Category: Online Business

Article Contributed by Longhorn Leads

Customer service is a major factor in a customer’s overall satisfaction with a company. Consumers want to be assured that the company will back its product or service and be there to assist them when they have a problem or question. Since so much business is being conducted online nowadays, there’s an even greater need to know that the companies we do business with won’t be giving us the cold shoulder when we call with a problem. Here are ten reasons why websites need to focus more on customer service:

1. Competition – In e-commerce, and in all business, there is often little that sets one company apart from the competition. Pricing and product quality being essentially equal, consumer choice will come down to customer service.

2. Consumer Confidence – When a consumer makes an online purchase, he surrenders the convenience of having a local merchant to deal with. He needs to know that there will be someone there for him when he has a problem since he won’t typically have anyone nearby to handle it.

3. Social Networking – Word gets around fast these days, and that includes bad reviews about a company’s service. Nothing can shut down an otherwise successful venture like a bad reputation; and on the internet, a reputation can be established, and taken away, literally overnight.

4. Volume – The amount of commerce conducted online is at an all-time high and continues to grow. The more transactions that a website handles, the more likely there will be mishaps – incorrect billing, wrong items delivered, product defects, lost orders, etc. The need for a strong customer support team increases with the volume of business a company does.

5. High Expectations – Because of the wide open market that the internet provides, competition is stiff in virtually every service or business. Consequently, consumer expectations are high. There is zero tolerance in today’s business market for poor customer service.

6. Low Perceptions – Conversely, with so many businesses outsourcing their customer service resources overseas, public perception of the average customer service rep is at an all-time low. Being a company known for great customer service can be the defining factor for why consumers choose you over everyone else.

7. Availability – Customers now have so many avenues by which to contact a business – email, phone, online chat, Skype, and even social media – there’s no excuse for inaction or delay on the part of customer service personnel.

8. Cost-Savings – Forward-thinking businesses learned early on that by providing online tech support via  FAQ’s, downloads, operator manuals and help forums, not only did their customer satisfaction index improve, so did their bottom line.

9. Customer Loyalty – Repeat business is essential to the success of a company. There are only so many people that you can sell to one time. What brings people back, what sets a company apart more than anything else, is customer service.

10. Representation – As click-and-mortar entities replace the brick-and-mortar legacy businesses, the face of the company becomes those individuals with whom the customer interacts. In most cases, that’s the customer service rep. The customer service representative is just that – a representative of who you are as a company. That’s no place to skimp if you want to succeed.

Article Contributed by Longhorn Leads

There’s a fine line many web developers walk when designing their sites that toggles between coyness and pushiness. We don’t want to beat people over the head with our pitch, yet we fear losing visitors if we don’t make that pitch effectively. By pitch, of course, we’re talking about the message or intent of your website – telling the visitor what you want them to know. Answering the question your site is meant to answer. There are very good reasons why your site needs to be obvious to users, and we’re going to look at ten of them here:

1. First Impressions – We all know the old adage about them, and it holds true as much online as anywhere else. If your visitor doesn’t get their question answered right away, or isn’t clear on what your site is about, they likely won’t come back to find out later.
2. Distractions Lead to Detours – If there’s a lot going on all over your website, your visitor can easily overlook its import. You need to guide them to do what you want them to do and go where you want them to go before they get lost on a tangent that takes them someplace else.
3. They Can’t Say Yes If You Don’t Ask – Visitors need to know what it is they need to do when they land on your page in order to get what they came for. Your site should be easy to navigate, and action buttons or windows should be prominently displayed above the fold.
4. Short Attention Spans – Remember, more often than not your visitors will be coming from a search engine link. This means your site will be one among many options they have to find what they’re searching for so you need to tell them quickly and clearly why your site is the one they should use.
5. Web Surfing = Channel Surfing – There’s a reason the terminology has been carried over to internet browsing: the psychology and methodology of the two are very similar. Web surfers are looking for a reason to stay put. If they don’t see one right away, you’re history.
6. If You Lead, They Will Follow – People respond to clear instruction, and even prefer it. If you tell them exactly what to do, visitors are more likely to do just that and will appreciate the uncluttered, direct approach.
7. Too Many Options = Too Many Wrong Choices – One of the wrong choices we’ve mentioned already is that they will leave your website. However, it’s also confusing and unnecessarily complicating your purpose to offer a visitor too many options. Provide the shortest path possible to your objective.
8. Inspire Confidence – A website that asserts its message and establishes itself as a concise source of whatever the visitor is searching for tells them that they’re in the right place. They are less likely to continue their search if you make it plain that it isn’t necessary.
9. Keep It Simple – Don’t put a lot of speed bumps or roadblocks in your visitor’s path. Have them click as few buttons and follow as few links as possible to arrive at their destination and your objective. Any extraneous action is just another opportunity to leave before they arrive.
10. Page Ranking – When your content is relevant, high quality, and answers the visitor’s search query, your website will rank more highly in search results. That means more traffic coming to your pages, instead of turning them away.

Simplicity is the best SEO concept that produces results.

Search engine optimization is a wide subject, and a lot of people think they have to know the various processes before it can work for them. But the right steps to take when trying to beat competitions and emerge as the foremost internet business website in your niche, is to simplify SEO.

Create a platform whereby you can interact with proven facts, instead of flowing with guess work and assumptions.
In line with your goal, here are three simple ways to fully implement SEO, and how to produce the right Content that works. See next line:

Create – Convince – Capture – Convert

Create Unique Content

Before search engines could send organic traffic to your website, you need to create unique Content. Regurgitated Content will not cut in – at least, not in the Panda and Penguin era. The best content creation process begins with thorough research.

Getting to know your competitors is a good thing. If a particular webpage is ranking against or ahead of you, it’s the right time to ask intelligent questions.

What have you failed to do? Are your keywords good enough and how competitive are they? Once you can answer these questions, you’ll be able to craft undiluted articles, press releases, blog posts, review articles and so forth to boost your ranking.

Note: keyword research should be the foundation of every search engine optimization task. It doesn’t matter if you want engagement on your site or to sell a specific product or service, without giving search engine spiders directions, your target audience would wander off your path.

But use keywords discreetly, placing them naturally as though they’re part of the content itself. Start creating exceptional Content today.

Convince the Prospect

There is no better way to convince prospects than to use a strong voice. You can’t afford to imitate competitors, or walk in their shadows. Potential customers who need your product and services are desperate for that unique personality.
Until you convince them, the quality and valuable products in your warehouse will not be sold. Did you know that attracting targeted traffic from Google isn’t the yardstick for making sales? You might get 1000 buyers to your sales page, but if the hook is missing, they would click away.

Have a unique personality. Connect emotionally with people. If you research long-tail keywords and optimize with them in your Content, the chances of ranking on Google first page within a short while is high, but it wouldn’t make a difference until you master the art of persuasion. Copywriters understand that persuasion is the key to winning sales and generating buyer leads.

Capture the Audience

Real marketing doesn’t end with quality Content and distribution. The most vital task in web marketing is to capture your audience. While search engines can send the prospects to you, it’s your duty to convert them.
Most internet entrepreneurs are struggling to boost sales. They have neglected the primary objective of starting a business – which is to provide the right solutions to a set of people. It would be easier to convert your audience if they’re the right people.

That means the content you create has a part to play in leading the right audience to your product funnel. If your content isn’t relevant or well-planned, you might be serving the wrong people.

When you capture leads, you should follow-up with in-depth information about your product or service. It’s all about serving the right meals to those who matter in your business. Since they’ve given you the go-ahead (permission), nothing should stop you from profiting.

Convert Prospects into Customers

Connecting and communicating with prospects can evolve into a more profitable system. When we offer SEO to small, mid-sized and fortune 500 companies, our focus is on establishing the right platform that can funnel paying customers to their businesses.

If you know an author in your city that is making success with every launch, understand that he or she has built a platform. You can’t sell to yourself or to your families and expect to be in business for long. Search engine optimization is the light that brightens up your internet marketing path. It all begins with a tiny idea. An idea that’s has a root in market and keyword research coupled with well-crafted Content.

Use search engines to attract responsive prospects. Turn strangers to subscribers and establish good platform for selling. Until I receive your comments, see you at the top!

About the Author:

Brian Nixon is a search engine optimizer who writes for Pitstop Media Inc, a Vancouver SEO company that provides top rated services to businesses across North America.

In today’s competitive marketplace, it is now more important than ever to stay one step ahead. If you want to retain client loyalty and bring in new business, it is essential to constantly re-evaluate your business processes with forward thinking ideas to stay ahead of your competitors.

If you own a business, you will know that there is always room for improvement and if you want to be the best in your industry, it is essential that you are familiar with the latest marketing methods.

Lead Generation Companies-Stay One Step Ahead

Using the latest marketing methods can help you to stay on top of your game. There are a number of ways to increase your existing client base but if you want to be one step ahead of the competition you must not be afraid to try something new. Lead generation companies can generate high quality leads at speed and create a bespoke lead generation campaign that is unique to your company. Every company is different and what works for your competitors may not be the best route for you. Professional lead generation companies understand this and strive to create a superior lead generation solution to meet the individual needs of your company.  Outsourcing your lead generation requirements can free up time within your company leaving your employees free to attend to more pressing matters.

Go Online to Find a Lead Generation Company

The first step to finding the best lead generation company in your area is to go online to do your research. You can use the internet to compare hundreds of lead generation companies in just a few clicks. There are many signs that a lead generation company is worth its salt. Choose a company that has a vast array of experience and search their website for information on past clients. Many companies have a section on their website dedicated to client testimonials that can tell you a lot about the way they work. Once you have narrowed it down to just a few lead generation companies, get in touch with each one to discuss your requirements in more detail. Before you speak to a member of their team, it is advisable to have an idea of how much you wish to spend outsourcing your lead generation. Once you are aware of your specific requirements, you can then go online to find a company that can meet your needs in terms of budget and services.

 

Article Contributed by Dave Mathews

Whether it’s B2B or B2C, you do business with humans having specific social circle. Since, social circles are growing online, you must have to upgrade your plans and strategies in order to better achieve your objectives. By first quarter of 2012, 41% of B2B companies on Facebook report successful lead generation while the conversion rate on Linkedin is way too high than Facebook and Twitter together. For instance IBM alone reported 400% increase in sales due to social selling!

Well, it’s not just about generating leads for which B2B firms must be actively using social media, instead there’s a series of benefits.

Benefits of Social Media for B2B Firms besides Lead Generation:

Branding: If you’re a brand you set your price, and if you’re not, the one who makes cheaper wins the game! For B2B firms, branding is the most important area to work on and nothing other than Social Media can have maximum outreach as well as cost effectiveness. Do check how branding works in Social Media age!

Reputation Management: It’s so closely related to branding that without effective reputation monitoring and management you cannot build a brand. According to stats, a single negative feedback about a business over social media costs 30 customers. Being a B2B firm, you’d certainly not want to lose a single so you must start monitoring your reputation online using Social Media. Find detailed notes on Reputation Management through Social Media at Social Media Influence and Slideshare.

Market Research: The key to build a brand is either to make people happy or else to take them away from pain. In order to know the pain and to bring happiness, you must listen to them first, that what is Market Research for B2B firms. There’s no better way than Social Media to listen to real time problems, so explore related communities. Methodologies may vary depending on the niche, but do consider the basics of market research using social media here and here!

Extended Market Segments: With available tools that can target audience based on geographic location, interests, beliefs, academic qualifications, organizations they work in and lot more, you get the chance to target a bigger market segment.

Talent Acquisition: When it comes to prepare products/services and market them to a business audience, you need the best talent in your teams. LinkedIn.com better serves the purpose; however, knowing about effective use of Social Media for recruitment will be great. 

Public Relations: Staying connected to industry is the key to progress, and Social Media makes it as easiest as possible. Having industry bloggers in circle and staying active in relevant communities lets you use their PR and get known to their subscribers. Here’s a useful guide for getting noticed by industry influencers.

Traffic through Search Engines: An effective Social Media strategy provides links to your website and as a result you get target audience landing on your site. Make sure that you use EzineArticles.com, HubPages.com, Step by Step etc well by creating content related to your industry for better click through.

B2Bs can have more benefits depending on objectives and industry, however, a effective Social Media strategy is required.

What’s your B2B Social Media Strategy? 

About the Author

This post is contributed by Dave Mathews, looking after PR activities of Stepbystep.com. Public Relations and Social Media Marketing are Dave’s areas of expertise.