“Is Your Website Working Hard
            Enough?”
2011 VANHA Spring Conference

            6/8/11




                                  Ron Fink
Today’s conversation:

 •   Web is the center of the universe
 •   Importance of optimization
 •   Website assessment checklist
 •   Helpful tools
 •   Key takeaways




                                         2
Audience Poll
 • Mkting. for a community?
 • Mkting. to a community?
 • Satisfied with website
   performance?




                              3
20 years ago




               More change in next
               10 yrs. than last 100


                                   4
Shift in customer behavior/expectations

                                – Empowered
                                – Educated
                                – Internet savvy
                                – Collaborate using WOM
                                  and social media
                                – 85% of consumers shop
                                  online
                                     (Forrester Research)

                                                            5
The “New Marketing”
• No shouting, interrupting or
  repeated advertising
   – Prior to the web, attract
     attention by advertising
     and media PR
   – Now the web has
     changed these rules.




                                 6
Everyone is the media,
Everyone is a publisher
    – Technology has enabled
      connections/removed
      barriers
    – Can reach prospective
      buyers directly
    – Buyers can speak directly to
      you



                                     7
Why has this happened?

   –   Avoid interruption and intrusion
   –   Consumer wants more control
   –   No one wants to be “sold”
   –   Informed             Engaged




                                          8
Consumers trusthow much
   It’s not about each other
more than they do marketers
       advertising you do…


    It’s all a matter of
          TRUST
                               9
Web Is At the Hub




                    10
In the Beginning…

 • Digitized print documents
   w/o functionality
 • Mid-90’s HTML brought life to
    digital text (links, navigation bars)
 • Technological advances/higher utility
 • Higher consumer expectations




                                            11
…Now a Necessity for Every Business

 • Most powerful vehicle for marketing/communications
 • Fast/easy/timely communication
   with millions
 • Transformed the speed of
   company/brand growth
 • Building the site is easy; measuring your
   success and taking action on it is harder



                                                        12
Web Is At the Hub
      •   SEO/SEM
      •   Email
      •   Content
      •   Mobile
      •   Video
      •   Social Media
      •   Analytics



                         13
The Web Strategy
• Provide relevant
  information
   – Attract visitors
   – Nurture to become a
      lead
   – Convert leads to
      customers
   – Use content to optimize
      website

                               14
Growing a Successful Web Presence:

                          – Invest in search– manage SEO
                            (links, listings, keywords,
                            content)
                          – Invest in social– after you are
                            found, promote your expertise
                            with what others say about
                            you




                                                         15
8 Point Website Assessment Checklist
 •   Website goals              •   Social media
 •   Define audience personas   •   Offers & landing pages
 •   SEO                        •   Lead nurturing
 •   Content creation           •   Measurement & analysis




                                                             16
Establishing Website Goals                 Checklist Point #1

 •   What do you want it to say?
 •   How do you want to communicate it?
 •   Who are you trying to reach?
 •   What action(s) do you want them to take?




                                                                17
Take a Look At Your Website

 • Does it read more like an ad than a helpful resource?

 • Focus less on your company. . . and more on the problems and
   needs of the people you are trying to reach




                                                             18
What are you selling?
     • Physical               • Emotional Well Being
        –   Location             –   Credentials
        –   Room sizes           –   Expertise
        –   Furnishings          –   Reputation
        –   Dining services      –   Brand promise
        –   Amenities            –   Problem solving capabilities
        –   Pricing




                                                                    19
Who is your audience?             Checklist Point #2

•   Prospective residents
•   Caregivers
•   Influencers
•   Each audience has a persona




                                                       20
Buyer Personas
         •   Name                •   Marketing Mary
         •   Age                 •   40-45
         •   Gender              •   Female
         •   Family info         •   Married, 2 kids
         •   Company role        •   Marketing Director
         •    Hobbies            •   Reading, Tennis
         •    Job frustrations   •   Lack of marketing budget



                                                                21
Website Pyramid Trifecta



                       Analyze

                       Convert


                      Get Found
                                  22
Step 1---Getting Found



                          Analyze

                         Convert


                         Get Found
                                     23
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Checklist Point #3

    – On-Page
       •   Modifications to the pages on your website
    – Off-Page—
       • Links from external sources




                                                        24
On-Page SEO—(25% of the equation)
• Keywords
   – Right ones?
   – Where are they being used?
• Images
   – Too many? Too few?
   – Use of Alt tags
• Internal links
   – Reference other website pages & resources



                                                 25
Off-Page SEO (75% of the equation)
 • Organic search
     – Your relevant content enables people to find you
 • Paid search
     – Putting your name/description around other’s content
     – Pay per click when visitors go to your website
 • External links
     – Online recommendations
     – Organizations, business partners, social media
 • Directory listings (free and paid)
 • Pages indexed in Google

                                                              26
Content Is King                             Checklist Point #4
 • “anything created and uploaded to a
   website” (Content Rules)
    – Words, images, photographs, videos,
      webinars, blogs, white papers,
      ebooks, podcasts, tools
    – Outposts off the website—such as
      Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and You
      Tube



                                                                 27
3 Ways To Deliver Content

 • Paid media--advertising inserted next to another’s content.
 • Owned media--brand-created content
 • Earned media-- getting someone else to provide content
   about a brand




                                                                 28
More and more businesses are blogging

   – Businesses are now in the minority if they do not blog.
     From 2009 to 2011 the percentage of businesses with a
     blog grew from 48% to 65%.




                                                               29
Blogs are generating real customers

    – 57% of companies using
      blogs reported that they
      acquired customers from
      leads generated directly
      from their blog




                                      30
Online Video On the Rise




• 20% inc. from 2009

• Grow another 24% thru 2015




                               31
Video Over Text

 • Powerful communication vehicle
 • Effective for SEO
 • Websites with video are 53x more likely to appear on the first
   page of Google and can increase click-through-rate up to
   200% (Forrester Research)




                                                                32
Nature’s Edge Assisted Living, Port St. Lucie, FL




                                                    33
Interactive Conversational Video




                                   34
35
Number of Smartphone users will rise by nearly 50%




• 1 in 4 in US use a Smartphone

• 15% of 55+ use a Smartphone
    (Nielson Company)




                                                      36
Mobile-Web Integration




                         37
38
  38
Get Serious About Social Media           Checklist Point #5

 • Social media is the use of web-based and mobile technologies
   to turn communication into interactive dialogue.




                                                              39
SM Is the Rage
              Over 600 million users.
              22% increase in unique visitors over 2010.

               Over 75 million users
               Tweeting about 140 million
              times/day
               Over 90 million users.
               22% increase in unique visitors over 2010

   $1.2 billion = 2011 social media marketing spend
           28% = increase over 2010
                                    Forrester Research, Inc.   40
Usage Is Projected to Grow

 • 67% of Americans w/ Internet access are projected to be
   using social networks at least once a month by 2013
   (Emarketer)




                                                             41
Social Media and the Seniors Market

 • Boomer caregivers are more reliant on
   social media than boomers in general (Pew Research)
    – 50+       47% use SM (22% last year)
    – 65+       26% use SM
            (fastest growing segment
                      WHY?)




                                                     42
Step 2---Convert Visits-Leads-Customers



                       Analyze

                       Convert


                      Get Found
                                          43
Create the offer                               Checklist Point #6

 • Providing something of value in exchange for contact
   info/interest/sale
 • Match offers to stage of sales funnel
    – Initial—10 questions to consider…
    – Middle—Selling your home resource kit, prize for touring
    – Advanced—2 months free rent for signed leases by…
 • Initiated from CTA on the home page



                                                                    44
Offer Example




                45
Create the landing page

 •   Where they arrive to request the offer
 •   Must convince the user on the value of the offer
 •   Page should “go naked” (no links or navigation)
 •   Keep the form short and simple
 •   Don’t make the user think




                                                        46
Landing Page Example




                       47
Create a Lead Nurturing Strategy          Checklist Point #7

 •   Follows Home Page Offer>CTA>Landing Page
 •   Series of emails to your leads
 •   Automatically triggered by prospect’s previous requests
 •   Up to 5 over 60 days after initial action taken




                                                               48
Lead Nurturing is a progression

 • Email flow should pull leads through the sales funnel




                                                           49
Step 3----Analyze Results and Adjust Checklist Point #8



                        Analyze

                        Convert


                      Get Found
                                                          50
51
Website Performance Metrics

•   Track sources of traffic (direct, organic, referrals, social media)
•   Initial actions taken (Opens, page views, click throughs)
•   Converted to desired CTA ( leads & sales)
•   Lead nurturing success tracking
•   Track the success of your blog




                                                                      52
Some Helpful Tools

• Website Traffic Calculator
• Google Analytics/HubSpot
   –   Website Grader
   –   Keyword Grader
   –   Page Grader
   –   Lead tracking/nurturing
• Blog Analytics
• Social Media monitoring


                                 53
54
Some Helpful Tools
• Website Traffic Calculator
• Google Analytics/HubSpot
   –   Website Grader
   –   Keyword Grader
   –   Page Grader
   –   Lead tracking/nurturing
• Blog Analytics
• Social Media monitoring



                                 55
                                   55
Key Takeaways
• Consumer interface has changed
• Web strategy marketing focus
• Use content to promote expertise
• Social media, mobile & video are
  web enhancers
• Create offers and follow up
• Establish measurement analytics



                                     56
Obtain copy of presentation at:
                                      www.slideshare.net/RonFink1
                                                    or email:
                                      ron.fink@strategicdriven.com



                         Ron Fink
Call me:         804.968.5131
Email me:        ron.fink@strategicdriven.com
Website /blog:   strategicdriven.com
Connect with me: facebook.com/ronfink1
                 facebook.com/strategicmarketingsolutions
Network with me: linkedin.com/in/ronfink1
Tweet me :       @sms_ron
                                                                        57

Is Your Website Working Hard Enough?

  • 1.
    “Is Your WebsiteWorking Hard Enough?” 2011 VANHA Spring Conference 6/8/11 Ron Fink
  • 2.
    Today’s conversation: • Web is the center of the universe • Importance of optimization • Website assessment checklist • Helpful tools • Key takeaways 2
  • 3.
    Audience Poll •Mkting. for a community? • Mkting. to a community? • Satisfied with website performance? 3
  • 4.
    20 years ago More change in next 10 yrs. than last 100 4
  • 5.
    Shift in customerbehavior/expectations – Empowered – Educated – Internet savvy – Collaborate using WOM and social media – 85% of consumers shop online (Forrester Research) 5
  • 6.
    The “New Marketing” •No shouting, interrupting or repeated advertising – Prior to the web, attract attention by advertising and media PR – Now the web has changed these rules. 6
  • 7.
    Everyone is themedia, Everyone is a publisher – Technology has enabled connections/removed barriers – Can reach prospective buyers directly – Buyers can speak directly to you 7
  • 8.
    Why has thishappened? – Avoid interruption and intrusion – Consumer wants more control – No one wants to be “sold” – Informed Engaged 8
  • 9.
    Consumers trusthow much It’s not about each other more than they do marketers advertising you do… It’s all a matter of TRUST 9
  • 10.
    Web Is Atthe Hub 10
  • 11.
    In the Beginning… • Digitized print documents w/o functionality • Mid-90’s HTML brought life to digital text (links, navigation bars) • Technological advances/higher utility • Higher consumer expectations 11
  • 12.
    …Now a Necessityfor Every Business • Most powerful vehicle for marketing/communications • Fast/easy/timely communication with millions • Transformed the speed of company/brand growth • Building the site is easy; measuring your success and taking action on it is harder 12
  • 13.
    Web Is Atthe Hub • SEO/SEM • Email • Content • Mobile • Video • Social Media • Analytics 13
  • 14.
    The Web Strategy •Provide relevant information – Attract visitors – Nurture to become a lead – Convert leads to customers – Use content to optimize website 14
  • 15.
    Growing a SuccessfulWeb Presence: – Invest in search– manage SEO (links, listings, keywords, content) – Invest in social– after you are found, promote your expertise with what others say about you 15
  • 16.
    8 Point WebsiteAssessment Checklist • Website goals • Social media • Define audience personas • Offers & landing pages • SEO • Lead nurturing • Content creation • Measurement & analysis 16
  • 17.
    Establishing Website Goals Checklist Point #1 • What do you want it to say? • How do you want to communicate it? • Who are you trying to reach? • What action(s) do you want them to take? 17
  • 18.
    Take a LookAt Your Website • Does it read more like an ad than a helpful resource? • Focus less on your company. . . and more on the problems and needs of the people you are trying to reach 18
  • 19.
    What are youselling? • Physical • Emotional Well Being – Location – Credentials – Room sizes – Expertise – Furnishings – Reputation – Dining services – Brand promise – Amenities – Problem solving capabilities – Pricing 19
  • 20.
    Who is youraudience? Checklist Point #2 • Prospective residents • Caregivers • Influencers • Each audience has a persona 20
  • 21.
    Buyer Personas • Name • Marketing Mary • Age • 40-45 • Gender • Female • Family info • Married, 2 kids • Company role • Marketing Director • Hobbies • Reading, Tennis • Job frustrations • Lack of marketing budget 21
  • 22.
    Website Pyramid Trifecta Analyze Convert Get Found 22
  • 23.
    Step 1---Getting Found Analyze Convert Get Found 23
  • 24.
    Search Engine Optimization(SEO) Checklist Point #3 – On-Page • Modifications to the pages on your website – Off-Page— • Links from external sources 24
  • 25.
    On-Page SEO—(25% ofthe equation) • Keywords – Right ones? – Where are they being used? • Images – Too many? Too few? – Use of Alt tags • Internal links – Reference other website pages & resources 25
  • 26.
    Off-Page SEO (75%of the equation) • Organic search – Your relevant content enables people to find you • Paid search – Putting your name/description around other’s content – Pay per click when visitors go to your website • External links – Online recommendations – Organizations, business partners, social media • Directory listings (free and paid) • Pages indexed in Google 26
  • 27.
    Content Is King Checklist Point #4 • “anything created and uploaded to a website” (Content Rules) – Words, images, photographs, videos, webinars, blogs, white papers, ebooks, podcasts, tools – Outposts off the website—such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and You Tube 27
  • 28.
    3 Ways ToDeliver Content • Paid media--advertising inserted next to another’s content. • Owned media--brand-created content • Earned media-- getting someone else to provide content about a brand 28
  • 29.
    More and morebusinesses are blogging – Businesses are now in the minority if they do not blog. From 2009 to 2011 the percentage of businesses with a blog grew from 48% to 65%. 29
  • 30.
    Blogs are generatingreal customers – 57% of companies using blogs reported that they acquired customers from leads generated directly from their blog 30
  • 31.
    Online Video Onthe Rise • 20% inc. from 2009 • Grow another 24% thru 2015 31
  • 32.
    Video Over Text • Powerful communication vehicle • Effective for SEO • Websites with video are 53x more likely to appear on the first page of Google and can increase click-through-rate up to 200% (Forrester Research) 32
  • 33.
    Nature’s Edge AssistedLiving, Port St. Lucie, FL 33
  • 34.
  • 35.
  • 36.
    Number of Smartphoneusers will rise by nearly 50% • 1 in 4 in US use a Smartphone • 15% of 55+ use a Smartphone (Nielson Company) 36
  • 37.
  • 38.
  • 39.
    Get Serious AboutSocial Media Checklist Point #5 • Social media is the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogue. 39
  • 40.
    SM Is theRage Over 600 million users. 22% increase in unique visitors over 2010. Over 75 million users Tweeting about 140 million times/day Over 90 million users. 22% increase in unique visitors over 2010 $1.2 billion = 2011 social media marketing spend 28% = increase over 2010 Forrester Research, Inc. 40
  • 41.
    Usage Is Projectedto Grow • 67% of Americans w/ Internet access are projected to be using social networks at least once a month by 2013 (Emarketer) 41
  • 42.
    Social Media andthe Seniors Market • Boomer caregivers are more reliant on social media than boomers in general (Pew Research) – 50+ 47% use SM (22% last year) – 65+ 26% use SM (fastest growing segment WHY?) 42
  • 43.
    Step 2---Convert Visits-Leads-Customers Analyze Convert Get Found 43
  • 44.
    Create the offer Checklist Point #6 • Providing something of value in exchange for contact info/interest/sale • Match offers to stage of sales funnel – Initial—10 questions to consider… – Middle—Selling your home resource kit, prize for touring – Advanced—2 months free rent for signed leases by… • Initiated from CTA on the home page 44
  • 45.
  • 46.
    Create the landingpage • Where they arrive to request the offer • Must convince the user on the value of the offer • Page should “go naked” (no links or navigation) • Keep the form short and simple • Don’t make the user think 46
  • 47.
  • 48.
    Create a LeadNurturing Strategy Checklist Point #7 • Follows Home Page Offer>CTA>Landing Page • Series of emails to your leads • Automatically triggered by prospect’s previous requests • Up to 5 over 60 days after initial action taken 48
  • 49.
    Lead Nurturing isa progression • Email flow should pull leads through the sales funnel 49
  • 50.
    Step 3----Analyze Resultsand Adjust Checklist Point #8 Analyze Convert Get Found 50
  • 51.
  • 52.
    Website Performance Metrics • Track sources of traffic (direct, organic, referrals, social media) • Initial actions taken (Opens, page views, click throughs) • Converted to desired CTA ( leads & sales) • Lead nurturing success tracking • Track the success of your blog 52
  • 53.
    Some Helpful Tools •Website Traffic Calculator • Google Analytics/HubSpot – Website Grader – Keyword Grader – Page Grader – Lead tracking/nurturing • Blog Analytics • Social Media monitoring 53
  • 54.
  • 55.
    Some Helpful Tools •Website Traffic Calculator • Google Analytics/HubSpot – Website Grader – Keyword Grader – Page Grader – Lead tracking/nurturing • Blog Analytics • Social Media monitoring 55 55
  • 56.
    Key Takeaways • Consumerinterface has changed • Web strategy marketing focus • Use content to promote expertise • Social media, mobile & video are web enhancers • Create offers and follow up • Establish measurement analytics 56
  • 57.
    Obtain copy ofpresentation at: www.slideshare.net/RonFink1 or email: ron.fink@strategicdriven.com Ron Fink Call me: 804.968.5131 Email me: ron.fink@strategicdriven.com Website /blog: strategicdriven.com Connect with me: facebook.com/ronfink1 facebook.com/strategicmarketingsolutions Network with me: linkedin.com/in/ronfink1 Tweet me : @sms_ron 57