Here's a glimpse into a few of many simple but effective methods for getting customers to buy your products & services!
1. Is your brand focused and do you have a strategy in place?
Refocus your business strategy and make sure you have a brand communication strategy in place!
Whether you are an actor, a musician or a business owner, your products or services need a strategy in place to keep it focused. Established actors and musicians understand the need of a bmaintain their public persona. Likewise a clear-cut communication design strategy will keep your product or services message in the public eye and help your get message to where it matters the most; your customers mind.
2. In what direction is your business headed?
Know where you are going before you start your journey and keep on track!
Having a visual communication design strategy in place before launching your business is much like having studied a map before embarking on a complexed journey. You know beforehand the best way to get where you want to go and if you get off track you know how to get back on quickly.
Communicating to your potential customers works the same way. You know exactly how to link your products and services to your customers wants and needs. This is called bridging the gap.
3. What is mean't by bridging the customer client gap?
Bridge the communication gap!
A clear-cut communication design strategy is designed to build bridges between your services (or goods) and your customer. This happens when you exercise good communication. If you want to excel your business above and beyond your competition you must communicate with your customers.
One example of bad customer client communication is the use of voice mail systems and call centers to handle customer enquiries. Many websites are also poor communication tools. Those factors along with the masses of information flooding customers minds are leaving them suffering from information overload. Without a well planned strategy in place to communicate with your target audience will leave your business unseen and your message unheard.
If you only had 30 seconds to speak with potential customers what would you say to them?
4. How will they know what you want them to do if you don't tell them?
Master the art of writing effective copy!
Written words are the single most important element on your website. Graphics alone won't communicate your message. Knowing what to say and how much to say is crucial in successful communication. Say too much and you bore them - say too little and they misunderstand and abort. Most importantly you need to learn the art of writing effective copy that grabs attention and turns those web surfer/visitors into customers.
5. Is your website design and content different from your competition?
Dare to be different.
Aesthetics play a vital role when considering what design suits your company or brand. Yes you can find nicely designed website templates on the 'web' or you could have your nephew or friend design it for you or even do it yourself. Consider this, you only get 30 seconds to make a good impression. Unless your site is for 'information only' - making an everlasting impression is vital for appearing convincing or reliable. This creates a bridging effect opening the lines of communication between you and your customer allowing you eventually to make that sale.
Unlike 'free' websites, or templated websites, owning your own domain and an individually designed, professional looking, website will leave an everlasting impression on your customers. Imagine, your in a supermarket and all products have the same packet. How could you tell which one will be best for you? How would you remember it?
6. Is your website optimized for humans or search engines only?
Optimize your site for humans - first!
Word of mouth advertising works much faster than awaiting someone to find your business through a search engine!
Todays social media has proven the fact that word of mouth is THE most critcal factor in todays business. If someone likes you or your business and tells someone on one of the social media sites you have an almost guaranteed success.
On the other hand, if someone doesn't like you - look out news spreads fast.
Since late 1999 and early 2000 Search Engine optimist and enthusiast preached the gospel of making sure your website gets found on search engines and charging a lot for it. The last 5 years SEO companies have boomed because companies are desperate to get their business online. Now we have millions of search engine optimized websites with content that isn't written or design for human browsing and consumption. Website content - the most important asset for businesses has suffered from companies focusing more on search engine optimization at the expense of human experience.
7. Is advertising both online and offline necessary?
Advertise on a regular basis.
Flyers, magazine and newpaper ads are as important now as they were before the internet. The single most important element within a communication strategy is the message it carries and that the message is consistant throughout your entire communication strategy.
Advertising is crucial for both short-term and long-term return on your investments. You need to consider advertising both on- and offline. This means considering print ads that point to your product or services including flyers, posters, billboards as well as magazines, tv and radio as well as banner ads that point to your site.
8. Does your company have brand guidelines?
Learn how to communicate with your customers through this upcoming book on brand communications.
Logo design, plays only a small part in branding your company or services properly. Simply having someone choose a font, type style or a color isn't branding. A brand manual or a set of style guides serve as your companies bible for expressing it's message or bottom line uncompromised. The purpose of a brand style guide is to keep your message from getting watered down in advertisments, both on and offline.
If you don't have a set of style guides your business (products and/or services) may suffer the hands of a production studio that may not understand your brand message. An example is passing your brand assets onto an agency for the purpose of advertising in newspapers, magazines or online banner ads and your brand message is misinterpreted or misrepresented.
Stategies for Successful Brand Communications is not just another book on branding. It takes an unorthodox look at design and visual communication for all media to help give you the edge in brand communications. The book is designed to help your business bridge the communication gap between you and your customers. Learn things like writing effective copy or how to find your unique selling points and finally how to create your own brand guidelines.
GET IN TOUCH NOW to find out where you can get your copy! >>