Wordcamp US Header, Creative Mind Consulting Group, Montclair, NJ
20 Sep

Wordcamp Website Wow!

By Todd Sayles In Marketing Tips, Marketing Trends, Videos, Web Design, Website Refresh, WordPress /   No Comments

Todd at WordCamp US in Portland, Oregon. This week, I had the chance to attend WordCamp US 2024 training in Portland, Oregon. As I write this, I think I’m still shaking off the jetlag and adjusting to the West Coast—being from New Jersey, the journey wasn’t exactly a quick hop. But all that aside, the value of the training on website development and management is absolutely priceless. Honestly, if it had been in India, I’d have tried to make it there too.

Now, on my last day of WordCamp US 2024, there’s one word that perfectly sums up both Portland and the event itself: Wow! Here’s why:

1. Disney at WordCamp US 2024

Our first keynote was from Disney. Yes, Disney. We’re talking about one of the biggest names on the planet. They walked us through how they’ve streamlined and branded their Disney Connect websites using WordPress’s new block editor, which they’ve embraced for its efficiency and speed. By using fewer plugins and more native blocks, they’ve optimized performance—a practice I’ll definitely be applying to our own sites.

2. AI Integration: Friend, Not Foe

Of course, AI is everywhere, but how can developers and designers use it instead of fearing it will terminate our jobs? At WordCamp, they previewed an AI-driven plugin that can help with everything from creating plugins to fixing issues and even designing or restyling content. It’s a tool that speeds up development and adds value to client projects long after they’re finished. That’s the kind of tech that makes a real impact.

3. Optimizing for A Gazillion Views

One session focused on the secret sauce for boosting website traffic—basically, giving Google exactly what it wants. They showed us techniques that can make websites stand out in search results, using a case study of a recipe site that hit 45 million views in a month. Wouldn’t you want that kind of visibility? I know I would.

4. Keeping Companies Running Strong

Several trainers offered insights on keeping businesses afloat during tough times—without resorting to layoffs or panicking about job security. They emphasized knowing your numbers, not just in terms of sales but in overall activities. Retainers, hourly rates, and even mergers were discussed as strategies to strengthen businesses. It’s advice that any entrepreneur can apply, whether you’re in tech or not.

There’s so much more I could share but I think it may be best for some upcoming webinars where I can go deeper into solutions my clients need. Listen out for that.

5. And Then, There’s Portland…

I was hesitant about coming to Portland. During the pandemic, I almost made a trip here while riding my motorcycle on the West Coast, but this time around, I decided to fully immerse myself in the experience. Instead of booking a standard hotel, I stayed at the International Northwest Portland Hostel—and it’s been incredible.

Todd with his Trivia Team at the Northwest International Hostel in Portland Oregon The hostel experience has been unique. I’m in a dorm-style room, but the 5-house complex has a huge kitchen, a restaurant, two laundries, multiple hangout spots, and much more. On Wednesday night, I joined the trivia event and nearly won the prize with my team. One of my teammates, who’s traveled the country himself, gave me a roadmap to explore Seattle—my next stop. Last night, there was a live music session featuring a dozen string instrument players doing old Western songs. As a musician myself, I was hooked.

Through conversations with locals and fellow travelers, I’ve discovered great restaurants, parks, shopping centers, and the convenience of Portland’s Max trains and buses. Yesterday, I strolled along Broadway and checked out Pioneer Square, which hosts concerts and events like Oktoberfest. Portland’s mix of historic homes, modern multifamily housing, and local pubs has impressed me. For anyone doubting whether mixed-income housing works in upscale neighborhoods, Portland proves it can.

Todd at Broadway in Portland, OregonTomorrow, I’m heading to Washington Park to get a feel for rural Portland before catching a train to Seattle. Lookout for some webinars that will come out of this to help my clients and colleagues succeed and enjoy their business.

Can Anyone Make a Website?

Just last week, someone said to me, “My kid can make a website for $1,000—why should I pay you more?” I hear that from time to time. But today, my response would be: How many years of training has that kid had? How much real-world business experience does he bring? What network does he have to ensure the site is up to spec? Ongoing training, in any field, is invaluable. It beats the $5 website that someone’s mom’s ex-boyfriend’s kid says he can whip up. What do you think?

Ready to take your marketing to the next level ? Contact us today to learn how we can help you with your website lead generation plans.

creative-mind-consulting-group-todd-saylesTodd Sayles, Principal of Creative Mind Consulting Group, has built a successful organization that services real estate, retail, hospital and wellness clients among others. His team’s expertise includes problem solving/market strategy, creative design, online website development, print collateral, public relations, search engine optimization and collaboration with outside designers and writers.

Creative Mind Design Group teams up with clients to strategize on marketing challenges and design goals. We partner with  companies to ultimately create brilliant results which feature inspired design.

Read More
social media image with phone, Creative Mind Consulting Group, Montclair, NJ
12 Sep

The Advantages of Adding Social Media into Your Marketing Strategy

By Todd Sayles In Marketing Tips, Marketing Trends, Social Media Marketing, Web Design, Website Refresh /   No Comments

In today’s fast-paced digital world, adding social media to your marketing strategy is no longer optional—it’s a necessity. Social media platforms give businesses the ability to connect with their audience, increase brand visibility, and boost sales in ways that traditional channels simply can’t match. By incorporating social media, you can expand your reach, engage directly with customers, and gather invaluable insights that will enhance your marketing efforts. In this post, we’ll explore the key benefits of integrating social media into your overall marketing plan.

1. Amplified Brand Awareness

Social media opens the door to reaching a massive audience. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok collectively have billions of active users, offering a stage to showcase your brand to people who may not be accessible through traditional marketing channels. For example, a local bakery could use Instagram to post enticing photos of its fresh goods, reaching far beyond its immediate neighborhood through the use of popular hashtags and engaging content. This increased visibility can significantly broaden its customer base.

2. Cost-Effective Social Media Marketing

Compared to traditional advertising, social media marketing is incredibly cost-efficient. Platforms such as Facebook and Instagram allow businesses to create targeted ads with flexible budgets, making it accessible to companies of all sizes. Take a small startup offering eco-friendly products, for instance: they could run a highly targeted Facebook ad campaign for as little as $10 a day, reaching environmentally-conscious consumers in their region. This targeted approach allows businesses to make the most of their marketing dollars and achieve a higher ROI than traditional campaigns.

3. Precise Targeting Capabilities

One of the standout benefits of social media marketing is the ability to target your audience with pinpoint accuracy. With advanced targeting tools available on platforms like Facebook, businesses can tailor their campaigns to specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. For example, a fitness apparel brand can create targeted ads directed at fitness enthusiasts aged 18-35 who have shown interest in wellness pages. This type of targeting ensures that your ads are reaching the most relevant audience, maximizing conversion potential.

4. Increased Customer Engagement and Loyalty

Social media fosters two-way communication between businesses and their audience, making it easier to build strong relationships with customers. Platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook enable businesses to respond to questions, provide real-time support, and engage with customers in a more personal way. For instance, a tech company can use Twitter to address customer concerns promptly, improving trust and loyalty. Regular engagement through comments, likes, and live sessions can create a sense of community, leading to greater customer retention.

5. Actionable Customer Insights and Feedback

Social media platforms offer a direct line to customer opinions, providing valuable insights into how your brand is perceived. Businesses can track conversations, monitor sentiment, and receive instant feedback on products and services. For example, a skincare brand could use Instagram polls to gather feedback on what features customers want in their next product line. These real-time insights allow businesses to make informed decisions and adjust their strategies to better meet customer preferences.

6. Boost in Website Traffic and SEO

Social media serves as a powerful driver for website traffic. By sharing engaging content—whether it’s blog posts, product updates, or special promotions—businesses can attract more visitors to their website, which can improve search engine rankings. For example, a tech company can share its latest product announcements on LinkedIn and Twitter, driving readers to their website for more detailed information. More traffic also means improved SEO, making it easier for potential customers to discover your brand online.

7. Increased Sales and Conversion Rates Through Social Media

Integrating social media into your sales strategy can lead to higher conversions and increased sales. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook allow for a streamlined shopping experience, where users can browse and purchase products directly through the app. For example, an online fashion retailer could use Instagram Shopping to tag products in posts and stories, making it easy for customers to purchase with just a few clicks. This simplified buying process leads to higher conversion rates, ultimately driving more revenue.

Conclusion

Adding social media to your marketing strategy is a smart, strategic move that offers a wealth of benefits. From increasing brand awareness and customer engagement to driving sales and providing actionable insights, social media is an essential tool for businesses looking to stay competitive and grow. By leveraging the power of social media, you can connect with your audience in meaningful ways and achieve your marketing goals.

Ready to take your marketing to the next level with social media? Contact us today to learn how we can help you seamlessly integrate social media into your marketing plan and achieve measurable results.

creative-mind-consulting-group-todd-saylesTodd Sayles, Principal of Creative Mind Consulting Group, has built a successful organization that services real estate, retail, hospital and wellness clients among others. His team’s expertise includes problem solving/market strategy, creative design, online website development, print collateral, public relations, search engine optimization and collaboration with outside designers and writers.

Creative Mind Design Group teams up with clients to strategize on marketing challenges and design goals. We partner with  companies to ultimately create brilliant results which feature inspired design.

Read More
Hello Spring. Hello New Business Opportunity
27 Apr

It’s Spring. Have you Thought About Refreshing Your Business?

By Todd Sayles In Marketing Tips, Marketing Trends, Social Media Marketing, Web Design, Website Refresh /  

April is coming to a close but it’s not too late to come up with new ideas. For me, April and Easter are synonymous with Spring, so when this time of year comes around, it makes me think of all things new. The skies are not so cloudy, the sun seems to be out more. Definitely the time to get out of the house and look around. For homeowners it’s time to seed the lawn to get some new grass or flowers growing. For others it’s time to shop for new clothes or something else new. How about making this season a time to think about what can bring new life to your business? Maybe it’s a change to your marketing or a new way to go about sales or even time to hire a new employee. What stops us from doing that new thing that can propel our businesses to a new level? Maybe you don’t have the right information, but with the internet and lots of informative newsletters out there, we really have no excuse! Here a few things I’ve seen that can rob us of the opportunity to put that “new thing” into effect!

Time

Are you like me working 9 to 5 (sometimes even 9 to 7!) in the business? And after a shift like that you are guaranteed to be tired! What time are you taking to look at the overall effectiveness of your business? Well, I’ve learned that my best days to do that are not at the beginning of the week when work is “jumping.” For me it’s the end of the week, like on Thursdays and most recently on Sundays, when I can really take a look at my business and notice some areas for change. To me it’s just quieter then and I’m able to focus better. Early mornings are good for some, but others like different times of day. Either way, we can all find 1 or 2 hours of quiet time during the week to look for some areas in need of change, right?

Budget

Let’s be serious. Is it the budget? Are you one of those business owners that thinks that your budget can make or break your business life? Well, I recently put some effort into identifying extra money to put towards marketing.

After a while I learned that I had to include money in my budget, for marketing. I had to save a certain percentage of all sales into a separate account for marketing. That way there would always be money set aside for growth. Let’s say though that after I pay myself there’s not much left for anything. Is it true that there’s nothing left? Do you know your budget? If not it’s time to talk with someone with budget expertise, who can help you go through it. Maybe it’s your spouse or friend or maybe even a bookkeeper or accountant. Either way it may be time to get more intimate with that budget than you have been in the past.

Let’s say you have a budget and there actually is no wiggle room. Then let’s think about using Paypal or some other lending situation. What I like about Paypal is that it has a 4 to 12-month no-interest payment term, so you can try a few things out and just make your payment the following month or over time. That’s pretty good for $500 to $10K purchases. Thinking strategically, if the money you receive is more than the possible interest in payment you’re ahead of the game. This would just be a temporary strategy until you have a cash budget.  Beyond that, there are lots of way to obtain finances to increase business. If you’re in a special business zone there are incentives for hiring people. There are funds out there for free marketing on major sites. There are also organizations with funds that are solely there to help you grow. They have funds to pay for training and even some marketing. So on this topic let’s start by affirming “I can find the funds; budget or not”. Let’s at least start there.

Fear of Failure

This can really be the one that stops a lot of us. To be honest I’ve had great years in business and I’ve had a few bad years. The few bad years have at times made me overly cautious, when I should really be pushing forward. I think it’s because I worried that I could make a catastrophic mistake that would destroy my business. I have to say though that after 15 years in business I believe I’m smart enough to leave room for failure that can push me towards a possible win. If I tried a strategy that resulted in failure once in a while, I can now say that that avenue did not work and move on to my next idea! Better to try and fail and learn from my mistakes, than to risk nothing, learn nothing and gain nothing!

So I hope this helps you get to the “new” you deserve in your business. I hope it gets you off the sidelines at the very least. If you need help getting your marketing program going, schedule a call with us at 973-655-9396.

creative-mind-consulting-group-todd-saylesTodd Sayles, Principal of Creative Mind Consulting Group, has built a successful organization that services real estate, retail, hospital and wellness clients among others.   His team’s expertise includes problem solving/market strategy, design and marketing consulting, creative design, online website development, content and design creation for digital media and print collateral, public relations, search engine optimization and collaboration with outside designers and writers.

Creative Mind Design Group teams up with clients to strategize on marketing challenges and design goals. We partner with  companies to ultimately create brilliant results which feature inspired design.

Read More
Tyler Perry Marketing
23 Feb

Lessons on Marketing from Tyler Perry

By Todd Sayles In Marketing Tips, Uncategorized, Web Design /  

This morning I was reading about Tyler Perry after watching last night, part of an episode of The Oval, a miniseries created by Tyler Perry, which now airs on BET. The article written by Mark Olsen was entitled Tyler Perry puts his faith behind, and into, his work (Chicago Tribune, 2005). I am very happy about Tyler Perry’s success and the way he initially marketed his work. I remember hearing about his plays from fellow church members back in the day, when I lived in New York, and wanting to go and see one.  On a cold Saturday night in 1999, I finally got the chance. I took the train from Far Rockaway, Queens, where I lived, to the Beacon Theatre in Manhattan and saw his play “I Can Do Bad all By Myself.” I laughed all night and totally enjoyed the play, especially its message. Realistically, at that time, Tyler Perry was known mostly by black people, and particularly by church going black people. He was not heavily publicized. The question is: how did all of us get to know about his plays? As black history month comes to a close, we would like to end on a high note, as we take a peek at how this legendary black entrepreneur used the basics of marketing to push-start his phenomenal success!

Tyler Perry (born Emmitt Perry Jr., September 13, 1969) is a well-known American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. In 2011, Forbes listed him as the highest-paid man in entertainment, earning US $130 million between May 2010 and May 2011. Perry is famous for his performance of Madea, a tough, elderly female character, whom he created. Perry’s films vary in style from the usual filmmaking to filmed productions of live stage plays. Many of Perry’s stage-play films have been adapted as feature films.

The article I read said:

“Initially inspired to write down his own experiences by an offhanded comment Oprah Winfrey made on her TV show, Perry moved in 1992 from his native New Orleans to Atlanta, where his plays began to attract an audience. With minimal advertising, relying largely on word of mouth and a now-massive mailing list, Perry has mounted and toured numerous plays since 1998, also selling videos, and amassed a devoted fan base and a rather sizable fortune.”

Later on the article stated:

“Michael Paseornek, president of production at Lions Gate Films, said he had become aware of Perry after a package arrived containing a script and a video.”

“It isn’t like we were tracking Tyler’s activities. He did so much from a grass-roots level, through his Web site, through the church, through word of mouth, that he completely slipped under the radar of the film industry. I got this package with a cover memo from William Morris saying something like Tyler has done 57 gazillion dollars in sales, something outrageous for someone I’d never heard of.”

What this shows me is that anyone can become a success if you are good at the basics of marketing. Here are some of the main points I took from this information:

Inspiration

Tyler Perry was inspired to write not from being taught that, but by watching the movie “Precious” and hearing a comment from Oprah Winfrey on her show. Tyler Perry had no degree in marketing and actually only had a GED. Nonetheless, he had a very troubled childhood which he seemed to work into his plays. He found a love of writing and just went with it. Many of us are inspired to do what we do for various reasons. Find your inspiration; find your reason for living. Enjoy it, love it, and persist in it.

The Website

Tyler Perry, then and now, advertised what was happening in his entertainment world through his website. I remember seeing his plays advertised there and finding out where they were playing. He basically kept a newsletter of what he was doing. He kept his fans informed and updated on new plays (and now movies and TV shows) so they could plan to see his content. Back then, it was a gallery of pictures and text on his website. Today, it’s all video which is more appropriate for his market. A good website advertises what a person or business is doing, and keeps its viewers engaged. That’s what Tyler Perry did.

The List

The next important thing Tyler Perry did is that he developed a list. So many times, I speak to entrepreneurs, business owners, so forth, and find out that they do not maintain their lists. Your list is your life source. Whether you are making B2B connections or retail customer connections, one of your main goals is to keep them informed, even when they are not in front of you. The general rule is that “6 touches lead to a sale”. In general, the more ways you can connect with a customer or potential customer, the better. Those “touches” may mean some calls, some postcards, advertising or even some emails. What can you provide them that would be helpful in their current situation? Is it offers, new services, games, etc.? Going to one of Tyler Perry’s plays made you want to go to another one…and bring some friends with you. To take it to the next level, see if you can get the “troopers” on your list to do some social media organic advertising for you, to increase the size of the list. The more “troopers” who do this the better. Tyler Perry developed a list of interested and devoted fans that made him a millionaire before he made all those relatable movies many of us, brothers and sisters love.

The Location

Tyler Perry had to adjust locations. He knew that Atlanta was a hot market for his type of shows. There are a lot of affluent black people living there. They were his target market so he went where his target market was. Sometimes you have to move your shop to a different place, or focus on a different target market, where you’ll be more successful. Some would say why didn’t he go to NY?; perhaps, he wanted to test his plays in Atlanta, before hitting the big stage in Manhattan. Tyler Perry was smart about this, not holding onto New Orleans, where he could not be as successful as he wanted to be.

Tyler Perry is great at making content that speaks to his core black and Latino viewers and even moving to more mainstream viewers occasionally. To people like me, he will forever be known as one of the most successful black entertainment entrepreneurs. In 1999, many of us had very few places to see shows that spoke to the experiences we had growing up, especially in a light-hearted way. Anyone with the courage to try can achieve a similar level of success. You just have to start with the basics and not give up. More opportunity will come over time as it did for Tyler Perry.

If you need help getting your basic marketing program going, schedule a call with us to help you work it out at 973-655-9396.

creative-mind-consulting-group-todd-saylesTodd Sayles, Principal of Creative Mind Consulting Group, has built a successful organization that services real estate, retail, hospital and wellness clients among others.   His team’s expertise includes problem solving/market strategy, design and marketing consulting, creative design, online website development, content and design creation for digital media and print collateral, public relations, search engine optimization and collaboration with outside designers and writers.

Creative Mind Design Group teams up with clients to strategize on marketing challenges and design goals. We partner with  companies to ultimately create brilliant results which feature inspired design.

Read More
Marriage Retreat, Creative Mind Consulting Group
07 Feb

Can a “Marketing Retreat” Benefit Your Marketing Future?

By Todd Sayles In Marketing Tips, Marketing Trends, Web Design, Website Refresh, WordPress /  

Nowadays marketing in this post pandemic world is different than it used to be. What do B2Bs do when they are on endless zoom calls and have little face to face time with leads, clients and even staff? They change their marketing or else become obsolete. Marketing in this new post pandemic world is pivoting. Saying that you get all your business from referrals can’t cut it anymore. Putting that marketing plan on the “back burner” is coming back to hurt some. Maybe it’s time for some to call for an SOS?

More and more people I’ve connected with have said they don’t know where they are with their marketing. As a marketing professional, it’s hard to even get these people ready for something as simple as marketing goals. I’ve learned that in these situations, it can be best to get my clients together as a group and just do an effective “Marketing Retreat”.

What is a Marketing Retreat?

To start, a Marketing Retreat can be many things. A few things include:

  1. Stepping away from the norm to strategize improvements
  2. Brainstorming a few hours together with key staff
  3. A review of your marketing and sales numbers
  4. Time to focus on better marketing effectiveness

It’s basically some time to regroup on what’s important for your clients and your company. With all the ways you can market your company, it can be mind boggling as to what’s your best route. Many times each person has different ideas on what can be done. At times when a decision maker has to decide on a path, hearing multiple ideas ends up sounding like lots of disjointed plans. That’s not usually the case though. When we get all the major stakeholders together (marketing VPs, researchers, salespersons, etc.) and fully review the ideas in a loose, but fun, structured setting, it’s an opportunity to bring out the best ideas, to brainstorm, and comprise a strategic plan.

Here are some obstacles that may come up when you bring up a “Marketing Retreat” to your staff.

Isn’t a Marketing Retreat a Time Waster?

Some may say “with all I have to do, and all the proposals I have to fill out, do I really have time to sit and think about my marketing.” Yes, I’m sorry but you have to take some time to do something you don’t normally do. You may learn that some of the time you currently take on sales and marketing may be going in the wrong direction. What if you’re working on sales that are not pulling in the best paying jobs for the company? Having a good marketing retreat takes time to looks at sales and recognizes what’s a good use of time, and time wasters. I’ve worked with clients that have made shifts away from what they thought were good sales on their websites to marketing other items that were better for their clients and paid better as well. A Marketing Retreat at the least is not wasted time.

Marketing Retreats Can’t be Fun?

For those who are more action-orientated and not number-crunchers does it all have to be work, to be work though? Many times, you can add intentional fun. You can add games that answer marketing questions. At one retreat I was at, we actually climbed a small mountain. Mind you, none of us were dressed to do this, but for some reason we all agreed. At one point, we were actually scaling a small wall. I’ll never forget the stories we came back with. The thing was, we all did something that bonded us together better, and it lasted way after the retreat.

Marketing is not as effective as on-the-street sales. Why focus on that?

Sales is integral to keeping a company growing. Every salesperson needs leads. Some leads may come from cold calls and friends but others can come from online sources. Still others can come from inbound calls off of sales materials out there. Any salesperson knows that the better the leads, the better they are able to make sales. You can try and make cold calls all day long, but you know if they don’t have interest in your specific products, there can be lots of time lost in those calls. Why not have leads that come from marketing strategies that are tailored to a prospect’s needs that “clever” marketing has discovered. I know a real estate salesman who just relied on his referrals. Over the years, he knew he needed to be more strategic with his marketing but he never made the time or budget the cost to get the marketing moving forward. We tried to lead him several times. Instead he did very little. The thing is, he continued to make money but his partners did not do as well. Because they could not come together to decide on a marketing plan, it affected the growth of their leads  and eventually the partnership fell apart.

So really, what is a marketing retreat?

The real answer is that a marketing retreat can be whatever you need it to be. When you work with a good marketing expert and a creative event coordinator, you can hold  it for a day at a close by outdoor resort, or a half day on your campus grounds or board room.  It can become memorable, and cause a transformation for your organization. A good marketing retreat will usually have these components:

  1. Food/snacks
  2. Activities
  3. Prizes
  4. Stats of current sales and marketing campaigns
  5. Strategy and target discussions
  6. Goals discussions
  7. Budgets
  8. Campaign options
  9. Next steps

Our organization has done marketing retreats for a variety of organizations. If you need help finding focus in your marketing, schedule a call with us to help you create it at 973-655-9396.

creative-mind-consulting-group-todd-saylesTodd Sayles, Principal of Creative Mind Consulting Group, has built a successful organization that services real estate, retail, hospital and wellness clients among others.   His team’s expertise includes problem solving/market strategy, design and marketing consulting, creative design, online website development, content and design creation for digital media and print collateral, public relations, search engine optimization and collaboration with outside designers and writers.

Creative Mind Design Group teams up with clients to strategize on marketing challenges and design goals. We come alongside companies to ultimately create inspired design alongside brilliant results.

Read More
Creative Mind Consulting Group websites gone wild
20 May

7 Steps to Avoid Websites “Gone Wild!”

By Todd Sayles In Web Design, Website Refresh, WordPress /  

Lately, I have spoken to new clients that have many times said the same thing. “I got this site and certain things were not done. Now I’m not getting traffic.” Also “My images are not showing up and I don’t know what to do.” I’ve also heard “On mobile phones the site looks bad. I don’t know how to fix that.” Its like they are in their own surreal TV series called something like “Websites Gone Wild”.

Maybe now that the economy is affected by Covid-19 people are making sure their websites are fully working to help get more business. Hey. You’ve got way more on your plate than websites so here are 7 things to look for when you’re about to finalize a website design project.

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO):

Did you have a discussion concerning keywords and SEO for the website? Is the designer putting the right researched keywords into the page? Is this a separate package? These are things you should know as you’re moving towards the end of the project. It’s important for SEO to be taken seriously. I always say, what’s the sense of making a beautiful website when it’s hidden in a back alley where no one can find it. If SEO is not added, critical sales, service pages and site forms are going to lose out on organic leads over time. If you don’t ask you won’t know because SEO is not easily viewable in areas. The researched keywords need to be added to the title, description tags, keyword tags, headlines, sub-headlines, body copy, alt tags and so forth. Are there links to inside pages from the outside and inside of the site. Then services like Yoast should be added to the site to find other items on the page search engines are looking for. We offer a special service to combat SEO from many angles. It’s that important.

2. Broken Links / Missing Images

Sometimes in changing domains at the end an image may be missing. Many times its because the designer had it on a temporary server and had a few links straight to a page or image address instead of the page /image itself in the system. This can cause the image to be “broken” in that the URL is looking for an image on the test server instead of looking into the published site. Don’t worry. Just let your designer know and he/she can do a quick link check to correct any missing links. Easy fix.

3. Backend Editing is Hard to Work With

Some designers are editing it to be functional and fast online which is good for everyone. When it’s about function only, the coding may not be as nice and neat for you when you go to make your own edits in the backend (where you login to the site). The answer to this is to stress to your designer beforehand that you want to edit the site yourself afterwards. You may also ask which page editor does the designer work with. Look it up to make sure it’s user friendly for a novice. If so, review the site with the designer towards the end to see if anything is difficult for you. Ask for suggestions to make it easier. I’m sure the designer wants you to be happy and will do what they need to do to get it right for you. If they are using someone overseas that’s even more of a reason to watch out for this fast, non-functional, coding that we have seen in the past from sites done like that.

4 Mobile Responsiveness

Its about 50/50 for how people see your site whether on a desktop or mobile phone. 50% in mobile makes that view even more important as time has gone by. Many designers leave this to the end and that makes sense when change orders could have you reworking the mobile coding all day long. Even though that’s the case, it’s up to you to check to see that Google, where 95% of people search, can easily read your site. Go here and have it checked: https://search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly. If you see something saying its not mobile friendly just share the results with your designer. I’m sure they will be happy to make adjustments to get that worked out. Remember at the end, also to do a visual check on both an Android and iPhone phone. That should do it.

5. Sales, Sales, Sales

If you’re doing e-commerce make sure the connections are in place. Are the notifications set to you? Sometimes they default to the developer. Make sure they change them to you near the end, before the site is completed. Do a test sale to make sure the money goes into your account. Check for sales strategies like lead generation, popups, slide-ins, onsite ads and so forth. Make sure it’s all working well. You never want your site to go live and have mistakes here.

6. Picture Piracy

How were the pictures found? Are the licenses good for websites? You don’t want to end up months later with an attorney calling you to tell you that you stole the picture. In the end you’ll be liable by yourself. Give the designer places to find images. Ask about the licenses and read the fine print. That’s really all you need to do.

7. Is Rushing Helping or Hurting?

If you’re making change orders and rushing to finish up at the same time, there’s a good chance it could lead to mistakes. Is it the designer’s fault or are you asking too much in too short of a time? I guess that’s something you’ll have to ponder when evaluating how it’s going with your designer. In all things, seek first to understand rather than be understood. That’s straight from 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Very wise words from the late Stephen Covey.

I hope this answers the questions you have. Please use it as a guide to finish your website project well. Work with your website developer to get where you need to be. If you still need help, schedule a call with us to help you work it out at 973-655-9396.

creative-mind-consulting-group-todd-saylesTodd Sayles, Principal of Creative Mind Consulting Group, has built a successful organization that services real estate, retail, hospital and wellness clients among others.   His team’s expertise includes problem solving/market strategy, design and marketing consulting, creative design, online website development, content and design creation for digital media and print collateral, public relations, search engine optimization and collaboration with outside designers and writers.

Creative Mind Design Group teams up with clients to strategize on marketing challenges and design goals. We come alongside companies to ultimately create inspired design alongside brilliant results.

Read More
Creative Mind Consulting Group Shopify
24 Mar

Getting Ready for Ecommerce: Shopify

By Todd Sayles In Marketing Tips, Uncategorized, Web Design, Website Refresh /  

During the Coronavirus / Covid-19 situation there are many businesses in a very unsteady situation. Some have products, staff to pay but no way to get their products paid for and easily into their hands. You may have a website but its not setup for sales. You may think that would take up to 3 months to be completed. Actually with a Shopify addon to your website it could be completed in just a few days. If you’re a restaurant, clothing store, children’s store, home store, etc. some sales could help offset some of the losses you may be seeing right now. Plus it could be a step towards future growth that could help you way after the Coronavirus / Covid-19 is long gone.

Here are some items to get ready before you commence getting your Shopify site created:

Products

What are you selling? In Shopify, a collection allows you to organize products into structured groups. This is beneficial for your customers and helps the buying process. For example, a clothing online store wants to include Men’s Fashion. You can create a collection and put in Men’s clothing and when a customer clicks on your Men’s Fashion menu, they are taken to a gallery of products for men. You have to think about navigation menus and add links to help guide your customers to your collections. There are two types of Collections: Manually and Automated. A manual collection always contains the same products unless you add or remove them. An automated collection automatically puts products into the collection using rules, like tags. When you add a product to your online store with a particular tag, the collection is automatically updated with that product.

Pictures and Descriptions

Having a good list of products is great. Now you will need some good pictures of those products. Sometimes with the right lighting, some minor box equipment and a good camera and decent skills you can do it yourself. Other times you may need models, food designers, etc. to make it all work and look tantalizing on screen Its best to provide at least 2-3 shots per item (not more than 5) for variation for the web designer you work with. You’ll also need descriptions per each item you sell. Make it keyword rich to help people find your product within their own google searches. That will help people easily get at look a your items.

Shipping

Knowing your shipping sizes and weights are crucial as well. This will determine the shipping cost per item someone purchases. You can offer free shipping but then that should be factored into the sales prices. If you’re a restaurant and doing local deliveries this won’t matter much. If you’re a clothing designer or electronics store it will mean a lot more.  There are several selections in Shopify for shippers. Do your research to determine the best, cost effective shipper out there. In Shopify once the choice of shipper is provided and the dimensions per product are stated the system does all the rest of the calculations for shipping.

Domain:

For those without a domain make sure to determine that first. The cost is minimal per domain but reserving the name is the most important thing to do. Fore a few you may have to shorten your name because its too long to type into a browser and remember. Maybe an acronym is better. If this is a new business check keywords that are searched that could be worked into your name. That way you could get some really easy traffic to your store once its up.

Shopify fees

Lastly keep in mind Shopify is not free. It has fees. It ranges from $29.00 to $299 per month. The differences in costs deal with selling gift cards or not, reporting and special shipping calculations with third-party apps at checkout or not. You have to choose an option to get started. Maybe you start at the lowest end and work your way up sales increase. Its up to you.

Once you have all this ready you’re good to go to have your Shopify website designed, or if you’re adventurous and knowledgeable enough, do it on your own.

creative-mind-consulting-group-todd-saylesTodd Sayles, Principal of Creative Mind Consulting Group, has built a successful organization that services real estate, retail, hospital and wellness clients among others.   His team’s expertise includes problem solving/market strategy, design and marketing consulting, creative design, online website development, content and design creation for digital media and print collateral, public relations, search engine optimization and collaboration with outside designers and writers.

Creative Mind Design Group teams up with clients to strategize on marketing challenges and design goals. We come alongside companies to ultimately create inspired design alongside brilliant results.

Read More
18 Dec

Have You Refreshed Your Website Lately?

By Todd Sayles In Marketing Tips, Web Design, Website Refresh /  

Why You Could Be Losing Business If You Have Not

We are often asked by clients, “how often should my website content be refreshed?”  Our answer:  We tell clients to update their site’s content every two to three months at a minimum. However, you may need to redesign or refresh your website bi-annually.

In general, how often you update your website depends on how well your site is performing in generating business and leads. If your website is struggling to produce results, that’s a huge red flag that a refresh is needed.  Specifically, focus on the following:

Are you getting enough leads?

If the answer is no, it’s time to address it. While a redesign maybe needed, first focus and determine which parts of your site need attention. Start by improving the copy, developing better calls to action and using new separate landing pages for sign-ups, promotions, and free samples.

You have traffic but no conversions. 

Your website gets traffic but does not engage prospects in conversions – that’s a problem. Start by looking at keywords on your site and make improvements. Keywords need to generate traffic and produce conversions. Attract the right visitors to your site by updating keywords that create “solutions” to their challenges.

Website is not friendly to glance at

Is your website attractive and easy to navigate?  Can a visitor quickly obtain the information needed from your site?   If the answer is no, and visitors can’t figure where to navigate on your site within seconds, you’ve lost them – and you may get only one chance. Design with user friendliness and navigation at the top of your list of website requirements.

Design is obsolete

If your website takes you “back in time” and looks stale, you are giving visitors the impression that your product or service might be as well.  A refreshed, modern website helps establish solid branding, credibility and trust with visitors.  Balance user-ability and easy-to-use navigation with clean, modern attractive design.

Not mobile or phone friendly

People visit sites using laptops, phones, notepads – so your website needs to accommodate a myriad of different size formats.  In addition, your site needs to load quickly and look attractive regardless of the type of device.  If it doesn’t, re-designing your site to be mobile-friendly should move to the top of your list.

 

Lastly, better search results for you

Every update you make to your website helps generate business with its interaction with visitors, customers, and search engines.  Frequently updated websites offer search engines fresh content and sources of new information for their search requests.

The more frequently you update your website, the more frequently a search engine will “visit” your website.  When search engines look at your site more frequently, you have more potential to achieve higher rankings based on your new or updated content.

CMCG Webinar

Be sure to check out our CMCG Website Webinar to increase your website’s effectiveness.

Read More