Business Web Design Milwaukee

One Thing You Must Know About Your Customers

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If you’re like most successful business owners, you probably have access to plenty of demographic data about your customers that can help you sell more products and services, and much of it is useful. But when it comes to structuring your website and landing pages, there is one thing you absolutely must know: how long buyers take to make a decision.

Specifically, you need to know whether the product or service you sell is a low-involvement purchase (like an inexpensive dinner) or a high-involvement purchase (like an automobile or home). That might seem like a minor detail, but it affects many different aspects of your layout, content, and conversion goals. For instance:

If customers take a while to decide, you need to sell your prospects in steps. For these types of purchases, you should offer information, advice, and subscriptions that pull prospects along while they learn more and make up their minds. It takes prospects time to make a purchasing decision because they feel like they have a lot to lose if they make the wrong choice. For these purchasers, trying to make instant conversions on your website is a losing strategy.

If customers decide quickly, you can be aggressive. For these types of purchases, it makes sense to be aggressive because prospects don’t feel like they have a lot to lose, so they’re more willing to make snap decisions and impulse purchases. For these purchasers, using “buy now” buttons or similar calls to action have a high probability of working.

Without the right context, it’s difficult to know what kind of approach you should take to convert website visitors into leads and customers. So, before you map out your online strategy, make sure you understand the buying process from their end.

Not sure which strategy is best for your business? Call 414-208-0700 or fill out our contact form today for a free consultation.

By |2016-04-12T06:17:50+00:00April 12, 2016|

5 Things That Make Loading Your Web Pages a Pain

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Customers and search engines alike hate web pages that load slowly. Here are five different web design and hosting choices that can slow your website to a crawl.

  1. Ignoring the technical details
    Some bargain-basement web design teams will neglect details like browser caching and compression options. These features may not seem like much individually, but in the aggregate they can dramatically alter load times.
  2. Using long video clips
    Video can be great for telling a story or engaging visitors, but keep your clips short—unless you want them to take forever to load.
  3. Using big, uncompressed graphics
    More and more internet marketers are choosing to use large, uncompressed images because some hosting software can change the display size automatically. It’s easier for them, but these huge image files can load slowly in the background of your website, ruining the experience for your visitors.
  4. Using unusual fonts
    Because browsers have to work harder to display crazy fonts or find substitutes for them if the exact font can’t be found, using really uncommon fonts on your website can also affect page loading times.
  5. Bad hosting
    Even if you have a website built for performance, if you’re saddled with a bad host, it still won’t load quickly. In fact, when a well-designed website loads very slowly, it’s often the hosting provider (or hosting package) that’s to blame. Hosting is an area where a small investment can make a big difference in the performance of your website.

If your web pages load slowly, it’s probably costing you in missed search traffic and bounced web visits. Call 414-208-0700 or fill out our contact form today to see how we can help speed up your site.

By |2023-05-30T17:00:05+00:00March 12, 2016|

Your Website Is an Investment, Not an Expense

February_Blog1 v2When we first launched Brew City Marketing, we were surprised by how often we heard business owners explain that they understood that having a website was just another “cost of doing business.”

As web designers who live and breathe internet marketing, we couldn’t understand how these successful entrepreneurs didn’t see their business websites for what they were: investments, not expenses. How could these otherwise smart, business-savvy folks not see all of the bottom-line boosting benefits that having a good website would bring? We just couldn’t get it!

And then, it dawned on us: Maybe the problem wasn’t that these business owners didn’t understand how their websites could help their businesses grow. They could see the possibilities, no problem. Maybe it was just that they didn’t have line of sight to the metrics-based proof they needed to know that investing in a new website would be worth it.

With that in mind, we started looking for real numbers to prove what we already knew: Investing in a good website typically translates into a solid return on investment. Not only did the data we found back up our story, they told it even better than we could have.

Just look at some of the numbers we found:

These aren’t just fuzzy, “feel good” benefits. These are real, revenue-affecting numbers that can make the difference between making a profit and going broke. And these numbers don’t even capture all of the intangible, soft benefits that having a good website can produce, such as increasing customer satisfaction, increasing brand awareness, and providing a 24/7 storefront that’s always available to your customers.

Regardless of what business you’re in, whether you sell to businesses or directly to consumers, having a good website that serves as an informational marketing hub for your business is just good business. It can help you find new leads, nurture the leads you already have, and keep in contact with those you’ve already serviced.

Curious to see how investing in a new website or website redesign could help your business grow? Call 414-208-0700 or fill out our contact form to learn more.

By |2016-02-03T06:35:49+00:00February 3, 2016|

We Now Offer E-commerce Design Services!

We’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with Bigcommerce, an ecommerce platform that will allow us to create killer e-stores for our clients!

We know that setting up a good e-commerce website takes a lot of experience and hard work, and up until recently, it was simply out of reach for a lot of smaller business who were long on talent and gumption but short on marketing dollars. Our new partnership changes that. Building on Bigcommerce’s well-tested and uber-functional e-store platform, we can now give our clients gorgeous online stores that are:

  • built for better search results and conversion rates
  • optimized for mobile viewing
  • streamlined for easy check out and flexible product management
  • chock full of meaningful analytics
  • backed by 24/7 support

As part of this new service offering, our design and marketing team will handle all of the web design, e-store setup, and on-site SEO. After that, clients will have total control of a fully functional e-commerce website that has must-have, built-in functionality, including:

  • secure shopping cart & payment gateway (including PCI compliance)
  • an online catalog
  • a custom domain & email account
  • marketing tools and analytic reporting
  • mobile optimization
  • 24/7 customer support

If you already have an e-store that doesn’t look or perform as well as you know it could, or if you’re a new business with 10 or more products that is ready to make the big leap to selling online, this new service is just what you need. It will give you a fully functional, fully supported, easy-to-use website that you can use to grow your business online.

To learn more about our new Milwaukee e-commerce design services, call us at 414-208-0700 or fill out our contact form today—we’re eager to help you market your products to the world!

 

By |2015-06-15T07:17:38+00:00June 15, 2015|

We’re Flushing Away the Competition

When Alpine Plumbing decided it was time to update their six-year-old website with the new services they now have to offer, we showed them how a modern, dynamic website could really set them apart from their competition. Now they have a new website that’s ready to flush away their competitors by showcasing their services, experience and capabilities. They even have a YouTube channel to chronicle their work. Alpine Plumbing Milwaukee Website Design Check out Alpine Plumbing’s redesigned website, and see how we managed their:

  • Website redesign
  • WordPress content management
  • Brand building
  • Social media linking/integration
  • Website writing/SEO optimization
  • Mobile website design
By |2014-09-29T07:00:48+00:00September 29, 2014|

You’re Not Going to Believe How Effective Mobile Websites Are

How crazy is this: Over 57% of all Americans go online using their mobile phones. And, when they do, 73% of their searches result in some sort of action — like contacting a business, signing up for a newsletter, or making a call.   We knew mobile websites were important but those numbers even surprised us!

Brew City Marketing Milwaukee Mobile Website Statistics

For more information about our Milwaukee mobile marketing services, give us a call or fill out our contact form today.

By |2022-05-24T15:26:56+00:00September 17, 2014|

Web Design for the Future — and Beyond!

On the tail-end of wrapping up our web redesign services for Futura Language Professionals, we’re reminded (once again!) how important it is to keep up with the ever-increasing needs and expectations of our clients. With this web design project, we’ve helped this multi-state language school franchise better meet the needs of its students, franchise owners, teachers and more by integrating modern usability technology that today’s consumers expect.

Futura’s new website doesn’t just integrate a vibrant, new look, it also integrates modern, must-have functionality like online registration options and a secure login area for teachers. These functions make it easier for all of their stakeholders to use the new website and see what Futura has to offer.

See how solid web design services can completely redefine how customers can interact with your business at the Futura website, and see how we accomplished the following, and more:

  • Website design/redesign
  • Integrated region-specific online registration
  • Password-protected teacher log in
By |2022-01-18T16:19:49+00:00August 18, 2014|

5 Ways to Tell You’ve Found the Right Milwaukee Business Web Design Team

It would be great if the biggest decisions we had to make in life and business could always be certain, but that’s hardly ever the case. That’s especially true when it comes to business web design, where there seem to be more companies than ever trying to get a piece of your attention, not to mention your marketing budget.

A simple search of Milwaukee Web Design Companies on Google will undoubtedly show you hundreds of options, both within your geographic area and farther away. So how can you find the business web design team that’s the best fit for you… and avoid making an expensive mistake by choosing the wrong one in the process? While a lot of the decision will probably ultimately come down to your tastes and personality, and those of the web design teams you meet with, here are five solid ways to tell you found the right business web design team for you:

They have great samples.

This is the first place most clients will look, so it makes sense to mention web design samples first. It goes without saying that you’ll want to choose a business web design partner with an artistic sense that closely matches your own. If you don’t like any of the work they’ve done for previous clients, then you’re probably not going to be enamored with the layouts they do for you, either, so pay a lot of attention to their existing portfolio.
They ask a lot of questions… and not just about design. A great business website is only one part of your company, and it needs to fit with your overall business objectives, rather than seeming like a standalone project. For that reason, a great business web design team is going to ask you a lot of questions about your company, your goals, your industry, and more. Beware of any team that wants to move into the design part of the process too quickly.

They emphasize results in your conversations.

A business website, like any marketing tool, is only as powerful as the effect it has on your customers. An experienced web design team is going to know that and arrange everything they do with the purpose of helping you to find more customers or otherwise improve your business. Our industry, like most others, is all about results. Work with a business web design team who understands that and can tell you how their work will help you for years to come.

They provide a detailed plan of action.

Your proposal shouldn’t simply contain an amount you have to pay for a deposit and an expected delivery date. There should be a number of different steps along the way, including a handful that come before and after the launch of your new business website. A detailed plan of action shows you that your business web design team has been through this process before and knows what to expect in the future.

They have the right pricing.

There are two important things to note about the pricing of your new business website. First, that it not be your first consideration (which is why we put it last on this list), and secondly, that it’s not just about what you spend, but about what you’re going to get for the money. Business web design fees are always going to be part of your consideration, but weigh them along with the rest of these factors.

There might be more business web designers out there than ever before, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find the perfect fit for your company. Just keep these tips in mind, remember what you’re looking for, and you’ll make a great decision.

By |2023-05-30T17:31:48+00:00August 13, 2012|

Milwaukee Business Web Design by the Numbers

Milwaukee Web Design by the NumbersAlthough many people outside the walls of creative agencies probably assume that designing business websites is an entirely artistic affair, that’s not always the case. To be sure, there are the odd moments of inspiration and unfettered creativity that make working on websites a joy, but there are also cold business realities to deal with.

As a business owner or marketing manager, your challenge is to get past the art you see when you think of business websites – especially when it comes to portfolios and sample layouts – and also consider some of the numbers that will be so important for the future of your company.

Here are just a few of the figures and details you should pay attention to in a web designer’s proposal:

The fee you’re being charged for your business website. While this is an obvious one, and probably the first place your eye is going to go to, there’s no denying that evaluating the upfront cost of your new business website as an expense is important. Take a look not only at the figure you see, but also the payment terms listed. Are they clear? Can you work them into your marketing budget?

The number of pages included in your site. Generally speaking, this wouldn’t be a major sticking point, but you do want to ensure that what you are seeing on your business web design proposal matches the end product you’re expecting.

The number of days or weeks needed to complete your business website. Time is always money, in one form or another. You might think there isn’t a big difference between having your new website launched in three weeks or three months, but every day that passes could mean a missed opportunity. And on the other hand, an unrealistic timeframe could indicate that your business web design team isn’t experienced, or may not be planning to give your project the attention it deserves.

The amount of time included for things like revisions and support. In theory, your new business website should be perfect the moment it’s launched; in reality, there may be changes, minor additions or edits, and other kinds of support that are needed later on. Figure out whether these are included in your proposal, or what they will cost if you need them.
And then, there is the most important number of all: the return on investment you expect from your website redesign. While this might not be listed explicitly on your proposal, you can still look a bit deeper to see whether all the work you’re paying for is likely to lead to an increase in sales and exposure later.

Look closely at items like search engine optimization, online advertising, e-mail marketing, social media consulting, and other marketing or promotional types of activities that are being included as part of your new business website. The more of them you see – and the greater commitment your web design team is showing towards making your company successful online – the bigger your return on investment is likely to be.

A lot of the best business websites have some really great artistic flair behind them. Before you hire someone to launch yours, however, make sure that the numbers on your proposal are just as inspired.

By |2022-01-18T16:46:44+00:00May 31, 2012|
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