Your website is the one of the first touch points that a new customer has with your business, and more importantly it is a first step to buy something from you. Increasingly people will go to a companies website before making a purchase making it a key tool in any sales funnel. Your website is an important customer experience, that can provide amazing timely information, to new customers in consistent way every day of the year.

But you need to get it right

What is a Website sales funnel?

Last year, Google put in place an algorithm change known as “Panda”. Algorithm updates in the past have focussed on determining “what is this website about?”, whereas the Panda update places more importance on user experience, e.g. speed, content and design. Post Panda, most online marketing strategies have been about creating original, quality content to engage audiences and promote websites, which proves to be a highly effective method for increasing conversions. When done properly, a solid content strategy will also work wonders for your search engine rankings - so if you’ve noticed a drop in your site traffic lately, tune in.

Are you finally frustrated enough by your existing website to start redesigning it? The question is - where to start? With the myriad of software platforms, ready made packages and web agencies out there, deciding on a starting point for redesigning your website can be hard. If you already have a site, then you are one step ahead - only 32% of businesses in NZ have one!

Whether you’re selling online or using the web to attract new customers, one thing is for certain: your online channel is key to your business. The way you treat this channel will be impacting your business one way or another - either positively or negatively. 

Here's a Checklist for assessing your business' online capability.

As we set strategic goals and plans for the year ahead, now is a good time to take an honest look at your online channel and work out how, or even if it is helping your business.

In a recent global survey from McKinsey, it is clear that the online channel remains a largely untapped resource for most companies. 

Here are the key findings from the report...