I’m far from a personal stickler for customer service, but as a content writer for a marketing agency, I’m well aware of the damage a really negative experience can do to a well-established brand. Every impression counts when it comes to a good business reputation – and a recent shopping experience served as a great reminder of just that.
It’s almost mind-boggling to watch people go nuts over the new iPhone 5C. Apple’s newest device can be pre-ordered now, with an estimated delivery date of October 4th – but aside from a minor OS upgrade and better camera, Apple’s new marketing model simply revolves around a set of vibrant colors and a plastic case. Now, you may ask, who really needs a new colorful phone badly enough to go as far as pre-ordering one?
Nowadays, it often seems to me that it’s trendy to be “incorrect”: the grammar and spelling in emails, Tweets, and chats have become less important than the real meaning behind them. And really, that’s the whole premise of communication. All too often in my role as an editor, though, I come across business writers trying to follow that lead—and that can be risky. Personal messages may allow some creative license, but getting too careless or casual with business messages—emails in particular—can damage your brand.
I recently had a professional approach me and ask me what a marketer really does. That question caught me off-guard. Before I became a professional marketer – even as far back as high school – the field of marketing had always been crystal clear to me, and I wasn’t really sure how to answer. One of the greatest things about growing older, however, is that moments like this make us stop and ponder an idea without the bias of a young ego. Do people “get” what I do, I wondered? Maybe yes, maybe no.
Whenever I list all the volunteer positions that I hold, the first response I get is usually, “How do you find time to do all of that?” And my answer is always the same: I make the time.
A good website begins with a solid platform. If you’re considering a new website design, a content management system (CMS) will provide the tools you need to keep your site effective and consistent.
A beautifully designed website won’t go far if no one can find it – and a website without SEO is almost impossible to find unless visitors known the specific URL. SEO (or search engine optimization) is crucial to generating the right kind of traffic and drawing conversions.
An effective website integrates attractive design, powerful content, and strategic SEO to draw traffic and boost online visibility. Once users have found your website, though, what motivates them to convert from a visiting prospect to a qualified lead?
Your website is one of your most powerful marketing tools. Without engaging, compelling content, however, even a spectacularly-designed website can fall flat.
