CrazyLeaf Editorial You’ve started a new business venture and the website is up and running. Without the site, there is no way to build the readership you need to monetise the platform. Sorry, but that’s how important a digital presence is in this day and age. Traffic is the new currency. To make sure people get their fill, they instantly start to shell out and pay for advertising. In their mind, it’s an investment.
It’s also a waste of your budget, money which is essential for the longevity of the company. As soon as the cash runs out, it’s hard to keep the doors open whether they are physical or virtual. Splashing out is something which you should do with caution even if it appears like a wise move at first.
After all, there is no need to pay to play for marketing in this current climate. Thanks to technology, there are dozens of ways to appeal to your base and boost the number of visitors for free. Continue reading to find out what they are and to save a small fortune in ad fees.
Referrals
Here’s a number for you: 81%. That’s the proportion of people who say they read reviews and take referrals into account before making a purchase. It’s over three-quarters of the base, which is a huge number. What it means is that only 19% of people might buy something from an eCommerce site without their opinion being validated.
Among other things, what this proves is the power of referral. Customers are naturally sceptical because they assume companies and sites are trying to pull a fast one. With previous consumers offering their view, some of whom might be their friends, they are likely to trust the band. Therefore, the company needs a way to make reviews easy to read, like and share. Then, there is a high chance of visitors being persuaded to make a purchase.
To make them viewable, put them at the bottom of the page or next to the item itself. Plus, ensure the social media icons are visible on the page. This encourages them to post and share their and others’ views and opinions of the brand as a whole. Never underestimate the impact of a recommendation.
Optimisation
Let’s stay with the topic of sharing for a moment because it’s important. Jeff Bullas, who Forbes calls a “top influencer of Chief Marketing Officers, swears by optimising the traffic you already possess. Going out into the ether and telling people to swing by the site isn’t going to work; they need to do it naturally. This is where the following you already have is crucial.
Bullas himself said making his content and blog shareable in the beginning boosted his traffic by 200%. How did he do it? He used buttons like the kind you find on any website to this day. But, the key is to make it easy to find the icons and not to put them out of the way. Some things annoy readers yet the Twitter logo isn’t one of them because consumers want to show their friends. As well as implementing the main platforms, you should ensure they aren’t impossible to find. Otherwise, the base will bounce without making a referral.
And, everyone knows how important a recommendation is regarding conversions.
Size
Lots of things have changed in the industry but a reputable business address is still a major coup. Human beings are intelligent yet they let things seep into their mind without much thought. Once it lodges, it’s tough to get it out and not allow it to impact your decisions. Perception of size is one such tapeworm. To this day, customers are obsessed with the extent of a company as they believe it relates to their services.
Of course, it isn’t true because the smallest firm can provide a high-quality experience. However, it’s how people think which is why you need to take it into account. Virtual company mailbox services exist for a reason and it’s for SMEs to appear big. The thing is you don’t want to pay so you need an alternative. Step forward the company logo.
People see symbols and instantly make assumptions about the brand. The fact small and medium firms don’t bother with company seals is a massive factor. To get one for free, consider trading
services as content is the new currency.
Pin It
It seems as if new social media sites pop up out of nowhere. Some of them won’t last but one or two stick because the concept is strong. Pinterest is probably the best example of a new platform making its way into the public sphere and sticking around. Indeed, it’s becoming one of the top sites in the industry thanks to its ease of access and use of multimedia images.
So, it makes sense to include it as part of your strategy anyway. One other reason to jump on the bandwagon is “buyable pins.” This is a part of the site which lets users click on the things they like and purchase them directly from the website. As of now, it’s the only one of its kind which is free.
Pinterest is excellent for conversions as it directs them to the site while they are considering buying a product.
Upsell
Upselling doesn’t seem like it’s worth the hassle yet the most successful companies do it throughout their platforms. And, they make it look easy. Think about the last time you shopped on Amazon – what did it say next to item? Usually, it’s “Frequently Bought Together.” The same goes for clothes sites which say “You May Also Like.”
All it takes is a tiny piece of code to include the graphics on the page yet the impacts can be huge. Think of it as opening up the entire site to your visitors. Without spending time clicking through, they can access what they want in seconds.
Smart bosses don’t pay for adverts because they know they can get the same results for free. All they do is work with what they have and expand.
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