2015 Online Marketing Checklist

As we begin the new year, there are a few things that companies need to make sure they are up to date on in order to ensure maximum online potential for their company. Some businesses may think they are completely up to date and ready to hit the ground running, but many of them are more than likely to have a few things they need to take care of. To make sure you are as prepared as possible, take a look at our Online Marketing Checklist For 2015.

Directories & Local Profiles

If you are a brick and mortar business and you don’t have your Google Plus, Bing and other directory listings completed and as up to date as possible, you’re missing out on easy points to gain authority in the eyes of a search engine. This brings me to NAP. No, not the quick bout of relaxation kind of nap, but your Name, Address and Phone number, or the important information kind of NAP. Having your NAP consistent and accurate online is a vital step for a brick and mortar business to score points in search results. They’re not an end all, be all solution, but don’t miss out on something that isn’t difficult to complete. Time consuming? Yes. But well worth it down the road? Absolutely.

Website

When was the last time you had your website redesigned? I hate to be the breaker of bad news, but if it wasn’t done in the last couple of years, it’s probably time to get a new one done. On the flip side, the good news here is that if it is done right, you’ll be setting your business up for quite a while.

So what do I mean by “done right?” Well, the most important thing when it comes to redesigning your site right now is responsiveness. Responsively designed websites, or sites that are conducive and able to look perfect on any device, tablet, etc., are not only a much better experience for your potential clients, but search engines are also valuing them higher than a non-responsive site.

Design is also key, so hiring an agency with a keen eye for design that stays up to date with the latest trends is very important.

One last thing to consider with your website is that it needs to be optimized for SEO (Search Engine Optimization). While most agencies don’t have the expertise in all 3 previous mentioned verticals, I happen to be a part of one that does, and I can attest to the fact that SEO is critical for a website to succeed. I have seen client websites begin to rank higher by just optimizing the sites pages. With an ongoing strategy (more on this later), they could be dominating their competition.



A website is not just a pretty picture anymore. It should be a digital employee for your business that works 24/7, 365.

Logo

Brand recognition is extremely underrated, and yet crucial for a complete user experience. Your logo says a lot about your business, and it’s one of the first things people will remember and associate with a company. When push comes to shove, it’s worth the one time investment for a phenomenal logo, rather than letting a relative or intern do it at a lesser expense. Quality is most important when it comes to your logo, and your website for that matter, so budget if you need to in order to get the best possible design and execution of a logo for your company.

Strategy & Growth

While the above mentioned checks are foundational and mostly one time things (minus a few updates here and there), do you have a plan to gain traction for your website?

If not, DO NOT put it off any longer. There are multiple ways to increase your online presence, and they depend on what your goal is. Content has become the king in the online marketing world. Having a content strategy that compliments your other online marketing efforts is essential. Not only can this strategy help drive engagement, but it can also help your website rank better.

Additional strategies include paid search, which can help drive more qualified traffic to your site to increase conversions, and email marketing, which will help keep your brand at the top of mind. Email marketing can also help increase conversions and increase the amount of repeat customers you get.

You do not have to utilize all of these strategies, and some of them may not be the best fit for your goals or customer acquisition strategy. This is why enlisting the services of a firm specializing in these services is important. Not only does it take the workload off of your shoulders, but it also puts the work in the hands of experts.



There is not just one, but several things that you can do for your online marketing efforts, and that is why we have created a checklist. Going over your current profiles, website, logo and strategy is the first step in improving your online marketing. From there, implementing changes and making improvements will take you that much further and ensure that you are doing everything you can to maximize your company’s online potential.