A Facebook business page can be difficult to implement properly, and you need to make sure that you can get yourself into a position where you are not just copying another page in your niche. Today, we want to look at some of the most important features that you can have on your Facebook page.

The above page shows that it has been set up to give you everything you possibly need – links to other pages like your Pinterest and your Twitter, your online store, your blog, an e-mail subscription, and even a map. This gives you all the features that a business of this type will need to be successful. Some of the features are vital to any business, and some of them are specific to the niche, but here is a general idea of the types of items you need on there to make your Facebook page;

Photos

You start with Photos, but at the same time, you need the right photos. I go onto a lot of different business websites and then the Facebook page, and I am horrified to come across a variety of poorly written pages and photos which have nothing to do with the business. You need to make sure that the photos you put up on your Facebook page are relevant to your business, and can even be used to link yourself to other pages or back to your online store.

Shop

The shop is an integral part of any online store. Consider this, people use Facebook not just for socialising now but for finding products they need and want. With pretty much every single business having a Facebook page now, it’s important to have a store. This opens up the chance to make sales directly through Facebook, saving them having to come to your website to buy products and potentially discouraging them to buy from you.

Blog

Blogs are hugely important ways to bring in traffic and build up trust. Having your blog linked to your Facebook page not only creates powerful natural backlinks – improving your SEO ranking – but it also allows readers to keep in touch with what you and your business are involved in. However, one thing to consider too is that a blog can also help you become an authority, as well as give yourself a platform to promote affiliate marketing products to your readers, making some money on the fly, without you having to actually do anything.

E-Mail List

Having your website linked up to an E-Mail Autoresponder is vital. Having it linked up to your Facebook page is even more important. E-Mail lists are one of the most powerful ways to generate business, traffic and money. If you have a list, you merely send out one e-mail through your Autoresponder – try Aweber if you need one – and it goes to every single person on the list. This makes marketing products, opportunities and other cool features for your website a piece of cake.

Maps

This is an important part of a business, no matter what you do. If you run through business through a brick and mortar section, then yes, you need a map. This lets people see exactly where you are based on Google Maps. In the example given, the Facebook page gives you a Map of Stylists. If you run a business which promotes weight loss, for example, you could be giving out a Map app which shows you where the nearest Gym to you is. This is extremely easy to set up too, using Google Maps.

Social Media

The other pages – Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter – are all Social Media websites like Facebook. All of these links take you directly to the other wings of your Social Media section of your online profile. This means that you can really optimise what each part of your Social Media process does. For example, you could have all of your video testimonials and reviews on YouTube, images which sum up your business on Instagram and all promotions on Twitter. This makes it extremely powerful as you give everybody easy accesses to the other parts of your business, letting them see everything you have to offer.

Likes

How many likes your website has is the amount of people who found you interesting enough to follow your activity and link themselves to your page to see your future updates. One important way to make yourself noticed and get more Likes is to share your page on other similar Facebook pages.

As you can see, having all of these pages and similar styles of pages is important to making your Facebook page go from 100 likes to 100,000 likes. Remember, Facebook is not vanity; it’s an important business tool. For every Like, that is a potential client in the future – if you market to them properly, you can really use Facebook for business and create yourself an income stream using just Social Media.

Share

The post How to create a well designed Facebook Business Page appeared first on .

Now, you do not need to actually sell something to need a website. This is a very common misconception – you do however, need to have a website so that you can match up your Yellow Pages placing on the internet – it is where they will check you out.

People also think that websites can be incredibly expensive – it is not the case. You can get a website with efficiency and a quality make-up for $2,000-4,000 and monthly payments of $100-$400 for maintenance and management, and updates.

However, if you require a website which is heavy on videos, opt-in forms, a control panel for clients, you are looking into the $10,000+ market, and up to $2,000 a month for maintenance and management, and updates. So although this may sound expensive, if you consider the importance of a website – affordable webdesign is something that can finally be achieved.

A website, if done right, allows your potential clients to find out everything they need about you – what you do, what you sell, what you look for, and how to get in touch. For content, think about the sales funnel your team go through every single day, what questions do you get asked? Your website should answer these questions.

Websites give you the chance to advertise globally and bring yourself extra work in the future, as well as boosting your company profile. Without a website, you will struggle to get yourself off of the ground, especially if you have competition, and even more so if they have a website.

Consider this too, the vast majority of us today hate phoning people. They want to gather all your information in an anonymous fashion, without talking to you. They aren’t shy people, they just like to have everything in front of them so they can form an opinion without having to base their future decisions on sales hype from a company who have obvious bias. A website allows you to open up to the 49% of the planet who are considered introverted. Without a website – you are losing out on so much potential business it could give you a nose bleed.

Small business websites are extremely attainable financially, and can bring you a lot of custom. The average plasterer for example, who has a website that runs well and has good search engine optimization, can bring them up to three extra jobs every week. An average plastering job in the UK is worth £150+ so that’s an extra £450! That’s a considerable amount of money to miss out on if you do not have a website, so this answers the question of ‘Can your business survive without a website?’  – so get in touch with your local designers, and do not try and live without a website, the expense is completely worth it.

Share

The post Can your small business survive without a website? appeared first on .

It also has to hold the attention of the viewer so it must have unique and high quality content.It also has to have a professional sales funnel, not just throwing products and ads straight at you in a collision course.

Due to the psychology behind websites, we have actively looked into the importance of the colour of your website. Despite having to achieve all of the above, you also need to make sure that your colour scheme matches the psychology of the website.

It is becoming a very common concept among web designers. It can be a homage to the overall theme of the niche, or to build trust and to answer questions before any have been asked – the viewer has to know they have arrived at the right place.

When designing a website, or having a website designed, the colour of the website can really set the tempo of the entire website. It can create a very specific mood and niche.

If the website has the wrong colour set, it can give off the wrong impression, this can result in traffic which does not stick around, as the website will suggest it was made by somebody who does not know what the right colour scheme should be for their niche, it also gives off an unprofessional vibe or even that they do not have any intentions of running the website in the proper manner.

If you get the colour code right, it can result in the complete opposite – high traffic that sticks around, gives off the feeling that you paid a lot of time and money for the website so it is done professionally, and that the website gives off a vibe of credibility.

However, finding out what is the right colour for your website can be difficult – however, we have asked some professional designers at the top of their game to give us a lowdown of the Psychology of Colour in Website Design.

Red

Red is a very exciting and invigorating colour. It shows passion, even anger in the right circumstances. However, it can also show determination and bravery, courage, strength. A warmer red, like maroon, are comforting.

It is good for websites that want to build trust and connectivity with its clients. Reds like a tomato red are great for new websites that are selling products; it shows off energy and passion to the viewer.

Orange

It is less ‘in your face’ than red, but is still a vibrant and engaging colour. Friendly and inviting, it is ideal for a website that wants to show you movement, and energy. It is a good colour for showing off creativity and forward thinking, it is a unique colour that isn’t seen too often – but it is also a warm and charming colour.

Yellow

Probably the most energising of colour – much like the Sun. It has always been associated with the sun, and therefore it is thought to be alongside happiness and joy. This colour is perfect for a website for children.

It can keep them fixated on the website due to the bright colours – this isn’t to say children are just brought in by the “ooh” and the “aah” but it is welcoming and makes them want to read on.

However, a darker yellow can be the opposite –it can represent wisdom and intelligence. So for websites that answer questions or is designed to help people, yellow is the perfect choice.

Green

Green is usually associated with nature and plants; it gives off a feeling of calm and optimism. Green can give off different vibes though; darker green can be related to finances, growth, so you can go for a dark green if you are perhaps selling a product that promoted financial credibility.

A lighter shade is associated with growth and preservation – so it is good for a website that is based around the environment – maybe even a website that is about solar power for example.

Blue

Blue speaks of security and dependence. It can also give off vibes of spirituality. However, it is a common colour for corporate websites and businesses; it makes you think of experience and success, trust and friendship. Most Social Media websites are usually coloured blue, like Facebook and Twitter – it does build a relationship of trust.

Purple

It has long been associated with regal people, nobility, so purple tends to show signs of wealth and prosperity. However, a lighter shade of purple is associated with romance.

A website with a darker shade of purple is elegant yet mysterious, so if you are looking for a trustworthy and successful colour to represent your business, go for a darker shade. A lighter shade is a good alternative to romantic reds.

Black

Although usually the background colour for the website, it allows a brighter colour to have a much more significant impact and stand out more. It also suggests sophistication and sleekness, and contrasts strongly with white who implies cleanliness and a simple effectiveness.

Brown

Browns, like cream and tan, are usually used in the background again. You see a lot of brown on coffee store websites and as the colour of a textured background. It gives a complete look to the information on the inside.

A cream colour can represent a traditional feel, giving off the impression that the website has been running for a while – it may sound strange, but it is generally how people look at cream as a colour. Darker browns are associated with the woods, and therefore calmness and comfort. Websites that want to show off their wealth of experience tend to go for a brown colour.

As you can see, there is a lot of thought that goes into the colour of your website –so consider that before you dive in and start the process!

Share

The post The Psychology of Colour in Website Design appeared first on .

When it comes to selling your products on the internet, there are no boundaries or constraints. Even a small business owner stands an equal chance of generating sales and increasing profits through an online venture as an established brand would stand. All you need a robust and well-made ecommerce website for your small business.

The internet certainly opens up a world of opportunities for small business owners, and a clean and user friendly web site is imperative if you want to achieve success in the online arena. In fact, a good ecommerce website can signify the difference between success and failure of your online venture.

There are several reputable ecommerce design companies that can create an appealing and robust e commerce site for your business, but before taking a plunge and making an investment on your new online shop, it is important to understand the benefits and importance of ecommerce web design for your small business:

BETTER USER EXPERIENCE: Online shopping is all about convenience; so, if your e commerce site is able to deliver a pleasurable user experience, then you can expect better sales.

If a customer reaches your website just to find a poorly organised site, where he is unable to locate the product he wants then you cannot even think of achieving sales. On the contrary, if your website delivers a pleasurable experience through its colours, images, buttons and the overall design, then the customer would be tempted to make a purchase.

EASE OF OPERATION: One of the important benefits of good ecommerce website design is that it allows the user to navigate through the website with ease. The user does not have to struggle to find products, check their specifications and prices, and finally make a payment. When all options are clearly laid out on the site, then online shopping becomes even more convenient.

VISUAL APPEAL: Your online shop has to be visually appealing if you want to impress the visitors. A good design would showcase your products in a much effective manner. Also, it would impress the users with its imagery and other design elements, and compel them to make a purchase.

BETTER CONVERSION RATES: Research shows that only 1 to 4 percent of the visitors get converted into paying customers. A good ecommerce web design can improve the conversion rate by offering a user friendly and enjoyable shopping experience.

STAY AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION: A professional online-shop can help your site stand out of the crowd. This means, customers would prefer coming to your site rather than the competitor site.

Share

The post The Importance of Ecommerce Web Design for your Small Business appeared first on .

When Facebook rolled out the Timeline feature it was a great way for business to create and implement their brand using Facebook Cover Pages, drastically  changing how online marketing work these days.

By creating a well designed Facebook Cover Page for your business allows viewers to get to know your product in an instant it encourages them to connect more with your brand either by clicking the ‘Like’ button or view events, latest posts, information and offers.

Using Facebook Pages also allows you to track how your business page is doing by viewing the Page Insights analytics which helps you understand your audience and the content they respond to, giving you control on how to improve and promote your content and promotions.

Just some great examples of colourful well designed Facebook Cover Pages for small and medium size businesses.

Tu Fiesta Ideal - Is a Spanish informational website that offers parents ideas about organising kids parties and celebrations. I love how they created a very colourful and engaging Facebook Cover Page, by using their brand. All the important areas are easily seen and presented in a neat and fun way. I also love the use of fonts and labels to indicate what they do in one attractive image

Maqaroon -  is a fun design label inspired by street style, kawaii and manga. The company cover page showcase a snippet of their products, making it an attractive feature along with their colourful and fun logo and branding.

Kigurumi Shop - The bold and colourful cover page instantly attracts viewers and it is clearly shown what products they offer. A great and fun way to create a Facebook Page aimed for certain niche.

Molly Brown London-  is a fine jewellery collection for children. A simple but yet elegant way to showcase their products using a Facebook Cover Page. Adding their brand and logo as a profile picture instantly attracts viewers to find out more about their range. The website address is clearly seen along with what theme for the month of Easter.

Just goes to show that even a simple, clear and up to the point Facebook Page Design can make your brand look great.

The post Facebook Cover Pages for small and medium size businesses appeared first on .