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 have all been in those meetings before where one person in the room sounds like they are speaking in a different language. We want to make sure when you meet with us you are as prepared as you can be and have a good understanding of the basic terms we will be using. Read through this list of website design lingo that we think everyone should know.

1. Content

Content refers to any text, photos, graphics, videos, and anything else that will live on your website. When developing a new website, all the content that goes on it will have to be created. Copy will need to be written for each page, photos will need to be shot, videos will need to be created and even icons and graphics will need to be produced. If you are refreshing the look of your current website, some of the content can be reused or refreshed to fit your new site.

2. Favicon

A favicon, also known as a shortcut icon, website icon, or bookmark icon, is the small graphic that accompanies the name of your website in the address bar on your web browser. It makes your site easy to identify with just a small image. The favicon will show up in website favorites, bookmarks, and on some browsers even in the history.

3. Resolution

Resolution is a word used when talking about photos or videos. The resolution of an image is the detail in which it holds. The higher the resolution of an image, the more detail you will be able to see. If the resolution of an image is too low, you will start to lose detail and the image will become pixelated and blurred.

4. Responsive Layout

A responsive layout is something that has become more of a standard in the past decade. When your website has a responsive layout, it will render well on a variety of different size screens and devices. The rendering is based on percentage rather than size and can help make your website accessible to anyone, no matter what device they are viewing it on.

5. Back End

You will often hear people refer to the back end of the website. The back end of a website is a portion of the website not viewable to the public. This is where website changes and updates can be made. Once they are made and published on the backend, they will appear live on your website.

6. Hosting

Hosting is a service that allows your website to be searchable on the internet. Buying hosting is basically buying space on a server where your website can store its files. Every website that you have ever visited is hosted on a server somewhere and takes up physical space! There are different types of hosting, and we can help you figure out what is best for your site.

7. Below the Fold

“Below the Fold” is a term that started in the days of newspapers. It literally means below the fold of the newspaper’s front page. Nowadays, “Below the Fold” refers to the portion of your website that is not visible unless you scroll down the page. As a good rule of thumb, the most important information you want people to see first should live above the fold on your website.

8. Domain

Your domain is what people will type into their web browser to view your website. Your domain name generally should be the name of your business, but sometimes you might find that someone else already hosts a site with that domain. You will want your domain to be easy to spell and easy to remember so people can find you easily!

9. Navigation

Navigation refers to the menu often found at the top of your website, although side navigation is currently on trend as well. These are linked to other subpages on your website that visitors will require quick access to. If your navigation is confusing or too complex it will make it hard for people to find what they are looking for and ultimately they will leave your website unsatisfied.

By Chelsea Bray- Elle A. Design

So many local businesses spend time tackling their own marketing in an effort to try to save money, but you have likely learned the time and energy spent on marketing is not for the faint of heart. If you are ready to step aside and let a professional take the reins, your business may be ready to take that next step in its marketing journey and pass the torch to an agency. The next step is deciding if going with a local agency makes sense for your business. Here are some benefits of going with a local marketing agency and what we think you can gain from taking this next step.
 
Proximity and Convenience
This is one of the biggest benefits of going local. You never have to coordinate time zones to schedule a meeting, feel like you are being brushed off, or simply just can’t track down the person that is in charge of your account. Having someone local makes it easy to schedule face to face meetings, quick phone calls, or spend a full day brainstorming strategy together.
 
Local Reviews
When deciding to go local, you can lean on reviews from other local businesses that use the same marketing agency. If you are inspired by their success and they have good things to say, you will be at ease knowing you can trust them with your business as well. Word of mouth is a great way to find out if a marketing agency would be a good fit for you, which is not something you are going to find if you are looking at a long-distance agency.
 
Community Connections
Oftentimes the people working local also live local. This gives them great pride and insight into the community and what it is like to live and work there. Locals will already know of happenings in town at different businesses and can work to help elevate your message. Working with an agency in proximity can potentially help you coordinate collaboration projects with other local businesses. This will give you even more community connections, making your town a destination people want to be.
 
Grow Together
As your business grows, so will the marketing agency you have hired. As they help you grow by making your marketing stronger, you will begin to trust them and recommend them to others, which will help both of you grow. This will not only strengthen your business but the local community as well. When everyone works together good things are going to happen!
 
By Chelsea Bray- Elle A. Design

"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:

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:

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!

Do you feel like your marketing dollars are being wasted year after year and find it difficult to know if your marketing strategies are effective? Business owners are often overwhelmed by the ever expanding world of digital marketing and it can be frustrating to wonder whether or not your hard earned dollars are making an impact. Your website should be the most powerful marketing tool you possess, with the potential to take your business to the next level. Using localized SEO services, constant site reviews and campaigns designed to drive traffic to your website, you can be confident that your small business will be ready to compete with big business. Not all websites are created equal and we want to help yours succeed! If your website isn't working for you or the world of digital marketing drives you crazy, let us at Berry Digital Solutions manage your digital world while you focus on your business. We'd love to buy you a coffee and learn more about your business and how we can support you.

'Local Matters' movements are a growing trend nationwide, and for once, this is a trend worth your participation! Our communities and local economies need patrons who spend their paychecks in their own backyard. When you shop local, you are putting significantly more money back into the local economy rather than sending it to a billionaire CEO who has no intentions of returning the favor.

​What else can a local business offer over a nationwide corporation? Local business owners offer unmatched, personalized customer service. Getting to know the owners allows you the opportunity to hear their backstories, learn about their products and share in their successes. Will a large retailer remember your favorite drink, ask you about your family or be willing to order a specialty item just for you? Local businesses and organizations care about their communities and know why local matters. Research shows that local small business owners are more likely to keep their dollars local and improve the local economy. If we haven't convinced you, please ask your favorite local owners why local matters to them!

Ryan and Erika welcomed a new baby boy in March of 2018, making their hearts and home beautifully full.  Chris and Jessica, along with their two boys, purchased a home in West Liberty.  Chris ended 2018 with an emergency back surgery.  He is such a valuable partner who has continued to provide superior service to our clients, even with his limited mobility.  We are hoping Chris rests his body and heals quickly in the new year.

In 2019, Berry Digital Solutions will continue to find new, creative ways for clients to connect with their target audience.  We are planning to implement new marketing technologies, such as: video, social media, Google AdWords, and YouTube advertising.  Our biggest assets are our local small business partners.  We are proud to partner with individuals who are experts in their field, and are excited to pass their expertise along to our clients.

As you reflect and plan, think about how you want to grow your business this new year. In addition to website services, we provide:  social media advertising, Google AdWords advertising, 3-D virtual tours, photography, videography, graphic design, local screen advertising, computer repair and more!  

Ryan ended 2018 with #CoffeeWithRyan and has begun 2019 with #WaterWithRyan.  We're only kidding, but you don't have to love coffee to meet with Ryan to put together a plan for your small business this year!
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