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Incorporated Since 2008

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Website design trends

Web Design & Marketing Trends Blog

The world of responsive website design & digital marketing is constantly changing. Google makes huge changes to Google My Business every week! At LDR Design Agency, we encourage our clients to stay on top of website edits and social marketing. (We'll do the hard stuff, of course!) 

- Enjoy Our Web Design and Marketing Trends Blog -

 

Social Distancing

Social Distancing Marketing?

5 Great Marketing Tips to consider:

Traffic on Google and Facebook is changing drastically. Did you know that Facebook activity is UP 200%? Now is not the time to let your social media presence drop! Of course, this is due to the new "normal" that we call Social Distancing. However, at the same time, most businesses feel like they are being tested, and are struggling to stay open.  

Do you feel like you are being tested?  Some tests inspire good changes and learning opportunities; others can really destroy the business, and/or affect us emotionally hard. Depending on the type of business you have, the Corona Virus is really testing your business! You are now either sinking or swimming. Here are some tips to help you swim better during this rough patch. 

Stay Present and Relative on Social Media! 

social media Now is not the time to slink away from social media as a business. People are extending their screen time right now. They are looking for community connections on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. Make sure you are doing just as much as you were before, if not more. It might even be a good time to get current if you really have not already. Make sure your business has a few profiles and create one or even two posts daily. Interact with your followers. Interact with other businesses. Do not avoid the situation at hand in your posts, even though it is exhausting. 

Everyone can relate to the current state. Become your business's Essential Marketing Person, and make the most of it. Avoid dwelling on the negatives. Instead, give some silver linings. Tell a joke or two. Potential and existing clients will appreciate it and hopefully remember you when they need to. 

Update Your Business’s Status EVERYWHERE

If you find it frustrating ordering carryout because you cannot figure out which businesses are open, you are not alone. Do not make your customers research. Make sure you update your Google My Business, Website, Social Media, etc. with pertinent information such as updated hours. 

Put out an extra big statement that you are open! A lot of businesses are getting passed up just because people automatically think most places are closed. People still need their furnaces repaired, the grass cut and carpets cleaned. Let them know your services are available. 

Read more: Social Distancing Marketing?

get a new website

Do I need a new website?

The digital world is continuously changing.  Google made 3200+ changes to its search system in 2019, 18 of which are significant. Both Google and Facebook seem to add or modify algorithms every month that make marketing professionals heads spin. These statements alone should make it obvious that most businesses could never keep up with the anxiety attacks the big tech companies hand out like the free samples handed out at kiosks. 

We hope to share some knowledge in this article about securing your website, updating your website, and when it makes sense to replace your website. 

Secure Website:

Software updates keep your website secure and performing better. 

Check for the SSL Certificate.

https secure websiteLook at the URL of your company website. Do you see a prefix of HTTP or HTTPS? If it begins with “HTTPS” instead of “HTTP” it means the site is secured using an SSL Certificate (the s stands for secure). The SSL Certificate is no longer an option for websites. Ask your hosting provider what it costs for an upgrade to https. Many hosting providers such as LDR Hosting offers https as default, so there is no additional charge for this! 

Software updates keep your site performing its best:

We frequently hear the question - how often should I update the website? That depends on what site builder you have. If you have a Wordpress builder, then you or your website manager will want to do a general update at least once a month. There are usually security patches, versions, and plug-ins that will need it. If you do not keep up with these issues, your site will be vulnerable to hacking. 

  • Monthly security patches are vital for WordPress websites. 
  • Joomla websites should be updated at least every 6 months, or as updates come available. 

    Read more: Do I need a new website?

expert writing service

Be The Expert!

All-day long, we see social media content thrown at us from here and there. Some of it is helpful and some of it not so much. This content, helpful or not, comes from somewhere, whether it is shared from another social media page or an article you found. A hidden but very important key is where that content comes from. Are you sharing or are you creating?

Give Yourself Credit

There are so many perks to sharing relevant content. It saves you time, brain-space, and risk. The catch is that your company is not truly taking credit for any of it! That’s right, that article you thought was so clever to share, Bob Smith’s site is now taking the credit from your adoring followers. These readers aren’t visiting your site, they are visiting Bob Smith’s site! How does that help you? They might appreciate the information, but it will leave them with the site they visited at the top of their mind. This does not help your business grow.

The bottom line is that blog articles and general social media content takes time. Having an idea can take a second, but putting it into action will take far longer. You need to apply the idea; a blog, meme, post, etc. Be sure to proof it well. This does not mean compulsively obsess, but if it will represent your company you need to check off some things.

Quality Content Stands Out:

When writing quality content ask yourself: 

• Is the subject matter appropriate to your client base? Will they appreciate and relate to it?
• Are you offering something of value? Does it appear that you are selling something or helping someone?
• Is the blog or article Grammatically correct?
• Appealing? Does the blog or newsletter catch the eye?

blog writing serviceThese are just a few of the questions you should ask before publishing anything. Being specific with your content increases the probability your content will content readers into customers. When they see you share other’s content they will connect your interest to it, but might wonder if you can provide as well as the page that shared did. Instead, create the content yourself. Tell the world that “I am the expert.” Provide the information they are taking about. They will not wonder if you can provide, they will know. It is also a great added perk to get your brand in front of their eyes as much as possible. The more they see your media traffic, the more recognition you will get.

Read more: Be The Expert!

Marketing a Trades Business

Best Websites For Tradesmen To Get Found

To get the best results in marketing, you not only have to know your client and their industry but also their customer base. Realizing that a plumber’s website should be structured and designed in a different manner than an author’s website is crucial. You must immerse yourself in their world and understand what will draw eyes to them. At LDR Design Agency we pride ourselves on treating tradesmen sites with the special care and attentiveness they need to succeed on the wild wild web.

Working out of your truck doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a great online presence!

Best Websites For Tradesmen To Get FoundTradesmen Need a Team!

By working with an electrician one day and a locksmith another, we see what trades businesses go through. It’s often hard to meet tradesmen due to their busy schedules. With all the driving around and working many jobs all day, what tradesperson has time to answer a potential customer on Facebook or try to design a logo? They don’t!

Having a marketing team by your side works wonders. People who can design your branding, put together constant relevant content for your site, and keep up with your social media are invaluable. This ensures that after the jobs are done you are not spending your family and personal time trying to figure out how to market your business for growth! It’s already taken care of.

How We Do Business Marketing for Trades

When thinking of marketing strategies, we must keep the client’s response top of mind. We strive to think of every action they will take when they are looking for a carpet cleaner or plumber. When we design a site for a locksmith, we keep in mind what the typical customer is looking for. If someone is locked out of their home or car, they will need a number right away and to know they can call anytime. We make the number very prominent, mentioning it multiple times on the site. We include well-written content letting them know they can depend on them any hour of the day for emergencies.

Read more: Best Websites For Tradesmen To Get Found

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