June 2, 2015

Web Design: A Growth-Changing Skillset for Fledgling Entrepreneurs

Web Design is a blanket term for many skills, including the ability to conceptualize ideas, create plans of actions, understand core technology concepts, and the ability to work with graphical/interactive features to produce a Web experience unique for visitors.

When one begins scratching the itch of entrepreneurship in our modern times, an overwhelming amount of individuals will set their focus on the Web, as it provides unlimited access to business opportunities, resources, connections, and avenues to build and grow a successful venture.

At the core of it all should be a thorough understanding of web design concepts and best practices (even if one doesn’t decide to pursue the area as their main form of work).

Compare what is needed to start a new venture and you will see positive similarities (and the needed skillsets) that can be found through learning Web Design:

The future of commerce has already moved onto the Web and without an appropriate presence it becomes increasingly difficult to build a business/personal brand, move products, and connect with leaders in your market.
Learning the core concepts and best practices allow you to design the Website (and many other associated items from business cards to brochures) which creates synergy in the branding and this lends toward building trust and recognition.
Even basic skills are welcomed by employers if you have yet to make the complete leap to being your own boss; these skills can be refined while working for others and then mastered when you set out on your own.
The skillset will eventually change the way you think; you become analytical and tactic in the developmental process because it’s built on a strict foundation (code, design elements, etc).

From an entrepreneurial standpoint the benefits are overwhelming for those considering the leap into learning Web Design. Not only are will you understand the core concepts behind how websites operate but you will have the creative ability to build sites around business ideas. In business, as they say, it’s all about getting to the market in a rapid manner so by having Web Design skills you already have a foot forward in the race.

May 28, 2015

by TWP Publisher

Email marketing critical to success, but users are selling themselves short (study)

E-Marketing E-mail, Email Marketing

Email continues to be critical to business, and generates the highest return on investment of any marketing channel.

There are dozens of email service providers and marketing tools available to help businesses leverage the medium, with MailChimp, AWeber, Constant Contact, and Campaign Monitor among the most used. Add to that the swathe of marketing automation platforms that offer email marketing services and you’re looking at quite a complex landscape.

In an extensive report launched by VB Insight today, we learn that 84 percent of marketers think email is important or critically important for loyalty. Similarly high percentages show how important it is for sales, retaining customers, and lead generation.

But all is not rosy in the email marketing garden, as the report also shows only 50 percent of email marketers think their needs are effectively met by current providers. Worse still, email marketers aren’t using these tools effectively, despite their importance.

The study — “Buyer’s Guide: How to navigate the email marketing landscape” — weighs in at 10,000 words and 60+ pages, and it details findings from almost 1,300 email marketers, evaluates 48,000 companies that use email tools, and profiles 21 leading vendors. The author, Jon Cifuentes, an analyst at VB Insight, found some surprises while creating the report.

May 27, 2015

by TotalWeb Partners

TotalWeb Partners – The Essentials of SEO for Small Business

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) SEO

The Essentials of SEO for Small Business.

SEO or search engine optimization, often a misunderstood topic for small business owners. With 93 percent of online experiences beginning with a search engine, it is vital for small business owners to understand the fundamentals of SEO and how it can increase traffic to your website.

The Easy Way to Go Global With Inbound Marketing

Content Marketing, Global Marketing, Inbound Marketing, Marketing Content Marketing, Global

The Easy Way to Go Global With Inbound Marketing.

Why partner with TotalWeb? Read the following article from “Marketing Profs” and learn how we can help you increase market share.

Most companies have heard about the practice of inbound marketing, but fewer know how to effectively implement it.

On the surface, the idea is simple: Great content generates Web traffic, and a proportion of that traffic will end up converting to leads. This is a relatively new concept for many businesses that are used to building a brand by simply pushing out products or services via more traditional methods rather than creating compelling content that pulls in customers.

Many B2B companies have started deploying inbound marketing strategies. At the core of those strategies is content marketing. Some 93% of B2B organizations are using some form of content marketing, but less than half (42%) say they’re effective at it.

May 12, 2015

by TotalWeb Partners

How A Website’s Design Affects Conversion Rates

How A webite Design Affects Conversion Rates

Website Design Practices Conversion rates

How A Website’s Design Affects Conversion Rates.

The idea of a website is to give information to its visitors. Each site will have an aim, like sharing knowledge or asking people to do something, such as buy a product. There are over a billion live websites on the Internet these days, and each has a unique layout and style.

You might not realize this but your Website’s design can affect conversion rates. This blog entry will give you an insight into the importance of having a good website design. The following information will also be of use to people that might not have many visitors interacting with their site.

Why Website Optimization is Out and Website Marketability is in

Marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Website Content, Website Design Practices SEO, Web Marketing

Why website optimization is out and website marketability is in.

Read how Crain’s Detroit Business lays out Website Marketability, explains SEO, and defines the value of a website as being related to it’s structure, content, and evolution.

Of all articles in our blog, this is the most important to us as it explains how internet marketing works in 2015, noting that this precisely matches TotalWeb Partner’s value proposition.

“Building a site is not an end game, it is just the first step… and all of TWP’s standard offers include ongoing support, updating, and marketing to meet the requirements of marketing on-line in 2015.”

Defining Website Marketability

From Crain’s Detroit Business April 17, 2015

April 20, 2015

by TotalWeb Partners

Google’s Mobile-Ranking Showdown Kick Off; By Forbes

Mobile Mobile

Google’s Mobile-Ranking Showdown Kick Off. If your site is not mobile friendly, contact TWP today to learn about our RWD conversions.

Google is putting its foot down for websites that aren’t tailored to our increasingly-ubiquitous mobile screens.

From Tuesday April 21, websites that aren’t deemed “mobile friendly” by Google’s own analysis tool will fall lower in search rankings than those that do, which could mean dips in revenue for companies who depend heavily on web traffic.

There were some big names among those who still didn’t make the cut on Monday, based on a few cursory searches of Google’s free testing tool. Microsoft’s Windows Phones homepage didn’t have a mobile-friendly design, because the text on the site was “too small to read” and links were too close together.

The home page for The Daily Mail and Italian fashion company Versace were also at risk of falling lower in search rankings because they weren’t up to par.

The update will take place in real time, so once organizations make their websites more mobile friendly they can expect to be re-indexed by Google soon afterwards.

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