4 extra ways to get ROI from your web-based projects

When you invest in your small business, making sure you get a solid ROI is always crucial. With web-based projects, you can take additional steps to ensure the benefits of those projects will be maximized.

Here are four ways (beyond the regular website tools) that can help enhance your web-based projects and ensure long-term success for your digital strategy.

1. Make your digital content more accessible

Consider using an automated transcription service to translate your audio or visual content into readable text for hearing-impaired consumers. This can help you reach a broader customer base by giving more people access to your content, products and services. ADA requirements in the US and accessibility rules in Canada can also apply to your site, so read through the regulations for your business, which could help protect you from lawsuits and costly legal issues.

When using an automated transcription service, you’ll want to limit background noise and utilize the highest quality audio to get the most accurate transcription. Using a service such as this will also allow your team to focus on other tasks, rather than filling up your schedule on this time-consuming process.

2. Hire creatively to help launch projects

When your business is growing, you may quickly need more staff. For web-based projects, you may be tempted to turn to part-time employees as a way to get help without having to shell out for benefits or bigger salaries. But when a part-time employee starts to work more often, especially when business picks up and project hours go well into overtime, it can be a tricky line to tread.

This is why many companies are hiring project-based help from gig apps instead. These part-time gig workers operate more like contract employees, but you can also find candidates on these apps who can fill permanent part-time positions, or even eventually full-time. This offers you a lot more flexibility, especially when project scope isn’t yet fully defined.

3. Turn to marketing pros to brand your business

Your web-based projects should also match your small business brand. Not sure what those standards are for your company? Then you might benefit from the services of a marketing professional who understand branding and how to tie that into your online presence.

Marketing consultant, Shane Barker, suggests that small businesses create a brand that sticks with customers and evokes strong emotions, and then ensure that brand flows through any online or social media presence. If that sounds too complicated to achieve alone, consider starting the search to hire a consultant instead.

4. Don’t overlook cybersecurity

Although you want people to know your business, it shouldn’t be because of a catastrophic data breach. Up to 60% of small businesses impacted by data breaches close up shop in less than a year after experiencing a major breach, and those that survive are left with thousands of dollars in recovery costs. So it is absolutely imperative that you protect any information that could be exposed to cyberattacks during your web-based improvements.

If you don’t have in-house IT expertise, one of the best ways to get help and assess your overall risk is to invest in cybersecurity consultant services. These experts can easily identify vulnerabilities that could leave your business open to an attack, help you create a strategic plan for preventing a breach, and save you valuable time in the process.

 

Any small business project that requires time and money, including web-based projects, needs to provide a healthy return to be worthwhile. By leaving some room in your budget to invest in the right help and resources, you can boost that ROI and take your business to the next level.

 

Up Next: 5 ways technology can help your small business grow

 

Featured image by Tyler Franta on Unsplash