Mactavis

Tag: e-commerce

  • How Website Audits Can Transform Your Online Presence and Propel Business Growth

    How Website Audits Can Transform Your Online Presence and Propel Business Growth

    Did you know that 94% of users judge a website’s credibility based on its design and user experience? In the digital era where first impressions matter, the importance of a flawless online presence cannot be overstated. 

    Welcome to our comprehensive guide on website audit, an important but sometimes disregarded element of digital success.  

    Establishing and sustaining a strong online presence presents several obstacles for businesses in the cutthroat environment of today. The road to online success is filled with obstacles, ranging from mastering flexible design to negotiating the complexities of SEO. 

    Understanding The Need For Website Audits

    Picture this, a potential customer lands on your website but is met with slow load times and a confusing layout. The result? They bounce away, straight into the arms of your competitor. This is just one of the many challenges businesses encounter in the digital space. According to statistics, 40% of visitors leave a website that takes longer than three seconds to load. These difficulties hurt search engine rankings in addition to turning off potential clients. 

    What Exactly is a Website Audit? 

    A Website audit, in simple terms, is a comprehensive analysis of your website’s health, performance, and overall effectiveness. Regular audits serve as proactive measures, akin to preventive healthcare for your online presence. 

    Imagine a doctor identifying potential health risks before they escalate. Similarly, website audits diagnose issues before they harm your online credibility. From identifying broken links to ensuring mobile responsiveness, audits are the diagnostic tools ensuring your online “office” is in top-notch condition. 

    Steps For Effective Website Audits

    Step 1: Establish Your Goals 

    Set clear objectives for your website assessment at the onset. A well-defined set of goals will direct the entire process, whether it is optimizing conversion funnels, enhancing user experience, or improving SEO. 

    Step 2: In-depth Technical Study 

    Conduct a thorough technical analysis. This entails evaluating your website’s mobile friendliness, speed, markup validation, web vitals, and compliance with industry standards such as accessibility. 

    Step 3: Assessment of Content 

    Carry out a thorough examination of your website copy. Make sure that the content meets the demands and expectations of your target audience by using topics and imagery that are pertinent to your sector. 

    Step 4: Improve User Experience 

    Closely examine the navigation, layout, and general design and usability of your website, to ensure that your audience has a flawless experience. Also test your website on as many different devices as possibe (phones, tablets, laptops).

    Benefits of Website Audits 

    Search Engine Visibility and Rankings

    Doing a thorough website check helps a lot in making sure search engines notice and index your site. This involves looking at key things that make your site show up better in search results. Such as: 

    • Better Words for Meta Tags: Think of meta tags as short and sweet descriptions of your webpage. A website audit tweaks these descriptions to be more attractive to both search engines and regular folks, so your site shines when people search online.
    • Keywords: Keywords are like road signs that guide people online. A good website audit looks at what words people are using to search and helps your content include these words smartly. This way, when people search, your site pops up because it’s using the words they’re looking for. 
    • Your Website’s Blueprint: Imagine your website as a building, and a website audit as checking if the rooms are in the right places. It makes sure everything is organized in a way that makes sense. This not only helps people easily navigate your site but also makes search engines happy, boosting your website’s status.

    As your website gets a tune-up through the audit, here’s what happens: 

    • Ranking higher in searches: With improved meta tags, smartly used keywords, and a well-organized structure, your website climbs up the search engine ladder. This means more people see it when they search for things related to your site. 
    • More People Visiting Naturally: With a higher search rank comes more visitors. These are not random clicks; they’re people genuinely interested in what your website offers. It’s like having a busy store because people know it’s the place to be. 
    • Your Website Stands Out Online: In the noisy online world, a website that’s been through an audit is like a shining star. It sets itself apart from the rest, catching the eyes of both people and search engines. This adds up to a strong and lasting online presence. So, think of a website audit as the key to making your website a digital VIP – easily found, attractive, and standing out in the online crowd. 

    Enhanced User Experience

    When it comes to the digital world, user experience is everything. Every element, from simple navigation to eye-catching layouts, should be carefully considered to make sure users are not only made to feel welcome but also motivated to explore.  

    Consider your website as a well thought out, user-friendly store. Customers locate what they need with ease, which promotes return visits and increased conversion rates. This is the magic of a well-designed website, made possible by the insights gleaned by thorough audits. 

    Optimized Performance and Web Vitals

    A good Website Audit delves deep into the nuances of performance improvement, going beyond the obvious. Examining loading times, server response times, image and media sizes, and general website responsiveness are all part of this. Audits clear up performance bottlenecks, which improves user satisfaction and search engine rankings.

    Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)

    All websites have a goal and purpose. Getting your visitors to actually proceed to perform your intended action is called “Conversion”, the rate at which this happens is your Conversion Rate. Website audits are instrumental in optimizing conversion rates. By analyzing user journeys, identifying conversion difficulties, and refining calls-to-actions, audits enhance the likelihood of turning visitors into loyal customers. This, in turn, contributes to the overall success of digital marketing strategies. 

    In essence, a meticulously conducted website audit serves as a cornerstone for achieving digital excellence, influencing user perception, search engine visibility, and overall online success. 

    When it comes to creating and maintaining your online presence, the most important thing to keep in mind is that there is never a “finished product.” It must constantly develop and adjust to flourish in novel settings. It’s critical to keep up with emerging trends and industry best practices. It usually gets harder for business owners to stay on top of everything that might affect how successful their online presence is as they must concentrate on daily duties. Your brand value to your clients will ultimately decrease if you don’t consistently assess and improve the performance of your online presence. 

    Yes, at first this initiative may seem a little daunting, but the advantages are incalculable. 

    As we reach the end of this article, let’s revisit the milestones we’ve uncovered. From the challenges businesses face in the digital arena to the transformative power of website audits, each step has been a testament to the potential for growth that lies within your online presence. 

    Your website is not just a virtual storefront, it’s a dynamic canvas waiting to be optimized for success. 

    How Mactavis Digital Transforms Organizations Through Website Audits

    At Mactavis Digital, we understand the intricacies of this ever-evolving digital landscape. Our commitment to helping businesses grow is not just a statement but a pledge. We have experience navigating website audit processes, turning challenges into opportunities and stagnation into growth. 

    Take, for instance, our collaboration with a client who had an outdated website struggling to keep up with modern user expectations. Recognizing the importance of a dynamic online presence, we embarked on a journey to revamp their digital footprint. By updating their website, we not only addressed aesthetic concerns but also delved deep into enhancing the overall user experience.

    Through meticulous redesign and optimization, we transformed their old website into a smooth, responsive platform tailored to their target audience’s needs. The result? A seamless navigation experience, faster loading times, and intuitive UI/UX design elements that captivated visitors from the moment they landed on the updated site. Ready to witness similar results for your business? It is within your powers to change the course of your digital story. Act now to maximize your website’s potential. Ready to embark on this transformative journey? Click here to connect with us for a personalized consultation, and let’s sculpt a future where your online presence stands as a beacon of success. 

    Let’s build the future of your digital presence together! 

  • How to Increase Your Fashion Brand Profitability and Grow Your Business With E-commerce

    How to Increase Your Fashion Brand Profitability and Grow Your Business With E-commerce

    Electronic commerce is the general term used to describe companies and people who do their business on the internet; including a fashion brands. In e-commerce, personal computers, smartphones, and other digital devices replace physical stores.

    Almost all goods and services like books, music, clothes, shoes, bags, airline tickets, and financial services such as stock trading and internet banking are accessible through online transactions.

    E-commerce has aided businesses, especially those with a limited audience like small businesses, in expanding their reach and establishing a substantial market presence by offering less expensive and more effective distribution channels for their goods and services. 

    For instance, Woora supplemented its physical showroom with an online store that allows customers to purchase everything from women’s dresses; to gowns, blouses, skirts, and even accessories from the comfort of their homes. 

    The internet enables fashion brands to launch e-commerce businesses or expand already successful ventures. Through websites and social media channels, companies can sell directly to consumers.

    Zalu Nua, an e-commerce store, built and managed by Mactavis Digital said its best with a quote culled from independen.co.uk:

    “When a piece of jewelry is displayed in a shop, surrounded by hundreds of other designs all dazzling you at the same time. It can be hard to pick out the right thing. Take that process online and you are presented with a well-chosen selection of pieces tailored to your budget and style preferences – all in a few clicks.”

    Most customers see online shopping as convenient because it allows them to shop whenever and wherever they choose. However, consumers are not the only people who enjoy this convenience. The convenience of running an online business allows you to do so without any geographical boundaries.  

    Technology Opportunities in Fashion  

    A shift in the generation of consumers 

    The taste and fashion demands of consumers are gradually changing as the market becomes younger. More importantly, however, is how the new generation of consumers chooses to shop for fashion.

    An e-commerce store provides by far the best ROI compared to any other platform or channel for selling your pieces, and it is the channel of choice for the emerging generation of consumers.  

    Technology-driven customers 

    A significant number of shoppers prefer the convenience that comes with better technology over a lower price – this does not mean that running a discount from time to time should be ignored.  

    About 71% of consumers are more willing to shop with brands that have incorporated technology into the shopping experience; Websites, Web apps, and Virtual try-on tools that help them see how well a design fits without them getting out of their clothes. 

    These are areas to consider as they provide convenience, engage consumers, meet their shopping desires, and personalize their shopping experience. 

    Technology-driven cost savings

    Having an e-commerce store with insightful features such as inventory management and inventory analytics is very essential. This allows you to produce or procure only pieces that are low in stock and also evaluate the demand level per piece. 

    Website, Social Media or Jumia/Konga

    A very common misconception among businesses is that there isn’t a need to have a website because of the prevalence of third-party marketplaces such as Jumia and Konga, and social media platforms such as Instagram or Facebook. As essential as these are for every business, they are not in any way a replacement for a website. 

    The benefits of having a website that is supplemented by social media and marketplaces are:  

    Better brand positioning

    A business with a website is more readily trusted than one with just social media pages. Aside from selling your products, your website is where your audience goes to understand the story behind your brand, the people behind it, and your muse.

    You can tell stories behind the products and the collections much easier than on any other platform. This gives you more opportunities to drive brand loyalty and also to curate touchpoints for new customers.

    Deeper insight into customer data and behavior

    Email addresses, contact numbers, and other personal details are usually effortlessly collected on an e-commerce store rather than on social media or marketplaces like Jumia. On your website, you have several chances to gain insight into customer and their preferences. With this, trading online via a website will offer you several chances to gain knowledge about customer information. 

    These data are accessible through cookies, personal information from sign-in/sign-up forms, and surveys. The information may be put to different uses by your brand, including contacting customers, enhancing customer experience, retargeting customers with shoppable adverts, and making tailored product suggestions.

    Reduce cost per sale

    Any marketplace you sell on like Jumia will charge a percentage for the use of their platform. While building and managing your own online store might seem expensive, you realize in the long run that it reduces costs, pays for itself, and increases your profit once you drive a higher volume of sales through it.

    If you can reach a customer directly through your website, you’ll be able to reduce your average cost per sale.

    Simplifies scaling & inventory management

    One more significant advantage of having an e-commerce store is that it simplifies business expansion and inventory control. 

    Technically, all you need to launch an e-commerce store is one person and one website initially. As your sales grow, you can broaden your service line and level up your brand with low operating costs, thereby increasing your profitability.

    Your customers’ eyes for you only

    Social media is easily distracting, and so are marketplaces like Jumia/Konga, where your products are displayed with those of other competitors.

    With your website, your customer is engrossed in a digital experience that is all about your pieces and products. All recommended and related products are yours. All comparisons are within your offerings.

    What can Fashion Brands Do To Grow?

    While there is no magic word that will ensure you successfully grow your brand, there are some tips that can help you navigate the e-commerce waters successfully.

    Optimize Your Website

    If you already have a website, you need to know that today’s consumers have high expectations for e-commerce platforms. To meet the demand, you require a stable and scalable website that can withstand traffic without crashing. Appearance and usability should be the foremost considerations.

    It should be mobile-friendly since mobile devices now account for the bulk of web traffic. Regardless of the customer’s device, you want them to get what they’re looking for conveniently. 

    You can research the best UI/UX design practices or work with professionals like us to optimize your brand’s online presence and ensure that your website meets all standards.

    Additionally, be sure that your website adheres to search engine optimization (SEO) best practices. SEO makes it easier for your brand to be found on Google and other search engines, and this in turn increases website traffic.

    Ensure Repeat Sales On Your Website 

    Regular discounts, sales, and promos will help bring repeat customers to your website. You can do this by creating coupons, and giving them to first-time customers, or customers that purchase above a certain amount. 

    Ready to take the bold step towards establishing and advancing your fashion brand? Contact Mactavis Digital now to kickstart the growth of your fashion brand.

  • How To Start A Money-Making Fashion Blog

    How To Start A Money-Making Fashion Blog

    Do you own a fashion blog or website? Or you want to create one and don’t know where and how to begin. While it is easy to create a blog, making money from it can be the more difficult task. If fashion is something you can write, talk or generally passionate about, then getting paid for what you love doing is an added incentive to getting it done.

    The best time to have created a fashion blog was like two years ago but the next best time is now. You don’t need to be a stylist, designer or tailor to get started. You might just love outfits, and voila!, you start earning a lot of money. To be a fashion blogger, you must have a unique perspective on fashion.

    This article highlights how you can get into the fashion blogging industry. Let’s get started.

    What Should Be On A Fashion Blog

    A fashion blog should be a reflection of who you are. To be an authority on the online fashion space, there are some things you should have on your blog. The best fashion blogs in Nigeria such as Bella Naija and Madivas keep attracting a lot of readers due to the amount of information they churn out.

    We have highlighted some of the best sections a fashion blog should have:

    Weddings: Having a Wedding Section is surely advised. People keep looking out for new trends, new fashion tips and the best accessories combination for that special day. Partner with top brands and even budding entrepreneurs to promote their wedding gowns, shoes, and accessories. Also, write on wedding colour themes and event decoration.

    You can give tips on how to accommodate different cultures on the wedding day. You can also decide to sell wedding apparel yourself by integrating payment gateways and e-commerce plugins such as WooCommerce.

     

    Fashion News and Opinion: This section should be what readers and users see first when they access your blog. Push the latest news in the fashion space, what a celebrity is wearing, the best and worst dressed celebrities at shows.

    You can also write opinion articles. For instance, during the rainy section, you can create a post titled, “How To Ensure Your Fashion Game Is Still Tight During The Rainy Season “. For so many people, this is a challenge. By writing a post that talks about a common and recurring problem, you become an authority.

     

    Trends: You must be in tune with the latest trends in the fashion world. What are the new colour combinations people are trying? Which accessories are trending? These trends must be featured on your blog. Research a lot and also go for a lot of fashion events and meetups to be abreast of the latest designs and happenings in the industry.

     

    Beauty and Lifestyle: On a fashion blog, you can never go wrong with having a Beauty and Lifestyle section. Write blog posts on topics such as Skincare, makeup, hair care, manicure and pedicure, and anything that relates to beauty. Feature products that focus on different skin types to attract a wide range of visitors. You can also talk about lifestyle with topics such as Relationship Talks, Healthy Living, and even Nutrition. They help drive traffic as well.

     

    What You Need To Start

    The first thing you should do is choose the platform on which you want to build your blog. There are a lot of Content Management Systems that you can use, but WordPress is highly recommended. It’s support system and ease of use are excellent It is very user-friendly, meaning you don’t need to be a techie to get the hang of it. To get started with WordPress, there are a few things you need:

     

    • Web Hosting – This is where all your website files will be stored. When using wordpress.com, you don’t have to bother about this, hosting is taken care of.

     

    • Theme: A WordPress theme provides the frontend of your blog. You can search the WordPress Theme Repository for a theme that suits your taste. There are free themes and premium themes which cost about ($45 – $60). You can also get a custom theme built to fit your brand or your specific design preferences. You can get in touch with us for that.

     

    Choosing a Design

    Being a fashionista, your blog shouldn’t be drab. It doesn’t matter if you only do product reviews, or a designer showcasing your products or a blogger that shares fashion news. Your blog should look appealing and needs a design that appeals to the reader. It must also represent your unique sense of style and creativity.

    There are thousands of WordPress theme for fashion blogs that you can choose from. A lot of themes have creative designs which are flexible and easily editable. You can add your logo, choose colors and change basic settings. The most important feature of a theme is responsiveness.

    A responsive site is a website that looks just as good on mobile devices as it looks on a computer. It’s easy to read on any screen size without the need to zoom, resize, or scroll horizontally.

    Content Quality

    While a pleasing design will attract people to your website, having good and useful content is what will keep them coming back. Pages such as About Us and Contact Us help make you look professional. Once you have set up those pages, you can start adding posts, images, and pictures.

    Research for fashion topics that people search for, and write content around it. Your blog posts should be entertaining, informative, and helpful. Keep up to date with fashion trends and update your blog with new trends and news. You also need to be consistent, as regular updates mean that more people will get to read what you are writing.

    Visit popular blogs in the fashion industry to find trending topics you can blog about.

    While doing this, you can’t copy and paste content from other sites. This is plagiarism, and is illegal, especially if the source has a copyright on the article. Your site would also get penalized by search engines like Google if your blog contains plagiarized content.

     

    Social Media

    Leveraging social media is important to build your audience and the reputation of your blog. A lot of your intended audience is already on different social media platforms, especially Instagram. You can get access to that vast audience by following trends and making sure you are in the conversation. You should also direct your social media followers to your website by sharing links to your articles.

     

    Page Optimization

    Getting users to find your website out of the millions of websites out there is a skill that will set you apart from the rest. Here are ways you can improve your website visibility.

    • S.E.O: Search Engine Optimization is a long-term and continuous effort that pays large returns. Ensure that your blog posts contain keywords that your intended audience search for. This would make your website rank higher in Google search results.

     

     

    • User Engagement: Put yourself in the place of the user. What would you do when you first arrive on a website? You must be able to track what your audience is doing, this helps you know what you need to improve on as you will see the pages with the most and least visits and other useful information. You can use Google Analytics for this.

     

    Let’s Make Some Money

    Once your fashion blog is established and has a sizable audience, brands may pay you to promote their brands. That should be your goal, as it offers you the opportunity to earn while doing what you love. A lot of successful bloggers their income from paid and sponsored content.

    Here are some other ways to monetize your fashion blog.

    • Google AdSense: AdSense is an advertising program by Google that lets you display ads on your website and make money. You get paid based on the number of views and clicks that the ads on your site get. In a future post, we would explain more about Google AdSense, but you can find out more by doing research online.

     

    • Become an affiliate marketer: How cool is it to get paid for referring people to buy a particular product? That is how affiliate marketing works. You get paid a commission when you recommend a product. You can be an affiliate marketer for fashion brands and online fashion stores. Once people buy these products via your site, you get paid a commission.

     

    • Sponsored Posts: A sponsored post is a post written on behalf of a brand or company to promote their products or brand. You can write sponsored posts for brands and charge for it. Another form of sponsored posts is featured posts. For a featured post, a brand provides the content but post it on your blog in order to get access to your audience.

    Setting up a money-making fashion blog requires a lot of patience and consistency. You might struggle to earn at the initial stage, but doing the aforementioned puts you in the right direction, though you must also research and keep up with emerging trends in the fashion space.

    If you liked this article, connect with us across all social media platforms @MactavisDigital, and do check out our portfolio to see examples of the projects we have done in the past.