Tell Your Story Online

Transcription

1 Tell Your Story Online Improving your digital presence

2 Welcome to the Digital Garage Today s session is about telling your story online Key aims of this session 1 Build a consumer-friendly website and make it shine across all devices 2 Boost your social presence and tell your story through content 3 Manage your presence on Google and improve your visibility

3 The Digital Economy in the UK

4 UK customers are some of the most digitally active in the world When it comes to buying online the UK is the global number 1 Percentage of people who buy things online at least once a month

5 Small businesses with a strong web presence 2x faster growth than those with minimal or none 2x number of new jobs created Sources: Lord Young 2013, McKinsey 2011, BCG % more likely to sell outside their immediate region

6 Recognise the opportunity 50% of small businesses and charities have a website 23% of those provide anything more than basic company information Source: Lloyds Digital Business Index % are not taking advantage of the growth opportunities of the web

7 Ways to have a presence online Your own website Advantages + + Downsides - Other web platforms full control of your brand: domain, hosting, messaging, content opportunity for multiple pages and functions quick to set up often free or low cost can be hosted in places which provide access to much bigger audiences harder to create and probably more costly - less control of your brand and functionality

8 Creating a website Two key steps:

9 Top 5 tips for building a successful site 1 Identify a website s purpose / goal 2 Make the content simple and easy to digest. Break up long paragraphs and use bullet points 3 Strong calls to action. Buy now, Subscribe, Download our guide 4 Make sure your site loads quickly. g.co/pagespeedinsights 5 Make mobile a priority. Optimise for different devices. g.co/mobilefriendly

10 Does your site shine across all devices? Have you seen what your site looks like on mobile? g.co/mobilefriendly

11 Mobile design for success 1 Prominent Calls to Action 2 Keep menus short & sweet 3 Clear navigation links 4 Streamline form fills 5 Don t make users pinch and zoom

12 Key takeaways for building your own site Identify your website goals to improve usability for your customers Visit g.co/mobilefriendly to see if your website is mobile friendly Find certified developers to help build your website google.com/partners

13 Other ways to have a presence online Your own website Advantages + + Downsides - Other web platforms full control of your brand: domain, hosting, messaging, content opportunity for multiple pages and functions quick to set up often free or low cost can be hosted in places which provide access to much bigger audiences harder to create and probably more costly - less control of your brand and functionality

14 Other ways to have an online presence Social platforms Marketplaces Blogs Local directory / Review sites

15 The UK lives on Social 89% of the UK population is an active internet user with 38 million people actively using social media. Users spend on average 1hr 36m per day m UK users (46-50% of the UK s population) 15m UK users (23% of the UK s population) 19m UK users (29% of the UK s population) 41.5m UK users (87% of UK s population)

16 Why great content matters

17 Start with your audience Ask yourself the following questions: 1 Where are they? 2 What do they do? 3 Who do they follow?

18 Finding your followers Influencers will become your vocal advocates, use them like a fan club; Here are some tools to help you find your potential followers: Twitter search and lists Google search Blog search and lists Recommended subscribers on YouTube Followerwonk Tweetreach Buzzsumo

19 Tips for writing a social media bio Keep it relevant & talk about your business Limited number of characters. This should be short and straight to the point. Talking about what your business does. Make sure you use some of your keywords around your business. Keep it clear & consistent Regularly update your branding e.g seasonal / products. Keep it clear, they have to get it instantly Show your personality & Have fun Be honest and make sure everything you say in your Bio is true.

20 The power of YouTube In 2014 Digital overtook TV as the primary source of media consumption in Britain Mobile is the key driver to this category - 45% of all videos viewed online are through tablet or Mobile device. 1 Be a Thought Leader Create educational videos that offer genuine value to users, no need to sell. 2 Create shareable content Viewers are more likely to share a video that elicits a strong emotional response. 3 Identify potential collaborators Research popular YouTube creators who share your target audience. Source: emarketer, March 2014

21 Learn from everyday experts g.co/creatoracademy

22 Google My Business

23 How do you look on Google?

24 Be found on Google 1 Go to google.com/business 2 Claim your business listing 3 Complete your business profile

25 Summary (your 4 things to do today) Do you have a website? NO Book a session g.co/newcastlegarage YES Is it mobile friendly? NO Make it mobile friendly NO Get tips from experts NO Manage your presence on Google g.co/mobilefriendly YES Have you considered online video g.co/creatoracademy YES Have you claimed your listing? google.com/business

26 Learn more: g.co/digitalgarage Share your story: goo.gl/lx7ky6

27 Thank You! Slides: goo.gl/fegryo