by Marelise da Silva | Mar 10, 2016 | Online Marketing, Website Content, Website Optimization
As website technology evolves (daily, it seems), so does the need to update your website. Most websites need updating every few years, sometimes more often, depending on your content. As one of your most valuable marketing tools, the need for a website that is up to date and user-friendly couldn’t be more important.
Here are six compelling reasons to update your website, sooner rather than later:
- Make your site more responsive and adaptive
If your website started as an online brochure, it’s unlikely to have the embedded tools needed to capture information from site visits. Online forms, Calls to Action and special offers can help to get your website visitors’ information that can convert into a sale.
With mobile internet traffic on the rise (up to 40% of all traffic), it’s critically important to have Responsive Website Design, to ensure your site works on any size screen, or you will lose out to those competitors that do have it.
- Speed up your site
Web surfers are notoriously impatient, so the time it takes for your site to load can be the difference between good steady traffic and a high bounce rate. Google will rank a faster loading website higher than a slow one. Get rid of old or unused content, reduce the file size of images or install some speed booster plugins.
- Increase security
Moving from an HTTP site to a HTTPS is not just a Google ranking signal, it’s a way of ensuring that your website data is encrypted. E-commerce sites need to check their security every month, since hackers make it their mission in life to get into your site and muck it up. A hacked site could become infected with viruses, which you’ll then spread to your customers, or be blocked by search engines and browsers. It’s a hard place to come back from.
- Get rid of old or irrelevant content
Check that your site does not contain broken links or outdated content. Blogs written several years back may not only be relics from the past, but downright embarrassing. A spring clean is an excellent opportunity to update client lists and testimonials, rewrite title and meta descriptions and make your site more SEO friendly.
- Rebrand and reposition
Keeping up with your competition is vital, so a fresh look can go a long way. If you designed your website yourself the first time round, it may be time to get professional help with copywriting or design and photography. Your business strategy may also have evolved since you created your website and it’s important that your site is a good reflection of your company culture.
- Get more social
Social media activity needs to be properly integrated with your website. Good use of social media can keep your website fresh, improve your SEO and get your existing and potential clients talking.
In short, updating your website is essential if you want to stay relevant, competitive and ahead of the pack. For advice on updating your website, contact us. We can also assist with content, design and social selling.
by Marelise da Silva | Jan 14, 2016 | Digital Media Marketing, Website Content
Infographics have taken over digital marketing. They are not only attractive and easy to share on social media platforms, but also communicate a lot of information in a simple and eye-catching way.
You don’t have to be a designer with killer graphic design skills to create infographics to enhance your content marketing strategy. The following tips will help you develop killer infographics and take your content to a whole new level:
- Make use of paid user-friendly software
There is a lot of user-friendly software available online that even an amateur can use to design an infographic. These include PiktoChart, Visual.ly, Creatly.
These options allow you to create professional looking infographics by simply inputting data and choosing templates that are suitable to you. Many of the software providers such as PiktoChart also include a paid service, which means you can use the software without having to purchase and install it on your machine.
- Use free software
Can’t afford paid software? Not to worry. There are many free software options online including Easel.ly, Picmonkey and Infogr.am. Many of the paid software also offer free options so you can test their software. Take advantage of this and test your skills in creating infographics.
- Apply Design Principles
Even with free equipment, the basic design principles still apply. In order to create a professional looking infographic, consider the following design principles:
- Let the data guide the design
You can’t design an infographic effectively, without knowing what data you will include. The data will guide the design of the infographic.
Ensure the information is clear and can be easily understood. Remember that the infographic is a tool of communication.
- Maintain some white space
Using white space to frame your content ensures your layout remains simple and makes the design attractive.
- Communicate through design
Use design to drive your message across. Include shapes, colours, clip art and images to communicate as opposed to filling it with text.
You need to think outside the box. Consider other infographics for inspiration on how to present your statistics and facts in a creative way.
Contact us today for more information.
by Marianna Muscat | Apr 7, 2015 | Content Marketing, Website Content
Below we’ll explore how our copywriting service can assist with general content for your business’ website. Just about every successful business in South Africa needs to have a website. A well-designed website will give your business credibility, while simultaneously providing your clients with all the information they need about your services and products. This information needs to be packaged in such a way that it is easy to read and interpret.
A website is nothing without content
A beautiful website created by the world’s best web designers is useless without quality content. Your website will need a few standard pages including product pages, an about us page as well as a contact page to name a few. A team of professional copywriters can assist you in creating the content for these pages, making it easier for potential customers to find the information that they need – in a format and style that appeals to them.
Increase sales and profitability
Having effective, written content on your website allows both existing and potential customers to quickly find information with regards to your services and products. It usually also provides a bit of background information about your business and enables clients to easily get in touch with you. Your written content needs to distinguish your brand from the multitudes of competitors online; it needs to sustain the attention of the browser to the point of converting the prospect to a sale – by prompting appropriate call-to-actions. This is where a professional is indispensible!
WSI OMS specialises in all facets of digital marketing and the parent brand, WSI, is a global leader in the industry with a footprint in over 80 countries. We’ve worked directly with some of the world’s leading companies as well as with SMEs across the broadest spectrum of industries. Contact us today to find out how our copywriting services can bolster your online reputation and ongoing digital marketing strategy.
by Marelise da Silva | Mar 18, 2015 | Website Content, Website Optimization
If you’re launching an internet marketing campaign in an African country, you might want to consider how big a role another language plays across the continent. In many African countries, people are searching for content in French, Portuguese, Zulu and a host of other languages, so English shouldn’t necessarily always be your core focus.
Why direct translation doesn’t always work
Search engines, such as Google, will take search words and phrases and match them to the interpretation of content on relevant websites. So not only does your website need quality content, it needs to convey the correct meaning in order to rank high in search engine results. Here’s how you can use Localised Web Optimisation to your advantage in conjunction with your digital marketing campaign:
- Rather than solely focusing on keywords, you should also focus on intent and context.
- Test your site’s performance with voice and mobile search. These search methods are becoming more popular and you may find your website performs differently in a voice or mobile search.
- Think about engaging your audience and keeping their attention rather than simply hitting all of your keyword targets.
- Make it easy to share content from your site. Include buttons that allow a reader to e-mail or share something on social media quickly and easily.
Expert Internet marketing services for every industry
If you would like to know more about partnering with WSI for a winning digital marketing strategy, or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us today. Discover why so many businesses in Africa rely on us for social media marketing and Internet marketing success. We look forward to hearing from you.
by Marelise da Silva | Feb 12, 2015 | Website Analytics, Website Content, Website Development, Website Optimization
If you’re a small business owner and your website isn’t performing as well as you hoped it would, we’ve put together a list of reasons why small business websites fail and we recommending investing in help from digital marketing specialists who can turn your website around. Think of your website as your most valuable piece of real estate; it can be seen by people around the world and the first impression it gives is crucial. So, why do small business websites fail?
- It’s poorly designed. We understand small businesses don’t often have large budgets to spend on fancy web design, but you must understand how important an attractive, well designed website is. If the look and feel of your website doesn’t inspire confidence, chances are people won’t feel comfortable investing money in your business.
- It’s hosted on a third party site. If you use WordPress, Tumblr, or some other free service, your content can be removed if it violates the hosting site’s terms and conditions. This means all your hard work can disappear overnight, leaving you without a website, so rather than relying on third party hosting sites, invest in your own website domain and ensure you fully own the site and the content.
- Your target audience is too broad. If you want to target everyone with your content, your aspirations are too high and you’ll notice your website isn’t generating any leads. Instead of having a wide target audience, you should seek to understand your target audience in as much detail as possible. Then, you can tailor everything on your site – the banner, the tagline and the content – to a very specific set of demographics.
- You haven’t integrated your social media accounts. Anyone who visits your website should be able to follow you on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and more with the click of a mouse and any website updates should be published on your social media profiles.
If you would like more information about how our team of web design specialists can help revitalise your small business’s website, or if you have any general inquiries about the digital marketing and web design services we provide, please do not hesitate to contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you.
by Marianna Muscat | Jun 23, 2014 | Website Content
Video marketing is successful for one simple reason: we as humans are programmed to respond to other humans. “Moving images grabs our attention,” says Susan Weinschenk, a speaker and consultant for brands such as Amazon and Disney. This is how your business can benefit from video marketing:
Reduces advertising costs
Gone are the days when you would have to pay thousands in advertising fees to create a commercial for your company. With video marketing, you can create your own YouTube channel and videos for next to nothing.
Inherent shareability
With the click of a button, consumers are able to share videos via social media sites. This “shareability” means thousands of consumers are marketing your brand for you. Think networking without the effort. It’s word-of-mouth advertising on a grand scale.
Information overload
In an age of information overload, videos are easy to engage with. Axon Research found that seven in ten people view brands in a more positive light after watching a video.
Five Social Media Sites I should consider for my video marketing campaign
Facebook
Since its inception ten years ago, Facebook has surpassed more than one billion users worldwide. A restaurant owner would upload a video of the chef preparing a meal. Since we eat with our eyes, this is a good video marketing strategy to lure customers.
Twitter
Twitter has more than 500 million users worldwide. Celebrities are using the new Twitter Vine video option as a video marketing strategy to promote their shows with sneak peeks, thereby enticing viewers to tune in to watch the entire show.
Instagram
Companies such as Woolworths are using the video share feature to promote in store events. Video marketing also enables them to gauge audience reaction and monitor their brand.
Youtube
Youtube is widely used by celebrities as a video marketing strategy for their latest songs and films.
Tumblr
Tumblr is a popular video marketing tool used by many to capture the teenage market. Entrepreneurs such as Kendal and Kylie Jenner constantly post videos of their latest clothing range to create hype.
Revolutionise your business with video marketing. Contact us to find out how we can help you with this.
