Internet Marketing Blog
April 2012
|
Cristina: Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2012 11:41 AM
If you have a website, keeping track
of your site’s statistics is important. Why? Learning things like who is
looking at your site, how they got there and which pages were viewed the most
can help you tailor your content, and monitor how visitors are interacting with
your site. Here, we’ll define the top five stats you should be keeping track
of.
1.
Page Views Page views are the number of times
your web pages have been looked at. Page views are important because they can
help identify what content your customers care about most.
2. Visitors
Keeping track of the number of
visitors your site has, as well as when these people are checking out your pages,
is a great way to figure out when to run particular content. For instance, if
you know that Tuesday is a high-traffic day, that might be when you want to run
a specific sale.
3.
Location Visitors to your site can come from
anywhere — from your hometown to somewhere across the globe – that’s the power
of the Internet. Use the location information to see your site’s popularity in
specific areas, as this insight can help you focus your advertising budget on
these regions.
4.
Search Engine
Identifying these search engines
(Google, Bing, etc.) indicates where your website is being indexed and it can
also help you see the search engines your visitors prefer.
5.
Referring Traffic
Any website that links to your website
is called referring traffic. Knowing what sites drive traffic to your website can
allow you to find out more about your customers’ online activity, which can
help you customize your site to fit their interests and needs. It’s a good idea
to post your website on other sites such as your area’s chamber of commerce,
blogs that apply to your business or review sites to create more referring
traffic. You can also spot users that click to your site from your email
marketing campaigns or local search profile with our click source feature.
It’s
amazing how easy it is to get to know your site visitors. Check your stats on a
regular basis and make sure you use the information to better your website and
strengthen your connection with customers. |
|
|
Cristina: Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 4:47 PM
Since each week we pick the sites we love, this week’s Websites We
Love question focused on what, exactly, our Vistaprint Internet
Marketing Facebook community loves about their website. As it turns out, a lot
of you love your sites — and with good reason, since the submissions we
received were all great, and the decision to pick just one to feature was
difficult.
This week’s winner comes from Jamie Benedict, who wrote that there are quite a
few reasons she loves her site. “I love
the business that my site brings in,” she says. “The style and design of the
Vistaprint design center, and how beautiful all my pictures look…I love that I
can change it around and it’s so easy.” We’re big fans of the pictures, too,
especially the My
Brides and More section, where there are short blurbs about each of the
women featured. The images are a creative way to showcase her services, portfolio, and her clients. We’re also impressed by her non-traditional Contact Us page, which features a number of engaging questions. Congrats, Jamie!
What about you? Tell us why you love your site in the comments
section! |
|
|
Cristina: Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 5:09 PM
what one word summed up how their sites made them feel. After more than a month of featuring Websites We Love, it comes as no surprise that we received a number of amazing comments--and links to sites! But we had to pick just one...
What about you? How does your site make YOU feel? Tell us in the comments section!
|
|
|
Cristina: Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2012 3:56 PM
The Vistaprint
Support Community is a great place to pick up advice from Vistaprint
Internet Marketing specialists, read up-to-date content about all the products
you love, share your ideas, questions, expertise, feedback and much more. Here
are few pointers on how to best use the forum.
1. Ask the Right Question
If you have a specific question in mind when you visit the forum, but you don’t
see an exact answer match after hitting the “ask” button, your very first
instinct might be to simply repost the topic. Wait! Before you do that, click
through a few of the generated responses. There are a number of ways to pose
questions, and sometimes, different often-asked questions can have the same
answers. Hint: Still not seeing your answer? You have a few options: You can try entering a keyword instead, or you can check out the product listings on the lower part of the screen — there, you can search, even if you're not sure what to ask.
2. Read Up
The support forum is FULL of up-to-date, Vistaprint-approved articles. So even
if you don’t have a question, the forum is a perfect place to explore new
tricks of the trade, or just read up on favorite products. Hint: If you don’t know where to begin, look on the
homepage. There, you’ll find the most popular ideas, frequently asked questions
and common problems. It’s a good spot to start exploring.
3. Share Your Ideas
You don’t have to just submit your questions — you can also share your ideas!
If you have an idea for a brand-new product, or an innovative way to improve
one we already offer, we’d love to hear from you. Hint: No idea is a bad one — even the tiniest thought can lead to a big
outcome, so don’t hesitate to share.
4. Talk to the Community
The forum is a quick way to reach Vistaprint employees, of course, but it’s
also a great way to connect with other Internet Marketing enthusiasts. Answer
other people’s questions, ask for advice, and more! Hint: Other members of the
forum are probably experiencing many of the same things you are — it’s a great
place to reach out and connect with others.
5. Be an Expert
If you know an answer, pass it on! You don’t have to be a Vistaprint employee
to share expert tips and quick fixes. Hint: If you’re an expert, don’t be shy — you might get
to a question before we do!
|
|
|
Cristina: Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 5:15 PM
 Take a look at your site. What do you think is the most important page, to you and to your users? That is the question we asked this week on our Internet Marketing Facebook page, and we received (as always!) a number of great responses--and great websites, too! This week's Website We Love winner, Celine Jacobs, of Rockhampton Happy Hounds Dog Training, thinks her home page is the most important spot on her site. We think it's a great place to welcome visitors--human and canine alike! We also think the About Us page does a great job explaining not only the company's services, but also the history behind the business; it also provides helpful information such as location, hours and more. (Plus there is even a Dog Blog!) Congrats, Celine!
Now it's your turn--tell us what page YOU think is most valuable when it comes to your site, and why.
|
|
|
Rob: Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 10:37 AM
 Storytelling is an important part of who we are as humans. Since the
first hieroglyphics were smeared on the walls of ancient caves, stories have
captured our attention and our imaginations. Here are a few tips to help you connect
with customers by sharing your business’s story in the About Us section of your website.
Think Back
A great story has tremendous value. It catches your attention, it’s
interesting and it’s memorable. Think about how your business came to be.
Perhaps you began in a converted garage. Maybe it was your 3-year-old daughter
who sparked a prolific idea. Or maybe
you lost a job but discovered your calling. Whatever the case, if you’re
passionate about your business, then you have a story to tell!
Be Specific and Use Details
Details bring a story to life and they’re what stick in people’s minds. If
a potential customer is interested in your product or services, they’re going
to be interested in the details of your business. Share the details that make your
business unique and website visitors will feel more connected to you. By
opening up, you’ll allow visitors to become invested in your business.
Show Off
Take the opportunity to show visitors what you do better than anyone else. Explain
what really sets you apart and why you can be trusted to provide better
products or services than the competition. Are you the fastest? Newest?
Friendliest? Maybe you pride yourself in offering free, half-hour consultations
to prospective clients, or maybe you’re the only company in town offering a
specific product. Your story should set an expectation of what it’s like to do
business with you and it should also help to establish brand identity. Even if
you don’t actively managing your brand at all times, your story will.
But I’m Not a Writer!
Don’t worry — no one is expecting your story to rival Charles Dickens. The
most important thing to remember is to provide clear and simple content. Don’t try to sound like something you’re not
and don’t use business-speak. Just tell the truth, in a good way. But, if the
thought of putting pen to paper proves too terrifying, it’s worth hiring a
freelance copywriter. With a little research, you’ll be able to get something
great, at an affordable price.
Think about what makes your business unique and try putting
it on paper. Your story might not win a Pulitzer Prize, but it’s got to be
better than those cave paintings…
|
|
|
Cristina: Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2012 4:50 PM
 Another Wednesday, another Website We Love! This week, we asked our Internet Marketing Facebook Community about competition. Specifically, what about their site sets them apart from everyone else? We, as usual, received a number of great responses, but had to choose just one to highlight here on our blog. The winner this week is Tamara Canzater, from Creative Cooking, who writes that her site stands out from the rest because it's "bright,colorful, inviting, and kid friendly." We tend to agree; the vibrant colors tie in the overall theme of the site--fun! We also liked the prominent display of the site's creative tag line ("Where we're cooking up fun, one class at a time.") Congrats, Tamara!
What about you? What sets YOUR site apart from the competition?
|
|
|
