Four States Small Business Blog

Are you trying to determine the quality of your website design? Evaluating your business website can be a challenge, but it's essential for your business success. That's why we've compiled this quick guide to help you accurately assess your company's online presence.

1. Layout

Your website's appearance must be balanced and arranged logically. The content on your site should be arranged hierarchically, with the most important information and brand positioning messaging positioned further up on your homepage. Your content sections need to be paired with well-placed call-to-action buttons. Finally, pay special attention to your website employing mobile-first and responsive design to fit various screen sizes.

A great example featuring a perfect layout is this design we did for  Superior Roofing !

2. Colors

Your website should be consistent with your brand and logo while following solid principles of color use in design. A bad use of color can be both offputting to users and make your website difficult to read and navigate. For instance, having green font over an orange background would be a poor combination, while white on orange can be a good match.

We recently completed a new website for  Windows for Less , which exemplifies ideal color balance.

3. Navigation

Your website's navigation should be intuitive and avoid crowding screen space on the page. For mobile-friendly versions of your site, this can take the form of a hamburger menu, while desktops can feature top-bar navigation styles or collapsible sidebars. Whatever your site's navigation style is, your menu should be simple and avoid having too many pages listed at once. For example, your top-level navigation may have five to seven pages. Further pages, such as those for individual service types, are ideally set up as child pages under a main services page to ensure your top-level menu is manageable.

Notice how we collapsed the multiple services pages on  The Chimney Sweep LLC 's website into a drop-down menu underneath the button for the main services page.

4. Content Quality

The text, images, and videos of your site must be of excellent quality to wow visitors. Your written content should be confident, informative, and free of spelling and grammar errors. A good site utilizes shorter paragraphs and text blocks to avoid overwhelming casual web users scanning for specific information. Images and videos need to be sized correctly to prevent long loading times or a pixelated appearance. 

Our website for  MW Fence  offers a great example of informative copy in brief sections, along with a perfectly optimized auto-play video on the homepage.

5. Search Engine Optimization

The good news is that most decisions that will positively impact your website's visibility on search engines are very simple, often combining principles from the aspects mentioned above. While technical SEO can be a more complicated field, you can start addressing the basics immediately. Your website pages, headings, and content should address strategic keywords for your business in a manner that satisfies the user's search intent. There are many   research tools  that can help you identify important keywords for your business and shape a strategy.

Check out  All Dogs Dream  to see a good example of SEO supported by a successful blogging strategy.

Evaluating Your Web Design

If your website stacks up well in four or more of these categories, you are on your way to a solid web design to promote your business! But don't stop now; there's always room for improvement, and your website should always be evolving. If your site is satisfactory in three or fewer criteria, that's a sign to take swift action to improve your design.

Need A New Web Design?

Zimmer Marketing's web development team is pushing the boundaries of website design and performance. Fast, visually appealing, and SEO-friendly websites are no longer the exclusive domain of multi-billion dollar companies. If you want to give your business a competitive advantage online, we're here to help.

Get in Touch with a Marketing Consultant

 

Topics: Website Design

In today's fast-paced, technology-driven world, the business landscape has evolved dramatically. Small companies no longer rely solely on traditional marketing methods to reach their target audience. Instead, they have embraced the power of digital marketing to propel their growth and success. In this blog, we'll delve into why digital marketing is indispensable for your small business!

Topics: Digital Marketing

Creating a marketing strategy for a new business can be an intimidating task, but it is essential to do so before committing any funds to advertising. Putting the time in to thoughtfully plan your steps in 2024 will keep you from stretching your budget too thin and receiving underwhelming ROI. To help you know whether you are ready to go live with your plans, we've put together this helpful list of questions to ask yourself before executing your strategy.

Topics: Marketing Strategy, Marketing ROI, Branding

Every new year brings with it changes to the business and marketing landscape. Sometimes, we see continuations of trends from previous years, and sometimes, we find the hottest new thing from last year was not quite worth all the hype. That can make keeping up with new marketing tools and techniques a bit of a strain. So, in this week's blog, we'll examine some marketing tools we believe will be necessary components to your marketing success as a small business owner in 2024.

Topics: Marketing Strategy, Marketing ROI

As we step into 2024, now is the perfect time to reflect on the effectiveness of your marketing strategies from the past year. While last year brought both challenges and opportunities, assessing your marketing plan's performance is crucial for refining your approach in 2024. In this blog, we'll delve into key aspects of your marketing plan, with a particular focus on brand identity and the potential pitfalls of overstretching a limited budget on too many marketing channels.

Topics: Marketing Strategy, Marketing ROI, Branding

As your business navigates the holiday season and approaches the start of a new year, it's an opportune moment to assess your business and marketing objectives. Whether you're new to business marketing or highly experienced, engaging in an annual reflection and planning session is not just beneficial but also essential. To assist you in this process, we're here to provide some tips on preparing your marketing strategy for 2024.

Topics: Marketing Strategy

The holiday season is not just a time for festive decorations and warm gatherings; it's also a golden opportunity to showcase your products as the perfect gift. For local shops and boutiques, the holiday season can be an essential moment for sales. To help you navigate December sales, we've compiled a list of marketing ideas to make your products the go-to gifts for everyone on the shopping list.

 

1. Gift Bundles and Exclusive Packages

Create curated gift bundles that highlight the best of your products. Consider combining complementary items or offering limited edition holiday packages. Exclusive bundles not only add value but also make the shopping experience easier for customers.

 

2. Holiday Messaging

Add a personal touch to your marketing messages. Incorporate holiday-themed graphics and create content that resonates with the emotions of the season. Highlight the joy of giving and emphasize how your products can bring happiness to the recipient. Be certain to differentiate your thoughtful, locally-based gifts from those of big-box retailers.

 

3. Include Holiday Wrapping

It can help in the holiday season to offer gift wrapping with each purchase. For those buying many gifts for friends and family, gift wrapping can become quite a chore. Consider also offering a customizable card with each gift.

 

4. Gift Guides and Inspiration

Inspire your customers by creating gift guides. Categorize products based on different themes or recipients (for example, gifts for him, gifts for her, and gifts for coworkers). Make it easy for shoppers to find the perfect gift for everyone on their list.

 

5. Social Media Contests and Giveaways

Engage your audience on social media with holiday-themed contests and giveaways. Encourage user-generated content by asking customers to share their favorite gift ideas or holiday traditions. This not only boosts interaction but also creates a sense of community around your brand. If you include your own website as part of the campaign, you will have the added benefit of boosting your site's visibility!

 

6. Collaborate with Influencers

Partner with influencers to showcase your products as desirable gifts. Influencers can create engaging content, share their personal experiences with your products, and reach a wider audience. For a local touch, consider a partnership with on-air talent from one of   Zimmer Marketing's six popular radio stations. Their recommendations can carry significant weight during the holiday shopping frenzy.

 

7. Virtual Shopping Events

Host virtual shopping events or live product demonstrations on social media platforms. Provide insights into your products, share behind-the-scenes stories, and interact with customers in real time. 

Gift Idea from Zimmer Marketing!

You're all set to promote your products as gifts this holiday season, but have you wrapped up your holiday shopping? Zimmer Marketing has created a unique gift opportunity for the beer lovers in your life: The Show Me State Beer Card! With your purchase of a 2024 Beer Card, your gift recipient will receive not one but two beers for just $1 a piece at participating locations across Southwest Missouri!

Get Yours Now

New boost

Topics: Marketing Strategy

Zimmer Marketing is pleased to announce the launch of a new state-of-the-art website for a wonderful local business –   Erickson & Co. Mercantile! Over the fall season, our web team worked closely with the Erickson & Co. Mercantile to create the perfect website to promote their excellent artisan products in time for the holiday season! 

This website was part of a Zimmer Marketing giveaway package that Erickson & Co. Mercantile won by garnering many votes from the Four States community! The over $15,000 giveaway package included an advanced website, logo creation, professional photography, video production, and free radio for a year on KISSIN 92.5!

Topics: Website Design

In the ever-evolving landscape of social media, crafting an effective strategy can be a game-changer for your business. As we near the end of 2023 and prepare for 2024, now is the ideal time to reflect on your brand growth this year and plan for improvements in the coming year. Social media can be a powerful tool for brand growth when used correctly. So, to help you get the most out of your online presence, we've put together this social media strategy guide for 2024.

 

1. Define Your Target Audience

Understanding your audience is the cornerstone of any successful social media strategy. Begin by identifying and documenting your buyer personas. Dive deep into demographics such as age, gender, occupation, income, hobbies, and interests. The more you know about your audience, the better you can tailor your content to their specific needs.

2. Focus on Key Social Channels

Not every social media platform is created equal. Focus your efforts on a few key channels that offer the highest return on investment. Research where your target audience spends their time. If your target audience is outside the primary user base for a given social media platform, it will be more fruitful to focus your attention on a few highly productive platforms. For instance, if your brand tries to reach local business leaders, your resources would be better spent in places like LinkedIn or X (formerly Twitter). You would likely find a platform like TikTok to be less productive for your given audience and would not focus on it for outreach to business leaders. 

 

3. Drive Traffic to Your Website

Your business website is the online asset that your business controls the most. Whenever possible, utilize social media to drive traffic back to your website. It's important to be aware of each of your social media channel's policies regarding the promotion of your website. Follow their rules to ensure your posts are not suppressed for failure to follow their guidelines. Using social media to bring in traffic to your website gives you more insight into conversions and helps boost your site's performance in search engines. 

4. Optimize for Search

Social search is on the rise, with a significant percentage of consumers using social media as their first stop to search for brands. Optimize your social channels for search by including relevant keywords and hashtags, ensuring your username is easy to find, and maintaining consistency across accounts. Integrate your website's SEO strategy with your social SEO to help touchpoints for your brand appear in the top spots on search results pages.

 

5. Measure Your Results

Social media success is measurable. Track key metrics using platform-specific analytics tools. Measure website traffic, interactions, and sales attributed to social media efforts. Establish goals and maintain a scorecard to monitor progress. Choose metrics that are easy to track, such as post engagement, ensuring you stay motivated to analyze and adjust your strategy.

 

6. Adjust Your Tactics

The social media space is a constantly changing environment, and success often requires adaptation. Experiment with different channels, content types, and messaging. Monitor changes in post views, audience demographics, and interactions. Consistent refinement leads to a more effective and resonant social media strategy over time.

Brand Growth Strategy Experts for Social Media

Zimmer Marketing is the Four States area expert in social media engagement and branding. We can help you craft a brand identity, strategize your marketing media, and produce top-level content to achieve your business objectives!

Get in Contact with a Marketing Consultant

New boost

Topics: Social Media

Video marketing is a highly effective way for many businesses to grow their brands. But is video marketing the right solution for your company? Let's delve into some compelling reasons that underscore why video marketing can be a game-changer for your brand growth.

Topics: Video Production