There are many reasons why a company might need strategic web consulting. For example, the need to increase organic traffic, increase website authority and authority, improve search engine ranking, make more sales, acquire leads, and more.
We of SHM Studio we have been in the business of consulting for sites and digital strategies for years. We want our work to become the basis for our clients' success, maximizing the cost/benefit ratio and ensuring a serious web presence with a long-term perspective.
In this article, we want to give a comprehensive overview of the world of web consulting, as well as talk about what changes between turning to experienced professionals in the field and do-it-yourself.
The current landscape of web consulting
In today's dynamic digital ecosystem, web consulting has become an indispensable necessity for many businesses. This broad type of services includes areas as varied as the SEO consulting, the digital consulting and much more. In other words, every aspect of your online presence can be refined for better results.
Most companies these days are aware that the assistance of experts in web design and online marketing is critical to the success of a certain type of business. This is not surprising, considering that the evolution of technology has increased the importance of targeted strategies. Without such a framework, your online presence can be as solid as a house of cards during a hurricane.
Why you would need strategic web consulting
This is a very interesting question that deserves to be explored. The simple answer is to design, build and improve your brand's digital presence. Going deeper into the question, a web consultancy is always carried out by experienced professionals in the field, who help the entrepreneur regain an overview of their project.
Whether it is for building websites from scratch, for graphics, for performance optimization or for place a website on search engines, the gaze of a highly qualified external consultant such as those of SHM Studio is critical in the modern digital marketplace.
To notice any problems, however, requires experience and insight. Some warnings, however, are indicative of the need for a decisive change of course.
Signs indicating the need for an expert
When your business seems to be at a standstill, and you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, it may be time to rely on the web consulting. Here are some signs that clearly indicate the need to call an expert.
- Stagnating online sales: have you noticed that the sales of your e-commerce Are they no longer growing? This could be a symptom of a lack of an effective strategy. Web analysis can provide a clear picture of the causes of this resistance.
- Low engagement on social media: Continuing to publish content but getting little feedback can be frustrating. Maybe it's time for a social media consultation to review your strategy. Remember, not everyone likes kittens - or do they?
- Ineffective online marketing strategy: If you are continuing to invest capital in online campaigns that do not bring deserving results? You may need a professional evaluation.
Targeted web analysis can be helpful in identifying critical areas. Problems such as long loading times or poor user experience They go unnoticed until an expert intervenes.
Investing in the web consulting can make the difference between a digital standoff and a real online growth. An experienced eye can turn those numbers of Google Analytics into gold, or at least into something that shines brighter. But what does a web consultant look at when they first approach your business?
What exactly does a web consultancy include?
Imagine getting lost inside a sandstorm. Web consultants are the ones who rescue you and lead you safely to your destination:
- Web Marketing Consulting: "It's not just advertising, it's art." Professional help in understanding the market, identifying the right target audience and creating an effective action plan.
- SEO consulting: Optimize your visibility on search engines. This is to make your business the first thought in users' minds when they search for similar products or services.
- Digital Consulting: site design, social media management, e-mail marketing, and more. Think of it as a mix between an online branding guru and a digital traffic wizard.
In an era when technology is constantly evolving, the real power lies in strategic planning and skillful implementation.
This is what we at SHM Studio we always explain to our clients. As tempting as it may be to embark on a do-it-yourself adventure, knowing the right time to rely on an expert can make the difference between glittering success and an ongoing struggle to survive in the digital world.
The approach of the external web consultant: the example of SHM Studio
There is no one-size-fits-all strategy, which is precisely why web consulting proves so important. In fact, the role of the consultant is precisely to find the right strategy based on the client's specific needs.
How a web consultant works
The counselor's work is divided into steps:
- the first step is an analysis of the current online marketing strategy and the results achieved in the medium to long term. What conversion rate is being achieved with the current strategy? Is it yielding results? Is the cost-benefit ratio adequate and sistenable?
- The external consultant also conducts a thorough analysis of competitors. What we focus on will be their traffic, the results achieved, the differences in strategies that exist, the difference in keywords used, and so on;
- We then move on to a specific audit of the website, from the actions taken in social media (how many interactions, how much money spent on sponsorships, etc.) and digital and non-digital marketing campaigns,
- Finally, it will be up to the external consultant to draft a strategy based on clear and achievable goals. Depending on the current state of affairs, the goals will be more or less achievable, more or less ambitious.
All data analysis work is conducted in close contact with the client. The latter will have continuous status reports until goals to be achieved are defined. The goals (which can be anything from improved search engine rankings to increased user conversion) must be clear, defined and measurable as the work progresses.
We of SHM Studio, in particular, we are in charge of creating a client-specific strategy that must be aligned with the initial business idea, and that should involve all aspects of the company's digital marketing, from the website to social, from the classified ads to customer service. The consultants' practical interventions will also touch on the website itself. In fact, the user experience-that is, how easy the site is to navigate and how fast it loads-is critical to attracting new users and convincing them to read our proposals.
Cost-effectiveness in strategic web consulting
Before we move on to talk about what a strategic web consultancy could bring to your business, we'd like to clarify the issue of the cost/benefit ratios. First of all, as we had already explained in a previous article on the quotes for a website, the advice is to be wary of the overly low and advantageous prices you might find online: creating, managing and updating a digital business is a real investment on the part of the entrepreneur, and so it would not be a good move to go cheap.
The important thing to keep in mind is that consultancies for different websites have different prices based, above all, on the different starting point, but this is not how the investment should be calculated. For example, a specialized web consultancy might also have a significant cost, but "cost little" in relation to the results that will be obtained at the end of the project. In short, if the initial consulting investment is high, the ROI (return on investment) could be better.
Much also depends on the type of market in which you wish to act: in an uncompetitive industry, the cost of consulting and all strategic implementation will be lower than in a very crowded and already saturated market in which to enter.
Finally, the cost of consulting can also vary depending on the type of company that requires it. A startup, for example, will need the entire strategic and operational marketing plan. Conversely, an established company may need site optimization and a communications plan.
The do-it-yourself perspective
Manage your web project in-house or use specialized web consultancies. This is the choice that more and more companies are required to make. Although the do-it-yourself approach may seem tempting to reduce costs, it can quickly become complex and time-consuming.
Soon we will move on to list the advantages of choosing a specialized web consultancy. But now, we want to continue our discussion by telling you about cases in which do-it-yourself might be an eligible choice.
When to opt for do-it-yourself?
The do-it-yourself can be an ideal choice for anyone at the beginning of the journey in the digital world. Especially, if you have basic technical skills and a good amount of free time. This approach is often suitable for projects that do not require immediate scalability or for companies with limited budgets. Think, for example, of a blog staff, a small craft business, or a freelance project. These jobs do not require complex e-commerce systems, and could be managed independently.
Facts and figures underscore how the number of small business owners choosing to manage their own websites is steadily growing. It must be admitted that the availability of easy-to-use website builders and marketing tools has contributed to this growing trend. However, it is critical to keep in mind the inherent limitations of a do-it-yourself approach.
While you can certainly try your hand at basic activities, challenges may arise when it comes to more complex aspects such as the consulting SEO or social media consulting. Without the necessary experience in these areas, you could risk compromising the online growth Of your brand.
In addition, mismanagement of your website or online profile can damage your reputation. For example, a website that does not adhere to user experience principles could frustrate visitors and deter them from interacting further with your brand. In a world where digital is the norm, being invisible online is worse than being forgotten, and a little self-deprecation may not be enough to lift the fortunes of your project.
What results can you expect with web consulting from SHM Studio.
An experienced marketing and communications agency such as SHM Studio always ensures that the results obtained are shared on an ongoing basis, while also providing ongoing support over time. The concrete results you can expect from strategic web consulting include several key aspects that can significantly improve your online presence and business performance.
Significant increase in site traffic
This is one of the first goals of strategic web consulting. All strategies adopted (SEO optimization, marketing campaigns, social networking) aim to increase organic traffic, that is, the number of visitors to the website. In this way, new users will be more likely to turn into customers;
Increased conversion rate
Through analytical work and optimization of landing pages and sales funnels, one of the most desired results is improved conversion rates. This means that a greater percentage of users will perform an action we want them to take, such as making a purchase on the site, signing up for the newsletter or even simply asking for information;
Definition of brand identity continues over time
The strengthening of the brand identity is critical to the success of a digital business. Having a clear and defined self-narrative will help audiences empathize more with the company, it will be better known and therefore attract more users. Once the company's visual identity is clarified once and for all, it will also be easier to maintain it independently over time;
Optimization of resources
One of the main tasks of a web consultant is to optimize marketing costs, identifying inefficient campaigns and thus improving ROI. This translates into not wasting money. Every euro spent on every single action will go to contribute to the growth of the company, without unnecessary waste
Training of corporate personnel
A web consultant also provides support for the day-to-day operations of the company. In fact, one will complement the normal work with new marketing and communication strategies. In this way, the company will know how to move with more autonomy in the medium to long term.
Between a successful project and a flop is web consulting
In the vast and complex landscape of modern digital business, the importance of a strong online presence is still underestimated. While do-it-yourself may seem like an attractive (and cost-effective) option, the web consulting offer the benefit of specialized support that can make the difference between an average functioning website and one that sets a new standard in the industry.
Following market trends, users assess the credibility of a company based on the design of the website. This finding underscores how necessary it is to have an optimal user experience, often the result of careful web design consultancy. Also thesearch engine optimization is one the important leverage to generate growth online. This further highlights the importance of having experts in the seo consulting.
What really matters is to evaluate the digital strategy long term of your company. If the project is complex, resources limited and goals ambitious, rely on the consultants Is the right choice. Let's not forget that the risks of improvising can far outweigh the initial savings.
Don't let your company become the next example of "brilliant idea without execution." Analyze your needs carefully and choose wisely. Sometimes, calling in an expert is not only the best choice, but the only sensible option.
Strategic web consulting is therefore essential for all those companies that want to jump into the digital market, but also for those realities that, despite being on the web, are not achieving the desired results. With over 10 years of experience in the field, we at SHM Studio we can provide all kinds of support you need to make your business explode. Contact us and tell us about your project, we look forward to turning your ideas into something wonderful.
