Sarah
In this episode, we’re gonna be discussing phase 5, which includes Development and Production. So this includes things like uploading content to your website if you decide to do it yourself, hiring the right developer for your website to be built, and checking and testing your website. In addition, some people consider utilizing print collateral. In this phase, we’ll also be discussing the importance of print collateral and print collateral production.
Let’s get started. First, let’s talk about the importance of regularly uploading new relevant content to your website. Updating your site with fresh content can not only keep your existing audience engaged, but it can also attract new visitors. Research has shown that companies that consistently publish new content on their website, such as blog posts or product updates tend to see a higher level of traffic compared to those who do not.
For example, a study by HubSpot found that companies that publish 16 or more blog posts per month received almost 3.5 times more traffic than those that published 0 to 4 monthly posts. This makes sense when you consider that regularly adding new content to your website helps to keep it current and relevant to your audience.
It also helps to improve your search engine ranking. As search engines like Google tend to favor websites that are regularly updated with fresh content. One company that does an excellent job of regularly uploading new content is Wayfair, a home decor furniture retailer. I’m sure you’ve heard of them
They consistently add new products to the website and publish blog posts about home design trends and DIY projects, which helps drive traffic to their site and keep their audience engaged. So when you’re thinking about the design and what sort of content you would like on your website, please keep this in mind.
Next, let’s discuss the importance of choosing the right developer for your website. The developer you select will play a crucial role in building a website that meets your specific needs and goals. At Citrus Studios, we have a team of experienced developers who have worked on a variety of projects from small business websites to large e-commerce platforms.
When selecting a developer, it’s important to consider their technical skills and experience, as well as their communication style and ability to collaborate with your team. This is especially important for small business owners. A survey by Clutch found that 85% of small business owners value good communication from their web design and development firm.
Effective communication is key to ensuring that the developer understands your vision for your website and can work with you to bring it to fruition. It’s also important for ensuring that any issues or challenges that arise during the development process can be efficiently addressed and resolved. So we suggest doing your research and see what’s out there.
But always remember at Citrus Studios we have extensive knowledge of web design as we’ve been building websites for over 20 years. We have a team of experienced developers who have worked on a variety of projects. So if you have any sort of questions you would like to see if this would be a good fit for us, please feel free to reach out to us.
Another important aspect of web design and web development is testing the website, so once your website is developed, it’s essential to thoroughly check and test it to ensure it’s functioning properly and is user-friendly. This includes testing all links, forms, and any other interactive elements on the site to make sure they’re working as intended.
It’s also a good idea to test a site on multiple devices and browsers to ensure it looks and works well on all platforms. One company that places a strong emphasis on testing and quality control is Nike, they have a dedicated team of quality assurance professionals who thoroughly test their website and apps to ensure seamless user experience for their customers.
Having a site that can seamlessly transfer from desktop to mobile to tablet is extremely important. In this day and age, most of us are checking websites, checking social media, checking emails, all on our phones, which means that all of these designs need to be optimized for mobile especially. So always remember once your website is developed make sure to check on all platforms to ensure it’s running smoothly.
Finally, let’s talk about the importance of print collateral production in promoting your brand and products. This includes creating marketing materials like business cards, brochures, and signage to help raise awareness for your business and products. According to a survey by the Printing Industries of America, a significant percentage of consumers prefer to receive information about a product or service through print materials rather than digital channels.
In fact, 79% of consumers said they would rather receive information about a product or service through print materials rather than digital channels. I find that so interesting in a day and age where things have moved almost entirely to digital people still value print collateral. Think about the last time you unboxed a product and the packaging was seamless, beautiful, and extremely satisfying to open.
And think about the marketing materials that go into that package. The business cards, the additional information cards, all of these things are part of the print collateral production. So start thinking about what exactly you would need and start creating those assets or asking a team to get those started for you.
Here at Citrus, we are well-versed in print collateral, so feel free to reach out to us for any questions, or suggestions, even if you need some print collateral done. Incorporating print collateral into your marketing strategy helps reach a wider audience and makes a lasting impression on your customers.
One company that has effectively used print collateral in its marketing strategy is Starbucks, the global coffee chain. They regularly release new promotional materials, such as gift cards and coffee sleeves to help drive brand awareness and sales. And come on, we’re all a sucker for those really cute Starbucks gift cards. I know who I am, I love being able to collect them on the app and be able to refill them whenever I like.
So things like that. Think of how you can elevate your business with various forms of print collateral. And looks like that’s what we have time for today. Thank you so much for tuning in. Make sure if you have any questions on any of this information, please reach out to us on social media, or sign up for our newsletter, and if you need assistance with any designing, or implementing of a new website, print collateral, or any of the things we talked about today or any in the previous phases, please reach out to us, schedule a discovery call and we’ll be able to help you out.
