Berry Digital Solutions is proud to be one of the first ever sponsors to help get the We Spend Local Network Podcast off the ground. Adam Moore of We Spend Local has started a monthly podcast where he interviews local leaders and business owners to better educate Champaign County on the benefits of shopping local. Adam is a lifelong resident of Champaign County and has a passion to help our community. He interviews Dean Ortlieb, Urbana Fire Chief, as his first guest and talks about how they have had to adapt during Covid-19 as well as new things happening inside the department. You can listen to the podcast HERE or by searching for "We Spend Local Network" on your favorite podcast player.

"You have thousands of people at your fingertips. And business networking within your community or your brand is a way to reach so many more you may not have reached before."

Here are a few benefits of business networking on social media:

We often read articles on where websites are headed, what trends are in, and how to handle the basics of designing your own website. But there isn't nearly as much coverage on the bad practices of website DIY'ers. You know a bad website when you're on it, but it can be difficult to pinpoint the "no-no's" that make you bounce from the bad site and give your attention to a site that does it right.  
 
Here are a few of the "no-no's" we think are important when it comes to website design in the Year 2020.

First:
Don’t get cute with font colors. Stick with black text on light backgrounds.

When was the last time you checked out your own website?
 
Often, this is something even WE overlook. We understand. In this day and age, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day work. Like us, that work probably has you on dozens of other sites all day long and before you realize it, a lot of time has flown by since your last check-in on your own site. It may feel it may feel like you just launched that "new" website last month, but maybe a couple years have gone by, and in the digital world, a couple of years can be a lifetime. Best practices, new trends, search optimization, and algorithms are ever-evolving and constantly changing, but try not to get too overwhelmed with it all.
 
Here are a few simple signs it may be time for a little website work:

​It is no secret that we are avid #ShopLocal supporters.

So we thought, what better way to showcase our love for our fellow entrepreneurs than to share our absolute favorite hometown spots to shop steps away from our location #OnTheSquare and beyond!

Find unique holiday gifts or add some local flavor to your gift certificate game this Christmas season.

Here is our EXCLUSIVE "Ryan & Chris Approved" family favorites:

Title III of the ADA has mandated that all places of public accommodation are required by law to remove any barriers that would inhibit a person with disabilities from being able to access the business’ goods and services. This includes websites for employment agencies, labor organizations, state and federal or employers with 15 or more employees.

Many people interact and perceive the online world a little differently. The internet world is so widely used that ADA compliance also applies to websites and mobile apps.

So, why should we make our website accessible to people who have disabilities that affect hearing, vision or physical capacities?

Other than a moral obligation to ensure people with disabilities have the same opportunities as anyone else, ADA compliance can increase your target audience, improves SEO efforts, helps build your reputation and overall better website usability. There is also the matter of a possible penalty for not being ADA compliant as well.

Web accessibility can seem complex and overwhelming if you do not know where to start. According to the last census study, nearly 1 in 5 people have a disability in the United States.

Luckily, Berry Digital Solutions offers this service to new and existing customers. Your website should be accessible for everyone, regardless of ability. And we can help you get there. 

​Contact Us today to inquire about your site’s ADA accessibility!

Last August, a local businessman came to Berry Digital Solutions looking for....well, a digital solution. He had recently acquired a popular national product, The Insider Bat™. The Insider Bat™ was well-liked and highly reviewed by thousands of happy customers, but it was mostly just known on the baseball and softball trade show circuit and through some word-of-mouth between some highly respected coaches and instructors.

So our task was to help spread the word about this wonderful training tool and create a website to make The Insider Bat™ available for purchase online. Within a matter of a couple of weeks, we had created a Facebook page, Google business listing, and built The Insider Bat a beautiful new online home to the exact specifications of the client. Almost immediately, the site began paying for itself with online sales...with almost no promotion of any kind! The Insider Bat™ was such a solid design and well-respected training tool amongst baseball and softball experts, that it pretty much sold itself.

Sometimes, that's all it takes! Create a product that people love, and the happy customers will act as your sales team!

That business model frees up our client to expand his offerings to more great products, rather than hiring more support staff and adding to the overhead costs of The Insider Bat™. Now he's using his Insider Bat platform to sell some of these great new products, including the Hands Inside Trainer, Soft Hit Balls & Lizard Skins Bat Grips.  And we're excited to partner with this client on a couple of new products and websites in the very near future!

Just a couple of Champaign County businesses growing together by offering quality products and services in a new digital world!

Have you rented a booth for the Champaign County Fair but don't now what to do when you get there? Or are you looking for a way to be represented without attending? The fair can be an awesome place to reach a large audience but when you're competing with other businesses it's important to standout! If you aren't sure where to start, we'd love to help you! Can't attend? No problem, we've got you covered! Let us advertise for you using one of our We Spend Local screens at the fair! Make sure your marketing strategy includes the fair! If the words "marketing strategy" has you stressed, let us handle the guess work & get you to where you want to be!