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We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: every great business needs a solid web presence to back it up. It doesn’t matter if you are a toy manufacturer from Kentucky or a sales and marketing company from California—a great website can help you stand apart from the competition and instill trust in your current customers (and hopefully) bring in more customers.
Looking internally at ourselves and the way we presented our flagship product—American Lifestyle magazine—to our online audience, we noticed a disconnect. The quality of our print product is the hallmark of our client’s success with it, and what drives the core of their marketing.
And while it has always been an anchor for incredible content, the presentation of americanlifestylemag.com was not delivering on our promise to our customers—so we made a few changes.
If you’ve paid a visit to our website in the last month, you’ll notice that nearly everything, from our imagery to our search functionality, is updated for an enjoyable user experience. And as we encourage our clients to utilize their American Lifestyle magazine to the fullest—as a focal point of communication between you and your client base—we encourage you to think of the website the same way.
But how can you use the website as another arm of your marketing? We’ve outlined a few of the most important features of the new and improved site that you should be using as an extension of your magazine (and for your own enjoyment)!
Sharing the Content
If you follow along with any of our webinars, Above the Noise videos, and other tools, you know that a solid web presence is imperative, and this doesn’t just mean posting about your business. Of course, it’s important to keep your clients and prospects informed, but at the expense of integrating your personality?
The 80-20 rule insists that as much as 80 percent of your social media presence should be personal—meaning non-business-related images, updates, and other content that is still relevant to your clients, but not necessarily in your field of interest. One of the most pertinent things you can share is lifestyle content, which American Lifestyle delivers in spades.
Who doesn’t love trying out new recipes, DIY projects, or daydreaming about an incredible travel adventure? Seeing your name in their timeline, attached to a recipe they’ve bookmarked or an organization tip they want to utilize, is one more way to ensure your clients don’t forget you.
One Word: Video
We live in a visual world, and for better or worse, people are much more inclined to watch a one-minute video than they are to read three paragraphs of text. Almost all of the incredible recipes and crafts that appear in American Lifestyle magazine’s print edition are followed up with an equally powerful video tutorial—a total game-changer for following up with your clients.
If you know a client is a fan of chocolate, you can share with them a chocolate-cherry bread recipe video, or if they’re sports fans, a peek into the history of football, along with a message to thank them for their continued business with you. They’ll love that you took an extra step in remembering their interests, and will be even more inclined to use your services again or refer you to someone else they know.
Optimized for You
One of the only downsides to sharing something on social media is that it can get lost in the shuffle of other posts, videos, images, etc. But taking a que from one of the most popular sites on the web—Pinterest—you can now favorite your most-loved posts from our website to view later, or to remind yourself to share with clients when they will be most relevant.
For example, if you’ve come across a great mint milkshake recipe you want to share for St. Patrick’s Day, favorite the post, and it will appear in your “likes.” Anytime you want to reference the post or share it, it will be waiting for you.
In addition to the ability to like your favorite posts, an improved search functionality allows for a much more fluid user experience. Hungry for pizza? Interested in vacationing in Seattle? Our updated site presents all content in a highly-accessible format. You can now choose from six main categories: celebrate, bites, create, discover, culture, and home—each with their own subcategories and areas of interest.
Under the celebrate tab, you will find everything you need to make the most of the upcoming season and holidays. If spring is right around the corner, here you’ll find plenty of crafts, recipes, and tips that are reflective of any season.
From cheesy dips to gluten-free weeknight meals, you’ll find hundreds of recipes for every palate in our bites section, plus recipe videos so you can cook along with us.
If you fancy yourself a DIY connoisseur, you’ll be pleased to know that our create tab is loaded with easy crafts, home improvement projects, and even kids-themed creations to keep them busy.
Travel is a huge part of our publication, and always a great topic of conversation to get the ball rolling with clients. In the discover tab, you can explore hidden gems you’ve never heard of, plus brainstorm places for your next big adventure.
If you’re interested in making a lifestyle shift, perhaps to live more eco-friendly, adopt healthier habits, or be a better pet parent, you’ll find plenty of tips and tricks for living well under the culture tab.
One of our most popular topics is real estate and home-related content, which you’ll find under the home tab. Here you’ll find buying and selling tips, organization hacks, and cleaning solutions for every lifestyle.
A pleasant user experience is paramount for a website, and after months of thinking and creating, the new americanlifestylemag.com is truly optimized for you, the user, and your clients. It is the perfect complement to the print marketing tool you already know and love, and an incredible resource you should be maximizing to make the most of your client outreach.
