If you are planning to launch a new website for your service or product, you might be wondering how to do it right and how to stand out from the competition. The online landscape has changed a lot in the past decade, and so have the best practices for creating and marketing a website. In this blog post, we will compare the differences between setting up a website today versus ten years ago and share some tips on how to do it better today.
How to Create a New Website Today vs. Ten Years Ago
Ten years ago, creating a website was a more complicated and technical process. You had to either hire a web developer or learn how to code yourself. You also had to choose a domain name, register it, and find a web hosting provider. You had to design your website from scratch or use a template and add the content and features you wanted. You had to optimize your website for different browsers and devices and test it for bugs and errors.
Today, creating a website is much easier and faster, thanks to the availability of website builders. Website builders are online platforms that allow you to create a website without coding or design skills. You can simply choose a website builder that meets your needs, create an account, pick a domain name, and select a template. You can then customize your website with drag-and-drop tools, add the content and features you want, and publish it with one click. You don’t have to worry about web hosting, security, or compatibility, as website builders take care of these aspects for you.
Some of the most popular website builders today are Wix, Squarespace, WordPress, Shopify, and Weebly. Each of these platforms has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your goals, budget, and preferences. You can compare them and choose the one that suits you best.
How to Market a New Website Today vs. Ten Years Ago
Ten years ago, marketing a website was mainly focused on search engine optimization (SEO) and paid advertising. SEO is the process of improving your website’s visibility and ranking on search engines like Google and Bing. Paid advertising is the process of paying for ads that appear on search engines, social media, or other websites. These methods are still important today, but they are not enough to attract and retain customers.
Today, marketing a website requires a more holistic and diverse approach, that involves creating and distributing valuable content, engaging with your audience on social media, building trust and credibility, and providing a great user experience. Some of the most effective marketing strategies today are:
Content marketing: Content marketing is the process of creating and sharing relevant, useful, and engaging content that educates, entertains, or inspires your target audience. Content can be in the form of blog posts, videos, podcasts, eBooks, infographics, webinars, case studies, or any other format that suits your niche and goals. Content marketing helps you attract organic traffic, generate leads, increase conversions, and build loyalty.
Social media marketing: Social media marketing is the process of using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, or TikTok to promote your website, brand, or product. Social media marketing helps you reach a large and diverse audience, increase brand awareness, drive traffic, and foster relationships. You can use social media to share your content, showcase your products or services, interact with your followers, collect feedback, and run campaigns or contests.
Email marketing: Email marketing is the process of sending emails to your subscribers or customers to inform, persuade, or remind them about your website, brand, or product. Email marketing helps you communicate with your audience in a personalized and direct way, increase retention, and boost sales. You can use email marketing to welcome new subscribers, deliver valuable content, offer discounts or deals, announce new products or features, or ask for reviews or referrals.
Video marketing: Video marketing is the process of using videos to showcase your website, brand, or product in a visual and dynamic way. Video marketing helps you capture attention, convey emotions, demonstrate value, and increase engagement. You can use video marketing to tell your story, explain your product or service, answer questions, share testimonials, or create tutorials.
How to Do It Better Today
With so much competition online, how can you make your website stand out and succeed? Here are some tips on how to do it better today:
Know your audience: Before you create or market your website, you need to know who your ideal customers are, what they want, what they need, and what they expect from you. You can use tools like Google Analytics, Google Trends, or social media analytics to research your audience’s demographics, behaviors, interests, and preferences. You can also use surveys, interviews, or feedback forms to collect insights from your existing or potential customers. Knowing your audience will help you create a website that meets their needs and expectations, and tailor your marketing messages and offers to their pain points and desires.
Optimize your website for SEO: SEO is still a vital factor for your website’s success, as it helps you rank higher on search engines and drive more organic traffic. To optimize your website for SEO, you need to follow some best practices, such as:
Conduct keyword research and use relevant and long-tail keywords throughout your website, especially in your titles, headings, meta tags, and content.
Create high-quality and original content that provides value and answers your audience’s questions.
Use internal and external links to connect your pages and provide more information or resources to your visitors.
Optimize your images and videos by using descriptive file names, alt tags, and captions, and compressing them to reduce loading time.
Improve your site speed and performance by using a fast and reliable web host, caching your pages, and minimizing your code and scripts.
Ensure your website is mobile-friendly and responsive, meaning it adapts to different screen sizes and devices.
Secure your website with HTTPS, which encrypts the data between your website and your visitors and boosts your credibility and ranking.
Monitor and measure your SEO results by using tools like Google Search Console, Google Analytics, or Moz to track your traffic, ranking, conversions, and other metrics.
Be active and consistent on social media: social media is a powerful tool to market your website and grow your online presence. To make the most of social media, you need to be active and consistent, meaning you need to:
Choose the right platforms for your niche and goals, and create a professional and attractive profile for each one.
Post regularly and frequently, and use a content calendar and a scheduling tool to plan and automate your posts.
Share a mix of content, such as your own blog posts, videos, or products, as well as curated content from other sources, such as industry news, trends, or tips.
Use hashtags, keywords, and tags to increase your visibility and reach, and join relevant groups, communities, or conversations to expand your network and exposure.
Engage with your audience by responding to their comments, messages, or mentions, asking questions, running polls, or hosting live sessions.
Analyze and optimize your social media performance by using tools like Facebook Insights, Instagram Insights, Twitter Analytics, or Hootsuite to measure your reach, engagement, traffic, and conversions, and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Build an email list and nurture your subscribers: Email is one of the most effective and personal ways to communicate with your audience and convert them into customers. To build an email list and nurture your subscribers, you need to:
Create a compelling and clear offer, such as a free ebook, a discount code, a webinar, or a trial, that entices your visitors to sign up for your email list.
Use a catchy and visible opt-in form, pop-up, or landing page to collect your visitors’ email addresses and consent, and integrate it with your email marketing platform, such as Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or AWeber.
Segment your email list into different groups based on your subscribers’ characteristics, behaviors, or preferences, and send them targeted and personalized emails that match their interests and needs.
Craft engaging and effective email campaigns that follow the AIDA model (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action), and use catchy subject lines, clear and concise copy, strong calls to action, and appealing visuals.
Test and optimize your email campaigns by using tools like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or AWeber to track your open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and conversions, and experiment with different elements, such as subject lines, content, layout, or timing.
Use video to showcase your value and personality: Video is one of the most popular and engaging forms of content today, and it can help you showcase your value and personality to your audience. To use video to market your website, you need to:
Define your video goals, such as increasing brand awareness, generating leads, educating customers, or boosting sales, and align them with your overall marketing strategy.
Choose the right type and format of video for your goals, such as explainer videos, testimonial videos, tutorial videos, or live videos, and decide on the length, style, and tone of your video.
Plan and script your video, and use a storyboard or an outline to organize your ideas and scenes, and make sure you have a clear message and a strong call to action.
Record and edit your video, and use a good camera, microphone, lighting, and background, and a video editing software, such as Adobe Premiere, iMovie, or Filmora, to enhance your video quality and appearance.
Publish and promote your video, and use a video hosting platform, such as YouTube, or Vimeo.