Is Web Design Really That Important for my Site?

What would you do if you walked into a store and smelled something horrible, saw flashing strobe lights, was literally mobbed by overbearing, commission-seeking salesmen and then couldn't find anything you were looking for?  Probably get the heck out of there as quickly as possible hoping you didn't catch a cold, right?  Well, landing on a poorly designed website can replicate some of those same feelings (complete with parting virus), especially if the consumer is a motivated buyer and you have competing businesses whose sites are well-designed.The Difference Between a Good and Bad Web Design Experience for VisitorsThe heart of the matter is this: web design is super-important to the functionality and overall appeal of your website.  If your visitor doesn't feel at home, if they are confused, if they feel attacked or threatened or can't figure out why they are on the site, the “back” button is only one click away.  Poor web design will lose you traffic for good—a first time visitor with a bad experience will not be coming back to give you another chance.On the other hand, a website that is designed with the visitor in mind will keep them engaged and on the page, constantly moving down your sales funnel until they become a conversion (be it on the first visit or the tenth).  Good web design is easy to navigate and on the eyes, putting the visitor in the mood to listen, learn, read, explore and ultimately, buy (or do whatever it is you want them to do there).What Constitutes Good Web Design?So, what is this “good web design” that seems to elude so many start-up sites (and even some that have been around – albeit not too successfully – for years)?  Well, good web design focuses on a number of key points:

• The site should be clean and without distraction.  Distractions or eyesores lead to friction, or the thing that prevents your visitor from converting.  Having a lot of white space (i.e. space on the site with no content, creating attention to the content with the use of negative space) is important.
• The site should be easy to navigate, meaning the navigation bar should be across the top or down the side.  It should be clear to the visitor that if they click on an area, they know where they are going and then are provided that content.  For example, if they click on “About Us” and it takes them to your order form, that's not good design.
• The color scheme should ideally match your brand or logo, but if it doesn't, it should still be pleasant.  Having a black background with white letters is hard on the eyes – the best color for content is still black lettering on a white background.  Keep your borders as defining points, not distracting points.
• The loading time should be fast, between 3 to 5 seconds maximum.  For every second extra your page takes to load, you are losing a percentage of your customers.  Keep weighty content to a minimum and be sure your load times are balanced across all pages.
• On the back end, the coding should be high-quality, meaning no errors, broken links, orphan pages, etc.  Always use CSS and modern coding programs on quality templates.

An example of good web design is simple to find: think about a website that you frequent often and love to be on.  Chances are, it is designed properly which is why you keep going back.  Bad web design is also pretty easy to find online – you will certainly know it as soon as you get there and start tapping the “back” button or X-ing out the screen.Web Design FAQsQ:  Do you have to be a web designer to design a good website? A:  No, but it certainly helps.  Unless you are fairly computer savvy and have a good eye for layout and color schemes, it's probably a good idea to hire a web designer to create your site.  If you would like to try your hand at it, look for a drag-and-drop website builder to create with, unless you already know how to code.Q:  How much does a good web designer cost? A:  This question is hard to answer because of the levels of talent needed for intricate websites cost more money while a run-of-the-mill web designer will charge less, something that is good if you need just a basic design.  Expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand depending on your needs, scope and how customized you want the site.  As with any skilled hire, you get what you pay for – do more research into what you actually want (e.g. templates vs. custom builds, etc.) and then price around.

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3 Tips to Grow Your Social Media Followers

If you run a small business, you probably already know how vital social media can be in increasing your bottom line.  Getting started on social media, however, can seem daunting because there are so many options and ways to gain followers. We have gathered a few tips to help you build a loyal social media audience.Use KeywordsNo matter what social media site, whether Google+, Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr, using keywords is vital to increase your followers. For most of these sites hash tags work best, especially if you have your social media accounts connected with one another. This allows you to post something to all of your social media sites without having to do it physically.Using keywords in your profile can help you attract people who are interested in what you have to offer.  If they like what they see on your profile, they are likely to become an on-going follower.Comment WiselyCustomers and clients love hearing from the small businesses they follow. By commenting on posts related to your business, you can get people interested in your business. You do have to remember to comment wisely, however, so that it does not feel like spam. You should also consider following people back if they start following your business on any social sites. People are much more likely to purchase from a business with which they are “friends” than one that is not on any social media sites.Post Regularly People want to hear from your business. The more they engage with you, the more likely they are to become customers or clients, so be sure to post regularly on social media sites.Try to be as consistent as possible by posting special offers, giving tips, adding pictures, polls, or anything else you want without overwhelming your followers. Look at which posts get the most attention to see what your followers are interested in seeing. This will not only allow you to provide content in the future that is relevant, but it will also give you a good idea of the demographic engaging with your business.Social media sites can make a huge difference in your revenue if you are a small business owner. By keeping up with trends and ensuring that your content is what your followers are interested in, you will start seeing a boost in the people that engage with your content. This social interaction will ultimately translate into sales for your small business.

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Test Post

The only business metric that counts is making sales… and to generate more sales you need to generate more leads.Your business need leads… but at what cost?Many business owners work with business directories websites because they promise many new leads at a “reasonable price.”With our Lead Generation services, we eliminate the need for expensive and time consuming in-house marketing campaigns or advertising plans.And best of all, you don’t have to put money into marketing strategies that are hard to quantify.You don’t have to pay for advertising space or pay for clicks or pay for web page views.You only pay for genuine, qualified sales leads that ring to your phone!You’re a leader in your industry, not a leader in advertising.Focus on doing what you do best and let us create an online presence for your company coordinated with an aggressive marketing lead generation plan.

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Remarkable Marketers

Remarkable Marketers is a Jacksonville, Fl based online marketing company. We offer solutions and strategies, designed to help you grow your business both locally and worldwide.

Mission

Our mission is to help our clients grow their business in a cost effective, strategic manner. At the end of the day, getting you more satisfied customers is what really matters.

Company Overview

We specialize in helping our clients dominate their local market. We have a full arsenal of cost effective packages and services that will help you become the leader in your area. Since the landscape is constantly changing, we attempt to diversify our marketing efforts. Obviously, if your company has a glaring weakness then we most focus on that first. However, we strive to be a one stop shop for your online marketing needs.