With approximately 3.03 billion of active users on social networks, it is not surprising that brands and companies want to be increasingly present on different social platforms to gain brand awareness and presence, traffic to their web pages, more potential customers, better conversion rates , and even better customer service.

This is why Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and other platforms are increasingly attractive business channels for both large companies and small entrepreneurs. Below we will leave you a list of the most popular networks with the most users so you can choose the one that best suits your needs:

01. Facebook

As you can see in the table above, in January of this year (2020), Facebook recorded approximately 2,449 million active users, so whether you have a small business that is just starting or a more established company, Facebook is a platform on which you must have a presence no matter what.

• It is the largest and most popular social network in the world.
• It has free and paid features to promote ads and businesses.
• It is constantly updated, adding functions and sections that help your brand.
• It has statistics on pages and ads so you can make the best decisions when promoting your services.

02. Twitter

A diferencia de Facebook, Twitter tiene un crecimiento más lento, sin embargo cuenta con más 339 millones de usuarios activos en un mes.  La fortaleza de Twitter es su información en tiempo real y su inmediatez.

• Twitter has news and information in real time.
• For this reason, Twitter usually becomes in the official brand information medium.
• Twitter allows you to do 'social listening' through it.
• It is one of the fastest and simplest ways to directly reach potential customers.
• You will be able to review the topics that are trending to use them to your advantage.
• It has analytics and ad options, just like Facebook.

03. Instagram

Instagram is a social network for sharing photos and videos, as well as stories, small “polls” and other complements that it has been implementing in recent years. Approximately 40 billion photos have been shared through this platform. Unlike Facebook, Instagram does not allow you to generate traffic to a website with publications, however, it is the fastest growing social network and you should include it to start making your brand known.

• Instagram is perfect for communicating visual messages.
• Instagram users interact with brands 10 times more than on Facebook and 84 times more than on Twitter.
• Using hashtags will make you gain visibility.
• The “business account” option gives you statistics about your account.
• You can promote yourself with paid ads just like on Facebook and Twitter.

04. Youtube

YouTube is the number one place to upload and share videos, as well as one of the most popular websites in the world. It has a wide variety of content and is perfect both for normal users who want to share a little of their daily life, and for companies and businesses that generate visual content about their facilities, their services or their promotions. It is estimated that more than 1.3 billion people currently use YouTube.

• People increasingly prefer YouTube more than television.
• 62% of youth and 51% of adults over 35 said they were likely to take action after watching YouTube ads.
• There are several options to segment your content, making it reach those who interest you most.
• Like the other networks mentioned, YoTube allows you to create ads and offers ways to measure and analyze the performance of your ads.

And you, which social network will you use for your business?

Use these simple tricks to improve your store if you are already selling online!

01. Simplify your URLs

Always have links that are descriptive and simple, for example, if you sell a small cardboard box, make sure your link is small-cardboard-box, instead of /fca&je%rs/chi30&&chi_%ds, as this will affect both: Your credibility with customers and your SEO.

02. Write good titles and descriptions

Just like your links, your product titles should describe what the product is about, without making it too boring. The description should include a brief summary of your product's best features, as well as its most important aspects or components, including keywords. Always be honest and keep your text realistic, to avoid conflicts with your buyers.

03. Include positive comments

Allow feedback from buyers, this will help you build trust and sell more.

04. Use high quality images

Make sure to always include the best photos of your product, remember that a picture is worth a thousand words! Use medium or large sized images, always show different angles of your product, and if you have several colors or models available, don't forget to add them to the gallery.

05. Include your social networks

Don't forget to add buttons or links to your social networks! Remember that platforms like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram are an excellent way to get closer to your customers and potential buyers on the Internet, thus making it easier for them to get to know your brand and build a bond of trust with it.

Social media marketing (SMM) is the process of creating and sharing content for different social platforms, taking into account specific objectives for brands or businesses. These objectives are very varied, since each person could seek to generate interaction (likes or comments), get followers, gain visibility or increase the traffic that reaches their website, and even generate sales.

Social media marketing encompasses all the activities and measures used on social media to generate business opportunities and customer loyalty.

Types of social media marketing

• Proactive marketing: It involves creating and distributing both proprietary and user-generated content to achieve objectives. This type of SMM requires the use of resources and budget, as well as the integration of various channels to increase content reach.
• Passive marketing: External content is used to achieve objectives. Activity is measured and an evaluation of user activities is conducted in order to make operational or strategic decisions.

Benefits of social media marketing

• Reputation and authority: Advertising campaigns, as well as posts made on social networks, serve to create a positive brand image and reputation.
• Interest groups: Thanks to social media, it's possible to create groups where different users with a genuine interest in the product (or service) you offer can gather.
• Direct contact: It's easier for customers to get in touch with businesses through messages, posts, or comments on posts. Social media offers an opportunity for closeness that not many other mediums offer.
• Traffic: Social media is a great way to drive visitors to your website.
• Sales: As surprising as it may seem, social media represents a great medium for selling products or services.
• Viral Marketing: Your content can go viral and be shared by many users, giving you a great reach.
• SEO: Profiles on Twitter and Facebook are often indexed by search engines and may be displayed first in the search results. Interaction on your page will make it appear more easily in the search engine.

Advantages of SMM

• One of its main advantages is that most of the services it offers are free (except for paid advertisements). Therefore, spreading any message through posts, links, images, or videos is really easy, fast, and effective.
• You don't need to invest capital to start publishing or spreading messages.
• Most people spend more than half of their time on social media, so being active on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram is a great opportunity to be discovered.
• You can make offers in real time, and interact in real time with people interested in them.
• You will have unlimited interactions with your followers.

Now that you know this, what are you waiting for to create your business profiles on social networks?

Web positioning or SEO positioning refers to the set of techniques used to organically position a web page in the first results of a Google search.

Web positioning, or SEO positioning, could be defined as a process focused on placing a certain page in the top positions of search results for a specific search. It is a constant work that takes months of strategy to show results, but it will undoubtedly give you very good results if you start implementing it.

Elements of positioning SEO

Keywords: Las palabras clave (o keywords) son términos compuestos por una o más palabras con las que un usuario escribirá sus dudas en el navegador. Por ejemplo: “¿Qué es el posicionamiento web?”.

Content: The content of your website should always consist of your main keywords, as well as having titles and subtitles with their respective tags organized by hierarchies (h1, h2, h3, etc.). You should also consider that NEVER you must have duplicate content on your websites, as it will result in penalties from Google.

ALT attributes: ALT attributes help search engines read and index your content easily, so it is essential that all your images contain an ALT description explaining the content of the image.

Backlinks:

URL’s: A simple URL with keywords facilitates positioning in search engines, in addition to making the site easier for users to understand. They should always be written in a user-friendly way, without special characters, numbers or random letters.

You can find more information about backlinks here.

Types of positioning

1. Organic: Organic positioning is aimed at modifying technical aspects of a website and creating content that can make a website more useful and relevant, so that it gains more importance or presence in search results. It is called organic or natural because no money is invested or paid to appear in better positions.

1. Paid: This type of positioning consists of paying for services such as Google Ads, where you will generate Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising, thus achieving that your website is in the first search results for a keyword. This method, compared to the organic one, is much faster and simpler, in the sense that you do not have to wait months or plan a strategy to see results.

Why is SEO positioning important?

As you rightly mention Inboundcycle, “If you are not seen on the first page of Google results, you are losing more than 90% of clicks.“. Among the first results in a Google search, the first position accumulates on average 59.59% of the users' clicks. Having good SEO It will make your website more useful, both for users and for search engines, helping it to climb positions until it appears in the first results. SEO is the best way for your users to find you through internet searches.

If you want to know more about SEO, don't miss our next blog post, where we'll give you 9 tips to improve your strategy organically.

Once you decide to build and design the structure of your website, you should also start thinking about the visual content of it, as well as the creation of your social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.), since, as is well known, people interact and react much more quickly and intensely to images and videos.

Using high-quality, eye-catching images with interesting designs will help you retain and impact your audience effortlessly. That's why we're giving you 6 tools that will be great for you to start working on your graphics:

1. Gravit

Gravit is one of the most widely used tools in the open source graphic design field. It can be used to design almost anything, from icons, interfaces, vector images or professional presentations to images or graphics for social media.

Funciona para Windows, Linux, IOS y otras plataformas, además de estar disponible en diferentes idiomas, por lo que es una herramienta muy completa.

2. Canva

Canva is a tool that offers basic and advanced features to create images online and for free. One of the advantages of Canva is that it has functions that help you create images for social networks and even memes. This can help you a lot when creating content for your Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages.

Canva is available as an online editor, but it also has an app for iPad, iPhone, and PC that will allow you to use it anywhere.

3. Pexels

Unlike previous tools, Pexels is a platform that offers beautiful, high-quality, copyright-free photographs ready to download and edit. There you can find a wide variety of resources that will help you with any type of content you need to create.

One advantage is that on Pexels you can browse through different categories and tags and even start uploading your own content, as well as donate money to creators through a Paypal account.

4. Giphy

GIFs are one of the things that cannot be missing from websites or social networks, since you can express a lot within a single element and they are potentially viral. In the same way, gifs usually encourage your users to interact with you.

Giphy is the ideal platform for generating your own Gifs, as well as searching and browsing through content that has been created by other users. In addition to this, it allows users to search and share short looping videos without sound, which resemble animated gifs.

5. Lumen5

Lumen5 allows you to edit videos easily, intuitively and simply, using your own images and photos, or browsing through the gallery on the same platform. It also allows you to create videos for social networks, videos with animations, videos for advertisements or for online stores, and much more. You just need to register and start editing.

Si quieres más consejos sobre el diseño y acomodo de contenido en tu página web, visita esta entrada.

If you have a website, it is important for you to know that its content should always support the message you want to convey, whether through images, eye-catching text, or strategically placed buttons. That is why you should pay close attention to where the most important aspects of your information will be placed, as this will ensure that visitors convert on your site (for example, buy your products, contact you, or leave their email so you can send them valuable information).

But how can you achieve this? Fortunately, there are already different rules or “patterns” that will help you resolve your doubts and make your task easier, and here we will review the most common ones:

Patrones de diseño web

First, let's explain a little bit about this term, since you've probably never heard it before: A web design pattern is a certain way of distributing the visual elements of a page, optimizing the relationship between them. And although each person can choose how to distribute their content without taking into account a pattern from the beginning, the design patterns that already exist are the most effective way to convey your message or achieve an action from the user, and they also improve the usability of our websites.

In short, these patterns help us prioritize and define which elements are most important within a web page and therefore, what should attract the customer's attention the most. This way, we will always have the right attention in the right places.

Los patrones de diseño más usados

• Z design pattern: When we visit a website for the first time, we scan the content quickly and make an eye movement similar to the letter “Z.” With this in mind, a page that uses this pattern usually places its logo in the upper left corner so that it is the first thing that the user notices. In front of the logo, in the upper right corner, the navigation menu and a call to action, such as a sign up, contact or purchase button, are usually placed:
  

The final part of the Z is the conclusion of everything that was presented on the page, so you need to encourage them to take action. Place an attractive button that draws attention (“buy now”, “sign up”, “contact us”, etc.).

• Full Image Web Design Pattern: This web design pattern includes little text over an image that usually takes up most of the screen. This serves to capture the full attention of your users and generate a great visual experience from the start. In addition, it communicates your message immediately, since with a simple image you can express what you do, who you are and what you offer. In this type of design you should always accompany your cover with a striking explanatory phrase or a slogan that represent you.

• Design Pattern F: This design pattern is based on a form of page scanning, just like the first point we explained. The difference between the two is that this one is (generally) applied to text-heavy pages, such as blogs or informational sites. For this type of design, it's best to invest most of your effort in the top section of your page and then reinforce the message in the middle. This way, your visitors will be clear about what your message is without having to read too much.

• 4. Single column design: This design is very simple and straightforward, as it relies on simple navigation that only requires you to swipe down to continue reading (like in the Facebook feed or in this blog post).
  In this type of design, you should always add a “back to top” button if your content is extensive, or alternatively, add a fixed menu to improve navigation. This way, your visitors won’t have to make a big effort to go to other sections or return to the beginning.

Now that you know the four most common web design patterns, which one do you apply to your website or which one would you like to try? Go ahead and implement this information and check out the results!

One of the most important parts of your website, whether you sell products or services, is the contact section, since thanks to it your clients will be able to contact you or visit you, if you have a physical location.

One of the best ways

1. Visibilidad

Always make sure your contact information is clearly visible and organized by priority. For example: What interests you more, being visited in a physical location, or being contacted by phone? Whatever your answer was, it deserves to be prioritized and appear at the top of your contact information. To do this, you can use a darker font color, a striking title, or even a striking section on your contact page.

2. Google Maps is your ally

Don't forget to register your business on Google Maps! This is the map that most people search on these days, so you should take advantage of it. Plus, the process is free and won't take more than 5 minutes.

One of the great advantages of this is that you can embed the map where your business appears directly on your website so that your customers can interact with it without having to leave the site. This will allow them to zoom in and out, see how to get there from any location, etc.

If you want to know how to insert a map on your website, visit this link.

3. Estimated response time

If you think it is convenient or relevant for you, include an estimated response time so that your clients do not despair when they see that they do not have an email immediately where you can answer their questions.

4. Call to action

One of the things you can do to incentivize your customers is to use a “call to action”. This is made up of a title and a short text that attracts the attention of visitors.

This text should primarily remind your potential customers why they visited your site and which of their needs you can satisfy with the services you offer.

5.- Frequently asked questions

A good option for your contact page is to include a FAQ section where you can answer people's most immediate questions. This way you can greatly reduce response time and decrease the number of emails to answer.

If you already have a finished website, with its respective domain purchased, and with hosting secured, you are probably wondering what the next step for your business is.

And while the first steps to get started are very clear, things become a little ambiguous after they are completed, however, here we tell you what you need to start managing your store in a simple way:

1. Be proactive

Don't wait for customers to come to you, find them! A very simple way to do this is by installing a chat on your website. This way, you can schedule specific greetings or messages that encourage your visitors to start a conversation with you and begin a purchase.

2. Be flexible

If you have a website where you charge for your products or services, offer your customers different payment methods and models, as well as warranty or return periods. This will help you generate more sales as you will provide security and confidence to your customers by showing them that their needs are the most important thing.

3. Check your inventory

If product sales are your thing, make sure you always check that your inventory is up to date and stocked. There's nothing worse than seeing a lot of sales go to waste because you don't update your page often.

4. Social networks

One of the best ways to get noticed is through social media. Create a Facebook page, an Instagram business account, a Twitter account, or a YouTube account, depending on your needs. These are all quick and free processes and will help you get a lot of exposure and generate more traffic to your page.

5. Try Digital Marketing

There are many online marketing tools available today that could be useful for your business. These include Hubspot, Mailchimp, and Google Ads. In the same way, you can do digital marketing from the social networks you have already created, Instagram and Facebook are always a very good option. The big advantage is that you will need a large budget.

6. Write a blog

Write a blog to keep your audience interested and updated on your business activities or news. This will also help you gain new audiences without having to pay for it.

7. Search online directories

Online directories are directories that list different providers of products and services. In other words, they are websites where you can find different categories with links to third-party websites. You can find many of them where registration is free.

If you want to know more tips for your online business, visit this link.

Terms and conditions are a set of rules and statements that users of your online store will have to follow and agree to if they wish to make purchases from your site, as they govern the activities of visitors to that site and their relationship with the owner. In other words, terms and conditions are an agreement between the website owner and its users, detailing the policies and procedures carried out by the site and also providing the owner with the ability to protect themselves from potential legal exposure.

Having a terms and conditions section is an important aspect whenever you provide a service to other people or organizations, or if you plan to offer a service that will be available to a large number of people (such as in online stores or applications) and they should be defined according to the specific needs of each page (an online store requires terms that are different from those of an informational page).

What should I include in my Terms and Conditions?

As we mentioned before, Terms and Conditions will be different depending on the type of page you have, however, these are the most common and essential elements for online stores:

1. Owner of the website, the offer and the link to the Terms

As with all agreements, the Terms should clearly state who owns the website and what the website offers. If the website is operated by a legal entity, it is important to state the full and accurate name of that entity (and not the business name used for the business). It is also important to define what is offered on the website and state that the Terms are a legal agreement that governs its use.

2. Who can use your site? What are the requirements for creating an account?

You should define who has the right and who is allowed to use your site and its services when relevant, or what the requirements are for opening an account. This, for example, if you sell products or services that are not suitable for minors.

3. Returns and refunds policy

Companies selling products online must present their product return policy and refund policy. This is important to comply with consumer protection regulations. Some companies include this information separately, followed by instructions and requirements for completing returns or refunds.

4. Warranties and liability for services and products

Websites that sell products include warranties provided by the site operator and must comply with local consumer protection laws.

5. Ownership of intellectual property, copyright and logos.

To protect the audiovisual content and products of the sites, it is important to include a section indicating that they are the property of the author and that the clients of the website do not have rights over said materials.

6. Customer service and contact information

The terms are expected to contain contact information that allows users and customers to receive customer service and correspond with websites and their operators.

To give you an idea of ​​what else the Terms and Conditions section may contain, you can visit different websites, or check out this post, which includes a list of generators that will surely save you a lot of work.

If you find yourself working from home due to the Coronavirus issue, you probably want to make the entire office-home transition process easier, since the difference in the work environment could be detrimental to us if we are people who are a bit distracted or who are not used to having a good order in the tasks of each project.

But don't worry! Here is a list of free tools you can use to stay organized, focused on your daily tasks, and free from chaos:

1. Evernote

Evernote helps you capture and prioritize ideas, projects, and to-do lists, so nothing falls through the cracks. With Evernote, you can manage large projects or personal tasks, capture ideas in notes, images, or voice files, and save reminders.

The advantage of Evernote is that you can access your information from any device, even without an internet connection, and create a free or business account, depending on your needs.

2. Slack

Slack is a tool that allows you to work together with your team in a space organized by spaces called channels where you can chat in real time, exchange files, assign tasks, and much more. Thanks to this, teams that work remotely will maintain productivity no matter where they work from.

Meet deadlines, review documents, make approvals, and more.

3. Asana

Asana is the work management platform teams use to stay focused on the goals, projects, and daily tasks that grow their business. Plan and structure your work or the work of your team members. Set priorities and deadlines. Share details and assign tasks. All in one place.

In addition to this, Asana allows you to follow your team's projects and tasks at all stages. Know the status of the work and guide everyone towards the same goals.

4. Franz

Franz is a desktop app where you can sync your accounts from up to 65 different services (although in the free version you can only use 3), including many services like WhatsApp, Skype, Slack, Roundcube and more. This app is actually a place where you can gather your most used services to access them from the same place, avoiding having to open a thousand tabs in your browser.

If you need apps for video calls or video conferences, check out this article.