Domain name is essentially your website’s equivalent of a physical address. In the same way that a satellite navigation needs a street address or a zip code to provide directions, a web browser needs a domain name to direct you to a website.

A domain name takes the form of two main elements. For example, the domain name Facebook.com consists of the website’s name (Facebook) and the domain name extension (.com). When a company (or a person) purchases a domain name, they’re able to specify which server that the domain name points to.

Domain name registrations are overseen by an organization called ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). ICANN specifies which domain name extensions are available and keeps a centralized database of where the domain names point to.

Every website that you visit effectively consists of two main elements: a domain name and a web server.

1. A web server is a physical machine that hosts the files and the databases that your website is made from and sends them out to people across the internet when they visit your site from their machine.
2. The domain name is what people type in to access your site, and it points the web browser to the server that stores those resources. Without a domain name, people would need to remember the specific IP address of your server — and that’s just not going to happen.

How Do Domains Work?

Domain names work by acting as a shortcut to the server that hosts your website.

Without a domain name, anyone who wanted to visit your website would have to enter the full IP address. But the problem is that an IP address is difficult for people to memorise or to include on advertising materials.

In our case, 3sixt5.co.za is the domain name. Let’s say it points IP address is 100.90.80.70. The IP address points to a server, but it doesn’t resolve the website if visitors try to use it. That’s because for an IP address to resolve a website, the remote server needs to be using port 80 with a default page (i.e. index.html) stored in its web-apps directory.

As you can see, messing around with server defaults and IP addresses can be both confusing and time-consuming. That’s why the vast majority of website owners opt to use a service like 3sixt5 which offers bundled domain names with annual web hosting packages.

Domains can also use redirects, which essentially allow you to specify that if people visit your domain, they’re automatically forwarded to another. This can be useful for campaigns and microsites or for forwarding people to dedicated landing pages on your main site. They can also come in useful for avoiding confusion around spellings. For example, if you visit www.fb.com, you’ll be forwarded to www.facebook.com.

Different Types of Domains

Not all domain names follow the same formula, and while .com domains make up for 46.5% of all global websites, that still leaves plenty of room for other domain name types like .org and .net. Overall, the most common types of domain names include:

TLD: Top Level Domains

A top level domain is exactly what it sounds like: a type of domain name which is at the top level of the internet’s domain name system. There are over a thousand TLDs available but the most common include .com, .org, .net and .edu.

The official list of TLDs is maintained by an organization called the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and can be viewed here. IANA notes that the list of TLDs also includes ccTLDs and gTLDs, which we’ll talk about next.

ccTLD: Country Code Top Level Domains

ccTLDs use just two letters and are based upon international country codes, such as .us for the United States and .jp for Japan. They’re often used by companies which are building dedicated sites for specific regions and can be a good way of signaling to users that they’ve arrived at the right place.

gTLD: Generic Top Level Domain

A gTLD is essentially a TLD that doesn’t rely on a country code. Many gTLDs are intended for a specific use-case, such as .edu which is aimed at educational institutions. That said, you don’t have to meet any specific criteria to register a gTLD, which is why .com isn’t only used for commercial purposes.

Other examples of gTLDs include .mil (military), .gov (government), .org (for non-profits and organizations) and .net, which was originally designed for internet service providers (ISPs) but which is now used much more widely.

Other Domain Name Types

While the above-mentioned domain categories are the most frequent, there are other variations that you can run into.

Second Level Domains

You’ve probably seen these domain names before. We’re talking about a domain that sits directly below a top-level domain name. We’re not going to get too technical here because it’s easier to show with examples, particularly when it comes to country codes.

For example, British companies occasionally use .co.uk instead of .com, and it’s a perfect example of a second level domain. Another second level domain is .gov.uk, which is often used by governmental institutions, and .ac.uk, which is used by academic institutions and universities.

Subdomains

Subdomains are useful because they don’t require webmasters to purchase an additional domain name to create divisions within their site. Instead, they’re able to create a subdomain which effectively points to a specific directory on the server. This can be super useful for campaign sites and other types of web content that should be kept separate from the main site.

For example, Facebook uses developers.facebook.com to provide specific information for web and app developers who want to use the Facebook API. Another great example is support.google.com

How to Register a Domain Name

Different name providers use different systems and so while this answer covers what the process typically looks like, it may differ slightly depending on the provider.

You’ll usually start by running a domain name search. Most domain name providers will allow you to type in your desired domain name and to see whether it’s available. Here on 3sixt5, we also provide plenty of suggestions for other potential domain names, which can be useful when the domain that you searched for was already taken.

From there, it’s just a case of completing the checkout process and paying for your new domain name. Once it’s registered, you’ll be given access to a control panel with all the essential management tools.

How to Transfer a Domain Name

Domain names can also be transferred between registrars. Though there are a few special conditions that must be met:

1. 60 or more days must have passed since the registration or last transfer.
2. The domain must not be in Redemption or Pending Delete status.
3. You should have your domain’s authorization code (also known as EPP code).
4. Domain’s ownership details must be valid and privacy protection services must be disabled.

While it is not mandatory to transfer your domain, having all services in a single place can greatly simplify the management process.

Here on 3sixt5, you can perform a domain transfer from any registrar. The process can take somewhere between 4-7 days to be fully completed. However, our dedicated customer success team will be there to assist every step of the way!

Difference Between a Domain Name and Web Hosting

Going back to the start of this article, if the domain name is like your physical address then web hosting is like the physical building and the contents stored within.

Domain names are used to create a handy little shortcut to link what visitors type into an address bar to the server that’s used to host the website. They’re entirely digital and stored in a centralised database.

Hosting is a little different because it requires a physical server that’s located somewhere in the world and connected to the internet. It’s essentially like a computer hard drive that stores all of your website’s files and databases. It’s called a server because it literally “serves” your website to your visitors.

When you type a URL (i.e. www.3sixt5.co.za) into your web browser, it sends a request to the specific server that your site is hosted on. The server then uploads the files and transmits them across the internet to the device that you’re using, which downloads the files and displays them.

So, What is a Domain Name?

Domain name is essentially the web hosting equivalent of a postal address. Here’s what you need to know:

1. A domain name is your website’s equivalent of a street address.
2. They consist of a website name (i.e. 3sixt5) and a domain name extension (i.e. .com).
3. All domain name registrations are overseen by ICANN.
4. Domains work by forwarding visitors to the appropriate server.
5. .com domains are the most popular, powering 46.5% of the web.
6. ccTLDs use country codes and designate geographic areas (i.e. .cn or .es).
7. gTLDs tend to be designed for specific use cases (i.e. .org for organizations).
8. Every domain name registrar has a different signup process.
9. You can use domain search engines to find available domain names.
10. Domains can be transferred from one provider to another.
11. Servers are physical machines which store your website’s files.
12. If you need help, our support team will be more than happy to help.

Final Word

In this tutorial, we’ve learned all there is to know about domain names and how they work. We have also covered the basics of domain transfer and registration process.

If you have any extra domain name related questions, feel free to submit them in the comments below!

Today’s consumers rely on search engines to help them find everything from restaurant recommendations to B2B software providers.

This means that regardless of what your business offers, your target audience is likely searching for products or services like yours on search engines like Google.

And if you want to attract them to your site, you need search engine optimization.

But if you’ve spent much time researching your options with digital marketing, you’ve probably heard that before.

Once you’ve accepted this, though, the next logical question is how to do search engine optimization.

That’s why on this page, we’ll explain exactly what makes SEO so important, as well as a few search engine optimization techniques and search engine optimization tools you can use to increase your online visibility.

An Introduction to SEO

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is a strategy for improving your site’s rankings in search engine results.

It involves identifying which keywords and phrases your target audience uses when looking for products or services like yours, then working towards ranking well for those searches.

Of course, this is a simplified explanation — and you can check out our resource on “what is SEO” for a more in-depth look at search engine optimization.

8 Reasons Why Your Website Needs SEO Optimization

Today, SEO is an essential part of any effective marketing strategy.

But to fully illustrate its importance, let’s go over a few of the reasons you should be optimizing your site.

It can help you build your brand

Although branding is often considered a more traditional marketing strategy, while SEO falls firmly into the digital category, the two involve similar steps.

Building a brand requires considering both what you provide, and what others say about it.

And when you look at the steps involved in optimizing a site, the factors are similar. You need to create content that’s in line with your audience’s needs and interests, then find ways to earn links to that content from other sites.

If you keep this relationship in mind as you develop your SEO strategy, you can select keywords and create content that’s in line with the image you want your brand to have.

Then, your online presence will reflect your ideal branding — and help you establish it with your target audience.

An optimized website earns more traffic

On the surface, the goal of SEO optimization is to improve your site’s rankings in search results.

But beyond that, the purpose of achieving high rankings is to attract more traffic — and ideally, to convert that traffic into customers and leads.

And in case you were wondering, it works.

For example, just take a look at the following organic traffic report from a Siege Media case study.

Over the course of one year, this brand new site’s traffic increased from zero to 100,000 visitors — entirely from SEO.

If you want to bring more users to your site, SEO is the best way to accomplish this goal.

SEO doesn’t require you to pay for ad space

One of the biggest advantages of SEO is that it doesn’t involve paying for ad space.

Consider how traditional ad campaigns operate.

You determine a location you want your brand to appear, whether that’s on a particular TV channel or radio station, or in the pages of a magazine or newspaper.

Then, you pay the company that owns that media for placement. You might pay for your ad to run for a certain length of time, or within a certain number of issues. As soon as that period is up, your ad stops appearing — and stops generating results for your business.

Now, consider the various pages that appear in search engine results.

The top two listings in this screenshot are pay-per-click, or PPC, ads, as denoted by the small “Ad” tag.

Much like traditional ad campaigns, earning one of these spots involving ongoing costs.

Of course, if you’re familiar with PPC, you know that advertisers only pay when a user clicks an ad and visits their site. This certainly gives it an edge over traditional methods.

Still, every visitor involves a cost — and the minute an advertiser pauses their campaign, they stop showing up.

But the sites appearing in the organic results, directly below those ads, aren’t paying a cent for those rankings.

While they likely invested a significant amount of time and money into creating the pages that are ranking in those spots, they appear on page one because Google’s algorithm thinks they provide value to users.

As a result, they’re earning traffic without spending a cent.

It helps your target audience find your site

SEO can help your business get in front of your target audience as they’re actively searching for information.

And considering how common it is for consumers to use search engines to find information about products and services, this is a huge opportunity.

In fact, 62% of consumers turn to search engines first when they want to learn more about a new business, product, or service — and 41% use them when they’re ready to buy.

This means that if you want your business to be part of a user’s online research process, it needs to show up in search results for keywords related to the products or services you offer.

Plus, according to that same survey, 48% of consumers prefer to visit a business’s official website to learn more about them.

So having a strong online presence will not only help you reach your marketing goals but will also enable your target audience to research and buy in a way that works for them.

It boosts your credibility and authority

The Internet has drastically changed what the sales process looks like for many businesses.

That’s because today, consumers have access to a wealth of helpful resources that can help them learn about their options before they speak with a sales representative.

And with SEO optimization, you can become part of that learning process.

That’s especially true if you combine your SEO efforts with content marketing. When you create informative, valuable content, you have the opportunity to build trust and credibility with potential customers early in the research phase.

Here’s a general overview of how this works:

First, a user finds your site by searching for information related to your industry and seeing one of your resources in the search results.

Then, they read that resource. If they like it, they might share it with their friends and subscribe to your email list.

This is where the process slows down a bit.

That user might return to your site several times and read your email content regularly over the next few months without taking action.

And if you’re used to the traditional sales process, this can be frustrating.

But with each piece of content they read, you’re establishing your brand as a credible, authoritative source of information.

Then, when they’re finally ready to make a purchase or speak with a sales representative, they’ll know exactly which company to turn to — and be extremely comfortable doing so after all of the helpful information you’ve already provided for free.

It can help you stay ahead of your competitors

As you optimize your site, you’re not just working to improve where your site ranks on results pages.

You’re also moving above your competitors.

Just consider that the first result on any given results page gets an average of 20.5% of the clicks. From there, the second result gets 13.32%, and the third gets 13.14%.

This means that as you move up in search results, you’ll earn a larger percentage of the clicks for your target keywords — and your competitors will earn less.

It improves user experience

Google’s ultimate goal is to provide the best possible results for their users.

As a result, many of their algorithm updates focus on making sure that they’re directing users to sites that not only provide relevant content, but also a great user experience.

That’s why today, technical factors like mobile-friendliness, usability, and site speed play a much bigger role in rankings than ever before.

While this means that optimizing your site might require a bit more professional help, it also means that you’ll be continuously improving the user experience your site provides.

And when you consider the impact that user experience has on conversions, this can have a significant impact on your sales and revenue in the long run.

It’s easy to measure

Finally, one of the biggest advantages of SEO is that you can measure virtually every aspect of your results.

Unlike traditional methods, which often rely on looking for correlations between ad campaigns and sales, it’s easy to see the return you’re getting from your SEO investment.

You can use tools like Google Analytics to monitor your traffic, referral sources, conversions, and any other metric that matters to your business.

This way, you can accurately evaluate what’s working — and what isn’t — and be confident that you’re allocating your marketing budget to the strategies that have the biggest impact on your most important goals.

How to Do Search Engine Optimization In 2018

The basic premise of SEO has always been the same: Improve rankings in search results.

But as Google continues to update its algorithm, the exact steps required to achieve this goal have also changed over time.

So although the general idea remains the same, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind as you optimize your site in 2018.

Focus on the user

Google’s algorithm updates are almost impossible to predict.

The company is highly secretive about the changes it makes to its algorithm, sometimes even after they happen — so it can be difficult to keep up with those changes.

Still, every update has one thing in common. They’re all designed to help the search engine provide the best possible results for searchers.

So as you work on improving your site, always remember to keep your focus on the user.

Choose topics that are relevant to their needs, write content in a way that’s helpful and straightforward, and make sure that your site is easy to navigate and engage with.

This way, even though there’s no way to tell what Google’s next move will be, you’ll be working with the same core goal in mind — and that can only work in your favor.

Use keyword optimization

Search engines have used keywords as a consideration in how they rank pages from the beginning, and they’re still an important factor today.

You can learn more about the role they play in our resource on on-page SEO.

Optimize your site for the mobile-first index

One of the biggest changes in how people browse the Internet over the past few years is the devices with which we access online content.

In the early days of SEO, the only way to access a search engine was on a desktop computer.

Today, an increasing number of users browse on smartphones, tablets, and other devices. In fact, mobile Internet usage surpassed desktop for the first time in 2016.

It makes sense, then, that Google would take steps to make sure that their results prioritized pages that were accessible on mobile devices.

Their first step, in April 2015, was to boost mobile-friendly pages in search results. This change was so significant that many SEOs referred to it as “Mobilegeddon.”

But in 2016, Google took things a step farther by announcing that it would be switching to a mobile-first index.

This represented a reverse in how they’ve historically categorized and ranked pages, a shift illustrated nicely by this graphic from Moz.

Essentially, Google has always indexed and ranked pages based on how they appeared on desktop computers. This meant that their results typically reflected the best pages for desktop users — which made sense when these users made up the majority of their audience.

But if any of those pages performed poorly on smartphones, they’d be delivering a poor user experience for mobile users.

So to keep up with the increasing number of users accessing online content on smartphones, tablets, and other devices, Google reversed the process.

With this shift, they’ve started to rank pages based on the best results for mobile users.

This means that if a site doesn’t perform well on smartphones, its rankings will suffer — even in desktop results.

SEO Optimization Tools

As you work towards improving your site’s online visibility, there are plenty of tools you can use to simplify and improve the process.

Tools to improve your keyword research

Keyword research is the first step in any successful SEO strategy, and there are several tools designed specifically to help you identify the best possible keywords for your business:

• Google Keyword Planner
• Ubersuggest
• KeywordTool.io

You can learn more about each of these tools in our resource on how to do keyword research.

Tools to simplify on-page optimization

Optimizing a page’s on-page elements is an essential part of the SEO process, and the following tools can help you ensure that you do so correctly:

• SEMrush
• Screaming Frog
• Redirect Path

For more information on each of these tools, take a look at our guide to on-page SEO.

Tools to improve off-page optimization

Another essential part of SEO is off-page optimization, which primarily involves earning backlinks.

Competitor research is one of the best ways to identify new opportunities for link building, and these two tools are both excellent choices for that process:

• Ahrefs
• Open Site Explorer

You can learn more about these tools and how to use them in our resource on off-page SEO.

Tools to monitor your results

As you make changes to your site, it’s important to measure the impact those changes make. These are two of the best tools for monitoring your results:

• Google Analytics
• Google Search Console

You can learn how to utilize these tools in our guide to seo metrics.

Tools to improve your conversion rate

Your goal with SEO isn’t just to attract traffic — it’s to convert that traffic into customers and clients for your business. As a result, you’ll need to make sure that your site is in line with your visitors’ needs and designed to encourage conversions.

The following tools can help you measure your performance and identify opportunities for improvement:

• GTMetrix
• Crazy Egg

For more information, check out our resource on CRO and SEO.

Conclusion

Optimizing a site is a complex, and often challenging, process.

It takes time, planning, and a lot of patience to achieve the results you want with search engine optimization.

But if you’re willing to invest the resources it takes to create and carry out a well-planned strategy, the results you’ll see in terms of sales and revenue are entirely worth it.

It can help you boost your credibility, earn more traffic, and improve your online visibility.

Plus, you’ll achieve all of those results with spending a cent on ad space.

Beyond that, SEO is a great way improve the overall experience your target audience has with your brand. When you create content that’s in line with their needs, then make it easily accessible on a user-friendly site, you position your company as a helpful resource.

Finally, as you work on your site’s optimization, it’s easy to monitor and measure your results — meaning you’ll never have to worry on whether you’re allocating your digital marketing budget effectively.

So if you’ve been wondering why your site needs search engine optimization, the answer is clear: it’s one of the best ways to reach your marketing goals.

What motivated you to start using SEO for your website?

 

Unseen auctions happen at lightning speed nearly every time you search a product or service in Google. And behind those auctions are advertisers at war for your click.

Why are so many of them fighting for you like this? Because the tools from Google AdWords tell them that your click may eventually lead to a sale.

If you’re an advertiser who wants to start capitalizing on the astronomical number of searches that take place on Google daily, and quickly earn the attention you need to grow your bottom line, there’s no better way to start than by signing up to use Google AdWords.

What is Google AdWords?

Taken directly from our all-inclusive guide to Google AdWords:

Google AdWords is Google’s online advertising program, the program allows you to create online ads to reach audiences that are interested in the products and services you offer. The AdWords platform runs on pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, i.e. you have to pay every time a visitor clicks your ad.

But there are so many advertising mediums and methods out there, and it can be hard to determine which is a good fit for your business. Blog posts and influencers and salespeople are always telling you to invest in this and invest in that without actually explaining why.

10 Google AdWords benefits

So you want to know the answer to “Why use AdWords?”

There are plenty of big benefits. Here are just a few.

1. Google’s massive reach

Today Google has elevated itself beyond a brand to a verb. The term “Google” is actually defined in the Merriam Webster Dictionary

And that’s because, now, when people have a question that needs answering their first stop is usually Google.

Want to know if there’s a solution for that back pain you’ve been having?

Google it.

Want to know if there’s a tool that makes collaborating on a post-click landing page easier?

Google it.

The search engine handles an obscene 2+ trillion searches like these per year. That’s over 5 billion searches per day.

Among those are people looking for solutions to problems that your business can offer. If they’ve ever used the internet, chances are they’ve Googled the answer to something. And if you can help them find the answer, even if it’s with an ad, they’re more likely to choose you than your competitor.

2. Capabilities that allow for a range of targeting

With AdWords, there’s something for every business and every prospect at every stage of the buyer’s journey.

Bidding on broad keyword search terms like “accounting software” will show your ad to prospects at the earlier stages of the product research process and allow you to fill the top of your funnel with two really simple but powerful techniques:

• Capture their information with your post-click landing page and start sending them informative content that proves your authority.
• If they don’t convert, use retargeting software to draw them back until they do.

Another powerful technique for adding to your customer base is bidding on long-tail keyword search terms like “accounting software for freelance marketers.” These generally are less expensive, and they’re worth it for capturing the attention of people who are looking for exactly what you offer. Most times people who search long, specific strings of keywords have more intent. And intent is what makes the people you reach on AdWords so valuable (more on that next.)

3. Harness intent

The biggest difference between the people you’re reaching with Google AdWords and the people you’re reaching with other forms of advertising is their intent.

On social media, for example, people aren’t looking to be advertised to. They’re not looking for solutions to the issues that plague their everyday lives. They’re looking for baby pictures and vacation photos and family updates. And when you advertise to someone who doesn’t want to be advertised to, there’s a better chance you get tuned out.

On the search network, though, you’re not advertising to people who don’t want to be advertised to. You’re advertising to people who are looking for something specific, like the best post-click landing page platform for agencies:

And when your ad appears, it helps them find the answer instead of interrupting their online browsing experience.

Some experts even consider search ads a form of inbound marketing as opposed to outbound advertising because they assist someone who has taken the first step to look for it. Using AdWords, let prospects come to you, then help them find answers, and you’ll put yourself in the best position to earn their business when they’re ready to pull out their wallet.

4. Maintain full control of your campaigns at all times

You used to have to jump hurdles and bust through thick red tape to run ad campaigns that reach as many people as AdWords can. Beginning and ending those campaigns would take time and resources that could be better used elsewhere.

On the other hand, buying ad space with software — also known as “programmatic advertising” — is easy for even one properly trained employee to do. With some education, they’ll be able to start and stop campaigns, reach the right people for the right price, and do it all instantaneously. That way, you can allocate your resources and your time to other pressing initiatives.

5. Bring any budget to the table

Winning a click can cost some businesses hundreds of dollars. In the legal industry, there are long-tail keywords reaching around $1,000 per click:

But most keywords don’t cost so much. And even if they do, an advantage to using AdWords is able to put constraints on your daily budget, maximum bids, and more. That way, you can be confident that even if you’re not monitoring your account like a hawk, you’ll never spend more than you want to. Says Dinesh Thakur:

With AdWords, you have full and through control over the budget of your AdWords campaigns. You can control everything starting from the maximum bid on the ad to the daily budget of the campaign.

You can also decide how much you want to spend each month and adjust the budget based on the performance graph. When an ad is performing extremely well, you can increase the ad spend on it to increase the desired results. It works in reverse to decrease ad spend on an underperforming ad, but you can also stop it instantly before losing another dime.

6. See results laid out in an easy-to-understand format

You’ll have no idea how to improve if you don’t know what you’re doing wrong, and some analytics dashboards make it near impossible to figure out what that is.

Luckily AdWords makes everything straightforward and easy to understand. Find out basic information like clicks, impressions, keywords budget, etc., or get even more granular with a Google Analytics integration that allows you to see exactly how visitors are behaving on your website — right down to what they clicked, where they went next, and how long they’re spending there.

7. Get quicker results than with SEO

Search engine optimization is still the backbone of most highly visited sites. The posts and pages you see on page one aren’t just well-written with carefully researched keywords; they’re also on sites that have amassed a large number of backlinks over time (still the number one ranking factor for web pages).

It can be years before you get to see one of your own pages in the coveted first position for a broad keyword search term. Some businesses will never see it.

When you get started with AdWords, though, your chance of leapfrogging all the organic results on a search engine results page grows exponentially, and it grows easier too. There’s no endless search for links that will bump your page up just a little bit; there’s no poring over keyword density on your post-click landing page. Start running ads and boost the odds people see you first thing, on a page like this, where organic results don’t even appear until below the fold:

8. Build brand awareness

When people hear “Google AdWords,” they think mostly of driving traffic through pay-per-click ads on search engine results pages. But, Google’s ads are more versatile than that. They can also be a great tool for building brand awareness — something that research shows is what the highest performing marketers prioritize:

Before we explain, let’s explore briefly what the word “brand” means. Decades ago, David Ogilvy offered maybe the best definition:

”The intangible sum of a product’s attributes: its name, packaging, and price, its history, its reputation, and the way it’s advertised.”

Reinforcing your brand name, personality, reputation, etc., are all necessary to build trust with your visitors. The more you repeat these things consistently, the stronger your brand becomes, and the more trust you earn with prospects. And trust is what will ultimately earn you purchases and loyal customers.

Through the AdWords search network, even if potential customers aren’t clicking, they see your brand, your tagline, what you offer, and whatever else you use your copy and extensions to showcase. And through the AdWords display network, you can even prioritize brand awareness by choosing to show your ad to more people than focus on clicks or conversions (more on bidding strategies in a bit.) Both strategies allow advertisers to reinforce their business’s critical attributes, and in turn, strengthen its brand.

9. Earn more conversions

When Google decides which ads get seen by browsing prospects, they take post-click landing page experience into account. According to an AdWords support page:

post-click landing page experience is AdWords’ measure of how well your website gives people who click your ads exactly what they’re looking for–quickly and effortlessly. Your post-click landing page is the URL people arrive at after they click your ad, and the experience you offer affects your Ad Rank and therefore your CPC and position in the ad auction. Your ads may show less often (or not at all) if they point to websites that offer a poor user experience.

Ad networks that don’t prioritize post-click landing page experience will let you direct internet users to any old page — a homepage, an “about” page — and that will drain your budget quickly since visitors do not want to hunt for what you promised them in your ad.

But to even get your ads seen on Google’s network, you’ll need a highly persuasive post-click landing page behind them. And when you build a highly persuasive post-click landing page, you’ll maximize ad spend because of two things in particular:

• Message match
• Focused design

Learn more about them in chapter 2 of the most comprehensive post-click landing page guide on the web.

10. Maximize ROI with different bidding strategies

A persuasive post-click landing page built to appease Google isn’t the only thing that will maximize your advertising ROI. To help you reach specific marketing goals while draining your budget the least, the AdWords team has created several different bidding strategies:

• CPC bidding is what Google recommends if your goal is to drive website traffic. It’s short for “cost-per-click.” When you use this method of bidding, you set a maximum bid you’re willing to pay for a click, and you only pay when your ad gets clicked.
• CPM bidding, which stands for “cost per thousand viewable impressions,” is what Google recommends if you’re trying to build brand awareness. With this strategy, you choose an amount of money you’re willing to pay for 1,000 people to see your advertisement in full view. It’s only available on the Google Display Network, not the search network.
• CPA bidding is what Google recommends advertisers use when they’re focused on conversions like purchases or sign-ups. With this method, you’ll bid based on how much a particular conversion goal is worth to your business.

This way, if your primary goal is to boost brand awareness, you’ll be able to show your ads to more people than you would if Google was trying to serve your ads to only people that have the best chance of clicking or converting. And it works the other way around, too.

If your goal is an action further down the funnel like a click or a conversion, you can bid for that, and Google will cut down on spreading your ad to the masses and instead show it to people who will be more likely to convert.

Why use Google AdWords?

If you were asking “Why to use Google AdWords?” right now you should be asking “Why not?”

The network has something for businesses of all sizes with different budgets and different advertising goals and different target audiences — most of whom have used Google at least once in their life to find the answer to a problem. So in a sea of seemingly endless searches — 2+ trillion per year — why wouldn’t you drop a bucket in to see how much revenue you could bring up?

Additionally, Instapage has just added an all new Advertising Attribution Solution, where you can track the cost per visitor and cost per lead within Instapage, on each variation.

Start leapfrogging the organic search results and earn clicks and conversions with the help of Google AdWords and a delightful post-click landing page experience.

Credits – Ted Vrountas (instapage.com)

Purchase your domain and hosting from us Click Here

There are a lot of businesses out there that still use a free email service and have an email address like bizname@gmail.com. However, if you have invested money in hosting a website with your own domain name, you should also at least have an email with your company name on it.  The reasons for this include:

Memorability

Free email addresses are often long and confusing, and easy user names on these impersonal and generic domains, like@Hotmail and @Gmail are often already taken. In business, it is vital to create the right impression – you need an email address that is both unique and memorable. Using your own domain name makes it easy for others to email you and remember your website.

Professional Impression

Your domain name is your online brand. Your domain name gives you’re a presence on the Internet. Many people will look for your website when they receive an email from you. When your website appears, it validates and authenticates you and your products or services. Having your own domain name for email establishes and reinforces your online identity and lets your customers know you mean business. It helps establish credibility and legitimacy by showing you invest in your business and make you look on par with large professional organizations and less fly-by-night or shoestring.

Don’t Look Like a Spammer

Authentication is very important because of the amount of spam each of us receives from many free email service providers, such as @Hotmail.com. Say you have a business named “Widgets For You” and have an email address “widgetsforyou@gmail.com.” How It would be very easy would it be for someone to fake being you by creating an email account “widgets4you@gmail.com?” Because those emails are free, they can be created by anyone. If you are a business, clients may not recognize john.smith@gmail.com as the same John Smith they order from. They may even think you’re a spammer.

Futureproof and Portable

When you have your own domain email you have an email address that’s as portable as your cellphone number—meaning you can switch email providers without losing your current address if you decide to change ISP or if your free email provider loses its edge. You won’t have to send out that dreaded “hey everyone I have changed my address” email and hope that everyone you notified will take notice and update your contact information.

Not Hard or Time-Consuming to Set Up

Even if you are very comfortable with your current way of doing things and want to stick with accessing your email at gmail.com, for example, you can still use your own domain name email. All you would need to do is to set up email forwarding. Here’s what it takes: Step 1: Buying a domain name (if you have already done this skip to Step 2). Step 2: Creating a forwarding account or email account with the right name (e.g. user@yourname.com). Step 3: Connecting that domain and that account together. (5-10 minutes, depending on your current email provider)

No More Ads

If you ever do decide to get rid of the advertising in your email experience then the best thing to do is to use your domain email outside of the free email provider. Even the best free email provider has ads and use your personal email information to feed you advertising. Gmail, Yahoo, and Hotmail all do it — they all read your email to better serve relevant ads that you are likely to click on. If you don’t want to read ads along with your emails, then you will have to stop using these free email services and use email hosting. More on this in my future post.

We can design and print your business cards, contact us.

Even in the world of smartphones, tablets, and laptops, 27 million business cards are printed daily. They still hold an important part in the business world, no matter how advanced we get.

© OSDE8INFO (CC BY-SA 2.0) VIA FLICKR

AVERAGE BUSINESS CARD STATISTICS

1. How many business cards are printed daily?
   Even in today’s digital age, 27 million business cards are printed daily. The economy continues to grow with new small businesses. Today, there are 28 million small businesses, but that number is forecasted to keep growing.
2. How many business cards are printed per year?
   27 million business cards printed daily turns into just under 10,000,000,000 business cards printed annually.
3. How many business cards are thrown out within a week?
   Of the 10 billion cards printed each year, 8 billion will be tossed within a week. That’s 88% of the cards printed.
4. What percentage do sales increase for every 2,000 business cards handed out?
   Despite the 8 billion cards being tossed, a company’s sales increase 2.5% for every 2,000 business cards handed out.
5. What’s the number one reason people throw business cards away?
   People today live in the moment. They throw business cards away because they don’t need the service now. Unfortunately, 63% of people feel this way, and throw the card away without a second thought.

BUSINESS CARD COSTS

6. What is the average cost of a business card?
   The average business cards cost anywhere from R2,30 per card or bulk cards from R100. The average spent nationally is R394. The cost of a business card depends on the quality and complexity of the card itself. The range varies based on who makes the cards.For example, 3SixT5 offers free designs for business cards to new customers.
7. What is average cost of having a graphic designer design business cards?
   Many graphic designers charge per hour. The average per hour rate in SA is R450. The amount charged varies based on location and complexity of the work.
8. What is the world’s most expensive business card?
   The Black Astrum Signature Card, coming in at $1,500, is the world’s most expensive business card. Studded in 30 carats worth of diamonds and made of Swiss metal, the cards are sold in packages of 25. The $1,500 cost is per card.

CREATING THE BUSINESS CARD

9. What information should you include on a business card?
   The business card should be a physical extension of your business. At a minimum, each card should include:
   • Name (personal and business)
   • Job title
   • Email
   • Phone
   • Website
   • Social media sites
10. What is the average size business card?
    A standard business card measures 3.5″ x 2″. The outer 1/8th-inch of the card is the “bleed” area. It allows for the design or background to complete the card, minimizing any white space.
11. Should you have white space on your business card?
    The cardinal rule of business cards is to keep it simple. Overcrowd it and clients will toss it in the trash. You want balance, readability, and comprehension. Each of these is only obtained with the right amount of white space, even if it’s not “white.”
12. Should you use more than one font on your business card?
    Choosing the font can be overwhelming. With hundreds to choose from, you may want to choose more than one. While acceptable, make sure you only choose one serif font and one sans serif font.Designers use serif for headings and sans serif for the body. Mixing up more than one of each can create clutter.
13. What’s the importance of a QR code on a business card?
    QR codes instantly provide information that you couldn’t fit on the business card. They can point clients to an app or your company’s website. Almost 50% of businesses use QR codes in some component of their marketing plan.
14. How can a photo on a business card help your business?
    If you don’t want your business card to be one of the 88% tossed, add a photo. It makes the card more memorable.Of course, that photo must tie into your business somehow. It can be a photo of yourself. It can also be a photo that signifies your business. The goal is to make the card as enticing as possible.
15. What is the most common business card mistake?
    Don’t choose cheap paper. That’s the number one mistake. People judge your business on your business card. It’s often their first impression of your business. If you choose low quality paper, they may assume you provide cheap quality products/services.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A BUSINESS CARD

16. What are the most common types of businesses using business cards?
    The corporate world is still filled with business cards. It’s the number one networking tool. It’s the icebreaker during a meeting and the branding when you part.Small businesses, however, need business cards just as much. If nothing else, it gives a small business a professional appearance. It lets potential clients know your business is “real.”
17. What is the number one reason to carry business cards?
    Even in today’s technologically advanced world, it’s a breach of etiquette to not have business cards. People expect them. Attempting to network without them is a big mistake.
18. How do business cards continue to market for you after personal interaction?
    Business cards continue to network for you long after you part ways with a potential client. It lets the other person know you have a legitimate business. It also lets them know you encourage future contact.
19. How much longer do people hold onto colored business cards than white cards?
    Studies show that prospective clients hold onto colored cards 10 times more than white cards. But again, they have to be attractive, uncluttered cards for them to be effective.

ECO-FRIENDLY CHOICES

20. How can using recycled paper for your business card help your company’s image?
    Using recycled paper lets clients know you care about the environment. Given the fact that 88% of business cards are thrown out, you can show your support by using recycled paper.

THE FIRST IMPRESSION

21. How do business cards change a person’s impression of you?
    Business cards make you look prepared and not “cheap.” A quality card with a great design gives potential clients a good feeling about your business. Handing out a cheap quality business card makes the other person feel as if you don’t care about your business.

DIGITALLY SAVING BUSINESS CARDS

22. How do people save business cards in a digital file?
    Even though it’s common business practice to hand out business cards, not everyone saves them. Before the 88% of recipients throw them out, though, many scan the card into an app like Evernote. They can then add notes and even follow you on LinkedIn.
23. How many Americans have a smartphone?
    Today, 77% of Americans have a smartphone, which is 42% more than 5 years ago. But the business card is still alive today. It’s a way of acknowledging professionalism, even if it gets thrown out or scanned into a smartphone. It’s the act of handing out the card that matters.

BOTTOM LINE

Business cards continue to hold an important role in a business. Creating the right business card can help your business thrive in today’s cutthroat world.

Sources and References:

• Adobe
• Thumbtack
• How Design
• SBA
• Minuteman Press