5 Lazy Mistakes You’re Making with Your Business Website and Social Media and How To Fix Them Now

DIGITAL MARKETING BUSINESS TIPS

If you’re anything like me, you are a Black woman running a business website with little to no staff. You’re a solopreneur!

It can be very overwhelming, time consuming, and tedious but it can also be done successfully and there are no excuses for not getting the job done or having a professional business website and social media presence.

Below are five big mistakes I see often on business websites and what you should do to fix them.

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Update Social Media At Least Once A Week

Many of you have beautiful professional websites but you either aren’t on social media (which is not recommended if you want to build an audience and attract new customers. Furthermore, why have a website if you aren’t going to utilize social media?) or you aren’t updating your social media often enough.

You first want to determine which social media channel you are getting the most traffic from and keep your focus there. You don’t need to be on all social media but it doesn’t hurt if you are.

Idea: Promote your product or service on social media using a hashtag like #MusicMonday, if you’re a music artist or #fashion, if you’re a fashion brand, etc.

Search what’s currently trending on each social media channel and if you see a hashtag relevant to your brand, use it!

Because you’re a Black business owner you can also use hashtags like: #BuyFromABlackWoman, #Blackpreneur, and #ShopBlack.

Many people say they don’t have the time to update their social media and I call bullshit. You can’t post once a week? Besides, it only takes a few minutes. Less than that if you become a pro.

But, of course you have the time. It’s your business! You have to make the time and stop making excuses.

You can use tools like Buffer to schedule content weekly or monthly.

Tumblr is Not A Business Website

Tumblr is a social media channel that you can use in addition to your business website but it should not be your main business home.

Having a self-hosted website is best when selling products, services, or even blogging. You always want to direct people to your own piece of online real estate.

Why should Tumblr, Instagram, or Facebook get all your traffic?

Yearly costs of having your own .com or .net are very affordable and easier to set up than you may think.

I use bluehost.com along with WordPress.

Full disclosure: I am a Bluehost affiliate.

Update Your Blog At Least Once A Week

Many of you have blogs on your websites but you don’t update them for months. It’s better to just get rid of it if you aren’t going to update it often.

It’s a turn off for visitors to see only one post in your blog, from a year ago!

The next time you are thinking about making a long post or rant on social media like Facebook, rethink it and post it on your business blog instead. Do make sure what you post is relevant to your brand.

If it’s not, you may want to consider adding a personal section to your blog. It’s been said that people connect to stories and the person behind a brand, so this can be another way to gain new customers and increase your digital footprint.

If you’re having trouble with content ideas use UberSuggest, Build My Content, or ezinearticles.com.

Pro Tip: Incentivize people to share your blog content by adding the Sharpay multi-share button to your blog posts and website pages. Each time anyone shares a post from your blog they will earn blockchain rewards and so can you!

Dead Links Are A Bad Look

I’ve noticed that the social media links are dead on many websites I visit. Meaning that when I click on them there is not a social media account connected.

Why have an Instagram or Twitter button on your website if you don’t have an account? Another turn off for visitors!

These links also often take me away from your business. Clickable links should open in another window or tab. They should never take a potential customer away from your site.

Click any of the links in this article and it should open in another tab while the window to this website stays open. If it doesn’t, please let me know in the comments.

Business Website Down

Black Girls Allowed held a giveaway for our premium promotion services recently and a few of the entrants have websites that are currently offline.

Those women not only missed an opportunity to have their business featured but if visitors go to your website and it’s down you’re missing potential new customers who may never search for you again.

Has your business shut down permanently?

If the shutdown is temporary, make sure to announce it on your social media channels or mailing list and set up a short term landing page on your website with a message explaining why the site is down and when it will be live again.

Bonus Tip!

Check your email and social media account messages often and respond immediately. You’re missing out on opportunities! How do I know?

A winner of our recent premium promotional package giveaway has not claimed her prize yet. It’s been over a week!

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To see these tips in action, have a look around our website and follow Black Girls Allowed on Twitter.

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https://dangerouslee.biz/promotion-machine/

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