Best E-Commerce Platforms to Consider for Your Online Store

Best E-Commerce Platforms to Consider for Your Online Store

If there is anything we have learned during the recent global pandemic is that people can make money online. The sheer number of inquiries we at Griffon Webstudios have received for building new e-commerce stores is astounding. Everyone wants to enjoy the luxury of making money from a custom website while they rest comfortably at home.

The good news is that there are plenty of excellent content management systems to get your latest shoe design or custom mobile app onto the best e-commerce platforms. Our e-commerce website experts have put together a quick list of our favorites.

Shopify

Shopify is our leading best e-commerce platform only because it is easy to use for beginners. This platform has all the bells and whistles you would want and requires so little self-education that you can quickly launch your new line of products without having to spend days trying to learn code.

We have completed many projects by setting up a Shopify site and then happily passing it off to a client after a short introduction and tutorial. This is also one of the most cost-effective solutions for small businesses just getting started and works with all the major payment processing companies.

WooCommerce

This is our number two pick because it is the favorite of WordPress-based websites. When you are a team of e-commerce website experts like us, you need to understand how to use the tools for WordPress sites. They are the most frequently used platform for bloggers and individuals to set up a business for the first time.

WooCommerce is open-sourced, which means it is free to use. You only spend money when an actual transaction occurs or if you want some of the extra features that individual developers create for add-ons.

Squarespace

Coming in third place, we have Squarespace. This is an excellent all-in-one solution for artists, authors, and people who want a more “drag and drop” situation for their online store. The reason this is in third for us is that you do not get quite the design variety of options in WordPress or the incredible SEO features of Shopify, but you do get a clean, easy-to-use system for your e-commerce venture.

BigCommerce

If you would like a more technical option, we suggest BigCommerce from our list of the best e-commerce platforms. This is a more customized version of Shopify with the capabilities of WordPress design, but it comes at a premium price, and it does require a little more technical know-how to really leverage.

Let Us Help You

Whatever platform looks right for you, let our e-commerce website experts be the ones to make it a reality. Our team at Griffon Webstudios has successfully launched e-commerce solutions for a variety of industries across a wide range of technological platforms. We can show you the best methods to ensure your audience gets the most out of each product listing and how to customize the experience for SEO purposes.

To get started with our team, visit our website. There you can find information on the different services we provide and some of the previous work Griffon Webstudios has completed in the past. So when you want an e-commerce site that will wow your customers, give us a try!

Google Ad Campaign Tips from Google Partners

Google Ad Campaign Tips from Google Partners

While some swear by using social media as their primary ad service, there is still extreme value in leveraging Google Ads to deliver quality messages to the target clients you want the most. The good news is that conducting a PPC review of your Google Ads campaign isn’t like opening a locked black box. All it takes is consistency and quality testing, and you could be experiencing a massive ROI for your ad spend.

 

The best way to get involved with Google Ads is to utilize the expertise of a company like Griffon Webstudios, a proud member of the Google Partners program. This means that Griffon has continued to meet the stringent requirements of certification, ad spend, and performance from Google.

Google-Partners

 

To give you an idea, here are some simple tips to improve your Google Ad metrics from an agency with the knowledge, experience, and success in optimizing campaigns for successful results.

 

1- Start with Your Landing Page

It may seem counterintuitive, but the amount of clients and businesses that do not have a functional flow on their landing page that delivers the who, what, why, and value proposition of whatever they are selling is astounding. You could have the best framed Google Ad campaign in the world, but if you don’t have a solid landing page to close the sale, you’ll never get the numbers you want.

 

2- Don’t Forget Negative Keywords

When you are streamlining the tags and keywords you’re using for your ads, be sure to include negative keywords. You are actively informing Google what your product is not. This prevents your ads from running with searches that are not relevant to the target market you’re trying to reach. Most of the work of improving PPC review involves optimizing the keywords.

 

3- Testing is Essential

Google Ads are a great way to test different keyword phrases, titles, tags, and page descriptions for what is the most relevant. Don’t be afraid to get in the ring a bit and spread your spending over a few different campaigns until you find the ones that deliver the highest return for your ad spend.

 

4- Use the Whole Ad

Expanded Text Ads (ETAs) matter a great deal to the Google Ads ecosystem. They provide your PPC review with an excellent way to craft a brand or product story that informs the client about all the details that may make the difference between a sale and passive interest. If you want your ads to appeal with more life from the text, be sure to use the entire ETA space with all the relevant information possible.

 

5- Local, Local, Local

We cannot stress this enough – the only good certified Google Partners to work with are the ones that understand the value in local SEO and geotagging. Google loves to give preferential treatment to a business providing products or services within the same geographic area of the consumer conducting the search. Leverage your local SEO at every turn.

 

Need More Help?

Running a successful Google Ads campaign takes a lot of experience and work. It means understanding the subtle nuances that can make the difference between outstanding success and another round of poor turnout. That is why working with our team at Griffon Webstudios is so beneficial.

 

We are a Google Partner certified agency that has managed hundreds of ad campaigns, driving more than $4 million in revenue for our business clients. Send us a note through our contact page to get started with our team. We are always looking to build new relationships and grow our client base.

NFTs Explained - How Is It Beneficial For Businesses?

NFT Explained – How is it Beneficial for Businesses?

It is impossible to read any technology news or financial article and not have the phrase NFT come across at some point. What may have started as a trend a couple of years ago has exploded into a new realm of importance thanks to the proliferation of cryptocurrency and the Metaverse name change from Facebook. Now, if you want to stay current with modern business trends, you need to understand the ins and outs of NFTs for businesses.

 

What are NFTs?

NFT stands for a non-fungible token, which is a fancy term for something that is one of a kind. Think of it like this: a dollar bill can be traded for another dollar bill; in fact, that is what our economy is based on. This is a fungible token, an item that can be exchanged for exactly the same thing.

 

An NFT is one of a kind. It is like owning a Babe Ruth baseball card signed by The Babe and attached to a ticket for a specific seat for his last game. This is a one-of-a-kind package. There may be similar items, but nothing matching that exact thing – thus non-fungible.

 

How do NFTs Work?

Most NFTs are part of the Ethereum blockchain. This gets technical quick, but the idea is that Ethereum is like Bitcoin. It is a cryptocurrency built using a specific ledger of transactions supported by algorithmic equations (i.e., the blockchain). Users post, buy, sell, and trade NFTs in marketplaces supported by this technology and use the blockchain as evidence to verify they own the NFT in question. Kind of like authentication for the Babe Ruth baseball card, but in this case, the blockchain is the expert giving the assessment and not some random pawn shop owner.

 

 

NFTs can be anything as long as you have a proper right to the creation. You can draw your own funny-looking cat, use a snippet of audio, video, or photo to create an NFT. They are a way to make money, and that is where the hype comes into play, especially over the past years during Covid 19.

 

So many artists, musicians, and trading houses have been stuck at home are have been incredibly happy to join in the rush to buy and sell NFTs. That is why you see some celebrities and well-known artists suddenly making millions from selling a single NFT. Consumers are willing to pay a lot of money for an original digital creation that they can lay claim to from now to eternity. Just like owning a Picasso gains in value over time, so will owning NFTs.

 

What About NFTs for Businesses?

Now for the nitty-gritty. How can NFTs benefit your business operations? For only a couple hundred dollars, your brand can mint and sell a series of NFTs based on your logo, catchphrases, mascots, and other related features that your audience loves. Loyal customers who want to enjoy a Starbucks coffee every day are willing to pay a ton of money for the NFT rights to the coffee cup’s official logo or digital art.

 

This is essentially just another avenue for growing revenue as a business. Disney is an excellent example of this new trend. They periodically release a set of NFTs related to Star Wars, The Simpsons, or their traditional Fab Five (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto, Goofy). From Luke Skywalker to the funny-looking two-legged droid in the latest release of The Book of Boba Fett on Disney Plus, each character has value as a digital piece of art that can be sold for thousands to millions of dollars.

 

NFTs provide a direct pathway to a younger audience that can be attracted to the idea of the Metaverse and blockchain-related goods/services. Securing your own brand’s digital assets in preparation for a future when complete customer interactions can be done via an avatar in the immersive virtual space of the Metaverse is not a whacky idea, but a valid plan for the future. There is a good chance we will see complete worlds being launched and developed for people to work, live, and play all from the convenience of their living room couch and an Oculus Rift or similar VR device.

 

The writing is already on the digital wall. When you have major brands like the NBA, NFL, Nike, Disney, Marvel, and more leading the charge for adopting NFTs into daily use, you may want to pay attention.

 

How Does a Business Sell NFTs?

NFTs for businesses is about the same as they are for individuals. You start by selecting a marketplace appropriate for your brand. The more popular ones include OpenSea, Axie Marketplace, Rarible, SuperRare, and Mintable.

 

Once your brand has signed up and created an account, you’ll need to “mint” your NFT. This means turning your digital file into a crypto collectible available on the Ethereum blockchain. Most marketplaces include a step-by-step guide to get you started on minting your first NFT.

 

Finally, you need to fund your NFT using a cryptocurrency wallet. This is giving real value to your digital asset. Again, read the fine print of the marketplace you’re using, and they’ll tell you which wallet to use and how much USD you’ll need to convert to mint your NFT.

 

After all that is complete, you’ll be allowed to list your NFT for sale. This will include “gas fees,” which are network fees for recording the transactions.

 

Before you launch, be sure to use Twitter, Reddit, and Instagram to blast your following with the details of the expected sale. The more upfront marketing you can do before the actual sale, the more the value of the NFT will grow and the higher your ROI.

 

Where to Get Started

This whole NFTs for businesses process may seem overwhelming, but it is more of a conceptual problem than a physical one. Pick any of the marketplaces we’ve listed, and you’ll find all the info needed to succeed in the NFT world.

 

If you are looking for more bespoke help, try our experts at Griffon Webstudios. We have the experience and technical knowledge to transform your brand, original art, or other digital assets into viable NFTs for listing. Reach out to our contact page today to schedule a consultation with our experts.

 

5 Ways How Multi Location Businesses Can Improve Their Profits Online

5 Ways How Multi Location Businesses Can Improve Their Profits Online

With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to linger, online/hybrid commerce has arrived much more quickly than many businesses had originally anticipated. In fact, many online selling platforms have more than doubled their number of users in less than two years. Whether or not your business was ready for this online migration, it has become the new normal for a business in 2022. If your multi-location business is still struggling to navigate these waters, the following breakdown looks at 5 ways you can improve your online profits in the current business climate.

 

1. Add a “Where to Find” Page to Your Website

Despite the continued shift to online commerce, there is still a large demographic that enjoys making purchases in person. Some people simply feel more comfortable when they have the chance to hold a product in their hands, compare options, and chat face-to-face with a real-life member of your team.

However, even those people who like to make their purchases the old-fashioned way will more than likely be starting their research process online, comparing options through a basic internet search. In order to capture as many of these leads as possible, it is paramount that your business has the best store locator software added to your company website.

 

Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash

 

Having a “where to buy” page serves a number of important purposes for the business:

    • Segmentation and conversion – automatically route leads to your nearest dealers and vendors so that these professionals can follow up and get clients in stores.
    • Client engagement – allows your business to use branded local pages to feature showrooms, reviews, and product photos so that customers can quickly see what types of products and services are in their local market.
    • Analytics – gives actionable statistics on how clients are arriving at your stores, which online campaigns are working for your business, and how effectively your dealers are following up with leads and closing sales.

 

2. Use a Central Location to Consolidate Resources

With the cost of commercial rent soaring across the country, businesses are looking for as many ways as possible to downsize. While shifting completely online is the logical choice for some companies, this is simply not an option for service-based businesses that will always require some sort of physical presence.

However, what you can do is pare down each one of your physical branches. Keep only what you need for doing business at each location. Have a central hub to store all products and supplies for servicing each of your branches.

This will greatly reduce the amount of space needed for storage at your physical locations and limit the number of worker hours needed to keep your separate branches running. In fact, if you are able to perform this process effectively, you may be able to rent a small section of a larger building to perform your service, splitting the rent with another tenant.

 

3. Have Elite Customer Service

In the age of hybrid commerce, customers have greater choice in where to buy than ever before. If they are not happy with one business, all they have to do is search for a similar offering and place an order from a competitor. Customer defection can transpire in a matter of seconds.

One of the surest ways to annoy customers is through poor customer service. While chatbots and redirects to tutorial videos and FAQ pages are a great place to start and will suffice for some customers, others will quickly become frustrated when automation does not have the answer to their specific question or concern.

Therefore, it is incumbent on your business to go above and beyond to guarantee customer satisfaction. If possible, try to quickly connect customers to a live service agent. If this is not feasible for your business, make sure you provide them an opportunity for voicing their concern and try to get back to them in no more than 24 hours. The last thing your business needs is for a frustrated customer to defect to a competitor and leave a scathing online review as they go.

 

4. Build Ongoing Relationships

Statistics reveal that a mere 5% increase in customer retention can lead to up to a 95% increase in profit. As such, it is critical that you place special attention on locking in your current client base and not give them the chance to go elsewhere. Some ways you can do this include:

    • Keep up-to-date contact information so that you can provide them with the nearest option to access one of your stores whenever they move.
    • Featuring their stories and feedback on your company website or social media pages. Customers love feeling like they are part of your team.
    • Sending unique coupons, offers, and incentives to returning clients. Have a robust referral program so that your loyal customers get rewarded for marketing for you.
Photo by Jason Goodman on Unsplash

5. Set Up an Infrastructure for Convenient Online Payment

Finally, customers want as much convenience as possible during the online checkout process. Setting up ponderous accounts or not being able to use their preferred payment option is one of the leading causes of abandoned carts. Some ways to add convenience to the checkout process include:

    • Applying any saved information from previous purchases to current purchases.
    • Accepting as diverse a selection of payments as possible. Younger customers particularly like Venmo and Cash App.
    • Make guest checkout an option for new customers. If they are happy with your business, they will eventually create an account.

 

Improve Profits for Multi-Location Businesses

Hybrid commerce has become a way of life for businesses in 2022. To help your multi-location business be as profitable as possible in these uncharted waters, add a WordPress store locator to your company website, consolidate resources to a central location as much as possible, have elite customer service, build ongoing relationships, and set up a robust infrastructure for processing online payments. It is very important to consider working closely with the marketing experts who can help you strategize and improve your ROI.

Google Ads Vs Social Media Ads

Google Ads vs. Social Media Ads – What’s Best for My Business?

Trying to get as many high-quality eyes on your website can be a real challenge for even the most desirable service or product. It doesn’t matter if you are selling the keys to the Fountain of Youth. If you cannot get the foot traffic, you won’t have reliable revenue pouring into your online business.

That is why many owners and operators turn to social media or Google ads experts that can elevate the visibility of any brand and encourage more lead acquisition. You don’t necessarily have to participate in a “pay to play” business model, but if you want a reliable method of securing a growing market share, you will most likely have to do some online advertising.

What is the Difference?

Every business has unique needs that require customized solutions. There are many different social media platforms that can benefit your business. You don’t need to use all of them. In fact, many digital brand strategists would suggest sticking to the 1-3 social media platforms more related to your industry. If you have a lot of video content, you may want YouTube or TikTok. If you have great photos, Instagram or Facebook may be best.

Facebook has over 2.7 billion monthly active users and allows you to target ads to those users with precise demographics or characteristics. Using a social media ads expert gives you great insights into CTR information, especially when combined with a pixel or tracking device to see who is clicking on your ads the most. Social media offers a better CTR than Google.

Google is the leading search engine in the world. Where social media targets specific user groups, Google gives you a much broader audience and allows you to remarket your campaigns, especially those that add something to their cart from your site and then don’t follow through on the purchase.

What You Need to Consider?

Whether trying to leverage keywords with Google ads or getting the social proof you need to generate UGC with social media ads, the real determining factors are going to be based on you and your business. You need to ask a few questions like:

    1. What is my budget and the cost of running these ads?
    2. Do I have the knowledge to do these campaigns on my own?
    3. How easy is it to use Google ads or social media ads?
    4. Will I know how to restructure and test my ad campaigns from returning data?
    5. Is my business primarily SEO-based or social media-based?
    6. Where do my best customer profiles hang out online?

And more!

That is why the often best solution is to combine the two strategies. It is just like investing in the stock market. You may love Tesla, Disney, or Amazon to death, but putting all your eggs in one basket could lead to a lot of eggshells on the ground. Diversifying your ad campaigns between both Google and social media is a great way to grow your brand online.

Where to Get Started?

If you are ready to make the leap into digital advertising, why not speak to the Google ads experts and social media ads experts at Griffon Webstudios? We have years of experience navigating the different platforms and campaigns available that can help your band reach those consumers who are most likely to engage your services or make a purchase from your store. Schedule a meeting with the team today and watch your revenues soar!

Ecommerce Marketing Ideas to Make a Difference in the Coming Year

E-Commerce Marketing Ideas to Make a Difference in the Coming Year

The New Year is nearly upon us, and everywhere you look retailers and e-commerce marketing campaigns are being turned into high gear to capture as many sales as possible before the big Christmas holiday. While that is a great strategy in the short term, it doesn’t prepare small businesses and online sellers for the upcoming year.

 

That is why we’ve gone through a few of the expected web design trends and e-commerce marketing tips that you should take advantage of to keep your business afloat and doing well in the future.

 

1- Step up Your Visual Game

 The vast majority, nearly 83%, of consumers consider sharing video content with their friends when it relates to their interests, needs, or desires. That means if you want to have content that engages your target market, you need to make it tailored to their needs and in a video format. User-generated content is one of the most valuable ways to go viral online and through social media. Having videos of unboxings, tours of your facilities or funny 20-second clips will go a long way to improving your e-commerce marketing in 2022.

 

2- Don’t Shy from SEO and Link Building

There is a good reason why so many web design trends involve SEO practices. You could have all the fantastic and engaging content you want, but if Google and other major search engines don’t understand how to categorize your website, you won’t get the traction you need. This is even truer for local SEO. You don’t want to appear like a shoe company based in LA if you are selling homemade candles in Alaska.

 

3- Personalize As Much As Possible

Today’s consumer not only wants a more personalized experience with their favorite brands, they expect it and will judge other brands when it isn’t offered. Using customized advertisements that change what is viewable on your website based on the user’s demographics visiting your landing page improves your click rates. Instead of casting a wide net that gets lost in the marketing mix, you are directly targeting high-value consumers’ needs and wants. 

 

4- Integrate Social Proof

The advantage of shopping online is that you get to read other users’ reviews who have tried a product or service. Having a space in your e-commerce marketing for user-generated social proof like reviews increases your trust factor with those on the fence about making a purchase. This web design trend to post recent Amazon or Shopify reviews directly on your landing page is an excellent way to bring more attention to what you have to offer.

 

 

Where to Get Started

When you consider what changes you need to make to your marketing and website platforms for the next year, try reaching out to the experts at Griffon Webstudios. We have years of experience streamlining e-commerce marketing campaigns and improving your website user journey that can directly target those consumers most aligned with your products and services.

 

Visit Griffon Webstudios and schedule a consultation with our expert staff today!

Proven Local SEO Tips to Dominate Google Search

Proven Local SEO Tips to Dominate Google Search

How often have you done your keyword research only to find those challenging to leverage phrases that always end with “near me” or “in my area” in your results? That is because almost half of all Google searches involve looking for local information. Consumers use their mobile devices to hunt down stores, restaurants, entertainment, and services near their specific location.

Google noticed this a long time ago. They began shifting their search engine algorithm to elevate businesses higher in organic results with location data as part of their SEO strategy. Maybe your site gets buried when people in two states over searching for “local sushi restaurant,” but you are number one in the results when it is someone within 20 miles of your excellent spicy tuna roll.

Would you like to rank higher in Google for local SEO? Here are a few of our digital marketing tips that are proven to give you a boost.

1- Leverage Google My Business

Google My Business is a profile of your company that often comes up beside search results on Google’s website. It is a quick overview of your business that makes it incredibly easy for consumers to locate your products and services. On mobile devices, you will appear above the fold, often before any other search results after filling out the proper information for Google.

2- Utilize Other Business Listings

It might seem simple, but updating your listing on Yelp, Angie’s List, HotFrog, or any other popular business listing website should be at the top of your local SEO checklist. This sends a clear signal to Google that you are who you say you are, and any searches in your area should filter back to your business.

3- Consistent Information

Business information will change periodically. Maybe your company will move to a new building, or use multiple phone numbers for different departments. In either case, you need to ensure all your NAP (name and place) data is the same across all your platforms. Google wants to verify you because it improves their service. Having your name, address, phone number, and other contact data the same on Google, Yelp, and even social media is incredibly important to your local SEO results.

4- Create and Optimize Local Content

This may seem obvious, but many businesses overlook simply adding highly relevant local keywords to their content. For example, if you are a Seattle-based dog groomer but do not list words like Seattle, Washington, and Northwest on your website, you are not telling Google exactly where you operate. You’re missing out on potential customers because your digital marketing isn’t directed to consumer location-based searches.

5 – Be Mobile Responsive

If you haven’t already, update your website so it is mobile responsive. This is a good idea for your local SEO checklist because nearly 30% of all mobile searches are locally based. If your website does not display well on a mobile device, you will not appear well on Google’s search engine results.

Local SEO to the Rescue

Leveraging local SEO in your digital marketing strategy is an easy way to increase your brand visibility, website traffic, and overall success. This is a straightforward solution to growing your business within your local area that does not take a lot of work or research to complete. The more you can take advantage of improving your local digital footprint, the more likely you will rank higher in Google, leading to better customer engagement.

Foolproof Marketing Plan & Strategy for Your Business

Foolproof Marketing Strategy for Your Business

If you want to grow your business in the modern online marketplace, you need to develop robust marketing strategies that go beyond SEO. There are some essential elements your website and online presence must have to compete with the hundreds and possibly thousands of businesses in your particular niche. It all begins with setting up a strong marketing strategy that explains the ins and outs of your target goal and the steps you will take to achieve success.

The Base Model

1- Summarize and Identify

Start by outlining your business model with the details you already know but may not be clearly conveyed to your customers. For example, what is your name, location info, contact points, mission statement, philosophy, and values? Do you present this information to your customers in a transparent and conducive way so they can quickly understand how and what you are?

2- What are Your Goals?

You cannot work towards a goal if you haven’t defined it yet. What is the marketing initiative you hope to achieve in the short and long term? What key performance indicators will let you know you’ve reached specific benchmarks like sales revenue, website traffic, and conversion rates?

3- Who is Your Target Market?

Time to get out the data-driven insights and define your target market, high-value customers, competition, and overall niche analysis. You need to know the demographics of everyone involved in your customer journey.

4- Time to Strategize

Now it is time for the meat of the project. How are you going to reach those target customers with the least and most engagement potential? What channels will be leveraged the most to entice them to interact with your brand?

5- Budget Everything

It is way too easy to go over budget when working on a new marketing strategy because you can see the potential value you are going to bring into the business. Take your time and follow a strict budget, so your overall operating costs do not end up fluctuating beyond your control.

Would You Like a Checklist?

You’ve developed a strong plan, but what suggestions for different marketing strategies? Here are a few of the ideas and tips that have worked well for businesses in the past:

  1. Leverage market trends
  2. Identify customer value points
  3. Improve your distribution channels
  4. Create buyer personas
  5. Profile your competitors
  6. Categorize market segments
  7. Prioritize which customers to target first
  8. Include comprehensive customer touchpoints (social media, website, email, etc.)
  9. Adjust your pricing
  10. Set precise sales forecasts that are communicated to everyone on your team
  11. Increase your SEO, SEM, and PPC plans
  12. Have a modern mobile responsive website
  13. User generated content and personalization

There are many, many more ideas, but that is an excellent place to get started. Of course, the best way to implement a new marketing strategy is to hire the SEO experts at Griffon Webstudios.

We have years of experience developing high-performing marketing strategies for businesses across all industries. Working with our marketing and design team is an excellent place to establish a solid marketing campaign for your business’s future growth. Give us a call today and schedule a consultation. You will see how quickly your team shifts into high gear to improve your business potential.

Ultimate Holiday Marketing Campaigns for Your E-Commerce Business

Ultimate Holiday Marketing Campaigns for Your E-Commerce Business

The leaves are changing their colors into a vibrant natural kaleidoscope that conjures images of cozy evenings wrapped in a blanket in front of the fireplace while sipping on a fresh pumpkin spice latte. The holiday season is finally upon us and soon, we will be reliving glory days around the Thanksgiving table with family as we start shopping for Christmas presents using our phones.

Is your business ready for all that activity? Do you have a marketing campaign already in place for Black Friday and the busy holiday season leading up to the New Year? If not, it may be time to hire an e-commerce marketing agency.

Rise Above the Competition

The recent pandemic has forced marketing campaigns to be incredibly competitive. More and more people are entering the world of online business development because they need other income streams compared to traditional jobs of the past. With so much competition, you need a way to improve your e-commerce conversions and get more sales, especially during a season when most of the world is shopping online.

A professional e-commerce marketing agency can streamline all your holiday campaigns into easy-to-understand processes. Everything from social media implementations to stunning email promotions can be simplified so you don’t miss out on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or any important dates during the holiday shopping season.

why-consumers-shop-online

Unify Your Messaging

Your holiday promotions need to be universal across all your online platforms. If you send a thank you email to a customer who just placed an order, there should be a note about your Cyber Monday deal. Likewise, your social media should all be pointing to any shipping discounts you’re offering for last-minute Christmas shoppers.

Most importantly, you need to start leveraging data analytics to see how your holiday marketing campaigns perform. You want to quickly respond to market shifts or customer needs that may require a tweak to your campaign here and there.

Personalize Everything

Holiday campaigns require new graphics and copy that should align with your brand identity but are personalized for your target market. You need to deliver highly relevant content with eye-catching visuals on all your landing pages designed in holiday themes.

While you are developing new pages and content for this holiday season, make sure you optimize all your pages to maintain a high site speed that is mobile responsive. You want everything to be easily digested by the majority of shoppers. They are going to use their smartphones and tablets to look for products for their friends and family.

For the first time in history, smartphone purchases accounted for more than $50 billion in seasonal sales!

Where to Begin

Maybe you’re working with local businesses and influencers to promote your holiday deals or have new upselling packages to encourage more site traffic during this busy season. Whatever the reason, hiring an e-commerce marketing agency to deliver your marketing campaign is an excellent place to start.

Griffon Webstudios offers an experienced team of marketing specialists and web design experts ready to transform your online presence for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, the New Year, and so much more. We have all the industry knowledge and technical skills to help you significantly impact your revenue streams this season. Give us a call today to set up a consultation and learn how this holiday season can be one of the best your business has ever seen.

What Does It Take To Develop A Native Mobile App?

What Does it Take to Develop a Native Mobile App?

Figuring out what kind of mobile application will work best for your business can be a challenge. If you have never done any type of app development before, the learning curve to creating something new can be a little steep.

That is why it is crucial to hire a professional app development company. They will have the expertise to help you build, streamline, and launch a powerful mobile app.

What is a Native App?

A native mobile application is built using a specific language or platform for use with a particular device. These apps are installed directly through that device’s branded store like Apple’s App Store or Google Play. They operate directly on the mobile device and access specific device features like GPS for location data. So if you want an iOS app, you would use a language like Swift and design your application specifically to work on iPhones or iPads.

Where to Begin

Native app development is highly sought after because it is faster, more secure, and reliable than cross-platform or hybrid applications. The downside is they take a bit longer than other development and usually involve a higher price tag to complete. The best way to get your mobile app launched is to hire an app designer who works within the framework of your target device. They will have the experience and know-how to manage every step of the process, including:

  • Defining strategic goals
  • Analysis & Planning
  • UI/UX Design
  • Actual Native App Development
  • Testing
  • Deployment & Support

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Every one of these stages is essential in developing your own native application. Of course, some design houses may use a modified version of these steps depending on the scope and price tag of your specific requirements, but for the most part, this is the basic outline of what to expect.

 

Why Using Native Apps Helps

Let’s go back to our original example. We are a New York-based florist with multiple locations around the city and have just completed a native app build. How does this help our business?

First, we know our clients tend to use Apple products more than anything else. So we have created a brand extension that associates our business with their favorite device. Now they are making an association between our company and one of the most trustworthy brands in the world.

Next, we can start leveraging their iOS features to our advantage. Say we launch a new ad campaign where we use push notifications through our native app so that consumers see coupon codes whenever there is an upcoming holiday or a birthday listed on their calendar.

This will encourage them to reach out and purchase some of our flower arrangements for their next special date. We can also use our native app to send notifications whenever they are within a certain perimeter of our store that says something like, “Have you sent your mom flowers recently?”

Finally, we are creating a faster connection with our target market. Native app design is all about using the device features to accelerate our customer relationships. It may cost a bit more upfront, but the benefits over the long term are well worth the investment. If you have an app idea ready to go for your business, using native app development to target your most engaged consumers is a great way to go.