Frequently asked questions about websites and SEO

Jonathan Ebenstein, Managing Director, Marketing Services Group, Skoda Minotti

When people are curious about a company or product, the first thing they often will do is visit the website. So more often than not, your website is going to be the first impression your company will make to a prospective customer or business contact.
“Your website is a strategic marketing tool, just like an advertisement, press release or brochure,” says Jonathan Ebenstein, the managing director of Skoda Minotti’s Marketing Services Group. “It must fit into the overall marketing strategy you have established for your company. It should be charged with accomplishing specific pre-determined marketing goals and objectives and communicate a consistent message that is tied to your brand.”
Smart Business spoke with Ebenstein about how to optimize your company’s home on the Internet.
What kind of website do I need?
There are three main types of websites: basic information sites, lead generation sites and e-commerce sites.
The information site today is what the company brochure was 20 years ago. It functions as an online brochure that supports your off-line marketing efforts. That is the bare minimum today; you need a well-designed site that gives site visitors the information they need in an intuitive fashion. If that’s all you’re looking for, that’s OK, as long as it fits in with your overall strategic marketing goals and objectives.
The next step up is a lead generating site. Lead generation sites are unlike information sites because you want them to generate leads and business opportunities on their own. You want people to not only find the site while they are browsing on the Internet; you want them to feel compelled to contact you so you are set up to make a sale.
An e-commerce website can be a combination of a lead generation and information site, but added to the equation is the ability to purchase products and services online. After finding the site and viewing the content, the visitor is compelled to click to make a purchase. Those can be very profitable sites and an integral part of a marketing plan.
How do I know if my website needs to be redesigned?
When people are curious about a company or looking for a supplier, the first thing they will often do is visit its website. You need to ask yourself: ‘Does my site properly introduce my company?’ Does the site give visitors the perception that I am a leader in my service or my industry? If the answer is ‘no’ or ‘I’m not sure,’ you should probably consider a redesign.
Think about how prepared you are for a first meeting with a prospective customer. You have your brochure with you, you have your best suit on, your shirt is pressed — you look good because you want to make a great impression, and you want to be prepared to discuss the needs of that individual and how your company can meet those needs.
Your website is no different. It too has to be able to do that for you, because more often than not, it’s the first impression people are getting from your company.