Secure vs Not Secure Website Notifications
In July of 2018, the release of Google 68 and the new Chrome browser will require SSL Certificates for all websites or the browser will show “Not Secure” notifications. This will also affect page ranking.
What Does This Mean For My Website
Google’s new security algorithm will now require all websites to have an SSL Certificate and all URLs on all sites’ pages to redirect from http:// to https:// .
Three Things to Do To Make Your Site Secure
First, if you do not have an SSL Certificate, site visitors will see the “Not Secure” message along with a notice of “back to safety” and a warning page. This will cost your site not only page views, but also site visitors, and business.
Second, While Google doesn’t require the https://www URLs in order to be ranked within Google’s search functions, it is a big factor in how well Google ranks your site. What does this mean for your business on the web? It means that without an SSL, all your hard work with Organic and paid Search Engine Optimization (SEO) won’t have the potential to rank well and provide a profitable return on investment. This means a loss/lowering in search ranking for your site, keeping your company away from the customers you want to entice.
Third, and most importantly, make sure you get a reputable web developer to do the SSL and URL redirect work for you. It’s not as simple as activating a Certificate. Contact us for more information and to make sure your site is up-to-date.
The Right Strategy Can Pay Big Dividends.
The highly complex, multi-faceted business of product manufacturing is enough to make the average executive’s head spin. It’s little wonder, then that management in this sector leave a lot of the marketing to the distribution channel and, as a result, sales and brand value can suffer.
Your corporate website can play a major role in growing and reinforcing your company’s brands. The decision to choose one brand over another is frequently preceded by research – usually undertaken by the customer on one or more websites that may or may not include that of the manufacturer.
Therein lies the problem.
If the manufacturer’s website is not the active leader in search engine positioning and communicating the brand, then it by default, the task falls to its distributors, resellers, bloggers and even the competition. As a result the brand can become diluted, inconsistent and fall into the trap of differentiation by price alone.
The manufacturers website can have an enormous influence on any manufacturer’s sales and support ecosystem. In fact, it can literally reshape the way manufacturer’s products are perceived, priced, purchased, distributed and supported.
Manufacturers Have Many Special Requirements that Traditional Websites Fail to Address
Manufacturers’ websites also vary dramatically depending on the products and services offered and whether brands are consumer or business targeted (B2c or B2B). Many manufacturers also require consulting and creative services to correctly align their brands with the right target markets using appropriate brand communications.
In addition, existing customer relationships also rely on the manufacturer to provide a higher level of customer service based on price-points, specific service levels, etc.
Here are the features and services you should be considering when thinking about looking to revamp your corporate website.
The percentage of mobile users viewing your site will depend on the target demographic and market sectors targeted by your business. Restaurants for example will attract a much higher percentage of mobile users than restaurant purveyors. It’s important to have good web statistics in order to assess your current traffic and to plan accordingly.
Brand Reinforcement & Awareness
Manufacturing companies need to consider many factors in their marketplace to stand out above their competition. Here are some of the modules that will add value to the site and your customers:
- A Multingual Content Management System (CMS)
- Professional, Custom, brand-aligned Templates and color palettes
- Creative approach to Brand and Product Identifiers/Trademarks/Logos
- Content Development Services
- News Module for case studies, product releases and industry events
- A Comprehensive Products Module to showcase descriptions, specifications, images, videos, downloadable brochures, software and more
- User Testimonials Module
- Brand Management Module – ensure consistent brand representation and messaging across the channels.
Customer Support
- FAQ Module to reduce customer support inquiries
- Forum for reducing support costs
- Support Desk Module to increase support effectiveness
- Client Extranet to improve client communications
- Downloads module for Manuals, Parts Lists, Software Drivers and more
- Warranty Information
- Parts and Accessories Ordering.
Sales
- Employee Intranet
- Sales CRM Module
- Email Subscriptions and Broadcasts
- Social Media Integration
- Dealer Locators with built-in Google Maps Wayfinding
- Built-in best practices for Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Dealer/Distributor Extranet to handle orders, inventory, lookups etc.
- Clear and compelling Opt-in Forms to generate leads and drive sales.
Contact Us today to discuss how Acorn Interactive can help your business grow.
