Whether you are building or maintaining a website, there are a few "best practices" that can transform your website from ordinary to amazing. Don't get caught up in the technology or the urge to put every product photo and or description on your site. Keep it simple. Design your site around your customer's needs. Take a few minutes to review our Basic Website Checklist and see if your website makes the grade.

DESIGN
____   Web pages are uncluttered with ample white space 
____   Our header features our logo in the center or top left corner of every page
____   Our contact info and page links appear in the footer of all pages
____   Navigation links are easy to find and are placed in order of customer preference (most used first)
____   Color choices are consistent with our branding and make text easy to read

CONTENT
____   Text is clear, concise and reads well at a glance 
____   There are no grammar or spelling errors
____   Our “call to action” (what do your want visitors to do) is a main focus

COMPLETENESS
____   All pages are complete and can be viewed without error messages
____   We have a photo gallery, blog or online store to encourage viewer engagement
____   Our simple contact form makes it easy for viewers to reach out to us
____   Our site is optimized and can be easily found on Google

While this is a very basic checklist for beginners, we hope your website has all of the above elements and you passed with flying colors! If you have questions on how to establish any of the items mentioned on our checklist or are ready to move on to more advanced website options, please contact Fusaro Consulting. We can help you increase revenue and customer engagement using your website, social media and other marketing tools. What are you waiting for? Let's get started!

When meeting with my small business clients, we often talk about how they can use digital marketing to increase revenue and customer engagement. Whether you're new to digital marketing or looking for ways to improve the elements that you already have in place, here are a few tips I share with my clients. 

Website
Create a website that looks good and functions flawlessly. Check your site regularly for bad links or error messages. Design a site that makes sense from the customer’s point of view. Content should be organized and easy to find. Does your site appear in the top rankings for search engines, like Google? It can and should. Include a way to gather email addresses and a “Contact Us” option. Update content regularly to keep the site fresh. Link to related sites and have them link to your site – it helps with SEO. Be consistent and brand your site to match other marketing materials.

Email
Once you’ve established an email list, develop a branded email template and a delivery schedule. Send emails on the date/time they will most likely by clicked on and read by your customers. Choose your email name wisely. Be creative. Your email name should entice the reader or be a call to action. Make your email worth reading. Provide information or offers your customers want. Emails should be customer-centric.

Social Media
Identify the social media your customers use and establish a branded presence. Develop a posting schedule that matches the most effective day/time to post.  Mix it up. Each post should be unique. Include a link to your website for more information. Less is more. Use creative graphics with short, direct text rather than large amounts of text. 

Want to learn more about how digital marketing can help your business? Contact Fusaro Consulting.

They say "Timing is everything." With social media usage by businesses on the rise, this couldn't be more true. It's important to use this new method of marketing wisely for the most benefit.

Here are a few simple Facebook tips for businesses large and small:

The best days for a business to post on Facebook are Thursday and Friday. 
The majority (86%) of Facebook content is posted during the work week, but the posts garnering the most engagement by viewers are published on Thursday and Friday. Content posted Monday thru Wednesday has below average engagement rates.

The best time of day to post Facebook content is early afternoon.
Studies show that posts made between 1pm and 3pm get the most shares and clicks. In general, try not to post before 9am or after 7pm.

On Facebook, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Skip the lengthy text and opt for a strong simple graphic that quickly communicates your message. A great Facebook post leaves your audience wanting more and gives them a way to access additional information. Use your post to make an announcement, then direct viewers to your location, website, email or phone for details. Make sure your graphics match size requirements for a Facebook post. Blurry or cropped images do not make a good impression on viewers.  

How can you learn more about Facebook and social medial marketing for your business? 
Fusaro Consulting has been providing marketing and social media services for nearly 30 years. Whether it's Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, email campaigns or your website, we can help you build a social media or marketing strategy that matches your budget, business vision and time availability. 

Contact us for a FREE consultation on how your business can successfully use social media to build brand recognition, consumer engagement and, most importantly, revenue.

Developing a strong marketing plan can be the key to your business' future success. If you're ready to improve or expand your business, here are a few questions you should consider.

1. What is your competitive advantage? 

Knowing what makes your business stand out from the competition is key to your future success. To do this, you must thoroughly investigate your competitors. Visit their locations. Experience their customer service. Know their product lines and pricing. Monitor their print, digital and social media marketing. Once you have fully evaluated your competitors, then you can focus on areas where you are superior. These areas make up your competitive advantage and should be a focus in your marketing.

2. Who is your target audience?

A successful marketing plan targets a specific audience that would benefit from your products and services. You will get better results if you target a smaller, qualified audience rather than spending time or money on a larger, irrelevant segment. Basic areas to focus on are age, sex, location, lifestyle and income. Potential and existing customers comprise your target market.

3. How can you reach your target audience?

There are many options when considering how to promote your competitive advantages to your target audience. It can be confusing, intimidating, time consuming and expensive. Newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, websites, email campaigns and social media are just a few options. Your description of your target audience will guide you in selecting the appropriate media, creating tailored content and spending your money wisely.

 4. Are you ready to get started?

Once you’ve identified your competitors, competitive advantages, target audience and methods of promotion, you’re almost ready to embark on your marketing journey. There’s one more step. Take a close look at your business –physical location, curb appeal, product display, brand consistency, customer service, website – anything your customers may experience. An evaluation of your business from the customer’s prospective can make or break any marketing plan. If it’s not your best, fix it. First impressions count!  

5. Where can you find help?

Like many small business owners, you’re an expert in your field. You’re working long hours creating, buying, selling or providing products and/or services. You’re also looking for opportunities to promote and expand your business that save time and are easy on the budget.

The good news is… help is on the way. Fusaro Consulting specializes in small business marketing and will provide you with nearly 30 years of marketing and advertising experience. Creating a detailed marketing plan, effective promotional ads, an engaging website, and exciting email and social media campaigns are just a few of the many ways Fusaro Consulting can help your business grow and thrive. Let’s get started. Contact us today! www.fusaroconsulting.com