web design, having an unmanaged website means that it's very likely something will go wrong. Websites are frequently targeted by hackers or malware developers who try to exploit their vulnerabilities. If this happens, your business could be put in danger of losing customers, not to mention reputational damage.

As this is a possibility with unmanaged websites, your business could also be in danger of hijacking its website by competitors who want to sabotage it. While this happening might seem unlikely, remember that even big names have been targeted in the past.

If your website is hacked or hijacked, you will likely lose customers, especially if they do not know that it is not your fault. You also risk being fined by regulators who might think that you were negligent with protecting customer confidentiality.

  • It May Lead To SEO Problems

Having an unmanaged website is also likely to lead to problems with search engine optimization (SEO). This is because many of the most popular SEO techniques are very time-consuming, which is often only practical for professionals. If you don't have enough time to dedicate to your website's SEO, your business will risk losing customers trying to navigate their way around the Internet.

If your website is unmanaged, you also run the risk of it not being mobile-friendly. If more than 50% of your customers access your site through a smartphone or tablet device, then this will be an issue that could affect sales. It can even lead to your business being fined for not providing customers with an adequate browsing experience.

  • It Will Put Your Business's Reputation At Risk

The final significant risk of having an unmanaged website is that it will put your reputation at risk. If you plan to make your business website public, it must look clean and professional—a poorly managed site sends the wrong message about your brand or company. Potential customers may not trust you, which means that they are unlikely to buy from your company. All of this can be avoided by hiring a web design agency with experience in managing websites.

One of the best options to avoid these risks is hiring a professional web development team to keep your website safe and secure—something that may cost you much more than the average business can afford.

A Guide To Making Your Website Maintainable

Making a website maintainable is different for each business, but some practices make it easier to maintain in general.  Aside from security, maintainability is important to increase the life of your website and its performance over time.

Below is a guide to making your website more maintainable.

Don't Use Programming Languages Nobody Understands

Making a website that uses little or simple coding is vital for maintainability. This includes not using any programming languages nobody knows, making sure the website is easy to operate, and people will fix problems when they come up. For example, if someone wants to add a video on their page, it should be simple enough where almost everyone can do it without coding knowledge.

Making Editability A Main Priority

It is essential to make editability a priority for your website. This means making sure there is limited coding, and the coding that exists is simple and easy to understand for most people.  It is also essential to make sure everybody knows all the information they need to edit the website, and it should be extremely clear what is required for each page. Adding something like a new text, button, or even video editing should be made simple enough so most people can do it without any help from other programmers.

Making Sure Everybody Knows What They Are Doing

Make sure that everyone working on the website knows what they are doing and has a specific task. Having an organized list of people who work on the website and coordinate with other members also helps maintainability. It prevents overworking certain people or makes it harder for others to reach their goals.

Everyone Working Together With The Same Goal

Another critical factor in making a website maintainable is to make sure everyone knows what they are doing. When multiple people are working on the same project, it is easy to get mixed up with different ideas. Making sure that everybody has the same goal in mind makes the process of creating things for your website much more manageable.

Making Sure Everybody Communicates With Each Other

To make a maintainable website, everybody working to fix the problems must know what they are doing and communicate to avoid confusion. If somebody does not know how to do something, they should know how to handle it for the website to be fixed on time.

Conclusion

Making a website maintainable is different for every business, but there are some things that most businesses can do to make their websites easier to fix. Some of these include making sure the coding is simple enough for most people to understand. Having everyone working on your website know what they are doing and have the same goal in mind and making the website easy to edit by ensuring everybody knows how to do it. For a maintainable website to exist, all of these things need to be done in the website process.

Why Every Business Needs A Website Maintenance Partner?

While building a website for your company is easy to do, the process of maintaining it is not. Websites are constantly evolving, and if you don't keep up with them, they will become useless over time. A website maintenance company can take the reigns so that your site doesn't go stagnant. Here are five reasons why you should hire a website maintenance company.

1. It Is Cheaper Than Trying To Do It Yourself

Building a website can be expensive, even for small companies that want to expand their customer base. If you try to develop and maintain a site yourself, you have just created more work for yourself, plus it can be more expensive in the long run. If you hire a website maintenance company, all of the work will be taken care of in one place. You can even pay for an update when it is needed, not around the clock.

2.  They Have The Tools To Keep Your Site Up To Date

One of the most time-consuming parts of maintaining a website is maintaining all pages up to date with new information. A website maintenance company has content management systems in place so that they can alter your website in a matter of seconds.  You won't have to worry about going back and forth with them to update the content on your site ever again.

3. You Can Focus On Other Aspects Of Your Business

As a small company, you probably have many aspects that you need to work on, such as marketing, sales, and research. You don't have time to spend hours working on your website when you should grow your business. The employees of a website maintenance company are trained to work with websites so that you can focus on other areas while they update your content for you.

4. The Technology Will Always Be Current

When you build a site, you will undoubtedly do your best to choose the most appropriate platform and technology. The chances are that within a year or two. Your site will be out of date with the new technologies out there. This can cause problems when it comes time for someone to view your website on their mobile phone, tablet, or computer.  The engineers of a website maintenance company are always keeping up with the latest trends so that you can have peace of mind.

5. It Is Impossible To Do On Your Own

When it comes time to update your website, are you going to call in a web developer? Are they going to come back every few months for the rest of your company's life? Are they going to work for free? The answer to all of these questions is no. Even if you did get a hold of them, the process of updating your website would take an enormous amount of time and money on their part. Hiring a website maintenance company guarantees that you will always be current without having to spend hundreds or thousands on web developer costs.

Conclusion

A website maintenance company can benefit your small business in several ways. First, it will save you money in the long run by not needing to hire a web developer every few months. Second, they have the tools necessary to keep your site up to date with all of the current technologies and trends. Third, you will focus on other aspects of your business while they maintain your site for you. Finally, it might be challenging to do on your own. Hiring a website maintenance company guarantees that the job will get done right without putting too much stress on your small business.

A Guide for Protecting Customer Information Online

Website security is serious business. You don't want to lose your site's visitor's data, and you don't want any hackers getting their hands on it either. Luckily for you, though, website security doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. This article will provide you with steps to ensure your site's visitors' data is safe and secure.

  • Use HTTPS and HSTS (Strict Transport Security)

The first thing you should do to keep your site's data safe is enabling HTTPS on your website. This type of encrypted connection will help protect the connection between your visitors' browser and your server.

When you have HTTPS configured on your website, you may look into configuring HSTS as well. HSTS locks down a specific URL to always use HTTPS, and it tells the visitor's browser that anytime they go to that domain, they want to be using HTTPS from then on. This makes sure that even if you make a mistake in your configuration that causes HTTPS to break, the visitor won't be able to use HTTP on your site.

  • Use a Content Security Policy

A content security policy is a great way to help prevent any malicious code from executing on your website. You can add the Content-Security-Policy header to tell the browser that it should only load resources connected to your domain name. This prevents external JavaScript or CSS files that you didn't upload from executing.

  • Use Auto-Escaping for Outputting Data

When you output data that the user has entered into your website to HTML, you should always use auto-escaping. This will ensure that any harmful input the user might have used is escaped so it can't execute as JavaScript on your page.

  • Use Cookies to Authenticate Users

A great way to authenticate users on your site is to use cookies. Storing a user's identification number in a cookie lets them remain logged into your website until they log out, which means if they accidentally close their browser or are attacked by a rogue script, it won't affect the security of their account. You can use cookies to ensure that even if they are using a public computer, they are the only ones who can access their account.

  • Use CAPTCHA Forms

If you have any forms on your site that allow users to submit content, you should always have CAPTCHA enabled. This is an easy way to protect against spam form submissions, but it can also help keep bots from accessing your website.

  • Use Google Authenticator

Using two-factor authentication is a great way to secure your website and ensure that even if someone has the correct username and password combination, they won't get in without the 2nd piece of information. Using Google Authenticator on your website lets you authenticate users without sharing their passwords, protecting both them and your site.

  • Password Protect Your Login Page

You should always keep the login page on your site protected behind a password to ensure that no one except legitimate users can access it. This will help protect against brute force attacks on your database.

  • Protect Your Database

One of the biggest threats to your website's data is an attack on the databases that store it. Using a firewall can help prevent any attacks on this server, and keeping database passwords protected will ensure they remain secure even if someone does break through your firewall.

  • Keep Your Plugins Up to Date

Keeping your website's plugins up to date will ensure that any security issues they have are patched and don't allow any attackers to break through your defenses.

Conclusion

Keeping your website's data safe is a significant part of running a successful business on the internet. Following these nine steps will help you remain protected against large and small attacks and ensure that your visitors always have a safe and secure experience.

SEO Practices To Maintain A High Site Positioning In Search Engines

Search Engine Results Page (SERP) is the holy grail of internet marketing. The number of organic website pages that appear on SERPs influences your website's ability to generate traffic, leads, and sales. Understanding basic SEO practices is an essential ingredient in any successful internet marketing strategy, which should not be ignored.

Since it is very difficult to land your website on the top SERPs, you need to optimize your site right from its inception. This means that you must begin with basic SEO practices to maintain excellent website ranking over a long time.

Below are the primary search engine optimization practices to maintain an excellent website ranking.

1. Ensure That Your Site Has Relevant Site Title

The site title is one of the most important on-page SEO factors for google search ranking. It needs to be relevant, clear, concise, and informative so that users can easily understand what your page is all about. Don't attempt to stuff keywords, though. The site title should be no more than 70 characters, or it will get cut off in the SERPs (search engine results pages).

You should use your brand name for the site title unless you want to create a brand new website and include specific keywords for the site. If the site title contains your brand name, make sure you have the TLD (top-level domain) in your site title to rank for both .com and .net if relevant.

If creating a new website, make sure the site title represents its content or main keyword(s). The search engines will penalize you if you don't.

2. Always Include Keywords

Including keywords on web pages is better than not using any at all. Still, suppose you overdo it by stuffing them throughout your content or, worse, including them as anchor text for internal links to other pages on your website instead of ordinary words. In that case, you will get penalized by the search engines, and your site will be harder to find in the SERPs.

Use keywords naturally and sparingly, but don't forget them altogether. They should fit naturally into your content so that it isn't painful for users to read through.

3. Write Useful Meta Description

The meta description is a good hook for users to click on your site from the SERPs. It contains around 160 characters so that it won't get cut off in the SERPs. Still, unfortunately, most website owners neglect this and don't bother writing a meta description at all. Many people rely on search engines to pull their meta descriptions from the content on the page, but this doesn't work most of the time, and you'll end up with a meta description that is useless for attracting users.

If you want your site to be ranked highly in the SERPs, you should write a unique meta description that describes your website and contains important keywords without sounding robotic.

4. Optimize Titles For Each Page

Each page should have a unique title to avoid getting lost among other pages with the same name and rank to be found easily in the SERPs. If some of your web pages share titles, you could end up with duplicate content issues where search engines will think that your content is spam, resulting in penalizing you.

Each page should include essential keywords without sounding too spammy, but don't stuff your titles with keywords because google now penalizes pages with low-quality content to rank higher in the SERPs.

5. Remember To Include Internal Links

The internal links on your website should point to relevant pages that users will find helpful and not just spammy or unimportant junk. You should create a good internal linking system so that it's easy for visitors to navigate your site, and all-important pages should be linked, so you don't lose important page rank from not linking to them.

You should link your important pages by giving them a higher weight in the HTML code so that it's easier for search engines spiders to crawl through your website and index your content.

Conclusion

Seo practices are essential for creating a website that ranks well in search engines. To make sure the search engines index your site, you should optimize your titles and include internal links to all relevant pages on your website. Finally, don't forget to write meta descriptions that are informative and keywords that represent what your page is about.

Why Do You Need A Backup Strategy For Your Website?

With the rise of cybercrime and security concerns, website owners should avoid ignoring the importance of a backup strategy for maintaining their websites. Since no matter how many safety precautions website owners take, there is no 100% guarantee that their websites will be safe. Considering this, implementing backup strategy plans might minimize the impact of any damage that might arise.

Below are some key reasons why website owners should have a backup strategy with regards to their websites:

1. Protect Yourself Against The Risk Of Data Loss

Having a backup of your site is like making an investment that protects you against losing data, especially if something unfortunate happens to the original file. Website owners should be aware that their websites are prone to bugs and glitches, which can corrupt or delete important files even with regular updates.

2. Protect Yourself Against Malware Attacks

Website owners who have their hosting servers where their sites are located should also be aware that these servers can also be vulnerable to malware attacks. Some servers may not even have the latest updates for security measures, which leaves you susceptible to possible hacking.

3. Prevent Cybercrime By Backing Up Your Website

Ransomeware is a new type of malware that is quickly gaining popularity among cybercriminals. This malware often infects website files and then encrypts them upon reaching the target server, making them inaccessible without a decryption key. Cybercriminals use this to extort money from owners of compromised websites by asking them to pay a ransom for the decryption key.

4. Reduces The Cost Associated With Downtime

When a website experiences downtime, this can prove to be devastating for business owners. Aside from lost revenues, there may also be damage to their reputations and customer trust if the downtime is extensive.

Having a backup of your website can significantly reduce downtime and help you avoid losing valuable customers and revenue.

5. Quickly Transition To Another Server Or Hosting Company

If there comes a time when your site needs to be transferred from one server to another, having a backup file will make this process much more manageable. You can use this file to transfer your website from one server to another quickly. This dramatically reduces the risk of losing visitors during a site transition.

6. It Allows You To Experiment Without Any Risks

Testing new ideas that may or may not work on your site is excellent. However, such experiments will lead to disastrous results without a backup strategy if you don't achieve the desired result. With a backup plan set in place, you can experiment with new ideas and new methods on your website without any risks of losing data or permanently damaging your site.

7. It Allows You To Be More Flexible

If you do not have a backup plan, you will need to transfer all your files and data manually (a time-consuming task) to another server. This process can take hours or even days, depending on the type of content that needs to be transferred. With an automatic backup solution in place, your site can automatically move from one server to another, meaning that your website can be up and running again in just a few minutes.

Final Thoughts

Having a backup strategy is crucial, especially for site owners looking to lose revenue and their reputation or even go bankrupt due to data loss or damage that malware attacks can cause. With the above information in mind, website owners now have one more reason always to have an automatic backup plan set up for their websites.

Tips For Keeping Your Website Safe From Hackers

Keeping your website safe from hackers is one of the most important tasks that a website administrator can perform. This guide will go over some best practices you can implement on your site to protect it from attackers and avoid losing sensitive information.

To keep your website secure, you need to be performing the following steps as a bare minimum:

1. Keep Your CMS And Plugins Up To Date

CMS and plugin updates play a key role in the security of your website.

When new exploits are discovered in popular CMSs or plugins, hackers will use known exploits to access sites running those plugins/CMS.

Hackers know that many website administrators do not update their software as soon as possible because it means downtime for their site visitors. A hacked site can cause a significant loss to the reputation of your company.

Updating your plugins and CMS is extremely important.

2. Remove Unused/Outdated Plugins (This Includes Deactivated Ones)

Removing outdated plugins reduces the risk of your website being hacked.

Plugins are responsible for various features on your site, but they are also one of the most significant vulnerabilities for your site. If you use an outdated plugin with known security issues or are vulnerable to exploits, it will leave your website open to attack.

3. Password-Protect All Admin Access Points

Passwords are one of the fundamental concepts in security.

It would be best to password-protect all areas where you log in to control your site's backend (admin area). This includes directories, files, admin interfaces, and any other vulnerable interface to direct access by an attacker.

Some best practices include using strong passwords with upper/lower case characters, numbers, and symbols and using different passwords for different websites.

4. Implement 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) Wherever Possible

2-Factor Authentication (also known as “multi-factor authentication”) is a relatively new security feature that adds an extra layer of protection against hackers.

It works by requiring you to have two forms of identification before being able to log in. This means that if somebody tries to log in using your username and password, they will need a second element — which could be a text to your mobile phone, a passcode from an authenticator app, or something else.

5. Scan Your Site Regularly With A Security Plugin Or Online Service

Regularly scanning your website for vulnerabilities can help you find weak spots in your system.

There are free security plugins available that allow you to scan your site and identify any vulnerabilities with a couple of clicks. These scans may take some time, but they will give you a complete analysis of the security of your site and highlight all possible issues.

6. Monitor Your Website Traffic To Look For Signs Of Attacks

Doing this can help you identify potential hacking attempts.

You should see whether somebody is trying to access your site using login credentials that they are not authorized to use. If somebody tries to log in with credentials that they are not authorized to have — or if somebody tries these multiple times in a short space of time–it could indicate that you are being targeted.

Conclusion

Using these strategies will help you protect your site from being hacked. However, even if you implement all of these techniques, it does not mean that your website will be immune to hacking attempts or security breaches.  

As hackers continually develop new tactics for finding vulnerabilities in websites, the best thing to do is keep up to date with the latest security techniques and implement them. By keeping up to date with the latest security measures, you can protect yourself against most hacker attacks.

A Guide On How To Maintain Your Business Brand With WordPress

WordPress is an excellent platform to use as a business due to its ease of use, multiple plugins, and variety of themes. This article will cover how to brand your business with WordPress.

1. Choose A Domain Name

The first step to branding your business is choosing a domain name. Domain names should be short, easy to remember, and related to your business. Your domain is like your address, a permanent link to your website, so choose one carefully. To brand your business with WordPress, choose a domain name related to your brand's identity.

2. Buy A Hosting Account For Your Website

After choosing your domain, it is crucial to buy hosting for your website. A hosting account provides storage space and bandwidth to host your website online so people can view it. WordPress recommends Bluehost as an affordable, reliable option for hosting accounts.

3. Download And Install WordPress

Now that you have a domain name and hosting account, it is time to download and install WordPress on your website. For help with installing WordPress, visit the official WordPress documentation site or hire a digital agency to do this for you.

4. Choose A Theme (and Customize as Needed)

The next step is choosing a theme. The best way to find a WordPress theme is by doing a Google search for “best WordPress themes” and then look at the top few results to see what they offer. Be sure to check out information about each theme's features and customer reviews before making your purchase.

5. Set Up Your Navigation Menu

After choosing your theme, you will need to set up your navigation menu. The easiest way to do this is by going to Appearance > Menus in the WordPress dashboard and adding links from there. If you want to create a custom menu, you may check out WordPress tutorials on how to do it or hire a digital agency to help you out.

6. Set Up Your About Me Page

The next step is to set up an “About Me” page. This page will introduce your customers to your business and give them a chance to know who they are buying from, which is vital in establishing a trusting relationship with customers. Visit the “Pages” section of the WordPress dashboard and create a new page titled “About Me.”

7. Set Up Your Contact Page

Now, set up a “Contact Us” page to establish a way for customers to contact you. This is an essential step so that customers have a way of getting in touch with your business quickly and easily. Visit the “Pages” section of the WordPress dashboard and create a new page titled “Contact Me.”

8. Set Up Your Blog

Since many people purchase from websites that blog frequently, it is a good idea to set up a blog for your business to market to your customers and keep them interested. To learn how to set up a WordPress blog, visit the official WordPress documentation site.

9. Market Your Business

After setting up your website, it is important to start marketing your business to get the word out about your new site and draw customers in. Marketing can include social media posts, blogging on your website, using email marketing tools such as MailChimp, and more. For help with marketing, check out the official WordPress documentation site.

10. Keep Up With Your Content And Visitors

After your website is up and running, it is important to keep up with the content on your site and visitors that come to take a look. You can do this by adding relevant posts to your blog or new content to keep people interested. You can also market your website more to draw in new customers and traffic.

11. Optimize Your Site for Search Engines

As part of keeping up with your content and visitors, optimizing your site for search engines is important so that potential customers can find you easily. For help with optimizing your site for search engines, check out the official WordPress documentation site.

Final Thoughts

WordPress is a fantastic, easy-to-use platform for building your website. It provides an excellent foundation to build any business or personal website by choosing the right theme and establishing important pages. Once complete, it is essential to market your site so that search engines can find you and potential customers can learn about your products or services. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should build a WordPress website that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing to represent your brand.

Monthly Tasks For Keeping Your Site Secure, Optimized & Thriving

A well-maintained website is not only more likely to be secure, but it is also more likely to achieve better search engine optimization. To keep your site running smoothly, regularly check off these essential tasks on your maintenance checklist.

Here are the top things you should make sure are up-to-date on your site.

  • WordPress Version

Update your WordPress version as soon as a new one becomes available. When WordPress releases a new version, ensure that you update it right away to take advantage of all the latest version offers. Updates may include security patches, bug fixes, and new features, and your site will be more secure if you can stay up-to-date with the latest version of WordPress.

  • Plugins

Plugins are bits of code that are installed to expand the functionality of your site. By default, WordPress comes with a number of essential plugins installed, but you will likely want to install more plugins for things like contact forms or SEO optimization. Check which plugins are active on your site and update them as needed. When installing new plugins, make sure they are compatible with the latest version of WordPress.

Furthermore, updating your plugins as soon as a new one is available. For example, the plugin may have been patched to fix bugs or security risks. It also helps improve website performance and compatibility with various browsers.

  • Themes

Themes are a file or files that control the way your site looks. Both plugins and themes are pieces of code that can be installed on WordPress to add various features and functionality.

WordPress themes should be kept up to date as soon as a new version becomes available to fix bugs and make the theme compatible with the latest WordPress version. Ensure that any customizations you've done to your themes, such as code changes or child themes, stay intact after updating the theme.

  • Security-Related Settings

In addition, many security-related WordPress settings should be checked and modified if they aren't set the way you like them. This includes settings for login errors, file permissions, and more.

  • Backups

Last but certainly not least is your backup! Backing up your site regularly helps prevent irreversible damage in the case of hacking or accidental data loss. There are many options available to choose from. Pick one, then ensure you test it to make sure everything works how it should.

  • Spam

Spams may occur when you least expect them. If they find their way into your comment section, then you should keep an eye on them and delete the spammy ones every once in a while.

Additionally, always check your spam folder for any comments that might need to be approved and whitelisted.

  • Changelog

Make sure you read through WordPress' change log regularly to keep up-to-date on what changes have been made and how they might affect your site. This is especially important if you're using a child theme since it's crucial to keep it updated.

  • Backups

Last but certainly not least is your backup! Backing up your site regularly helps prevent irreversible damage in the case of hacking or accidental data loss. There are many different options available to choose from. Pick one, then ensure you test it to make sure everything works how it should.

Bottomline

As mentioned before, these are the most important things that should be checked regularly to stay on top of your site's maintenance. You can set up automatic backups or other such tools that will allow you to focus on refreshing and updating as needed.

Now that you know what should be done regularly, keep an eye out for those tasks and make sure you complete them at least once a month. That way, you can be sure that your website is safe from any potential issues.

Tips On How To Improve Your WordPress Website Speed

WordPress Websites can be made faster by following some steps. When you make your website faster, visitors will have a better experience and less frustration when using your site. Keeping up with these changes is essential to keep pace with other websites on the internet and search engines.

Below is a list of steps and suggestions to help you make your WordPress website faster.

  • Upgrade Your WordPress Version

The fastest way to improve your website load time is to update your WordPress version. The latest release of WP has fewer lines of code, improved performance, and security enhancements. So moving forward, users should upgrade their sites as soon as possible.

  • Install The Right Plugins

Plugins are programs that you install on your site which allow you to extend the functionality of your website. However, not all plugins are created equally. Some plugins run slow and can affect how fast your site loads. Check which plugins you have installed and delete those you do not use anymore to speed up your site.

  • Optimize Your Database

Your database stores images, text files, video files, and other information on your website; if large files are not stored in the database, these files should be moved from the WP directory. By moving unused data out of the wp-content directory speeds up single page load times.

  • Enable Compression

Enable compression because it reduces the number of bytes sent from the webserver to the browser. It is highly recommended that you enable compression as it will reduce your bandwidth usage and load times. You can find this option in the .htaccess file via cPanel or SSH/shell access.

  • Minify Your CSS And JS 

To ensure that your site runs as fast as possible, use a plugin to minify your CSS and JavaScript files. This will help you cut down the number of HTTP requests your browser needs to send to load a website.

  • Optimize Images

TinyPNG is an online tool that reduces the size of images by up to 70%. The company says it has done this by reimagining how images are compressed. You can upload many images and have them all optimized in one go or select the one you want to compress from a file picker.

  • Enable GZIP Compression

Enabling gzip compression tells your webserver to compress specific files before sending them to the browser. This compression decreases the size of these files, which in turn decreases your bandwidth usage and load times. Your host has to enable GZIP for this option to work.

  • Combine CSS Files

Combine all of your stylesheets into one style sheet so that only one file needs to be loaded by the browser. Not only does this make your website faster, but it also allows you to edit the stylesheet using only one file.

  • Combine JavaScript Files

Combine all of your javascript files into one file so that only one file needs to be loaded by the browser. It's best to combine all of your scripts into a single script and then enqueue them all simultaneously.

  • Run Your Site Through A Performance Test

Run all of your websites through a performance test. There are free tools on the web that allow you to run your site through a performance test and then provide recommendations based upon what they find. These types of tests tell you where your website needs the most help, which is great for informing future decisions about how to optimize your site's speed.

There are many things you can do to speed up your site. From moving large files off of your WP directory and compressing images to updating WordPress and minifying CSS and JS, your site will load faster if you consider following these steps.

Signs That Your Website Needs Help

Everyone needs a website these days. Whether you're building a business or want to be online, having your site is an important step in the right direction.

However, maintaining it can seem like a full-time job. Many moving parts are associated with any website that often results in people running themselves ragged, trying to accomplish the same thing. For those who don't consider hiring a website company that specializes in website management solutions, the following are five signs that you might need some extra help.

1. Your Site Is Difficult To Manage

While anyone can publish a site online, the difficulty lies in maintaining the content and layout of your website. In reality, any site needs constant updates with new text and photos for search engine optimization. If you find that it's more work than it's worth, this could indicate that you need help.

2. You're Losing Traffic To Your Competitors

Website management solutions can increase your online visibility by offering an SEO suite that lets you update content, publish blog posts, and upload photos much faster than doing it yourself. Other tools may allow you to conduct market research or offer an email newsletter so potential customers can stay informed about what's going on with your company.

If you're losing traffic to competitor sites, the problem might be because yours isn't updated often enough to make an impression. When people search for keywords related to your business, they expect to find your site right away, and if it's outdated, it may not meet their expectations.

3. You Can't Keep Up With The Demands Of A Mobile Site

For any amount of time, those online probably know that websites have to perform just as well on mobile devices as they do on their tablets and desktops. That's why most websites now require compatibility with iOS and Android operating systems.

Most website management solutions work with both desktop and mobile applications,  so you don't have to worry about your site's performance on multiple platforms. This way, people can interact with your business from whatever device they choose.

4. You're Losing Data When Your Site Is Hacked

If your site is getting hacked, it's time to update to a website management solution that offers security features. These tools are essential for eCommerce sites, as losing data could result in loss of traffic and sales.

5. You Can No Longer Keep Up With The Demands Of Your Site

This is probably the most common reason people turn to website management solutions when they can no longer manage their site upkeep. As your site grows, the amount of work it takes to manage the content and updates skyrockets.

While these solutions are helpful if you have a small business with just a few employees, they're essential for large companies with multiple departments, each responsible for different aspects of website management.

Your site will eventually become obsolete without this type of support as it no longer meets your customers' needs. Your business may not suffer immediately, but a poor online reputation could result in a much bigger problem.

Conclusion

Regardless of the size of your business, website management solutions are essential for keeping it online and updated. This not only benefits your customers but also increases your exposure to new prospects and leads.

If you're ready to rid yourself of the added stress that comes with maintaining a site or blog, it might be time to outsource this task and let someone else take over for you.

5 Reasons Why Website Security Is Important

Some people might argue that they don't need to invest in website security, but is this right? What kind of information could hackers find out about you and your business if there was a breach in security on your website? It's time to learn why website maintenance and security are essential for your business.

What is Website Security Maintenance?

Website security maintenance means ensuring that your website is secure and all necessary software updates, such as patches on your web server or updates to an application, are done regularly.

Reasons Why Website Security Is Essential

Some reasons why website security is essential for your business:

1. Protect Your Company's Reputation

Protecting your company's reputation is one of the reasons why website security maintenance should be important to you because information about your business gets leaked to the public. It can result in losing trust with customers or negative press coverage that could attract new competitors to your market.

Once a company's reputation has been damaged, it's difficult for that company to recover because the damage is done, and it's just a matter of time before someone else enters that same market and sets up their shop.

2. Keep Customers Safe

Keeping customers safe is another reason why website security should be important to you as a business owner. Being a business owner, you want to make sure that your customers are safe on your website, which means protecting them from hackers who might access important information about the people who visit your site.

If you are hacked, sensitive customer information can be stolen, or your customers' private details could get into the wrong hands. Customers also expect you to protect their data, and if it is not safe, they could potentially take legal action, which is certainly something that no one wants to happen!

3. Protect Your Company's Assets

Protecting your company's assets, which could include client lists, financial records, or any other type of sensitive business data that can't afford to be breached or stolen, is one of the reasons why you should perform web security maintenance. If a competitor were to access this information and use it against you, they could gain a market advantage, or if they were to release it publicly, your business could be put in a bad light with customers, or they could steal your clients.

4. Preserve Competitive Advantage

Preserving your competitive advantage as a business is one reason why website security maintenance should be essential to you. If your competitor has access to sensitive information, it could give them an edge over you and allow them to create their products or services that could directly compete with yours.

5. Maintain Compliance

Finally, maintaining compliance with online security could mean that you can meet specific qualifications or certifications for your industry that clients or other employees need to work on business projects, which can protect you from market infringement and legal action.

The next time you plan to start a website project for your company, think about what you can do to maintain your website's security, as it might end up saving you time, money, and reputation in the long run.

Stay Away From These Common Website Maintenance Mistakes

Website maintenance is an essential step in the upkeep of any website. Without proper maintenance, websites can become susceptible to many issues that will cost you time and money to repair. That’s why many website owners choose to have a regular website maintenance service to help keep them on top of the latest website problems with their web design tools.

It's essential for SEO purposes and general functionality to ensure your website runs correctly on all web browsers, platforms, and devices. Several things should be checked regularly to ensure your website is always running smoothly.

Below are some of the most common mistakes website owners make when it comes to their website maintenance.

  • Running Unnecessary Plugins

Plugins are beautiful tools that extend the functionality of a website by giving you easy access to advanced features. But too many plugins can lead to performance issues, conflicts, and loading times. It's crucial to not only know what each plugin does but also what its purpose is.

No matter how helpful a plugin may seem, if it's running on every page, you're going to experience some severe performance issues. Ensure that the plugins installed on your site are necessary and remove any that aren't being used or whose functionality can be replaced by another plugin.

  • Running Outdated Themes

Outdated themes are another critical issue that needs to be addressed for website maintenance. Just like any program, themes continue to evolve and become more efficient as time goes on. When you're using an outdated theme, your site will run slower than it should, which can cause all kinds of issues for your visitors, including high bounce rates.

  • Using The Wrong Web Hosting Provider

Your host provider is an essential piece to website maintenance because it's where your site gets its bandwidth and connectivity to the internet. With so many web hosting providers out there, it can be hard to determine which one is right for you, but it's essential to consider that each offers different features.

As you're looking for the best hosting provider, look at things like server speed, uptime, control panel support, available space and bandwidth, cPanel or other control panel availability, etc., so you can make sure you've found the right one. Also, note how easy it is to set up your website so you can get it running as soon as possible.

  • Not Having A Backup Strategy

It would be best if you had a backup strategy if something were to happen with your site. Imagine how hard it would be to recover from a hacked site or losing your entire database of users. You should always have backup copies of your database and website files stored on an external device if anything were to happen.

You should also test your backup files to ensure they work properly.

  • Not Understanding Basic SEO Practices

SEO is important to website maintenance because it makes sure your site gets the right kind of attention from search engines and users alike. It would be best to take basic steps every week to make sure that your site keeps its place among the top ranks in search engines.

For example, you should be using “keywords” on your site for SEO purposes, ensuring users can find your website when using specific keywords. You should also ensure that all the links throughout your site work properly and emphasize essential pages, not internal links like navigation menus.

  • Not Using A CMS

A Content Management System (CMS) can be a huge advantage in website maintenance because it allows you to update and edit content, images, etc., on your site efficiently, so you don't have to do everything manually.

It's important to note that WordPress is one of the most widely used CMS's out there, and it's easy to install on your website.

  • Ignoring Important Security Protocols

It would help if you were taking the necessary precautions when it comes to your website's security. One of the simplest things you can do is install a plugin that prevents brute force attacks on your site so malicious users can't get in and damage it.

As far as other protocols go, you should have an SSL certificate for your site that encrypts all user information and passwords when they're being submitted. It's also important that you verify your website in Google Webmaster Tools to make sure there aren't any issues or errors that could be causing problems for your site.

When securing your site, always use different usernames and passwords for each account you have access to because if one gets hacked, everything else is safe.

Conclusion

Website maintenance can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be if you follow these simple guidelines. Make sure you're using the right theme for your site's needs, you back up everything regularly in case anything were to happen, and focus on SEO and security protocols, so your users and search engines keep coming back for more!

Why Your Site Is So Slow And How To Speed It Up

A slow-loading website is a significant problem for every blogger and web admin because it makes their blogs look bad and makes it difficult for the readers to access their blog's contents. The common perception among many bloggers and web admins is that all they need to do to speed up their WordPress-powered websites is install a caching plugin. But what many fail to realize is that this alone cannot make their website perform faster, and the need to hire a website maintenance company must be considered. Here are some of the most common issues with WordPress websites that cause slow performance and how you can resolve them:

Unused Plugins/Themes

One of the biggest reasons for a sluggish WordPress site is unused content (such as plugins, themes, widgets, etc.). When you install or activate any plugin/theme, it starts to load its components on your WordPress site. The more plugins you have installed and activated, the more content elements are loaded on your website's pages. These unused plugins might still exist on your website even after you deactivate them because they only get uninstalled if you delete them from the ‘installed plugins' section. So, you should regularly check whether a particular plugin is unused and, if it is, then delete it.

WordPress Database Tables

Slow loading of your WordPress website can also be because of faulty or corrupted database tables. There are several reasons why WordPress database tables may become corrupt, such as sudden termination of the PHP process, using faulty plugins/themes that create database table errors, etc. One way to check whether your website's database tables are in order or not is by running a quick scan. If it returns any errors, you should run another SQL repair script on your database tables, or you can also consider making a full site backup and then deleting the database, followed by a fresh WordPress installation.

WordPress Memory Limit

By default, WordPress has memory-limit scripts. Sometimes the allotted limit isn't always enough for complex themes and plugins. If you are using such scripts on your website, you will need to either increase the memory limit in the php.ini file or use a caching plugin that can cache pages and reduce the load on your server.

Large Numbers Of Comments & Trackbacks

Comments are what make WordPress blogs interesting, but if there are too many comments/trackbacks on a single page, then it can put a heavy load on your blog's server. However, you can allow commenting directly on the posts by disabling pingbacks and trackbacks. This feature should be enabled to receive notifications via e-mail whenever a new comment is posted, but make sure you moderate the comments before approving them.

Large Numbers Of Post Revisions

The more posts you write on your WordPress-powered blog, the larger the size of your database becomes. This means that more database tables need to be created for each additional post, which can result in the sluggish performance of your WordPress-powered website. To reduce the load on your blog's server, you can delete all post revisions that are no longer required.

Large Installed Themes And Plugins

Installing every new plugin/theme, you come across can spoil your website's performance. Although it is okay to use plugins/themes for specific purposes, if they are not being used, then you should delete them or adjust their settings so that they are not activated by default. If the plugin is vital for the functioning of your website, then you should consider switching to a lightweight alternative instead.

Incorrect Web Hosting Settings

Incorrect web hosting settings can also lead to your WordPress website becoming slow because the load on your server will be increased due to inefficient resource usage. You should check that your hosting provider allows a significant number of file uploads, the PHP memory limit is set high enough, database optimization is enabled, and you have a caching plugin installed. Additional web hosting settings optimized for WordPress websites include compressing the database tables, compressing the images, and enabling object caching.

Final Thoughts

Now you are familiar with some of the reasons why your WordPress website is performing slow. You can either do it yourself or hire a professional agency specializing in WordPress maintenance to speed up your website.

Improved WordPress performance will result in a better user experience, so it is a good idea to periodically check on your blog's speed and optimize it accordingly.

Measure And Analyze Your Social Media Campaign Success With This Method

Social media has become a key component of marketing for global brands, connecting with their audience in new and exciting ways. However, measuring the effectiveness of social media campaigns can be challenging. Marketers must look at more than just ‘likes,' shares, and retweets; they need to identify the actual business value of each social media campaign.

Here's a guide  on how to measure and analyze social media campaigns' success:

  • Try A/B Testing Your Content

Use an A/B testing tool like Clicktale or Optimizely to test any change made to your content. You can use this data for reports and analysis. If the changes don't work out, you can always revert to your original social media content.

  • Use An Analytics Tool

You can use an analytics tool to measure your campaign's success. You'll need to have a goal or conversion that you're tracking before you start your analysis. Common goals include newsletter subscriptions, page views, video plays, conversions on other websites, etc. For example, if you want to measure the number of newsletter subscriptions you collect from your social media campaign, make sure you set up a goal for it and track the conversions.

  • Measure The Reach Of Your Content

Measure the reach of your social media campaign by looking at how many people have seen it. You can do this with a simple search on your analytics tool; you'll get information like where they came from, how long they stayed, and if they came back to visit again.

  • Study Social Media Engagements

Social engagements can range from likes and shares to retweets and replies. You must find out which arrangements appear most frequently with your audience and what kind of posts they engage with the most.

  • Look At Your Facebook Insights

Facebook's insights can provide marketing teams with a wealth of data that can be used for analysis and reporting. You must set up goals that you want to track in your optimization efforts. For example, if you're looking to optimize your website's conversions, you might consider setting up a conversion event on Facebook. Once you set up the goal, you should always see data on your website's conversions appear in your ‘All Website Conversions' dashboard.

  • Track Social Engagements And Sales

Social media engagement isn't all about likes and shares; it can also include other things like video plays or email signups. Try to track and monitor these engagements and conversions. To increase your social media engagement, try including calls-to-action in your updates and track the results.

  • Monitor Your Sales Funnel With Analytics Tools Like Google Analytics

Google Analytics can help marketers see how many leads they collect from their social media efforts. For example, you can set up your ‘Leads' goal and monitor the number of leads from social media. You'll also need to have a form or landing page where visitors can enter their details to become lead conversions.

Key Takeaway

Marketers must find out which social media platforms their audience is most active on, track engagements, monitor the sales funnel, and measure conversions. By using these steps, marketers can better understand how to optimize their social media campaigns.

The Key Steps To Finding The Best Influencers For Your Brand

Picking the right influencers can be a challenging job. They have to be trustworthy, reputable and have the right audience fit for your brand. We have put together six steps you can follow to pick the best influencer for your brand.

Step #1: Research

Before you start looking for someone, it is essential to know what you are looking for. Do your research and figure out exactly who it is that you need to find. There can be many influencers in any given field. Hence, it's important not to run around searching aimlessly but instead target the influencers who align with your brand values and stand out from the rest of the competitors in their industry.

Step #2: Outreach

Once you have found the list of influencers, it is time to start reaching out to them. The idea is to find out if they accept pitches/work from brands and accommodate your requests. If they are open to working with brands, send a customized email detailing your pitch and the type of work you want them to do for you. Most influencers will have a link on their website with submission guidelines, so make sure to read those thoroughly before sending over your pitch.

Step #3: Build A Relationship

Once you have researched and found the people who align with your brand, it is now time to create a relationship. You can do this by reaching out and engaging them through social media channels such as Twitter and email. Find out what sort of posts they publish on their social channels and how often they post about your industry. The relationship shouldn't always be for business purposes, but it should build a trust-based brand partnership.

Step #4: Engage With Their Audience

Go through everything that you love or hate about their social media presence and try to figure out what you can use to your advantage for your benefit. For example, if the influencer is good at graphic designing, try to use some of their graphics for your brand. If they have a funny way of engaging with their community, see if you can incorporate that into your own social media channels. Get a feel of what works and doesn't work for them, and then apply it to your account engagement.

Step #5: Make It Worth Their While

The next step is to make it worth everyone's while, including yours. The influencer should be getting something out of the deal too. Figure out your budget and accordingly determine what you can give in return for the influencers’ efforts. Be mindful that they are not just doing it for free, and you should always compensate them for their posts. If you cannot afford monetary compensation, you could try giving them free product samples or Coupon Codes for their followers.

Step #6: Measure Results

Lastly, make sure to measure results and see whether they are worth your while or not. It might take a little time before you can analyze the return on investment from this influencer marketing tactic, but the sooner you start measuring it – the better it will be for you.

By following these five steps, you'll be able to find the best influencers that can fit your brand. The relationship should not be one-sided, and it should include long-term benefits for both parties involved.

Find The Right People For Your Business

Many small business owners think that people will flock to their virtual doorstep if they build a website (and often even if they don't). This is not true at all. Having a good website design and some SEO knowledge does not mean that your business will automatically be found on Google and other search engines.

To make sure that people reach your website and stay interested, you need to know your target audience and where they hang out. Once you've “deconstructed” the demographic information of these ideal clients, you can then take steps to market yourself and build a following online.

Here are the top five ways you can break down data and learn who your perfect customers are:

1. Know Your Ideal Customer And Ensure They're Finding You

The first step of understanding your target customer is to set up Google Analytics on your website. If you don't know how to do this, hire someone who does or contact a web development agency for help.

Google Analytics gives vital information about the types of people landing on your site and where they're coming from. Once you've installed Google Analytics on your website, you can then click the “Audience” tab, and you'll see a chart of referrers.

Click on each link, compare it to where people are coming from who found out about your business through other means, such as referrals or word of mouth. You'll likely notice a pattern for which social media sites are sending ideal customers to your site.

2. Find Out Which Social Media Sites Are Sending The Most Customers 

Some small businesses think that social media is just a waste of time, but this couldn't be further from the truth! If you know what types of people are on each social network, then you'll be able to reach out and interact with them there.

For example, Pinterest and Instagram users tend to be female and purchase craft supplies or beauty products. Facebook users tend to be mothers of young children who are interested in cooking at home. The younger generation spends a lot of time on Twitter, essentially how the internet “talks” to each other. If you can find out where your ideal customers are, you can build a following and share relevant content.

3. Which Campaigns Are Working And Follow The Money Trail

If you're doing digital marketing or social media for small businesses, it might be worth running a few campaigns on Facebook with specific offers. This will enable you to see which strategies are working and which aren't.

Once you know this, then follow the money trail directly back to the source (in other words, what type of person is making these purchases). You can use Google Analytics to track your digital marketing conversions too!

4. Read What Your Clients Are Saying And Ensure Their Problems Are Being Solved 

Sometimes it's a lot easier to listen to your customers instead of talking to them. If you follow the conversations that are going on around your business, then you can see what people are saying about their experiences and whether your current products or services are solving them.

If you have a good CRM system, you can follow what your sales team is doing and which social media channels they're using to close sales. You can then work out whether there's a correlation between the channels working best for your business.

5. Make Sure Your Ideal Customers Can Find Your Business With Local SEO

If you're running an e-commerce business, then it's likely that you've got drop shipping clients or wholesale clients. If this is the case, then you need to make sure your name is out there so that these people can find you.

It would be best to use Google Places and include call tracking numbers for each website page. This way, you'll be able to know which keywords are bringing the most people through to your website. You can then work out if any of these keywords are working well for you and how you should be optimizing them.

If you need help with finding your ideal customers, then contact Sharptackmedia today. We've worked with businesses just like yours to help them find their target audience and get more sales.

WordPress Membership Plugins

Creating a WordPress membership website is a great way to build a secure site to control what your visitors can access on your website. A membership site can be used for many things such as distance learning, online courses, digital products such as e-books and training videos, or any subscription service like webinars, for example.

There are various WordPress plugins that will enable you to create a membership site quickly. There are premium plugins available, but you can find plenty of great free ones also. The following list contains some of the best membership plugins available. Most of them are self-explanatory and very easy to use, so it doesn't matter which one you choose according to your preferences.

Wishlist Member

This is the first on our list of best membership plugins for WordPress. It's easy to use and offers plenty of features, so it's perfect for beginner users as well as more advanced ones. Besides creating membership sites, the WishList Member plugin can also be used to build a list for product launches and marketing campaigns.

This plugin is based on the Freemium model, so you can use it for free as long as your members can only access public content or purchase products. You can upgrade to the PRO version if you want more features such as restricting content, offering discounts and coupons, displaying Adsense ads freely as well as the ability to manage multiple sites.

WP Pro Membership

This is a very secure plugin as it uses a separate table for user profiles and offers many different restriction options. The free version allows you to create two levels of access – Standard members and Admin-only. You can upgrade to other paid plans according to your needs, so this plugin is perfect for users who want more content restriction options.

Membership 2

The next plugin on our list of best membership plugins for WordPress is Membership 2. This plugin offers two membership levels – Free and Premium, which means you'll get the most basic membership feature for free. If you are selling digital products on your site, then this plugin is perfect for you, as it lets you easily restrict access to them.

Joint Venture Plus

This plugin has been created especially for creating e-commerce sites where you can sell digital products. It's very simple to use and offers additional features like two membership levels (Free user and Administrator), coupons, affiliate tools, payment gateways integration, etc. If you want to create a complete e-commerce site that will offer online courses or subscription-based content, this plugin is what you need.

The free version gives you a lot of features. Still, you can upgrade to Joint Venture PRO or JOINT VENTURE PLATINUM, which offer additional features such as order notifications, unlimited coupon codes, etc.

WP eMember

This plugin uses the Freemium model similar to WishList Member and allows you to use it for free if your members can only access public content or purchase products. Some great features included PayPal integration, affiliate system, coupon codes, multiple membership levels, etc.

As memberships increase in popularity, more and more people are looking to create their membership sites.