Atlantic Business Technologies, Inc.

Author: Atlantic BT

  • Which Valuable Website Metrics You Should Focus on and Why

    Digging into a web analytics package can be, for the average business owner, a bit like drinking from a fire hose. It doesn’t take much for the statistics and ideas to become overwhelming. With brutal force, you’re getting smashed in the face with numbers and charts and lines that go up and down. It looks like chaos. No, it feels like chaos. This is more daunting if you aren’t sure what you should be looking for in the first place. How can you know which set of website metrics matter the most?
     
    However, you can find real insights within your analytics package. They’re easy to spot if you know what to focus on. You can zero in on the important trends and results that matter. The kind that make or break your online marketing campaigns.
     
    With that in mind, we want to show you which website metrics you should focus on and why. Generally speaking, they fall into two different groups. We’ll break down each one.

    Measuring Traffic

    The first set of web analytics that matter have to do with bringing traffic to your website. After all, what can you do if people can’t find your company online? You can’t sell products or services over the web, or create conversions of any kind. You have designed your website to do all those things and then some. But users have to find you, first.

    Most business owners peek at their overall visit statistics from time to time. But, we encourage you to go a little deeper and look at things like:

    • Unique Sessions – How many real visitors are you getting to your website each month?
    • Organic Traffic Sources – What keywords are users searching for that helps them to find your website? What websites are generating links to yours?
    • Paid Traffic – How many visits are you getting from your internet advertising campaigns? What is your cost-per-visit?
    • Mobile Traffic – What percentage of your website visits originate from smart phones and tablets? Are there certain devices that are more popular with your customers than others?

    These statistics will all tell you if you’re doing a good job of acquiring visitors or not. As a result, you’ll have some leading indicators into your future sales or conversions.

    Following Engagement

    As important as traffic statistics are, they don’t tell you the whole story. More engaged visitors are the ones who are likely to do business with you. Good news. There are a handful of statistics you can look at to measure visitor engagement.

    • Bounce Rates – How many visitors are coming to your website and then leaving without clicking any links or taking any action?
    • Exit Rates – At what point are visitors leaving your website? Which pages have the most departures?
    • Page views Per Visit – Are most visitors hanging around to look at multiple pages and pieces of information? Generally, more activity is a higher sign of interest.
    • Conversion Rates – Which offers are visitors responding to? Are you getting enough leads or buyers to justify the resources devoted to your organic and advertising campaigns?

    Attracting traffic without generating conversions won’t get you anywhere. You can’t get leads or sales until you have people coming to your website. So, both sides of your web analytics matter. Don’t make the mistake of overlooking one type of indicator over another.

    Are You Getting Enough From Your Website?

    If you feel like you aren’t getting all you could be from your website, you’re not alone. It might be time to work with a web development team that knows how to turn your plans and ideas into results. Contact the web design and online marketing experts at Atlantic BT, today. Let’s set up a free consultation and see exactly how we can help.

  • Should You Spend Big On An Advanced CRM?

    Recently, we came out as pro website and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) integration. There are a few reasons why. But, when you boil it all down, one clear advantage stands out. The ability to both manage data effectively, and take advantage of sales opportunities.
     
    But, what if you’re in the middle of planning your web development project and haven’t decided on a CRM? In fact, you’re not even sure you want to spend the money on a CRM platform (like Salesforce) yet. Is it worth the extra bite out of your budget?
     
    It goes without saying that no answer will suffice for every company and situation. What works for one of our clients wouldn’t be a smart move for another. And, the bigger your business is, the more you can expect to spend on an advanced CRM.
     
    We’ve worked with hundreds of clients, including many corporations and large institutions. You don’t know what we’ve seen…but we’d like to tell you. Here we offer some guidance for you as you consider whether a CRM is a sound investment or not. These are a few things we would encourage you to think about.

    Evaluate the Real Advantages

    Slick presentations can be distracting when you’re evaluating advanced CRM systems. We don’t mean there’s too much hype around the products. But the focus should be on what works best for you. Do the features and benefits offered line up with your existing business plans? In other words, don’t consider everything the CRM could do. Instead, look at the different ways your team is likely to put it to good use. Then you can figure out whether those advantages are worth the cost. Having it for the sake of having it, doesn’t benefit anyone.

    Ignore Some Features

    To piggy-back on our first piece of advice, keep in mind that CRMs are not one size fits all. Any fully-functional CRM is going to have some features your business won’t need or use any time soon. If those features make a significant impact on the cost, and you won’t take advantage of them, then it may be a waste. At the very least, compare the different pricing and package levels with thought and care. Then, you won’t invest in upgrades that are irrelevant to your situation.

    Compare the Costs

    Here you are, comparing the different versions of the CRM you’re considering. You might even be looking into competing software solutions. As you do so, see if you can make some educated predictions about the gains you’ll see from each one. Of course, you can’t peer into a crystal ball (or can you?!) and make hard assumptions. But, you may be able to figure out how likely it is the CRM will pay for itself in the coming months and years.

    Look at the Soft Benefits

    Business executives generally look at the costs and benefits of a CRM system via the numbers. But, don’t forget there are softer elements to the equation. What else does the investment provide, outside of financial gain? The right platform will save your team a great deal of time and cut down on data entry errors. It will also increase productivity and morale. These factors can carry more weight than the monetary ones. Finding the right balance between the two may tip your thinking in the right direction. Not every major business advantage shows up on a balance, but they do, without a doubt, add up.

    Are you looking for a web development and online marketing partner who can help you make the most of your technology? Contact the Atlantic BT team in North Carolina today, to schedule a free consultation.

     

  • How to Know Which Web Hosting Option is Best For You

    When you begin planning for your new website project, you’ll be making plenty of choices. You’ll decide what you want your new site to look like and which creative team you’ll hire to build it. But, even after all that, your decision making isn’t over. Where will your website actually live? Deciding which web hosting option is best for you, is the biggest choice you’ll make. 
     
    Most business owners and executives are aware they need web hosting. But, they tend to think of it as a technical service or a line item on an invoice. In reality, it’s a valuable piece of your web design and online marketing puzzle. It can affect your website’s speed, performance, and even security.
     
    Here we have a very brief overview of your web hosting options. Each one will include a couple of the advantages or disadvantages they may have. Let’s start with the choice you’ve most likely seen advertised the most.

    Shared Web Hosting

    Shared web hosting is self-explanatory. It’s the loading of many websites (sometimes dozens or even hundreds) onto the same server. Because sharing is caring.
     
    The advantage of this type of setup is its simplicity and cost effectiveness. When you see web hosting advertised for only a few dollars a month, it’s a shared hosting plan they are promoting. The disadvantage is the potential issues you can run into. There can be problems with malware. Page loading times can be slow if it’s too crowded on the server. “Neighbors”, whom you’re sharing with, running questionable websites, can also slow things down.

    Dedicated Web Hosting

    With a dedicated web hosting plan, your business rents server space by itself. That means you don’t have any other websites stored on the same drives. This speeds up your website and eliminates security concerns brought on by others.
     
    Unfortunately, dedicated web hosting packages can be very expensive. On top of that, if you end up needing more space than you’re getting, you’ll run into bottlenecks and outages. Then, you’ll have to move your website elsewhere, which can be costly and time-consuming. That’s not fun.

    Cloud Web Hosting

    A cloud hosting plan makes your site available from many different servers. It may even include various countries or continents. In an ideal world, that means it’s available from many sources at once. So, obviously, availability shouldn’t be an issue. Also, cloud hosting plans tend to be much more affordable. Compared to dedicated hosting plans, this option wins the budget race.
     
    However, there is a big downside to cloud web hosting. Heavy traffic or regional outages can bog down servers. Customers also have limited control over the back-end infrastructure. That’s why it’s important to work with a reliable provider or third party.

    Hybrid Hosting Packages

    Hybrid web hosting packages combine the best of all worlds for many organizations. They offer dedicated server space with continued  availability and backups from the Cloud.
     
    Other than speed and reliability, the big advantage here is price. Often, you can get hybrid hosting packages for much less than a dedicated server. And, you wouldn’t have to give up all that stability and reliability in the process.

    Need Help Finding the Right Resource for Your Business?

    Which hosting plan is right for you? A lot depends on your website, goals, and budget.

    At Atlantic BT, we don’t only help you build and launch a great website. We also ensure that every detail, web hosting included, is ideal. Your website will see strong performance, reliability, and online security. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We can get our team of designers and programmers working for you.

  • Why You Need a Responsive Web Design Now

    If you’ve been doing your web design research, and we’re sure you have, you’ve heard this before. Responsive web design is very important for your business or organization. The question now is do you need to follow this advice or should you consider it only if you have the time and money?

    Before we get to the answer, let’s make sure we’re speaking the same language. Responsive web design adapts its appearance and functionality based on a user’s device. It will match a visitor’s screen size and operating system. In other words, someone using a laptop computer would use one version of your website. Another user on a phone sees an optimized layout developed for them.

    Now that we’re on the same page, let’s go back to the question at hand. Do you need a responsive, mobile-friendly website? The answer is a resounding “Yes!”. Let’s look at a few of the most important reasons why.

    Your Users and Customers are on Mobile Devices

    Many surveys and audits have confirmed one undeniable fact. More than half of all web traffic now originates from phones and tablets. That trend will only increase over the next few years. By 2020, two-thirds of your users will most likely be on smaller screens.

    In case this isn’t clear, the majority of your customers or visitors are on mobile devices. Without a responsive website, how can you reach them with a positive experience? You will risk having them take their time, attention, and money elsewhere.

    Mobile Functionality Affects Your Online Marketing

    Hey, guess who’s well aware of the trend towards mobile usage? Google. Shocked? We didn’t think so. As a result, they’ve programmed their search engine to adapt accordingly. Google now prioritizes websites that have full mobile functionality.

    Of course, anytime you find a reward, you’ll also find a punishment. Marketers with mobile-friendly websites are seeing a boost in their search traffic. But, those without responsive websites are losing ground in the search engine listings.

    You may not have any concerns about giving customers a great user experience. (Oh, come on, now, of course you do). But, it’s worth upgrading to a responsive web design for the online marketing benefits.

    It’s Better to Have One Website Than Two

    You could get around the problems of having a website that isn’t phone and tablet-friendly. How? By launching a second mobile version. In fact, that used to be a popular solution in our industry.

    We’ve learned a thing or two, though, and the best answer is clear. It’s easier (and cheaper) for companies to maintain a single website than two. Also, with a single site, you only have one set of backups, analytics, and security concerns to think about. There’s no need to create a brand-new website when you can add responsive coding to the one you already have.

    Getting a Responsive Website Won’t Kill Your Budget

    There’s a common misconception floating around about responsive design features. Some believe that adding them to your website means having to start from scratch. It’s true that many of our clients do decide to make other upgrades and improvements at the same time. But, that’s not required.

    You have a lot to gain from making your new website responsive. And, you won’t have to give up nearly as much as you think from your marketing budget. So, responsive web design is cheap, easy, helpful, and necessary to stay up to date with modern users. What are you waiting for?

    Want to Learn More About Responsive Web Design?

    If you want to know more about responsive web design, or have your web presence reviewed by a team of expert designers and programmers, contact Atlantic BT to schedule a free consultation today.

  • Happiness Can be Found, Even in the Darkest of Web Projects

    Institutional web projects are a beast. Revamping a website for Higher Education or Government is no easy feat. But, there are many business owners, CEOs, and executives who will say it was the best decision they ever made. Alas, there are just as many, if not more, who will report that their projects failed. It took too long, cost too much, and left them feeling disappointed or underwhelmed.
     
    There are a lot of reasons why a new website might not succeed or the process will drag on longer than expected. But, the happiest web development clients always have a few traits in common. If you want to avoid the major pitfalls associated with putting a large website together, read on. Here are a few examples you should follow.

    Begin With a Firm Set of Goals

    All successful web development projects begin with a firm set of goals. These goals are measurable. There is another plan in place to assess if the website has met or exceeded expectations. Knowing the specifics of what you want your website to do, puts everyone in a good starting position. A strong development team can generate a plan that moves you in the right direction.
     
    Without concrete goals, there is nowhere for your project to go. If there is a great deal of ambiguity about what would constitute success, then real results will be hard to see. Also crucial to your projects goals are the stakeholders. If they disagree on what the priorities should be, then no one will be able to move forward and be productive. It’s likely that the project outcome will be disappointing. 

    Get Participation From Many Levels of the Organization

    You can’t handle complex web development in a completely top-down fashion. Senior executives might be responsible for approving the project. But, don’t forget to allow middle managers, employees, and users to have some input. They all have different perspectives that can be valuable. Creating your website based on the needs of those who access it, is the whole point. As a result, these insights may end up having the power to turn your project into a success or failure. With the participation of your users, you have a lot of great information to build on. Without them, how can you understand the ultimate purpose of your website?

    Be Involved in the Development Process

    Some new clients come to us with many assumptions. One of them is that we can work from start to finish with only a set of design concepts and a wish list. That would be nice. And flattering, even. But it never leads to happiness. That’s why a good web development team is going to dive into an extensive discovery phase. Every piece of information, forwards and backwards, is valuable.
     
    Web design projects, however, are evolving things. There is a clear path for the team to follow, but new discoveries will occur along the way. Ongoing decisions will pop up and the direction may change here and there. This means that consistent communication is key to the success of your project. Timely and insightful feedback will help your team stay on track with your vision. As a result, you’re going to be more pleased with the work they produce.

    Choose a Vendor Based on ROI

    There will be many proposals that come your way (you lucky duck). But, as tempting as it may be, you don’t want to choose the one that looks too good to be true. Because it is too good to be true. The lowest investment? The fastest delivery time? Can we all be honest with each other, here? And do these things really matter?
     
    Successful clients make their decisions based on different criteria. What matters to them is the returns they expect to reap from the project. It’s more important to pay attention to results. Minor differences in your short-term budget do not have the same long-term affects. Expenses and deadlines matter, of course. But, not as much as the quality of work you’ll receive in return.

    Want to Make Sense of the Complex Web Development Process?

    At Atlantic BT, we’re not fans of bombarding clients with technical jargon and computer gobbledygook. We help our clients find real-world answers to the questions and challenges they face. If you’re considering building or overhauling a large website, there is a way to make it easier. Schedule a free consultation with our team. We’ll be happy to address the issues that are on your mind. Even better, we’ll give you some customized recommendations to move forward with. That’s how we roll.

     

  • 3 Reasons to Fulfill the Destiny of Your Website and CRM System

    Does your organization use a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system? One like Salesforce, for example? If so, you may be wondering whether it’s worth it to integrate that platform with your new website.

    Doing so does add to the technical complexity of your web development project. It also ties you to the software you’re already using. But, let’s assume you don’t have any immediate plans to change to a different CRM. If that’s the case, it’s a good idea to use as many tools as you can on your new website. They can be as intricate as a custom app that integrates contact data with website forms. Or they could be as simple as a plug-in. Whatever elevates your website, you should use.

    You can do some of the same things without coding your website to connect to the CRM. But, it’s smarter to make them work together. Here are three of the biggest reasons why.

    #1 Easily Maintain a Single Contact Management Solution

    Your website can help you gather new customers and contacts. It can also help you to further relationships you already have with those in your network. You could keep them organized in separate lists or databases. Or, you could maintain a single CRM solution.
     
    If you’re going to war, one versus many isn’t an ideal situation (unless you’re Jon Snow). In this case, one solution is all you need and far less work. It’s easier and more cost-effective to maintain. Sure, it’s possible to translate contacts from one platform to another. But, there are better ways to spend your time. Connecting your CRM to your website allows data to move from Point A to Point B with ease. No extra, unnecessary steps involved.

    #2 Better Data Accuracy for Contacts and Customers

    Moving customer contact data between different platforms opens the door to many problems. Beyond draining time and resources, it also invites errors into the process. Phone numbers and email addresses are being typed or converted from one kind of entry to another. Issues can and will arise, no matter how careful you are.
     
    By turning your website and CRM platform into one entity, you make all your data more accurate. That has real-world implications. This can be especially helpful to sales reps or customer service personnel. They often need up-to-date details of prior interactions at their fingertips. Combining your website and CRM platform makes providing that sales tool possible. You can adjust your CRM records in real-time. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about losing conversions or missing time-sensitive opportunities. You can cross that stress right off your list.

    #3 More Revenue for Your Organization

    If you are already using Salesforce or another CRM, it’s because you want to gain revenue and save money. Your website should contribute to these goals rather than pull you away from them.
     
    A strong CRM system will help you with a wide variety of tasks. You’ll be able to identify more sales opportunities. Relationships with existing clients and customers will have room to grow. And you’ll close more business at higher margins. You can use parts of your website as an extension of the CRM software. This allows for better data and stronger reporting. The end result will be more revenue for your company or organization. This makes both your website and your CRM system more valuable. United as one, they are stronger than they would be as independent entities.

    Get More From Your Website and Your CRM

    The website/CRM relationship is a special thing. Getting access to real-time information in a more usable format is the real beauty of it all. Isn’t that what good web development is all about? Of course it is. Are you looking to make your organization more efficient, online and off? Contact the web design and programming team at Atlantic BT today. See how we can help.