You know what they say, you only get one chance to make a first impression. We've all been handed a business card that looks like it was printed at home or browsed through a website that made a company seem less than professional.
We understand that not every company has extensive resources or significant marketing budgets. However, there are still ways that you can make sure your company is giving the appearance of professionalism, even on a budgdet. Here are a few area's you can focus on; branding, website strategy, professional printing and content marketing.
Branding- Let's start by taking a look at branding. A brand is the visual, emotional and cultural image that you associate with a company or product. Every business has a brand. Your business has a brand. It's the sum of everything your organization is, says and does. One component of your brand is your logo. It is very important that your logo is consistent across your business. The logo on your business cards must be the same as the logo on your front door, letterhead and website. You should have one logo so that when people see it, they recognize it and associate it back to your business. Having multiple logos with differing colors/styles will only confuse people. If you currently have multiple logos, I would encourage you to pick one to move forward with. Consumers are bombarded with messages today, so no reason to make them remember the 5 different versions of your logo. Keep it simple and stay on brand.
Website- The second area to focus on is your website. A solid website strategy can go a long way in helping you present yourself to potential customers. You should view your website as an employee who is working for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, not a static billboard. Over 90% of buying decisions begin with an online search. If people come to your site and can't find what they need, or have trouble using your site, guess what? They will not pick up the phone and call you, they will leave your site and go to your competitors. Don't fall into the thinking that just because you have a website, it is good enough. Make sure it provides value to visitors, engages them, and keeps them coming back.
Professional Printing- There will be a time when you need something printed that your office printer can't handle, or you simply don't have the time to get a project printed. Having a trusted partner you can turn to for your commercial printing needs would be a wise decision. Handing a potential customer a high quality business card, or stunning company literature will really give an excellent impression of your business. Have collateral that you are proud of and feel good about handing to people.
Content Marketing- The final piece I will share with you is content marketing. Creating and promoting content are two key areas to generating more website traffic and leads. Having good quality content on your website helps to boost your Google ranking, and increase the chances they will visit our website. Once we get them on your website, now your website strategy that we discussed earlier comes into play. Blogging is an excellent way to add content to your website. Studies have shown that companies who create and promote their blogs get 55% more traffic and 70% more leads than those who don't.
There you have it. Four areas to get you off and running. Best of luck!
For questions about how branding, website strategy, print management or content marketing can have a positive impact on your business, or to learn about the inbound marketing philosophy, contact us at sales@bluefrogdm.com.
Blue Frog is a Des Moines based marketing firm specializing in Inbound Marketing, Commercial Printing, Graphic Design, Social Media Management, Website Design and SEO.