All posts by April Heavens- Woodcock

About April Heavens- Woodcock

Author: April Heavens–Woodcock , is the Chief Buzz Officer Touching Clients a Digital Marketing Firm that specializes in strategic online marketing development for businesses. She is passionate about helping businesses grow their bottom line with effective tools. She speaks regularly on social media, email marketing, and marketing around the East Coast.

4 Ways You Can Have Fun On Your Time Off Work

Have Fun On Your Time Off Work

Have Fun On Your Time Off Work

When you get time off work, the list of things that you can do to make the most of it is usually as long as your arm. Because of this, you may get paralyzed by the sheer amount of options and end up not deciding on anything and sitting around not doing much, which can feel like a major waste of time.

However, sometimes you can’t think of something to do at all, which can be just as frustrating. Making the most out of your downtime is tricky, and if you would rather spend the time you have lazing around, you can do that. But for those that want to make the most of their free time, here are four ways you can have fun in your time off work.

#1 Sit back and watch some ‘lazy’ entertainment

Finding a form of ‘lazy’ entertainment, such as something new and exciting you can watch without really needing to do anything, can be a good way to get the adrenaline pumping. A good source of this kind of entertainment is sports. The new tournament, Euro 2020, can be a great way to get yourself introduced to the world of sport. If you feel like you need some interaction with the game, you can always get some extra fun doing a little betting on the games.

#2 Play some video games

Playing some video games can be a great way to get the stress out of your system. It can be a good way to keep in contact with friends and make new ones too. There is also a chance that you can find some inspiration in some newer, open-world games. They don’t have to be anything ruthless or violent like Call of Duty; they can be more laid-back RPG games such as Animal Crossing. Anything can be good fun to indulge in and help your mind get ready for another busy day at work.

#3 Watch a familiar film 

Watching one of your favorite films can be a great way to wind down. Not only will it give your mind some familiarity after being exposed to something new or stressful, but it will also help you relax in the evening. This can be an excellent way to leeway into a hobby or just transition from a work mindset to a home life mindset. You could even just have it on in the background while doing chores to create some background noise to help you focus on the task at hand.

#4 Try something new

Trying something new might be just what you need to change it up. Whether it’s finally picking up those knitting needles or even just trying out a new dish, finding something challenging and fun to concentrate on can help your mind feel enriched. It can also help you with your puzzle-solving skills and your focus, which in turn can help you in the workplace. This can be a great way to have conversation starters, and it might even become your next side hustle to get some extra cash in the door.

A few final thoughts

There are many things that you can do to make your downtime more enriching and productive. You can also make it more fun too. This can be surrounding yourself with something familiar and de-stressing, such as a video game, sports or your favorite film, or it can be getting something new to focus on, such as the upcoming and greatly anticipated Euro 2021 Tournament, or a new hobby or goal. These can all be fun and enjoyable tasks to do, even if it’s just to help you unwind for one evening when you don’t know what to do.

The Best Strategies for Boosting Your Business’ Online Presence

Best Strategies for Boosting Your Business' Online Presence

Best Strategies for Boosting Your Business' Online Presence

Every online business would likely tell you that they want to increase their online presence; after all, doing so will bring you more traffic, customers, and greater brand awareness. Increasing your business’s online presence might, in theory, sound simple enough, but in reality, it can be very challenging. Knowing which strategies and practices to employ is the key to successfully increasing a business’s online presence.

  1. Find Out Your SEO Score

One of the most effective ways of boosting your business’s online presence is to ramp up your use of search engine optimization practices. In theory, this will help you increase your search engine ranking, making you more visible and increasing click-through to your website. In practice, however, things aren’t quite this simple. With search engine algorithms evolving more rapidly than ever, understanding the best SEO practices to use can be challenging. Employing the wrong SEO practices can be a huge waste of resources as it will never bring the desired results. You should consult with an SEO services company to find out your SEO score. This will help you to better understand which SEO practices you should use to effectively increase your search engine ranking.

  1. Create a Responsive Website

The way that people are using the internet has been changing over recent years. Traditionally people would sit down at their PC or laptop to search the web; this is no longer the case. People can now access the internet from their watches or speakers. Over 50% of internet users are now using their mobile phones to access the internet, this number is only set to increase further in the coming years. For businesses to ensure that they continue to offer a high-quality user experience, they need to be ready to host traffic from a range of different devices.

Responsive website design is the very best reaction to the change in consumer internet habits. When your site has a responsive design, it means, essentially, that it reacts to the device that a visitor is using to ensure that your site functions optimally for every visitor. This helps you to keep customers on-site and boost conversion rates, both of which increase your search engine optimization.

  1. Become a Reference Point

Becoming a trusted authority on a topic is a great way to increase your business’ online presence. If you create a bank of engaging, entertaining, and insightful content, then you will begin to be seen as a good reference point. Over time, other websites will start linking back to your site. This will help you to increase your reach and will also boost your search engine ranking. You must focus on relevant topics to ensure that you are appealing to the right target market.

  1. Utilize Social Media

The internet does not only exist in the form of search engines, and businesses looking to increase their online presence should never undervalue the importance of social media. Social media marketing can help you to increase your brand awareness, form deeper relationships with existing customers and reach new relevant target audiences.

The trends for social media marketing are now focusing more on quality than on quantity. Instead of launching a campaign on every social media platform you can get your hands on, you should focus on the platforms most relevant to your target audience. This strategy allows you to be more focused and enables you to create more tailored, high-quality content.

  1. Use Ads, Carefully

Advertising can help you to increase your website’s online presence; however, you must be mindful of your use of online advertising. Too much advertising can damage your brand image, as you become overexposed and begin to lose consumer trust and respect. You must create a strategy for online marketing that values on relevance rather than overexposure.

Why Omnichannel Commerce Is Good for Your Business

Why Omnichannel Commerce Is Good for Your Business

Why Omnichannel Commerce Is Good for Your Business

Firstly, it is essential to understand what omnichannel means. In retail, it is a multi-channel approach that helps provide seamless customer experience on several channels—whether that is on a mobile device, laptop, or in an actual store. Omnichannel operations focus on the whole customer experience, not just an individual’s experience on one channel. If a customer shops predominantly on a mobile device but occasionally shops in-store, omnichannel solutions will consider the customer experience holistically rather than at individual steps.

So, in essence, omnichannel commerce is a system in which businesses sell their products on multi-channels that are all connected, making for a seamless customer experience. So fr many business owners, you might be curious why omnichannel commerce is suitable for your business?  This blog will give you a run-down of the benefits, as well as what support services are available.

Increased Sales

Having a business model accessible on multiple platforms and an integrated shopping experience allows users to shop between devices seamlessly. This can help increase your business sales. Every channel that your business runs in should seamlessly pass into the next so users do not experience the change. For example, a customer could try on an item in a store, scan the tag on their mobile device, then purchase it at home later that day.

The Havard Business Review says that a study of 46,000 shoppers showed 73% of people shopping on multiple channels. Furthermore, shoppers that engaged on numerous channels are far more likely to purchase more often. A phenomenon that is likely due to increased access and longer time to interact with a product.

Brand loyalty

Not only do sales increase, but customers become more loyal to the brand if you increase your presence and their experience on multiple platforms.  An engaging brand story on various platforms, from social media to email newsletters, will attract customers and keep them loyal. They will feel an affinity to your brand; they will know what your offer and how it best suits them. For example, there are multiple channels on which you can push discounts, highlight campaigns, and bring out other traditional marketing tricks. These will undoubtedly keep customers loyal and happy that you are a brand they trust.

Better Customer Experience 

A unified experience will ensure that customers are getting the most from what you have to offer. Accessing all platforms and channels in which your brand permeates gives customers the best chance to immerse themselves in your brand offers.

Furthermore, omnichannel retail encourages business owners to refine the seamless integration between channels and touchpoints for customers. Managing customer experience within an omnichannel business model might seem like a daunting task; this is because the business lies on multiple platforms. Each individual has a preferred way to interact; however outsourced omnichannel solutions give companies the best chance to offer a top-rated customer experience. Solutions like these break down the walls and barriers of communication between each platform. They allow the consumer to interact in whatever way they feel most comfortable. Allowing consumer experience to feel natural will help empower them and ultimately help them feel more engaged with your brand.

Understanding the customer’s perspective is at the heart of omnichannel retail and ensuring a seamless and easy consumer experience. Rolling out a brand that touches multiple channels and understanding the interactions of each experience will better your business model and prospects. Especially in an age when technology is taking of faster than most businesses can keep up. Omnichannel is the future of eCommerce, so it is worthwhile jumping on board.

Useful Tips for Improving Call Center Performance

Useful Tips for Improving Call Center Performance

Useful Tips for Improving Call Center Performance

Managing a call center requires careful planning and lots of hard work. This is to be expected, as call centers generally employ a large number of people who are required to handle customer queries, solve problems, and reach sales targets.

As a call center manager, you likely need some help and guidance to improve performance levels and keep everything running smoothly, so here are some pro tips for you to read.

Use customer service analytics 

Customer service analytics are a fundamental part of all modern businesses – not just call centers. You need to use customer service analytics to learn about the customer journey. This way, you can make relevant improvements to your call center performance.

How is this possible? It’s possible because customer service analytics provide valuable insight into your team’s performance levels through flexible dashboards. Through these dashboards, you can review group or individual performance levels to see who is doing well and who is underperforming (for example, one employee might be getting persistent call drops, which isn’t good). Additionally, customer service analytics allow you to analyze KPIs, such as customer satisfaction levels, which are a gold mine for improving performance levels.

Focus on personalization 

Call centers that focus on personalization in their services are much more likely to experience success with customers. So, what exactly is personalized customer service in the world of call centers? Here are some examples of how you can improve personalization:

  • Provide on-hold music where customers can choose from a selection of songs
  • Always address customers by their name
  • Assign agents to specific customers for consistency and familiarity purposes (it’s better for customers to speak to the same agent each call rather than a new representative every time)
  • Keep detailed customer files for agents to refer to both before and during calls

Provide an excellent employee experience 

Businesses often say: “The customer comes first.” 

Although this is a healthy attitude to have, your call center employees are just as important. They are the guiders of your ship – without them, there is no call center.

Therefore, you need to provide an excellent work experience for them that helps drive motivation and enthusiasm levels. Thankfully, there are many ways you can improve the work experience.

Firstly, modern call centers are now – largely because of the recent pandemic – providing employees with the luxury option to either work from home or come into the office. This is an excellent way to make your employees happy, as many of them will prefer to work from home. Providing you have the right equipment and resources, make sure you provide your team with this choice.

Furthermore, your call center needs to offer incentives and rewards for your best employees who work tirelessly every month. These could be bonuses, or promotions to a higher rank in the company (many call centers have management ladders for employees to metaphorically climb).

For employees working in your office headquarters, it’s also important that they are given high-quality working conditions – which means the best possible equipment (from headsets to chairs), social areas, and plenty of natural light.

Hire the best employees 

When it comes to hiring at call centers, it’s not about who has the best university degree. Rather, it’s about customer service experience and personality. If candidates don’t have experience in customer service, there’s nothing wrong with giving them the opportunity to learn. But, this isn’t going to give you instant performance improvements. Instead, you should be looking to hire experienced pros who have a proven track record of excellent customer service.

Conclusion

These are some useful tips to help improve productivity and your call center performance. In the post-pandemic world, you’re going to experience a ton of new challenges. Therefore, it’s important to use these tips to stay ahead of your competition and maintain your advantage within the industry.

5 Ways To Optimize Images For SEO

5 Ways To Optimize Images For SEO

 

5 Ways To Optimize Images For SEOYour competition is just one click away. This is especially true if your website takes a lot of time before it fully loads. Aside from potential customers leaving you, a slow-loading website also keeps you away from ranking on top of search engine results pages. To minimize the waiting time and increase loading speed, many of your website’s elements need to be optimized, including implementing work to optimize images for SEO.

While it may seem like a lengthy process, optimizing images for SEO can pay off for your website by making it more likely to be ranked in search engines. If you take the time to invest effort in optimizing the images on your website, you can give your pages an advantage over the rest of the web. Agencies that offer SEO services can also perform a site audit to determine which images and elements need optimizing.

How To Make Your Images Load Fast

There are many SEO strategies you can implement for your website. Some of these can be applied to your images as well. If you use images on your site, follow these tips to optimize them for search engines. 

1. Add Alt Tags For Your Images

An alt tag, also known as “alt attribute” or “alt definition,” is a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) attribute that one can add to image tags to give search engines a text alternative. Images aren’t interpretable by search engines, but by using alt tags, search engines can “read” the image through the text provided. As a result, images in alt tags can help a website rank higher in search engines—assuming the appropriate keywords are used. 

2. Compress Your Images

High-definition images are quite large in terms of file size. This contributes to slower load times that would affect user experience and consequently, the search engine ranking of your site. One technique to avoid this is to allow image compression. This process minimizes the size of image files in bytes without sacrificing their quality. 

The now smaller file size cuts down on the time it takes to send pictures over the internet or import them from web pages. This is a great way of optimizing your site for SEO because it allows your web pages to load faster. Remember that page speed and SEO are inextricably linked.

You can use well-known photoshop editing software and plugins to compress your images. But before doing this, it’s important to know that the key is to find the balance between the lowest file size and acceptable quality. You don’t want an overly compressed file that would affect the quality of the image as this would also affect the overall appeal of your website.

3. Use Vector Images If Possible

First, it’s vital to grasp the distinctions between image vectors and raster images. For complex scenes with irregular shapes and details, raster images are used. On the other hand, vector images are suitable for images that include geometric shapes. Knowing the differences between the two can help you decide which image type should you use in your website.

Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is a vector format that’s usually used for logos, icons, text, and simple images. The good thing about them is they’re automatically scalable in all browsers and photo editing applications. They also get indexed by search engines similarly to other image formats like Portable Network Graphics (PNGs) and Joint Photographic Group (JPG). SVG files are usually smaller in size than PNG or JPG files. As a consequence, load times can be decreased.

If you want to know how great of an option vectors are when it comes to having fast loading images, performing an image optimization audit can help you.

5 Ways To Optimize Images For SEO

4. Name Your Image For Search Engines

Image file names also play an important role in SEO. Therefore, you should choose the correct keywords for them. You can change the filename by default to help search engines understand your images and improve their value. 

5. Remove Irrelevant Metadata

An image may contain a variety of data when it was taken. These can include its exposure time, the date it was taken, the author (photographer), camera specs, and other details. This information is known as the metadata, and it’s typically created automatically by the camera or device that was used to capture the shot. 

This type of information might be critical for some websites, but it may be entirely useless for others. By removing some of these unnecessary data, your image could load faster on your website.

Takeaways

Images give life and detail to your blog or website. And if optimized properly, they can bring a good amount of free traffic to your site. By optimizing your images for SEO, you can also enjoy the benefits of appearing higher in search engine rankings.