Category: Marketing Strategy

This blog category is focused on helping businesses develop and implement effective internet marketing strategies. Here, we discuss techniques and strategies to increase website performance, attract more customers, and measure success by analyzing data and key metrics.

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 care and landscaping services to Bloomington, Indiana. With a strong commitment to family values and customer-focused care, they set out to cultivate a business that would serve their community while laying the groundwork for a legacy their daughters could be proud of.

When Kelly first sat down for a consultation with me, Dave Martin from David Martin Design, he had a clear objective: to build a reliable online presence for Indiana Greenscape Solutions. We weren’t just creating a logo or launching a website—we were sowing the seeds of a brand that would grow and thrive.

🛠️ Building the Foundation: Branding and Identity

We started with the name. We wanted something that combined local pride with a clear description of the services offered. After exploring several options, Indiana Greenscape Solutions emerged as the perfect choice—highlighting both the state-specific service area and the business’s focus on thoughtful, solution-oriented lawn care.

Next came the logo design. We chose a stylized leaf intertwined with the shape of Indiana, subtly reminding customers of the business’s local roots. The color palette blends earth tones for a sense of trust and professionalism with lively greens to evoke growth and vitality. The fonts were deliberately selected: modern and approachable for Indiana Greenscape and more traditional for Solutions to convey reliability.

The tagline came naturally: “Indiana’s Lawns, Lovingly Landscaped.” It was a phrase that reflected both the meticulous care the Fort family put into their work and the warmth they bring to customer relationships.

💻 Crafting the Digital Landscape

A strong name and logo deserve a home, so we turned our attention to the website, indianagreenscape.com. The goal was to create a simple yet professional site showcasing services, pricing, and a clear call to action for estimates. We focused on intuitive navigation and SEO best practices, ensuring the site is structured for both visitors and search engines.

During our screen-sharing session, I walked Kelly through the domain registration process. We registered the domain in his name—because, as I always say, I want my clients to own their intellectual property. It’s their business, their brand, their hard work.

Key features of the site include:
- Service Pages: Clear descriptions of core services—mowing, fertilization, and aeration.
- Contact & Estimate Form: Simple, user-friendly forms to encourage visitors to request free estimates.
- Payment Integration: Stripe was integrated through WordPress plugins, making it easy for customers to pay invoices online.
🌿 The Services: Precision Lawn Care

Indiana Greenscape Solutions doesn’t just mow grass; they cultivate healthy, vibrant lawns with science-backed methods and family-level care.
1. Mowing & Maintenance:
  Each lawn is treated with precision. Mower blades are sharpened weekly to prevent grass damage, and mulching kits recycle nutrients back into the soil. Every mow is accompanied by meticulous edging, trimming, and debris removal.
2. Fertilization & Weed Control:
  With a certified pesticide applicator license, the team uses a five-treatment lawn care program that supports turf health while ensuring the safety of families, pets, and local wildlife.
3. Core Aeration:
  This annual service alleviates soil compaction, improving water and nutrient absorption and encouraging deeper root growth.
4. Seasonal & Specialty Services:
  From soil sampling and garden bed installations to snow removal and Christmas light installations, the Fort family understands the importance of year-round lawn care.
🚀 Tech, Tools, and Growth Strategies

Behind the scenes, we implemented several tools to streamline operations and prepare for growth:
- Google Workspace: For professional email, document sharing, and team communication.
- Stripe: Integrated for effortless invoicing and secure payment processing.
- Yardbook CRM: To handle customer relationships, scheduling, and billing.
- SEO Optimization: Structured content, relevant keywords, and plugins to control meta descriptions, helping the site climb local search rankings.
We also explored potential winter services like junk removal, fence staining, and pressure washing to maintain year-round revenue streams.

🌻 Marketing and Community Engagement

With branding and technology in place, we turned to marketing strategies to generate buzz. The team distributed door hangers and business cards throughout neighborhoods like Blue Ridge (47408). We encouraged customers to leave positive online reviews and launched a referral program offering discounts for word-of-mouth recommendations.

The #bragbox channel in The Mill’s Slack Workspace became a great way to share success stories and show off the beautiful lawns that Indiana Greenscape Solutions was creating across Bloomington.

🌐 Looking Ahead: Growing Stronger Every Season

The Fort family’s dedication to lawn care mirrors the care they put into growing their business. Every stripe on a freshly mowed lawn, every precisely trimmed hedge, and every lush, green yard stands as a testament to their hard work and family values.

So, if your lawn needs some love, don’t wait!
Visit indianagreenscape.com to request a free estimate, fill out the contact form, or even shoot them an SMS to get started. Whether it’s a routine mow or a complete landscape transformation, Indiana Greenscape Solutions is ready to make your outdoor space the envy of the neighborhood.

Here’s to green lawns, thriving roots, and the incredible growth of a family business that started with a simple dream.

– Dave Martin, Marketing & Design Consultant, David Martin Design 🌱💻🌳
February 14, 2025
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, or gluten-free food options, they’ve got you covered! 🍳☕️

But that’s not all—Brightside Café is also the perfect spot to hit the books and study! 📚 With lightning-fast internet speeds (just look at the speed test results in the image below! 🚀), it’s an outstanding place to get work done while enjoying a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.

If you’re new to Bloomington or just looking for a new favorite spot, be sure to check out Brightside Café and feel the Brightside vibes! 😎🌈

August 13, 2024
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 presence and branding that mirrors the efficiency, security, and user-friendliness of their recently built storage units on Highway 67.

Our branding project began with making a pivotal decision. Roman initially sought to name his venture after his last name, “Manley Enterprises”. However, after sitting down with Roman and getting a better understanding of his marketing goals, we found an opportunity for a more intuitive connection with potential clients.

We brainstormed and design a brand that wasn’t only a name, but also a literal signpost. A logo that encapsulated the business’s essence and its geographical significance. Drawing from its strategic location off of Highway 67, “67 Storage” was born.

This decision wasn’t just about picking a name—it was about crafting a scalable, recognizable, memorable, and easily searchable brand identity across both digital platforms and physical mediums for future customers. ’67 Storage’ was more than a choice; it was a strategic decision that streamlined the discovery process for potential clients.

Brand Identity Creation – Forging the 67 Storage Identity Inspired by the Open Road

With the name “67 Storage” setting the stage, the journey towards creating a cohesive brand identity began.

Color Scheme

A Palette Born from the Road

The color scheme transitioned from concept to palette, drawing from the distinctive colors of highway road signs. This choice was intentional, aiming to evoke a sense of reliability and guidance, much like the road signs that navigate travelers to their destinations. The colors chosen were more than just visually appealing; they were a narrative in themselves, telling a story of trust, direction, and safety.

Typography

Typography plays a pivotal role in bridging 67 Storage’s brand identity with its digital presence. Research into the typography of highway signs—specifically Highway Gothic and Clearview—revealed the practical challenges of licensing and digital optimization. Thus, for the logo, we chose Interstate, a font inspired by highway signage yet suitable for digital use, found on Adobe Fonts. For the website, Overpass from Google Fonts was selected for its web optimized design and open source license, ensuring a consistent, readable online experience. This thoughtful selection allowed us to maintain a connection to the brand’s roots while adapting to the digital landscape.

ClearviewHwy font single computer license purchase page indicating the cost of $795, which informed the decision to select Overpass for the 67 Storage website.

Screenshot highlighting Overpass, a versatile typeface from Google Fonts, chosen for its compatibility with 67 Storage’s branding and logo.

Logo Design

Drawing inspiration from the very roots of the name, the brand’s visual identity took cues from highway signs—a nod to the name’s origin and a brilliant play on familiarity and visibility. The logo was fashioned to mirror the clarity and straightforwardness of highway signage, ensuring instant recognition and connection.

Business Card Design

For the business card, we compressed 67 Storage’s brand identity into a readable, impactful design. The layout and iconography is intentionally minimalist to focus on clearly displaying key contact information. To balance the white space of the card, we crafted a background that aligns with the shield logo on the right. This enhances the card’s visual appeal and brand recognition. Moreover, a QR code links to the 67 Storage website for ease of customer access. Our design approach makes the business card an efficient networking tool and extension of the 67 Storage brand identity.

Picking 67storage.com: Securing a Strong Online Presence

Selecting the right domain name for 67 Storage was a crucial decision to make. Picking an overly complicated or hard to remember domain name could considerably impact it’s ability for customers to find and remember. To avoid this, we decided on 67storage.com, a short, straightforward domain name that both reinforces the brand identity and simplifies the customer’s journey to finding the business online online.

WordPress Website & Design: Crafting a User-Centric Online Space

The website for 67 Storage was intentionally designed to radiate its unique identity while focusing on two primary objectives: attracting new customers and enabling online payment for storage unit rentals. Using WordPress, we customized the latest 2024 Theme and enriched it with hand-coded Custom CSS. This approach added a layer of interactivity to navigation elements, buttons, and links, improving the overall user experience. For style, significant customization was made on the page template to echo the brand’s signature shield motif, ensuring a visual consistency across the digital and physical aspects of the brand.

Key features of the site include detailed information about available storage units, a comprehensive FAQ section, and integration with a payment processor, facilitating easy rent payments for customers. Additionally, the website is equipped with contact forms designed to cater to prospective customers, simplifying the process of inquiring about rentals. This strategic combination of form and function embodies 67 Storage’s commitment to service accessibility and customer convenience, ensuring the website not only serves as a digital storefront but also as a tool for operational efficiency.

Key Takeaway

Working closely together with Roman, we took the initial seeds of a business idea, patiently nurturing them through a collaborative journey to fruition. It was our personal approach to this collaboration—taking the time to understand Roman’s vision, marketing goals, and the core values he wanted to portray—that let us create more than just a name or logo; we built an identity that truly embodied the key principles of efficiency, security, and customer focus.

This project was more than a branding initiative; it was a testament to the power of personalized collaboration. By establishing a strong sense of trust with Roman and understanding his vision, we were able to ensure the branding truly reflected the essence of his business. This synergy created a robust, impactful brand that held a distinct logo and strong digital presence.

67 Storage is no longer only an idea, but a living representation of Roman’s vision, bringing a tangible impact to the marketplace. It stands as the embodiment of thorough deliberation, cooperative work, and perseverance, and we’re immensely proud to be part of this evolving journey of 67 Storage. Our collaboration with Roman underscores the incredible outcomes that can be achieved through an individualized, insight-driven approach to business development.

April 16, 2024
5 Figma Tools to Improve Your Web & Digital Marketing Strategy

In today’s ever-evolving digital marketing and web design scene, streamlining your workflow is more valuable than ever. Amid a plethora of tools, identifying those that can truly streamline your strategy instead of distract can be a formidable task. Figma’s community shares files and plugins that are helpful for crafting professional web and marketing content. In this article, we focus on five practical user-made Figma tools that can refine your creative process and make your web and marketing strategy faster and more professional.

1. Complete Favicon Generator by Ernest Ojeh

Today, responsive website design isn’t a nice to have – it’s a requirement, and favicons are no exception. This handy design file by Ernest Ojeh takes your finalized favicon image and lets you see what it looks like across different browsers and devices. This is perfect for ensuring the chosen brand icon can be easily recognizable across devices and to show clients what it’s going to look like in various browser tabs and search engines. Additionally, each version that’s generated is contained in a frame with a matching name so using the included embed code is a simple copy paste procedure.

2. Social Media Images Size by Andreslav Kozlov

Remembering all the different ideal image sizes across all the different platforms can become quite a headache. Failure to do so often results in subpar, low quality, and pixelated posts that look unprofessional and uninspiring to viewers. This plugin by Andreslav Kozlov allows you to import perfectly sized Figma frames tailored for a wide array of social media platforms at the click of a button. Whether it’s the square layout for Instagram, the wide banner for Twitter, or the unique dimensions for LinkedIn, this plugin has all the popular platforms. This useful plugin saves time and elevates the quality of social media posts, ensuring they look crisp and engaging on any platform.

3. Social Media Templates by Ravn

Having your social media images in the proper size and body content ready is great for clients, but this Figma file lets you take that to the next level. With Social Media Templates by Ravn, now you can show exactly what a client’s content will look like across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter. It even includes a prototype section with interactive carousel mockups for posts with multiple images!

4. Realtime Colors by Juxtopposed

This isn’t your average color palette generator. realtimecolors.com is a color and font visualizer platform specifically for web designers. Using a website structure template, now you can generate and see colors and fonts provided via Google Fonts in real time. Another notable feature is it’s expansive export options – you can save and send these examples simply by sending a link to clients, providing an easily accessible starting point when making design decisions. You can also export by download, QR code, CSS code, the Figma plugin, and more, making documenting and implementing these colors and fonts on your website and marketing materials a breeze.

5. ColorLabels by Naren Abbaraju

If using the Realtime Colors plugin isn’t easy enough, here’s another to make things even easier. ColorLabels by Naren Abbaraju quickly lets you label color swatches on Fimga in a variety of formats, including RBG, HEX, HSL, and HSB. The best part? Color Labels can also automatically detect and apply Coolors.co‘s custom color labels. Calling a color swatch Aquamarine instead of #67EFE1 or “the light greenish one” is much easier for you and your clients to say, understand, and remember. It’s one of those simple changes that make the process a little more approachable.

Closing Thoughts

Navigating the world of Figma tools designed to enhance your web and digital marketing strategies can feel like entering a gold mine. With the right tools, you can supercharge your creative process, increase your efficiency, and present a polished, consistent brand image that resonates with your audience.

Every new tool feels like a game-changer. But remember, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The vibrant community of Figma is loaded with new plugins, files, and ideas that are just waiting to be discovered, used, and shared.

So, what’s the next step? Start including one or more of these tools in your strategy today. Share your triumphs and trials with them. Trade ideas with the community, learn from each other, and keep your toolbox ever-evolving. Most importantly, remember that in the ever-changing world of web and digital marketing, your greatest tool is your adaptability.

Let’s embrace Figma to not just reach, but to exceed our creative and strategic goals, and propel our narratives into the stratosphere.

February 16, 2024
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:
1. Navigate to and open your phone’s browser
2. Tap on the search bar
3. Type in the business or event
4. Find their website on Google or Bing
5. Go to the website
6. Scan the homepage and navigation
7. Locate and read the content you want
For somebody walking by an advertisement, event poster, or storefront, this is inconvenient and awkward at best. At worst, a potential customer or participant who’s too busy at the moment or not yet invested in your business or event could simply keep walking, or intend to look it up later but end up completely forgetting about your business.

Enter the QR Code

On the other hand, imagine a potential customer walking by a storefront and noticing an intriguing advertisement with a QR code displayed prominently. With their curiosity piqued, they quickly pull out their smartphone and effortlessly scan the code. The convenience, ease, and excitement of this seamless interaction leave the customer positively impressed, reaffirming their belief in the brand’s commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction. This is the power of QR codes: bridging the gap between the physical and digital realms.

A Brief History of the QR Code

The automotive parts manufacturing company Denso Wave created QR (short for Quick Response) codes in 1994 for inventory management. Inspired by black and white Go game pieces, QR codes have many advantages over traditional UPC barcodes. They have a much larger capacity – featuring up to 7000 characters compared to UPCs’ 20. QR codes are readable at any angle, even if they are partially damaged. They are also read 10x faster than traditional barcodes.

The Flexibility of QR Codes

QR codes have revolutionized the way businesses and event organizers connect with their audience, offering a seamless bridge between the physical and digital realms. With their flexibility and ease of use, QR codes have become invaluable tools for businesses and events to enhance customer experiences and streamline various operations.

Some ways QR codes are commonly used today include:
- Digital Menus: Many restaurants, cafes, and event venues are using QR codes to provide digital menus to customers. This reduces the need for physical menus and can be easily updated for different events.
- Contactless Payments: QR codes can facilitate mobile payment transactions at both retail businesses and event venues. Customers can scan the code to make payments, reducing the need for physical cash or cards.
- Product Information: Retail businesses and event vendors can use QR codes to provide detailed information about a product or event offerings. This is particularly useful for products or events with limited space to display information.
- Digital Business Cards: Instead of giving out business cards with a printed email or LinkedIn address, professionals and event organizers can share a QR code that reveals their contact information. This allows for seamless networking during events.
- Link to Reviews or Testimonials: Encourage customers and event attendees to leave reviews or read previous customer testimonials about your products or services. This can help build trust and credibility.
- Direct Customers to Your Social Media: Boost your online presence and engage with customers and event attendees by directing them to your social media platforms. This allows for ongoing communication and promotion.
- Promotions or Discounts: Offer promotions or discounts that are exclusively revealed when the customer or event attendee scans the QR code. This can incentivize purchases or attendance at events.
Check out these styled QR codes for some local Bloomington websites, created easily thanks to Styled QR Code Generator:

Things to Consider Before Making QR Codes
- Certain QR code generators produce short links that redirect to your website, instead of directly linking to it. Be aware that these services may disable your code a few weeks post-creation unless you subscribe, potentially leaving you with non-functional codes in your printed marketing materials.
- Be sure to make it clear why customers should scan the QR code and what they stand to gain from it. Failing to clearly explain the purpose or benefits of scanning the QR code can lead to confusion and disinterest from customers. A simple call-to-action, such as “Scan here for more information,” can help customers understand the purpose of the QR code.
- Position QR codes strategically so customers can easily spot and scan them. Avoid overusing QR codes to the point where their novelty wears off.
- Unless you’re looking to make a stylized QR, most of the time you don’t need any special generator platforms. Google Chrome lets you make direct QR codes on any page simply by right-clicking on the page and selecting “Create QR Code for this Page”:
- Other options for direct QR code generators that have more style options include:
Ending Thoughts

QR codes have emerged as powerful tools that bridge the gap between the physical and digital realms. They offer convenience and ease of use, making it effortless for potential customers to access information and engage with businesses and events. From providing digital menus to facilitating contactless payments, QR codes have revolutionized customer experiences and streamlined operations in various industries.

If you have any questions or concerns, we at David Martin Design are committed to offering the best possible service. We believe in fostering strong relationships with our clients by ensuring transparency, commitment, and a collaborative approach. Feel free to get in touch with us at any point. Your success is our top priority, and we look forward to hearing from you and helping you achieve your goals.

Written by Jarod Maxwell, Digital Marketing Specialist at David Martin Design
David Martin Design
Web Development, Web Hosting, & Digital Marketing in Bloomington, Indiana since 2004
December 19, 2023
Elevate Your Business Visibility with Local Business Listings on Google, Bing, & Yahoo
In today’s fast-paced digital world, having your business information accurately listed on various online platforms is not just a necessity; it’s a game-changer. At David Martin Design, we’re excited to announce our latest offering – Local Business Listing Management. This service is tailored to help business owners like you gain better visibility and ensure your business details are always up-to-date across key platforms, including Google, Bing, and more.

The Importance of Accurate Business Listings: Accurate business listings are critical for two main reasons. First, they ensure that your potential customers can find you easily. Second, they provide reliable information, building trust and credibility in your brand. Inaccurate or outdated information can lead to lost opportunities and a negative impression.

For a small business in Bloomington, Indiana, beyond the major search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo, there are several other platforms where you can submit your business listing to increase visibility and reach potential customers:
1. Local Directories and Review Sites:
  - TripAdvisor: Ideal if your business is related to hospitality, tourism, or dining.
  - Angie’s List: Great for service-oriented businesses.
2. Social Media Platforms:
  - Facebook: Creating a business page on Facebook can help you reach a wide audience.
  - Instagram: This is especially useful if your business can showcase visually appealing products or services.
  - LinkedIn: Ideal for B2B businesses and professional networking.
3. Local Bloomington, Indiana Resources:
  - Bloomington Chamber of Commerce: Listing your business here can increase local business-to-business connections.
  - Visit Bloomington: If your business caters to tourists or is part of the hospitality industry, this is a great place to be listed.
  - BloomingtonOnline: Shop Local isn’t just a trendy slogan. It’s a call to action.
  - Local Bloomington Newspapers and Magazines: Many local publications have business directories.
4. Industry-Specific Directories:
  - If your business falls into a specific niche (like healthcare, legal services, or home improvement), look for directories specific to that industry.
5. Better Business Bureau (BBB):
  - Listing your business here can add credibility, as consumers often check BBB ratings.
6. Google Business and Bing Places:
  - Businesses can verify and edit their business information, respond to reviews, post photos and offers, and see insights on how customers are interacting with their business.
7. Community Bulletin Boards and Forums:
  - Local community centers, libraries, or online community forums specific to Bloomington can be valuable for word-of-mouth referrals.
How Our Service Works: Our Local Business Listing Management service is designed to be simple yet effective. We take the burden off your shoulders by:
1. Claiming Your Listings: We ensure your business is accurately listed on platforms like Google, Bing, & other important local platforms.
2. Regular Updates: From changing business hours, and updating posts, to updating contact information, we keep your listings current.
In a world where online presence is crucial, let David Martin Design be your partner in ensuring that your business stands out. Claim your listing today with our Local Business Listing Management service and take the first step towards enhanced visibility and success.

Ready to enhance your business’s online presence? Contact David Martin Design today to learn more about our Local Business Listing Management service and how we can help your business grow.
December 1, 2023
Nice ad! 😁 The Ryder Magazine & Film Series

It’s been a great partnership working with Peter LoPilato and helping him with the online component of https://www.theryder.com.

The Ryder Film Series has presented the best in international, independent and classic American films in Bloomington for over forty years. A monthly film program is published in The Ryder magazine, Bloomington’s free magazine of the arts and popular culture. The magazine is distributed in over 250 locations in and around Bloomington and the Indiana University campus.

The Ryder Magazine – June 2023 – David Martin Design ad with QR Code

I’ve had several of my friends and clients comment on the ad so I know that it works! Thanks for everything Peter!!!

July 24, 2023
The 3 R’s – Every Business Wants to Be Remembered, Respected, & Referred
Every business owner wants to be remembered, respected, and referred. When people remember your business, they are likely to think of you first when they need the products or services you offer. They will also be more likely to recommend your business to family and friends. Respectful treatment of customers will bring them back time and again, and encourage them to spread the word about your business.
1. The Importance of Being Remembered: How being remembered can benefit the success of a business. Examples of successful businesses that have become well-known by creating a lasting impression.
  
  Being remembered can have a significant impact on the success of a business. When people remember your business, it can lead to increased sales, giving you an edge over your competition. Additionally, when customers remember your company they may feel a connection and loyalty, making them likely to return in the future. This can result in repeat customers and steady growth for the business. Moreover, when customers remember your business, they may recommend it to others, leading to referrals and even more business.
2. The Importance of Being Respected: Why it’s important for business owners to be respected by their clients and customers. How respect can increase customer loyalty and help to grow the business.
  
  Respect is an important part of any successful business. Customers and clients who feel respected by business owners and employees are more likely to stick around and become loyal customers. Respectful treatment can lead to repeat customers and referrals, and it also helps to foster positive relationships that are so essential to business success. Respecting people’s time and meeting them on their own terms shows that the business cares and values its customers’ needs and wants.
3. The Importance of Being Referred: The benefits of being referred to potential customers and how it can lead to increased business. Ways to encourage customers to refer others to your business.
  
  Referral marketing is one of the most powerful and cost-effective forms of advertising. It is far more reliable than conventional forms of advertising, as people are much more likely to trust what their family, friends, and colleagues have to say about a business. Additionally, referral marketing can be a great way to expand your reach and gain new customers. Making it easy for customers to refer your business to family, friends, and colleagues is essential to success.
  
  Creating a dedicated page on your website with reviews, links to Google Business and Facebook, and other platforms that take customers directly to the review form is a great way to encourage referrals. This will increase visibility for your business and will ultimately lead to more sales and growth.
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. Respectful treatment of customers will help to foster loyalty and keep them coming back. Referral marketing is one of the most powerful and cost-effective forms of advertising, and it is essential to creating visibility and growth. By taking the time to ensure that your business is remembered, respected, and referred, you will be more likely to achieve success.
February 2, 2023
Manage Important Business Information with Google Business

Most business owners will find that it’s quite easy to jump into the Google Business platform and get started connecting your important business information with potential valuable customers. Keep reading below for a breakdown of what you can do with the updated Google My Business platform.

The Basics of Google Business

Start with the name of your business, determine the categories your business falls under, where your service location is, what your hours (& special hours) are, your business phone #, add a link to your website, and add interesting business photos (Interior, Exterior, At Work, Your Team, & Identity).

Completely filling out the basics of your Google Business profile is very important and will help potential customers searching at various times of day, in different locations, and for various reasons to reach your business if it matches what they are expecting.

I’d recommend starting with the basics and you will be ahead of most of your competition. Once you have that complete, then you can focus on some of the more advanced features that Google offers.

Create a post on Google Business

Visiting the Posts link on the side of your Google Business will bring up a news-feed status update input box where you can post important updates. I have not posted anything yet, but as soon as I am done writing this on my blog, I will post a link. I clicked on the LEARN MORE link and got an overview of what I should be doing:

Posting through Google Business lets you publish your events, products, and services directly to Google Search and Maps. By creating posts, you can place your timely content in front of customers when they find your business listing on Google.

This is great that Google is now allowing business owners to post directly through this business portal. As long as the business owner has claimed their profile and linked everything together including Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Google Adwords, and other properties, they should all play very well together.

Understand Import Insights About Your Business

Where do your customers come from? Do they find your local listing on the right side of the page, do they find your organic listing? Perhaps you are paying for traffic by using Google Adwords? With the Insights tab in Google My Business you can discover how your customers search for your business. You will understand if they have viewed your information directly through Search of via Maps. Important business information including whether a customer visited your website, asked for directions, viewed your photos, and how many customers called are all available at a quick glance.

Manage Your Google Business Reviews

“Digital Word of Mouth” is one of the most important local search ranking factors and will likely influence whether a potential customer will contact you or your competition. Google makes it easy for business owners to discover what their customers have written about them.

Your customers will rate your business on a 1-5 star scale and they may also leave written comments. You will receive a notification when a customer writes a review and the Google My Business platform makes it very easy to respond.

Google reviews are increasingly important and it’s very important for you to incorporate a strategy that includes asking your customers for feedback and providing an easy means to do so.

Message with Your Customers

Directly communicate with potential customers. Providing real-time access to the business owner will likely allow the business owners who are able to respond quickly an advantage over those who haven’t activated this feature and must use traditional methods.

I’m excited to be able to manage my Google business information in one easy place. Google Business has evolved in the past few years into a platform for businesses to easily manage their vital business information and understand key performance indicators that will help them succeed.

December 16, 2022
3 Basic Steps to Optimizing Your Website for Search Engines
This article provides an overview of the three steps necessary for successful SEO: basic on-page optimization, basic link building, and basic social media marketing.

Learn about the basics of keyword research, creating effective titles and meta descriptions, building your profile on external websites, and implementing effective social media strategies. Find out how you can use the right tools to measure your efforts and tie them back to your website. Start getting more website traffic and higher-quality leads with these three essential steps.

SEO, when done correctly, takes a ton of effort and it is a very time-consuming process, but for this, you may need professional help from a search engine optimization company. A well structured, planned out website is going to be much more successful in the long run and will result in more relevant traffic and better quality leads. To begin, we need to focus on three basic activities related to your presence including Basic On-page Optimization, Basic Link Building, and Basic Social Media Marketing.

Basic On-Page Optimization for SEO Success

Basic On-Page optimization is the lowest hanging fruit and is the first place we start when trying to optimize our website for search engines. We begin with brainstorming and researching keywords that your target audience is using to locate your products and services. If a client is trying to rank locally for keywords, we make sure to include keywords (such as Bloomington) in the copy and structure of the HTML. Title tags are then written to evoke the highest emotional response using keywords that are relevant to your audience. High-quality meta descriptions that include one to two sentences about your business with calls to action are crafted. Your information on your page should be structured into an outline like form including headings, paragraphs, bulleted lists, etc. Images all have titles, descriptions, and when it makes sense, captions. These images should have ALT descriptions not only for search engines but for accessibility. David Martin Design can provide you with assistance on the appropriate layout.

Basic Link Building for Increased Rankings

After the overall structure has been built and your information is well organized, it’s time to build some links to your website. Basic Link Building is important as a link reference from another reputable source on the internet is worth a TON in the search engine ranking factors. It’s important to create quality content and submit press releases that link back to your website for newsworthy items. Building your business profile on websites like Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, Manta, Instagram, Google My Business (for better efficiency should be managed using tools only from this site), Snapchat, Yelp, Yahoo, Foursquare, Bing Local, and a plethora of other directory-based websites is vital to your search engine ranking. It’s important to not just claim your listing, but include your business hours, images of your product and location, and other important signals that show you are active in your business marketing. Your customers will reward you with high-quality reviews if your customer service aligns and your performance exceeds their expectations. Make it easy for them to write reviews by promoting your business on social media and in as many online places as possible.

Social Media Marketing: Optimizing Your Channels

Social Media Marketing is a challenge as most people don’t initially gravitate towards social networks to interact with businesses or to hear about your latest gadget or gizmo, usually, it takes help from companies to get people into using social media. It’s important for link-building to optimize your business information on social media profiles. It’s also important that a key person in your business is assigned to monitor these channels for customer communication. This responsibility most likely falls into the hands of most business owners and they install apps on their phones to keep in touch with their customers. It’s important to claim your profiles, optimize them, and use helpful tools to help manage your social media. Using the right tools, you can effectively measure your efforts on social media and tie them back to your website.

As you can see, it can get pretty complicated to market your business in today’s world. Start with these 3 basic steps:
1. On-Page Optimization of your website pages
2. Build High-Quality Links to your website and webpages
3. Basic social media marketing
and you will begin to see positive results in the search engines and reach highly qualified leads.
December 5, 2022
David Martin Design Joins The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce

We are pleased to announce that David Martin Design has become the newest member of The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce! This is a great occasion to celebrate as it will definitely help the community to have another verified member in the Bloomington Website Design category.

Since 2004, David has designed websites with Bloomington business professionals, entrepreneurs, & individuals. David offers website design, web hosting, & helps business owners become more capable with digital marketing tools to make their lives better.

I’m excited to be joining The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce because I see it as an opportunity to network with other business professionals who are also looking for creative solutions.”

David Martin, owner of David Martin Design

The Chamber strives to promote the continuous improvement of the common good and the quality of life in the community through the pursuit of new business; the cultural, social, and economic education of our citizens; and by providing accurate and timely assistance to the business community.

Learn more about The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce at their website: https://www.chamberbloomington.org/

October 18, 2021
Blogging for Business: What You Need to Know About WordPress and Content Management
Blogging is rapidly becoming an integral part of running an online business. While some business owners are quick to dismiss blogging as a waste of time and energy, the statistics are suggesting otherwise. As more and more websites start maintaining a blog, there’s an increased demand for a more blog-friendly content management system (CMS).

Although WordPress started out as a meager blogging engine, it is now considered the preeminent content management platform. As the largest CMS in the world, WordPress powers roughly 39% of websites. Its flexibility, reliability, and customizability attract web designers over other CMS competitors.

Here, we’ll explore why it’s important for businesses to understand WordPress and why publishing fresh content is a must.

WordPress JetPack Plugin – Artist Wall at the 2019 WordCamp US in St. Louis

Why Businesses Need to Know About WordPress

Whether you’ve heard about WordPress in your research about website development or this is your first exposure to it, you might be wondering what makes it so different. With dozens of other reputable platforms from which to choose, what makes WordPress so unique?

That’s a great question and one which has no shortage of answers. However, we’ll only stick to a few of the most compelling to help small business owners understand what they’re missing out on. Here are a few reasons why businesses need to know about WordPress.
1. It’s completely free.
Free…it’s music to any business owner’s ears. Unlike other content management systems, WordPress operates under what’s known as a GNU General Public License which essentially means it’s free for anyone to download, edit, and customize. When compared to other, more costly CMSs, WordPress has risen through the ranks as one of the most popular among small businesses that are trying to keep costs down. While you’ll eventually need to spend money on web hosting and domain names to get your website up and running, WordPress saves you on costs other platforms wouldn’t spare you.
1. WordPress is totally customizable.
As a business owner, you know just how vital it is to set yourself apart from competitors. A common complaint among web developers about more rigid CMSs is their lack of customizability. Due to WordPress’s open-source design, anyone is free to upload add-ons, plug-ins, and other features that maximize customizability and flexibility. If you can think it up for your website, there’s a good chance somebody has already contributed the functionality to WordPress. With a single click, you have access to tens-of-thousands of unique features. As the needs of your online business change, WordPress can easily keep up with its unmatched flexibility.
1. It’s SEO-optimized by default.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the method through which your website is primed for optimal exposure on search engines like Google to increase your chances of reaching your target audience. Without an SEO-optimized site, your content can easily get lost in the shuffle. WordPress takes the stress away by ensuring all sites made on the platform are SEO-optimized by default since their structure is recognized by most search engines. However, your website SEO can further be maximized by downloading SEO-focused plug-ins that are available to everyone.

Business Blogging Statistics

As a small business owner, it’s understandable why you might be hesitant to dedicate valuable resources to developing and maintaining a blog. You can’t afford to waste time and energy on areas of your business that won’t offer a return. Fortunately, there’s a wealth of data underscoring the positive impact that blogging can have on businesses.

Here are a few of the most impressive statistics:
- Blogs can lead to a 97% boost in indexed links and a 434% boost in indexed pages. (Demand Metric)
- 8 out of 10 internet users engage with both blogs and social media sites. (Demand Metric)
- Businesses with blogs generate 67% more monthly leads on average than their counterparts that don’t have blogs. (Demand Metric)
- Blogging businesses see 55% more online visitors than companies that don’t blog. (HubSpot)
- In 2019, marketers prioritizing blogging saw 13X more return on their investments than those who didn’t. (HubSpot)
The Importance of Publishing Fresh Content

Of course, having a blog doesn’t do small businesses any benefit if they’re not regularly updating it. Although there are several advantages of maintaining a constant stream of fresh content, there are two primary reasons:
1. Search engines prefer newer content.
2. It’ll be easier to keep your audience engaged.
When forced to choose between ranking an older site that regularly posts new content and a site of the same age that hasn’t posted in months or years, Google will rank the former website higher even if the content is relatively similar. Reflecting the demand for new and updated content, Google wants to present its users with the freshest content. Most search engines work in the same manner. In order to prime your website for higher rankings in search engines, you need to post new content regularly.

Another critical reason to keep your site updated with fresh content is to keep your audience engaged. Whether you’re wanting to catch the attention of new users or keep regular visitors coming back, you need to make sure your site is providing something worthwhile. While the content you put out matters, the rate at which it’s produced also plays a role in the overall success of your site.

If you’re a small business owner who’s ready to reap the benefits of having an optimized blog, feel free to reach out to David Martin Design. With decades of experience building and managing websites for small businesses, David knows how to maximize the return on your website investment.
March 1, 2021