Your Web Site is Like a Store

Your web site is like a store. This is an analogy I’ve considered heavily since I became involved with content writing and Internet marketing more than a year ago. Chris Brogan recently wrote a blog urging you to consider what your store looks like, and what you are selling. I’d like to explore this a little further.

When people click on your site, they are walking through the front door. It is the first impression of your business that a potential customer will have. Are things neat and organized? Are there engaging signs, with the right material displayed in the right places? The online translation—is your web site designed properly?

Is it clear what you are selling? This means clear and concise copy. If you walk into a large store, and the tissues were next to the 99-cent bags of candy, most customers would be confused. This is the equivalent of vague copy on your web site, with no clear call to action. I see these items here, but what do you want me to do with them? There needs to be a logical layout and display.

Ever felt a little lost or overwhelmed at the supermarket? Your web site needs those signs at the top of every aisle, telling you what you can find there. Only on your web site, they are the navigational buttons. There should be a clear description of what to expect on the button, and the content on the page better meet that description.

What are you doing to attract customers? Many brick and mortars place ads in the newspapers. While that may not be the most practical or effective route for your business, you need a strategy to draw customers to the web site. This can be done through an effective social media campaign, as well as blogging. Find your customers where they are at, bring them in, and help them shop.

Stand Apart From The Competition

My name is Matt Brennan, and I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. In the simplest form, what I do is make businesses stand out. I write web site content, and other Internet copy that distinguishes small businesses from their competition.

In today’s day and age, this is extremely important. To grasp why it is important, you have to think like your customers. When they want to know about your industry, where do they turn? It’s not the phone book anymore. It’s Google. For a majority of your customers, the web site is likely their first contact with your business. A clearly articulated message and call to action is extremely important in this environment, so you better make it good.

Your customer base is also highly involved with social media. Chances are they’re probably already using Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. It’s up to you to find them and engage them. While you’re at it, it’s probably a good idea to investigate secondary niche networks that could also lead to business.

Are you a young professional looking to stake your claim in the workplace? Keeping up with today’s online world and technology is pivotal. There’s a myriad of social networks out there waiting to be utilized. You had better be active and sharing your expertise on LinkedIn. Don’t limit yourself to just that, however. Do a thorough investigation for social networks in your perspective business.

Like it or not, we live in a sales world. The only way to forge ahead is to sell yourself and your ideas. There are more platforms and ways to do this than ever before. You must take advantage of them to succeed.

Be the girl in red, front and center in this photo. She's the one you remember. She's set herself apart.

I started this blog as a place to share ideas for standing apart from your competition. I hope that it serves as a resource for young professionals and business owners alike.