Author: Platinum Consulting

E-commerce is booming, and in 2024, more businesses than ever are moving online to reach a global audience.

Of the tens of millions of online stores out there, at least 4.8 million of them use Shopify. This online platform is widely touted as incredibly user-friendly, but still robust enough to meet the needs of all kinds of entrepreneurs and small businesses.

If you’re thinking of creating an online store, Shopify is undoubtedly one of the top platforms you’re considering – but is building a Shopify store actually as easy as it sounds?

As experienced web designers and developers, we know our way around the entire Shopify platform, and we’ve seen its processes, challenges, and benefits. In this blog post, we’re diving into the ins and outs of building your own store – as well as the reasons you might still need a professional’s touch.

About Shopify Stores

Established in 2006, Shopify has rapidly become an industry leader, empowering millions of businesses across 175 countries. The platform’s intuitive interface makes it accessible for entrepreneurs and small businesses, while its advanced tools cater to the needs of larger enterprises.

Today, the platform holds a 27% market share in the United States, making it the leading eCommerce platform ahead of competitors such as Wix and WooCommerce.

One of Shopify’s standout features is its scalability, which allows businesses to grow seamlessly from small startups to major online retailers. If that’s your goal, this might be the right choice for you – so let’s take a look at the steps to get started.

The Process of Building Your Own Shopify Store

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or new to e-commerce, Shopify’s user-friendly platform arguably provides all the tools you “need” to create a professional and functional online store.

Let’s review the essential steps of setting up your online store. By following this process, you can ensure a smooth setup process and set a strong foundation for your online business – potentially without the help of a professional designer or developer.

1. Sign Up for a Shopify Account

The first step in building your store is to sign up for a Shopify account. Visit the Shopify website and click the “Start free trial” button. You’ll be prompted to enter your email address, create a password, and choose a unique store name. Once you’ve filled in these details, click “Create your store” to proceed.

Shopify offers a 14-day free trial, allowing you to explore the platform and start setting up your online store without any initial cost. During the trial period, you can customize your store, add products, and configure settings to get a feel for how Shopify works.

We highly recommend using this trial period as an opportunity to experiment with different features and decide if Shopify is actually the right fit for your business. Remember: just because it’s the most popular ecommerce platform doesn’t mean it’s the only one!

2. Choose a Theme

After signing up, the next step is to choose a theme for your online store. Shopify offers a variety of paid and free themes in its Theme Store, catering to different industries and styles.

Your theme determines the look and feel of your store, so you need to choose one that aligns with your brand’s aesthetic and functionality needs.

Browse the available themes, preview them, and consider how they will effectively showcase your products. Once you find a theme that fits the bill, you can easily apply it to your store.

Of course, you can always customize your Shopify store theme to help it stand out more. The more personalized the design, the better the user experience, which can positively influence your performance in search engine results and revenue streams.

But we’ll talk about that more later in this blog.

3. Customize the Store

Your next step is to get specific with your store’s features and setup. Shopify’s drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to modify your theme without technically using any coding skills.

Without touching the code, you can change colors, fonts, and layouts to reflect your brand’s identity. Add your logo, adjust the header and footer, and create custom pages such as an About Us or Contact page.

You can also configure the navigation menu to ensure a seamless browsing experience for your customers – which is crucial.

This customization process allows you to create a unique and professional-looking online store that stands out from the competition. Although working with a designer is the best way to build a truly unique store, even just minor customizations on your own can make an enormous difference.

4. Add Products

With your store design in place, the next step is to add your products.

Navigate to the “Products” section in your Shopify admin dashboard and click “Add product.” Enter detailed information about each product, including a unique title, description, price, and high-quality images. You can also organize your products into collections to make it easier for customers to find what they need.

Shopify allows you to easily manage inventory, set up variants (such as different sizes or colors), and optimize product listings for search engine results. Make sure to provide detailed and accurate product information that will enhance visitors’ shopping experiences and improve your store’s credibility.

5. Set Up Payment Methods

Setting up payment methods is a critical part of enabling transactions on your online store. A huge bonus to the Shopify platform is that it supports a variety of payment gateways, including Shopify Payments, PayPal, and third-party providers like Stripe.

To set up payments, go to the “Settings” section of your Shopify admin and select “Payments.” From there, you can choose your preferred payment gateways and configure the settings.

Shopify Payments is a popular choice as it integrates seamlessly with your online store and offers competitive transaction fees. Whatever you wind up using, be sure it’s a secure and convenient option that will build trust with your customers and facilitate smooth transactions.

6. Configure Shipping Options

Configuring shipping options is an essential part of setting up your online store, as it determines how products will be delivered to your customers.

In the “Shipping and Delivery” section of your Shopify admin, you can set up shipping zones, rates, transaction fees, and methods. You can also offer free shipping, flat rates, or calculated shipping costs based on the carrier.

Additionally, you can configure local delivery and pickup options if applicable. Shopify allows you to connect with various shipping carriers to streamline the fulfillment process.

7. Launch!

After completing the setup steps, you’re ready to launch your Shopify store! But before going live, thoroughly review your online store to ensure everything is in place. Test your navigation, checkout process, and payment methods.

After all, you only get one chance at a first impression!

Make sure all product listings are accurate and that your store’s design is polished. Once you’re satisfied, remove the password protection in the “Preferences” section of your admin dashboard to make your ecommerce business accessible to the public.

Then, it’s time to announce your launch through your marketing and sales channels, such as social media and email newsletters, to attract initial traffic. Think of this as a grand opening for your digital storefront, and celebrate it accordingly!

The Shopify Learning Curve

The truth is that no ecommerce platform is without its quirks and challenges. While Shopify is designed to be user-friendly, there is still a significant learning curve, especially for those new to e-commerce.

Beginners might initially find it challenging to navigate the Shopify platform, customize themes, and integrate third-party apps. It can also take time to understand and use Shopify’s advanced features, such as search engine optimization (SEO) and analytics.

Fortunately, Shopify provides extensive resources, including tutorials, documentation, and community support, to help users overcome these challenges. With patience and practice, any user can learn their way around the platform and unlock its full potential to create a successful online store.

Common Challenges for First-Time Users

Time & Effort Required

Although you can still create a Shopify store quickly in the grand scheme of things, the process still demands significant time and effort – particularly for first-time users.

As we just discussed, setting up your store involves multiple steps. Anyone who tells you it takes less than an hour is fooling themselves (or just used to creating subpar websites).

If you start digging through online forums, you’ll find that most people report spending at least a few days if not one or two weeks creating their first Shopify store. The less familiar you are with the platform, the longer the process will take.

Additionally, ongoing tasks such as inventory management, marketing, and customer service require continuous attention and time that not everyone has. If you’re already stretched for time, building and managing your own Shopify store might put you over your limit.

Costs Involved

While Shopify offers various pricing plans starting at $29 per month, additional costs still can add up.

Premium themes, which provide advanced customization options, can range from $100 to $180. Essential apps for SEO, marketing, and inventory management often come with monthly fees. There are also costs for domain registration, transaction fees, and potential professional services for design and development.

All-in-all, it’s safe to say you won’t just be paying $29 per month. It’s important to know what an accurate budget should account for as you build and launch your online store.

Planning & Organization

Before they can start selling online, first-time store builders may struggle with defining their store’s structure, categorizing products, and mapping out the customer journey.

You need the time and know-how to develop a clear business plan that outlines your target audience, product offerings, and marketing strategies. You’ll also need to start organizing your tasks and setting realistic deadlines to keep the project on track.

Finding the Right Resources

There are many helpful resources out there, but navigating the wealth of information available for Shopify can be overwhelming.

First-time users often struggle to find reliable guides, tutorials, and support forums that address their specific needs. In the end, you may waste hours (or even days) trying to find answers from legitimate sources.

This brings us to our next topic in this post: understanding when it’s worth seeking guidance or services from the pros.

When You Need Professional Help

Despite Shopify’s user-friendly design, it’s difficult to achieve a truly polished and functional online store without a certain degree of experience. Many of the most successful stores you see were built with professional help, especially when it comes to…

Custom Design & Branding

If you really want to take your Shopify store to the next level, you need a design that’s one-of-a-kind instead of cookie-cutter. A unique and cohesive brand identity is crucial for standing out in a competitive market and attracting customers.

Professional designers can create visually stunning logos, graphics, and themes that capture your brand’s essence and resonate with your target audience. Their expertise ensures that your store’s design not only looks aesthetically pleasing but also enhances usability and reinforces your brand message.

And trust us – their designs go far beyond what most free or even paid Shopify themes can offer.

Complex Functionalities & Features

There’s no way around it: constructing a Shopify store with complex functionalities and features requires specialized technical knowledge and expertise.

Professional developers can create custom solutions tailored to your specific business needs, whether that means implementing advanced product configurators, integrating third-party APIs, or developing custom apps. Their experience ensures that advanced functionalities are implemented seamlessly, without compromising website performance or security.

Search Engine Optimization

Effective SEO is essential for driving organic traffic to your Shopify store and increasing visibility with both search engines and digital customers. Although you could stick to using the platform’s built-in SEO tools, that alone isn’t likely to put you at the head of the pack.

Professional SEO services will help optimize your online store for relevant keywords, improve site structure and navigation, and enhance on-page elements such as meta tags and headings. Experts can also develop a comprehensive content strategy, including blog posts, product descriptions, and landing pages, to attract and engage your target audience.

Scalability & Performance Improvements

As your Shopify store grows, scalability and performance become critical factors for maintaining a seamless user experience and accommodating increasing traffic and sales volumes.

Professional developers can assess your store’s architecture and infrastructure and implement scalability measures to ensure it can handle growth effectively. They can also optimize your store’s performance by identifying and addressing bottlenecks, minimizing loading times, and enhancing server capabilities.

In other words, seeking professional assistance helps you future-proof your Shopify store and ensure it remains fast, reliable, and responsive as your business expands.

Time or Bandwidth Constraints

As we mentioned, launching a successful Shopify store requires time, dedication, and attention to detail – no matter how streamlined the platform might be.

However, as a business owner, you likely have limited time or bandwidth to devote to building and managing your store effectively.

Professional assistance can alleviate the burden by taking on tasks such as setting up your online store, configuring themes and plugins, and managing ongoing maintenance and updates. This allows you to focus on core business activities and strategic initiatives while ensuring that your eCommerce website is built and maintained to the highest standards.

In Summary

Shopify makes it possible for many to set up their own online store, and that’s great! Still, that doesn’t negate the many benefits of working with a professional to optimize your store and gain a much-needed competitive edge.

Whether you’re looking for custom designs, complex site functionalities, expert SEO, or simply to save time, investing in professional assistance can lead to a more successful and efficient e-commerce operation altogether.

Are You Launching a Shopify Store? Let’s Talk.

Your eCommerce website visitors may come from all corners of the world, but they all want the same thing: a smooth, personalized shopping experience. That’s why Platinum Consulting Services develops and maintains Shopify websites that function seamlessly and stand out from the crowd.

Our Shopify experts will sit down with you and discuss your website needs down to the smallest detail. Together, we’ll build an online store that fits your business’s personality, objectives, and target audience like a glove.

Ready to get started? Schedule a call with our Shopify development team today.

Many brand awareness campaigns are long-haul games. It takes days or weeks to see results, and even longer to tailor your campaigns for full efficacy.

If you’re looking to fast-track your brand’s success, pay-per-click (PPC) marketing offers the chance to sprint toward real results.

PPC is an online advertising model in which you pay a fee every time your ad is clicked, likely on social media or search engines (including the Google display network).

In other words, you’re paying for every click that gets a visitor to your website. A strong PPC campaign can be quick, impactful, and if you play your cards right, cost-effective.

PPC marketing can be an excellent partner for your search engine optimization and sales funnel strategies. The question is, how do you execute the best possible PPC strategy?

Let’s dive into the ingredient list for successful PPC strategies.

(1) Clear Campaign Goals

First things first: all search campaigns, including PPC marketing strategies, require a clear objective.

Well-defined PPC goals provide a clear direction and purpose for your entire search engine marketing strategy, ensuring that every aspect aligns with your long-term aspirations.

For instance, if your top goal is to increase website traffic, your PPC campaign can focus on driving clicks to specific landing pages optimized for conversions. On the other hand, if your objective is to boost sales or leads, your campaign should probably prioritize targeting specific keywords and optimizing display ads to encourage action.

Moreover, clear goals enable marketers to establish measurable KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to track the effectiveness of their search ads. These KPIs can include metrics such as…

• Click-through rate (CTR)
• Cost-per-click (CPC)
• Conversion rate
• Cost per acquisition (CPA)
• Return on ad spend

By setting specific benchmarks for the success of your advertising campaigns, your marketing team can gauge the performance of your PPC ads and make data-driven decisions to optimize.

In truth, a PPC campaign never stays “perfect” – it can always be improved and tailored to meet new goals.

Ultimately, executing a successful PPC campaign means ensuring your resources are used in a manner that aligns with the overarching business objectives. Set objectives that provide focus, accountability, and a roadmap for success through PPC ads.

(2) Thorough Keyword Research

Careful, purposeful keyword use is the backbone of an effective PPC strategy for several crucial reasons.

Firstly, it ensures that ads are shown to your target audience at the right time, maximizing the chances of attracting qualified leads or customers.

By identifying relevant keywords that align with the products, services, or offerings being promoted, you can ensure your display ads appear in front of users actively searching for those specific keywords.

For example, a company selling running shoes would likely want to target keywords like “best running shoes,” “athletic footwear,” or “trail running sneakers” to reach users actively seeking such products. Appearing under “beach footwear” won’t do them much good.

Without proper keyword research, your display ads may be displayed to irrelevant or uninterested audiences, wasting your ad spend and lowering your campaign’s conversion rates.

You need to perform keyword research to uncover valuable insights into user intent and behavior, helping them craft more targeted ad copy.

By understanding the types of queries users are searching for, marketers can tailor their search ad messaging to address specific pain points, desires, or needs, increasing the relevance and effectiveness of their PPC ads.

Additionally, thorough research allows marketers to identify long-tail keywords and negative keywords, further refining targeting efforts and minimizing ad spending on irrelevant search queries.

Thorough keyword research also lays the foundation for strategic bid management and budget allocation within an effective PPC campaign. By identifying high-value keywords with strong search volume and conversion potential, marketers can make sure to bid higher for these keywords so their paid ads appear prominently in search results.

Conversely, keywords with low relevance or performance can be identified and excluded from PPC campaigns, preventing wasteful spending and improving overall ROI.

The bottom line: thorough keyword research is essential for optimizing targeting, improving advertising relevance, and maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of PPC advertising.

(3) Truly Compelling Ad Copy

Let’s be frank: today’s customers are overly inundated with paid ads vying for their attention. In fact, estimates indicate that the average adult in a metropolitan area may see anywhere from 50 to 400 advertisements per day.

If you want your PPC ad copy to stand out, you’ll need to address your target audience strategically and powerfully. This means using attention-grabbing headlines, persuasive language, relevant keywords, and enticing calls to action (CTAs).

Truly compelling ad copy effectively communicates the unique value proposition of the product or service you’re promoting, setting it apart from competitors and resonating deeply with your target audience.

Strong PPC ad copy doesn’t just attract clicks – it also sets the stage for a positive user experience and strong brand awareness.

Furthermore, the copy on your PPC ads plays a vital role in improving ad relevance and Quality Scores within PPC platforms like Google Ads. Search engines reward ads with high relevance and engagement by displaying them more prominently in search results and charging lower costs-per-click (CPC).

Trust us when we say a marketing campaign is nothing without good ad copy. This is the key to capturing attention, driving engagement, and maximizing the effectiveness of your PPC strategy.

(4) Strategic Bid Management

Strategic bid management is another critical component of a successful PPC strategy. This directly impacts your ad rank and visibility within search engine results pages (SERPs) and other digital platforms.

By carefully and smartly managing bids, marketers can ensure their PPC ads appear in prime positions where they are most likely to be seen by their target audience.

For instance, bidding higher on competitive keywords or during peak times can increase the likelihood of a high ad rank and attract more clicks, ultimately driving greater traffic and potential conversions.

Conversely, strategic bid adjustments can also help control costs and maximize ROI by optimizing bids based on performance data and budget constraints.

Strategic bid management also allows marketers to fine-tune their targeting efforts and optimize campaign performance over time. By analyzing data on keyword performance, conversion rates, and other key metrics, you can identify opportunities to adjust bids for maximum impact.

For example, if certain keywords are driving a high volume of clicks but low conversion rates, you can experiment with bid adjustments to improve the quality of your traffic and drive more meaningful conversions.

Furthermore, strategic bid management is essential for staying competitive in dynamic and ever-changing ad auction environments. With competitors constantly adjusting their bids and tactics, you must monitor performance closely and make timely bid adjustments to maintain or improve ad positioning.

(5) Optimized PPC Landing Pages

Next, let’s talk about your ad’s landing page.

An optimized landing page serves as the bridge between Google PPC ads and the desired action – whether that’s making a purchase, filling out a form, or signing up for a service. Your landing page should ensure a seamless and cohesive user experience, enhancing the likelihood of conversion.

The average landing page conversion rate is less than 6% – but a good conversion rate falls around 10%. The question is, how do you get yours there?

An optimized landing page should closely align with the messaging and intent of the corresponding ads, providing users with the information they need to take the next step in the conversion process.

For example, if an ad promotes a specific product or offer, the landing page should provide detailed information about that product or offer, along with clear CTAs to encourage conversion.

As you tailor your landing page, think about how you can minimize friction and maximize conversion opportunities. This might involve…

• Removing distractions like external links
• Streamlining your form fields
• Being careful about your button placement
• Improving your landing page loading speed

Furthermore, optimized PPC landing pages play a significant role in improving Quality Scores and ad relevance within PPC platforms like Google Ads. Search engines prioritize PPC ads with high-quality landing pages that provide relevant and valuable content to users, resulting in higher ad positions and lower costs per click.

(6) Continuous Monitoring & Adjustments

You need to stay agile, responsive, and proactive in optimizing your campaign’s performance. PPC advertising is dynamic, largely because keyword trends, competition, and user behavior are constantly evolving.

Regular monitoring helps you identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement in real-time, which in turn allows you to make timely adjustments to optimize the effectiveness of your PPC advertising strategies.

For example, monitoring key performance metrics like click-through rate (CTR), conversion rate, and cost-per-acquisition (CPA) highlights underperforming PPC campaigns or keywords that require immediate attention.

By analyzing performance metrics and user behavior, you also can gain a deeper understanding of what resonates with your target audience (and what doesn’t), then adjust your PPC campaigns accordingly.

Additionally, continuous monitoring allows marketers to identify and address issues such as ad fatigue, keyword saturation, or seasonality proactively, preventing wasted ad spend and optimizing campaign performance over time.

(7) ROI Tracking

Last, but certainly not least, let’s talk about ROI (Return on Investment) tracking. This is indispensable to a successful PPC strategy for several compelling reasons.

Firstly, it provides marketers with tangible insights into the effectiveness and profitability of their PPC ads. When you can accurately measure the return generated from your ad spend, you can determine which PPC campaigns, keywords, or channels are delivering the highest ROI, then allocate your resources accordingly.

If a particular ad campaign is driving a high volume of clicks but low conversions, ROI tracking can also reveal potential issues with ad messaging, landing page experiences, or targeting.

Another point: ROI tracking is essential for demonstrating the value of PPC advertising to stakeholders and decision-makers within an organization.

By quantifying the return generated from ad spend in terms of revenue, leads, or other key performance indicators (KPIs), marketers can effectively communicate the impact of individual PPC campaigns on business objectives and justify ongoing investment in ads and targeted keywords.

In Summary

PPC advertising can be hugely beneficial for a wide variety of business types – but only if it’s done well. The ingredients we just discussed are crucial to any content marketing strategy but are especially vital when investing in paid ads.

If you’re thinking of investing in PPC ads soon, consider how doing so will boost your presence on search engine results pages and promote stronger brand awareness.

Need a little direction? That’s what we offer!

We’re Here to Help With Your PPC Strategy & Display Ads

At Platinum Consulting, we specialize in search engine marketing strategies, as well as impactful ad placements, researching target keywords, writing winning ad copy, and building brand identities.

PPC strategies don’t come in a one-size-fits-all format, and we’re committed to ensuring our clients benefit from highly tailored approaches that meet their needs. That means creating truly unique and effective PPC ads that align with your search engine and social media goals.

Ready to talk about your PPC strategies, including Google ads campaigns? Schedule a call with our digital marketing team today.

If we had a nickel for every time someone asked us what their SEO budget should be… well, we’d certainly be spending more time on fancy yachts.

We certainly don’t blame people for asking! Search engine optimization (SEO) is a vast, complex landscape, and no two budgets are ever exactly the same. Your company’s ideal spending target might be substantially lower or higher than another business’s, and that’s okay.

But how do you determine your SEO budget?

That’s what we’re talking about on the Platinum blog today. Together, we’ll dive into the average cost of professional search engine optimization., as well as the critical steps that will lead you to the best SEO budget for your specific needs.

Let’s dive in.

The Average Cost of Professional SEO Services

If you search on Google, you’ll find that the average cost of SEO services in the US is somewhere between $2,500 and $10,000 per month – and that huge gap makes predicting your estimated SEO cost somewhat challenging.

The price of working with SEO professionals can vary widely depending on several factors. Typically, SEO pricing depends on the scope of work, the expertise of the agency or consultant, and the level of competition in your industry.

At the lower end of the spectrum, you might find freelancers or small agencies offering basic SEO services for a few hundred dollars per month. These may include essentials such as keyword research, on-page optimization, and basic link building.

While these options can be budget-friendly, they may lack the resources and expertise to deliver significant results, especially in highly competitive markets.

On the other hand, established SEO agencies with a track record of success often charge higher fees, ranging from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands per month. These agencies typically offer a comprehensive range of services, including advanced technical SEO, content marketing, link-building outreach, and ongoing monitoring and reporting.

Higher SEO pricing tends to reflect the level of expertise, resources, and effort required to execute a robust strategy effectively. After all, a proven track record doesn’t typically come cheap.

So, one of your first steps is to think about the scope of your needs and how that will impact your SEO budget (and overall digital marketing budget). Will you be outsourcing things like content marketing, or will you be staying within the most basic boundaries of appealing to search engines?

Don’t know? That’s fine – we’re here to walk you through the detailed process of assessing your SEO initiatives and spending.

How to Determine Your SEO Budget

Rather than throwing a bunch of numbers at you, we think it’s important to understand what goes into an SEO budget. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for simple keyword research or comprehensive content marketing – any aspect of SEO requires careful consideration.

Here’s what you need to do:

(1) Assess Your Business Goals & Objectives

This step is crucial for determining your SEO budget – it sets the foundation for your entire digital marketing strategy. Truly understanding your goals helps align your SEO efforts with your broader business objectives, ensuring that every dollar spent actually contributes to your bottom line.

Whether it’s increasing brand awareness, driving organic traffic, generating leads, or boosting online sales, each goal requires a different approach and level of investment.

For example, if your primary objective is to increase online sales, your strategy may focus on things like optimizing product pages, improving page speed and user experience, and targeting transactional and relevant keywords.

However, if your goal is to reach a new target audience and draw in more organic traffic, you’ll likely need to take a different approach that involves more customer research and geographical targeting.

Moreover, assessing your business objectives helps you establish realistic expectations for your SEO campaign. Setting achievable targets based on your objectives allows you to measure the success of your SEO efforts effectively.

For instance, if your goal is to increase organic traffic by 50% within six months, you can gauge the effectiveness of your SEO work based on traffic growth and adjust your budget and tactics as needed to stay on track.

Additionally, aligning your SEO budget with your goals enables you to demonstrate the value of SEO to key stakeholders within your organization. When decision-makers see how SEO contributes to achieving overarching business objectives, they are more likely to support and invest in SEO initiatives.

The bottom line: if you don’t know your goals, your SEO strategy won’t be appropriately tailored, and that makes SEO budgeting ineffective and inaccurate.

(2) Conduct Competitor Research

Competitor research provides valuable insights into your industry’s landscape and helps you understand the level of investment required to achieve your goals effectively. If you don’t know what you’re up against, it’s hard to choose the right approach (and price point).

More specifically, competitor research provides insights into market dynamics, including keyword competition, search volume, and trends. Understanding which keywords your competitors are targeting and how they are performing can help you prioritize your SEO strategies and allocate resources more effectively. It also helps identify untapped opportunities and emerging trends that you can leverage to gain a competitive edge.

By analyzing the performance of your competitors, you can also set realistic goals and expectations for your own SEO. Understanding what is achievable within your industry and competitive landscape helps you avoid overcommitting or underestimating the resources required to achieve your desired results. This ensures that your SEO budget is aligned with achievable goals and delivers a positive ROI.

(3) Audit Your Current Website

Next on your list, a comprehensive website audit allows you to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your current digital presence. You can assess factors such as website structure, content quality, technical SEO elements, backlink profile, and user experience – and this informs how you prioritize SEO efforts and allocate your budget effectively.

Additionally, we recommend an upfront SEO audit because it helps you define the scope of work required to achieve your goals. This allows you to zero in on specific areas that need attention, such as technical SEO issues, content gaps, or link-building opportunities

Another key benefit of auditing is that it helps you prioritize initiatives that yield the greatest return on investment, whether that’s optimizing high-converting landing pages, targeting low-competition keywords, or improving site speed and usability.

This strategic approach ensures that your SEO budget is allocated to activities that drive tangible results and contribute to the overall success of your business.

(4) Identify Your Crucial Services

When you shop for a house, you think about your non-negotiable requests upfront – like the number of bedrooms, the size of the bathrooms, the location, etc. In turn, these requirements influence your estimated price point.

Similarly, you need to know what your most crucial SEO services are upfront. This helps you avoid overspending on unnecessary services or underinvesting in critical areas.

Every business has unique objectives, whether it’s increasing online sales, generating leads, or enhancing brand awareness. Identifying your crucial SEO services from the start allows you to align your SEO strategy with these specific goals.

For example, if your primary objective is to drive e-commerce sales, investing in services like keyword research, product optimization, and conversion rate optimization would be crucial, and budgeting accordingly ensures resources are allocated where they’ll have the most significant impact.

At the end of the day, SEO budgets are finite, and allocating resources to non-essential services can lead to inefficiencies and wasted spending. Focus on prioritizing strategic budget allocation for maximum impact.

By taking the time to identify your priorities and allocate resources accordingly, you can set your SEO strategy up for success and maximize the impact of your investment.

(5) Consider Quality vs Quantity

As you work to determine your appropriate SEO budget, consider the balance between quality and quantity. While it may be tempting to focus solely on quantity—such as the number of backlinks acquired or the volume of content produced—prioritizing quality is essential for long-term success in SEO.

Quality in SEO encompasses various aspects, including the relevance, authority, and user experience of your website and its content. Quality backlinks from authoritative websites carry more weight with Google and can significantly boost your rankings.

Similarly, high-quality content that provides value to users and answers their queries effectively is more likely to rank well and attract organic traffic.

Investing in premier SEO marketing services ensures that your strategies are aligned with best practices and ethical standards set by search engines. Black hat tactics such as keyword stuffing, link schemes, and cloaking may yield short-term quantitative gains, but they can ultimately result in penalties and long-term damage to your website’s reputation and rankings.

When it comes to SEO costs, our recommendation is always to prioritize quality over quantity. Trust us: this will help you build a solid foundation for sustainable growth and mitigate the risk of negative repercussions from search engine algorithm updates.

(6) Account for Measurement & Reporting

You might have heard that SEO can be a one-time effort – but that’s a total myth. When budgeting for SEO services, you need to be looking at the long haul, and that includes planning for ongoing measurements, reporting, and adjustments.

Careful measurement and reporting allow you to track the performance of your SEO campaigns accurately. By monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) such as website traffic, keyword rankings, conversion rates, and return on investment (ROI), you can gauge the impact of your SEO initiatives on your business goals.

Without proper measurement and reporting mechanisms in place, you risk operating in the dark, unable to assess whether your SEO investment is delivering tangible results.

Additionally, continuous SEO assessment enables data-driven decision-making. By analyzing comprehensive reports and metrics, you can identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement in your SEO strategy.

For example, if you notice a decline in organic traffic or a drop in keyword rankings, you can investigate the root causes and make adjustments accordingly. This iterative approach to optimization ensures that your SEO budget is allocated effectively to maximize performance and achieve your desired outcomes.

In other words, your SEO budget shouldn’t just account for one-time updates or services. Make sure you’re calculating the cost of continual monitoring, measuring, reporting, and adjustments. That’s how you’ll get the best bang for your buck, even if it seems more expensive upfront.

Need Help Determining Your SEO Budget? Let’s Talk.

SEO marketing services are multifaceted, and every business owner needs to carefully consider what they need from their provider. Start by reviewing your existing digital marketing budget, then decide how you’ll need to expand or tailor it to fit your search engine optimization goals.

Reach Out to Platinum Consulting

At our SEO agency, our marketing team knows that “perfect” SEO strategies look different to all brands. If you’re trying to nail down an SEO budget, we’re here to help – and we’ll make sure your marketing efforts generate tangible results with your target audience.

Contact us today to set up your free consultation. We’ll go over our SEO pricing, as well as our content marketing offerings. Then, we’ll work together to come up with a digital marketing budget and SEO strategies that suit your precise situation.

Nowadays, advertising on Google isn’t just advisable – it’s necessary for most businesses. These ads offer a powerful way to expand your online presence and drive conversions directly to your website.

With its unparalleled reach and targeting capabilities, Google Ads offers a wealth of opportunities to connect with potential customers at every stage of their buying journey. Considering that more than 80% of desktop searches happen on Google, it’s the place to get your name front and center.

Additionally, estimates indicate that most businesses make an average of $2 for every $1 they spend on Google Ads – a fantastic and reliable ROI.

The question is, how much should you really spend on paid advertisements with Google – and how do you make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck?

That’s what our Google Ads experts are talking about on the Platinum blog today. Let’s visit some of the best strategies for maximizing your return on advertising spend (ROAS) to ensure you’re not wasting money.

(1) Set Clear Goals & KPIs

First things first: establish clear goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) to serve as a roadmap for your advertising efforts.

By defining specific objectives such as increasing sales or leads, you can tailor your campaigns to focus on activities that directly contribute to these goals. Clear KPIs also allow you to track progress, measure success, and optimize campaigns accordingly, ultimately maximizing ROAS by ensuring that your resources are directed towards activities that align with your objectives.

(2) Know Your Audience Inside-Out

Fully understanding your audience enables you to create highly targeted Google ads campaigns that resonate with the RIGHT potential customers. By identifying their demographics, interests, and behaviors, you can tailor your messaging and ad creative to address their specific needs and preferences.

This targeted approach to Google ads increases the likelihood of engagement, maximizing ROAS by delivering relevant ads to the right audience at the right time.

(3) Conduct Keyword Research & Optimization

Strategic keyword research is essential for ensuring your Google ads appear in relevant search queries. You need to identify high-intent keywords that align with your offerings, which in turn helps attract qualified traffic to your website.

Remember: this isn’t a one-and-done job. Continuous optimization of your keyword list based on performance data allows you to refine your targeting and bid strategies, improving the efficiency of your ad spending and maximizing ROAS from year to year (or even month to month).

(4) Write Truly Compelling Ad Copy

Compelling Google ads copy should immediately grab attention, effectively communicate value, and entice users to click on your ads. In other words, to get more value out of your Google Ads, you need to focus on crafting compelling headlines and descriptions that highlight your unique selling points and address user pain points.

Hot tip: stay away from superlatives and clichés as much as possible. Instead, zero in on hard-hitting phrases that make your brand stand out without overpromising or dramaticizing your offerings. Also, keep in mind that sometimes fewer words are more effective, so keep your text short and to the point.

(5) Optimize Your Landing Pages

A well-optimized landing page enhances the user experience and increases the likelihood of conversion after a Google Ad draws customers in. By aligning the messaging and design of your landing pages with your ad copy, you provide a seamless transition for users from ad to post-click experience.

Keep in mind that truly optimized landing pages offer clear value propositions, compelling calls to action, and easy navigation. All of this helps drive sales and maximize ROAS.

(6) Monitor Performance & Iterate

If you really want to get the best bang for your buck, you’ll need to continuously monitor your campaign’s performance. When you can identify areas of improvement and optimize your strategies in real-time, you can reap more value from each campaign.

By tracking key metrics such as CTR, conversion rate, and cost per conversion, you can pinpoint underperforming areas and make data-driven adjustments to improve results. Iterative optimization based on performance insights maximizes ROAS by continually refining your campaigns to achieve the best possible outcomes.

(7) Allocate Your Budget Strategically

Considering that the average SMB invests seven times more money into paid advertising than they do into SEO, you’re probably allotting a big chunk of change to these ads. The more strategically you approach your budget allocation, the better your advertising results will be.

We recommend analyzing the performance of different campaigns and ad groups to identify high-performing areas and move your money around accordingly. Ultimately, you want to avoid overspending on underperforming areas and make sure you’re putting your money in all the right places.

(8) Utilize Ad Performance Tools

Lastly, we recommend leveraging ad performance tools such as Google Analytics and Google Ads Conversion Tracking. These provide valuable insights into campaign effectiveness and user behavior.

By tracking conversions, attributing revenue to specific ads or keywords, and analyzing user interactions, you can gain a deeper understanding of campaign performance and identify opportunities for optimization. The more informed your decisions are, the more you can maximize your return on investment.

Need Guidance on Advertising with Google? Let’s Talk.

Running advertising campaigns involves monitoring many moving pieces and making changes regularly. All marketing activities – especially PPC advertising – boil down to content. You need excellent content to pull people in and convince them to buy, and this is our top priority in every campaign.

Reach Out to Platinum Consulting

Contact us today to set up your free ads consultation. Our goal is to get you the results precisely when you need them by running a careful SEO and PPC marathon. If you’re not sure where to put your ad budget, our Google Ads experts will help you figure it out.

It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in – high-quality content creation is the key to drawing in audiences and showcasing your brand’s value.

Of course, churning out great content takes time, as does content ideation and brainstorming.

According to Hubspot’s 2024 State of Marketing Report, finding ideas for new content is one of the leading challenges modern marketers face, followed closely by creating content that receives a lot of online engagement.

Whether you’re spitballing blog post ideas or finding unique ways to spin industry trends, topic creation is the first step in any content creation journey – and you need to know how to approach it.

If your team’s creative juices aren’t flowing, we’ve got some tried-and-true tips for content ideation. Here are five ways to create content ideas that will stimulate and engage.

1. Conduct Keyword Research

First things first: knowing what keywords to use will drive your topic brainstorming sessions.

Any successful content marketing strategy takes time to identify the terms and phrases target audience members are using to search. These keywords will help you rank better with search engines and gain more traction with customers.

Not sure where to start with keyword research? Begin brainstorming broad topics relevant to your niche or industry.

Once you have your initial list of topics, use keyword research tools such as Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to refine and expand your ideas. These provide valuable insights into search volume, competition level, and related keywords.

Hot tip: look for long-tail keywords (longer, more specific phrases) as they often indicate more targeted and actionable search intent. These make great fodder for content topics.

Additionally, pay attention to trending topics and seasonal keywords. Even better, look at your content competitors – what words are they using? What industry trends are they discussing? Take note and cultivate your keyword list accordingly.

Although you don’t want to outright copy your direct competitors, it’s always good to familiarize yourself with their approaches. This can help you identify any content gaps in your strategy, as well as the top keywords to prioritize (or the overused ones to avoid).

No matter how you slice it, a data-driven keyword approach will help ensure your content marketing efforts are relevant, timely, and optimized for search engines.

2. Poll Your Target Audience

Your audience should be the heart and soul of your content marketing strategy. That means you need to know them, inside and out.

Surveys, polls, or open-ended questions can provide invaluable insights. What are their interests? Their preferences? Their pain points? If you don’t know, find out. We guarantee this will spark some great content ideas for your strategy.

We also recommend using various channels to solicit feedback from your target audience, including social media platforms, email newsletters, or dedicated survey tools. Don’t just poll one place and assume the results are representative.

Another tip: craft questions that encourage honest responses.

Ask about their biggest challenges, pain points, burning questions, or topics your target audience would like to learn more about. You can also pose hypothetical scenarios or present multiple-choice options to gauge interest in different content ideas.

This will expose any current content gaps and help you find patterns or trends in the data that reveal pain points you might never have considered.

3. Explore New Content Formats

Content consumption habits are constantly evolving. As such, it’s important to diversify your content marketing strategy to cater to different preferences and learning styles. Different audience members want different things!

Beyond traditional blog posts or articles, consider exploring alternative content formats that offer unique opportunities for engagement and storytelling. For example, get creative with…

Video Content

As of 2023, 91% of businesses used video content as a marketing tool – an all-time high since 2016. Additionally, 70% of “non-video-marketers” plan to start online video marketing this year.

Video is a powerful medium for visually showcasing products or concepts, offering tutorials, or sharing behind-the-scenes insights. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram Reels provide a fertile ground for reaching and engaging with a broader audience through dynamic and shareable video content.

Podcasting

Podcasts might be relatively new to the world of marketing, but they offer a convenient way for audiences to consume content on the go. Hosting your own show allows you to explore topics in-depth, conduct interviews with industry experts, or share personal anecdotes and experiences with your audience.

Infographics

Infographics are an effective way to distill complex information into visually appealing and easily digestible, high-quality content. By combining text, images, and data visualization, infographics can often increase engagement on social media platforms and websites.

Webinars

Webinars provide a platform for hosting live presentations, workshops, or Q&A sessions with your audience. They also allow for real-time interaction and feedback, fostering a sense of community and trust among participants.

Quizzes and Assessments

These offer a fun, engaging way to educate your audience while collecting valuable data about their preferences or behaviors. By gamifying the learning experience, you can increase participation and encourage social sharing among your audience.

Repurposing Old Content

The best part about using any of the other forms of content we just discussed? You can capitalize on them by using your existing content. For example, you can turn old blog content into new infographics or use a viral social media post to spark conversations on your podcast.

If you’re not sure which content format to try next, conduct some competitive research. Look at what’s succeeding when other companies branch out.

Ultimately, more eyes (or ears) on your content increases your chances of earning more leads. By exploring new formats, you’ll keep your content marketing strategy fresh while also catering to the diverse preferences and consumption habits of your target audience. Experiment and see what works best!

4. Bring in Some Fresh Blood

Sometimes, all you need is a new perspective from someone outside your company.

Collaboration is a powerful tool for injecting fresh takes and expertise into your online content marketing strategy. By partnering with guest contributors, industry experts, influencers, or even other content marketers, you can diversify your offerings and expand your reach.

Start by identifying individuals within your network or industry who have unique insights or experiences to share. Reach out to them with a compelling pitch, outlining the benefits of collaborating with your brand and how their expertise can help create valuable and useful content for a shared audience.

Collaborative content can take various forms, including guest blog posts, co-authored articles, co-hosted webinars, or joint social media posts. You want to leverage the strengths and expertise of your collaborators to create content that resonates with your ideal customer and your brand’s values.

The goal is to create content ideas that will interest and inspire your target audience. If possible, team up with industry experts who can provide authoritative commentary and analysis on relevant topics within your niche.

Look at your content competitors. Chances are, they’re at least using user-generated content or influencer partnerships to spice things up.

TLDNR: Don’t be afraid to inject new energy and creativity into your content marketing efforts – especially if you’re hitting some creative blocks.

5. Tap Into Personal Experiences and Expertise

As content marketers, we have a lot of creative value to bring to the table – even if doesn’t always feel like it.

Your personal experiences and expertise are invaluable assets that can inspire authentic and relatable content ideas. Reflect on your journey within your industry, lessons learned, and pivotal moments that shaped your professional development. Share anecdotes, case studies, or behind-the-scenes insights that resonate with your audience.

Drawing from your own experiences allows you to build a valuable content marketing strategy that is authentic, relatable, and perhaps most importantly, uniquely yours. This is an excellent way to humanize your brand and foster deeper connections with your potential customers.

Moreover, tapping into your expertise allows you to address niche topics with authority and credibility, positioning yourself as an industry leader. Leverage your specialized knowledge to provide actionable insights, practical advice, or innovative solutions to common challenges your existing customers face.

Another tip: create content that highlights your failures and mistakes along with your successes. Trust us when we say that potential customers love it. According to Semrush’s findings in 2023, articles with “Mistakes to Avoid” titles get the most shares.

At the end of the day, transparency and vulnerability build trust and authenticity. Talking about your failures and truths demonstrates to your audience that you’re human and that you actually want to address customer pain points.

To Wrap It All Up

Content creation and ideation don’t have to feel like pulling teeth. Although it’s not always easy to brainstorm new topics, you have many resources at your fingertips to fuel the process.

Still struggling with content ideation, even with all these tips? It might be time to look for guidance from a professional marketing team to get you on the right path.

Need Help Creating Content? Let’s Talk.

At Platinum Consulting, we realize that there’s no one-size-fits-all marketing campaign. Even if there was, our marketing team wouldn’t use it!

Exceptional online content marketing strategies focus on making genuine human connections. That’s why we start every partnership with a detailed analysis of what makes their business special – and how to connect brand values with all the relevant people they want to reach.

If you want to revamp or improve your content marketing strategy, we’re here to help. From assessing your customers’ pain points to conducting competitive analysis, we’ll ensure your existing and future content serves you well. We’ll even help you come up with new ideas that are sure to support your goals.

Not sure what you need to create a successful content marketing campaign? Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out. Schedule a discovery call to discuss things like creating content from scratch, building brand awareness, or collaborating with influencers.

Trying to juggle every digital marketing trend can often feel like a losing battle. Things are always changing, and staying ahead of the curve takes time, skill, and a lot of dedication.

This is especially true when it comes to web design trends. With over 26.5 million eCommerce websites cluttering the internet, getting yours to stand out takes a razor-sharp strategy that’s continually adapting and improving.

Feeling stressed out? Take a deep breath!

As a digital agency, our creative web design makes a point to study and share the latest web design trends – so you don’t have to sift through them all.

As we move further in 2024, here are some of the web design trends that are most likely to influence your overall website traffic and help build a strong online presence. Take a look, and if you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.

(1) Augmented Reality (AR) Integration

First up on the list of web design trends is augmented reality (AR).

Chances are, you or someone you know is already using tools like the Apple Vision Pro to experiment with spatial photos and videos – but AR is no longer confined to mobile apps or games.

Nowadays, many users are thrilled to use eCommerce sites that allow them to engage with products or content in new, immersive ways. Unlike virtual reality (VR), augmented reality allows users to interact with real-world objects and virtual elements simultaneously.

Think about Amazon’s virtual product placement feature. With a few clicks of a button, Amazon shoppers can SEE how that nightstand they’re considering would fit next to their bed. This facilitates an unparalleled shopping experience (and puts Amazon ahead of its competitors).

Now, you might not have the same budget and bandwidth as Amazon, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the potential of AR web design trends. Talk to your web design agency to see how this new technology could potentially revamp your current website and user experience (UX).

(2) Voice User Interface (VUI)

According to Statista, the global volume of “smart speakers” is predicted to increase by a total of 108.2 million pieces between 2024 and 2028 – and web design trends are evolving accordingly.

You probably already own a smart speaker, or maybe even a few. If you’re like the average American consumer, you’re probably using its voice-activated features and virtual assistants to do things like search local businesses or learn about products.

From an online marketing perspective, this is one of the web design trends you need to capitalize on. Voice User Interface (VUI) has worked its way into the digital marketing spotlight, and your website should be optimized to respond to voice commands quickly and accurately.

Implementing VUI involves designing intuitive voice commands, integrating natural language processing (NLP) algorithms, and ensuring compatibility across different devices and platforms. Talk to your design team to see where you can fit these features into your current or future website.

(3) Dark Mode Optimization

One of this year’s top web design trends has taken a dark turn (literally). Although stark, white websites used to be a go-to design, more and more websites are opting for dark color schemes that are easy on the eyes and conserve energy.

This is particularly beneficial for website visitors using OLED screen devices. In fact, it’s estimated that up to 82.7% of smartphone users shift to dark mode after 10 PM. If your site can’t switch to dark mode, your website’s design might be annoying your visitors.

Our web design agency is already implementing many “dark mode” features on websites that carefully contrast colors and text. Keep in mind that it’s not just about using darker colors – it’s about making sure your “dark mode” site is visually appealing and easy to read.

If your website can flip back and forth seamlessly between light and dark mode, that’s a competitive advantage over other less flexible sites.

(4) 3D Graphic Design and Animation

When talking about web design trends, we’d be remiss to ignore the rise of interactive graphic design elements to boost client satisfaction.

Increasing numbers of websites are incorporating 3D graphics and animation, including…

• Product models
• Dynamic visual effects
• Immersive storytelling devices
• Fun, quick animations

The goal of these graphic design elements isn’t just to impress – it’s to engage. The more customers interact with your custom website, and the longer they stick around, the better.

Website owners can start incorporating these custom graphics and animations by collaborating with leading web design agencies specializing in immersive digital experiences. After all, you’ll likely need professional services and tools to create captivating visuals and animations that impress the modern user.

(5) Minimalistic Design with Microinteractions

Minimalistic design trends and digital marketing principles have been around for ages, and they’re not going anywhere. Simplicity, clarity, and usability will continue to play a crucial role in the creation of any successful website.

However – the addition of micro-interactions is new in the world of web design trends. We’re talking about injecting subtle moments of delight and feedback into the user experience.

In terms of web design, micro-interactions are small interactive elements, such as animations or visual cues, that provide feedback or guidance in response to user actions, such as button hover effects, form validation animations, or loading indicators. These interactive elements enhance usability, reinforce engagement, and contribute to more intuitive, responsive websites.

We’re not encouraging you to slap annoying little animations all over your website – but we are encouraging you to spice up your web pages a bit with fun little features to tickle visitors.

(6) Personalized User Experiences

As far as web design trends go, this one is hardly new – but expectations are changing. It’s not just enough to provide tailored social media marketing or product recommendations. Today’s users are looking for more.

For example, innovative custom design features can now help you showcase location-specific events or promotions, based on your visitor’s geolocation. Some websites are also offering flexible options such as adjusting the layout and design elements per individual user.

No matter how you slice it, personalization is a cornerstone of digital marketing. The more your web design agency can customize and tailor your site to your site visitors, the more satisfied they’ll be.

(7) Accessibility-First Design

Poor website accessibility is a huge UX problem. Truly user-friendly websites cater to visitors of all kinds, including those who may have different or limited abilities compared to the average user.

Accessibility-first web design involves implementing principles and coding practices that prioritize inclusivity and usability for all users. This includes considerations such as…

• Proper color contrast for readability
• Keyboard navigation for users who cannot use a mouse
• Semantic HTML markup for screen reader compatibility.

Adopting an accessibility-first site design not only complies with legal requirements but also demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. From a digital marketing perspective, web design trends like this also boost your search engine optimization (SEO) strategies and improve your reputation in Google’s eyes.

The bottom line: more accessible, interactive websites are something everyone can appreciate (even search engines).

(8) Green Web Design

We’ve already got eco-friendly trends in cosmetics, retail, and even cars – why not in web design trends?

As environmental awareness grows, businesses are increasingly incorporating sustainability into their web design vision and online marketing. The concept of “green web design” focuses on reducing the environmental impact of websites by optimizing performance, reducing energy consumption, and adopting eco-friendly hosting solutions.

Techniques such as optimizing images and code, implementing lazy loading to conserve bandwidth, and choosing renewable energy-powered hosting providers contribute to a greener digital footprint.

Embracing green web design trends doesn’t just benefit the environment – it enhances brand reputation, especially among environmentally conscious consumers. You’re showing website visitors that you care, and that’s powerful.

In Summary

Well there you have it – eight of the top web design trends that are dictating how we create and optimize our websites in 2024.

Things are always changing, but the more you stay on top of the latest regulations and expectations, the better your brand will perform. And don’t worry – as a premier digital agency, Platinum Consulting is here to help you capitalize on all the latest web design trends.

Get in Touch With Platinum’s Web Designers

Our web design agency specializes in a wide range of services, from search engine optimization to graphic design and social media marketing. We’re also proud to create websites that put digital businesses at the forefront of their customers’ minds.

If you’re interested in learning more about any of these web design trends, or if you’re hoping to update your website (or build one from scratch) in 2024, let’s talk.

Our web designers are standing by to discuss your needs. Contact our digital agency today to set up a free consultation.

The world of search engine optimization (SEO) is always changing, and staying on top of the latest updates can be challenging. With each passing year, new trends and strategies emerge while old SEO myths continue to spread like wildfire. 

As a digital marketing agency, Platinum Consulting is committed to delivering accurate and effective SEO practices – and that means debunking SEO myths that hold us all back.

Search engine optimization requires a careful hand, and you need to know what Google and other search engines are actually looking for from your content marketing and SEO campaigns. 

So, without further ado, here are 10 SEO misconceptions to eliminate from your strategy this year.

Myth #1: Keyword Stuffing Still Works

Let’s be honest – this has always been shady. Repeating keywords excessively in an attempt to manipulate search engine rankings is as outdated and ineffective as it was in 2010. 

While doing so may have yielded some results years ago, major algorithm updates (such as Google’s Panda and RankBrain) have rendered this strategy obsolete. Keyword stuffing can even harm your website’s search engine optimization efforts.

Today’s search engines understand how to analyze content quality, relevance, and keyword density. Keyword stuffing creates unnatural and awkwardly written content that provides a poor user experience – and search engines can penalize you for such manipulative practices.

Be warned: web pages that are caught using more keywords than seems appropriate may even face ranking demotions or removal from search results altogether.

Instead of trying to take the shortcut to better placement in search results, prioritize effective keyword research and keyword targeting. Your end goal should be to create high-quality, user-centric content that feels natural and incorporates search terms organically. 

Myth #2: Content Length Is Irrelevant 

This is definitely one of the most common SEO myths in 2024. Short-form content has blown up on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which has led to many short-sighted claims that long-form blogging is dead.

Those of us in the trenches of content marketing and keyword research know that’s not true. Content length continues to be a crucial ranking factor in SEO campaigns for one big reason: length correlates with providing comprehensive, valuable information to users. 

While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how long content should be, studies consistently show that longer-form content tends to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). 

Longer content can simply cover topics in greater depth while also addressing more aspects of a subject. This enhances its relevance and usefulness to search engine users.

Moreover, long content typically attracts more backlinks and social shares, both of which hold a great deal of ranking power. High-quality, long-form content is also more likely to be cited and shared by other websites and social media users, signaling its authority and value. 

As you plan your content marketing and SEO campaign for this year, remember that shorter content tends to have a higher bounce rate and lower dwell time. This indicates lower user engagement, which remains a significant ranking factor for search engines. 

Myth #3: Backlink Quantity Matters More Than Quality 

Any SEO specialist will tell you that not all backlinks are of equal value to your search engine optimization strategies. The source of your backlinks is a huge ranking factor, but it also impacts your website’s perceived credibility. 

Some businesses view their link-building strategy as a numbers game, hunting down as many as possible. However, search engines like Google favor websites that prioritize the quality and relevance of links over sheer quantity.

High-quality backlinks come from trustworthy, authoritative websites within the same or related industry, and they serve as strong endorsements of a website’s content. Not only do these relevant links enhance your search engine rankings, but they can also drive targeted traffic to your site, as users are more likely to click on links from reputable sources. 

Conversely, low-quality external links from spammy or irrelevant websites can harm your site’s reputation and even lead to link-building penalties. 

In 2024, focus on genuine link-building outreach, content partnerships, and networking within relevant communities. This will strengthen your authority, improve your site’s search visibility, and establish your brand as a credible source of information within its respective niche.

Myth #4: SEO Can Be a One-Time Effort

We won’t lie – this SEO myth kind of makes us want to tear our hair out. 

An SEO campaign cannot be treated as a one-time effort. Search engine algorithms are dynamic, and when paired with evolving user behaviors, they contribute to an ever-changing field. 

Search engines like Google frequently update their algorithms to deliver the most relevant and high-quality search results to users. In other words, what works for an SEO campaign today may not be nearly as effective tomorrow. 

Even elements such as keyword research need to evolve as search trends and expectations shift. If you’re not continuously updating your SEO strategies, you’ll likely fall behind in SERPs.

Every aspect of optimization requires ongoing attention and refinement from SEO professionals. Although you might be hesitant to spend money from your marketing budget on indefinite SEO services, it’s the best way to stay ahead of your online competition. 

Myth #5: Keywords Hold Weight in Meta Tags 

Next up on the list of SEO myths, we need to talk about keywords in meta descriptions. If someone has told you they matter… they’re wrong. 

Meta keywords don’t hold significant weight in modern search engine optimization for two main reasons:

1. Search engines like Google have evolved to prioritize more meaningful ranking factors such as content quality, relevance, user experience, and backlink authority. 

2. Meta keywords were historically abused by website owners who would stuff them with irrelevant or misleading terms. Consequently, search engines began to devalue them.

Moreover, search engines have become increasingly sophisticated in understanding the context and intent behind user queries. They no longer rely solely on meta description keywords or tags to determine the topic or relevance of a webpage. Instead, they analyze the actual content of the page, including headings, body text, images, and other on-page elements.

You’re better off using your keyword research into other elements of your SEO campaigns, such as your content production and link building. 

Myth #6: Google Only Cares About New Content

We’re thrilled to debunk this particular SEO myth. You’ve poured energy, time, and money into your content marketing over the years, and believe us when we say that old work still holds value – even years later.

Google cares about old and new content as long as it provides users with relevant, up-to-date information. While fresh content may capture current trends and events, older content often retains value over time by serving as evergreen resources that continue to address users’ needs and queries. 

Google is smart enough to understand that some topics remain relevant regardless of when they were published. Therefore, Google’s algorithms consider various factors, including the quality, relevance, and authority of content, regardless of its age.

As you create content in 2024, consider how you can put your old work to better use. In some cases, you may be able to simply refresh your existing content to reflect industry changes and the latest best practices. In others, you can repurpose old content into different formats for a fresh perspective.  

We also highly recommend sharing old content through social media, email newsletters, or outreach campaigns (as long as it’s still relevant and accurate). This can reintroduce it to new audiences and drive additional traffic and engagement to your website.

Myth #7: Social Media Is Separate From SEO 

Social media is an enormous aspect of modern content marketing, and it certainly plays a role in search engine optimization strategies. From LinkedIn to Facebook, Instagram to Pinterest, all of the popular social platforms can help enhance brand visibility, drive, traffic, and generate valuable backlinks. 

Although these social signals don’t actually impact your rankings in search results, we know that a strong presence on social media can indirectly benefit your SEO efforts in a few ways.

Firstly, social media platforms serve as channels for distributing content, allowing businesses to reach a wider audience and drive more traffic back to their websites. In turn, this can signal to search engines that a website is providing valuable content that resonates with users.

Additionally, active participation on social media platforms can help businesses foster relationships with influencers, industry leaders, and potential collaborators. This contributes to opportunities for collaborative content creation and link sharing – both of which support SEO. 

Myth #8: XML Sitemaps Boost Rankings 

It’s true – XML sitemaps are a valuable tool for improving a website’s crawlability and ensuring Google can discover and index its pages. 

However, contrary to popular belief, XML sitemaps themselves do not directly boost organic rankings in Google SERPs. 

Submitting an XML sitemap to search engines like Google can help them understand the structure and hierarchy of your website, but it’s not a secret path to influencing how any of your individual pages rank. 

Think of XML sitemaps as a roadmap for search engine bots and crawlers. They can guide them to important pages and ensure they are indexed promptly, but they can’t do the heavy lifting of search engine optimization for you. 

Effective SEO requires a holistic approach that encompasses various elements, including content quality, relevance, backlinks, and user experience. If you’re putting all your eggs in the XML sitemap basket, that’s a mistake.

Myth #9: 301 Redirects Don’t Impact Rankings

301 redirects play a significant role in managing website migrations, URL changes, and consolidating content without losing rankings and traffic. 

When properly implemented, a 301 redirect should signal that a webpage has permanently moved to a new URL, transferring the majority of the original page’s ranking signals. This ensures visitors are seamlessly redirected to the most relevant page, preserving the website’s authority and visibility in organic search results.

While 301 redirects are essential for maintaining organic search rankings during website changes, they may also introduce minor ranking fluctuations as search engines adjust to the new URL structure. Additionally, excessive use of 301 redirects or redirect chains can potentially dilute ranking signals and impact crawl efficiency, leading to suboptimal performance in search results. 

The bottom line: 301 redirects are a valuable tool for managing website transitions and maintaining SEO equity, but they should be used judiciously and monitored closely to ensure minimal disruption to rankings and user experience.

Myth #10: HTTPS Is an Optional Ranking Factor

Last on our list of search engine optimization myths, we need to talk about Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS). 

In this age of digital risk and cybersecurity breaches, HTTPS is not optional. Thanks to its significant impact on user trust, security, and rankings, Google has explicitly stated that HTTPS is a major ranking factor.

This means that websites with secure connections will undoubtedly receive some kind of boost in search rankings compared to non-secure websites. This underscores Google’s commitment to prioritizing user safety and ensuring a secure browsing experience for its users. 

HTTPS encryption protects sensitive user data, such as login credentials and payment information, from being intercepted by malicious actors. By migrating to HTTPS, websites demonstrate a commitment to user privacy and security, which can enhance user trust and confidence in the site’s legitimacy. 

Keep in mind that many modern web browsers now display warnings for non-secure websites, which can deter users from accessing or interacting with such sites. You don’t want people steered away from your site, which makes HTTPS encryption essential.

Get Help With Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

There you have it: those are the most common SEO myths we hear from misled clients and colleagues.

As you cultivate your SEO strategy going forward, keep these falsehoods (and truths) in mind. Things are always changing, and it pays to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the world of search engine optimization. 

Hire SEO Experts Today 

The best way to stay abreast of the latest trends is to work with dialed-in SEO specialists. 

At Platinum Consulting, we specialize in search engine optimization for businesses of various sizes and industries. We’re pros at helping clients cut through the noise with razor-sharp SEO strategies that generate lasting results. 

If you’re ready to jumpstart or streamline your local SEO strategy, talk to our SEO agency. We’re here to cover everything, from content marketing to creative website design and beyond.  

Contact us to set up your free, no-obligation consultation.

Asking for testimonials from loyal customers seems like it should be simple – but it requires a careful approach. Using the wrong tone or making an ill-timed request can quickly decrease your chances of getting valuable feedback. 

At Platinum Consulting Services, we intimately understand the importance of requesting testimonials to build trust, establish credibility, and attract other customers. 

Positive client testimonials serve as powerful social proof, helping potential customers feel more confident in choosing your products or services. More testimonials = better SEO results and more organic traffic on your website. 

Still, asking for testimonials can be… pretty awkward. It doesn’t matter if you’re requesting a written or video testimonial – you need to play your cards right. 

That’s why we’ve put together this guide on the right way to send testimonial requests. Take a look, then reach out to our team if you have any questions.

(1) Time Your Testimonial Request Emails 

Timing should be at the center of your plan to request customer testimonials. 

The best time for feedback gathering is when a positive experience with your business is fresh in your client’s mind. For example, if you’ve just completed a successful project, you can say something like, “I’m thrilled we achieved fantastic results with your project. Would you mind sharing your thoughts in a text or video testimonial?” 

By striking while the iron is hot, you increase the likelihood of receiving a positive response. Happy customers can provide the best online reviews, but they need prompting – quickly. 

Another opportune moment to send a testimonial request is when your client achieves significant milestones or successes as a result of your product or service. For instance, if you provide marketing services and your client sees a substantial increase in their website traffic or leads generated, they’ll likely be eager to sing the praises of your company.

By tying your testimonial request to achievements, you demonstrate the tangible value your business has provided and make it easier for them to provide positive feedback.

(2) Make Testimonial Requests Personal 

You’re asking for your client’s valuable time and energy, which means they deserve a personal request – not a standardized “please and thank you!” message. 

A personal message when requesting customer testimonials shows your clients that you respect THEIR individual experiences and quality testimonials. This isn’t just a run-of-the-mill testimonial email template – it’s a genuine conversation between the two of you. 

One way to personalize your direct message is by referencing specific details about the project or interaction you had with the client. For example, you could mention a particular challenge you helped them overcome or a specific feature of your product that they found especially beneficial. 

Additionally, you’ll want to use a friendly, conversational tone can make your otherwise formal request feel more personal and genuine. Avoid using generic templates or language that sounds robotic. Instead, tailor your testimonial request to each client and use language that reflects your relationship with them. 

Ultimately, the goal should be to establish a friendly, intimate tone that establishes a personal connection before you send your testimonial request.

Bonus tip: consider the preferred communication style of your client when sending your customer review request. 

Some clients may prefer email communication, while others may prefer phone calls or text messages. By choosing a communication method that aligns with your client’s preferences, you demonstrate that you respect their individual preferences and are willing to accommodate their needs. 

(3) Simplify the Process 

If you want happy customers to provide positive feedback, make the process more appealing. Provide clear testimonial instructions and tell your clients exactly what you’re looking for so there’s no grey area. 

For example, you could create a template or questionnaire that prompts clients to share specific details about their experience, such as the problem they were facing, the solution your product or service provided, and the results they achieved. By providing a structured testimonial request format, you make it easier for clients to organize their thoughts and provide at least a few words.

Another way to simplify how you collect testimonials is by offering multiple options for submitting client feedback, as we mentioned earlier. Some clients may prefer to respond in a testimonial form, while others may feel more comfortable recording a video testimonial or providing feedback via text messages. 

By offering flexibility in how loyal clients can submit their testimonials, you accommodate their preferences and make the process more convenient for them. Additionally, providing guidelines or tips on how to create an effective testimonial can help clients feel more confident in their ability to provide a written or video testimonial. 

(4) Express Sincere Gratitude

You appreciate this customer feedback, right? Then tell them!

Expressing sincere gratitude when requesting customer testimonials acknowledges the value of their input and the time they’re taking to share their experiences. 

You could say something like, “I truly appreciate your willingness to share your thoughts with us. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve our services and better serve other clients.” This sets a positive tone and shows your clients that you truly appreciate this favor.

Once you have the feedback in hand, don’t forget to follow up your testimonial request with a sincere thank-you message. Let your clients know how much their feedback means to you and how it will be used to improve your products or services. 

(5) Offer a Worthwhile Incentive 

When requesting customer testimonials, offering an incentive can be a meaningful way to show appreciation for their effort and encourage their participation. We’re not saying to bribe your clients, per se, but a little incentivization always helps get things moving. 

One effective incentive is to offer a discount or bonus on future purchases or services. For instance, you could offer a discount on their next purchase as a thank-you for providing a testimonial. This not only demonstrates your gratitude but also provides tangible value to the client, making it more appealing for them to respond to your testimonial request.

Another incentive option is to offer exclusive access to a resource or feature that is valuable to your clients. 

For example, you could offer early access to a new product or service, a free consultation or training session, or access to premium content or resources. This creates a sense of exclusivity and adds extra value to the client’s participation in providing a good testimonial. 

If you’re looking for a more unique customer testimonial strategy, consider offering a charitable donation or contribution on behalf of the client as an incentive. This not only incentivizes the client to participate but also aligns your business with a positive cause, showcasing your commitment to doing good outside of your company.

(6) Follow Up 

Following up respectfully after a testimonial request will help you a positive client relationship and encourage participation – but be careful about overdoing it. 

After sending the initial request, give your client some time to respond before following up. When you do reach out, be polite and respectful of their time. Just send a friendly reminder email or make a brief phone call to check in on their progress. 

For example, you could say, “Hi [Client’s Name], I hope you’re doing well! I wanted to follow up on my previous request for a testimonial. I understand you’re busy, but I just wanted to gently remind you of the opportunity to share your experience with us. Your feedback is incredibly valuable, and we’d greatly appreciate it whenever you have a moment to provide a few words.”

If you still haven’t received a response after the initial follow-up, it’s okay to send one more gentle reminder. However, be mindful not to come across as pushy or demanding when you request testimonials. Express your gratitude for their consideration and reiterate that their feedback is very important to you. 

Maintaining a respectful, courteous tone in your follow-up communications shows your most loyal customers that you respect them, even if they are unable or unwilling to provide a testimonial. 

(7) Respect Their Decision

Let’s say your client doesn’t respond to your testimonial request or downright refuses it. What then? Well, you’re pretty much out of luck – at least for now. 

Don’t try to change the client’s mind or pester them again. Respecting the client’s decision not to respond to a testimonial request will help you maintain a positive relationship and demonstrate professionalism.

Not all clients will be comfortable or willing to provide testimonials for various reasons, but you need to respect each client’s personal preference regardless. Accept their decision and move forward gracefully. 

If a client openly declines to fill out a testimonial form, you can respond with a message along the lines of, “Thank you for letting us know your decision regarding the testimonial request. We understand and respect your choice, and we appreciate your honesty and consideration. Please know that we value our relationship with you, and we’re here to support you in any way we can.”

Additionally, we recommend reassuring the client that their decision to respond to testimonial requests will not affect your relationship or the quality of service they receive. This helps reinforce your professionalism and commitment to the client’s satisfaction, regardless of their decision regarding the testimonial request.

Need Help Requesting Testimonials? Let’s Talk.

When it comes time to collect testimonials from old and new customers, take a long-haul approach. You need to prioritize the relationships with these customers first, rather than sacrificing your image or standing with loyal clients in the name of organic feedback. 

But we get it – requesting testimonials might sound easy but can feel complicated. 

At Platinum Consulting, we specialize in online reputation management. In other words, we’re pros at helping you share customer success stories through existing testimonials. We’re also adept at creating the right testimonial form for your needs and theme. 

In today’s competitive market, you need every possible edge to attract potential customers. If you’re trying to secure client testimonials but striking out more than not, we’re here to help. 

Reach Out to Platinum Consulting

Contact us today to set up your free consultation. We’ll help you gather written feedback, produce your next video testimonial, and generally improve your company’s online presence. 

As soon as you start to dip your toes in the realm of digital marketing, you’ll find yourself presented with two pathways: search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. 

On a surface level, both methods aim to drive traffic to your website, increase visibility, and ultimately boost conversions. However, they are not the same – and when it comes to deciding where to allocate your marketing budget, you’ll need to evaluate SEO vs PPC. 

Feeling torn? Don’t fret – we’re here to help you choose the right combination of strategies for your brand’s needs. 

But first, let’s dive deeper into SEO vs PPC  so that you can enter the decision-making process feeling informed and prepared. 

Understanding SEO

Think of SEO as the long game of digital marketing. This isn’t something that works for your business overnight – but that doesn’t mean it’s not effective. 

SEO involves optimizing your website to rank higher in organic search results on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. The primary goal is to improve your website’s visibility and attract qualified traffic without directly paying for clicks.

According to research from Backlinko, only 9% of Google searchers make it to the bottom of the first search results page. Just as notably, 50% of Google users click on their results within just 9 seconds of searching – which means your website needs to be front and center to snag their attention.

That’s what SEO helps you do. More specifically, let’s take a look at the unique benefits SEO can offer you over other digital marketing strategies. 

Pros of SEO 

Cost-Effective Long-Term Strategy

While SEO requires an upfront investment in time and resources, the results can be long-lasting. Once your website starts ranking well for relevant keywords, you can enjoy a steady stream of organic traffic without continuously paying for clicks.

As of 2024, the average ROI of a well-executed SEO campaign is estimated to be a whopping 275%. In other words, you are nearly quadrupling the value of the money you spend on great SEO work. 

Credibility and Trust

Another important element of quality SEO campaigns is that they make your brand look better. Websites that appear at the top of organic search results are often perceived as more trustworthy and credible – and that’s a huge boon for your business. 

Targeted Organic Traffic

SEO also allows you to target specific keywords in search results related to your business, ensuring that the organic traffic driven to your website is actually relevant. This increases the likelihood of converting visitors into customers – rather than attracting audiences who will bounce away quickly.

Cons of SEO

Time-Intensive

As we just mentioned, SEO is not a quick-fix solution. It takes time to conduct keyword research, optimize content, and earn backlinks – and it will likely be several months before you see any significant changes in your organic search results. This is especially true in competitive industries such as legal services, real estate, and eCommerce.

Algorithm Changes

SEO strategies are always looking to hit a moving target. Search engine algorithms are constantly evolving, which means your strategy needs to adapt accordingly. These algorithm updates can cause serious fluctuations in rankings, requiring ongoing monitoring and adjustments.

Still, SEO campaigns are arguably critical in today’s environment. Almost every shopper begins their journey via a search engine (primarily Google), and if your business isn’t ranking well in the right search results… you’ll struggle to compete and grow. 

Understanding PPC Campaigns

You know when you’re on search engine results pages (SERPs) and you see those sponsored ads at the top of the list? Well, businesses are paying to get their names there through PPC advertising. 

In comparison to SEO, PPC ads offer a more immediate and targeted approach to driving traffic to your website. Businesses can bid on keywords and pay each time a user clicks on their ads, pushing eager shoppers directly to their doorsteps. 

This year, it’s estimated that advertisers will spend around $190.5 billion on search advertising around the globe. So if you’re thinking about upping your spending on PPC campaigns in 2024… you’re not alone.

Pros of PPC

Immediate Visibility

Unlike SEO, PPC ads appear at the top of search engine results pages immediately after launching a campaign. This instant visibility can drive traffic to your website ASAP and generate leads or sales.

Control and Flexibility

PPC platforms like Google Ads and Bing Ads offer extensive targeting options, allowing you to reach your ideal audience based on parameters such as demographics, location, and interests. You also have full control over your ad spend and can adjust your budget and targeting parameters in real time.

Measurable Results

PPC advertising campaigns provide detailed analytics and conversion tracking, allowing you to accurately and quickly measure the effectiveness of your ads. You can track metrics such as click-through rate (CTR), conversion rate, and return on investment (ROI) to optimize your campaigns for better performance (and avoid wasting money).

Cons of PPC

Cost

PPC advertising might offer instant results, but each visitor comes at a cost (literally). You pay for every click on your ad, regardless of whether or not it leads to a conversion. 

Depending on your industry and competition, certain keywords can be highly competitive and expensive to bid on. You might be moving a slower target than with SEO, but your PPC campaign darts can still miss the mark and drain your budget if you’re not careful. 

Dependency on Budget

At the end of the day, the success of your PPC campaigns relies heavily on how much you’re willing to spend. 

Paid ads require a continuous investment to maintain visibility and traffic. Once you stop funding your PPC campaigns, your ads will no longer appear in search results and stop producing results, unlike search engine optimization tactics that last for years. 

So, Which Should You Invest In?

Deciding to invest in SEO vs PPC is a heavily personal choice. The right answer depends on many things, including your specific goals, budget, and timeline restrictions. 

To help you work toward your decision, we have two important questions for you to answer: 

(1) Are You Looking for Long or Short-Term Results?

If you need immediate visibility and results, a PPC campaign may be the way to go. It allows you to generate targeted traffic quickly, making it ideal for promotions, product launches, or seasonal offers.

On the other hand, if you’re more interested in sustainable, long-term growth, investing in SEO is the smartest choice. It requires patience and persistence, but the rewards can be significant in terms of organic traffic and brand authority.

(2) Can You Embrace a Hybrid Approach?

If your budget and timeline allow you to blend SEO and PPC, that’s often the best solution for businesses. Many opt for a combination that allows them to leverage the unique benefits of each strategy without maxing out their budgets. 

By diversifying your marketing efforts, you can maximize your reach and ROI across different channels. After all, it’s never the best option to put all your eggs in just one basket. 

Ready to Jumpstart Your SEO or PPC Campaign? 

In conclusion, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the SEO vs PPC debate. Both strategies have their merits and can complement each other effectively. To decide between the two, you’ll need to carefully evaluate your business’s current and future goals. 

Still not sure how to think about SEO vs PPC? Let’s talk! 

Discuss Your SEO vs PPC Needs With Our Team

At Platinum Consulting, we specialize in crafting tailored digital marketing strategies that align with your objectives and budget. Whether you’re seeking to improve your website’s position in organic search results or launch a targeted PPC campaign, our team of experts is here to help.

Contact us today to set up your free consultation. We’ll assess your current position in search results, then provide the top recommendations for boosting organic traffic and reeling in website conversions.

Nowadays, everyone cares about the experience your brand can offer – and that starts on your website. 

In the World Usability Congress UX Trend Report of 2023, 64% of respondents rated the impact of “experience design” as “very important” in terms of business performance. Furthermore, up to 98% of respondents believe that “experience design” will become more popular in the next decade. 

Long story short, people aren’t just looking to buy or sell or learn – they’re looking to engage in something greater than themselves, and as a business, you need to offer that to them. 

That’s why your website’s creative design is more important than ever. Now’s the time to adopt a user-centric approach to bringing all the right visual elements to the table – and none of the wrong ones. 

Your website’s user experience (UX) will make or break your success, especially in terms of lead generation. To make sure you’re on the right track, here are eight UX design elements that might be turning people away, rather than drawing them in. 

1. Slow Page Load Times

As far as user experiences go, waiting (in line or online) is never a great one. User research tells us that most consumers expect websites to load in under three seconds – and the faster, the better.

Throughout your site’s UX design process, make sure you’re prioritizing a truly enjoyable user interface – one that renders quickly and is easy to use. In today’s hyper-connected world, patience is a rare commodity. If your website takes ages to load, users are more likely to hit the dreaded back button and seek greener (read: faster) pastures elsewhere. 

How to Speed Up Your Website

If you know your UX design is being tarnished by slow-loading images or text, it’s time to optimize. Focus on compressing images, minifying CSS and JavaScript files, and leveraging browser caching. If none of that works, it’s time to get in contact with a web design expert for help.

2. Cluttered Design

Have you ever walked into a physical store, only to feel immediately overwhelmed by narrow aisles and jam-packed racks or shelves? 

You don’t want your site visitors to feel the same way about your UX design elements. It’s great to add features that boost user interface capabilities, but at the same time, you don’t want to inundate visitors with an obnoxiously cluttered or chaotic visual design. 

Don’t believe us? Well, GoodFirms estimates that about 87% of web designers have selected “crowded web design” as the most common website mistake made by small businesses. 

How to Clean Up a Crowded Site 

As you embark on the UX design process, focus heavily on user preferences. What does your target audience want to see, and how can you present it to them in an organized, appealing manner? 

Hot tip: don’t be afraid of white space. Focus on eliminating unnecessary UX elements, choosing instead to embrace a website aesthetic that’s clean, simple, and pleasing to visitors. 

3. Confusing Navigation

Imagine trying to navigate through a labyrinth with no map, signposts, and certainly no thread from Adriene. That’s how users feel when they encounter confusing a slapdash website with little to no navigation system. 

Throughout the UX design process, you must prioritize information architecture (IA). This is the concept of organizing, structuring, and labeling content effectively and sustainably – so your visitors can find their way through the maze and to their final destination. 

How to Simplify Your Website’s Architecture

Start by implementing intuitive navigation menus, clear calls-to-action, and a logical site structure. Then, monitor user behavior to determine which UX design elements are causing the most friction. Is it a poor search function, or is your product menu difficult to navigate quickly? 

4. Non-Responsive Design

In the era of smartphones and tablets, a non-responsive website is like putting on an old black-and white-film for a bunch of young CoComelon fans. Trust us: you won’t get a good response.

A non-responsive UX design can easily result in a disjointed and frustrating user experience. With the increasing prevalence of mobile devices for browsing the internet, users expect websites to seamlessly adjust to their screens, whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, or desktop. When a website fails to meet these expectations, they might quickly abandon the site in search of one that provides a smoother, more engaging browsing experience.

How to Make Your Site More Responsive

Nowadays, designers must prioritize responsive web design throughout the entire design process. This starts with incorporating functional specifications that outline the need for responsiveness across various devices. 

Web designers should also create wireframes and prototypes that demonstrate how the layout and elements will adapt to different screen sizes. This allows them to identify potential issues early on and make necessary adjustments to ensure a consistent and user-friendly experience across all devices. 

5. Lack of Accessibility

Accessibility isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a fundamental aspect of modern web design. Failure to cater to users of all ability levels can alienate a significant portion of your audience, but it can also render you non-compliant with the latest internet regulations. 

Furthermore, a lack of website accessibility in a UX design can send visitors away in droves. It creates barriers for users with disabilities, hindering their ability to navigate and engage with the website effectively. 

Without proper accessibility features, such as alt text for images, keyboard navigation options, and clear content hierarchy, users with disabilities may struggle to access information or complete tasks on the website. 

How to Boost Website Accessibility

To ensure website accessibility, take proactive steps throughout the UX design process. This begins with conducting user research to understand the diverse needs and preferences of all potential users. 

By gaining insights into the specific challenges faced by users with disabilities, you can tailor the UX design to effectively address these needs. 

Additionally, incorporating accessibility considerations into user testing allows you to evaluate the usability of the website from the perspective of users with disabilities and identify areas for improvement. The goal is to create an inclusive and accessible website that offers an exceptional user experience for all kinds of visitors. 

6. Intrusive Pop-Ups

We’ve all encountered those pesky pop-ups that hijack our screens and demand our attention, and let’s be honest: we hate them. 

Intrusive pop-ups can be incredibly annoying, regardless of what they’re promoting or how easy they are to dispel. If you use these features too often (or too recklessly), you can easily send visitors running for the hills. 

When It’s Okay to Use Pop-Ups

Pop-ups are accessible in some circumstances – but only if they are implemented thoughtfully and strategically as part of the UX design process to enhance user experience, rather than detract from it. 

For instance, pop-ups can be used to deliver relevant and timely information, such as notifying users about limited-time offers, inviting them to subscribe to a newsletter for exclusive updates, or providing helpful tips or assistance during their journey on the website. 

When designing pop-ups, carefully consider factors like timing, frequency, and ease of dismissal. You can easily find yourself on shaky ground, so always err on the side of caution if you’re concerned about how the pop-up will be received. 

7. Poor Mobile Optimization

Mobile optimization isn’t just a nice-to-have feature – it’s a must-have in today’s mobile-first landscape. Currently, mobile and desktop each account for 50% of online traffic, which means your mobile website is JUST as important as your desktop site.

A lack of mobile optimization results in a subpar user experience characterized by slow loading times, distorted layouts, and cumbersome navigation. This frustrates users and discourages them from engaging with the website further, likely leading to higher bounce rates and lost opportunities for conversions. 

Furthermore, today’s users have countless alternatives at their fingertips – and a poorly optimized mobile experience can tarnish a brand’s reputation and send them running into the arms of your competitors. 

Tips for Jumping on the Mobile Bandwagon

For starters, you’ll need to prioritize mobile optimization throughout the UX design process, starting with incorporating mobile-specific functional specifications into the project requirements. 

By understanding the unique constraints and capabilities of mobile devices and considering the context in which users interact on smaller screens, you can create responsive web designs that adapt seamlessly to various screen sizes and resolutions. 

Additionally, conducting user research (specifically focused on mobile users) can help you understand their preferences, behaviors, and pain points. By integrating mobile optimization into the UX design from the outset and continually testing and iterating based on user feedback, you have the opportunity to create truly mobile-friendly experiences.

Tailor Your UX Design for Success 

Ultimately, research shows that every $1 invested in UX brings an average of $100 in return. That’s an ROI of 9,900% – which means you should never skimp on your UX design process, regardless of your industry or business size.

For your website to thrive, you need to partner with website gurus who understand your visual design requirements, as well as your functional specifications and requests. It’s also helpful to work with web designers who help with user research to understand what your target audience wants and needs.

Fortunately, that’s precisely what our website designers are here to help with.

Contact Platinum Consulting Today 

Your website is the digital storefront of your business – and you shouldn’t have to compromise on aesthetics for a superior user experience. Our team specializes in extraordinary website designs that turn clicks into revenue and visitors into loyal customers.

To learn more, get in touch with our UX designers. We’ll start with a free consultation to learn what your website needs and how we can help.