The internet was first introduced to the world more than two decades ago and we are witnesses to how it has changed our ways of life. Businesses and organizations are focusing on establishing an online presence, leading to the rise in web design and development firms. This, however, doesn’t mean that it is easy to run such a firm. This post will discuss how you can market a web design and development firm in Singapore.
Many entrepreneurs nowadays think about starting a web design and development agency. This is due to the high demand for those services. What they don’t understand is that it can be extremely difficult to succeed if you don’t do things the right way. If you own or are looking to start a web design and development agency, pay attention to these two factors.
Strive to be unique
The web design and development industry is highly competitive. Once it was discovered that many people needed web design services, many entrepreneurs entered the market. You have to know how to deal with your competition. Ensure that your marketing techniques are different from those of any other agency in Singapore.
To make your marketing different, conduct some research on your target audience. Where do they hang out? Which communication media can be used to reach them? What do they like doing? Such questions will help you know how to promote your services to prospective clients.
You also need to reflect uniqueness in how your run your agency. It could be through building good relationship with existing customers or offering coupons once in a while. The point is, build a strong brand for your firm.
Develop a market plan
A market plan is necessary if you want to gain success in the web design and development industry. There are various factors to address in your market plan. First, define your goals. What are your looking to achieve in say, three or six months?
Secondly, perform a SWOT (strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis. It will help you know what to do in order to achieve your dreams as an agency. Study the market and find out what you can do to rise above your rivals. When you have a market plan, you will be in a better position to steer your business to greatness.
Let’s now discuss some ways to market a web design and development firm in Singapore.
Promote your services to existing clients
Although prospecting is the norm, you don’t have to look for new clients all the time. Have you thought about your current clients or former clients you haven’t contacted in a long time? Look up all your existing clients and get in touch. Inform them of new developments in the industry and how you can help them keep up with the trends.
Look at the existing clients’ websites and find ways to improve them. If you do a thorough job, theses clients will stick with you. Ensure to customize the services for each of your clients since the all have different needs.
Have a portfolio to show to potential clients
Many people who want to work with you will want to see some samples of your work. This can be what separates you from other firms in your area. Look for your best work and show it to people who express an interest in your work.
If you are starting out, you could work pro bono for various organizations or businesses and keep the work as your portfolio. If potential clients like what they see, they’ll give you a chance to work with them.
Establish a presence online
There is a high number of Singaporeans who use the internet so establishing a presence online is vital. There are various strategies you can use to achieve this. Let’s have a look at them.
Open social media accounts
Most internet users in Singapore are active on social media. Create profiles/pages for your firm in popular social networking platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. The secret to acquiring huge followings in these platforms is to publish content regularly. It could be anything from photos, videos and infographics. You will notice result within a few weeks.
Build a website for your firm
Many internet users look for web design and development firms online. If you create a website for your firm, you can easily be found. Your site should include details such as the range of services you offer and your contacts. It should be simple and have a beautiful design in order to give a great first impression.
Search engine optimization (SEO)
Considering the high number of web design and development websites out there, you have to find ways to gain more visibility on the internet. SEO is basically the process of manipulating your site in order to improve rankings on search engines. The first thing to do is to ensure your site loads faster. A site that loads faster and is responsive usually gets more visitors.
Secondly, make your site mobile friendly because a most Singaporeans use their mobile devices to browse the internet. Another great SEO strategy is to use specific keywords throughout the site’s content. Some strategic places to places keywords include titles, first paragraph and in meta-descriptions.
Search engine marketing (SEM)
On the other hand, SEM is where you pay search engines to advertise your firm. You achieve this by bidding on certain keywords with the hope that potential clients will type them into search engines. Your ads appear alongside search engine results. It is a great way to get more internet users to check out your services.
Guest blogging to attract new clients
To maintain a steady client flow, you have to get your services to a wider audience. You cannot do this if you only rely on your site or a few social networking platforms. Look for websites with huge followings and offer to guest blog. Some readers of these websites/blogs will contact you when they need web design/development services after seeing your post.
If give your clients the best services, they can help you market through word of mouth. You can encourage clients who loved your work to refer you to other individuals, organizations or businesses which may require your services.
It is much easier to market a web design and development firm in Singapore if you follow the above strategies. As you market, focus on online marketing since you will be getting most of your clients from the internet. If you want help with internet marketing strategies such as SEM and SEO, you can call MediaOne, a top marketing agency in the country.
