A Guide to Website Storytelling

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You know what I’ve noticed after years of working on website design with non-profits? The organizations that really connect with people aren’t just sharing facts and figures – they’re telling stories that stick with you. Let me share what I’ve learned about turning your website into a storytelling powerhouse.

The Building Blocks of Stories That Work

Think about the last story that really moved you. I bet it had a clear beginning that pulled you in, a middle that kept you hooked, and an ending that made you want to take action. That’s exactly what your non-profit’s story needs:

  • Start with the challenge you’re tackling
  • Share how you’re making a difference
  • Show the real impact on real people

Here’s the thing: people don’t just want to know what you do – they want to feel connected to why you do it. Share stories that are genuine, that make people feel something, and that show the human side of your work.

Bringing Your Stories to Life Online

Let’s get practical about putting these stories on your website:

Make Room for Stories That Matter Create a dedicated space for the stories of people you’ve helped. These could be standalone features on your homepage or a whole section dedicated to success stories.

Show, Don’t Just Tell A quick video of someone sharing how your organization changed their life? That’s pure gold. Add some well-shot photos or even a photo essay that walks people through someone’s journey. If you’ve got compelling statistics, turn them into eye-catching infographics.

Visual Storytelling That Packs a Punch

Good visuals can make or break your story. Here’s what works:

  • High-quality photos that capture real moments
  • Before-and-after comparisons that show clear impact
  • Simple infographics that make your data digestible
  • Short videos that bring your mission to life

Pro tip: Don’t underestimate the power of simple animated videos to explain complex issues. Sometimes a 60-second animation can convey what paragraphs of text can’t.

Getting People to Take Action

Here’s something crucial I’ve learned: even the most powerful story falls flat if people don’t know what to do next. After you’ve moved someone with your story:

  • Make it crystal clear how they can help
  • Show exactly what their donation can achieve
  • Give them easy ways to share your story
  • Offer different ways to stay connected

Keeping the Story Going

Think of your website as an ongoing conversation. Keep adding new stories, fresh perspectives, and current impacts. Your work is evolving – your storytelling should too.

Remember: The best stories aren’t just heard – they’re felt. When someone visits your website, they should leave not just understanding what you do, but feeling inspired to be part of your mission.

Keep checking back for more insights on making your non-profit’s digital presence more impactful. Your mission matters, and your stories deserve to be told well.

Video Marketing: A Small Business Game-Changer

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At Connect4 Consulting, we’ve seen firsthand how video marketing has transformed small businesses. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your digital presence, video content has become an essential tool for engaging audiences and building brand awareness across platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels.

7 Video Types That Drive Results

7 types of video marketing that drive results for small businesses

Let’s explore seven types of videos that consistently deliver strong engagement:

  1. Product Demonstrations: Show your product in action and highlight its key features. Customers often need to see how something works before making a purchase decision.
  2. How-To Tutorials: Share valuable knowledge that helps your audience solve problems or learn new skills related to your industry.
  3. Customer Testimonials: Real stories from satisfied customers provide social proof and build trust with potential clients.
  4. Behind-the-Scenes Content: Give viewers a glimpse into your operations, team, or company culture to create authentic connections.
  5. Explainer Videos: Break down complex concepts or services into easy-to-understand segments.
  6. Live Streams: Engage with your audience in real-time, answering questions and fostering community.
  7. Company Story: Share your journey and values to build emotional connections with your audience.

DIY Video Production Tips

Creating professional-looking videos doesn’t require a massive budget. Here’s what you need to know:

Start with the basics: A recent smartphone, basic tripod, and decent microphone will get you started. Good lighting is crucial – natural light works well, or consider investing in affordable LED panels. Keep videos under two minutes to maintain viewer attention.

Pro tip: While you can compromise on video quality, good audio is non-negotiable. A quality microphone is worth the investment.

Choosing Your Platform

Each platform serves a unique purpose:

  • YouTube: Ideal for detailed, evergreen content
  • TikTok: Perfect for reaching younger demographics
  • Instagram Reels: Great for visually-driven content
  • Facebook: Excellent for reaching diverse age groups
  • LinkedIn: Best for B2B content and professional audiences

Measuring Success

Track these key metrics to understand your video performance:

  • View counts and engagement rates
  • Watch time and audience retention
  • Click-through and conversion rates
  • Audience drop-off points

Use these insights to refine your strategy and create more effective content.

Getting Started

Begin with one type of video and one platform. Focus on authenticity over perfection – viewers appreciate genuine content that provides real value. As you become more comfortable with video creation, expand your approach to include different content types and platforms.

Remember that every successful video marketing strategy starts with a single video. The key is to begin, learn from your metrics, and adjust as you go.

This guide was created by Connect4 Consulting to help small businesses navigate the world of video marketing. We hope these insights help you develop an effective video strategy for your business.

The Role of AI in Modern Marketing

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the way businesses approach marketing, offering powerful tools to enhance personalization, improve efficiency, and drive better results. For small businesses and non-profits, AI provides opportunities to compete with larger organizations by streamlining operations and delivering targeted campaigns. In this post, we’ll explore how artificial intelligence is shaping modern marketing and the ways it impacts business websites and internet presence.

How AI is Transforming Marketing

Personalization at Scale

AI enables businesses to analyze customer data and deliver personalized experiences at scale. From tailored email campaigns to product recommendations, artificial intelligence ensures that marketing efforts resonate with individual users.

Impact on Business Websites: AI-powered personalization can dynamically adjust website content based on user behavior, preferences, or demographics. This creates a more engaging customer experience, increasing time spent on the site and conversion rates.

AI-powered personalization process

Enhanced Customer Insights

AI tools can process vast amounts of data to uncover patterns and insights about customer behavior, preferences, and needs. This allows businesses to make informed decisions and refine their strategies.

Impact on Internet Presence: By understanding audience behavior, businesses can create more relevant content across digital platforms, improving engagement and visibility.

Transforming data into business insights

 

Chatbots for Customer Support

AI-driven chatbots provide instant responses to customer inquiries, improving user experience while reducing the workload on support teams.

Impact on Internet Presence: Integrating chatbots into websites enhances customer interaction by providing 24/7 support. This can lead to higher customer satisfaction and retention.

Content Creation and Optimization

AI can assist in generating content ideas, writing blog posts, or optimizing existing content for SEO. Tools like ChatGPT or Jasper.ai help marketers create high-quality content efficiently.

Impact on Internet Presence: AI-generated content improves the frequency and quality of updates on websites and social media platforms, boosting search engine rankings and audience engagement.

Predictive Analytics

AI uses historical data to predict future trends, enabling businesses to anticipate customer needs and market changes.

Impact on Business Websites: Predictive analytics can inform website design changes or promotional strategies based on anticipated user behavior.

Programmatic Advertising

AI automates the buying of digital ad space, targeting specific audiences with precision based on real-time data.

Impact on Internet Presence: Programmatic advertising ensures that ads reach the right audience at the right time, maximizing ROI and driving traffic to business websites.

Practical Applications of AI for Small Businesses and Non-Profits

  1. Email Marketing Automation: Use AI tools like Mailchimp or HubSpot to create personalized email campaigns based on user behavior.
  2. Social Media Management: Leverage AI-powered platforms like Hootsuite or Buffer for scheduling posts, analyzing performance metrics, and generating content ideas.
  3. SEO Optimization: Tools like SEMrush or Clearscope use AI to suggest keywords, optimize content structure, and improve rankings.
  4. Donor Engagement: Use AI-driven CRMs like Salesforce for Nonprofit Cloud to track donor interactions and tailor communication strategies.
  5. Fundraising Campaigns: Predictive analytics tools can identify potential donors based on past contributions or engagement patterns.

Potential Challenges Posed by Using AI in Marketing

While AI offers many benefits, it’s essential to address potential challenges:

  • Data Privacy Concerns: It is important to ensure compliance with privacy regulations like GDPR when collecting and using customer data.
  • Risk of Over-Automation: Too much automation and a company could risk losing its brand voice and identity.
  • Cost of Implementation: Some AI tools require a significant investment. Prioritize tools that align best with business goals.

Conclusion

AI is reshaping modern marketing by enabling businesses to deliver personalized experiences, gain valuable insights, and improve operational efficiency. For small businesses and non-profits, incorporating AI into their marketing strategies can enhance their online presence and help them compete effectively in an increasingly digital world.

By leveraging AI-powered tools for website optimization, content creation, customer support, and advertising, organizations can create a stronger connection with their audience while maximizing their impact. However, it’s crucial to implement these technologies thoughtfully to ensure they align with your mission and values while maintaining trust with your audience.

 

Building a Strong Online Presence

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A robust online presence is crucial for all organizations, non-profit and for-profit, to effectively reach their audience, engage supporters, and achieve their mission. This blog post explores the key elements of building a strong online presence for non-profits, focusing on creating a cohesive online strategy, utilizing social media, developing an engaging website, and integrating donation platforms, payment platforms, and volunteer sign-ups.

The Importance of a Cohesive Online Strategy

A cohesive online strategy ensures that all your digital efforts work together to support your organization’s goals. Here’s how to develop one:

  1. Define Your Goals: Clearly outline what you want to achieve through your online presence (e.g., increase donations, raise awareness, recruit volunteers).
  2. Identify Your Target Audience: Understand who you’re trying to reach and what platforms they use.
  3. Create a Consistent Brand Voice: Develop guidelines for tone, messaging, and visual elements to use across all platforms.
  4. Plan Your Content: Create a content calendar that aligns with your goals and resonates with your audience.
  5. Measure and Adjust: Regularly analyze your online performance and adjust your strategy as needed.

Utilizing Social Media Effectively

Social media is a powerful tool for non-profits to connect with supporters and spread their message. Here are some tips:

  1. Choose the Right Platforms: Focus on platforms where your target audience is most active.
  2. Share Compelling Content: Mix informative posts about your cause with stories of impact and behind-the-scenes glimpses.
  3. Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments, messages, and mentions promptly and authentically.
  4. Use Visuals: Incorporate eye-catching images and videos to increase engagement.
  5. Leverage Hashtags: Use relevant hashtags to increase visibility and join larger conversations.
  6. Run Social Media Campaigns: Create targeted campaigns for fundraising, awareness, or volunteer recruitment.

Creating an Engaging Website

Your website is often the first point of contact for potential supporters. Make sure it’s engaging and effective:

  1. Clear Mission Statement: Prominently display your organization’s mission and values.
  2. User-Friendly Design: Ensure your site is easy to navigate and mobile-responsive.
  3. Compelling Content: Share impactful stories, statistics, and updates about your work.
  4. Strong Calls-to-Action: Make it easy for visitors to donate, volunteer, or sign up for newsletters.
  5. Blog or News Section: Regularly update with relevant content to improve SEO and keep supporters informed.
  6. Transparency: Include financial reports and impact metrics to build trust.

 

Integrating Donation Platforms and Volunteer Sign-Ups

Make it easy for supporters to contribute to your cause:

  1. Streamlined Donation Process: Implement a user-friendly, secure online donation system.
  2. Multiple Giving Options: Offer one-time and recurring donation options.
  3. Mobile-Friendly Donations: Ensure your donation process works smoothly on mobile devices.
  4. Transparent Fee Structure: Clearly communicate any transaction fees associated with donations.
  5. Easy Volunteer Sign-Up: Create a simple process for interested individuals to register as volunteers.
  6. Volunteer Management System: Implement a system to track and communicate with volunteers efficiently.
  7. Showcase Opportunities: Clearly display current volunteer needs and upcoming events.

 

Conclusion

Building a strong online presence for your business is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and adaptation. By developing a cohesive strategy, effectively utilizing social media, creating an engaging website, and integrating user-friendly donation and volunteer systems, you can significantly enhance your organization’s reach and impact. Remember, the digital landscape is constantly evolving. Stay informed about new trends and technologies, and be willing to experiment with new approaches. Most importantly, always keep your mission at the forefront of your online efforts. By authentically sharing your story and impact, you can build a community of engaged supporters who will help drive your cause forward in the digital age.

Maximizing Your Small Business Website’s Potential

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In today’s digital age, a well-optimized website is crucial for small businesses looking to thrive in a competitive market. Your website is often the first point of contact between your business and potential customers, making it essential to maximize its potential. In this post, we’ll explore key strategies to enhance your small business website’s effectiveness and drive better results.

The Importance of Website Optimization

Before diving into specific strategies, it’s crucial to understand why website optimization matters. 

A well-optimized website can improve user experience, increase conversion rates, enhance your brand’s credibility, boost search engine rankings, and provide valuable insights about your audience.

With these benefits in mind, let’s explore the key elements that can help you maximize your small business website’s potential.

Key Elements of an Effective Small Business Website

Clear and Compelling Value Proposition

Your website should immediately communicate what your business offers and why visitors should choose you over competitors. Place your value proposition prominently on your homepage and ensure it’s concise, clear, and compelling.

User-Friendly Navigation

Make it easy for visitors to find what they’re looking for. Implement a logical menu structure, use descriptive labels, and consider including a search function for larger sites.

High-Quality, Relevant Content

Provide valuable, up-to-date content that addresses your audience’s needs and questions. This not only helps with SEO but also establishes your business as an authority in your field.

Strong Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

Guide your visitors towards desired actions with clear, prominent CTAs. Whether it’s “Buy Now,” “Contact Us,” or “Learn More,” make sure your CTAs stand out and are strategically placed throughout your site.

Tips for Improving User Experience

User experience (UX) plays a crucial role in website effectiveness.

Here are some tips to enhance UX:

  1. Optimize Page Load Speed: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify and fix issues that slow down your site.
  2. Implement Responsive Design: Ensure your website looks and functions well on all devices, from desktop computers to smartphones.
  3. Use White Space Effectively: Don’t overcrowd your pages. Proper use of white space can improve readability and focus attention on key elements.
  4. Ensure Consistency: Maintain consistent branding, color schemes, and design elements across all pages to create a cohesive experience.
  5. Implement Easy-to-Use Forms: Keep forms simple and only ask for essential information to reduce friction in conversions.

The Importance of Mobile Responsiveness

With mobile devices accounting for over half of global web traffic, mobile responsiveness is no longer optional. Here’s why it matters:

  • Improved User Experience: Mobile-responsive sites are easier to navigate on smaller screens, leading to lower bounce rates and higher engagement.
  • Better Search Engine Rankings: Google uses mobile-first indexing, meaning it primarily uses the mobile version of your site for ranking and indexing.
  • Increased Conversion Rates: Mobile-friendly sites make it easier for users to complete desired actions, whether it’s making a purchase or filling out a contact form.
  • Competitive Advantage: Many small businesses still lack mobile-responsive sites, giving you an edge over competitors.
  • To ensure your site is mobile-responsive, use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool and make necessary adjustments based on the results.

Conclusion

Maximizing your small business website’s potential is an ongoing process that requires attention to detail and a focus on user needs. By implementing these strategies and continuously optimizing your site based on user feedback and analytics, you can create a powerful online presence that drives growth for your small business.

Remember, your website is a critical business asset. Invest time and resources in optimizing it, and you’ll reap the rewards in increased traffic, engagement, and conversions.

Why You Should Hire a Professional to Maintain Your WordPress Website

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Your website is an important asset for your business. It’s your online storefront, your way of connecting with potential customers or constituents, and a key part of your marketing and communications strategy. But even the best WordPress websites need regular maintenance to keep them running smoothly and securely.

If you want stability and performance from your WordPress website, it requires a commitment to routine maintenance. At its core, that entails logging into the WordPress dashboard every day to install available updates and troubleshoot conflicts. This may sound simple enough and you might be wondering why the best approach would be to just turn on the auto-update feature. Problem-solved, right?

While the process of maintaining a WordPress website has improved dramatically, it is still not entirely user-friendly. That’s because there are a lot of moving parts. A big part of site maintenance involves keeping legacy themes and plugins working. There are instances where an update to one critical plugin requires upgrading or even downgrading your version of PHP. It can also be difficult to figure out why theme and plugin conflicts are happening.

Here are just a few reasons why you should hire a professional to maintain your website:

  • Security: Hackers are always looking for ways to exploit vulnerabilities in websites. A professional website maintenance company will keep your website up to date with the latest security patches and software updates, helping to protect your website from attack.
  • Performance: A website that is slow or unresponsive can frustrate visitors and lead to lost sales. A professional website maintenance company can help to optimize your website for speed and performance, ensuring that your visitors have a positive experience.
  • Content: A well-maintained website will always have fresh, informative content. A professional website maintenance company can help you to create and manage your website content, ensuring that it is always up-to-date and engaging.
  • Backups: It’s important to have regular backups of your website in case of a disaster. A professional website maintenance company can help you to create and manage backups of your website, so that you can restore it quickly and easily in the event of a problem.

If you’re serious about your business, then you should invest in professional website maintenance. A professional website maintenance company can help to keep your website running smoothly, securely, and efficiently.

Here are some additional benefits of hiring a professional website maintenance company:

  • Peace of mind: Knowing that your website is in the hands of a professional can give you peace of mind. You can focus on running your business, knowing that your website is being taken care of.
  • Expertise: A professional website maintenance company has the expertise and experience to keep your website running smoothly. They will be able to identify and fix problems quickly and efficiently.
  • Cost-effectiveness: In the long run, it can be more cost-effective to hire a professional website maintenance company than to try to do it yourself. This is because you will avoid the cost of downtime, lost sales, and data breaches.

If you are considering hiring a professional website maintenance company, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

  • Make sure the company is reputable. Check the company’s references and ask about their experience.
  • Get a written estimate. This will help you to budget for the cost of maintenance.
  • Make sure the company offers a service level agreement (SLA). This will guarantee that the company will fix any problems that occur within a certain time frame.

By following these tips, you can be sure to find a professional website maintenance company that can help you to keep your website running smoothly and securely.

Top 3 Live Chat Options for WordPress

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Option #1 – LiveChat – https://livechat.com

Pricing is:

  • Starter Plan – $16/month/agent – billed annually
  • Team Plan – $33/month/agent – billed annually

Features:

  • Each agent logged in to chat can serve multiple visitors at the same time, also there is an option for multiple agents to be logged in and serve chats. 
  • As for the queue option, it is described here: https://www.livechat.com/help/queue-configuration/
  • Attachments can be sent both ways in every plan except our Starter plan
  • Transcripts of the chats are available for you at any time so you can save them, sent them to your email, etc.

Option #2 – Olark – https://olark.com

Pricing is:

  • Self-Service Plan – $29/month – billed annually
  • Pro Plan – includes copilot chatbot that we can customize for non-live chat situations – need to call to find out price.

Two week free trial – https://www.olark.com/signup/create_new_account/trial

Features:

  • Automation
  • Live chat analytics
  • Chat transcripts
  • Custom chatbox forms
  • Real-time chat
  • Chat team management
  • Robust software integration
  • Attachments

Option #3 – Kayako – https://kayako.com/pricing/

Kayako is a full service help desk solution developed in 2001. They also have a live chat software..

Pricing is:

  • Growth Plan – $30/agent/month
  • Scale Plan – $60/agent/month

Growth Plan includes these features:

  • Live chat, Facebook, Twitter and email
  • Help center
  • Basic performance reports
  • SingleView™
  • Agents log in with Google
  • Standard support plan
  • Workflow automations: assign tickets to agents
  • Advanced reporting
  • Multiple brands, multiple languages
  • Time-saving macro powered responses
  • Custom fields for capturing critical information
  • Slack integration
  • 700+ Zapier integrations
  • Organization Profiles for Agents
  • Agent collision prevention

 

Best Chatbots for WordPress

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If you’re interested in adding a chatbot to your WordPress website, there are many viable options. Here are seven of the best chatbots for WordPress.

1. Intercom

Intercom is one of the most well known chat and support platforms. Intercom is very sophisticated and while there are less expensive options for startups, it is geared towards larger businesses.

2. Drift

Drift is another very well known chatbot platform that easily integrates with WordPress sites. There’s a free version that you can use for starters but the first tier for paid customers is $400 per month.

3. Chatbot.com

ChatBot allows you to easily automate customer service. The all-in-one platform lets you build and lunch conversational chatbots without coding. You can sign up for a free 14-day trial and no credit card is required. ChatBot comes loaded with ready-to-use templates that you can customize to fit your needs. ChatBot costs from $50 per month, which includes 1 active chatbot and 1000 chats per month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Chatfuel

Chatfuel is a powerful chatbot platform for Messenger, Facebook, and Instagram. Many big brands – Adidas, T-Mobile, LEGO – use Chatfuel. You can use your bot to increase sales, qualify leads, or to provide answers to frequently asked questions. Chatfuel costs from $15/month, with no user limit.

5. Zendesk Chat

Zendesk Chat is part of Zendesk, a customer support platform for businesses. Zendesk has features that let you handle support tickets and chat live with your customers.

You can use automated messages within Zendesk Chat, such as triggering messages based on what your customers are doing. You can also optimize your messages by testing which ones have a high engagement rate. Zendesk Chat costs from $19 per agent per month, billed annually. There’s a 14 day free trial with no credit card required.

6. Quriobot

Quriobot is a very simple chatbot that has a free plan, making it a good option for small businesses on a tight budget. If you want to remove the Quriobot branding, you need to pay approximately $10/month.

7. TIDIO

TIDIO is another easy to use chatbot platform that offers both live chat and virtual AI chat. Like many of its competitors there are customizable templates and free trials.

Summary

Chatbots are still a relatively new tool for engaging with potential customers and clients but many businesses are already seeing the benefits of incorporating chatbots into their WordPress websites. Using a website as an effective sales tool requires being able to offer fast responses and assistance whenever your audience needs it. Chatbots can deliver this 24/7. They can address questions and needs within seconds and direct them to the right person when they require assistance from sales or support staff.

And although chatbots used to only be a productive option for large businesses with the budget and developers to build them from scratch, there are now plenty of options that make integrating a chatbot into a WordPress site easy — making a chatbot an addition worth considering for any company.

What is a Chatbot? Which One Should You Add To Your WordPress Website?

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You’ve probably already heard of a chatbot – and if you spend any time online – you’ve also probably used one. They usually appear in the lower-right corner of your computer screen while browsing online.

What is a Chatbot?

A chatbot is a computer program that interacts with human users via a chat interface. A chatbot can either be powered by rules using if/then statements or artificial intelligence or a mix of both.

For example, Dominos Pizza has a Chatbot named Dom – Domino’s ordering assistant bot.

This chatbot mostly relies on multiple-choice menus and basic input to help customers but it’s extremely user-friendly and serves its purpose of helping users place online orders effectively and easily.

7 Ways a Chatbot Can Help Boost Conversions on Your WordPress Website

Chatbots can serve a ton of different purposes on a website. Here are 7 of the most valuable:

1. Collect Leads

The most important goal for many websites is collecting information your sales team can use to contact new prospects. Chatbots are perfect for this purpose.

2. Qualify and Prioritize Leads

Collecting quality leads is challenging but what’s even harder is evaluating and prioritizing the leads. Chatbots can simplify this process by identifying high quality leads. A user lands on your website and the chatbot asks the user to choose from a variety of options about why they are there – 1) looking for information 2) just browsing 3) ready to make a purchase decision.

3. Put Visitors in Touch With Your Team

Many people think that chatbots are designed to replace human support staff but that’s not the case at all. In fact, one of the best roles a chatbot can play on a website is a connection between your customers and your staff. Many chatbots start with a question asking whether the visitor would like to speak directly with a sales analyst. If they need to speak to billing instead, the lines aren’t clogged and visitors are able to get directly and reliably in touch with human support staff.

4. Increase Newsletter Subscriptions

Because they are automated chatbots can save you a lot of time and effort when it comes to building your list of email subscribers. The key is to use chat as a lead capture opportunity. Occasionally a lead will need more incentive to provide their email address. One effective way to get an email address out of a visitor is to offer a special discount in return.

For example, the chatbot could be set up to recognize when a user is shopping on an eCommerce page. The chatbot can then be used to offer a discount off their purchase. To get the coupon code, the visitor would need to provide their email address and then you can send a one-time promotional code directly to their email.

5. Direct Visitors to Helpful Resources

If you’ve already created lots of content on your website, you can make the most of this content by training a chatbot to direct visitors straight to the resources that are relevant to their interests and questions.

6. Personalize the Browsing experience

A chatbot can make the browsing experience personalized by utilizing a landing page sized chatbot that immediately interacts with website visitors.

7. Reduce Your Employees’ Workloads

Many of the chatbot capabilities on this list are typically handled by customer service teams. By integrating a chatbot, you can eliminate these tasks from your employees’ workloads and help them focus on more meaningful activities.

 

15 Reasons Why Websites Matter in 2022

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Over the past ten years, there’s been an enormous focus on social media and businesses of all sizes have had to make decisions on how and where to spend marketing dollars. With all the focus on Facebook, Yelp, Google Business, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and whatever this year’s newest social media phenomenon is, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that maybe a business doesn’t need a website anymore. However, there are many reasons why websites still matter in 2022. If you don’t have a website, it’s time to hire someone to design one for you. And if you have a website, it might be time for a website redesign.

1. A Website Gives You Instant Authority

A well-designed, user-friendly, responsive website with informative, quality content establishes trust between author and audience. A website demonstrates expertise, authority, and permanence. While social media sites come and go, your business website should be the central focal point of your online presence. Think of the website as a businesses marketing hub and the social media sites and backlinks as the spokes.

2.You Don’t Own Your Social Media Pages

If you rely exclusively on social media sites, what happens when your entire audience hinges on a social media network and that network starts making decisions that negatively affect you, your customers’ experience, your brand image or identity, or all of the above? We have seen this recently with Facebook. Social media sites change algorithms without warning, create new rules that may restrict your ability to communicate with your customers, or even disappear altogether. Former President Trump knows this all too well. Anyone remember MySpace or Friendster? If you drive traffic from the social media spokes to your own website, you are and will always be in control.

3. You Get A Huge Return On Your Marketing Investment

Consider the cost of online advertising (which is constant – if you want to keep advertising you have to keep paying) or the cost of creating print materials which are out of date as soon as you print them. Then compare those costs to the $4,000 required to create your own business website. It almost always makes sense to invest in a website.

4. Your Local SEO Relies On Your Website

Good search results require a solid internet presence. A website is a fundamental part of that internet presence. You need your own domain and your own content. It’s far more difficult to rank in Google’s local pack listings without your own website.

5. Consumers Expect It

Most consumers expect a business to have a website. As a business owner – if you want customers – make it easy for people to find you online.

6. A Website Showcases Your Expertise

Nothing shows off your expertise better than your own website. You can create any kind of content you want, publish portfolio pages, blog posts, informative articles, and select which customer testimonials to highlight. The content on your website gives you a chance to show potential clients that you understand their problems and their needs.

7. Your Website Can Hold And Keep A Visitor’s Attention

When a visitor lands on your website, your are not positioning yourself next to a bunch of other social media sites all vying for attention. When people get to your website, it’s up to you to hold and keep a visitor’s attention. You can do that by anticipating their needs and writing content that answers their questions.

8. Without A Website, Customers Will Consider You Less Professional

On average Americans spend 23.6 hours online per week. People tend to spend 5 hours a day scrolling on their phones. If you don’t have a website, potential customers won’t take you or your business seriously.

9. Your Customers Need Answers

Both your current customers and potential customers are looking for information. Don’t you want to be the one to give them answers rather than having a search engine point them to someone else’s answers? During your website design you will want to answer three questions:

  • What is your business?
  • What services or products do you offer?
  • How can customers reach you?

Make sure that function and communication are as important as aesthetic design.

10. Be The Leader Online

The answer to the “Do I need a website?” question revolves around being the leader of your field. A high-quality, user-friendly website that answers your customers questions will make you the leader of your field online. If your competitors already have websites, make sure yours is better. Show customers why your company is better and why they should buy your products or services.

11. Websites Are Essential For Building Your Brand

It’s impossible to create a professional image for your brand without a website. Anything short of a website looks cheap and unprofessional.

12. Websites Are Great Customer Service Tools

Modern customers look to social media for customer service when a website doesn’t meet their customer service needs. The problem is that by that point most customers are angry and they aren’t turning to social media to be productive. If you have your own website, you can control your customer service process and direct customers to up-to-date FAQ pages or customer service contact info simply by sharing a link.

13. Websites Are Important For Link Building

Links are essential for SEO but they are even more important for referrals. A business website has greater authority and is of greater use when promoting your brand.

14. Increase Your Working Hours

Website visitors can access your online marketing material at any time of any day at their leisure if you have a website. Being available at all times helps with marketing and sales and is also a step towards optimal customer service. If you have chatbots on your site that can help clients with simple issues when they need it most, you can take this idea one step further.

15. Provide Social Proof

Customer behavior is influenced by what others have said about your company. People expect to check your website to learn more about your company regardless of whether it has a 5-star rating on review websites. Customer recommendations on your websites are a terrific method to impress potential customers and give social proof.

Final Thoughts

It’s absolutely vital to have a professional, high-quality, user-friendly, responsive, brand-differentiating website in 2022 if you want to increase sales, increase your bottom line, and expand your company. Business websites in particular help customers make purchase decisions. A simple website costs pennies but can yield huge rewards in the long term.