Business tips

When we mention website copy, most people think big words, sales speak and marketing ploys. In fairness some of that is true, but the one thing which must always be considered is that copy for a website is very different to copy for print. Firstly people tend to spend very little time reading text on a website then they do looking at pretty images and clicking enticing links and buttons.

Website copy should consider two things;
1. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
2. Keep things simple

SEO should always be on your mind because if your site is high up in the rankings then you can rest assured that people will be visiting your site and not a competitor’s. Optimisations can be done primarily through the strategic placement of keywords throughout your website’s copy, especially on the home page. So not only do you need to grab peoples’ attention with your copy, you need to ensure that the core information on the page contains essential keywords to optimise your site.

Website copy must provide enough information to keep people interested but not so much that they feel overwhelmed and simply go elsewhere. Try and incorporate punchy copy, with eye catching visuals and keep it simple. You want straightforward navigation, your key contact details on every page and convincing copy.

Here at Alberon, we are happy to advise on SEO techniques which work, or direct you to one of our specialist SEO partners should this be what you are looking for. It may seem like a cost saving exercise not to consider copy at the start of a new website design and build but trust us, it is something well worth investing in! Don’t let bad website copy get in the way of reaching your potential customers.

There is no denying that the rapid growth of social media has impacted on the way we communicate.  Sites such as Twitter and Facebook are reaping the benefits of being easily accessible for all generations. All you need is internet access and away you go. It is also relatively inexpensive, when I say inexpensive I mean free.

It’s vital that organisations really make the most of these free and easy to use online resources, but before opening an account consider the following:

1. Who are you trying to reach?
2. Which online networks will help you reach them?
3. Do you have time every week for social media marketing?
4. Do you enjoy technology?

It’s easy to get distracted by all of the platforms available from which to start tweeting, posting, likeing and sharing. It is however important to choose the right one to start with.

The benefits of choosing the right social media are immediately apparent; increased communication fosters brand awareness and often, improved customer service.

Here at Alberon we recognise that social media is the way forward. That’s why when we build websites we build them with that in mind. We are on hand to offer expert advice every step of the way, so why not get in touch today and see how we can help you get started!

As technology evolves steadily and revolutionises the way we communicate we find ourselves caught in the rush to get the next best thing and stick it straight onto our website – anything from joining social networking sites to incorporating flash and moving graphics.

It’s always good to keep up with these advances in communication and technology, but you really need to take a step back and think if this is really right for your organisation. How would having a Facebook page really benefit your clients? What exactly would you “tweet” on Twitter? Joining these communities can be beneficial for some companies, usually the very large ones, but certainly not all.

Moving graphics and using Flash based design is also popular with small to medium business, however whilst these may impress some visitors they could also put others off. Flash based design has proved to be sometimes confusing for users, and difficult to view for the visually impaired. You may also find that people simply can’t find you on the web as search engines can’t always index Flash sites. Moving graphics and interactive features can really engage visitors, but are they appropriate for your target market?

Here at Alberon we are honest and will tell you if these sorts of features are not appropriate for your website. We try not to overcrowd websites with moving graphics as too many of these can often distract visitors from your message.

Remember your website is your shop front and we are here to help you make the most of it!