A contractor with six reviews was losing bids to a competitor with two hundred. Here’s the honest version of how to ask for Google reviews, time it right, and stay clear of the rules that get profiles suspended.
Two real, line-by-line website budgets for the same kind of business, one at $5,000 and one at $50,000, with an honest answer on which one you actually need.
A plant manager lost a bid to a competitor whose website made it easier to get a quote. Here’s what manufacturers’ sites need to show buyers before the RFQ: real specs, a usable request form, and language buyers actually search for.
A bad review feels like an emergency. It usually isn’t. Here’s how to sort fair from fake, respond without making it worse, and build enough real reviews that one bad night can’t move your rating.
Most schema advice tells you to add structured data without explaining what it does. Here is what works for a service business, what Google deprecated, and what to skip.
Owners who put off a website for years talk about what pushed them, what surprised them about the process, and what they would tell someone still waiting.
Squarespace’s export hands you your writing and leaves the rest. Here’s what transfers, what gets rebuilt, what drives the cost, and when staying put is the smarter call.
A monthly website fee is easy to keep paying and hard to judge. Here are the three kinds of retainer, four questions that tell you which one you have, and when to cancel, including with us.
The map pack decides who gets the call. Here’s which Google Business Profile fields move rankings, which ones waste your afternoon, and a monthly routine that keeps you there.
Three shops can quote the same small-business site at $900, $9,000, and $40,000. Here’s what each tier actually buys, what the yearly running costs really are, and the five questions that expose a quote written to win a deal.
Nearly every site we build starts in a page builder, and that is deliberate. The difference is which builders, and whether the shop driving them can code. Three questions reveal which kind you are hiring.
People are asking ChatGPT and Perplexity who to hire, and getting back three or four names. Here is how those names get picked, and the four steps you can run this week to make sure yours is one of them.
Three real manufacturer website teardowns: the outdated site still winning quotes, the pretty rebuild nobody can find, and the site with no way to reach a human — plus the three fixes that would move all three.
Wix has no export button, so moving to WordPress is a rebuild with your content carried across. Here’s what really breaks, what drives the price, and how the redirect list decides whether your Google rankings come with you.
A bad review feels like a verdict on you and your craft. Most of them are really reporting a gap between a promise you made and what actually happened. Here is how to find that gap, which reviews are worth acting on, and the one kind to ignore entirely.
The reply you write in the first ten minutes is the one that gets screenshotted. Here is the 24-hour rule, four copy-and-paste templates for the four kinds of bad review, and the moves that turn one star into a bad week.
If you’re looking for WooCommerce development, you probably do not need “just a store.” You need a store that fits your products, your workflow, your customers, and the way your team actually sells. Wapiti Digital builds custom WooCommerce websites for businesses, nonprofits, membership organizations, and educators in Waverly, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, and across the United […]
A lead generation website works best when it removes doubt and makes the next step obvious. Visitors should know what you do, who you help, and how to contact you within a few seconds, not after a scavenger hunt through the menu. TL;DR: Summary A high-converting lead generation website needs clear navigation, one obvious primary […]
If your organization in Iowa City needs more than a nice-looking homepage, Wapiti Digital builds websites that are meant to produce something useful: leads, sales, donations, enrollments, and repeat business. We are an Iowa-based web design and search optimization agency creating custom WordPress websites, eCommerce stores, membership platforms, learning systems, and donor-friendly digital experiences. Wapiti […]
If your website is supposed to generate leads, GA4 should help you answer a pretty simple question: what actions are turning visitors into real opportunities? Yet a lot of GA4 setups end up looking like a junk drawer. One form is tracked by a thank-you page, another by a button click, calls get lumped in […]
If your WordPress site gets traffic but too few sales, inquiries, donations, or member signups, you do not need another pretty redesign that stops at “looks nice.” You need a site that helps more visitors take the next step. Wapiti Digital provides WordPress conversion rate optimization services for businesses, nonprofits, membership organizations, and educators who […]
If you need web design in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Wapiti Digital builds custom websites that are meant to do a job, not just sit there looking polished. We design and develop sales-focused WordPress websites and digital platforms that help Cedar Rapids businesses turn traffic into calls, orders, donations, memberships, and recurring revenue. Wapiti Digital is […]
If your WordPress or WooCommerce analytics feel fuzzy, duplicated, or one plugin update away from chaos, Wapiti Digital can set up GA4 and server-side tagging around the way your site actually sells. We build conversion-focused WordPress and eCommerce systems, so your tracking is tied to purchases, checkout behavior, subscriptions, memberships, donations, and the actions that […]
Choosing a membership plugin for WordPress can feel a bit like ordering lunch for a team with five different diets. Everyone wants “simple,” but everyone means something different. That is why the best option is not the one with the longest feature list. It is the one that matches how you plan to sell access, […]
Choosing between WordPress and Webflow for a business website can feel a bit like picking between a pickup truck and a nicely tuned electric bike. Both can get you where you need to go. The real question is what you need to carry, how much control you want, and what happens if your needs change […]
A lot of service business websites try to do everything with one big “Services” page, a home page stuffed with keywords, and an FAQ section hiding in the footer like it owes someone money. That setup can look tidy on the back end, but it usually leaves search engines and real humans doing extra work. […]
A nonprofit website RFP can look organized on paper and still create chaos in the review meeting. One proposal sounds strategic. Another looks beautiful. A third is surprisingly cheap, which always gets attention, usually followed by a long pause and someone saying, “What are we missing?” If your team is choosing a website partner based […]
Hiring a web design agency in Iowa can feel a little like shopping for a contractor, a marketer, and a software partner all at once. Everybody has a polished homepage. Everybody says they care about results. Everybody has a favorite shade of blue. That is why a smart evaluation process matters. A website is not […]
High-intent visitors are the people who already have one foot on the gas pedal. They clicked the ad, searched a very specific phrase, or came from an email with a clear goal in mind. They are not asking to be entertained. They are asking, politely but firmly, “Can you help me do this, yes or […]
WordPress gives you a tempting amount of choice. Need a form? There are dozens of plugins. Need a membership system, donation flow, course portal, subscription checkout, or product filter? There is probably a plugin for that too, plus three “lite” versions, two add-on packs, and one that has not been updated since people still said […]
A stalled website rarely means “the internet is broken.” It usually means one of three things is off: people cannot use the site easily, search engines cannot read it clearly, or your tracking is giving you the online version of a shrug. That is why a smart website audit checklist should look at UX, SEO, […]
A website rarely stays “done” for very long. Pages need updates. Plugins need patching. Forms decide to stop behaving right before a campaign launch. A donation page works perfectly for six months, then suddenly sends one very polite error message and one very unhappy email. That is where a website support retainer starts making a […]
Moving an online store to WordPress and WooCommerce can feel a little like changing the tires on a moving car. Orders are still coming in. Customers still expect logins to work. Search traffic still needs a place to land. And nobody wants to hear, “Good news, the new site is live. Small catch: the checkout […]
A lot of ecommerce teams think they have a traffic problem, a conversion problem, or a retention problem. Sometimes they do. But just as often, they have a systems problem wearing a sales hat. When the storefront, the CRM, the ERP, and the subscription billing platform are all telling slightly different versions of the truth, […]
Accessibility often gets framed as a legal checkbox or a technical clean-up task. That undersells it. On a real website, accessibility is a usability issue, a trust issue, and very often a conversion issue. If a button is too small to tap, if a form only uses placeholder text, if keyboard focus disappears under a […]
PCI compliance has a way of making even confident store owners squint at their screens and whisper, “Wait, what exactly am I responsible for?” That reaction is normal. Between card security rules, Strong Customer Authentication, and the daily tug-of-war with fraud, online store security can feel like three jobs wearing one trench coat. The good […]
Attribution sounds simple until a customer clicks a paid ad on Monday, reads an email on Wednesday, comes back through organic search on Friday, and buys after typing the URL directly on Saturday. Now swap “customer” for “donor,” stretch that timeline to three months, add a mailed appeal, and suddenly the neat little reporting picture […]
Clean revenue data is one of those things every eCommerce team wants and very few feel fully confident about. Your store says one number. GA4 says another. Google Ads says something else entirely. Suddenly, a simple question like “Which channel drove sales last month?” turns into a small detective story. That mismatch is often not […]
A B2B service page has a tough job. It needs to explain something complex, rank for the right searches, reassure skeptical buyers, and invite action without sounding like a late-night infomercial. That mix is exactly why so many service pages end up being just okay. They mention the service, sprinkle in a few keywords, add […]
A lot of website teams still treat Core Web Vitals like a report card from Google. Nice to pass, slightly annoying to explain, and easy to obsess over for all the wrong reasons. The better way to look at them in 2026 is simpler: Core Web Vitals are a proxy for whether people feel comfortable […]
Technical SEO is not the flashy part of a WordPress site. Nobody brags about canonical tags at networking events, and no one has ever said, “Wow, that robots.txt file really moved me.” But technical SEO is often the difference between a site that quietly leaks leads and one that turns traffic into calls, sales, signups, […]
Great coffee has a search problem. Not because people do not want it, but because search engines cannot taste blueberry notes, admire a beautiful bag design, or guess that your espresso subscription is the reason customers keep coming back. They read page titles, headings, copy, reviews, links, loading speed, and local business signals. If those […]
Selling roasted coffee online is not just about getting a customer to place one order. Your real win comes when that first bag turns into a second, then a third, then a subscription that feels easy, useful, and worth keeping. That shift does not happen by accident. You need a store that removes doubt, product […]
If you sell coffee online, your website has to do two jobs at once. It needs to spark desire, and it needs to make choosing easy. That balance is harder than it looks. Coffee buyers care about flavor, origin, roast level, brew method, freshness, subscription options, and brand story. A generic retail theme can look […]
If you plan to sell courses in 2026, your LMS is no longer just a place to upload lessons. It is your storefront, student portal, retention system, reporting hub, and often your subscription engine too. When it fits your business, you spend more time teaching and growing. When it does not, you spend your week […]
Choosing where to run your courses shapes more than lesson delivery. It affects who controls your student data, how much revenue you keep, how flexible your website can become, and how hard it is to change direction later. That is why the choice between a WordPress LMS and a hosted course platform is not really […]
A donation funnel that scales is not just a nicer donate page. It is a full system that moves a supporter from curiosity to trust, from trust to action, and from a single gift to an ongoing commitment. If you want more recurring donors, you need to stop treating monthly giving as a separate campaign […]
When you compare GiveWP, Donorbox, and Classy, you are not just picking a donation form. You are choosing how much control you want over your fundraising system, how much technical responsibility your team can handle, and how much of each donation you are willing to give up in platform fees over time. That is why […]
Recurring revenue looks calm on a spreadsheet. In real life, it is a system you earn every month. When your subscription program is priced clearly, designed around real buying behavior, and supported by a friction-free experience, you stop “hoping people stick around” and start building a dependable profit engine. You do not need tricks. You […]
A membership website wins or loses in the small moments: how fast someone can join, how quickly they find what they came for, and how confident they feel that their payment and profile are handled responsibly. When those moments are smooth, you earn renewals. When they are clunky, you get churn, even if your content […]
Subscriptions are not just a billing feature. They are a promise you make to customers that you will deliver value on a predictable cadence, with predictable quality, and with a customer experience that never gets in the way of staying subscribed. That is why picking your platform for subscriptions matters more than picking your platform […]
Your website can look beautiful and still lose sales. Conversion-focused web design treats every page like a decision environment. You shape what people notice first, what questions get answered next, and how much effort it takes to take the next step. When you do it well, visitors feel confident, the path feels obvious, and the […]
When you put out a web design RFP (request for proposal), you are doing two things at once: clarifying what you actually need, and giving agencies a fair way to price and plan the work. A strong RFP saves you from “apples to oranges” bids, vague timelines, and the classic surprise of finding out that […]
Your next website is not a “site project.” It is a sales tool, a credibility signal, and often the front door to your customer experience. So the real decision is not agency vs. freelancer vs. website builder. The real decision is how much risk you can carry, how fast you need results, and how much […]
Your custom website cost in 2026 is less about “how many pages” and more about what you need the site to do for your organization. If your website is expected to generate leads, sell subscriptions, process donations, manage memberships, or support courses, you are buying a revenue system, not just a design. That is good […]
Your website is either helping you grow or quietly costing you money. When you’re a growing organization, the real question is not “Do we need a nicer site?” It’s “Do we need a site built to turn attention into action, and can we prove it?” Research keeps pointing in the same direction: teams that invest […]
A candid look at the winding path that led me to create Wapiti Digital, and what I learned along the way I’ll be honest: recording this episode felt uncomfortable. Sharing your life story publicly isn’t exactly easy, especially when that story includes failures, missteps, and hard-won lessons. But as I thought about it, I realized […]
Why Your Marketing Agency Might Not Be the Best Choice for Your Website: A frank discussion about website development and what businesses need to know before hiring If you’re looking for a website for your business, you’ve probably considered hiring a marketing agency to handle everything in one place. It seems convenient, right? One company […]
The landscape of online search is evolving rapidly. While Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has been a cornerstone of digital marketing for decades, a new player has entered the arena: AI Optimization (AIO). If you’re a business owner trying to stay visible online, understanding both, and how they work together, is crucial for your success. What […]
eCommerce analytics gives you the insights you need to stop guessing and start making informed decisions. In today’s fast-paced online retail world, knowing what works, and what doesn’t, is the key to success. From understanding your customers’ behavior to improving your marketing and optimizing conversion rates, eCommerce analytics gives you the insights you need to […]
In today’s competitive eCommerce landscape, simply having great products isn’t enough. If customers can’t find what they’re looking for quickly, they’ll abandon your site and head to a competitor. This is where product search optimization comes into play. A well-optimized search experience can significantly improve conversions, enhance user experience, and increase customer satisfaction. In this […]
In the fast-paced world of eCommerce, eCommerce email campaigns remain one of the most powerful tools to engage with customers, build relationships, and drive sales. However, simply sending out emails isn’t enough. To see meaningful results, you need to make sure your campaigns are strategically crafted, highly engaging, and well-optimized. If your email campaigns aren’t […]
Running a successful eCommerce business takes more than just listing products online and hoping for the best. It requires strategy, careful planning, and attention to detail. Yet, despite all the best efforts, many eCommerce stores fall short due to simple but critical mistakes. If you’re an eCommerce business owner, understanding and avoiding these common pitfalls […]
Free shipping has become a staple of the eCommerce industry, often serving as a critical factor in purchasing decisions. Customers expect free shipping as part of their online shopping experience, with many even abandoning their carts if the option isn’t available. But as attractive as it is for consumers, free shipping comes with a hidden […]
In the competitive world of eCommerce, offering discounts and sales has become a common strategy to attract customers and boost sales. However, this approach comes with its own set of challenges and controversies. Is relying on discounts and sales a race to the bottom, devaluing products and brands in the long run, or is it […]
In recent years, the concept of sustainability in eCommerce has gained significant traction. As consumers become more environmentally conscious, businesses are increasingly promoting their green initiatives, highlighting sustainable practices in their operations. But as this trend grows, so does the skepticism: is sustainability in eCommerce a genuine effort to protect our planet, or is it […]
In an era where digital engagement is essential for community connection, having a well-crafted website is vital for churches looking to reach their congregation effectively. Riverwood Church, located in the heart of Waverly, Iowa, recognized the importance of revitalizing their online presence to better serve their members and the broader community. Wapiti had the privilege […]
If your Call to Actions aren’t delivering the results you’re after, you’re not alone. In a crowded digital landscape, crafting CTAs that cut through the noise can be a challenge. Conventional wisdom often fails to deliver, leaving businesses stuck in a cycle of mediocre results. So, how do you transform your CTAs from bland to […]
Building customer loyalty is like nurturing a garden. It requires dedication, patience, and the right strategies to see it flourish. Loyal customers don’t just make repeat purchases; they become ambassadors for your brand, spreading the word and contributing to your long-term success. But how do you cultivate such loyalty? Here are four effective strategies that […]
In the fast-paced world of enterprise businesses, the ability to adapt, streamline, and optimize operations is crucial for success. One of the most powerful ways to achieve this is through eCommerce integrations. But why are they so vital? Let’s explore the key reasons why eCommerce integrations matter and how they can transform your business. Seamless […]
In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for businesses to thrive. At Wapiti, we specialize in custom web development, search engine optimization (SEO), and elite hosting services tailored to meet the unique needs of local businesses in Waterloo, Iowa. Our recent project with Hawkeye Stages, a renowned travel services company based […]
Ready to level up your e-commerce game? Understanding and analyzing your website traffic is essential for optimizing user engagement, improving your SEO strategy, and increasing conversions. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to effectively analyze your website traffic in five important steps. Define Your Goals Setting clear, measurable goals is the first and most important […]
In today’s competitive digital landscape, having a strong online presence is crucial for businesses of all sizes. For local businesses, optimizing your online presence through local SEO is especially important. Local SEO ensures that your business shows up in local search results, making it easier for potential customers in your area to find you. Here […]
Driving traffic to your website is essential, but transforming one-time visitors into loyal, returning customers is the real game-changer. Returning visitors not only boost your traffic stats but also indicate a deeper level of engagement and trust with your brand. Here are four essential tips to elevate your website traffic by attracting returning visitors: 1. […]
I wanted to take a moment to discuss the importance of integrity in business. This article will delve into the significance of acting with integrity, share personal anecdotes, and provide examples that can inspire and guide you in your own business endeavors. Defining Integrity in Business Integrity can be defined in various ways, but for […]
In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is essential for the success of any business. Whether you’re a small startup or a well-established brand, partnering with the right eCommerce agency can make all the difference in maximizing your online potential. But with so many options available, how do you choose the agency that’s […]
Working from home has become increasingly popular, especially in recent times. At Wapiti, our team members all work remotely, and we have experienced the benefits and challenges firsthand. In this podcast episode, I will discuss the pros and cons of working from home and provide some tips for remaining focused and connected with others. The […]
As a small business owner, I understand the challenges of creating content while juggling various responsibilities. It can be exhausting to find the time and energy to be creative and come up with content that reflects your business and helps it grow. However, I have found that podcasting can be an extremely valuable tool for […]
Have you ever wondered how successful businesses maintain a loyal customer base? It’s not just about offering great products or services; it’s about fostering lasting relationships with your audience. One strategy that has gained traction in recent years is subscription eCommerce. But what exactly is subscription eCommerce, and why is it so important for sustaining […]
In today’s digital landscape, attracting visitors to your website is only half the battle. The real challenge lies in keeping them coming back for more. A seamless user experience (UX) plays a pivotal role in achieving this goal. Did you know? A seamless user experience on a website can significantly increase website traffic and the […]
In today’s digital world, having a website is like having a shopfront on the busiest street in town. But imagine that street is poorly lit and hard to find – that’s what your website is like without SEO (Search Engine Optimization). As Paul Cookson cleverly put it, “A website without SEO is like a car […]
In the realm of website design, website navigation plays a pivotal role in shaping the overall user experience. A well-designed website navigation system can guide visitors effortlessly through your website, helping them find what they need quickly and efficiently. Conversely, poor navigation can lead to frustration and abandonment, ultimately harming your conversion rates. To ensure […]
For most companies and nonprofits, WordPress hosting is something that their web designer managed, and it is now forgotten. This is a problem.
In this article, I want to talk about website builders. Of course, there is an entirely different view of builders depending on whom you talk to.
Not all businesses have taglines. As a matter of fact, quite a few of my existing clients don’t actually use a tagline. In my opinion, however, it’s important to have a statement about your business even if it isn’t a publically facing tagline. Having your tagline, whether public or private, will inform the way you […]
Wapiti has just endured a radical rebranding from our original name, Brand Shouter. While we’ll continue to serve our clients in exactly the same way, we are changing everything about our brand from the ground up similarly to starting a new business. For this article, we explore the process Wapiti took in selecting our new […]
Brand Shouter is undergoing a radical rebranding. While we’ll continue to serve our clients in exactly the same way, we are changing everything about our brand from the ground up similarly to starting a new business. The Move As of September 2020, Brand Shouter is now located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. As the owner of […]
Your site navigation is important to conversion and retention on your website. Too many options and visitors leave confused. Too few options and they can’t find what they want. The trick is in ensuring that you not only provide what the visitor needs but, that you drive forward towards success. In this episode, I cover […]
In the current “corona-economy”, business that previously could get by without eCommerce are learning the hard way on how important eCommerce can be to your business. COVID-19 has shut the doors of many brick and mortar shops leaving mostly just businesses with well-built, monetizable websites to find any success at all. Can You Sell Online? […]
In business, the work/life balance is a conversation that is frequently had. Many CEOs of medium-sized companies tend to ignore the work/life balance because the only way to get ahead is to plug on. Even though I don’t adhere to it specifically, I think there is something to the idea behind finding a work/life balance. […]
As in life, the Golden Rule directly applies to how a business should operate. Now, in this uncertain time, more than ever, it should be practiced over and over again. Small businesses stand to suffer in the coming months but there is a lot that fellow business owners can do to help mitigate this. Coronavirus […]
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is hitting our globe and causing mass disruption. Businesses with a solid online presence are set up to weather this a lot better than businesses that have let their web presence lag. Even if 95% or more of your business is in-shop, your website and tools should be set up to handle the […]
Finding a recurring revenue model for your business is a must in 2020. In this article, I discuss the importance of recurring revenue for your business. We take a look at a few businesses that turned static products into recurring revenue and explore ways to find recurring revenue models for your business. There are multiple […]
As a web professional, I’ve found that many people are grossly misinformed about the importance of your hosting company. Wapiti offers hosting to our clients purely because of this issue with misinformation. If you want a good search ranking and you want your visitors to have a good experience, then good website hosting is a […]
I am a coffee guy. I spent 13 years managing a coffee roasting company. We owned multiple drive-thru stands, roasted coffee, and had a successful subscription marketing service. I have over 20 years of knowledge of the coffee industry. For this article, I wanted to take that knowledge and marry it with what Wapiti does […]
The purpose of this article is about my strategy for establishing a business plan for 2020. It’s important for your business to have a clear plan for forward movement. I realize this isn’t a novel idea, but it’s a great reminder to think about your business goals. Maybe your goal is as basic as feeding […]
I just learned a huge lesson – or maybe I just had a bad day. Business ownership isn’t all sunshine and roses as all business owners will tell you. I just got back from the post office, delivering a refund check to a client for a mistake that I made. The title of this is […]
Camano Voice Podcast Brandon Ericson is the owner of Camano Commons Marketplace. He is also frequently heard through his podcast, the Camano Voice Podcast. We encourage you to listen to his podcast if you’re interested in knowing more about the Stanwood and Camano Island areas here in Washington State. Brandon even interviewed Dan for his […]
In this day and age, everyone should have a website. There are many people who don’t have brick-and-mortar locations but have a website. As such, your website is actually often your primary business “location” instead of your physical address. Your website matters no matter what kind of business you have. I have been approached by […]
The topic for this article is something I’ve experienced before, but never to the extent I’ve been experiencing lately. This is the subject of “burnout.” Burnout can mean a lot of different things to a lot of people. For me (since I have a bad back), I equate burnout to saying, “My back’s gone out.” […]
When it comes to naming your business, something seemingly so trivial is actually a big deal. If you take a look at some of the big brands like Nike, Starbucks or Nordstrom; there isn’t really a direct link in each name as to what their product is, yet their names garner instant recognition. On the […]
Have you ever thought about rebranding your business? We all make minor adjustments to our brand, but to completely rebrand a company is like giving your business open-heart surgery and hoping to come out of it better than you were before. In this article, I explore the idea of rebranding your business and talk about […]
We all are salespeople and constantly sell throughout each day. Do you sell cars? You’re a salesperson. Do you build websites? Salesperson. Do you clean the floors? Salesperson. You see, regardless of what you do for a profession and regardless of who you spend time around, you spend a lot of time selling. Don’t believe […]
Kate Bagoy’s Bio Since 2008, I’ve helped entrepreneurs build companies as a designer, marketer, product manager, strategist & advisor. Having worked with more than 50 startups, two things stand out as key factors in entrepreneurial success: mindset & strategy. Lasting businesses are helmed by tenacious founders who learned to master their mindset, set clear goals […]
Having a great product or providing an indispensable service is important when it comes to communicating your product or service. History is littered with failed products and services that were amazing, however. What’s the missing piece in this equation? Communication. Communicating your brand to your potential clients; communicating your strategy with your employees; being honest […]
This article & podcast, Subscription eCommerce for Coffee Roasters, is a highly focused discussion on why coffee retailers need subscription eCommerce. The overall theme and information contained below are applicable to many businesses, however. I launched my marketing career through the coffee roasting industry and use that experience to show why coffee retailers (and a […]
Keeping a consistent look for your brand is a very important piece in building brand loyalty and recognition. For those of us that work in marketing, this is an obvious statement that drives a hundred percent of our style and branding decisions. If you run a company and don’t have a style guide for your […]
Picking the right domain name for your company is a process. Many companies make a domain name selection as an afterthought, not realizing how important it is to pick the right domain until it’s far too late. In this article, I aim to simplify the domain selection process so you can focus on getting the […]
Business growth comes along with growing pains. For my marketing company, the growing pains became unmanageable. In this article I’ll discuss how my business arrived at the point of hiring a contractor and the indicators that may mean it’s time for your small business to hire, contract out or outsource.
Creating a website that converts isn’t rocket-science. All you need is to know what your company does and what your potential clients are looking for. Sure, you can always test new approaches but those are for refining purposes. In this episode, I distill 4 key categories to pay attention to when setting up your website for conversion.
Becoming an authority in your local area has many benefits. Of course, it can generate money and success, but it can also result in connections, those of which can become a solid base to build your business upon. Being a local authority promotes goodwill.
Businesses can be made and broken on the backs of online reviews. It is so easy for anyone who has a bad experience to pull up a review site on their phone and leave a scathing review of the business that harmed their fragile psyche. I would like to submit the idea of thinking twice before leaving a review that could do massive damage to a small business trying to succeed.
Do you have a business that needs to adopt technology to move forward? Even some of the most technologically advanced businesses are constantly adopting new technologies just to stay ahead of the curve. Technology can actually hinder growth if you’re adopting technology for technology’s sake. In this article, I address the proper ways to go about adding technology to your business. You don’t have to be scared to bring in the technology and help necessary to help your business succeed.
Any well-functioning business needs a business SaaS (Software as a Service) platform to run on. For any small business person, there is really only one option that takes care of all your needs. That option is Google’s GSuite.
Email marketing is still one of the single best ways to reach out to existing clients and communicate with new potential clients. Email marketing, when done correctly, is informative and builds trust in your brand. It can also be a huge lead generation tool as well as a prime conversion funnel. In this article, I cover the anatomy of emails that are built to convert.
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Peter Lang, owner of The Designer CPA. Peter started rising quickly through the ranks at the CPA firm he started with until, one day, he was written up for being “too helpful”. This led him to realize that corporate life wasn’t for him. Instead, he chose to pursue the path of being a CPA that focuses on creatives and interior designers. It was a pleasure to chat with him and I sincerely hope you are able to gain some key insights through the podcast episode and this transcription.
Every business owner can be confident in one thing: we’ll spend more time in deep uncertainty than we will ever experience the feeling of “job security.” As I write this, I’m struggling with massive amounts of uncertainty myself – which really is nothing new. In this article, I explore the depths of the uncertainty I experience […]
In order to run efficiently and effectively, you need the best tools for small business. There are many tools available that can help a small business person be organized and streamline business processes. I, personally, have tried many different tools/solutions. I have finally found the tools that I feel work best for a small business that […]
Chances are, if you have a business or you are a marketing professional that works in content creation and delivery, the time and ability to create new content easily is one of the struggles that you will have on an almost daily basis. Content is important in helping your business look alive and functional across […]
This article on setting goals for small business, while written at the end of 2018/beginning of 2019 has a message that applies regardless of when you might stumble across it on the internet. Everybody sets goals… or at least, everyone has set a goal at some point in their life. Goals can be simple like […]
I’m writing this article to discuss Wapiti. I want to show you just how far we’ve come in the past year as well as discuss some of my failures as the owner of the business and the steps I took to rectify many of them. Specifically, I want the reader of this article to learn […]
Growing up, my family strongly frowned upon quitting just about anything. It was a concession that you were no good at what you were doing and that you were unwilling to push through a barrier to succeed. I would like to posit a different view. While there are times that quitting is indeed giving up […]
When it comes to the SEO Basics for WordPress, one of the issues that I encounter the most when working with new clients is this: I see the work that’s been done in the past and see massive, glaring holes in the marketing.
Most businesses lag a couple years behind the latest marketing design trends with only the fast moving, most agile brands keeping a consistently fresh look. It does seem that, with every year however, there is an updated style your marketing might want to adapt to. While the largest determinant of design is your brand, it’s […]
As a past business owner, Joni understands the risks, rewards, and challenges that ownership and professional management bring. She had the opportunity at Iams as a Brand Manager to live in a professionally managed organization where she saw firsthand how strategy, strong leadership and culture can fuel a company to do great things. After Iams, […]
Regardless of your faith, it can often be hard to remain true to your beliefs while living in a society that doesn’t share your desires and values. As a Christian business owner myself, I often struggle with when to chat about my beliefs and when to be careful with what I say so that I […]
Matthew Land’s Bio: Matthew lives north of Seattle with his wife, Erin. While spending three years in Mexico volunteering on humanitarian projects, he began exploring documentary photography, and focused his skills on high-end weddings after returning to the Pacific Northwest. He still enjoys traveling and working with NGO’s during the wedding off-season. When Matthew is […]
This Article Was Featured In The Stanwood Camano Island Chamber of Commerce November 2018 Newsletter Want an instant, free search engine optimization boost? Google’s “My Business” will provide a nearly instantaneous boost to your site’s traffic and help set you up for success where your business is located. The best part? It’s super easy and completely […]
If you own a business, a podcast could be a huge lead generation funnel for your business. If you sell a product or service that has any kind of story behind it, you can use a podcast to establish yourself as an industry expert and help potential clients choose you when the time comes. This […]
For any business owner, marketing professional, administrator, or employee it’s imperative to your mental health and general well-being that you know your “Why” – the reason you are doing what you are doing. For many, money is the primary focus and we’d all be lying if we didn’t admit that it plays are part in […]
Restaurant owners are quickly learning that they need to adapt to modern marketing techniques to protect their brand and serve their clientele. It’s not enough to have your restaurant be a “hidden gem” or be on the latest episode of Diners, Drive-In’s, and Dives. Instead, a restaurant owner needs to wade through the murky waters […]
Dr. Zach Pope’s Bio: Dr. Zach Pope is a graduate of the University of Western States College of Chiropractic in Portland, Oregon. Extensive postgraduate training from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego has afforded him specialized training in the care and management of car crash victims (whiplash, mild traumatic brain injury, etc.). Other special […]
It’s super easy to grab those first few 5-star reviews and this post is to quickly explain how with actionable steps you can take right now. These steps will boost your online reviews and, through that, increase trust in your company. Quick Question: Do you have some good clients that you are able to contact right […]
A New Set Of Experienced Eyes Is All That Stands Between Success And Failure Hiring outside help to grow can be a tough pill to swallow. That very hesitancy, however, could be completely killing your growth potential. Here are a few reasons why a business that is successful needs a digital marketing agency for growth: 1. […]
TJ’s Bio from LinkedIn: Most people have never REALLY tasted coffee before — that’s why I work at Camano Island Coffee Roasters. My mission is to share delicious, fresh-roasted coffee with those afflicted by burnt, stale coffee. It’s been a fun journey at Camano Island Coffee Roasters. I started with the company in 2011 and […]
The Single, Most Effective Marketing Venue Is… Ok, it’s really not a big secret and I’m spilling the beans on nothing new (except maybe my shirt – I should know by now not to write emails while eating dinner.) “Hey Dan, I know. It’s social media marketing, right?” Unfortunately for most modern marketers, social media […]
aka, how trying to disconnect from my day-to-day work failed and the lesson I learned from it… When it comes to my day-to-day job, I have this habit of staying connected to my work at every hour. I’ve even woken up in the night and responded to emails or checked on things to ensure they […]
Update: We’ve updated this article to help a potential podcaster be prepared for podcasting in 2019. Follow this link to check out the new article! Anyone that knows me, knows one thing is for sure: I LOVE to talk. Seriously, if I could get paid to just talk and give my opinions on anything and […]
Just to set this straight… an Octopus with one arm is not an eel… It’s probably dead. Just like a business that focuses on one method of bringing in new business is probably dead or dying. Do you get the comparison now? I’m not just writing another blog post to tell you about why certain sea […]
This post is a tough one for me. I’m an introvert by nature and a geek. It wasn’t long ago that I would be much happier holed up in a room at home working on a project on my laptop rather than writing emails to share with all of you, hanging out with people, or […]
A Style Guide is a crucial part of a well-functioning business with a growth strategy. If your business doesn’t have one – you’re making a very crucial mistake. A few years before starting Wapiti, I ran a coffee company with aspirations of growing to be quite large. We specialized in shipping coffee to the homes of […]
Photographers all face the same set of issues in their profession. If you are a photographer and have any of the following questions, keep reading this post, as I’m sure you’ll love the answers that follow. What’s the best way to store my photos? What’s the most secure way to share photos with a client? […]
Inbound Marketing: An Effective Social Publishing Strategy An important part of inbound marketing is publishing content on social media. That certainly sounds simple and straight forward enough. But there’s more to social publishing than just creating random posts and hoping for the best. Successful social media marketing happens when you publish useful, relevant, shareable content, […]
The key to growing your business or non-profit is having a solid inbound marketing strategy. Inbound marketing allows you to not only drive sales, or increase donations, but also gain loyal customers. One of the most important components of your inbound marketing strategy is your blog. But you may ask, “Why start a blog?” Blogs […]
If you run a business that depends on a strong web presence, it’s important to understand how to best leverage your brand. This isn’t as easy as simply having a website and a few social media accounts. It’s going to take a bit more work than that but the good news for you is that […]
These 4 steps will increase donations to your organization and grow your donor base. In a world where accessing information is done with the click of a mouse, traditional outbound marketing tools like print ads, broadcast media, direct mail, and telemarketing are not as effective as they once were. Businesses have known for years that the […]
Just like the best of technology, the internet hasn’t stood still… Building websites is now a commodity that often goes to the lowest bidder. Chances are, if you build web sites for clients for a living, you aren’t getting their business because of your talents. Actually, there are very few web design firms that exist on […]
Boutique by design. Built to last.
