Milwaukee Web Development

Signs Its Time To Upgrade Online Presence With Website Design Services

A strong online presence makes a huge difference in today’s competitive market. When a business’s website stops reflecting its values and quality, it may be time for a fresh start. Brew City Marketing in Milwaukee and the surrounding areas understand that change can be challenging for traditional business owners. Upgrading to modern website design services can open doors to new customers and create a better experience for visitors.

Outdated Design and Slow Performance

When a website looks old and does not load quickly, it can give potential customers the wrong impression. A site that uses outdated fonts, colors, and layouts may not connect well with today’s audience. Visitors might have a hard time finding important information or become frustrated if pages take too long to open. Many business owners see declining customer engagement when their website does not keep up with modern design trends. A clean and modern design can help communicate the quality of the business and build trust among online users.

Poor User Experience on Mobile Devices

More people search for services on smartphones and tablets than ever before. If a website is not optimized for mobile devices, it can lose many potential customers. Business owners may notice a drop in online interactions when visitors have trouble scrolling or reading content on their phones. An updated website design that is responsive to various devices helps provide a smooth browsing experience. This change not only attracts more customers but also boosts online reputation. Simple adjustments like readable text and easy-to-click buttons can make a big difference.

Falling Behind Competitors in Digital Marketing

When competitors invest in modern websites, their online presence stands out. Traditional business owners may find that their website no longer reflects the quality of their products or services when compared to the competition. A lack of search engine optimization features and modern navigation can hurt a business’s ranking on search engines. Improved website design services can bring features that help a website perform better in local searches. Modern sites often include user-friendly menus, clear calls to action, and better integration with social media. These features work together to increase visibility and drive more local traffic.

How Website Design Services Can Help Your Business

Upgrading a website goes beyond a simple facelift. Modern website design services add value by creating a structure that makes it easy for visitors to connect with your business. For example, businesses can see improved functionality with websites incorporating local search engine optimization and responsive layouts. A redesign can also include clear contact forms, customer testimonials, and service details that provide a clear picture of what your business offers. When the site presents information clearly and attractively, it builds trust and invites potential customers to reach out.

An improved website can also serve as a tool for broader digital marketing efforts. A responsive design works well with social media campaigns and email marketing. This approach helps traditional business owners feel more comfortable stepping into the digital world. A clean, modern site can serve as a digital storefront that welcomes online visitors and sets the stage for new business opportunities. The right design can make it easier for customers to find your services online and drive interest in your offerings.

Discover Our Website Design Services

Brew City Marketing is known for its dedication to helping local businesses in Milwaukee make a strong impression online. Modern website design services provide the latest trends in web design and development. With a focus on responsive layouts, clear calls to action, and local search optimization, a refreshed website can help businesses connect with the community. Whether it is adding engaging images or updating content structure, a redesigned website helps communicate your business values in a clear and simple way. Local customers who search for web design or digital marketing services will appreciate a site that is easy to navigate and visually appealing.

A refreshed website also creates opportunities for better customer engagement. When visitors see a modern layout with simple navigation, they are more likely to stay on the site and learn about the products or services offered. A modern online presence makes it easier to share promotions and announcements. Over time, this can lead to more inquiries, more customers, and better results for the business.

Moving Forward With a Modern Online Presence

Upgrading your website can be a turning point for your business. When your site looks fresh and works well on any device, it helps create a positive impression that lasts. The advantages of modern website design services include higher customer engagement and improved local search performance. Business owners who choose to invest in a modern website can look forward to better online interactions and a stronger digital presence.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of updated web design and how modern website design services can support your business growth, consider exploring the options available with Brew City Marketing. A new website design may be the key to unlocking potential and attracting customers in Milwaukee and the surrounding areas. Take the next step to build a more engaging online presence that reflects the quality of your business.

By |2025-11-11T21:16:32+00:00March 21, 2025|

How a Milwaukee Web Developer Can Help With Your Business Goals

A strong online presence is key in driving growth for businesses of all sizes. Whether launching a new business or upgrading your current website, working with a Milwaukee web developer can help you achieve your goals. A well-designed website can shape how potential customers view your business and ultimately influence their decision to work with you.

The Role of Websites in Business Growth 

Websites are more than just digital storefronts. They serve as platforms to generate leads, increase brand awareness, and create a seamless experience for visitors. A thoughtfully developed site can showcase products, offer valuable information, and build trust with your audience. When appropriately designed, your website can turn visitors into long-term customers by guiding them through each stage of the buyer’s journey.

How a Web Developer Can Help 

A web developer plays an important role in bringing these goals to life. With the proper web development process, businesses can have a visually appealing and highly functional site. Developers work on the technical structure, making the site easy to navigate and optimized for search engines. They also handle responsive design, so your site looks great on any device. This combination of aesthetics and performance helps businesses stand out in a crowded market.

Why Choose a Professional Web Developer? 

While many website builders are available, working with a professional Milwaukee web developer offers greater advantages. DIY platforms often limit customization, and templates can make your website look like countless others. A developer builds a site specifically for your business needs, aligning with your branding and goals. This personalized approach results in a more unique, professional presence online.

Enhancing Security, Performance, and SEO 

Website security is another critical factor. Web developers implement protective measures that safeguard sensitive information, reducing the risk of data breaches. This creates a safer browsing experience for users and strengthens their trust in your business. Developers also focus on speed and performance, optimizing images, coding, and content delivery to keep your site running smoothly. Fast-loading pages contribute to higher user satisfaction and improved search engine rankings.

Search engine optimization (SEO) plays a significant role in web development. A Milwaukee web developer incorporates SEO strategies during the design process to help your site rank higher on search engines like Google. This increases visibility and draws more organic traffic to your site. By optimizing headers, meta descriptions, and images, developers create a strong foundation that enhances online discoverability.

Adding Value Through Features and Tools 

Beyond the technical aspects, a web developer can integrate valuable tools and features that improve user experience. This may include e-commerce functionality, online booking systems, and interactive elements that engage visitors. These additions add value and streamline business operations by automating processes and reducing manual work.

Ongoing Support and Maintenance

A website is an ongoing project that evolves with your business. Regular updates and maintenance keep the site relevant, secure, and aligned with industry trends. Working with a web developer gives businesses access to continuous support and the ability to make necessary changes. This helps avoid outdated features and potential glitches that can frustrate users.

The Local Advantage of a Milwaukee Web Developer 

A Milwaukee web developer understands the needs of local businesses and the market in which they operate. Companies benefit from insights that reflect local trends and customer behavior by working with a developer who knows the area. This localized approach can lead to better engagement and conversions as the site resonates more deeply with the intended audience.

Start Reaching Your Goals Today 

If your goal is to expand your reach, attract more customers, or modernize your online presence, Brew City Marketing is ready to help. Our web development services focus on creating sites that drive results, combining design and functionality to elevate your brand. 

Contact us today to learn how our Milwaukee web developer services can support your business goals.

By |2025-01-10T16:03:25+00:00January 10, 2025|

Why It’s Worth Investing in a Professional for Small Business Web Design

For small businesses, having an effective website is crucial in today’s market. Your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your brand, which plays a huge role in how they perceive your business. But building a professional, functional site isn’t always easy, especially if you’re trying to handle it independently. That’s why investing in professional small business web design is a smart choice. 

At Brew City Marketing, we specialize in creating websites that help small businesses from Milwaukee and beyond thrive. Let’s take a look at why hiring a professional web designer can be a game changer for your business.

Customized Design That Reflects Your Brand

One of the biggest advantages of hiring a professional for your small business web design is having a site uniquely tailored to your brand. DIY website builders often offer generic templates that lack originality, making it difficult for your business to stand out. A digital marketing agency like Brew City Marketing will take the time to understand your business, its goals, and your target audience. From there, a customized design will be created to reflect your brand’s identity, ensuring that your website looks professional and helps you stand out from the competition.

A custom-designed site shows potential customers that you take your business seriously while offering them a visually appealing experience that keeps them engaged.

Mobile-Friendly and Responsive Websites

With so many people browsing the web on mobile devices, having a mobile-friendly website is no longer optional. A professional website builder will design your site to be fully responsive, meaning it will work seamlessly across all devices—whether someone is visiting from their desktop computer or smartphone.

A responsive website improves user experience and can help your business rank higher in search engines like Google. Search engines favor sites that perform well on mobile, and this is an area where Brew City Marketing’s experience in small business web design can give your business a significant advantage. By creating a mobile-optimized site, we help you reach more customers, no matter what device they use to find you.

SEO-Optimized for Higher Rankings

Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for driving organic traffic to your website. Without the correct SEO practices, your site might get lost among countless other results on Google. A professional web designer who understands the importance of SEO will structure your website in a way optimized for search engines.

At Brew City Marketing, we design websites using SEO best practices, making sure your site is set up for long-term success. This includes keyword integration and on-page SEO to fast loading speeds and proper site structure. By focusing on these details, our web design services help improve your website’s visibility, allowing potential customers to find your business more easily.

Save Time and Avoid Technical Headaches

Building a website can be time-consuming and technically challenging, especially if you’re unfamiliar with web development. Between managing content, ensuring your site is secure, and troubleshooting technical issues, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Hiring a professional web designer takes these burdens off your shoulders, freeing you up to focus on running your business.

At Brew City Marketing, we handle all the technical aspects of your website, from site hosting and security to regular updates and maintenance. Our website design services provide peace of mind, knowing that your website is being handled by experts who can keep it running smoothly.

Built for Growth and Scalability

As your small business grows, your website needs to evolve along with it. A professionally designed website is built to accommodate your business’s growth. Whether you need to add new features, scale up your eCommerce store, or improve site performance as traffic increases, working with a professional web designer allows you to make those changes as needed.

Brew City Marketing designs websites with long-term success in mind so your site can grow as your business does. Whether expanding your service area, adding new products, or simply updating your content, our web development services make it easy to scale your website without any major disruptions.

Invest in Your Small Business Web Design with Brew City Marketing

When creating a website that works for your small business, there’s no substitute for professional design and development. From custom branding and mobile optimization to SEO-friendly structures and scalability, working with a digital marketing agency like Brew City Marketing can transform your online presence and set your business up for long-term success. If you’re ready to create a website that reflects the quality of your business and supports your growth, Brew City Marketing is here to help. Reach out today to start building a site that sets your business apart.

By |2024-09-06T15:49:38+00:00September 15, 2024|

Why ADA Compliance Is Essential for Your Website in 2024

In the digital world of 2024, ADA compliance has become more than just a legal requirement; it’s a critical component of web design and user experience. As a Milwaukee-based website design and digital marketing agency, Brew City Marketing believes everyone deserves equal access to online information and services. ADA compliance ensures that your website can be used by people with various disabilities, making it more inclusive and accessible for all.

What is ADA Compliance?

ADA compliance refers to adhering to the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted to prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities. While the ADA initially focused on physical spaces, its scope has expanded to include digital spaces like websites and mobile apps. ADA compliance for websites involves making your online content accessible to people with various disabilities, including visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor impairments.

This means implementing screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigability, and providing text alternatives for images and videos. By making these adjustments, a broader audience can access and use your website, ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to engage with your content and services.

Legal Protection and ADA Compliance

One of the most pressing reasons for ADA compliance is to protect your business from potential legal issues. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that public accommodations, including websites, be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Failure to comply can lead to lawsuits, fines, and a tarnished reputation. 

Businesses nationwide have faced legal action due to inaccessible websites, and the trend is expected to continue in 2024. Making your website ADA-compliant reduces the risk of legal challenges and demonstrates your commitment to accessibility.

Expanding Your Audience

ADA compliance is essential not just for legal reasons but also for expanding your audience. Approximately 29% of adults in the United States live with some form of disability. When your website is ADA-compliant, it becomes accessible to a more significant portion of the population. This can lead to increased traffic, higher engagement, and more conversions. By catering to the needs of all users, including those with disabilities, your website can reach a wider audience and provide a better overall experience.

Enhancing User Experience

ADA compliance is crucial in enhancing your website’s user experience. Features like text alternatives for images, keyboard navigation, and clear content structure make your website easier to navigate for everyone. 

An accessible website design is user-friendly, leading to longer visits, lower bounce rates, and improved SEO rankings. Users who can easily interact with your website are more likely to return, recommend your site to others, and engage with your content.

Boosting SEO Performance

Search engines favor websites that offer a good user experience, and ADA compliance can significantly boost your SEO performance. Features such as descriptive alt text, proper heading structures, and accessible navigation not only help users with disabilities but also make your website more understandable to search engines. As a result, your website may rank higher in search engine results, attracting more organic traffic. In 2024, ADA compliance is not just about accessibility; it’s a smart SEO strategy that can help your business grow online.

Brew City Marketing’s ADA Compliance Services

At Brew City Marketing, ADA compliance is integrated into our web design and digital marketing services. We start by thoroughly auditing your current website to identify any accessibility issues. From there, we provide tailored recommendations and implement necessary changes to bring your website into compliance with ADA standards.

Our web design services include adjusting site navigation, adding alternative text to images, and ensuring that all forms, buttons, and links are accessible to users with disabilities. We also work on optimizing color contrasts, font sizes, and overall site layout to ensure that your website is not only ADA-compliant but also visually appealing and easy to use for everyone.

Brew City Marketing stays updated on the latest ADA guidelines and accessibility tools, ensuring your website remains compliant as standards evolve. We provide ongoing support to keep your website accessible, even as you update or add new content. We aim to create an inclusive online environment where all users can engage with your brand, regardless of their abilities.

Ready to Make Your Website ADA Compliant? Contact Us Today!

ADA compliance is a crucial aspect of modern web design that benefits your business in numerous ways. From legal protection and expanded audience reach to enhanced user experience and improved SEO, the advantages of an ADA-compliant website are clear. 

Brew City Marketing is a Milwaukee-based digital marketing agency dedicated to helping businesses create accessible, user-friendly websites that cater to all users. In 2024, ensuring ADA compliance is not just the right thing to do—it’s essential for the success and growth of your business.

Contact us today to make your website accessible to everyone. Let’s work together to create an online space that welcomes all users!

By |2024-08-16T17:16:48+00:00August 16, 2024|

Actionable Tips For Creating a Great Marketing Plan

A strategic marketing plan is a blueprint for how a company will grow. However, many businesses don’t have the time or subject matter expertise to develop one. 

This blog post explains the basics of creating a successful strategic marketing plan. I throw in actionable tips, what to include in your marketing plan and how to track your progress. 

Benefits of Having a Marketing Plan

What are the benefits of a strategic marketing plan? It will:

  1. Improve allocation of your scarce marketing resources
  2. Identify the target markets that offer the best potential 
  3. Define what makes your organization unique and the best way to promote that uniqueness throughout all of your marketing tactics like your website and social media
  4. Support your sales team in building a healthy sales funnel

Actionable Tips for Creating Your Plan

A team led by a facilitator develops most marketing plans. Even if that team is just 2 or 3 people, each team member brings a valuable perspective and diverse experience to the plan. This combination provides a balanced, well-rounded approach. 

Don’t just look inside your company when developing your Strategic Marketing Plan. Instead, spend time analyzing the external environment too. The process includes identifying gaps in how you go to market and deciding how to fill those gaps. Be brutally honest when reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of your primary competitors. 

When analyzing the external environment, reexamine what you know about your customers’ pain points. This will help sharpen the messaging on your website and other marketing tactics. This is also where new product or service ideas often come from. You’ll identify unmet market needs that your product or service can uniquely satisfy.  

The Essential Components 

Your marketing plan doesn’t have to be perfect. But it does need to include several essential components. 

Most marketing decisions are based on your Target Market (also called Ideal Customer Profile).

For example, you don’t want to be on every social media channel. It’s impossible and unrealistic. Instead, selecting your business’s optimal social media channels depends on where your ideal customers spend their time. 

In developing your marketing plan, create your Ideal Customer Profile(s).

Include their primary challenges, how they deal with those challenges without your product and why your product is the perfect solution. 

Determine your ideal customer profile early in the process of creating your marketing plan.

You’ll make many decisions based on it. Focus is crucial. The reality is that not everyone wants to buy your product or service. Devote your scarce marketing resources to earning business from customers that most likely need what you have to offer. 

New opportunities for revenue growth are the lifeblood of any business.

And marketing is a company’s best resource for identifying, prioritizing and pursuing new opportunities. We’re talking about new product introductions or targeting sets of customers different from your existing customer base.  

Don’t worry if you identify multiple opportunities.

You may find it helpful to distinguish between short-term and long-term opportunities. This approach worked well for a former client who, like many companies, sought to grow but had limited resources to put behind their initiatives.

How do you make your marketing plan come alive?

Track progress regularly. Set SMART Goals for your marketing. I recommend having 2 or 3 overall marketing goals that align with your business plan and several tactical level goals that you monitor regularly. This keeps you connected to the performance of your marketing initiatives so you can make adjustments without being bogged down by “analysis paralysis.”  

Document which marketing tactics are ideal for reaching your customers and prospects.

Digital marketing presents a vast and often overwhelming set of options. However, a website is the central point of the marketing mix for my clients. And other digital marketing tools like e-mail marketing and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) help put a brand in front of customers and prospects.

Conclusion

Having a plan for how to grow your business is essential. Your strategic marketing plan is the catalyst driving future business development behaviors and critical marketing decisions. It’s a living document you’ll monitor and re-visit. Be prepared to update it due to changes in your market. It is rare that an industry doesn’t evolve or change. And it’s imperative for your marketing to stay current and relevant. 

To learn more about this, reach out to a Milwaukee marketing professional today!

About the Author: Michael Quill

Known for delivering successful marketing outcomes by providing strategic and tactical leadership. Passion for shaping product strategies that resonate with the target market and implementing marketing campaigns that align with business objectives. Add immediate value by taking marketing management to the next level and supporting the sales funnel.

By |2023-09-14T17:59:33+00:00June 2, 2022|

Best of Milwaukee 2022 Award for Digital Marketing

Brew City Marketing is proud to have been selected for the Milwaukee Award Program’s 2022 Best of Milwaukee Award in the Digital Marketing category. As a locally-owned family-run business, we have spent the last decade forming relationships with over 200 Milwaukee small businesses in need of growth assistance. Along with our tried and true client base, many of whom stuck with us through uncharted territories of economic uncertainty, BCM has continued to rise the ranks as a dependable and trustworthy business partner. We are humbled and forever grateful to continue to bring reliable and persistent success to our clients. Keep reading to learn more about our Milwaukee digital marketing services and the honorable achievement of being selected for this award program!

About the Award Program

The Milwaukee Award Program annually honors the achievements of local businesses throughout the Greater Milwaukee Area. This recognition signifies a company’s ‘ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value’. The program was originally established as a means to raise up the local businesses in the Milwaukee community and call attention to their achievements. Additionally, the Milwaukee Award program’s mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy. As a small business working steadfastly to provide a means for other small businesses to continue to exist and grow in Milwaukee, we are beyond thrilled to be affiliated with this organization.

Our Milwaukee Web Design Services

Since 2009, Brew City Marketing has been providing local businesses with Milwaukee web design creation and supporting services. You can find us featured for our website design skills in Kev’s Best for the 5 Best Web Development Companies in Milwaukee, as well as on DESIGNRUSH and Expertise.com. When you partner with BCM to build or redesign your website, you receive:

  • A custom-tailored design based on your unique branding and service offerings.
  • An emphasis on user experience with fast load times and intuitive navigation.
  • Cross-browser and multi-device functionality allowing your website to perform reliably no matter what browser or device users visit from.
  • Search engine optimization techniques to help your website rank higher and get more traffic from Google.
  • Conversion and lead generation with strategically placed call-to-actions and built-in contacts forms.

To learn even more about the web design services we provide:

Search Engine Optimization & Local Accreditation 

It would be a shame to put all of that effort into a shiny new website and not be recognized by search engines. This is why BCM continues to prioritize search engine optimization as a main service for our client base. Whether you build your website with us or come to us with a website you already love, we have developed a solid set of core strategies to make you more visible to your customers online. 

Why Milwaukee Turns to BCM for SEO

BCM was named a Top Rated Milwaukee SEO agency in 2022 by SEOblog due to our interminable commitment to understanding Google’s algorithm and how it can benefit our clients. There will always be other businesses online aiming to challenge your competitive edge, and that’s why having a digital team of experts to help you track, analyze, and nurture your online presence is key. Depending on the SEO package you sign up for, when you engage our Milwaukee SEO services we will provide you with:

  • A dedicated team that analyzes your website’s performance and implements a monthly set of SEO strategies to help boost your ranking, including:
    • Keyword analysis.
    • Google My Business optimization.
    • Backlinking strategy and implementation.
    • Local citation accreditation.
    • Content development.
  • A monthly report detailing your website’s performance, our efforts, and how we plan to continue to build upon them.

For more valuable insights on SEO and how we can help you grow:

Boost Your Local Presence Today

As we provide SEO services to both national and local clients, one item we prioritize specifically for our Milwaukee SEO clients is local accreditation. With a combination of Google My Business optimization and online reputation brand management, we are able to bring more of your local customer base directly to your digital door. 

Contact Us Today for Milwaukee Digital Marketing Help

Brew City Marketing is a dedicated team of Milwaukee digital marketing experts specializing in web design and search engine optimization. Our years of experience serving local and national companies in a wide range of industries have given us the tools and knowledge to support the growth of virtually any business in need of assistance. Take a moment to read our reviews on Google and learn about the success we have brought our clients straight from the horse’s (digital) mouth! 

Looking for digital marketing help? We can’t wait to jump on it! Contact us today.

By |2022-04-10T23:34:57+00:00April 5, 2022|

7 Web Design Trends to Run With in 2022

Are you thinking about upgrading your business website in 2022 and want to make sure you’re keeping up with your competitors? Or worried your existing web presence needs a few tweaks to help you generate leads and sales?

We’ve got you covered. In today’s post, we are going to walk you through seven hot web design and development trends for 2022. Best of all, we haven’t just picked popular styles and fads – the suggestions included are the ones you can use right now to help your business grow.

Let’s start with a subtle shift that you might have noticed (at least subconsciously) already…

#1 Faster Websites Are In 

You might not think about website speed a lot, but we are willing to bet you click away when a page loads too slowly. If industry-wide web analytics are any guide, nearly everyone does.

For that reason, the first important web design trend we have to mention is one you can’t actually see. It’s time to give your website a boost with better hosting, mobile compatibility, and layouts that are easy to scroll. Often, a simple website audit is enough to identify issues (like outdated plugins) that slow down the delivery of your content, so take the time to have your HTML checked properly.

#2 Accessibility Is a Must 

Until the last couple of years, most business owners and web designers didn’t realize that ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) stipulations extended to the web. However, as hundreds of recent lawsuits have demonstrated, you can be sued for having a site that isn’t accessible to those with sight or movement-related difficulties.

However, even if you put that issue aside it’s a good idea to ensure that accessibility is a priority on your website. For one thing, making your pages compliant can also make them faster and more secure (see above). And at the same time, an ADA-compliant website can help you reach a larger group of customers. Some estimates suggest that roughly one out of every five Americans has some sort of disability. That means your customers (along with their colleagues and loved ones) want compliant websites, too.

#3 Create Contrast on the Page 

It’s easy to forget, but web design is a kind of business art. And like all types of art, certain styles or techniques come in and out of vogue.

For a while, websites were being cluttered with too many elements, from long dropdown menus to animations that covered up important blocks of text. That made them interesting but not useful. In 2022, the best web designers and marketers are scaling things back. That means creating contrast on your page with text, links, buttons, and menus that are easy to find and use. It also means ensuring you have plenty of white space between major elements.

#4 Get Smart About Images 

While you probably haven’t noticed, great web designers are using images differently than they used to. Not only are we choosing visuals more carefully, but also being more intentional with their placement and positioning.

As an example, you might notice that websites are containing more photos of human faces looking directly at a camera. This is subtle, but it creates a kind of engagement between the viewer and the subject on a more emotional and subconscious level. Likewise, you can use images of people leaning or pointing in a certain direction to lead them toward a call to action or other suggestion.

Even if you aren’t paying attention to these kinds of details, you should know that your web designer is using them on your behalf.

#5 Video Is Your Secret Weapon 

You may have noticed that video is everywhere on websites these days. There are several reasons for that. One has to do with the fact that most people like watching videos rather than reading text. Another could be tied to the decreasing costs of HD video recording equipment and editing software. 

The biggest reason marketers are using video, however, is that it works. Some online surveys have shown that website visitors are up to 10 times more likely to interact with video clips than any other type of content. If you’re in the process of renovating your website, see if you can incorporate more video for product descriptions, customer success stories, and other key marketing points.

#6 Say More With Less 

Text is crucial to your website, but it can actually drive visitors away if it isn’t used properly. Most of your visitors don’t want to read long, unbroken blocks of words. That’s true even if they are interested in the products or services you have to offer.

Break things up by keeping your ideas short. Throw in subheadings, bullet points, or even infographics that help make a point. Ask your web designer to experiment with pullout quotes and other features that make the text seem more graphical. At the end of the day you need to have the right words on your page, but they should be presented in a way that is interesting and easy to scan or your message might be missed.

#7 Use the Power of Trust 

Have you ever been to a new website and thought the products or services being offered seemed too good to be true? Did you get the feeling that you wanted to take the next step but were worried you might be missing something that would cause you to regret your purchase later?

Your customers go through the same process. Why not put them at ease with video testimonials, unbiased reviews, or other trust indicators like money-back guarantees? These take very little to add to your website but can have a huge impact on your marketing results.

It Is Time to Launch or Update Your Business Website?

There are dozens of companies in Milwaukee and beyond that, you can turn to for a new website, but the team at Brew City Marketing has experience with web design, programming, search engine optimization, social media marketing, online lead generation, and so much more. If you’re looking for a business growth strategy that actually works, then we are the partner you’ve been looking for.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and see how we can help!

By |2022-02-16T18:51:46+00:00February 16, 2022|

How to Use WordPress Like the Pros

Keeping your business’ website up to date is incredibly important. Regardless of your industry, Google search queries fluctuate over time; these Google searches tend to change seasonally, and staying ahead of your competition will ensure that your business continues to rank higher and higher over time. You might also spot an issue on your website or might want to make a quick change without having to ask us to make the change for you. In order to empower you to make changes on your own, we are now offering a variety of tutorials that will teach you how to use WordPress like the pros!  

Is WordPress Hard to Use?

WordPress can be a daunting service at first—WordPress is fully customizable, and sorting through the extensive user interface can be overwhelming. Once you have a general understanding of the toolbars, navigation buttons, individual widgets, and special features, making changes on the backend can actually be pretty easy. Unfortunately, despite the fact that some of the functions appear to be easy, the margin of error on WordPress’ backend can be unforgiving. Sometimes a minor error that you don’t even realize you’ve made can break your website. So, in order to make sure this doesn’t happen to you and your company, we are now providing three kinds of WordPress tutorials to make your life easier. 

1. Written WordPress Tutorials

Some of you may have never used WordPress—if this is the case, you have nothing to worry about. For those of you who have never had to make a change on a website, we will provide you with a document that will guide you through the fundamentals of how to use WordPress. These guides will address the building blocks of all WordPress functions. After you read through our tutorial, you will be able to:

  • Login
  • Use the WordPress Dashboard
  • Implement Media via the Image Gallery
  • Edit and Add Media 
  • Edit Text  

By following this module, you will be able to make changes as needed. After a little bit of practice, you’ll find that making small changes is much easier than you might think. But that’s not all we have to offer!

2. Custom Requests for WordPress Tutorials

For those of you who are especially tech-savvy, the pre-written tutorial might not be enough to address some of the functionalities you hope to use on a regular basis. If you need more information and personalized instruction for how to use WordPress in a more extensive way, just let us know and we will reach out to you to gather those additional details. (of note: this personalized tutorial will require a service fee).      

3. Virtual WordPressTutorial + Reference Video

If things still aren’t clicking, or if you learn better from having someone show you how to perform a function, we have just the service for you. One of our skilled web designers will actually video call you and walk through answering any and all questions you might have in real-time! You can take the lead (after all, you know what questions matter most to you) and we will do all we can to make sure you leave the session understanding everything we’ve talked about. We’ll even record the session on our end and give you a video copy just in case you forget something from the session.  

Ready to Learn More?

Changing up your website doesn’t have to be hard. We are confident that any of these three tutorial services will increase your WordPress skills. As we said earlier, we take pride in providing you with gold-standard website maintenance that our clients are raving about, but we hope that these tutorials will help you out in a pinch. For more information about our three types of WordPress tutorials, reach out to our awesome Project Manager, April, for more details about pricing and how to get started. We look forward to hearing from you!

By |2020-10-28T17:51:01+00:00October 28, 2020|

3 Easy Marketing Ideas That Will Strengthen Your Small Business After COVID

I’m sure there’s no doubt in your mind that business will look different after the COVID-19 crisis. We’ve heard the predictions. A good portion of our workforce will continue to work remotely. The handshake will be replaced by a gesture less likely to spread germs. And so many others.

Marketing is no exception. How small business owners market their companies will be different when the crisis settles down. Make sure your small business is in step with the changes. 

No one can predict with absolute certainty what the new rules of marketing engagement will be. Or even which new consumer behaviors will be permanent. 

However, here’s a look at what you most likely need to focus on. Invest in the newly evolved marketing practices to ensure your brand reaches its full potential when we enter our new normal. 

Win Back Lost Customers

Plan on winning back customers you lost during the lockdown. Set a goal, but don’t expect to win all lapsed customers back. Be sure to use SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound).

Attract entirely new customers; they’re the lifeblood of every business. Keep in mind new customers require evidence you can deliver on your claims. There are four specific types of evidence you can use in winning over new customers. We call them “Reasons to Believe.” Don’t use all of them at once. Pick the one most likely to give your brand impact.

  1. Data – Facts about your business can be convincing to new customers as they get to know your brand. What facts or figures about your business can you include in your marketing message? For example, Dutchland Plastics, a manufacturer in Sheboygan, WI, is one of the top 5 manufacturers of custom rotational molded plastic products in North America. That demonstrates to prospective customers that they’re competent by underscoring their accomplishments. You don’t get to the top 5 of anything without being very good.
  2. Before and After – Visuals are super powerful marketing tools. And showing potential customers before and after photographs can be very convincing. Help them visualize what they’re life will look like after using your product or service. Weight loss plans are an obvious example. However, this proof strategy works well for re-modeling, construction, contractor, and clothing brands.
  3. Guarantee – Offering customers a guarantee reduces the risk they take when trying a new brand like yours. Face it, switching brands can be risky for consumers. It’s easier for them to choose you if you offer a money-back guarantee or generous warranty covering some aspect of the transaction or product. 
  4. Special – Consider how powerful an endorsement, patent, or unique process can be. They help a new customer appreciate how your product delivers the benefits it claims. I’m willing to try a patented product over an unpatented product because there’s something unique about it, which suggests that it provides superior performance. Or if the most trusted person in the industry endorses a product, there’s reassurance that it will exceed expectations.

Let’s talk for a minute about testimonials, which are a close cousin to endorsements. Testimonials are an excellent example of earned media. Earned media is what customers, shoppers, or members of the press do when they share your content or talk about your brand online. It includes Google Reviews, Facebook Recommendations, etc. 

Earned media is critical to successful digital marketing because the Internet is a well-established resource for consumers to learn about brands.  Just about all consumers go online to talk and learn about brands. And it’s not enough to have a great website. I encourage business owners to ask satisfied customers to review their products or services regularly. Help new customers get comfortable doing business with you and help your most passionate customers feel connected to your brand.

Because conditions change rapidly during the pandemic, consumers pay closer attention to the news on a more frequent basis. That means they’re reading more news online than ever before. Some consumers look to social media to stay informed; others turn to traditional news sources.  

Put your product or service in front of them with online banner ads, social ads, etc. This is a win-win. Local newspapers like the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Racine Journal Times are eager to attract paid advertisers. Facebook ads are very targetable, so advertisers can reach potential new customers economically.

New Ways to do Business

Develop new, innovative ways to conduct business and deliver your product or service that doesn’t require direct personal contact. There is no need to reinvent the wheel here; there are numerous success stories that you can adapt to your business. 

My colleague, Amanda Dalnodar, Founder and CEO, Brew City Marketing, had this to say: “A lot of small businesses are looking for ways to meet with their consumers online before going into homes and businesses for estimates and quotes. Another example is the many yoga teachers that are finding ways to teach classes virtually to people all over the world instead of just a class of 10 in their local community.” 

Take a close look at how customers pay for your product or service. You may have an outstanding product, but if consumers are skeptical about payment methods that may compromise their safety, they’ll go elsewhere. According to Janet Balis, “Health and safety concerns are driving more customers toward frictionless payment systems, such as using mobile phones to pay at check-out without touching a surface or stylus.”*

Small businesses can adapt to big business marketing ideas. For Example, American Express is cross-promoting with an app called Calm. Together Amex and Calm are promoting wellness at a time when consumer stress levels are high.

A COVID-19 POLICY IS MANDATORY

Having a clear COVID policy for the public and internally is now a mandatory standard. Make sure yours is written and published according to current best practices. The CDC offers a simple-to-use reference guide for small business owners on handling internal communication with employees. Business owners are also encouraged to monitor the rapidly evolving COVID-19 rules, restrictions, orders, timelines, and guidance that affect how and when they can reopen to employees and customers. 

At Med Spa MKE, their clients are eager to get back to a normal lifestyle. Consequently, their business has picked up lately and it’s busier than ever before. However, a few clients have expressed concern about sanitation and feeling guilty for coming in because they live with an at-risk person, etc.  

The spa owners report that they have a protocol in place and that it’s a work-in-progress. They review it every month to get ready for the fall season. Here’s the current protocol for their clients:

  • If you have a fever or are under the weather, reschedule your visit.
  • Only those receiving services should enter the waiting area. Friends and family will be asked to wait outside. 
  • The floor near the reception area is marked to allow 6″ of the distance between you and the receptionist. 
  • All surfaces and handled objects are sanitized. 
  • Reception areas are sanitized after every client interaction. 
  • Hands are sanitized before and after every client interaction. 
  • Gloves are worn with every service. 
  • You are not required to wear a mask; however, you can if your treatment allows for it.

CONCLUSION

Great marketing has always had a dose of empathy. That’s because the best marketing campaigns recognize and solve real consumer pain points. 

These are daunting times for consumers. Maintaining their safety and health is top of mind for consumers. And balancing a budget is challenging. Unemployment and uncertainty are high. Therefore, spending discretionary income will be curtailed. Marketers need to be sensitive to these concerns.

 

*Janet Balis, Harvard Business Review, “Brand Marketing Through the Coronavirus Crisis”.

By |2020-06-22T11:09:45+00:00June 22, 2020|

10 Ways to Recover From a Sudden Fall in Traffic

A growing number of website visitors is one of the most important metrics which can show you that you’re going in the right direction. However, what if your web traffic starts stagnating or, worse yet, shows a sign of decline? What if this decline is rapid and completely unexpected? How do you handle this issue? Naturally, the first thing you need to do in order to handle this problem is to figure out the root cause of this fall in web traffic. Seeing as how each of these problems has a unique solution. All in all, here are several things worth taking into consideration.

1. Algorithm update

One of many reasons why your website is not doing so hot these days is due to the fact that the algorithm has been updated and you were left behind. You see, when optimizing your website for search engines, you’re always following current guidelines, however, what happens when these rules change? Sometimes, your website’s rank may suffer which should lead to a massive decline in a number of visitors. After all, about 33 percent of all Google users finish their search on the first result, which is why getting shifted by a single spot may drastically impact your average daily web traffic.

2. Incorrect robots.txt rules

The robots.txt file is something that you’re using in order to allow or restrict access to Google crawlers to your domain. The pages that they can’t access are the ones that they can’t index. It’s as simple as that. However, what if you accidentally restrict access to more than you’ve intended to. In order to fix this problem, you need to check the disallow rule and remove it. It may sound simple but the problem caused by this oversight is definitely a major one.

3. Loss in organic ranking

One of the most concerning reasons for a sudden fall in traffic volume is the loss in organic ranking. Why is this so scary? Well, because it doesn’t have a simple fix (like our previous example). Instead, you need to revisit your ranking keywords and compare each individual change in positions. Then, you need to retarget dropped terms with adequate new keyword research and mapping. Keep in mind nonetheless, that this is a technical SEO, which is why outsourcing might provide you with more consistency. Finding a local aid and hiring Sydney SEO experts to handle this for your NSW-based enterprise is probably the best way to avoid this problem in the future.

4. Manual search engine penalty

There are so many reasons why your website may be penalized for violating webmaster guidelines. Some of the reasons are user-generated spam, unnatural outgoing links, sneaky redirects and more. In other words, those who use any kind of black-hat marketing technique and get caught shouldn’t be surprised that they’re getting penalized. Another thing that you can get penalized for is duplicate content. Needless to say, duplicate content is one of the most common SEO mistakes. In other words, just avoid trying to cut corners and work on creating quality, organic online presence.

5. A loss of valuable backlinks

Sometimes, your traffic rises due to the fact that a quality post or domain links towards your content on a regular basis. This ally blog is, therefore, responsible for a significant portion of traffic towards your website. However, what if that particular blog starts losing followers, dropping in rank or goes down? What if they delete these links towards your content? In this scenario, it would be expected that you start losing some traffic. While there’s not much you can do to remedy this, what you can do is try to diversify your backlinks.

6. Competitor changes

Another thing you need to understand is the fact that your SERP position mostly depends on how you compare to others within the industry. Even if you have a unique keyword, chances are that it’s not 100 percent unique. This means that there are still others that are using it. So, if your rank starts going down, chances are that one of your competitors has started investing more heavily in their own digital marketing. In this scenario, you need to find a way to become more competitive. So, competitive analysis is more than necessary.

7. Ignoring traffic analytics

One of the worst things that can happen to a website is the misinterpretation of data. You see, your web traffic doesn’t have to have a gradual, linear growth. Instead, it may have fluctuations, which would mean that a current stagnation isn’t necessarily a downward trend. The thing is that you need to expand your analysis further in the past instead of just monitoring day-to-day activity. It’s not uncommon that you have days of the week on which your website is the busiest. So, comparing a slow part of the week and a high-traffic one is definitely a bad thing.

8. Tracking the wrong rankings

There are some keywords that are no longer relevant or outdated. Over the course of years, a lot of people use different variations of the same question as a go-to phrase. This is a normal linguistic progression that can, on a micro-scale, happen a lot quicker in a digital era. Also, rather than relying on just a couple of keywords, more and more people are using full sentences in their search.

9. PR disaster

Sometimes, people will avoid your business or your entire industry due to a PR crisis in the form of damaging news or reviews. A steady review flow is one of the keys to a successful digital marketing campaign. Sure, your brand might see an increase in traffic due to an increase in the number of brand mentions (even if the trend is a negative one), however, in time, the public curiosity will drop. This, however, is seldom a mystery and it’s something that you can see coming from a mile away. For this, you need to learn how to handle a PR crisis.

10. Voice search

In 2020, it is expected that about 50 percent of people might use the voice search option on a regular basis. Therefore, if your web presence isn’t optimized for voice search, your brand might start suffering. Also, keep in mind that voice search has rules of its own. The format of the search is far more grammatical, due to the fact that uttering a phrase (or a full-sentence) is less labor-intensive than typing it.

Recover Your Lost Web Traffic Due to an Algorithm Change!

In the end, it all comes down to adjusting to change but in order to adjust, you must first notice a change or, better yet, notice it coming from a mile away. This way, you can soften the blow or avoid repercussions (a fall in web traffic) in its entirety. Sure, from time to time, unpredictable things happen but this is also a scenario that you can both impact and turn to your own favor.

 

 

By |2024-10-02T15:04:10+00:00April 20, 2020|
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