Brooke Desmond
Did you know that email databases degrade about 23% every year? The reasons behind this range from opt-outs to users getting rid of their old Hotmail email address (but, let’s be honest, they should have done that YEARS ago). Growing and maintaining a strong list of email subscribers is a common challenge businesses of all sizes deal with, and sometimes it takes out-of-the-box thinking to make sure you grow your list and keep it sustainable. Here are six creative tactics to try when it comes to growing your email list. Incentives are Always Key It’s no secret that people love free stuff, so consider offering an opt-in incentive for new subscribers. By exchanging an offer for their email address, you open the door to a lot of creative ideas. These incentives can range from discount codes, free content (such as a whitepaper), or even a trial sample of a product. […]
Read MoreIf you are an avid reader of our blog, you know we’ve discussed the importance of fresh, valuable website content for not only SEO benefits, but for user experience too. If you do create content pretty frequently (whether that be blogs, new web pages, or anything in between), chances are some of your content has gone stale. Even though search engines like Google say your old content will not penalize your rankings (as long as it’s not duplicated or breaking any other rules), it’s still a good practice to make sure all of your website content is up to date. Now comes the hard question: do you update, rewrite or delete your outdated content? We hope this blog will help you decide. When to Update the Content More likely than not, you have content on your website that once performed very well in the past. There are a lot of […]
Read MoreSearch functionality on websites has quickly become a standard best practice for many websites (especially eCommerce). By allowing visitors to search your site for the information they need, you open a new door to engagement and seamless user experience (UX) that many consumers expect when browsing online. Because of this shift in user behavior, your search results page on your website needs to meet or exceed these “UX-pectations” (see what we did there?). If you’re not sure where to start for your website, discover these best practices for search result page design. Make sure the results are relevant and accurate. Display their query at the top of the page. Allow filtering for fast results. Show the number of matching results. Set the results to display automatically. Details are for lists and photos are for grids. 1. Make Sure the Results are Relevant and Accurate This first tip may seem like […]
Read MoreWhen businesses are looking to work with a website agency like us on their site, a big thing they rely on us for is not only the technical knowledge, but the graphic design expertise as well. What many people don’t realize is that well-done graphic design, especially when applied to websites, can be easy to notice. No matter if you’ve dabbled in any area of design or would never say you have an eye for design, these five tips will help any non-web designer see website design through our lens. White Space is a Beautiful Thing It’s funny to think that the areas that don’t include any elements are a big part of some of the strongest web designs out there. White space is just as valuable as the graphics and text used on a website, as white space helps those elements get the attention they deserve. By allowing a […]
Read MoreCongratulations! You just launched your new or redesigned website. We know firsthand all the steps and time it takes to create a polished, user-friendly website, and we know that you want to make sure everyone and anyone sees this digital asset! Although you probably want to say you’re completely done with your website once it’s live, you’re not off the hook just yet. Here are the top six things you need to remember to do after you launch your WordPress website. Connect Google Analytics By connecting your website to your Google Analytics account, you will get valuable insight into metrics ranging from site traffic and demographics to user behavior and average time on your website. With this tool, you will see how effective your new website is and if there is room for improvement. The best part about Google Analytics is it’s free! All you need to do (after you’ve […]
Read MoreThe Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was developed in 1990 to ensure that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as anyone else. While this act was initially created for physical locations, it was recently expanded into website accessibility. This new ADA ruling, called Title III, states that “places of public accommodation” are required by law to be accessible to people who have disabilities that affect their hearing, vision or physical capacities. If you’re not sure about the ins and outs of an ADA-compliant website and want to learn more about the benefits of having one, this is a great place to start! What Exactly is ADA Compliance for Websites? For any website to be ADA compliant, it needs to be accessible to anyone with or without disabilities. While there are plenty of resources that get into the in-depth details about ADA compliance for the Internet, in short, anyone and […]
Read MoreAt GreenMellen, we are all about embracing the latest and greatest ideas for innovating the Web, but some things were not meant to be reinvented. As more and more people rely on the Internet to do everything from grocery delivery to buying a house, some elements have become intuitive with how users interact with all websites, and it’s these things that shouldn’t be “reimagined” for the sake of reimagining it. For the best user experience on your website, here are the top five website design conventions that need to stay the same. Logo Placement Users typically scan web pages in a Z format and start at the top left corner of your website, go across to the top right corner, then make their way down the page by rescanning from right to left (making a Z pattern). Because of this, logos are usually found on the upper left corner on […]
Read MoreIf you have an eCommerce website, a strong product page design can make or break your sales numbers no matter what you sell. These pages are usually where users make their decision if they are going to purchase or not, so these pages need to make sure they fulfill their needs before clicking “Add to Cart.” See what a successful product page design includes that grabs users’ attention and persuades them to become a customer. Make Your Product Descriptions Compelling and Direct Product descriptions make up one of the most important elements on your product pages’ marketing strategy. Make sure they all state what product you’re selling and what benefits they will bring to your users’ lives. Remember, most people scan webpages instead of reading every word on them, so this needs to be kept in mind when writing your product copy. When it comes to the information above the […]
Read MoreOn-page search engine optimization (SEO) is important for any website, but what many people don’t realize about SEO is that it’s generally a long-term, highly hands-on strategy. Basic SEO strategies include title tags, meta descriptions, image optimization and backlinks, but to make an impact on search engines, you need to step up your SEO game. Along with your on-page SEO practices, here are the other areas of SEO you need to pay close attention to. Keyword Research You are probably thinking, “Wait, I thought this was one of the first starting points for SEO?” While you would be correct, we want to make sure you understand how thorough your keyword research needs to be. Not only do you need to find keywords that are related to your users’ search intent, but you will also need to see what your competitors are doing too. By doing this, you will understand how […]
Read MoreIt’s that time of year when businesses look back at their accomplishments and areas of improvement for Q1. If you’re finding that your business’s marketing metrics weren’t as successful as you hoped, it’s worth outsourcing your marketing needs to a digital marketing agency in 2020. Here are the top reasons why you should hire a digital marketing agency for 2020. They are Experts in Marketing A common hesitation for outsourcing your digital marketing is the fact that agencies aren’t experts in your industry, but they are experts in all things marketing. Digital marketing is no easy task, especially when you consider all the areas you need to focus on. From SEO and PPC to content creation and social media, an agency will undergo a thorough analysis of your industry and develop a custom strategy and make sure it’s executed correctly. It Will Save You Time Running a business takes up […]
Read MoreA bounce rate is one metric that tells you if your website is useful, relevant, interesting or none of the above. In case you need a refresh, a bounce rate is, “the percentage of visitors to a particular website who navigate away from the site after viewing only one page.” If your bounce rate is high, this means people are leaving your website after viewing one page, which could indicate a range of things. If your site’s bounce rate is high, here are the top reasons why this may be the case and how you can fix it. ONE MORE THING: Before we reveal the reasons, keep in mind that a high bounce rate is relative. Most websites will experience an average bounce rate of 26-70%. If your bounce rate is 71% or higher, we will consider that a higher than average bounce rate for this post. Slow Loading Page […]
Read MoreA brand consists of several elements that must work together to create a memorable experience. These elements range from the message on your voicemail to a user’s experience on your website. With all these facets considered, we’d argue that the logo is the most important visual element of a brand, and if it’s time for a refresh, there’s no time to wait. Are you wondering if your brand’s logo needs a refresh? Ask yourself these questions to see how your logo stacks up against industry best practices: Do you have a vector format (.EPS or .AI) of your logo? Is your logo unique, or does it feature overused visuals? Is your logo scalable? Can it be used at large and small sizes without readability issues? Would you say your logo is timeless? Was your logo created (or updated) within the last decade? Does your logo accurately communicate the services you […]
Read MoreContent has proven to be extremely important in all facets of marketing, yet many marketers still miss the mark to create content that converts. To take your content marketing to the next level, all your efforts need to be read-worthy content that your audience craves and saying that is easier said than done. Here are the most impactful ways to take your content marketing efforts to the next level. Take Online and Offline Trends into Consideration If you want your content to get as much exposure as possible, you need to take relevant online and offline trends into consideration. An example of this would be using a current event and incorporating it into a blog post or social media comments. By having your brand be a part of the conversation (without being controversial), it gives you more humanity instead of a business looking for business. Don’t Try to Sell All […]
Read MoreHaving an eCommerce website is one thing, but utilizing it to increase brand awareness, traffic and sales is an entirely different beast. To achieve this, you will need to create a full-fledged, comprehensive eCommerce marketing strategy that meets your goals for customer acquisition and repeat purchases. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all marketing strategy, but these ideas will help any eCommerce site build brand loyalty, boost sales, and create a seamless user experience for visitors. Create a Personalized Shopping Experience With so many eCommerce websites out there, only offering your products online isn’t enough to stand out. Your customers are expecting more. Meet their expectations and encourage them to come back by creating a personalized shopping experience, including unique deals and recommendations based on past purchases. You can begin creating this experience by using Analytics to see which products they view the most, what kind of content they […]
Read MoreEven though it seems like pumpkin spice season has only begun, the holidays will be here before we know it. While it’s okay to shop last minute for gifts or wrap them the night before Christmas, planning your holiday digital marketing efforts, especially for email marketing, should start now. Take a look at our top email marketing tips for the holiday season. Look at Last Year’s Numbers First If you performed any holiday-themed campaigns last year, reviewing the metrics, successes and losses from those should be the first step. See what calls-to-action had the most engagement, what subject lines lead to the highest open rates, and what conversions looked like. Take these trends into serious consideration for this year’s efforts, and learn from last year’s mistakes (and last year’s wins!) to ensure you have data-driven decisions. Start Sending Them Early Black Friday and Cyber Monday do not define the start […]
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