DOING GREAT FOR THOSE WHO DO GOOD.

We all have experienced shame, fatigue, frustration, and a cosmic disconnect – when attempting to use some websites. As communications professionals, we should strive with all our might never to let our customers have that outcome when visiting our sites. Yet, it can and does happen. Optimizing your website is a key factor in delivering a strong user experience (UX). For small businesses and nonprofits, ensuring that visitors can easily navigate and interact with your site can make a significant difference in engagement and response. As consumer expectations shift towards more seamless and intuitive online experiences, focusing on UX can help your organization stand out. But sometimes you just need a little help or perspective. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes (like an agency’s) can see the potential hassles and potholes ahead. We start by evaluating your site’s navigation. Personalizing content based on user interests or behaviors can also create a more engaging experience, helping you connect with your audience on a deeper level. Additionally, optimizing for mobile devices is essential, as more people are using phones to browse the web. Implementing changes and testing different approaches without needing extensive technical skills is a part of the ‘drag-n-drop’ software we offer. Taking control of your site’s user experience allows you to make timely updates, keeping your content relevant and accessible as your organization evolves. You can improve visitor satisfaction and support the goals of your organization, whether that’s driving sales, increasing awareness, or expanding community and stakeholder reach, by optimizing your website UX. Don’t sleep on this one! 

Marketing is like golf – a really good scorer will master both the long- and the short-game. In our venue, this about the short game as winning individual customers and the broader approach about influencing the masses. Using this ‘complete’ game will be beneficial and is crucial for small businesses and nonprofits to grow and get noticed. Putting a portion of your budget, year over year, into outreach can really pay off. Here are some affordable, high-impact one-to-one ways to boost your efforts: Social Media Marketing: (more details coming soon) Use Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to interact with your local community, share promotions, and build brand awareness. Sponsoring Local Events: Team up with local events or community groups to show your support and get your name out there among event-goers. Email Marketing: Send personalized emails to local customers and supporters with special offers or updates to keep them engaged and coming back. Local SEO Optimization: Make sure your website is optimized for local searches so potential customers can easily find you online. Traditional advertising methods (less targeted, more broad) like outdoor ads, radio spots (including channels like Spotify and Pandora), and TV commercials are still important. Outdoor ads catch the eye in busy areas, radio ads still reach listeners, and TV commercials increase brand visibility. Short TV spots (5-15 seconds) that run online and in search results can also extend your reach to digital audiences. Using these traditional methods alongside digital marketing can boost brand recognition, build credibility, and reach a wide range of consumers often missed by digital-only approaches. By investing in both strategies, small businesses and nonprofits can connect with their community, attract more traffic, increase brand recognition, and ultimately boost sales and donations, integrating both their short and long game well. Are you investing 10-20% in marketing? Successful companies do. Successful companies typically allocate a growing percentage of their total revenue towards marketing and advertising expenses. Is that self-serving advice? YES, if you hire marketing professionals! Is it true? YES, as backed up by experience and research (below)! Of course, this percentage can vary based on the industry, business size, and specific marketing goals. By industry, here are some reported average expenditure percentages. 1 By devoting a significant portion of their operating budget to marketing and advertising, successful organizations can continuously drive brand awareness, maintain customer and donor loyalty, and drive growth. Are you? 1 Marketing Budget: How Much Should Your Team Spend in 2024? [By Industry ]; June 17, 2024; The CMO Survey , Statista, September 2023 release date, 316 respondents https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/marketing-budget-percentage#marketing-budget-percentage