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Several years ago, people were limited to surfing the web on their desktop or laptop, and only when they were in a place that offered a reliable internet connection.

Today, many people own smart phones and tablets with high-speed wireless internet connections that put the web at their fingertips 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The popularity and widespread use of mobile devices means you can reach people more than ever before at any time.

So, how do you reach this always online, always surfing audience effectively?

The answer is quite simple. Go mobile.

A mobile site doesn't need to be complicated. It's good practice to develop, alongside your full-fledged website, a smaller, concise and efficient mobile version. Mobile sites are websites that are designed to function on a mobile device such as an iPhone or iPad. They are usually simplified versions of your full site, offering up your key messaging, a list of services, a section for news or blog posts and a page that lists contact information.

Having a basic mobile site running side by side with your full site means you'll be accessible to anyone, anywhere, on any device.

Work with your web designer/developer to create a mobile site that targets your audience properly. Take advantage of their knowledge and experience to get your mobile presence up and running smoothly. For more information about the effectiveness of developing a mobile strategy, contact us today and we'll answer your questions.

Last time, we talked about how big of a difference you can make when using custom photography. This time, we're going to talk about taking the time and effort to work alongside a professional copywriter to take your business to a new level, both on and offline.

Taking the plunge and hiring a writer to develop your communications and key messaging is vital. It's easy to tell apart the businesses who've used a writer versus the ones who haven't.

With an experienced writer on your side, the possibilities are limitless. A good copywriter can keep your messaging and content short, concise and impactful, offering up the information you need your customers to know as efficiently as possible. Users today have very short attention spans. They don't read your content, they only skim it quickly and you only have a few seconds to grab their attention before they've left your site for good and you've lost out on a potential opportunity. Making sure your content is to-the-point while making an impact is what separates a good business from a great business.

Your writer can make sure that your messaging remains consistent across the mediums you use to reach potential customers. From websites, social media sites and email newsletters to traditional marketing such as advertisements, brochures and tradeshow booths, a good writer knows that your business needs to communicate a strong, consistent message with a similar tone throughout.

In a world where less is more, it's incredibly important to have someone on your side to keep your message simple and impactful. Consider working with a professional writer on your next marketing endeavor.

Have you ever considered redesigning your website? It might be time to start.

Statistically, the average life-cycle of any website is between three to four years. That's more than enough time for new trends, better techniques and newer technologies and user expectations to change and develop.

It's important that your business is able to keep up with and survive that life-cycle. It's your responsibility to remain forward-thinking and prepared for the future when it comes to your business and that includes your online presence.

A website redesign can help your business attract new customers with an improved user interface, streamlined content and an effective, modern design.

While you may not need to start from scratch, considering how to simplify your site and serve up the content your users are looking for most is a worthwhile task.

Do the colors in your logo clash, does your logo no longer truly convey the services and products you offer? Consider re-working it to better reflect your business.

Do you have your services spread across a dozen pages? Maybe they can be simplified. Perhaps it's time to set up a blog and integrate the dynamic content generated with it across the site.

Does your current home page properly direct traffic to the pages that matter most? Never underestimate the power of your home page. It's typically the first page a visitor will see and, when properly designed can help a user quickly access the information that matters most.

Redesigning your site can help improve your site's usability and improve overall user experience, and it doesn't have to mean changing everything. The RIGHT changes - different colors or fonts, new photos, simplified content and page structure can have a positive impact.

There are many benefits to working with a single agency to design, develop and manage your online and offline marketing and promotional efforts.

Working with a single firm promotes greater brand consistency, the team that designs your website will be the same team that communicates your brand into other works. You'll get to know, and come to rely on the team that's helping your business grow and at c-Seven, you'll never be treated like just another account number like you would at a larger, more expensive firm.

c-Seven is a full-service agency, capable of working with you to achieve your business goals, through traditional methods such as brochures, advertising, or tradeshow booths to highly effective custom web solutions via custom design and development work. Couple these services with over 13 years of consulting experience and you've got an incredible resource available to you for all of your business needs. There truly is no reason to turn elsewhere.

Take some time to view our ever-growing portfolio of satisfied clients here, or if you're looking to get started on your next project feel free to contact us today, we'd be happy to hear from you.

Is your website saying everything it should?  Your website’s purpose is to attract, inform and inspire visitors and customers to keep coming back. Many times, too much attention is placed on visual design and functionality, that the actual content of a site is often overlooked. In the end, positioning your company as the right choice for your customers all comes down to what you say, and how clearly you say it.  Is your site content achieving all it can? There are four key ways to tell.

Is it short and concise?

Studies show that cutting the content of a website in half increases readability and reader interest  levels by about 60% - being concise pays off!  Since most web readers scan websites (79% of readers in fact) vs reading the complete page (just 16% of readers) it’s vital that information be presented in a clear, direct manner, and any information not vital to the reader be removed.  So, how do you tell if your web page copy needs a trim? If the majority of your pages will require scrolling to accommodate text, it’s time to start the editing process.

Is it organized?

Content organization is another factor that can hinder or help a reader’s ability to understand your message. Ensure readers find the information they need by organizing your web content using headings and sub-headings, bullet points, highlighted key words. Use short paragraphs containing only one theme or idea to keep content easy to digest and scan over.  Try the inverted pyramid writing style – start each page or section with the conclusion to tell readers upfront what the page is about, then focus on how to go about achieving those end results.

Is it up to date?

The key difference between the internet and almost every other form of communication method is the speed at which it changes.  Web visitors expect information to be relevant to the moment, and can easily find more up-to-date information from one of your competitors, if your own content is outdated. Your web content should reflect current facts about your services and products, your industry and your business - no prospect will come to you with their business based on outdated pricing, service offerings. If a potential customer dismisses you as an option based on your outdated website content, you will have lost business that could otherwise have been yours.

Is it perfect?

Visitors can find hundreds of alternatives to your business – in an instant. If your website appears outdated, has poor spelling and grammar or links that don’t work properly, it communicates sloppiness and a lack of professionalism. There’s no excuse for a website that doesn’t meet acceptable communication standards. Proof read, spell check, and edit - then do it again to make sure each web page reflects your company’s unique expertise in your industry.

Your website is a 24-hour business card, always available with the ability to attract or repel prospective customers at any time of day, anywhere in the world.  Not only does it need an attractive design, intuitive navigation and functionality, web readers need the right content to makes decision-making easier. Review your website, then give us a call to make the most of your online business investment!

Your website is your most important marketing tool that will always be evolving – you shouldn’t think of it as a one-time investment but rather as a chance to connect with customers look for you and your services, every day.