Category: Local Business Strategy
Marketing strategies and business advice for Bloomington entrepreneurs. Client success stories, networking tips, and local business growth strategies.
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Google Analytics, Google Search Console, & Google Business: Three Different Jobs, One Full Picture
Google Analytics, Search Console, and Business Profile all report on your website, but they answer different questions. Here's what each one actually tells you, and how to check them without drowning in dashboards.
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Digital Ownership for Small Businesses: What Do You Control?
I keep thinking about what happens when a business spends years building an audience on a platform it does not control. That got me thinking more broadly about digital ownership for small businesses. Who actually owns the relationship? A business might have thousands of social media followers, hundreds of Google reviews, years of customer conversations,…
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Is Your Website Actually Usable by Everyone? A Practical Accessibility Check for Bloomington Businesses
There is a version of your website you have never seen. When we talk about web accessibility, we are talking about the site a person hears instead of reads, or moves through with a keyboard instead of a mouse. It is the version someone gives up on because light gray text on a white background…
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Your Google Business Profile: A Practical Guide for Local Businesses
If someone searches for your type of business in Bloomington right now, the first thing they'll likely see isn't your website. It's your Google Business Profile: the panel that appears in Google Maps and in the results sidebar with your name, hours, photos, reviews, and a button to call or get directions. That listing is…
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How Much Does a WordPress Website Actually Cost?
If you've ever searched for website pricing online, you already know the frustration. Most answers are some version of "it depends" -- followed by a range so wide it tells you almost nothing. The truth is, cost does vary. But the reasons why are pretty straightforward, and once you understand them, you can walk into…
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What Is an llms.txt File - and Does Your Small Business Website Need One?
AI search tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google's AI Overviews are changing how people find local businesses. A new file called llms.txt gives you a simple, low-effort way to help those tools understand your website -- and describe your business accurately. This post explains what it is, why it matters, and gives you a free…
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Eight Years, One Shop, and a Website That Grew With the Business
Case Study | David Martin Design | Client Work How Bloomington Window Tint went from a placeholder page and a quiet phone to a professionally managed digital presence built on trust and consistency. At a Glance Client: Andrew Felt, Bloomington Window Tint LLCIndustry: Automotive and commercial window tinting, paint protection film, solar shadesLocation: Bloomington, IndianaRelationship:…
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Why I’m Proud to Be a Chamber Member (Since Way Back When)
I’ve officially been a Chamber member through David Martin Design since at least 2021, but my ties go back even further. I still have emails from 2009, when I was part of the Young Professionals group, soaking up all the networking and learning opportunities I could. Fast forward to today, and I’m still grateful for…
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How I’m Using AI to Build Better Systems for Business and Life
At David Martin Design, I have always believed the best solutions are not just creative: they are structured, strategic, and built to work in real life. Today, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become one of the most powerful tools I use to deliver on that vision (both for my business and personal workflows). But here is…
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Behind the Lens: Capturing Trashion Refashion 2025 for The B-Square Bulletin
Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of photographing one of Bloomington’s most creative and community-driven events - Trashion Refashion 2025 - on assignment for The B-Square Bulletin. Held at the historic Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Trashion Refashion is an annual runway show where models strut in outfits made from repurposed or recycled materials. Organized by Discardia, a…
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From Roots to Results: The Story of Indiana Greenscape Solutions
The Seed of an Idea The story of Indiana Greenscape Solutions begins with Kelly and Beth Fort - partners in both family and business - who, along with their four daughters, Rayne, Autumn, Bree, and Eden, had a vision. As lifelong plant science enthusiasts with deep agricultural roots, they wanted to bring high-quality, personalized lawn…
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Transferring Your Website to a New Web Designer: A Step-by-Step Guide
Switching to a new web designer can be a significant step in ensuring your website remains up-to-date, user-friendly, and aligned with your evolving business goals. However, the process of transferring a website is more complex than simply handing over a login. It involves careful coordination, clear communication, and understanding what to expect throughout the process.…
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My Custom GPTs: Elevating Workflows & Creativity
Welcome to a showcase of my custom-built GPTs! Each of these tools is designed to solve specific challenges, enhance productivity, and support creativity in web development, digital marketing, and beyond. Click on each link to explore further and see how these unique GPTs can help you or your business. Custom GPT Tools by David Martin…
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Brightside Café: Your Go-To Breakfast Spot and Study Haven in Bloomington!
Big shoutout to Brightside Café! We just wrapped up an incredible consultation with them today. With the influx of Indiana University students coming into town, Brightside Café is ready to welcome everyone with open arms. Whether you're looking for the best breakfast in town, a delicious espresso drink made just the way you like it,…
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Building 67 Storage: A Branding Case Study
Transforming Ideas into Virtual Reality: The Genesis of 67storage.com The creation of 67 Storage was a branding project that challenged our creativity and technical expertise but also strengthened our belief in the power of one-on-one collaboration. Our partnership with Roman, the business owner behind 67 Storage, started with a mission to craft a digital web…
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The Bridge Between Real & Digital: How To Utilize QR Codes
In the past, people used to jot down the website address if they found it on a poster in a business storefront. While one could look up a business or event, this approach leaves much to be desired; It’s a process to search online. Think about the number of steps involved in an average search:…
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The 3 R’s - Every Business Wants to Be Remembered, Respected, & Referred
Being remembered, respected, and referred will have a significant impact on the success of your business. It is important for business owners to create an impression that lasts and is remembered by their customers and clients.
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The Power of Responding to Negative Reviews on Google Business: Why It's Vital and How to Do It Right
Bryan Meadows, Owner of Bloomington Creative Solutions (this is a fake name) had been running his small business for 10 years, proudly providing services to his loyal customers. He often heard compliments from them, but one day he received a shock - someone had left a scathing one-star review on his Google Business page. Bryan…