Chicago 116

How to Build a Small Business Website

If you’re a smaller, local business, maybe a single proprietor, who just needs an online presence to show that you’re a “real company,” then you probably don’t need all the bells and whistles of a top-of-the-line website.  All you really need is four or five pages with the critical information visitors are looking for (e.g.,…

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video director

7 Best Reasons to Include Video on Your Website

Have you ever opened a website and been blasted with loud music and a splashy video that immediately starts playing? Yeah, me too – and I hate it. That’s most definitely NOT the kind of video I’m talking about here. Video can be a huge plus when used properly. But, as with any other digital…

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DSC 0562

How To Stand Out in a Crowded Niche

Last week I took a vacation to Sedona, AZ with my sister. We hiked all over the red rocks, browsed through the many crystal shops, ate at some terrific restaurants, went horseback riding, and took a tour with one of Sedona’s most visible brands – Pink Jeep Tours. I have to admit that we didn’t…

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Talk about your customers, not about you

I Don’t Want to Hear About You – Talk About ME!

How many times have you looked at a website and thought “What are they talking about?” or “Why am I even reading this?” It’s clear that the website was designed and written with the business owner in mind, not the audience. As a business owner, of course you want to tell everyone all about your one-of-a-kind…

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Are Blogs and Social Media Dead?

Last week I heard an interview that Jay Baer did with David Meerman Scott, author of ‘The New Rules of Marketing and PR’. The part that really caught my attention was David’s discussion about the terminology we use in the online space – specifically, words like “blogging” and “social media.” “Blogging” is a Dirty Word…

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Why Your Business DOESN'T Need a Website

The first question I always ask a potential web development client is “Why do you want a website?” The answers range from “Because people tell me I should” to “I want to sell more shovels” to “I want my business to be seen as the go-to company for irrigation systems.” Three very different answers, and…

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