 In today's competitive business landscape, small businesses are constantly looking for innovative ways to gain a competitive edge. One powerful strategy that can offer immense value to small businesses is the act of brainstorming with an outside marketing agency like Berry Digital Solutions. So what are the benefits and advantages of collaborating with an external marketing agency and how it can positively impact your digital marketing efforts? Let's explore more below!
Fresh Perspectives and Diverse Expertise When you collaborate with an marketing agency, you gain access to fresh perspectives and diverse expertise. They may bring a different set of experiences, skills, and knowledge to the table, allowing for a broader range of ideas and insights. This diversity can inject new life into your brainstorming sessions, leading to more creative and innovative marketing strategies for your small business. Unbiased and Objective Feedback As a small business owner, it's easy to become emotionally invested in your ideas and strategies. This emotional attachment can sometimes cloud your judgment and prevent you from seeing potential flaws or alternative approaches. By involving an outside marketing agency in your brainstorming sessions, you can benefit from their unbiased and objective feedback. They can offer valuable insights, challenge assumptions, and provide constructive criticism that can help refine your ideas and enhance your marketing strategies. Industry Trends and Best Practices Digital marketing is a rapidly evolving field, and it can be challenging for small businesses to keep up with the latest trends and best practices. An outside agency who specializes in digital marketing can bring valuable industry knowledge and insights to your brainstorming sessions. They can help you stay abreast of emerging trends, identify opportunities, and implement cutting-edge strategies that align with your business goals. This collaboration ensures that your digital marketing efforts are up to date and relevant in today's dynamic online landscape. Expanded Network and Resources Collaborating with an outside agency expands your network and resources. They may have connections to industry experts, influencers, or complementary businesses that can support your marketing initiatives. This network can open doors to new partnerships, collaborations, and promotional opportunities, ultimately driving more traffic to your website and increasing your brand visibility. Enhanced Problem-Solving and Decision Making Brainstorming with an outside agency can significantly enhance problem-solving and decision-making processes for your small business. The collaborative environment encourages active discussion, diverse viewpoints, and the exploration of various alternatives. Through this collective effort, you can identify potential roadblocks, uncover innovative solutions, and make informed decisions that align with your business objectives. This approach increases the likelihood of implementing successful digital marketing strategies that generate tangible results. Brainstorming with a digital marketing agency like Berry Digital Solutions can offer tremendous value to your small business in terms of fresh perspectives, unbiased feedback, industry insights, expanded networks, and improved problem-solving. By leveraging the expertise and collaborative energy of an external marketing expert, you can enhance your digital marketing efforts and propel your small business to new heights of success. Embrace the power of collaboration and unlock the full potential of your marketing strategies with one of our FREE brainstorming sessions, click here to schedule today.  In times of economic uncertainty, small business owners must take proactive measures to weather the storm. One of the most important steps is to prioritize their website and digital presence. Here are the top 5 things small business owners should do in a recession to boost their online presence and drive traffic to their website:
Optimize their website: Make sure their website is optimized for search engines and mobile devices. They should conduct keyword research and use relevant keywords throughout their website to improve their search engine rankings. They should also make sure their website is mobile-friendly, as more and more people are accessing the internet on their mobile devices. Create valuable content: Focus on creating high-quality, valuable content that their audience will find useful. This could include blog posts, videos, podcasts, and social media content. By providing value to their audience, they can attract more traffic to their website and build trust with their customers. Leverage social media: Use social media to promote their website and engage with their audience. They should share their content on social media and use social media platforms to interact with their customers and respond to their questions and concerns. They should also use social media advertising to reach new audiences and drive traffic to their website. Utilize email marketing: Use email marketing to stay in touch with their customers and keep them informed about their business. They should use email marketing to promote their website, offer discounts and promotions, and share valuable content. They should also use email marketing to collect customer feedback and improve their products and services. Utilize paid digital advertising solutions: Consider utilizing paid digital advertising to target the customers you would like to reach directly and better spend your advertising budget. By identifying the customer base that will offer a return on investment, small business owners can better allocate their advertising budgets to increase sales using digital advertising. Small business owners should prioritize their website and digital presence during a recession. By optimizing their website, creating valuable content, leveraging social media, utilizing email marketing, and allocating dollars to digital advertising solutions, small business owners can drive traffic to their website and stay connected with their customers. These digital tools can help small businesses survive and even thrive during tough economic times. If you are interested in learning more about how to drive traffic to your website, click here.  In today's digital age, having a website is no longer enough. With so many businesses competing for online visibility, it's important to find effective ways to drive traffic to your website. There are many ways to drive traffic to your website, so lets take a look at these options, and how to navigate the right solutions for your business.
Google Ads Google Ads is a pay-per-click (PPC) advertising platform that allows businesses to place ads on Google's search engine results pages (SERPs). With Google Ads, businesses can target specific keywords, demographics, and locations to reach their ideal audience. By using Google Ads, businesses can increase their online visibility and drive more traffic to their website. Social Media Ads Social Media Ads are another type of PPC advertising that can be used to drive traffic to your website. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn allow businesses to place ads that target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. By using Social Media Ads, businesses can reach their target audience where they spend their time online, and drive more traffic to their website. This can be done through Boosted Posts or Paid Ads. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) SEO is the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). By improving your website's SEO, you can increase its visibility on search engines like Google, which can drive more traffic to your site. SEO involves a combination of on-page and off-page optimization tactics such as keyword research, content optimization, link building, and more. Content Marketing Content marketing involves creating and sharing valuable content that's designed to attract and retain your target audience. By providing valuable content, you can attract more visitors to your website and keep them coming back for more. Content marketing can include blog posts, videos, infographics, social media posts, and more. Email Marketing Email marketing involves sending promotional emails to your subscribers to promote your products or services. By building an email list and sending targeted emails, you can drive traffic to your website and increase conversions. Email marketing can be an effective way to keep your audience engaged and informed about your business. While these options can be effective for driving traffic to your website, it can be overwhelming for business owners to navigate the world of digital marketing alone. That's where the Berry Digital Solution's team comes in. We can help you navigate the various digital marketing options and tailor a strategy that's right for your business. Let's work together to identify your target audience, develop a marketing plan, execute your marketing plan, and track your results. Driving traffic to your website requires a multi-faceted approach. By combining Google Ads, Social Media Ads, SEO, content marketing, and email marketing, you can attract more visitors to your website and increase your online visibility. However, it's important to remember that digital marketing can be complex and overwhelming, especially for business owners who are already juggling multiple responsibilities. We can help you navigate the world of digital marketing and create a strategy that works for your business. Learn more and let us help you simplify the process.  We understand the importance of having a well-designed and user-friendly website. In today's digital age, your website is often the first impression your potential customers have of your business, and it's crucial to get it right.
One question we get asked most frequently is how much should a business spend on a new website. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The cost of a website can vary widely depending on a variety of factors, including the complexity of the site, the design requirements, and the functionality needed. When determining what you should be prepared to spend on a website, most companies will charge an average of $300 per page. But here at Berry Digital Solutions, we are not your average website company! So what makes us different? Our #1 goal is to make building websites as easy as possible. With over 10 years of experience with local websites, we have built the process to make this seamless.
We get it. It's tempting to try to save money by going with the cheapest option. However, a poorly designed website can harm your business in the long run. Invest in quality design and functionality to ensure your website is a valuable asset to your business. Remember, your website is often the first impression your customers have of your business, and it's worth investing in a high-quality, user-friendly site. Ready to learn more? Get a FREE website quote today!  Cybersecurity threats are becoming more and more of an everyday occurrence for small business owners. They are also becoming more damaging when the public finds out. 95% of small businesses who have a cyber attack that goes public, shuts down their business within 6 months. Many small business owners are tring to ignore this issue or assume it will never happen to them or their business. Below are the 3 key areas to help in the event of a cyber attack. Device ProtectionThe first place to start to try to prevent a cyber attack is your devices. This includes up to date antivirus and antimalware software, operating system update monitoring, hardware monitoring, and a sandbox to unpack installed software before actually installing it on your system. Our partner Your Hometown Techs in Urbana Ohio offers all of these device solutions for as little as $10/month per device., meaning it doesn't have to break the budget for basic device protection. Network ProtectionThe second area to focus on for preventing an unwanted cyber attack is your network. Any wifi connections should be properly encrypted with a strong password. We recommend WPA2 or stronger. You also want to ensure that your network has a firewall properly installed. This will block access at your router to dangerous or unwanted websites on your network. You can also control and monitor connected devices on your network preventing someone from hacking in via a wireless connection. Lastly you should have a strong device policy in place clearly defining what personal and business devices can use your network. Data ProtectionLastly, but also the most important focus, is your data. You should have a local backup of your devices on a server or NAS regularly based on your business needs. This means that it should be creating backups within a timeframe that would cause major issues inside your business. So if your business would suffer by losing the last hour of data, you should be backing up those devices hourly. You should have a redundancy in place on site to help in the event of failed hardware such as RAID on your hard drive. You should then be backing up your backup server off-site nightly to help in the event of a major attack or a natural catastrophe. The goal should be knowing how quickly can you get back up and running in the case of a cyber attack.
Ryan offers a FREE cybersecurity assessment to any business interested in better understanding their cybersecurity situation. You can schedule your free assessment HERE.  Berry Digital Solutions' Ryan Berry continues to work closely with Google to help Congress better understand proposed legislation on small businesses across the country.
Congress has recently turned a strong focus towards technology-driven corporations Amazon, Google, Twitter, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook and others with a goal of breaking these large organizations into many smaller businesses. The concept of breaking up large corporations to create a more competitive market can make sense in some industries, but lawmakers are missing the huge negative impact a forced technology break up would have on small business owners. Most small businesses have come to rely on digital products and services to operate and promote their businesses. Many of these products and services, such as Gmail, Google Business Listings, Google Maps, and more, are available at no cost to small businesses. If corporations are forced to separate these products out, they would have to charge small business owners for the products and services in order to maintain them. In addition, many of these free services rely on each other to work properly. For example, Google Maps presents your business address by verifying it in a Google Business listing. A small business owner that maintains its Google Business listing doesn't have to worry about it's web presence across several platforms that utilize the Google Business listing. If those divisions of Google are forced to break apart, small business owners will be forced to carry the financial burden, as well as the burden of managing many different accounts, turning 1 task in several every time they need to make a change. Ryan will spend another week on Capital Hill at the end of this month speaking with leaders and staff in Congress to help explain these issues and offer better support on a true solution to the issues at hand. Data privacy laws are another topic Ryan is helping D.C. better understand. Lawmakers need to understand how daunting it could be for small business owners that will be forced to keep track of multiple data privacy laws passed by individual states, as opposed to one federal law that would be upheld across the country. Reach out to Ryan if you want to be part of the conversation.  In today's digital age, having a website for your business is essential. It acts as your digital storefront and is often the first point of contact between you and your potential customers. However, having a website is not enough. To stay ahead of the competition, you need to keep it updated on a regular basis. So why does it matter? Let us tell you more about the importance of updating your website and how it can benefit your business.
2. Boosts Search Engine Ranking Search engines love fresh and relevant content. Updating your website on regular basis with new content, such as blog posts, articles, or news updates, can help improve your search engine ranking. This means that your website will appear higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) for relevant keywords, making it easier for potential customers to find you. 3. Increases Website Traffic Updating your website with new content can also help drive more traffic to your website. By creating quality content that is useful and relevant to your target audience, you can attract more visitors to your website. This, in turn, can lead to more leads and conversions. 4. Builds Credibility and Trust When your website is updated regularly, it shows that your business is active and engaged with its audience. It also demonstrates that you are knowledgeable and up-to-date in your industry. This can help build credibility and trust with your visitors, which is important for converting them into customers. 5. Keeps Your Website Secure Regularly updating your website can also help keep it secure. Website security is essential, especially if you collect personal information from your visitors, such as names, email addresses, or payment information. Updating your website's software and plugins can help patch any vulnerabilities and keep your website safe from hackers and cyber attacks. Updating your website on a regular basis is essential for your business's success. It not only improves the user experience but also boosts your search engine ranking, increases website traffic, builds credibility and trust, and keeps your website secure. So, make sure to allocate time and resources to updating your website, and you'll see the benefits in no time! Berry Digital Solutions clients, make sure to use our Updates Desk for any of your website update needs. If you're still dealing with an average website company, reach out to us learn what makes us different. #NotYourAverageWebsiteCompany  10 years ago Ryan started a business with one goal in mind, helping his community. Two years later, Chris joined Berry Digital Solutions as a co-owner and the rest, as they say, is history. After a decade in business we thought it was time to sit down and take a look at where we started, what we've learned and where we are headed!
What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago when you started? Ryan: My biggest advice would be to trust my decision making. I wish I was as confident then in running a business as I am now. I stressed too much over little decisions. Chris: Bobby McFerrin says it best, “Don’t worry. Be happy.” Share 3 pieces of business advice you plan continue using the next 10 years Ryan: Trust my team, stick to a budget, and surround myself with people that will help me grow . Chris: Partner with good people. always stay ready to adapt, and find the silver lining. What motivates you? Ryan: I think what motivates me is creating something that I know is better. Chris: Providing for my family and helping them reach their goals is my #1 motivator now. What is your definition of success? Ryan: Success is when you hit your pillow at night you know you've done everything in your power to have brought value to those you came into contact with that day. Chris: Ending everyday feeling like you made a positive difference in your little corner of the world. What does the next 10 years at BDS look like? Ryan: I have no idea, that's why it's so fun Chris: If I would’ve answered this question 10 years ago, it would’ve been laughable how far off I was. I don’t want to even attempt what changes are coming in technology and the digital world, but I do know that BDS will remain at the forefront of those changes. We will adapt, and we will continue to help our local small businesses navigate an increasingly complex digital world. How has digital marketing changed throughout the past decade and what do should people expect in the future? Ryan: Digital marketing has simplified in the sense of simpler websites and social media and other platforms giving you access to an audience. But that simplicity has made connecting with your audience much more complex, customers know when they are being sold to so a genuine connection requires more skill. The addition of new platforms and ways of communicating is already beginning to take shape. Chris: I can remember when we first started, the idea of a mobile-friendly website was brand new. Some of our new clients came to us in need of a mobile-friendly website, and some had still never even heard the term “mobile-friendly.” Now, locally, we see 90% or more of traffic to our websites coming from mobile devices. That number would’ve been unfathomable a decade ago. Everything is trending towards faster, sleeker, instantaneous information. Artificial intelligence is the next wave we’re starting to navigate. We’re figuring out now how can we best utilize the leaps forward in A.I. to help our clients in an ever-changing digital world. What's a new skill you've learned in the past year? Ryan: Basically instead of a to-do list I schedule time on my calendar for task. A time blocking scheduled approach. Chris: Making A.I. work for us and our clients in the graphic design world. What are you most proud of in your career so far? Ryan: Creating a work environment for not only myself but my team to have the flexibility to enjoy life. Chris: West Liberty. I think back to the way West Liberty communicated and promoted itself 10 years ago. It’s night and day compared to now. And you can really see it in the growth of the events, expansions of businesses and positive vibes, even in the face of terrible community tragedies. To be able to be a part of that positive change in your hometown is special. We may not be able to solve all of the world’s problems, but we’re going to do everything in our power to leave our little corner nicer than how we found it. What's one thing about our business that people would be surprised to find out? Ryan: I think people would be surprised to learn what kind of impact we have had on our local community. It would hard to imagine what Urbana, Ohio would look like, digitally, without Berry Digital. Chris: We love trading our services for your services. We have some local clients where money never exchanges hands. We want to help neighboring businesses as much as possible, so reach out today if you have an idea for swapping services! What do you think makes our team culture so unique? Ryan: We truly trust each other and hold each other accountable in the right ways. We genuinely position people to be allowed to do what they do best. Chris: This is a tough one, because every business thinks their team culture is unique or innovating or top-notch. That’s the great lie they all tell to convince people to come work for them. I guess what sets us apart is that every member of our team has worked for other organizations that claimed to have a “unique team culture” or a “business that’s like a family.” We all lived and learned hard lessons in those other organizations. We found each other, shared our stories and experiences, and formed our own team. Lines of communication are always open, and everyone speaks their mind, and we stay focused on finding solutions for our clients and happiness for our team. If it sounds too simple, that’s because it is. Can you tell us the Top 3 on your Business Bucket List? Ryan: Create businesses within my other passions: travel, entertainment & disrupting a stale industry . Chris: We want to help more small towns connect with its residents and experience the growth West Liberty has over the last decade. There are too many small town hidden destinations in this area that are going unheard and unseen in a growing digital world. We want to help many of our long-time customers take the next step in digital advertising. Maybe you weren’t ready 5 or 10 years ago or maybe you didn’t know we do more than just websites, but now is a great time to reach out and give it a shot. Divert some of that old newspaper, billboard or radio ad money to digital advertising and see the difference targeted audiences can make. And lastly, we just want to keep improving our communities. We want to attract outside dollars, raise the quality of life and put smiles on the faces of everyone we come in contact with because this is where we grew up. We’re invested in this little corner of the world, and even if we can’t make global impacts, we’ll do everything in our power to improve our little corner of the world every day. As you can see the past 10 years of business has brought us valuable lessons, continued growth, and a vision to continue making our communities thrive in a digital world. We are grateful for our clients, partners, and community for being a part of our journey! Cheers to the next 10 years!
Now, we look forward to inviting friends, community partners and current clients to our new space year-round for #CoffeeWithRyan. Let us help you solve your digital problems with our digital solutions...over a cup of coffee on Ryan!
Click below to schedule your #CoffeeWithRyan directly on his calendar. |
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