A website is just one touchpoint for a business! However, it’s one of the most important touchpoints because it not only serves as your digital home, it also serves as a place where you can start the client journey. For this reason, it’s super important that you carefully think about what systems and tools your business needs in order to thrive. Then consider how those systems can connect to your website through integration to make for a seamless client experience while also enhancing the efficiency of your business.
By adding integrations to your website, you remove the extra steps or manpower required to complete a certain action. This works for both the user and your team. From the external perspective, having integrations is nice for the user because things tend to be easier to comprehend. Your content seems to be more centralized and professional. On the other hand, internally, website integrations keeps everything streamlined, organized, and eliminates human error. In addition, integration systems can reduce overall administration and overhead for your business. Integrations make things simple for users and you!
Here are some examples of website integrations that can make a big difference:
- Email Marketing is super important and an easy way to engage with your customers and create brand awareness. If you’re looking to incorporate e-mail marketing, I recommend software such as Mailchimp, Flodesk, and Klaviyo. Mailchimp is great for beginners because they have simple templates and it’s extremely easy to navigate. It’s also cost effective if you’re looking to save your coins. Flodesk is super sleek and their designs are gorgeous. You can embed forms and use landing pages to engage customers to opt-in for free, valuable content. Klaviyo is great for e-commerce businesses looking to grow their contact lists and have real-time data. Each platform has their unique set of features, so you have to find out what works best for you!
- Another must-have integration is an online appointment scheduling system. It simply eliminates the back-and-forth emails requesting availability. A good scheduling tool can make client interactions easier, increase customer engagement, and optimize user experience. My personal favorites are Acuity Scheduling and Calendly. Both are great because of the real-time availability and synchronization with other calendar platforms like Google Calendar and Outlook. Best of all, people can only book the time slots you open!
- The last integration you want to think about is a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool. This is definitely important for service providers who have a lot of customer interaction. Neither of you want to feel overwhelmed or let something slip your mind so softwares such as Dubsado, 17hats, and Honeybook are great if you need to keep track of client communication, projects, and etc. Most of the platforms also offer additional features to make your processes more efficient and seamless. CRMs are often integrated to your website via contact forms and such.
After discovering the power of integration, I hope that you can understand just how impactful it can be for your business. Now it’s time to write out your client experience, analyze your current website, and look for areas of overlap. More than likely those areas with duplicative information can be replaced or eliminated with website integration! Have questions or unsure of whether your website is working for you? Contact me now to schedule a brand audit.
