Of course, you have to be able to see your traffic stats before you can improve them.  Google Analytics is an extremely helpful and free service that gives you up-to-date information concerning your site’s traffic.  You can monitor the number of monthly page views, unique visitors, and even the most popular pages on your site.  In order to really understand Google Analytics and take advantage of all it can do, contact us.  We at Onsearch can break down the relevant information for you, establishing goals and purchasing funnels based on your analytics.  With that said, here are five ways to get more eyes on your website.

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – A recent Cornell study revealed that the top 3 results on any given Google search get 79% of the clicks.  When someone searches Google for the best place to get a real estate loan in your city, you want your name to be at the top the list.  A good SEO strategy can help.  For example, at Onsearch we determine the most popular keywords people use when searching for banking products and services in your area.  Then we optimize your site structure and content and design and execute an online public relations strategy based on those keywords.  The result?  Future Google users will find your company’s name the next time they search.

2. Search Engine Marketing (SEM) or Pay-per-Click Advertising (PPC) – SEM or PPC strategies include paid search engine advertising and contextual placement such as the Google Adwords program to ensure that search engines always promote your site.  SEM strategies give you the opportunity to get 100% of the search engine results for a query that’s relevant to your bank.

3. E-mail marketing – Think about your existing customers.  Does your bank have information that could help them decide to open another account or acquire other services from you (i.e. a checking account customer that opens a credit card or acquires a home loan?). Using an e-mail marketing service to send relevant links as a cross-selling tool is a great way to get existing customers excited about a new product or service. Any bank or financial services institution should leverage email in its marketing mix to:

A. Ensure a consistent customer experience with the bank across different touch points.

B. Support account managers communication efforts across the customer sale cycle.

Also, banks should look to transition email marketing efforts from broadcast email campaigns (what most companies do) to a set of high-value programs that foster superior multi-channel customer relationships through a fully automated (trigger based) and/or semi-automated delivery mechanism (i.e. received a customized invitation to enroll to online banking when they open an account)

4. A corporate blog – A regularly updated blog gives users a reason to return to your site often and learn about other solutions or services your bank provides.  It also generates new content consistently, which is a factor Google takes into account when ranking your site on a given search.

5. A persuasive web presence. A web presence that properly conveys your values and sells your services. You may have a pretty website design, but does it lead to more sales?  Your website can be a powerful tool for your bank if you adopt a conversion strategy.  Here are some of the factors Onsearch considers when redesigning a website.

Onsearch Interactive can increase traffic to your bank’s website and convert this traffic into potential customers by incorporating a comprehensive mix of all five solutions described.  We take pride in being able to make your website the most popular in its class. Contact us today to learn more.



If you or your employees are bogged down with manual data management, spend days or weeks to come up with a report, or have systems in place that aren’t up to today’s security standards, your problems could be answered by implementing today’s latest software. With the right software, you can:

• Reduce operational costs
• Improve employees’ productivity
• Boost customer satisfaction
• Gain competitive advantages
• Streamline business processes

In other words, using the right software solutions is kind of like having an employee that works around the clock to make your business better. It’s not as cool as having your own robot, but it’s pretty darn close.

As a Microsoft Certified Partner, we’ve seen time after time how effective software can be. And because we create customized software for our clients, we also understand that each business has its own unique needs when it comes to software development. So let’s take a look at a few specific modern day examples to see how the right software can boost your business.

Case One: Revamping Outdated Data Management Systems
Problem: Employees at USB, a global financial services firm, spent days and weeks to create key management reports—all because they were using an outdated manual process to manage their data.

Solution: By implementing SQL 2005 with reporting services, we automated 10+ customized reports based on management requirements, which helped the company:

• Free up resources for higher value activities
• Significantly improve process time
• Reduce data entry errors

Case Two: Optimizing CRM
Problem: Two separate banks, Doral Bank & First Bank, were using CRM processes using Access and Excel, which lacked security/compliance controls, gave management a lack of visibility and control, had a risk of loss/theft of data, and used antiquated paper-based and manual processes that required long reporting cycles.

Solution: We developed a customized CRM for both clients that allowed them to better manage accounts, leads & opportunities and marketing campaigns. We provided them with a Business Intelligence Dashboard, which gave them valuable insight into performance by branch, employees, forecasting and Leads vs. Originations vs. Closing. This achieved the following for our clients:

• Gave management full visibility and compliance control
• Eliminated paper based processes
• Moved employees to more value added activities
• Created a higher quality and updated database

Case Three: Reducing Expensive Operational Costs
Problem: Centennial Wireless, one of the leading providers of wireless phone service in Puerto Rico, was struggling to keep call center costs under budget. Upon analysis of their system, we discovered that they lacked customer self-service options, they had increasing customer service issues due to long waits and worked with outdated paper based processes.

Solution: Through a combination of SQL 2005, Sharepoint Server 2007 and .NET Framework, we developed a 24/7 self service customer portal that included valuable features such as e-billing, online payments and FAQs, which resulted in:

• Reduced cost per call from $7 to $4 for a +40% cost reduction
• Reduced paper based billing by 20%
• Reduced paper based payments by 33%
• Increased customer satisfaction
• Increased revenues by allowing customers to add additional features

Want to learn more about how software can supercharge your company’s productivity and ensure your business isn’t left in the past? Contact us today to find out how we can put software to work for your business.

A recent report* found that only 4% of banking institutions said they controlled most of the social media conversations about their own brands. And only 25% utilized social media to connect with customers. These numbers are surprisingly low, seeing as there are 50 million daily Twitter users and 800 million active Facebook users.

So how can banks join in on this valuable marketing tool? Here are our top tips on how banks can master social media marketing.

Just Have a Presence
As the statistics above illustrate, most banks ignore the value of social media marketing. So simply having a presence on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, or whatever social media site is relevant for your company means you are one step ahead of the game.

With customers increasingly searching for and interacting with their favorite brands on social media, make sure your bank is represented with branded, customized pages.

Get Personal
It is “social” media after all, so utilize this valuable tool as a way to truly connect with your customers. Following advice from Facebook’s own Best Practices Guide, you can do so with your social media strategy by:

• Developing an authentic personality and voice
• Engaging your customers and encouraging their participation
• Reminding your customers that you are there to communicate with them and
• Rewarding your customers with special promotions or exclusive information

Respond to Customers
Social media is an increasingly popular way for customers to reach out to – and sometimes complain about— businesses. So it’s important to make monitoring your social media accounts a regular part of your customer communications.

Not only will you be providing excellent customer service, but you’ll be able to change a potentially negative situation into a positive one. Statistics show that businesses can lose 30 customers for every one negative post on social media, according to a survey by Convergys Corp. But on the other hand, you should be able to gain 30 customers for every positive one.

Monitor Your Progress
As with any marketing campaign, it’s important to track the impact of your social media strategy to see what’s working. Following the right metrics can help you discover if your social media strategy is promoting your brand growth, increasing traffic to your website, or helping increase your sales.

For example, you can track the traffic impact of your Twitter, Facebook and Google+ accounts using Google Analytics. Or you can track online mentions of your company in blogs and social media sites directly into your CRM system.

Pay Attention
Social media may soon play an important role in marketing strategies and lending decisions for financial institutions, so in order to master social media marketing, pay attention to this trend. Experts suggest that banks could analyze information posted by their customers (or potential customers) on social media sites to determine a customer’s eligibility for, say, a loan – similar to the way employers vet potential employees.  Or, they could keep tabs on certain life events, such as getting married or having a new baby, in order to market relevant products or services to their customers.

If social media still seems like a foreign concept, don’t worry! OSI is here to help. Contact us to see how we can help you launch a successful Social Media Marketing campaign.

*Report: “Social Media: Catching Up with the Banks,” by MHP Communications, a London-based public relations firm. The report was based on an August 2011 survey of chief publicity managers at 35 global retail and investment banks.

Resolution 1: Work Smarter
When most people think of success, they immediately assume they must work harder to achieve it. But today’s technology allows us to obtain the same results by working smarter, not harder. For example, you can improve productivity with Microsoft SharePoint, a solution that allows your entire office to collaborate and complete projects from a single platform. Or you can save time with an Enterprise Search system, which can help you quickly and easily find people, files, websites, expertise, and content in business applications.

Resolution 2: Keep Up With the Latest Trends
This year, resolve to not let your business fall into obsolescence. Stay relevant and competitive in your field by keeping up with the latest business and marketing trends. Of course you’ll want to focus on those that are proven to be effective for your industry, but you can start by making your website mobile-friendly, launching a social media marketing campaign, or implementing the latest and greatest software to boost your business.

Resolution 3: Boost Your Web Presence
When it comes to your business image, a simple Google search for your company can paint a not-so-pretty picture for your potential clients. That’s why it’s important to consider your online presence. Does your website properly convey your expertise?  Does your company even have an online presence? Ensure a more successful year by boosting your web presence. Depending on your goals, this could be as simple as revamping your LinkedIn profile to as in-depth as redesigning your entire website.

Resolution 4: Improve Customer Relations
The best customer is a happy customer. But most businesses wait until an issue arises before they actually worry about whether their customers are happy or not. This year, resolve to take a proactive approach to customer satisfaction. You can get pretty creative with this, but a couple ideas include interacting with your customers on social media or implementing an email marketing integration system that automatically sends welcome emails and happy birthday messages.

Resolution 5: Promote Your Business
Many business owners make the mistake of waiting for customers to come to them. Others forget that promotion is an on-going process. This year, be your own advocate and make an extra effort to promote your business. Whether it’s handing out business cards at your next networking event or implementing a Search Engine Marketing strategy, spending a little extra time and effort to promote your business will pay off big in the long run.

What goals have you set for your business in 2012? Do you have a New Year’s Resolution for your company? Please share in the comments below. And remember, OSI is always here to help you succeed, now and throughout the New Year. Contact us today to find out how we can help you set and meet your business goals for 2012.

Building and maintaining relationships with your clients takes time and effort. There are some correspondences that simply must be done in person. Other times, a simple email can go a long way.  But how can you possibly remember details like birthdays or reminders to enroll in a new program for all of your customers? By putting it on autopilot.

At OSI, we specialize in helping companies acquire new customers, reduce operational costs, and increase productivity through the use of technology. In this spirit, we’ve created a custom email marketing integration system (EMIS) for banks to automatically send important customer communications such as:

• Welcome emails for new clients
• Invitations to enroll in services, such as online banking
• Personal notes for birthdays and anniversaries

Not only will an EMIS help you build better relationships, but it can also help increase website traffic and build brand awareness – which according to MarketingSherpa’s 2011 Email Marketing Benchmark Report are two of the top objectives of an email marketing campaign.

“Invitation to Enroll in Online Banking” Sample Email

Here’s how it works:

• Our custom EMIS application connects your CRM system with your email platform.
• You determine when and how often your customers receive an email. For example, you can automatically send a welcome email every time a new customer is created in your CRM or send out a happy anniversary email one year after each new account is created.
• Your customers automatically receive timely and relevant emails, without any additional effort required by you or your employees.

Are you ready to build better relationships with your clients without lifting a finger? Contact us today to learn more about how an EMIS can improve your email marketing campaigns and put your customer correspondences on autopilot.

Common sense would say that if SEO is the most effective lead gen tool, then businesses would make it their primary online marketing focus. But this isn’t quite the case. The majority of businesses surveyed say they plan to increase their social media marketing budgets in 2012, ahead of the more effective marketing strategies of SEO and PPC.

As these infographics indicate, the biggest marketing mistake of 2012 is that more businesses will be spending more money on less effective marketing strategies. So how can you avoid making these same mistakes? By shifting your 2012 priorities to SEO.

What is SEO?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of planned and organized implementation of various methods to accomplish high rankings in major search engines like Google, Yahoo! Search and Bing. Driving relevant and targeted traffic to a website is the key to success for an online business, and as this new survey shows, it can be even more effective than PPC campaigns and Social Media Marketing.

At Onsearch Interactive, we understand all aspects of Internet marketing, including PPC and Social Media, and work to create comprehensive online marketing strategies for our clients. But we’ve also earned a reputation of an SEO company in Miami that consistently delivers the best SEO Miami services, because we understand just how important SEO is for any company.

What Makes SEO so Effective?
Dollar for dollar, SEO has the greatest ROI of all marketing strategies. Being one of the top SEO Companies in Miami, we’ve seen first hand how it helps online businesses:

• Beat Out the Competition: A SEO optimized website will make your business appear ahead of your competition in search engine rankings, giving you priority access over potential customers.
• Increase Sales: The goal of SEO is to increase visibility and create a higher traffic volume, which of course equates to higher conversions.
• Reach Targeted Traffic: An effective SEO campaign targets the terms that your customers will use to search for your business. It’s like putting up a billboard that is only visible to your potential customers.
• Save Money: Once you achieve the top positions, you will continue to reach targeted traffic—with limited extra investment. Plus, once implemented, SEO works around the clock to generate leads and attract potential customers.

Are you interested in learning more about SEO?
Interested in learning more about search engine optimization? First check out our top 5 tips for SEO and then contact us to ensure that your website reaches and maintains the top positions in search engines’ natural or organic results.

*  Survey by Webmarketing 123

By offering your customers the most streamlined, user-friendly ecommerce site possible you can improve the customer experience, increase conversions and encourage repeat customers. Outside of website design basics of having an attractive, uniquely branded and SEO optimized site, here are the top 5 elements needed to ensure your ecommerce site the most user-friendly it can be:

1. Clear and Concise Navigation: A clear and concise navigation is the number one element in creating a user-friendly ecommerce site. If your customers can’t find what they are looking for, there’s no way they’ll make it to the checkout page. But no matter how easy it is to navigate your site, you should still always also offer them the option of speaking to a real person.

In the example below, the home page of Chic Buggy’s, (a site we designed using Magento ecommerce software) features:

• A main navigation that clearly defines each type of product
• A customer service number displayed in the upper right hand corner of every page on the site

2. Streamlined Checkout: If a customer entered a brick and mortar store and saw a checkout line that wrapped around the store, chances are he or she would walk right out. Online it’s no different. A quick and easy checkout is an important element for any user-friendly ecommerce site. Streamline your checkout process with a single page checkout, or a 2-step checkout process consisting of a shipping page and a payment page.

3. Quality Hardware and Software: Powering your ecommerce site with the right hardware and software can boost your website’s load time—and prevent shopping cart abandonment. Because if your site is too slow, users can just as quickly open a new tab and shop at your competitors’ sites. This means making sure that your servers and Internet connection are fast and powerful enough to respond to every customer’s attempt to view your site. And it also means building your site with the right ecommerce software.

From Magento to Volusion to Paypal and Netsuite, there are a variety of options.  Wondering which one is best for you? Onsearch Interactive provides expert ecommerce consulting—so don’t hesitate to ask us!

4. Attractive Product Display: How you display your products, especially in a retail environment, can make or break your ecommerce site’s sales. Make your site as user friendly as possible by:

• presenting your products in a clean and organized manner
• offering high quality images of each product
• giving the option to enlarge each image for a better view.

In the example below, our client BoardBrokers clearly displays each of its products with a high quality image, the price, detailed product information, an option to view a larger image and a clear call to action.

5. Flexibility: Today’s consumer is savvy, smart and constantly changing. So it’s important to analyze your customers’ behavior and adapt your ecommerce site accordingly. To do so, it’s imperative to select an ecommerce software solution that is feature-rich and customizable according to the unique needs of your business and your customers.

Ecommerce software platforms such as Magento give you complete flexibility and control over the look, content, and functionality of your online store, so you can stay up to date with the changing needs of your customer base.

Get Started

Are you looking for ecommerce website design Miami?  Or do you want to find out if your existing ecommerce site is user-friendly enough? At Onsearch Interactive, we offer design, implementation, customization, and ecommerce development Miami including Magento, Volusion, Paypal, OSCommerce, Xcart, Netsuite, and more. Contact us today to find out how we can create a user-friendly ecommerce site for your business.

1. Before you start – It seems as though many banks jump on the blog bandwagon without first thinking of a strategy.  Banks should apply their usual pragmatic nature to their blogging efforts as well.  

• DO enlist multiple authors to give readers different perspectives
• DO create a posting schedule and stick to it
• DON’T wait until the day the post is due to think of a topic
• DON’T forget about the blog for a few weeks
• DO ask coworkers from every department for topic ideas
• DO establish a set of rules and regulations with your compliance department regarding blog topics

2. As you go – People usually don’t go out of their way to read advertisements.  If anything, they go out of their way to avoid them.  If you want people to visit your blog, be sure to offer them a valuable experience.

• DON’T treat your blog as a bank brochure
• DON’T only use your blog as a promotional tool
• DO put a spotlight on the positive ways your bank interacts with the community
• DO engage your readers with information that interests them
• DO offer a glimpse into the internal culture of your bank
• DO present your products and services in a way users can understand

3. In response to feedback – The goal for your blog is to create a conversation with others.  It may be uncomfortable at first, but banks must drop their guard and actually interact with users if they want their blog to be successful.

• DO respond to comments
• DON’T offer personal financial advice
• DON’T block negative comments
• DO respond to negative comments swiftly and helpfully
• DON’T think like a banker
• DO think like a reader

At Onsearch Interactive, we believe those last two points are the most important for bloggers in the banking industry.  Blogs can help destroy any negative preconceptions readers may have regarding banks and replace them through positive communication.  We can help you design a blogging strategy for your bank and facilitate the dialogue between you and your customers.  Contact us for more information.