In 2014, it is mind boggling how many companies still make certain online presence mistakes. You would think they’d know better by now, but they don’t. It only seems fitting that in honor of Halloween, we compiled 4 of the scariest mistakes that companies somehow still make when it comes to their internet presence.
These 4 online marketing mistakes should definitely send a horrified shudder down your spine, even if Halloween doesn’t!
1. Paying For Links or Followers
I cringe every time we see the Twitter profiles or ads that promote buying more Twitter followers or Facebook likes. The same goes for link schemes which require you to pay for more links to your website. This is a clear violation of Google Webmaster guidelines and when it comes to social media, if your paying for likes then your not reaching your intended audience. It makes absolutely no sense to have hundreds of “fans” who really have no interest in you or your products.
Besides, anything that guarantees that you will gain more followers or more website links is a definite red flag, and you may end up having to clean up the disaster left behind by such schemes. It can completely destroy your credibility as a website.
Instead, stick with the old fashioned way: work hard and honestly for your social media followers and your Google rankings. Otherwise your just digging yourself into a hole. And trust me, in the end you’ll actually find that quantity doesn’t mean quality.
2. Atrocious Website Layout
If your looking to do business online, your website is key to creating a space that markets your brand successfully. Your website is the entry gate into your business. That is why having a beautiful website layout that is visually appealing and easy to navigate is the most important part of your online strategy.
You can have the best Twitter feed or Pay-Per-Click ads, but if they link to a confusing and poorly-laid out website your just going to damage your brand.
Instead of creating ugly, jumbled pages that have no clear direction, think simple and actionable. Your web pages should be clean and focused on getting your message across. Otherwise, your website will just end up confusing your visitors.
Consider what your website looks like to someone who has no previous knowledge of your company. Would they understand what you do? Would they understand what action they can take to contact your company?
If the answer to either of these questions is no, than you have a problem.
3. Horrible Mobile Responsiveness
We’ve all been there. We click on a link while browsing the web on our mobile device, and next thing we see is a jumbled up mass of image, text, and who knows what. Or the website is exactly the same as the full computer screen version, so your find yourself trying to read tiny print and fill out minuscule information fields. This is an amateur mistake and in the mobile day and age we are living in should definitely not be happening any more. Without a responsive website design that will allow users to access your website from all devices simply and easily you are just going to lose website traffic and potential customers.
4. Bad Blogging
Boy, have I seen some scary blogging. Blogging that doesn’t even deserve the name. Because seriously, 200 words talking about how great your business is, and why people should do business with you is not a blog post. No, you need to be creating quality content consistently that actually speaks to your customers, otherwise you are wasting valuable space on your website and are only scaring away clients, not drawing them in. Your blog is not a space for shameless self promotion, instead it is a space of learning and information. Stop abusing it.
Even if your online presence is completely terrifying, there is still hope. Evaluating your website and online presence practices from the perspective of a potential client can help you gain a clearer understanding for what your potential leads are looking for from your online presence.