WebriQ has been working on creating websites since 2001 and we've noticed some interesting trends over time regarding how people view websites these days. The traditional "project" based approach where a client hires an agency or individual web designer to build them a new site, is slowly becoming outdated. In today's world of online shopping, social media and instant communication there really isn't any need for a customised site anymore. A well built responsive (mobile friendly) website will do just fine - especially if it includes a blog! For this reason alone, we have seen a shift from an old school "build me a site!" mentality to one which involves getting your customers onto your own website quickly and easily.
The evolution of what constitutes a 'website' can also be attributed to technology. We are now seeing more and more companies who offer their products via apps rather than through their own websites. These companies may not have had a full blown eCommerce solution but they still want to provide their potential clients with access to detailed product information, images and videos. To achieve this, they have turned to app developers who can produce slick looking mobile sites that include everything needed to promote their brand. This trend towards mobile first thinking is going to continue throughout 2017 so expect to see more and more organisations using their own branded apps instead of building a separate website for each specific purpose.
So why does all of this matter? If your company offers its products and/or services directly to end users then having your own website is obviously essential. Even though the majority of us shop online at least once per week, many still prefer to go into physical stores when making purchases. Having a presence on the internet allows you to reach every possible shopper regardless of whether they're physically near your store location or not. It gives you the opportunity to showcase your products and get your name out there without breaking the bank.
In addition to this, the internet provides you with another way to communicate with your existing customers. You can post articles about industry news, upcoming events and even share helpful tips & advice aimed specifically at your target market. Your visitors can read these pieces of content and learn more about you, your company and your products. They might even decide to contact you directly by emailing you with questions or comments. All of these things add up to increased sales leads, repeat visits and ultimately revenue growth.
However, although having a website is crucial in order for you to succeed as an organisation, there is no point in simply slapping together anything that comes to mind and calling yourself a successful website owner. What sets apart those businesses that manage to become highly profitable is the fact that they take care of their customers and make sure they know exactly what to expect before purchasing from them. By offering a high level of customer support, keeping up to date on relevant news stories and being active within your chosen field, you'll always stand out amongst the competition.
Today, with the launch of our newly redesigned website WebriQ, I'd like to introduce you to the concept of Websites-as-a-Service. More evolutionary than revolutionary, this move to a service-based model versus a project-based model, is a logical step for all businesses that are keen to outsource the most important part of running a successful online operation -- their website(s).
Websites-as-a-Service allow you to focus on growing your business whilst leaving the technical side of things completely under the control of experts. Our team of dedicated designers work closely with you to develop a stunning site that perfectly represents your company and helps drive traffic back to your homepage. Once completed, your website becomes available 24 hours a day 7 days a week ready for use across multiple platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and more. No longer will you be restricted to spending countless hours designing a website that could never be used properly due to copyright issues or lack of knowledge. With Website Services, you can rest assured knowing that your website will look fantastic, perform optimally and give you complete peace of mind.
If you're interested in learning more about Website Services please feel free to check out our website below. Alternatively, if you'd like to speak to someone right away, call us on 03 9299 2122. Or send us an enquiry here.
For further reading, here are 5 reasons why owning a website matters... and 5 benefits of outsourcing your website development duties to professionals!
Many small businesses fail because they don't realise that selling is actually just a small part of what they do. As you probably already know, the majority of consumers choose to purchase goods offline rather than online nowadays. So why bother investing money into developing a website that nobody knows about? Well, you shouldn't unless you plan on turning your website into a marketing powerhouse that brings in thousands of dollars per month.
One thing that separates the average website owners from the big boys is the ability to convert website visitors into paying customers. When was the last time you received feedback from a potential buyer after visiting your site? That's right, none of us ever receive feedback from real people after browsing through a website. However, if you were able to turn your website visitors into buyers, you'd instantly start earning serious cash! And believe me, it doesn't cost much to acquire a few extra hundred bucks per month.
Nowadays, thanks to digital technologies, anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can potentially run their own online business. Although it takes certain skills to successfully operate an online business, there's nothing stopping you from starting one today. Of course, if you're willing to put in the effort required to set up a decent website, you can certainly earn a lot of money doing it. But if you're short on time or lacking in experience, hiring a professional to help you with your website setup is definitely worth considering.
When choosing to hire a professional to handle your website development, keep in mind that your website will represent your business in front of millions of eyes worldwide. Therefore, it needs to be visually appealing while remaining easy to navigate. Furthermore, your website must also be user-friendly and contain quality content including valuable resources like white papers, case studies and downloadable PDF documents. Visitors should also find what they're searching for on your website very quickly as they spend less time scrolling around trying to find something else. Finally, your website should feature clear calls to action encouraging visitors to fill out forms, subscribe to newsletters etc.
There are several elements that contribute to the overall success of a website. Firstly, your website needs to reflect your personality. Whether it's quirky, stylish, fun or professional, your website needs to match your branding. Secondly, your website needs to be informative. People love to learn new things and therefore an educational website is usually better received by visitors compared to a boring corporate brochure. Thirdly, your website needs to be secure. There are plenty of malicious hackers out there who aim to steal personal data from unsuspecting victims. Make sure your website is protected against these threats by implementing SSL encryption. Lastly, your website needs to encourage interaction between visitors and other members of your community. Offer incentives for readers to sign up to your mailing lists, join a forum discussion or comment on a blog article.
As mentioned earlier, a professionally developed website can transform your business overnight. One key element of a great website is clean, simple navigation. Don't overload your visitor's screen with too many links and buttons. Instead, try focusing on only three main categories containing four subcategories each. Then, place related pages inside each category. Keep your menus concise, avoid long paragraphs and stick to plain language whenever possible. Also ensure that you keep your page titles brief and descriptive. Last but not least, remember to write compelling headlines. Using catchy phrases that draw attention to your keywords will increase search engine rankings.
Whether you're planning on launching a new business or revamping your current website, it pays to seek expert assistance. Hiring a professional website developer will save you both time and money in the long term. Not only will they improve the usability and functionality of your website, but they will guide you along the path to success. After all, wouldn't you rather pay someone $100-$1000 to fix your car vs. doing it yourself for about $300? Think about it.
As more and more companies start to realise the benefits of outsourcing their IT needs (whether it be web development or any other form of technology), we have seen an increase in the number of websites created specifically for a service industry. These sites can range from simple informational pages with links back to the company's own site on another domain name, through to fully customised ecommerce solutions including content management systems, shopping carts and even payment gateways.
The key difference between these two types of websites lies not only in how they look but also in what they do - i.e. whether they provide information about products/services or actually allow customers to purchase them online. While some people may consider this distinction unnecessary, there is no doubt that having a separate website solely dedicated to selling your product will make life easier for both yourself and potential buyers.
This article discusses the pros and cons of building such a website, along with several common misconceptions surrounding the subject. To begin, let’s take a brief look at just what a website does for its owner:
Firstly, it provides them with free exposure to new clients who might otherwise never come across them. Secondly, by providing a single point of contact rather than multiple ones, a service website helps keep costs down while maintaining consistency throughout different platforms. Thirdly, it allows for better tracking of sales conversions which enables the business owners to monitor performance over time. Fourthly, if done correctly, it has the ability to boost SEO rankings as well. Lastly, because it doesn't require much maintenance, it frees up valuable resources to concentrate on core areas of the business instead.
However, despite all of those advantages, many companies still believe that creating a website for themselves is cheaper and quicker than hiring someone else to build one. This belief stems largely from the fact that the creation process involves little technical work, so why pay anyone else when you can "do it yourself"? As long as you aren't afraid to get your hands dirty and learn something new, then this approach could prove beneficial to your business in the long run. On the flip side, however, it isn't advisable to attempt to recreate something as complex as an entire website without first obtaining proper training and guidance. It simply takes too long and requires far too much effort to develop anything approaching quality.
So, what exactly makes a website good enough to use for selling a particular type of product or service? In short, it depends entirely upon the specific requirements that need to be met. Let me explain...
First off, it should clearly state where the client can buy the product/service being offered. If they're looking to hire a plumber, for example, they won't want to click through to yet another page full of ads before finding the right person for the job! They'll probably expect to find that info on the home page itself. Therefore, it's imperative that a website includes a prominent link to the actual product/service offering somewhere within the homepage. The same applies to any other pages on the site, such as FAQs, testimonials, social media icons, etc.
Second, it should include a clear call to action button that lets visitors know exactly what they need to do next. For instance, if a website sells software applications, the buttons should tell users to download a demo version of said application - ideally via a direct hyperlink to the relevant file hosted on the server. Alternatively, they could ask users to fill out a questionnaire so that the developer knows more about their target market. Once completed, the user must submit the data using either a standard email submission system or a secure login feature provided by the hosting provider.
Thirdly, every webpage on the site must contain useful information related to the main topic of conversation. This means that each individual section should offer readers something interesting to read and absorb. Ideally, the navigation bar above the fold should also contain links to various sections of the site, making it easy for browsers to locate the information that interests them.
Fourthly, it shouldn't require regular updates. Unless the website is going to be used purely for promotional purposes, it's unlikely that it will ever become outdated. After all, once a customer buys into a brand, they usually stick around until they can see tangible results. So unless the site contains extremely important information, updating it regularly could cause problems with search engine ranking. Instead, focus on ensuring that everything remains fresh and current.
Fifthly, the content itself should be rich and engaging. Although there is nothing wrong with including pictures and graphics as part of the mix, it's best to avoid excessive text formatting and layout changes. The reason for this is that although images and videos tend to grab attention faster than plain old words, the latter are generally perceived as being more credible by search engines. And finally, don't forget to optimise your site for mobile devices as well. Most consumers now access the internet primarily through smartphones and tablets, so they will notice any differences in behaviour and responsiveness compared to desktop versions.
Now that we've covered the basics, here are three ways that a website can help improve your bottom line:
1) You'll receive new leads 24 hours per day 7 days per week 365 days per year. With nearly half of Americans logging onto the Internet daily, it's critical that you reach them wherever they happen to be. A website gives you instant visibility anywhere in the world.
2) You'll save money by reducing overhead expenses. By creating an effective marketing tool that generates qualified traffic, you'll reduce advertising costs and therefore attract new clients.
3) Your conversion rate will go up thanks to higher usability. Since prospective clients will already be familiar with your website, they'll be able to complete transactions quickly and easily.
But perhaps the biggest benefit of owning a website is the freedom it brings. Unlike traditional brick & mortar stores, entrepreneurs can open up shop virtually anywhere in the world and reach millions of curious minds instantly. Not to mention the added advantage of working from home whenever you please - perfect for parents trying to juggle childcare responsibilities alongside their busy careers.
So, if you decide to give the idea of creating a website for a service business a try, bear in mind the following points:
• Make sure that the website matches the overall branding strategy of your business. If you plan to sell clothing, for example, don't put together a website that looks similar to a tech support portal.
• Remember to set realistic expectations regarding the amount of time required to produce a high quality, professionally designed website. Even though it may seem daunting at first glance, if you break it down into manageable chunks, it really isn't difficult to achieve.
• Be prepared to invest a significant amount of cash upfront to cover initial fees and ongoing monthly charges. There are plenty of reputable companies who specialize in designing websites for small businesses, but unfortunately there are few affordable options available for larger enterprises.
• Don't overlook the importance of SEO. Search Engine Optimization is essential for attracting targeted traffic to your website as well as boosting your chances of appearing among the very top listings. However, it's crucial to ensure that you choose a reliable service provider who understands the ins and outs of the field.
Finally, remember that a website alone cannot guarantee success. Without a solid product or service behind it, it's pointless to spend months creating a masterpiece that nobody wants to view. But if you follow my advice and implement the suggestions outlined in this article, you can rest assured that your efforts will result in increased profits.
Websites have come a long way since their inception in 1994 and today they play a major role in helping companies manage their online presence effectively. The growth in popularity has been exponential over the years with more people now using websites on a daily basis than ever before.
The rise in popularity of websites is not only due to its use by individuals but also because it's being used extensively by large corporations who want everything from small brochures to full blown eCommerce solutions. With so many different types of websites available, how does one go about choosing the right one for them?
In terms of designing your own website there are 3 distinct options to choose from depending on what type of business you're running. Firstly, you could build your website yourself by hiring someone else or paying a web developer to build it for you. Secondly, you could purchase a pre-made template which will be designed around your specific needs. Lastly, you could opt for a Website As A Service (WaaS) solution where a professionally built site is delivered to you. Let’s take a look at each option below and see exactly why WaaS may well be the best option for those looking to set up a new website...
1. Functionality - A user friendly interface is crucial when creating any kind of digital product. Your visitors will need to easily navigate through your pages and find what they need quickly. Think about things such as navigation menus, drop down lists, buttons etc. Make sure these work properly and don't require too much effort for users to understand. If this doesn't happen then potential customers will lose interest very quickly.
2. Content - This refers to both the text content displayed within your webpage as well as images / videos. It should contain information relevant to your audience and help inform them further into buying your products/services. Ensure that this content is easy to read and digestible and provides value to your viewers. You want to engage your potential customer enough to keep them coming back.
3. Optimisation & SEO - Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and optimisation are vital parts of ensuring that your website ranks highly in search engine results pages (SERPs). In order to rank high you'll need to ensure that your page contains keywords related to your business that relate closely to what your company offers. These keywords must appear naturally throughout your content without sounding spammy. Using keyword rich anchor texts is another important aspect of SEO. These links provide valuable traffic to your website and increase the chances of ranking higher in SERPS.
4. Design - While functionality is obviously extremely important, aesthetics are equally critical. Don't just think about pleasing your eyes either! Having a visually appealing layout is essential if you want prospective clients to trust you and feel comfortable spending money with you. Take time to consider what colours, fonts and layouts will suit your brand image perfectly.
5. Security - Ensuring security means keeping hackers away from your website. When setting up your website you'll need to pay attention to several aspects including SSL certificates, passwords and password strength. Hackers love nothing more than stealing sensitive data such as credit card details and personal information. They won't hesitate to steal your customers' identities and ruin your reputation if given the chance.
There are four main areas of importance that you should always focus on when building your website. First off, you need to give prominence to your primary call to action (CTA), which is usually something along the lines of "Buy Now". What you offer should be clearly defined and described. Next, you want to add credibility to your message. Visitors should know exactly who you are and what makes your organisation special. Finally, you need to highlight the benefits your products/services provide. By doing this you'll attract prospects who truly believe in you and your offering.
Now we've covered some of the basic fundamentals involved in creating a website it's time to learn how to actually create one. For starters, you should start by deciding whether you'd prefer to hire a designer or buy a ready made template. If you decide to hire a designer, you'll need to get in touch with a few freelancers until you find one capable of delivering quality work. Alternatively, you could purchase a ready made template which will already include everything you need to begin working on your website.
If you decide to purchase a ready made template you'll need to determine which platform you want your website hosted on. There are two popular platforms used by developers: WordPress and Joomla!. Both allow you to customise your website however you wish. Once you've decided upon a hosting platform you then need to install plugins onto your chosen CMS. Plugins are extensions that extend certain features of the CMS allowing you to perform tasks that wouldn't otherwise be possible. An example of a plugin would be WooCommerce which allows you to sell items directly via your website.
Once you've installed the necessary plugins it's time to begin adding content. Adding content involves uploading pictures, graphics, video, audio files and writing articles. All of these elements contribute towards making your website attractive and engaging. Remember though, whilst it's great to have lots of photos, videos and other visual assets, you shouldn't overload your content with useless fluff. Keep your content concise and interesting.
After completing the above steps you'll be able to view your finished website live on your computer desktop. However, if you want your website to display correctly across multiple devices such as tablets and mobile phones you'll need to upload your website to a server. Servers are essentially computers connected together which serve a variety of functions ranging from storing massive amounts of data to providing internet access to hundreds of thousands of users simultaneously.
To complete the process you simply need to fill in a form containing details such as your contact email address, payment method and billing info. After submitting this form to your hosting provider they'll send you an invoice detailing the cost of hosting. Once paid the host will deliver your website to you automatically. That's it! You just created your first successful website!
As previously mentioned, you have three main choices available if you're looking to create a website specifically for selling service offerings. Firstly, you could create your own website yourself by hiring a freelance web designer. Secondly, you could purchase a pre-built template which will be tailored to fit your exact specifications. Lastly, you could opt for a Website As A Service (WaaS) solution where a professionally built site is delivered to you. Let's explore each choice below...
Creating your own website
This approach requires a fair amount of technical expertise and knowledge of HTML coding. However, you'll save quite a bit of cash if you decide to build your own website rather than purchasing a pre-made template. Creating your own website isn't difficult provided you have sufficient experience with coding and understanding of various tools such as Photoshop and Illustrator. Most importantly, you'll need to be committed to learning the ins and outs of coding in case you encounter problems later on.
Buying a pre-designed website
Using a pre-designed website saves you time and money upfront. However, it comes at a price. Pre-made templates often lack flexibility and customization abilities. Additionally, they tend to feature outdated designs and technologies. On top of that, they typically charge extra fees for additional features such as advanced CSS styling capabilities.
Opting for a Website As A Service (WaaS) solution
Finally, the third option is to subscribe to a WaaS solution which will provide all the same functionalities of building your own website plus much more besides. Typically, a WaaS solution will cost significantly less than building your own website. Furthermore, it comes with added benefits such as automatic updates and maintenance costs included. Not only that but you'll receive support 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
So, which route should you go? Well, ultimately it depends entirely on what you intend to achieve from your website. Are you primarily interested in generating leads and driving sales? Then perhaps going the DIY route might be better suited to you. Conversely, if you plan to run a B2B business and want to focus heavily on attracting qualified buyers, then WaaS is probably the ideal solution. To conclude, whichever path you chose to follow, remember to maintain consistency between your website copy and overall branding strategy.
Webriq was recently launched and aims to bring simplicity to the world of website creation. We hope to inspire others to embrace the power of web technology and harness the incredible opportunities it presents us with.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.