14
Apr

10 Tips to Grow Your Twitter Followers

1. Let people know you have a Twitter feed

If you have a Facebook page or website then go ahead and link to your Twitter account from them. If people are searching to see if you have a Twitter account, then your website is probably the first place they’ll look. Why not even add a Twitter feed to your homepage!

 

2. Tweet regularly

It’s important to be active on all social media, including Twitter. People won’t want to follow an account that never posts anything and existing followers will forget you exist. If you can’t simply don’t use Twitter as it could even have a negative effect on your brand.

3. Be relevant to your followers

Like all good communications, your tweets should be relevant to your brand/company. BBC News probably wouldn’t gain or retain many followers if they only ever tweeted about what they got up to with their kids at the weekend. Likewise most mummy bloggers/tweeters wouldn’t have any followers if they only posted links to news stories. Also, if you’re relevant to your brand then you will pick up followers who are interested in your brand and who are more likely to follow marketing messages.

4. Be original

You can offer exclusive news and content, but just being a bit different to your other assets is enough. For example, don’t just post exactly the same thing on your Twitter page as you do on your Facebook page. It looks a little lazy and people will only follow one or the other. Facebook is a great way for your fans to interact with each other, but Twitter is a great way for you to interact with your fans. This means you can be more conversational and update more often.

5. Interact with others on Twitter

Every time someone retweets your tweet or @mentions you you’ll appear in their feed exposing you to all their followers. Plus, people will enjoy following you more if you actually talk to them.

6. Follow similar Twitter accounts

I don’t mean to say that if you’re Coca-Cola you should follow Pepsi. However, let’s say you post interesting updates about the financial sector – following other accounts that do the same could be very beneficial. Most their followers will probably be interested in following you too, so interact with them – get them tweet to and about you. They’ll also be a source of information for you to tweet about.

7. Take advantage of trending topics and popular # tags

From time to time you may think of a great way to play on a trending topic. For example @LDN_TUBE’s “campaign to get Jay-Z & Beyonce to name their baby after a London Underground Tube station #JayonceBabyNames”.

It’s can be a good idea to get involved with ‘Follow Friday’ #FF as well. If you suggest people to follow, people will suggest you in return. Share some Twitter love!

8. Make use of original # tags

Twitter users enjoy using #tags so this is a great way to get people involved with your brand and talking about you. For example, @HorribleBoss used the #FireFriday tag.

9. Offer Competitions and giveaways

A competition every so often will not only attract new followers, but also stop your existing ones from unfollowing you. @Sega make great use of giveaways with their Free Stuff Fridays – every Friday they just give away some of the merchandise they have lying around their office.

10. Be Human

Just like consumers prefer to have their phone calls answered by a real person rather than a pre-recorded message, so too do they prefer to follow real people on Twitter. It seems more personal and friendly and encourages more interaction. To achieve a more human tone just add a bit of emotion to your tweets “Absolutely love this new website…” or talk about stuff that’s happening to you “There’s a lot of talk in our office about…”.

If you need help on how to setup a Twitter account for your business why not drop us a call, we are always here to help!

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    19
    Mar

    6 top tips on creating captivating text for your site

    Maybe the last thing you will think about when designing your new website is the font and format of the text on your site, but it is probably the most important part of the site and the design.

    Text needs to be mixed with images and white space but too jumbled and your site will lack identity. So here are six top tips to help minimise your potential headache:

    1. Sometimes smaller is better

    People have an ever-shorter attention span, especially on the internet, so you need to grab their attention quickly and say everything you need to say quickly and filled with facts. Smaller modules of text look neater and will be more attractive to your potential reader. They should also be easier to incorporate into your site design.

    2. Prioritise content

    Imagine your site content as a news story. Give them a headline (A clear sign-posting heading). Tell the most important part of your ‘story’ first. Then if there space, elaborate on it further down, using facts, statistics or a case-study. Then round it off with a summary, repeating your opening lines – but in different words. If you have lots of points to make on the same page, take a similar approach, making the most important point at the top of your page.

    3. Words will govern site width

    The width of a formatted text block has a big impact psychologically on a potential reader. Too many words on a line and the reader will be overwhelmed and put off, much more so than a long page of text. Keep your block manageable. 7- 10 words is an acceptable guide. Much less and your text will look disjointed and also affect the flow.

    4. Ditch the scroll

    While longer lengths of text are sometimes impossible to avoid, especially if you are keeping an eye on the width, too long and you will also risk losing your reader. We’ve covered the aspect of ‘the fold’ before and there is still something psychologically off-putting for a reader if they constantly have to use the scroll bar or scroll button to read everything on your site. If your text really is too much to get in one screen, try and break it up into separate pages instead, this will create a more natural read for people used to reading traditional books.

    5. Bold and italics fonts are not always best

    If you want to make an impact, there are more creative options than bold and italics, size has a bigger influence on a computer screen. Colour can help – but don’t overdo it – and remember underlining works much better in books than it does on the screen.

    6. Use a master grid

    You are probably designing your site on a grid system anyway so make sure your text fits the same. Keep your pages in a familiar form. If people are clicking through your site that familiarity will hook them to keep reading.

    Just six tips on keeping your text under control and making it trap your reader on your site – in a nice way – but there are many more. Remember always get honest opinions from others before your site goes live. What you think looks great may come across very differently to others.

    If you have any questions or need help with your website text as always drop us an email at: info@webdesignhighwycombe.com

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      9
      Mar

      Free Ebook: How to Use Pinterest for Business

      Here at WDHW we love to give something back to our readers, and as its a Friday we are all in a good mood. So though we would share the following Pinterest Free eBook.

      Pinterest isn’t just another social media network.

      What appears to be the fastest-growing social media site ever has become a huge traffic referral (arguably, more powerful than Google+) for all businesses. An increasing number of companies are leveraging the platform to reach a new audience, increase visits to their websites, and generate leads or retail sales. And guess what? It’s working.

      Download this free, 43-page ebook and learn:

      • How Pinterest works and top reasons you should be using it
      • How to create a Pinterest account and grow followers
      • How B2B companies use Pinterest for lead generation
      • How eCommerce companies use Pinterest to increase retail sales
      • Examples of how real-life businesses leverage Pinterest for growth

      This is the first complete guide to Pinterest for businesses – Click Here to Download!

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        21
        Feb

        Internet Marketing Explained Lesson #1

        What is the difference between a HTML Sitemap and a XML Sitemap?

        This is a common question we get asked here at Web Design High Wycombe and as usual we would like to write a blog to help and share the answer.  Its actually very simple (easy for a web developer to say!).

        There are two types of site map as our title states, the first is the HTML sitemap. This is seen by human users as a page on the website. It simply clearly lists a link to every page on the website, this is particularly useful for usability on very large websites.

        The second is an XML sitemap, this is a file placed on the webspace hosting for Google only, its best description is a snapshot of your sites page structure. It tells Google what pages are on the site instantly when it crawls the site, Google then hopefully will list these pages in its search results.

        It’s very important to have a site map especially if you are a brand new site going live for the first time as an XML sitemap can speed up the time it takes Google to first index your website (show you in it’s results). We wont get to techy with you and explain how to make an XML sitemap as thats not what this blog is about, but if you are having trouble feel free to drop us an email.

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          19
          Jan

          10 Reasons why your Business needs a Google Plus Page

          Internet Marketing High Wycombe Bucks1. Join Conversations and chat to your Customers

          If you want to engage in conversations with people talking about your business/industry, you should have a business profile so that you can talk back with your business name. This will show people that you’re listening and care enough about your business to get involved in their conversations.  This can also help you get more fans for your page.

          2. Brand Protection

          Don’t wait for others to start creating pages with your business name. Create the official page for your business so that people on Google+ know where to find your real page/profile.

          3. Your Fans, Customers and/or Potential Customers are on Google+

          Google+ is growing at an amazing rate – and on pace to surpass MySpace in traffic. People are looking to follow businesses and brands, and if you don’t have a page, you’re losing opportunities to gain customers/fans just for not having a page up.

          4. Own More Listings in Google Search (And Push Down Others)

          When someone searches for your business name in Google, you will own more search results on the page by having a Google+ page listed there, too.

          5. Build More Relevant Links to Your Domain & Products

          Link to your services, landing pages, and main site in the “About” section to help fans and potential customers find relevant landing pages or sections of your site.

          6. Get More +1s in the Google Ecosystem

          Google wants to help businesses advertise smarter by using +1s in AdWords ads, websites, and now +1s on pages. +1s help Google determine how relevant a business listing or ad might be for someone. Just as Facebook ads uses social sharing to help increase clicks, Google wants to help businesses get more relevant traffic by tying together +1s to make content more relevant to fans and potential customers.

          7. It Takes Less Than 5-Minutes to Set-up Your Business Page.

          It literally takes minutes to create a page and upload a logo. Even if you don’t have time to spend writing posts, get your page up so people who are looking for you can circle you. If you want us to help we are happy to!

          8. You’ll Learn More About Your Customers with Google+ Analytics

          Google will soon bring in analytics into Google+ pages so you can learn a lot more about your customers and fans, which can help you with your advertising efforts. Imagine the marketing possibilities and intelligence you’ll have when you combine analytics from AdWords, your site, and  Google+ Page circles.

          9. Improve Your Advertising Efforts

          Imagine the re-marketing and social ad possibilities you will have in AdWords if you have already have an audience in Google+ and potential access to advertise to people who circle your fans (similar to Facebook social ads).  Google makes money by helping businesses profit with AdWords, so it makes sense that Google will use this social network to help businesses advertise smarter.  So make sure you have an audience there when they flip the switch.

          10. Don’t Lose Your Opportunity to Be A Thought Leader in Google+

          Develop a page around topics important to your business. Get ideas, share, and start a conversation to get people talking about topics important to your business.

          Need help setting up your Google plus page? Email us today: info@webdesignhighwycombe.com

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            1
            Jan

            A Brief Look Back At 2011 Online Trends

            2011 Internet Marketing High WycombeFirst of all a very happy new year to all our readers! As we start 2012 lets have a quick look at what people most talked, watched & tweeted about online in 2011…

            Most Google Searches in 2011:

            1. Rebecca Black
            2. Google Plus
            3. Ryan Dunn
            4. Casey Anthony
            5. Battlefield 3
            6. Iphone 5
            7. Adele
            8. ?? ??
            9. Steve Jobs
            10. Ipad 2

            Top Ads on YouTube in 2011:

            1. VW – The Force
            2. T-Mobile – Royal Wedding
            3. Chrysler – Imported From Detroit
            4. DC Shoes – Ken Block’s Gymkhana Four: The Hollywood Megamercial
            5. smartwater – Jennifer Aniston goes viral
            6. Team Hot Wheels – The Yellow Driver’s World Record Jump
            7. Old Spice – Scent Vacation
            8. Apple – Introducing Siri on iPhone 4S
            9. Samsung – Unleash Your Fingers
            10. adidas – D Rose: adiZero Rose 2 The Bull

            The top Twitter hashtags of the year were:

            1. #egypt
            2. #tigerblood
            3. #threewordstoliveby
            4. #idontunderstandwhy
            5. #japan
            6. #improudtosay
            7. #superbowl
            8. #jan25

            Top Paid Apps of 2011:

            Angry Birds
            Fruit Ninja
            Angry Birds Seasons
            Cut The Rope
            Tiny Wings
            Angry Birds Rio
            Words With Friends
            Camera+
            Doodle Jump
            Plants vs. Zombies

            If we had one tip for 2012 for you business it would be this….. stay social! The social networks will go from strength to strength this year for businesses. For more info on taking your business further online in 2012 get in touch.

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              21
              Dec

              5 signs you need a new website for your business

              Your website is your online shop front, it should be user friendly, professional and truly reflect what your business has to offer a potential customer.

              It’s always hard taking the jump to update or even build a new website if you already have an existing site. But hopefully the points below will help you clarify and decide if that time has come to invest in a new website.

              1. Browser compatibility issues.
              If your site is now a number of years old it’s likely that it may not display correctly on new browsers like Google chrome. Not to mention the multitude of different version releases of the long standing Firefox and Internet Explorer.

              2. Not search engine friendly
              Most people using Google to find a business these days as it acts as the modern day Yellow Pages. This means search engine optimisation for a business site is a must!

              3. Outdated information or branding
              A lot of older websites do not have the ability for the company owner to make design or content changes easily. This then means sites become out of date quickly maybe including services that are now not relevant. Also keeping company branding consistent is very important, remember your site maybe the first time a user hears / see your business.

              4. Lack of calls to action / poor conversion
              Your site should be a tool to gain new business, if its not doing this it could be a number of factors. But calls to action are very important, for example capturing a users details by offering them something for free like tips in a monthly newsletter or a downloadable guide. This then gives you the details you need to build these visitors into future customers.

              5. Usability
              You could have the best website content / product in the world but if your visitors can’t easily navigate your site they will simply leave. A site should be easy to use without a user needing to even question where they are or how they get to where they want to go next. Sticking to consistant navigation and colours throughout the site will help your sites usabilty as one simple and easy tip.

              So after reading this list do you feel your website could be doing more for you? If so drop us an email info@webdesignhighwycombe.com and we would be happy to help you improve your online marketing channel.

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                15
                Dec

                New Facebook timeline layout hits UK at last!

                Facebook Marketing High WycombeAfter months of previews and other countries outside the UK recieving the new Facebook layout called “timeline” the UK finally has the option to update to it. It’s not offically out till the 22nd of December but if you type “timeline” into the main Facebook search box you can enable it now.

                Most users we think will take a little while to adjust to the new layout (we did here at Web Design High Wycombe) but overall we think its a step in the right direction once you settle into the new layout. What it does give businesses and companies the chance to do is really brand up their Facebook profiles, we are hoping these new  design features roll over to companies pages to! Above is just an example of how Coke decided to brand up their page, and with so much social media marketing now can you afford not to.

                Of course we are always here to help if you need a hand branding up your online social media channels so drop us a line or email: info@webdesignhighwycombe.com

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                  14
                  Dec

                  Why your business should have a Google map listing

                  Here at Web Design High Wycombe we are always asked how I can get better rankings / positions in Google for our website or business.

                  What a lot of people don’t realise is its can be very easy to get a page 1 Google listing for your business in the form of a Google Map listing.

                  Now this isn’t as good as proper search listing but at least it gets your business some page 1 presence, while you’re working on your search listing results.

                  The differences between a map listing and a search listing

                   We also find a lot of clients we talk to are confused by the difference between a map listing and a search result. We don’t blame them as it’s only been in the last few years that Google combined the two. A map listing is what comes at the top of the search results with the pins shown on a small map, it will usually list 5-10 results based on your search term for example “Web Designers in High Wycombe”.

                  Think of Google maps as the modern day Yellow Pages, as it really is the current equivalent and with 81.14% of people using Google as their search engine it really is a no brainer from a business marketing point of view.

                  Outrank the competition

                  Another great advantage of map listings is if optimised right for your keywords you can outrank your competition. And all without the need for expensive pay per click advertising if done correctly (obviously depending on the level of competition in your area).

                  And the best bit is….

                  Google map business listings are completely free! That’s right there is no cost what so ever to list your business, now we understand the world of Google isn’t the easiest for the average web user so if you have problems or need help listing your business we are only a call of email (info@webdesignhighwycombe.com) away! So what have you got to lose, get your business listed today!

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                    13
                    Dec

                    10 tips to make your business Facebook page stand out

                    Facebook Marketing High Wycombe BucksWith over three million Facebook pages out there, and more being added every day, you will need to make your page stand out in order to really make a splash in your market.

                    Just having a Facebook fan page does not mean that Facebook users will start pouring into it automatically and giving you thumbs up for all the good work that you have done so far.

                    If you are new around this field, you may be unaware of the fact that a neat and clean Facebook fan page with occasional creative touches can go a long way in building a good relationship to those users.

                    Here are some tips that can help you seize fan page success this time around. So, let’s start with these tips for successful Facebook fan page customization:

                    1. Be Creative

                    Facebook is a different ball of wax and demands different level of treatment than a typical web page.Since a Facebook page represents a hub of your community, you need to be a bit careful while giving it a creative twist.

                    Try to focus more on representing and reflecting your company’s brand value and corporate ethos.

                    2. Customize

                    Do not follow anyone if you want to keep the attention of your fans focused on the content in your page.Try to make your page look simple rather than making it splashy by adding loads of unwanted images, fancy fonts, and graphics.

                    Add a call to action graphic with an arrow pointing to the “Like” button, and asking users to click it.

                    Try to get the hang of FBML as it comes with several Facebook only customization options. You can use a “Fan Gate” to offer incentives for fans to “Like” your page. A fan gate is a great way to automatically deliver a gift, like a free eBook or video, once people to join your page. Using this strategy is a great way to convert more visitors to your page into fans.

                    If you are looking for someone to help you with “Fan Gating” content and other custom Facebook pages feel free to contact us!  info@webdesignhighwycombe.com

                    3. Offer something Unique

                    If you are serious about making it big on the Facebook, you need to give your visitors a reason to return. You can use Facebook coupons as bait which will help you drive traffic from your Facebook fan page to your website and you will get to see a notable uptick in revenue at the end of the day.

                    Some other popular alternatives that you can give a try are discount coupons, free products, and interesting free content from your blog.

                    4. Use Photos

                    Try to refresh your Facebook fan page by regularly updating it with images of company’s events, employees or anything you like.Make sure that the photos you post look professional and go with the customize theme of your Facebook fan page.

                    Tag your employees and fans with these photos so that you can attract new fans in as these photos are posted to their respective news feeds.

                    5. Interactive Group chat for Better Response

                    Allow your fans to engage in an interactive chat session on different topics with help of a live chat application. It not only helps encourage a communicative environment in the fan page but also assists in reaching out to a wider spectrum of customers.

                    One way to do this is with a live video feed using uStream. When you start to broadcast live you can get your Facebook fans to join in by posting about this on your fan page. Send an update about the broadcast a day or two before to get the maximum amount of people in on the chat.

                    6. Employ a Subscriber Form in your Page

                    Think “outside of the box” and use your Facebook page to capture emails. Make your fan page look more personalized and improved with help of a subscriber form which allows you to manage your feeds more systematically and easily.

                    7. Add more video and RSS feeds to reach out

                    To make your customized fan page more optimized and accessible for users and fans, add new and interesting video and RSS feeds that help you reach out to more people with the mediums they enjoy most.

                    8. Add a Store or Quote form to Your Page

                    Use your customized Facebook fan page design to sell products directly to your fans.With help of custom applications you can add new features that not only allow you to upload and exhibit your products online, but also sell products and services.

                    After a store is installed into your page a visitor can simply click on the ‘buy’ option in your store to purchase your products and services.

                    You can connect the buy buttons on your page directly to paypal and have your fans pay you right there and then. Cha-ching!

                    9. Scope for polls and surveys

                    The best way to benefit from the fan page of this widely popular social networking site is to allow your visitors and fans with an open interactive ambiance.

                    A few ways that you can get feedback from your fans are with; polls, discussion apps, surveys, or simply by asking your fans questions about how you can improve your user experience.

                    10. Consider your Page a priority

                    With over 620 million users Facebook is now too big for any business to ignore. Any business that is serious about building a community of customers who are also evangelists should consider maximizing their Facebook presence a priority.

                    A custom Facebook page is one way to do this, and another is by using strategies to get more people to like your Facebook page.

                    Conclusion

                    When it comes to making your Facebook page stand out don’t be afraid to be different, but implement the strategies for success that are proven to work.  Get to know your audience, ask them what they like, and then deliver it and you will notice your engagement and interest (and fan count) will rise.  Contests and giveaways are a great way to stand out, as is great content that gets people talking about your page.

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