The Covid pandemic has left a legacy that will last for generations, and many of the businesses that had to close their doors in the interest of public safety were dealt a killing blow.
But not all organizations fell. There were many that didn’t have a digital presence before but certainly built one to make up for the fact they couldn’t open their stores and premises.
Covid’s impact may have lessened in the last few months, but that doesn’t mean all companies are now out of the woods; there are endless potential reasons why a company may have to keep its doors closed, and having a digital route is the only way to stay afloat.
Strawberry Forge is one such company that can turn digital is what they do best. From web design to content creation, they offer a full service that brings all kinds of organisations into the online era.
How Important is it to be Online?
Whether you offer a service or product, being online gives you access to a huge audience of potential customers. According to Statista, online sales in the UK have grown year on year since 2012, with a whopping £119.6bn spent on eCommerce goods in 2021 — that’s around 29% of all retail sales in the country.
Not too shabby is it?
And just about any business can be set up online. Even fast food is delivered through apps and websites these days. We ourselves have helped companies offering property investment advice, facilities management through proptech, and legal advice on a range of different topics. As long as you have something of worth to offer a potential customer or client base, there’s no reason why you can’t thrive in a digital landscape.
Making an Impact Online
It’s all well and good to say you want a slice of the online marketplace, but don’t dive in headfirst if you have no idea how deep the water is. Planning is the key to success in any venture, and this route is no different.
Plan Your Website
Your website has two important elements to it:
- Functionality
- Branding
The site has to be easy to navigate and simple for visitors to use, but it also needs to reflect what your company stands for. Getting both elements right is the best way to build trust between you and your audience, letting them see and experience your professionalism for themselves.
Take a look at the Strawberry Forge website as an example. As you make your way through, you’ll notice how easy it is to navigate with all the steps you need to take clearly sign-posted.
You’ll also notice how our company is branded to showcase our core values with every element designed in-house by our team including:
- Logos
- Typographies
- Colour palettes
- Bespoke images and icons
- And so much more
High-Quality Content
No matter what you’re offering, remember that what seems straightforward to you may not be as simple to your audience. Estate agents know all the jargon when it comes to selling a property, but just how clued up are the actual sellers?
Content has to be clear and informative, written with the end-user in mind.
As a starting point, all anyone wants to know is if you’re capable of helping them without alienating them. Detailed web pages written in plain English will show you know your stuff and should explain the crux of your service or product simply.
Blogs are a great way to go deeper into a subject. Let’s say you have a web page for those looking to buy a property. On that page, you can link to detailed blogs where users can get more information. If you list the steps for buying a house on the web page, each step can have its own corresponding blog.
And of course, if you plan each blog with SEO in mind, they stand a much greater chance of being picked up by search engines, opening up your site to a wider audience (which leads us nicely to our next point).
SEO
Search engines have completely changed the online landscape; the term ‘Googling’ is even in the dictionary. We all use search engines to find products and services we’re interested in, but how exactly do those sites get into the top positions?
Search Engine Optimisation (or SEO for short).
SEO involves working out what people are searching for when they fire up Google. It’s the words they use, the questions they ask, and the type of content they want to engage with.
But it also involves making your content easy for search engines to find. This can be done through:
- Improving page layout
- Using a correct URL structure
- Adding a Headings structure (H1, H2, H3, etc.)
- Including image alt tags
A lot goes into SEO. It’s a slow burner admittedly — results can take a few months before they start to show. But the end result is 100% worth it. One of our Legal clients saw an increase of 345% in website traffic after enlisting our help. Make sure to check out our SEO service page for more details.
Other Online Avenues
There’s more to taking your business online than just coming up with a website. Social media marketing can be a very lucrative avenue if done right. It’s why we also offer content services for LinkedIn (as well as LinkedIn Outreach), Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We can even brand up your social media platforms with custom banners, logos, and images to create a strong identity.
Email marketing is also a good shout. Anyone who gives you their contact details will have some degree of interest in your products or services. It’s why having an offer (such as a downloadable eBook) forms a crucial part of this process. Your audience gets something of value, and you get a new lead.
You can then send targeted information and discounts to these leads to encourage them to buy. A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system like HubSpot is perfect for capturing lead information and segmenting the data in a way that’s easy to manage.
Ready to Jump Online?
Whether you’re taking your first step in a digital environment or looking to revamp your existing online materials, Strawberry Forge will help you get the most out of your efforts.
We have years of experience behind us, so don’t delay booking your free digital workshop for more information.
