When a visitor lands on your site, you’ve literally got seconds to impress them and get them engaged with what you have to offer. This is the whole point of a landing page. But these days, people are so used to seeing rich media content on the internet that, quite frankly, text content often doesn’t keep them engaged.

Embedding a video on your website will not only increase the length of time that visitors stick around, but also, the number of conversions to paying customers, which, ultimately, is what SEO is all about.

Cons of using videos on a landing page
1. A low-quality video or poor video execution could possible cheapen your brand and offering
2. A video can be an overkill or a distraction when it's too long
3. An autoplay video might be annoying for users if the website is visited frequently by your prospects and customers.
4. In some instances, an image (meme, infographic, etc.) can be more interesting than a video, especially if your target demographic is less inclined to pay attention to videos.
5. Producing top-quality marketing videos will require hours of learning a new skill set.
​
There are many different types of video content you can use. To give you a flavour of the different types on offer – here is a short list explaining some of them:

​call us on: 01708 578 015.
 
​email us at: hello@perfectlayout.co.uk

...or why not find out more by watching our video that explains our digital marketing services.
​

SEM refers to paid search marketing in the search results. We can define SEM as serving an advertisement to a user using a search engine based in their query. For example, for a user who searches for a query, we can bid on certain keywords which match algorithmically to the user query and serve a text ad to them.

Search engine ​marketing has grown exponentially over the past decade. Google AdWords is the most popular paid search platform used by search marketers followed by Bing.​
​

Social Media Marketing is a method to increase traffic and promote your content, product or
service using social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter or other
social media apps. We can term Social Media Marketing as the process of using the potential
of social media to leverage the value of your business.

Content Marketing is promoting free or additional value to your targeted audience or users
that you already have. Good content either should provide information [that the user is
looking for to solve the problem], inspiration [So people can get inspired to buy or use the
product service to solve the problem.] or entertaining so that user will stick to the content for
better click through rates.

​Writing a blog, making video contents, creating a podcast can be few examples of Content
Marketing.
​

Email marketing is a workhorse of digital marketing as you can deliver a highly personalised
experience, multiple times on a scale through email. The main advantage of an email marketing
is that you precisely know how many emails have been delivered, opened or clicked upon.
Tying up these numbers with revenue metrics, the numbers will have a big meaning to your
email marketing campaigns.

Example of email marketing can be sending promotional emails, email with offers or discount or
thanking customers or users for using the product or can be used to provide inspirations to try
your product or services. Some of the popular automated email marketing tools are MailChimp,
Constant Contact, drip and convert Kit.

Social media should be part of your digital media strategy, if you want your business to grow this year. As with all aspects of life, you can choose two paths:
1) to wing it and hope that the path that you follow will work out OK.
2) Set yourself goals and have a plan in place ,which enables you to carry out those steps that lead you to your goal.
​
For business marketing, goal setting is a must, and within that social media should be included. Sometimes it can be difficult to define what your objectives should be. To help you out, here are some of the most usual social media goals to think about:
​

​​Clemence Hoar Cummings will not accept liability for any actions or failure to act based on the information provided below. We consider that the advice contained below is generic and that there is no substitute for advice tailored to the needs and circumstances of the individuals or organisations to which the Making Tax Digital rules apply. 
​

In online marketing, the conversion rate is the ratio of total visitors to visitors who perform desired actions. Companies will measure successful conversions based on the nature of their business and their goals. An online publisher might consider submitting a form on a subscription page a successful conversion; whereas an online retailer might measure their conversion rate by number of clicks to the "Add to Cart" button.
 
Higher conversion rates typically translates to a greater return on investment. Internet businesses in every industry will use many methods to improve conversion rates. Some of the strategies are listed below:
 

So what are you waiting for? Remember to include a personalised greeting in your homemade masterpiece.

Whilst many reflect biblical verses and blessings, other popular messages written inside a Christmas Card are, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and Seasons Greetings.
​
No more excuses – do something different this year! Your clients, friends and family will appreciate the effort.
​ 

​Seasons Greetings from the Perfect Layout Basenji - hasn't she grown!

Have you got a business idea but unsure about what to call your company? Once you have done that you also need to get all the marketing elements in place, such as a website and social media platforms. We can help you get started.

​We are great at brainstorming ideas, fantastic at drawing out unique selling points and awesome at getting you to truly believe that your business will bring you success...we're also great at registering domains!

If you need help with deciding on the right name for your business, or would like help buying a domain for your company - get in touch today.

Business name – Baby Bears Upminster
Owner – Hayley Worton
Location – Upminster, Essex

​Tell us a bit about you? 
When I went on maternity leave I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go back to teaching full time. I had done that for 15 years and felt that it was perhaps time to do something different. I thought about running a sensory group or something along those lines. At the end of the first year after my son was born, all the mummy friends that I had met returned to work. I realised that I didn’t see them anymore. They couldn’t take their children to classes either, as they were working. My son also suddenly stopped seeing his friends. My partner Jon and I had a chat about running a weekend baby and toddler group. We have started by running it once a month, so that it doesn’t eat too much into our own family time.
 
How long have you run Baby Bears? Can you explain what happens during a session?
We started it in August 2018. We were very lucky in that many of the items we use in the playgroup were donated from a local school and the community. I have a trailer to take things back and forth. My mum makes the cakes for us and does the refreshments. Each session has different toys for the children to play with, so that there is variety each time they come - we even have puppet shows. At the end of the session we have songs, bubbles, parachute etc and we sing happy birthday to anyone who has a birthday that month. They also get a birthday card too.
 
In the new year we are introducing messy play. We are also aiming to bring in other local businesses to showcase their products and services to the parents attending. Companies that we have invited include: Painted Peppermint, Logan’s Plate, The Little Letter Company. In December, all parents will have the chance to get a free neck and shoulder massage.
 ​

Where are your premises?
It’s at St Lawrence’s Church Hall in Upminster. There are two halls in the building. We started in the smaller hall but have recently moved to the bigger one. It is more practical for the refreshments as it has its own kitchen, as well as allowing us to hold more families in each session – 25 families vs 15 families.
​
How did you come up with your business name? 
After my son, it’s his nickname.

Did you need any formal training?
Not specifically for this role, as I am a qualified EarlyYears Teacher I am transferring my skills from that to the playgroup.

A recent Facebook post shows that you are fully booked in November and many of your December places are filling up fast; so business is going well. Do people book in blocks in advance?
Yes, they book online, which secures their place. Payment is taken on the day. The price is £4.50, and it includes homemade cakes and refreshments.

It’s unusual to have weekend groups. Do you find that both parents attend? Or do you find that it’s a chance for the parent that is working during the week to do some one-to-one, baby bonding?
I get a lot of families coming altogether although there are some dads who come on their own with their children. Sometimes grandparents and aunties join in as well. I have had some parents comment that they are surprised when we say that the whole family is welcome as there are some groups that only allow one parent. We welcome everyone and we ensure that dads feel comfortable coming on their own.
 
I have also had a group of NCT parents come together too. It’s lovely so see the word spreading and new people attending.

Do you have anything special planned to celebrate the Christmas season?
We are having a Christmas Party with Father Christmas and have an elf dropping by. We are finding out how old the children are and what they are in to, so that we can buy an age-related present that the children will enjoy. The play session will be all Christmassy too. ​

Setting up a new business comes with its challenges. What would you do differently if you started over?
Storage has been the biggest issue. It would be nice to have a hall with storage. Unfortunately, the one that we are using now, doesn’t. We had to buy a trailer to take things back and forth. The trailer also needs to be stored. So, if we could do things differently it would be to get the logistics more aligned.
​
I also need to find a way to stop the repeat offenders who book and then don’t show up. I’ve noticed some people who book several slots in advance, but then don’t show up. It’s a shame as it means someone else could have used that space. We are not at the point of taking money in advance, as it’s such a small amount, but if we were bigger, it would be something I would investigate.

​What are your hopes for the business?
Continue to be fully booked for every session. I’d like to secure the bigger hall for all of 2019. I want to arrange more themed sessions. As I have done already, I would like to bring other local businesses into each session to give them some publicity. 
 
I want to add an educational slant to my sessions by adding numeracy and literacy activities. I have lots of ideas I just need to get them out of my head and action them.
 
Do you have a marketing strategy?
Not a structured and regular one, as such. I post regularly on the Baby Bears’ Facebook page and then I post out to other groups on Facebook. I am listed on Mums Guide to Romford. I also have a poster up in the Soft Play in Harold Hill. The business has grown from friends and word of mouth. A few mums have told me that they found me on Netmums.
 
I know I need to do more, but as we have strong numbers at this point, until we upscale, our marketing efforts are working.
 
Your business is doing well on social media, but have you thought about growing your business with a website?
Yes and no. I don’t think I have time to manage a website. Social media is more on the go. I don’t know how that will help me at this stage, with the business only running once per month, but when this grows there may be a need for it then.
 
If you would like to find out more about Baby Bears Upminster go to:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/babybearsupminster
You can also book places by visiting: https://bookwhen.com/
​

Revamped website for Antino and Associates
 
One of our most recent clients came to us seeking help with his current site. It was old fashioned, clunky and outdated. Whilst the content was good, it was too technical, and it wasn't the right tone for their ideal clients.
 
Based in Chelmsford, this Chartered Surveyor wanted a website that highlighted his skills to do with: party walls, injunctions and being an expert witness. The owner works across the UK and wanted his website to reflect this, whilst giving focus to East London, Norfolk, Cambridge and Essex.
 
We worked with him to achieve a website that was attractive to all. It needed clear navigation, relevant images and monthly blogs. His site went live 30 August and all of the keywords we are monitoring are already ranking well. Happy days…
 ​

​​Last month, one of our clients reached their one-year anniversary. Arco, run a central heating and plumbing business in Collier Row and have clients across, Romford, Upminster, Gidea Park, Chelmsford, Shenfield, Billericay, Brentwood, Harold Wood and Dagenham.
 
They came to us wanting their site to be more visible. Their previous website had been built by a big, well known, website provider. The previous website did not rank highly and neither did it generate new business leads.

​This company is now visible on page one for the following search terms: central heating Romford, central heating Dagenham and central heating Upminster. We are still working with them on implementing some basic digital marketing strategies.
 
But what’s holding them back, I hear you ask? Are there actions that we should have taken but failed to do? No. The truth is, that like many businesses, there has got to be time put aside to work on the business. If not, the results just won’t be as they should be.
 
We are passionate about what we do. We get excited when websites we’ve worked on show up on organic search in the number one spot or within the map pack. Our job is to ensure that this continues to happen and by working alongside our clients (however busy!) we know that this will become a reality. Watch this space…

We'd love the opportunity to do SEO for your website, our to discuss how we can bring more leads to your door with no upfront costs to you. Call us on 01708 578 015 today!

This evening, thousands of people across the UK will come out of their homes, go out into the dark and stand in the cold night to watch a fire burn. It’s a tradition that has been observed for hundreds of years following the failed attempt by a group of young men in 1605 to blow up Parliament and King James I.

Guy Fawkes is the man that was captured and who jumped to his death to avoid being hung drawn and quartered. Today his name and memory lives on as he sits on top of bonfires across the country, in the form of a stuffed doll. All rather twisted and macabre, but a night out that appeals to the young and old. Add to the night some fireworks, glow sticks, fast food and drinks and it’s a night where profits can be made.​

​Is your business following the family traditions that has been passed down for generations? Or are you offering services and products in a way that is safe, earning you some money, but not the wealth you expected when you started on this journey?

Whilst some things are best left well alone, it’s still important to regularly give your business the once over to make sure that it’s working to its maximum capacity. Times change, people evolve and for the clever few that are able to predict the next big thing – big money is waiting for them.

Who would have thought that Bonfire Night, for example, would turn into an extravaganza that appealed to schools, sports clubs and parks as a way of making money? They open up their doors and charge an entrance fee, charge local businesses for a pitch and after their costs – make a profit!​

If you would a fresh pair of eyes to review your online business, get in touch. We are not just good a creating effective websites, we are also excellent at offering ideas on:
    -  how your business could work better
    -  how your business is working amongst your competitors and
    -  how you could expand your offerings to a wider market
​​

So, don’t be like these forgotten companies that were slow to respond to change. Aim to be a business with an evolving brand that has real connections and understanding of what their customers want and how.

Blackberry - remember this phone provider? This business thought they would stay at the top without having to think about their future customers and competitors, like Apple and Google.

Blockbuster – this shop hired out videos and games to an audience that didn't have much choice at the time. The CEO, however, couldn't see how good he had it and was blind to the big future of digital. He turned down an offer from Netflix to sell for $50 million.

Kodak – everyone knew this high street brand that sold quality camera film rolls and other  products in the shops. It was another firm that played it safe and failed to see the opportunities emerging with the digital times.

It's not just established businesses that can get it wrong. According to Bloomberg, 8 out of 10 start-up businesses fail within the first 18 months. Do not be one of them!
​​

Regular readers will be aware of us advocating the power of networking. If you want to grow your customer base, build relationships with local businesses in your area and get your name and face recognised - regular networking should be on your list of things to do.
 
As a consequence of presenting at a recent networking event, Perfect Layout Digital Marketing was invited to give the same presentation at another networking group called the Hornchurch Professional & Business Association. It is open to all business and professional people in Hornchurch and surrounding areas and has been in existence for over 70 years.
 
We felt honoured by the invitation and made to feel immediately at home by the Chairman, Robert Copeland, and Secretary, Ian Gorsuch. We sat down for a delicious three course lunch and got to know the members. It was an informal occasion, with conversation that went from business talk to deep discussions about the current performance of West Ham football club.
 
Our presentation followed. We gave the guests four practical exercises to do on their mobile phone. The aim, to reveal whether their website was visible and working to bring in new leads to their business.
 
Here are the four tests. Check to see how visible your company is. In your browser…
 
1. Type in your business type and location, i.e. plumber Romford. Where is your business listed? If it is not on page one, you have an issue with the content on your site.

2. Type in your exact company name i.e. Perfect Layout Digital Marketing – is there a Google My Business listing for your company. If you haven’t got one, you are missing a digital marketing trick.

3. Looking at the organic results of this page. Is your business listed in external directories? If they are not, we recommend that you invest time in creating them, they are a valuable asset for your online visibility.

4. Does your company have a blog/news section? If you don’t, you are missing out in enriching your site with new, fresh and relevant content for your audience. These blogs are additional ways of reaching customers via your website.
 
There was mixed feedback following each of these exercises. Participants were:
 
 - surprised to see how invisible their company was when searched for locally
 - happy to view their google my business profile
 - in the dark about their business being listed on local directories
 - accepting that they were not posting regular content to their customers
 
If you have just done the same test and found that your business is missing out on some or all of these points, get in touch with the Perfect Layout team today to see how we can help.
 
Interested in joining this informal networking organisation? For £160 per year, you will have the opportunity of mixing with some friendly, local business owners. Membership is for one person, but if you are unable to attend, you are welcome to send someone in your place. In addition to a lavish lunch, once a month, there is the chance to mingle and discuss the outcome of that afternoon’s presentation.
 
For further information contact Ian Gorsuch: IGorsuch@hwca.com
​

Are you failing to get leads from your website? Does it feel like a ghoul has hijacked business leads? Are you scared about this ever-changing world of digital marketing? Well, Perfect Layout are here to rescue you from your nightmares as we explain how Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) works. If you put in place these strategies, you will see your ranking improve. Are you ready to handle more leads coming to your business?
 
If you’re serious about wanting people to find you through a Google search, Search engine Optimisation (SEO) must be at the top of your priority list. You won’t be able to generate leads for your business if nobody can find you.
 
So, what happens after someone makes a search? Here is the likelihood of someone clicking on a link, depending on their organic positioning.
 
Breakdown of Google Click-Through Rates in by position
Position 1 – 20.5%
Position 2 – 13.32%
Position 3 – 13.14%
Position 4 – 8.98%
Position 5 – 9.21%
Position 6 – 6.73%
Position 7 – 7.61%
Position 8 – 6.92%
Position 9 – 5.52%
Position 10 – 7.95%

That means if you’re not number one on the page, you just missed out on a fifth of potential traffic. Most people won’t even click on the second page of the search results. If you are wondering why other websites are ranking higher than you on Google. It is because they are making a concerted effort to work on their SEO.
​
The good news is that it's never too late to start...you just have some catching up to do. There are techniques and strategies that you can apply to get you going.  

​9. More than words
Your website shouldn’t be only written words. Break up the pages with relevant, high-quality pictures. Consider also adding videos, slideshows, or audio to your site. This improves the user experience, as not everyone enjoys just reading.
 
Also remember what we said about the time people spend on your site. Videos, for example, can extend significantly the amount of time spent on your website. If that happens, it will boost your search ranking.

​​Social Media Integration
​Do you want to grow your market and reach a broader audience?  Then the key is to integrate your business into social media.  Social media channels and your website should work together to promote your online brand. Opening accounts in these platforms is completely free. They are a very good tool to increase your popularity and online presence.
 
Add links to your social channels from your website to increase the chance that search engine users will find your website.
 
Being active on social media channels can help build (or retain) a solid audience. Post regularly and keep your audience updated on your products and services as well as what's new on the market.
 
Unless you are able to do it yourself, marketing requires a lot of time, effort and money. But when it is done correctly and consistently across the various channels, it can be extremely powerful and rewarding.
 
Getting your brand, marketing strategy, website and social media platforms to where you want them to be, takes time and a lot of effort. If you are a small company, it might be worth considering hiring external professionals to help you.

If you want to know more about this important topic read our blog How important is branding for my company?

You might also like: 50 meticulous style guides every startup should see before launching by Canva.

​3) Evaluate your existing digital marketing channels and assets. Which ones are you using? Should you be on others?
The digital landscape changes quite often, so it’s a good idea to do your homework and find out what is out there, who is using it, why are they using it and if it’s a method that will fit in with your business. Not all platforms or assets are right for every business.

7) Bring it all together.​
It’s never too late to start implementing a good digital marketing strategy for your online business. A combination of owned, earned and paid for media can often give you better results.

​Remember to plan ahead (as much as is realistically possible) and schedule regular meetings to evaluate the impact and performance of what has gone out. What lessons have you learned? Going forward, does the marketing plan you have in place need to be tweaked?

Digital marketing checklist: 

  - Profile of your buyer persona
  - One or more marketing-specific goals
  - An inventory and audit of your existing owned, earned, and paid media
  - An owned content strategy plan
  - Social media marketing plan
  - Ideas of how you can create earned content
  - A budget and plan for paid for content (advertising)

Have you got everything covered? We’d love to hear how you plan and action your digital marketing strategy. Leave a comment below to get the discussion started.