Put the Web to Work

An email newsletter is a highly effective, and oftentimes underused marketing platform many businesses have available. If you collect email addresses of clients and potential customers, you should be sending out email newsletters. Regular newsletters can keep your business top of mind, remind current customers of other products/services you have available, and showcase what your business is up to. According to Marketing Sherpa, 61% of customers say they like to receive promotional emails on a weekly basis. If you're looking for effective ways to grow your email marketing list (and you should be), check out our tips below! Make it Easy Consumers aren't going to take too much time filling something out and the second it gets complicated, they will hit the exit button. Whether you're collecting emails at an expo or on an online form, it's important that it is user friendly in order to get more subscribers to complete the subscription process. Offer Something in...

Our MSW Interactive Designs rock stars have been working from home for about seven weeks now. We thought it would be fun to see what everyone is up to (besides working hard on website design , social media engagement, and other internet marketing services)! We asked our team some questions about working from home. Check it out: Rebbecah Sansom: What do you like most about working from home? I'm saving a ton of money on gas, daycare and generally not going to the gas stations/grocery stores every day! I also LOVE being able to spend more quality time with Wesley. What is the most challenging part about working from home? While being home more with Wesley has been an absolute blessing, it's also been a major challenge. Wesley doesn't quite understand that mom is working and just wants me to play with him all day. Some days are better than others, and he does a great job at entertaining himself for short periods of time so I can get some work done. Other days...

We are certainly experiencing uncertainty! No one knows when things will be back to "normal" (is normal a thing in the business world?). It can be tempting to halt your marketing efforts but we're here to show you why you shouldn't. We understand times are tough and we don't know how long this will last but stopping your marketing messages all together may actually make things worse for your business. Our internet marketing company in mid-Missouri is here to help guide you through ways to better market your business during difficult times but most importantly, don't stop marketing altogether! Be Present Communication is key, especially in a world of uncertainty. Having your messages present can easily keep your business top of mind. Evaluate Your Message Ensure your message is in good taste. Would your typical customer think the content you're sharing is appropriate? That answer depends on your consumer, but keep your customer in mind when crea...

The number of people using social media during the COVID-19 crisis is through the roof. That's not really a big surprise as more and more people are spending time at home. Our internet marketing firm in mid-Missouri knows social media is a fantastic place to stay connected to your friends and loved ones, as well as businesses you care about. With more active users than previous months, now is the time to focus in on your business's  social media marketing strategy. Check out a few stats about the increase of users and how your business can stay top of mind through social media! Social Media Stats During COVID-19 Crisis: Facebook had 5,700,000 more active users in March 2020 versus February 2020, in the United States. People are spending 20% more time on apps during the crisis. Of participant interviewed in early March, 43.1% said they would use Instagram more, if confined to their homes. YouTube and Facebook were also top platforms users expected to frequent more....

Many small businesses are facing challenges in this unprecedented time. Facebook has stepped up and is offering a few ways to better support small businesses during this time. Social media marketing is an effective way to get your message to your target audience. It's important to keep up with your social marketing as this is a way many customers are consuming information these days. Ensure your message has a good chance of being in their newsfeeds over the next few months. Consumers are eager to learn more about businesses and silence is NOT the way to accomplish that! Learn about the changes Facebook has recently made to make communication and the financial struggle a little easier for many small businesses: Ability to Sell Gift Cards On Facebook Facebook now provides a place for businesses to set up digital gift cards. People can purchase gift cards for themselves or for others to use at a future date. The income stream from the purchase of gift cards can help many small ...

The word, “branding,” can be confusing for small businesses. Some people think it’s your advertising. Some people think it’s your logo. But it’s neither. While there are technical definitions of “branding,” I recently came across a little different perspective on branding that I really like. It’s by Allan Dib, author of “The 1-Page Marketing Plan.” It goes something like this. Try thinking of your brand as the personality of your business. Literally, think of your business as an actual person and answer these questions about it. As you answer them about the “person”, try to think about the mental and emotional picture it creates of your “brand.” So, if your business was a PERSON: 1. What is the person’s name? 2. What does the person wear?  3. How (and how well) does the person communicate?  4. What is the person’s core values? And do they live by them in all cases? 5. Who does the person associate with? 6. Is the person well-known? And by who? As yo...

It can be intimidating to decide what should be featured on a website. Our experienced website designers in mid-Missouri hear this a lot from our clients. A website should be a source where consumers can find a solution to their problem. If you're struggling with what to put on your website or are simply wanting to ensure your website is as updated as possible, it's a good idea to check that your site contains the following features. Take a look: Eye-catching Graphics If your site doesn't grab your viewer's attention within seconds, they may move on. It's important that the visual aspect of your website conveys the right message to your potential customers. The graphics should be professional, eye-catching, and do a great job of explaining what your business does. The graphics you choose may be even more important than you realized! Clear Call to Action What do you want website visitors to do? If the action you want potential customers to take isn't ...

Getting found online is a way many businesses drive success. The ability to get people to your website and to increase awareness of your business is key. Our online marketing company in mid-Missouri is here to help! We're showcasing a few of the things you can be doing to put the web to work for your business. Have an Effective Website Your website is your hub for all online activities. When a potential customer is searching for a solution to a problem, your website should be able to help them solve that issue (if it pertains to your business). It's also important to have a clear call to action across your website. How should someone contact your business to make a purchase? Is there an online store, a storefront to visit, a phone number to call, and order form to fill out... this kind of information should be easy for potential customers to view and understand. Be Active on Social Media Social media is a highly effective way to reach and communicate with potential ...