Why Content Marketing is Key to a Successful Business Strategy in 2023

“Content builds relationships. Relationships are built on trust. Trust drives revenue.” – Andrew Davis

 

As a business owner, you’re always looking for new ways to reach and grow your audience. In today’s digital world, content marketing is one of the most effective methods you can use. Content marketing is the process of creating and distributing high-quality content to attract and retain a clearly-defined audience. Whether the content is short form video, blogs, or social media posts, the ultimate goal is to drive profitable customer action. If you’re not already using content marketing as part of your marketing strategy, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity. In this article, we’ll discuss 10 reasons why content marketing is so important for your business.

 

Content Marketing by the Numbers

When it comes to effective content marketing strategy, there is one thing you should always do: listen to the data. We’ve compiled a few of the top statistics on content marketing sourced from the most reputable online research giants. Here are the most interesting statistics we found:

 

10 Reasons Content Marketing is Key to a Successful Marketing Campaign

 

1. Content Marketing Helps You Reach a Wider Audience.

If your goal is to reach a wider audience, you need to be creating and sharing content. By creating helpful, informative, and engaging content, you’ll be able to reach a larger audience than you would through traditional marketing methods.

 

2. Content Marketing Improves Your SEO Engagement

Content marketing has the added benefit of drastically improving your SEO engagement. By creating keyword-optimized content, you’ll be able to attract more organic traffic to your website. This will help you improve your SERP rankings and get in front of more potential customers.

 

3. Content Marketing Boosts Your Conversions

If you’re not using content marketing, you’re missing out on a major opportunity to boost your conversions. By creating compelling content, you’ll be able to persuade more people to take the desired action. Whether you’re trying to get people to sign up for your email list or make a purchase, content can help you boost your conversion rates.

 

4. Content Marketing Helps You Develop Relationships With Your Audience

If you want to develop relationships with your audience, you need to be creating content. By providing helpful, informative, and engaging content, you’ll be able to connect with your audience and build trust. Over time, this trust will turn into loyalty, and you’ll have a loyal audience that keeps coming back for more. In fact, 63% of marketers say that content marketing helps build loyalty with existing clients/customers.

 

5. Content Marketing Increases Brand Awareness

Content marketing can help increase brand awareness. By creating and sharing high-quality content, you’ll be able to reach a larger audience and get your brand in front of more people. This will help you attract more customers and grow your business.

 

Why Content Marketing is Key JA

 

 

6. Content Marketing Builds Trust

If you want to build trust with your audience, you need to be creating content. By providing helpful, informative, and engaging content, you’ll be able to show your audience that you’re an expert in your field. This will help you build trust and credibility with your audience, and they’ll be more likely to do business with you.

 

7. Content Marketing Generates Leads 

One of the benefits of content marketing is that it can help you generate leads. By creating helpful, informative, and engaging content, you’ll be able to attract more people to your website. Once they’re on your website, you can then capture their contact information and add them to your sales funnel.

 

8. Content Marketing Improves SERP

If you want to improve your SERP rankings, you need to be creating content. By creating keyword-optimized content, you’ll be able to attract more organic traffic to your website. This will help you improve your SERP rankings and get in front of more potential customers.

 

9. Content Marketing Increases Brand Loyalty 

63% of marketers say that content marketing helps build loyalty with existing clients/customers. Increasing brand loyalty starts with providing helpful, informative, and engaging content. Doing so will give you the ability to connect with your audience and build trust. Over time, this trust will turn into loyalty, and you’ll have a loyal audience that keeps coming back for more.  

 

10. Content Marketing Helps You Measure Your Success

One of the benefits of content marketing is that it’s easy to measure your success. By tracking your website traffic and engagement metrics, you’ll be able to see how your content is performing. This will help you optimize your content strategy and ensure that you’re getting the most out of your content marketing efforts.

As you can see, there are many good reasons to start using content marketing in your business. It’s an effective way to reach a wider audience, improve your SEO engagement, boost conversions, and more. If you’re not already using content marketing, now is the time to start. It’s a crucial part of any successful marketing strategy. If you’re looking for professionals to handle your content marketing needs, J. Arthur & Co. has exactly what you need. We specialize in delivering exceptional marketing content on time and on target.

 

 

6 Signs You Need a Website Transformation

Your website is the face of your business. It’s one of the first places potential customers go to learn about your company and what you have to offer. That’s why it’s so important to keep your website up-to-date and looking its best.

If your website is starting to feel a little out-of-date, it might be time for a transformation. Not sure if your website is due for a makeover? Here are six signs it’s time for a change…

 

6 Signs You Need a Website Transformation 

 

1. Your website is no longer mobile-friendly.

Mobile devices now account for almost half of all website traffic, and Google is basing its rankings on the mobile version of a website rather than the desktop version. This means it is essential to provide a great mobile experience for your customers on your website.

2. Your website looks outdated.

Google’s John Mueller recently suggested that poor design could hurt a website’s search rankings, which means that sometimes looks do matter. While it’s important that your website function seamlessly, it also needs to look fresh and modern, not like it’s stuck in a bygone digital era. Here are few design trends that are very outdated: 

We’ve come a long way in the world of Internet aesthetics. If your website has more than one of these outdated trends, it’s definitely time for a facelift.

3. Your website isn’t achieving the results you’d hoped for. 

If your website is still effective but starting to look outdated, there may not be an immediate need to change it. But if you’ve seen a significant decrease in traffic, leads, and conversions, your visitors are obviously not happy with what they’re seeing, so you may want to consider an upgrade.

Five Signs You Need a Website Transformation JA

 

4. Your competitors have much newer websites. 

You should do what’s right for you, but if your competitors have better websites, you’ll be at a disadvantage. If your website is lagging behind the competition, consider an update.

5. Your website has not optimized the user experience. 

The key to a successful website is making sure your users are happy. If your site is difficult to use or doesn’t have interesting, valuable content, your users will go elsewhere. Sometimes small changes can improve the experience for visitors on an existing site, but often the best solution is to create a new website with user experience in mind. For more information on UI/UX tips and trends, check out our insights

6. Your website still uses flash. 

Flash-based websites tend to have long loading times, which can be frustrating for visitors and can also negatively impact your website’s ranking in search engines. The shift away from using flash began in 2010 when Apple stopped supporting flash on their mobile devices. If you’re still using flash, it suggests you haven’t made any significant effort to improve your website in nearly 10 years.

 

If any of these sound familiar, it might be time to consider a website transformation. If you’ve built your new website, but aren’t quite ready to launch, read our blog about website testing checklists to keep your business on the right track. If you haven’t updated your online presence and you’re looking for a team to help you achieve your goals, J. Arthur & Co. has what you need. Connect with usand we can collaborate with you on a plan to transform your website. Remember, your website is the face of your business, so make sure it’s putting your best foot forward. 

 

 

15 eCommerce Trends to Watch Out For In 2023

eCommerce is always evolving. What was popular a few years ago may not be relevant now and what is popular now may not be relevant in a few years. This is why it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends so that you can ensure that your online store is always ahead of the curve. 

In this blog post, we will be discussing 17 eCommerce trends that we expect to see in 2023. Some of these trends are continuations of trends that we have seen in recent years while others are completely new. 

By the end of this blog post, you will have a good understanding of the direction that eCommerce is heading and what you need to do to stay ahead of the competition!

ECommerce Trends for 2023

1. Personalization will continue to be important.

Personalization has become increasingly critical in recent years and this trend is expected to continue in 2023. Consumers have become used to being treated as individuals and they now expect brands to personalize their experience. This means that brands need to collect data on their customers so that they can offer a personalized experience.

There are a number of ways to collect data on your customers, such as through website cookies, social media, and surveys. Once you have this data, you can then use it to personalize the user experience on your website and  them products that they are interested in. 

2. Environmental sustainability will have an effect  on consumer behavior.

We are starting to see a shift in consumer behavior where people are becoming more conscious of the impact that their purchase has on the environment. This trend is expected to continue in 2023 and we will see more brands offering sustainable products and packaging. Consumers will also be more likely to purchase from brands that they perceive to be environmentally friendly.

3. Customized packaging will increase in popularity. 

There has been a trend in recent years towards more customized packaging. This trend is expected to continue in 2023 as consumers become more interested in personalization. Brands are now offering more customization options for their packaging, such as the ability to add a personal message or design. This trend is driven by the fact that consumers want to feel like they are receiving a unique and personal product.

4. There will be more useful applications of artificial intelligence. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is starting to become more widely used in eCommerce. This trend is expected to continue in 2023 as AI becomes more sophisticated and is able to handle more complex tasks.

AI can be used for a number of tasks, such as personalizing the user experience, providing customer support, and managing inventory. AI is also becoming more important for marketing tasks, such as targetting ads, writing captions, and understanding customer behavior. 

5. Data protection will become even more important. 

Data protection is an vital issue that is often overlooked in eCommerce. However, this is expected to change in 2023 as data protection becomes a more important factor in the purchasing decisions of consumers.  Consumers are becoming smarter about data protection are now more likely to purchase from brands that they trust to protect their data. This means that brands need to focus on ensuring that their data protection practices are up to par with the competition.

 

 

15 eCommerce Trends to Watch out for in 2023

 

6. Mobile shopping will continue to drive sales. 

Mobile shopping is expected to continue to grow in 2023. This is due to the fact that more and more people are using their mobile devices to shop online.  In fact, it is estimated that by 2023, over 70% of all eCommerce sales will be made through mobile devices. This trend is being driven by the fact that mobile devices are becoming more powerful and easier to use for shopping.

7. Video content will remain effective. 

Video is a powerful marketing tool that is expected to remain popular in 2023. This is due to the fact that video is an engaging and visually appealing way to communicate with consumers.  Additionally, video is a great way to show off products and give consumers a better understanding of what they are buying. Video is also a great way to build trust with consumers as it allows them to see the faces behind the brand. 

8. Subscription revenue will remain attractive (even for products).

Subscriptions are a popular way to sell products and this trend is expected to continue in 2023. This is due to the fact that subscriptions offer a number of benefits for both consumers and brands.  For consumers, subscriptions offer a convenient and hassle-free way to purchase products. They also offer the ability to try new products without having to commit to a purchase. For brands, subscriptions offer a recurring revenue stream and the ability to build a loyal customer base.

9. Online storefronts will introduce new payment options. 

We are starting to see a trend towards a wider variety of payment options being offered by online stores. This trend is expected to continue in 2023 as brands look to provide a more convenient shopping experience for consumers.  Here are some of the payment options that are expected to trend upward in 2023: mobile payments, subscription payments, and installment payments. This trend is being driven by the fact that consumers are looking for more flexible payment options.  

10. AR will become more of a reality. 

Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that is starting to become more widely used in eCommerce. This trend is expected to continue in 2023 as AR becomes more sophisticated and is able to offer a more realistic experience for consumers.  AR can be used for a number of tasks, such as product demonstrations, virtual try-ons, and product customization. This technology is becoming more popular as it allows consumers to get a better understanding of the products that they are interested in. As far as VR (virtual reality) goes, click here to read more about its current state.

11. Voice search will become second nature for most consumers.

Voice search is a technology that is starting to become more widely used. This trend is expected to continue in 2023 as voice search becomes more sophisticated and is able to handle more complex queries.  Voice search is a great way to provide a quick and easy way for consumers to search for products on your website. This technology is also becoming more popular as it allows consumers to hands-free search while they are doing other tasks.  

12. Influencers and influencer marketing will remain a valuable asset.

Influencer marketing is a trend that is expected to continue in 2023. This is due to the fact that influencers have a large and engaged following that can be used to reach a wider audience.  In addition, influencers are considered to be trusted sources by their followers. This means that their endorsement of a product can go a long way in convincing people to make a purchase. 

13. Digital content will be requirement, not a suggestion.

Digital content is any content that is in a digital format. This includes things like blog posts, videos, and infographics.  Digital content is expected to become a requirement in 2023 as it is a great way to engage with consumers and build trust with them. This trend is being driven by the fact that consumers are now using the internet as their primary source of information. 

14. User-generated content will grow.

User-generated content (UGC) is any content that is created by consumers. This includes  reviews, social media posts, and blog posts.  UGC is expected to grow in popularity in 2023 as it is a great way to engage with consumers and build trust with them. This trend is being driven by the fact that consumers are now using the internet as their primary source of information.

15. Inflation will make consumers diligent researchers.

All consumers have felt the sting of inflation on their pockets. In addition to raising prices, inflation affects consumer behavior by forcing customers to due their research before making a purchase. This means that brands need to focus on providing a competitive price for their products. 

These are 15 eCommerce trends that we expect to see in 2023. Some of these trends are continuations of trends that we have seen in recent years while others are completely new.  By staying up-to-date with these trends, you can ensure that your online store is always ahead of the competition.

 

 

How to Optimize Your WordPress Website

It isn’t enough to design and deploy a website. Post development, every website needs optimization, no matter how incredible it is! A website with superior speed and performance keeps visitors hooked and eases them further down the purchasing cycle. Not sure where to start? You’re in luck! Here’s the ultimate guide to optimizing your WordPress website.

 

How to Optimize Your WordPress Website

Slow Websites Lose The Race

“Slow and steady wins the race” is a popular saying and is generally great advice for many things… A website is NOT one of them. Slow websites see higher bounce rates as lagging turns visitors away. A website that doesn’t load within 5 seconds leads to poor conversions and a bounce rate of up to 38%. It also damages your Google ranking (sending you to the abyss known as Page 2).

 

What’s Slowing You Down?

Only when you recognize what is slowing you down can you fix it. Here are some common reasons why your website is taking longer to load:

  1. Unoptimized Images – Graphics can take up a lot of space if you upload them without compressing them. With such graphics, your page size may increase, requiring more time and data to load.
  2. Low-Quality Hosting – For optimal website performance, choose the right host. Bad quality and inexpensive hosting services cannot offer you the speed and optimization required for a powerful and interactive website.
  3. Slow Plugins – Plugins help you provide a complete digital experience, but the wrong ones will only worsen your user experience. Having too many plugins can also affect website speed.
  4. No content delivery network – Even your high-traffic website can slow down without a content delivery network.
  5. No HTTPS – If you are not taking advantage of HTTPS or HTTP2 protocol, it is no surprise that your website is slowing down.
  6. Lack of caches – Without a caching plugin, your speed and performance will suffer.

 

Best Practices for WordPress Speed and Performance

After identifying what has been plaguing your website, you may have a narrow list of issues to focus on. Fixing them can be very simple. We listed some best practices for you to implement to ensure that you offer the fastest and smoothest visual and interactive experience.

 

Choose Superior Hosting Services

Cheaper website hosting services can set you up initially. But as you grow and expand, you will require a stronger and better host. Prices are higher for better hosts, but the rewards are also much sweeter.

But why should you invest in better hosting? The answer is that it’ll pay back itself. Slow-loading websites eventually lose visitors and also rankings. With less traffic, you’re sure to sell less, hurting your bottom line. A better host helps you deliver a clean experience to your customers. Fast and responsive services do more business and eventually grow and earn more, paying off all the investment you’ve made in the host. Depending on your budget, you can look into hosts such as Kinsta, Cloudways, WPX Hosting, etc.

Start Using Caches

One of the easiest mistakes to overlook is not using caches. Caches help you present your website faster by reconstructing the website ahead of time rather than when the customer requests for the page. Because the processing is done before the request, websites load faster offering instant gratification and deliverability to the visitor.

Using caches may sound very technical, but we’ve got an easy solution for that. If you’re an amateur and only DIYing your site without technical expertise, you should install the WP Rocket plugin. It’s easy to use and inexpensive, so you can experiment without breaking the bank!

 

How to Optimize Your WordPress Website 1 1

 

Invest In a Content Delivery Network

Any website that gets international traffic and doesn’t use a CDN is inevitably doomed. A CDN is a network of servers across the globe that can host your website. When a visitor opens your site, the closest CDN server gets to the task and displays it, making your website work faster. It also offers a smooth and uninterrupted experience to your visitors even during a traffic surge.

Optimized Images

High-quality images can increase your page size and hence make them slower when loading. Compressing your images after you’ve uploaded them helps to reduce the data size. The best bit is that while the file size goes down, the image quality remains the same. You can have a faster website without compromising the quality of your visuals!

Use The HTTPS Protocol

If you’re using the old HTTP protocol, a goodbye is long overdue. Say farewell to your old protocol and hello to your new best friend – the HTTPS. Once you switch to the latter, your website will be using the HTTP2 protocol which is way faster than the older one. It will boost your website speed and reduce loading times making your website work better.

Keep A Check On Your Plugins

Don’t we all love plugins? They make our jobs easier and help us serve our site visitors and customers better. But as they say, too many cooks spoil the broth. So make sure not to select too many plugins.

If you’re using a lot of plugins there is a high chance that they’re the reason behind your website lagging. But how do you fix it? Simple. Identify plugins that are extra and you can do away with them. Also, ensure that your plugins are updated and compatible with the WordPress version you’re using. This will help you increase your speed and also fix your website.

Keep Your WordPress Website Updated

You can’t be complacent in a dynamic world and the world of the internet is indeed very dynamic. It isn’t enough to just create your website and let it be. You need to consistently review it, and identify problems and chances of improvement and upgrade.

As you update your content and site and as your website grows, you may need to change plugins, hosts, file sizes, and numerous other upgrades to ensure your website continues to offer the stellar user experience you promised initially. Plus, Google ranks websites with fresh and updated content higher, offering you more visibility and potentially, greater traffic.

WordPress website optimization is not very hard to take on even if you are not very familiar with the technical aspects of it. With WordPress’ powerful tools, plugins, and other services, you are in safe hands as long as you continue to be focused on improvements and steady growth. We hope these tips help you out and if you have any other concerns, you can always connect with us here.

 

 

 

The Ultimate Website Testing Checklist

Making a list and checking it twice isn’t something that only benefits Santa Clause. It’s also one of the best ways to make sure your website is in tip-top shape before it launches. There are a multitude of things to consider when creating a website for your business or your client. This blog will cover the ultimate website testing checklist. Use this when you’re close to launch or looking to revamp your website.

 

The Ultimate Website Testing Checklist

Functionality Testing

The goal of functionality testing is to observe the overall functional capabilities of the web application. All features are tested to make sure they are compatible and perform the specific functions mentioned in the documentation. In order to test the functionality you should:

Usability Testing  

Usability testing evaluates how user-friendly the elements in the web app are. It tests the flow of the web app and how the user can navigate through it seamlessly. Is the website easy to navigate? Can the user complete Usability testing relies on standard practices that ensure the ease of use and effectiveness of a web app. It roots out all the errors, like typos, punctuation, and weak flow. For more information on usability check out our blog – Usability: How to Win with Simplicity. To test usability you should:

Interface Testing  

Interface Testing checks how the website communicates at different interfaces. The three interfaces that are usually tested are the: application, web server, and database server. Testing any of the three interfaces will give you answers to the following questions: 

The Ultimate Website Testing Checklist JA

 

Database Testing 

Database testing is important to check how the web application stores data and performs various functions that include performing queries during testing if an error comes up and keeping the response time of queries in check. To conduct a database test you should:

Performance Testing  

Have you ever visited a website and had to wait longer than normal for it load? It’s immediately noticeable to users and can drive high bounce rates. Avoid this pitfall by implementing a performance test. Performance tests measure your website’s speed, stability and scalability under multiple different scenarios. Performance tests will answer the following questions:

Compatibility Testing  

Desktop or mobile? Android or iOS? Chrome or Safari (RIP internet explorer)? Users access the web in more ways than ever. Compatibility testing ensures that your website delivers a consistent performance across all platforms. The same website renders differently in different browsers and their versions, which is why it is essential to perform cross browser compatibility tests. Cross Browser Testing allows you to test if your web application functions seamlessly and consistently across multiple browsers on different desktop and mobile devices. Every web element like buttons, images, text fields, lists, and more changes with the change in OS, which is why it is important to test cross-platform compatibility by testing on real devices as opposed to emulators or simulators.

Security Testing  

Security testing involves testing, analyzing, and reporting every security aspect of your app. Security administrators test the security level of the app through both manual and automated security testing methods. Security testing performs different functions such as:

Creating a website is easier than ever with platforms like WordPress and Wix. Separate yourself from the competition by conducting rigorous testing to ensure the best possible user experience. At J Arthur & Co. we specialize in delivering high quality web services on time and on target. We understand the ins and outs of website development and we’re here to help!

 

 

 

 

The Current State of Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) is a computer-generated environment with scenes and objects that appear to be real, making the user feel they are immersed in their surroundings. Chances are, you’ve heard of it before. Between the recent success of the Oculus 2 and Facebook’s pivot to Meta in order to push the Metaverse, VR technology is on its way to becoming an absolute force in the tech industry. In this blog, we will walk you through the history of VR. Then we’ll dive into Meta’s “quest” to revolutionize the industry. Let’s get started…

 

The History of VR 

Virtual Reality is far from a new trend. In fact, it’s been around since the 90’s with the earliest attempt being then gaming giant, Sega with a brief demo at 1993 Consumer Electronics Show. The project was canned before its release. There were other competitors trying to cash in on VR early including Sony. The technology was not there yet. It wasn’t until a few decades later in 2012 when a small tech startup called Oculus emerged with a crowdfunded kickstarter campaign to create a high end VR headset with big names backing it. Id Software’s co-founder, John Carmack. endorsed the project and the fundraising campaign raised more than 10 times its original goal of $250,000. The oculus project released to consumers in 2016 to the tune of $599. Given the high price, sales were not exactly through the roof. Even though the Oculus wasn’t initially a gargantuan commercial success, it broke the VR Market wide open. Eventually new players entered the VR market including HTC and Sony.

Fast forward to today and VR is much less of a novelty. VR gaming headsets are becoming more popular. The progression of technology has allowed for lighter headset equipment, more computing power, and accessibility functions. The future of VR seems up for grabs. And no one seems more eager to grab all of it than Mark Zuckerberg.

 

The State of VR J Arthur

 

Meta’s Quest for a VR Revolution  

The Meta Quest Pro was revealed on October 12th this year to very mixed reviews. For starters, the $1500 price tag is hefty enough to make even the most zealous early adopters a little squeamish. Though most VR plans revolve around gaming, Zuckerberg envisions the Meta Quest Pro as more of a business communication tool. He wants to replace Zoom meetings with VR meetings. He wants to position the Meta Quest as a B2B tool. Though these lofty goals have been met with scathing reviews:

“The problem is, the Quest Pro isn’t very good. It’s a device seemingly launched without plan or purpose, highlighting VR’s persistent drawbacks without making good use of its strengths — and topped off with some irredeemably bad software. We might be seeing a roadmap for where Meta is going, but right now, it’s not a particularly fun place to be. And if Meta lingers there much longer, its metaverse is in trouble” – Adi Robertson, The Verge

One of the main complaints about the new Meta Quest Pro is that it’s heavy and clunky and that the software is abysmal. Even the Meta employees who developed the product were iffy about it…

In a memo to employees from Meta’s VP of Metaverse, Vishal Shah, the executive wrote, “For many of us, we don’t spend that much time in Horizon and our dogfooding dashboards show this pretty clearly. Why is that? Why don’t we love the product we’ve built so much that we use it all the time? The simple truth is, if we don’t love it, how can we expect our users to love it?”

Vishal Shah raises a great question. If Meta employees don’t love it. How can they expect users to love it? The main pain points they need to work on is the disorientation that the headsets cause. Because of the weight of the headset and the nature of VR, many users have reported becoming nauseous after repeated use. This is definitely an issue that needs to be resolved before VR can truly take over. The next big hurdle is simply the price. The top barrier to VR adoption is that it’s too expensive, with 55% of survey respondents listing this as their hesitation.

 

The State of Virtual Reality  

Just because Meta isn’t currently seeing high returns for their lofty investment in VR, doesn’t mean it can’t be a lucrative endeavor. In fact, Here are a few interesting statistics about VR technology…

With numbers like these, the future of VR is solidified. So what can we learn from Meta’s mistakes and triumphs? For one, VR needs more time in the oven. The technology needs to be at a place where the headsets can be offered at a more reasonable price. Not many are jumping at the idea of spending close to $2,000. Secondly, the software needs to be flexible so that there is a smooth transition between people using Zoom and people using Meta Quest. The ultimate goal would be to create a virtual workspace sophisticated enough to make up for some of the disadvantages of remote work. Imagine a space where you get to interact with your remote coworkers in a way that’s more engaging than a few questionable emojis and the occasional Zoom call. The future is bright for VR. The only real question is, how far into the future are we talking?

 

 

 

 

The Do’s and Don’ts of SMS Marketing

Sms marketing (also known as text marketing) can be an effective way of achieving your marketing goals. The best brands use text message marketing to connect with their subscribers, share promotions, and deliver mobile alerts.

SMS Marketing gives them a direct line of communication with their customers, which is extremely valuable when implemented properly. Even with videos, reels, and GIFs taking up a large percentage the content landscape, text marketing remains extremely popular. In fact, 70% of customers subscribe to text marketing messages.

But what is it that sets text marketing apart from other marketing tools? In this blog, we will talk about why SMS marketing has become so popular and what are the best practices you can adopt for your business.

 

The Benefits of SMS Marketing

  1. Direct and Instant Delivery – Texts are one of the most immediate marketing channels. They also help you connect directly with your customers, increasing the likelihood of swift responses. 95% of text messages are opened and replied to within 3 minutes of delivery.
    Time-sensitive messages can be delivered instantly, allowing you to deliver relevant and urgent messages to your customers. For example, if you run an e-commerce business you can let customers know about a limited time sale or send them a promo code with a link to your online storefront.
  2. High Open Rate – Users are always on their mobile devices and frequently communicate using texts. Which is why marketing text messages have a higher open rate of 98% compared to emails with an open rate of 20%.
  3. Higher Conversion Rate – CTAs in text messages also drive higher conversions. With no images or wordy clutter, the CTA and message in texts are clear and concise, leading to higher response rates. 45% of messages are responded to versus an email response rate of 8%.
  4. Personalization and Customization – Since text messages go directly to your customer’s inbox, they are a more personal means of communication. Formal sales language can be replaced with casual tones as if you are talking to a friend. This develops a deeper and more emotional connection with your customers, building loyalty. Of course, only go the informal route if it fits within your brand’s messaging style.
  5. Cost-effective – Compared to other marketing campaigns and efforts, SMS marketing is relatively inexpensive. With high open and conversion rates, text marketing offers a higher return on investment, making it a cost-effective component of your marketing strategy.
  6. No Spam – Email marketing attempts can often get lost in your target audience’s spam filter, whereas SMS marketing typically won’t. Once customers opt-in, they are sure to get your marketing messages, because there is no chance of it being sent to their spam folder.
  7. Quick Feedback from Customers – You can strategically use text marketing to receive instantaneous feedback from customers. Using polls and surveys, you can understand the preferences of your customers, market trends, and the voice of the users much better.The Dos and Don’ts of Text Marketing

 

The Dos and Donts of SMS Marketing JA 1

 

 

The Do’s 

 

The Don’ts

 

Getting Started

SMS marketing is widely used today across industries. With the right strategy, you can reach your audience personally and forge a deeper connection with each customer.

If you are new to the world of SMS marketing, partner up with J Arthur & Co. We specialize in web and marketing services, particularly in SMS marketing, and can help you create a winning strategy and campaign, setting you up for a successful SMS marketing launch.

We’ve worked with multiple businesses across various industries helping them with their web and mobile presence. Connect with us today to find out how we can help you!

 

 

Embracing Usability: How to Win with Simplicity

“Usability is about people and how they understand and use things, not about technology… As a user, I should never have to devote a millisecond of thought to whether things are clickable – or not.”Steve Krug, Don’t Make Me Think

 

For the most part, the easy-to-use products are the most successful. Consider the major differences between the Apple iPhone and Samsung’s smartphones. High-end Samsung devices often have cutting edge smartphone technology powering their device, but Apple leaned heavily into usability and it has paid off significantly. Though usability covers a wide range of industries, in this blog, we will narrow our focus to the usability of company websites. First, we’ll cover the key components of usability. Next, we’ll underline why usability is important. Lastly, we’ll highlight how UI/UX savvy web design helped a client of ours upgrade and modernize their website. Let’s dive in…

Usability can be broken down into 7 key components

  1. Learnability – From the moment the user lands on the website, how easy is it for them to accomplish basic tasks?
  2. Utility – Does the website design perform the functions that user needs?
  3. Efficiency – How quickly can the user perform the intended task?
  4. Memorability – Should the user stop using the design for a significant amount of time, how easily can they reestablish proficiency with the design?
  5. Errors – Does the user make errors while using the design/product. If so, how many errors do they make? Are they easy to fix?
  6. Satisfaction – How pleasant is it to use the design?
  7. Accessibility– The site’s content needs to be obtainable and functional to people with disabilities. Accessibility is actually a prerequisite to usability. If a person can not access a web page he certainly can not use it.

 

Why Usability Matters

Usability is absolutely necessary to the success of your design, product, or website. Let’s consider the usability of a website for example. If the website is cluttered and difficult to navigate, users will leave, increasing your bounce out rate. If your font choices and text blocks aren’t optimized for readability, the user will quickly become frustrated and exit your page. Poor grammar, spelling errors, and slow load times? Say goodbye to your engagement. There are millions of websites, why would a user spend time on yours if it’s not optimized?

The following statistics illustrate how vital usability and user experience (UX) are to the success of your business: 

Quick Usability Tips for your Business

  1. The user experience begins before a user visits your site.
  2. Use heat maps to understand audience behavior.
  3. Remove time consuming forms to improve cart abandonment.
  4. Reduce cognitive friction.
  5. Partner with UI/UX web design experts to map out the necessary changes and give your website a facelift.

Working with J Arthur & Co. 

We are committed to delivering exceptional marketing and web services to companies.
Let’s take a look at how J Arthur & Co have enhanced usability for its business partners…

Usability 101 - J Arthur & Co.

Consider the first image of Wyndham Newport Hotel’s home page. Then take a look at the updated version. A few things should stand out:

 

By making many smart adjustments like these we were able to completely transform the usability of Wyndham Newport Hotel’s website. Now, instead of clutter and disorganization, the user experiences the efficiency of a clean design that guides them exactly where they need to be as soon as they land on the page. Click here to check out their current website, the difference is night and day.
A website with excellent usability can take your business to the next level! Make sure you partner with a web design agency that understands usability, UI, and UX’s role in driving conversions for your business and meeting your goals.

Planning Ahead: 7 Ways to Make Your Digital Strategy Recession Proof

With inflation on the rise, gas prices through the roof, and the housing market reeling (thanks to Covid-19), many experts believe that a recession is on the horizon. Katy Bostjancic, a chief US economist at Oxford Economics, believes we will come “precariously close to tipping into a recession by mid-2023”.

According to the traditional definition of a recession, which is a fall in GDP for two consecutive quarters – we are already in a recession with contracting GDP for two quarters in a row (dropping 1.6% during the first quarter of 2022, the GDP fell another 0.9% in the second quarter.).

UCF’s Institute for Economic Forecasting says a year-long recession is on the horizon for the U.S.

The Conference Board forecasts that 2022 Real GDP growth will come in at 1.4 percent year-over-year and that 2023 growth will slow to 0.3 percent year-over-year.

Seeking Alpha suspects that as the Fed continues its aggressive mission to combat inflationary pressures, a recession in 2023 is likely.

Chances are, your business is already feeling the effects of inflated costs on your bottom line. This surely won’t be the first, nor the last time we experience an economic downturn. But whether you run a small business, middle market company, or a large corporation, that uncertainty can be frightening.

Harvard Business Review conducted a year-long study of 4,700 publicly traded companies during three different global recessions. 17% didn’t survive. 80% were playing catch-up to their pre-recession strength and 9% managed to grow despite the recession. How do you make sure your business is part of that 9 percent?

Pretty much every brand has a website. If they don’t have a website, they have a social media presence. But you shouldn’t stop there. Couple a strong online presence with a proficient, effective digital marketing strategy and you will level the playing field within your industry and provide your business with measurable, and cost-effective methods of achieving your goals. From Mckinsey & Company: “Customers are now spending more time and resources on owned-media channels such as websites, mobile apps, and customer-service channels. From a content perspective, there is also a noticeable increase in customer-conversion rates, with social and digital video channels driving the highest ROIs.”

Here are a few statistics that showcase the profound impact digital marketing has had across industries…

It’s clear that digital marketing isn’t going anywhere. An optimized digital marketing strategy should be able to survive economic downturn. When it comes to your digital strategy, is your business/organization prepared to weather the storm? Let’s go over a few tips on how to make your digital strategy recession proof…

7 Ways to Make Your Digital Strategy Recession Proof JA

7 Ways to Make Your Digital Strategy Recession Proof

  1. Build a Stronger Online Presence: Your ability to build and maintain a healthy online presence is vital to staying afloat during a recession. Focus on a long-term SEO and content marketing strategy to retain the interest of your target audience.
  2. Don’t Cut Out Marketing: One of the first things many businesses do when faced with hard economic times is drastically reduce their marketing budget. During the recession of 2008 and 2009, overall ad spending dropped 9 percent. Studies show that brands who continue marketing during a recession are most likely to survive. It’s okay to streamline your spending, but you don’t want to stop marketing entirely. With most other businesses (including your competitors) reducing their marketing during a recession, it’s the perfect opportunity to make sure your ad campaigns stand out!
  3. Optimize Your Website: Take a focused look at your website’s performance. Is your website optimized for mobile devices? Experts believed mobile commerce would control 72.9% market share of ecommerce by 2021, up from 58.9% in 2017. That prediction proved to be true. Which pages are getting suboptimal engagement? Is the conversion rate acceptable? Are your call-to-actions clear? Partner with a reputable web design company to come up with a data-driven plan to decrease bounce out rates, improve UI/UX, and keep your site in tip-top shape!
  4. Meet Your Customers Where They Are: Consider how your segmented target audience has adjusted to the economic crisis. Have their priorities shifted? Maybe they suddenly value the convenience of an online marketplace. Study your buyers’ changes in consumer behavior and meet their needs accordingly.
  5. Stay Consistent on Social Media: During a recession, people are more likely to stay home and save their money. That equates to a lot more time scrolling through social media looking for great deals on products and services. This is an excellent opportunity to attract new customers through social media marketing. If your budget is tight, it’s okay to reduce the amount of paid ads you’re financing, but don’t abandon your social media strategy altogether.
  6. Embrace Digital Transformation: Digital transformation will look different for every company. A Morgan Stanley survey indicated that nearly 10% of CIOs plan to increase spending on digital transformation in 2022. According to Deloitte, “digital transformation is all about becoming a digital enterprise – an organization that uses technology to continuously evolve all aspects of its business models (what it offers, how it interacts with customers and how it operates).” Digital transformation includes cloud migrations, creating an online marketplace, and developing multiple digital touch points for your brand. It’s one of the many services that we provide for our clients at J Arthur & Co. and it can help your business thrive even in times of economic turmoil.
  7. Find the Opportunity: While competitors pull back on marketing spending, find the opportunity to re-allocate your internal resources. Build strong, synergistic relationships with third party digital marketing vendors that can help you increase engagement, strengthen your message, and generate qualified leads.

What do we recommend in a nutshell? Maintain a strong online presence, don’t hit the brakes too hard on your marketing budget, keep your website in shape, grow with your customers, keep up your social media game, and embrace the digital revolution! As established experts in the industry, we guarantee these tips will make your digital strategy recession proof. We hope you flourish and prosper in the years to come. If you need assistance with executing any of these tips, we’re here to help.

 

J. Arthur & Co acquires Chicago based digital agency Ruben Digital

We’re pleased to announce that we’ve recently acquired Chicago based digital agency Ruben Digital. A family business with strong values founded in 2014, Ruben Digital is based in Chicago’s suburbs and has an excellent reputation as an innovative web and digital provider throughout Chicagoland, the Midwest and beyond.

It’s with great eagerness and excitement that we greet our new team members and clients. Our goal with the management of Ruben Digital is to continue to proliferate expert level web services to the wide array of creative businesses and industries that RD currently serves. Through dedicated service, and high level technical delivery of websites, web applications, software and digital ad services it’s our sincere hope that we help every single one of these hard working businesses grow awareness, gain customers, boost revenue and cement a strong foothold on a digitally forward future.

Thank you to RD Founder Nathan Ruben for your diligent efforts in establishing a great firm and working with our team closely through many details over the last several months. Thanks to our awesome team who continues a day-to-day dedication, deploying solutions, overcoming obstacles and delivering results that ensures our company will continue to grow and most importantly bring more small, medium and large companies our stack of value-add digital services.