3 Things You Need to Know to Get Clients Online
As a business owner, one of the ways you’re probably trying to get business is online. And the first online venue most business owners think of is their website. You have to have a website to validate your business, even if it’s not currently helping you to get new clients right now. But if you want your website to help you get clients online, there are three things you need to know. So read on and start getting those new clients!
But Before We Talk about Tools…
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Wait, I don’t have a business website,” I have one question for you: Why not? Even if you just have a simple landing page, your business needs a website. It may just be to verify that you have an online presence and that you’re a real company. Every single business, no matter who your clients are, needs a website. Of course, each business may have a different website that doesn’t look like everyone else’s, but that’s okay. You need to have a website, especially if you want to get clients online.
If you haven’t yet created a website for your business, stop reading and do that first. We’ll still be here when you’re ready.
Tip #1: Know Your Website Browsers
Did you know that Google’s website browser, Chrome, has about 60% of the market share? That means 6 of 10 people are accessing the internet with Chrome. And just a couple of days ago, Chrome released a new version of its browser. In this new version, it is calling out sites that don’t have SSL certificates, or that S after the http in the browser navigation bar.
That means if your site doesn’t have the SSL certificate, you may start to hear from clients or potential clients to ask why your site isn’t secure. That’s because Chrome is alerting them that the site may not be secure. And that could be affecting your ability to get clients online.
It used to be that we would only look for the https when we were buying something online, to ensure our payment information was secure. But times have changed. It’s not hard to implement SSL, but you do have to have a quality website host. If you do, it’s probably included in your hosting plan. The trick is applying it to your website.
If you are unable or lack the knowledge to implement the SSL certificate on your website, ask an expert to do so. Remember, with 6 out of 10 people using Chrome, you no longer can avoid getting this done.
Tip #2: CCPA Is Coming
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is coming in January of 2020. CCPA is essentially California’s version of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The trend of privacy regulations is coming into play so that it’s clear and to the letter of the law how people own their own information. If companies want to use that personal information, there are certain guidelines they have to follow. If you want to get clients online from anyone in California, you need to be aware of CCPA.
If your website and privacy policies are already clear and GDPR compliant, you’re probably doing just fine here, but it’s a good idea to check with your attorney and ensure you’re okay.
Tip #3: Create a Privacy Policy
No matter where you live or where you do business, if you have a website, you need a privacy policy. It’s just good basic practice. Your policy should essentially say, “Hey, you’re here, and by being here and doing stuff on our website, here’s what’s going on. We’re using Google Analytics, so your information is being tracked. We use cookies so that we can deliver better service for you and know where to send you back to when you leave and don’t return.”
A privacy policy lays out the basics of how you conduct yourself to get clients online with your business website. Obviously, privacy policies have been affected by GDPR and, soon, by CCPA, so check with your attorney to ensure you have one and it’s up to date.
If you collect information or use Google Analytics or cookies, you really need to be transparent with website visitors about what information you’re gathering. That’s what the privacy policy does, so it’s not rocket science. It is, however, a trust factor, and you may not get clients online if you don’t have one.
If you advertise on Facebook, you have to have a privacy policy. If you want to be an Amazon affiliate, you have to have a privacy policy. In fact, some businesses use it as a measure of whether or not other businesses are real or just have a website to have a website.
Ready to Get Clients Online?
FieryFX is a full-service marketing agency, and we love to share tips, tricks, and insights about internet marketing. If you are having challenges with implementing these three tips, we can help. We are all about helping our clients get clients online, and we do that with an integrated approach that drives results.
Be sure to bookmark this page and follow us on Facebook to stay in touch. And you can always connect with us at [email protected].
