Brooke Desmond
WordPress has built a reputation as a powerful, user-friendly content management system (CMS) that powers 40% of the Internet. At GreenMellen, it’s what we build our clients’ websites on, and WordPress websites are the only sites we manage through our improvement plans. Even with its ease of use for beginner WordPress users, we’d still highly recommend working with a WordPress expert on your website build, redesign, or ongoing maintenance. These professionals can help your website in ways you may not even realize. Here are the top five ways a WordPress expert can boost your website’s success and make your life easier. Save Time and Money (in the Long Run) The biggest benefit you’ll experience when working with a WordPress professional is freeing up your schedule to focus on your business. They thrive on analyzing and perfecting every technical nook and cranny of your WordPress website, which will ensure your website […]
Read MoreImplementing search engine optimization (SEO) strategies into your website can significantly improve your chances for exposure on search engine results pages (SERPs). Many factors play into where your web pages fall on SERPs, but SEO-friendly content is one of the best ways to give you this boost when executed correctly. If you’ve tried adding keywords into your website content, you’ve probably experienced challenges incorporating them organically. It can be overwhelming to write strong, persuasive website content on your own, and when you add SEO to the mix, it can feel even more daunting. Lucky, we have some tips and tricks to help streamline your SEO writing process. Check out these five tips to instantly improve your SEO writing skills. First, Perform Keyword Research If you’ve already performed keyword research, you can skip this section. But, if you’re starting from scratch (or are asking yourself, “what is keyword research”), this is […]
Read MoreWe’ve discussed the importance of having images on your website, but imagery goes far beyond your website. Adding visual elements that support your message to your marketing efforts (both digital and print) always elevates your pieces. To take this a step further, you could work with a photographer to create one-of-a-kind images to use on your marketing materials. By hiring a photographer, not only will you be able to use original images throughout your work, but they will be able to deliver a folder of “on-brand” images that follow your brand guidelines and can provide a cohesive look throughout all of your marketing. If you are considering hiring a photographer for your marketing needs, here are some things you can expect and tips on how to make this experience the most rewarding for your business. Come Up with a Realistic Budget The most significant consideration of working with a photographer […]
Read MoreEach of your web pages should be carefully crafted to not only paint a digital picture of your business, but also help push visitors down a marketing funnel. Along with content, headlines, calls-to-action (CTA), and buttons, website images are also a big part of what makes websites successful. Website images are especially important because most people (65% actually) are visual learners, and without a visual aid to support your website’s message and goals, your efforts could fall flat. It’s one thing to add just any old image to your website, but what takes it to the next level is selecting images that boost conversions. Meaning, visual web elements that actually drive potential customers to doing business with you. Here are some tips to help you choose the most impactful images for your website. Select Images that Evoke Emotion People tend to make decisions based on emotions, no matter if they’re […]
Read MoreService-based businesses drew the short end of the stick for displaying their offerings online. Unlike product-based businesses that can create galleries of their products to help users visualize what they’ll be purchasing, your business doesn’t have a clear, laid out path to showcase your service’s value. Sure, there are testimonials, before-and-after images, and other ways to demonstrate your authority and skillset, but getting someone to your website to view these is half the battle. That’s why service-based companies need to consider search engine optimization (SEO) as a part of their marketing strategy. If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at these top tips to improve your website’s SEO. Follow All General SEO Rules These rules are applicable for all businesses that want to improve their site’s SEO, not just service-based companies. Here’s a shortlist of the must-have rules to follow: Avoid duplicating content. Search engines will know […]
Read MoreWord of mouth might be the oldest marketing tactic out there, and its power has not tarnished in the slightest. Think about it: what would drive you to choose one business over another—a TV commercial or a personal recommendation from a friend? Our guess is you’d trust your friend over any ad you see or hear. Studies show that 92% of people trust recommendations over any other type of advertisin While the importance of word of mouth hasn’t changed, its form has changed drastically over the years. Like many things, what started as a genuine face-to-face conversation in the old days has pivoted to digital in the form of online reviews. The stats don’t lie; online reviews carry a lot of weight for businesses, and collecting them needs to be a part of your marketing strategy. It might seem like a big task, but it will be as easy as […]
Read MoreYour business’s marketing budget has to cover a lot of ground. From paid ads and content creation, to social media management and email marketing, all of these efforts help push users through the marketing funnel in different ways, but one thing has to be a big part of the process: design. Strong design has the power to influence a brand’s target audience. The most successful brands see the value of design and make sure there is just as much thought behind it as the strategy itself. Heck, we would even argue that businesses who don’t take design into consideration will not see the results they expect. Need more convincing? Let’s take a deeper look at how design can impact your business’s marketing success. Strong Design Get People’s Attention When something (anything, really) looks cool, unique, or makes you want to take a second look, you’ll give your full attention to […]
Read MoreIt’s no secret: businesses with a strong website are the winners in today’s digital landscape. Now more than ever, people will flock to their screens to check out your business before stepping foot in your store or calling you. Oftentimes, their search starts on your website. 2021 is only weeks away, but there are a handful of things to add/edit to your website to make sure it’s ready for the new year and beyond. Accessibility and ADA Compliance This year, we prioritized learning more about ADA compliance for websites, as this is quickly becoming a must-have. All websites need to be inclusive for people with disabilities, which means all visitors should have the same experience when navigating around your website. Many websites still include major flaws that could prevent someone with disabilities from using them. Even worse, this lack of consideration could result in a costly lawsuit (you should learn […]
Read More2020: it came, it saw, it conquered. But, definitely not in a good way. As a business owner, your adaption skills were pushed to the limits. You were forced to change your business plan overnight, meet your customers where they were, and find creative ways to keep your business afloat. We’re sure you learned a lesson or two along the way, but how do you plan to carry these lessons over to your business in the future? At GreenMellen, we learned some big marketing lessons this year that we hope to carry into the New Year and beyond. Express and Show Empathy to Your Audience If we all got a nickel for every time we heard someone say, “we’re all in this together” or “during these unprecedented times,” we’d all probably double our stimulus checks. But, there was a good reason why we heard this so often: brands saw the […]
Read MoreYour website content serves multiple purposes, but ultimately, it will be the main deciding factor if users want to work with you. Strong website content not only speaks directly to your customers, but it positions your business as the clear winner for their needs. Writing website content doesn’t come easy for many, so we’re here to share our top website copywriting tips for beginners. Be Direct and Powerful There are too many websites that include flashy statements that lack substance. We’re sure your business can save people time or increase their bottom line, but if you neglect to say how you do this, you’re creating more fluff in your content. That’s why successful website copy is always direct and bold. It tells users exactly how they can make their lives better and gives supporting, powerful statements that back it up (such as statistics, testimonials, etc.). By doing this, users will […]
Read MoreYour website’s landing pages may be some of the most important pages on your site. When design and functionality are executed correctly, it will convert visitors into leads and collect their contact information for future marketing efforts. However, there are a handful of things too many business owners do with their landing pages that make them a wasted effort. Take a look at these common mistakes people make with their landing pages and how you can avoid them. Including the Navigation The sole focus of a landing page is to encourage users to participate in your main call-to-action (CTA), which is to fill out the form. There should be no clickable elements except for the form for users to submit their information and possibly one additional element to help encourage users to take that step (such as a play button for a video). By not hiding the navigation on your […]
Read MoreImagine putting in a ton of work crafting the perfect email campaign and sending it to your list of subscribers, only to find that your email bounce rate is sky-high. This scenario happens far too many times, and it’s never a good thing. A low email bounce rate is an excellent thing because it means your subscribers are receiving your email marketing campaigns through their mail server. There are many reasons why an email bounce rate is high, ranging from wrong email address/domain name, IP address reputation, and spammy content. While some of these factors are out of your control, there are ways to decrease your email bounce rate to ensure your subscribers receive your well-crafted emails. Use Double Opt-Ins One reason why you see a surged bounce rate is that you’re sending emails to fake signups or spam email accounts. If this is the case, a double opt-in may […]
Read MoreOne of the easiest ways to create original, valuable content for your audience is by blogging, but for many, it’s not as easy as it may seem. Many people get hung up on details such as the frequency of creating a blog post, and when they focus too much on this, their content may not be up to par. The GreenMellen team has written hundreds of blogs over the last 11 years, and we think we’ve cracked the code of a perfect blog post. Clear, Attention-Grabbing Blog Title Without a strong, clear title for your blog, it won’t grab the reader’s attention, which will not lead them to clicking to read more. To create an attention-grabbing title, brainstorm a title that has a unique angle. Thinking about the goal and theme of your post, create a title that clearly states what information will be within the blog while also being […]
Read MoreCOVID-19 has wiped away any chance for large gatherings this year, especially work conferences and tradeshows. If your business counted on these events for new business and networking opportunities, we’re sure you’ve been scrambling for ways to connect with other attendees. Luckily, GreenMellen is here to help you discover new ways to build a deep connection through these tradeshow alternatives. Webinars If you were planning to give a presentation at a conference, the obvious solution would be to give this same talk during a webinar. While many conferences are giving their speakers a platform to still present, some are charging admission for users to watch this, which results in a low turnout rate. Consider hosting this webinar yourself via Zoom or through other platforms like Crowdcast. You could even play around with live stream options on Facebook Live (or another social media platform where your audience spends their time). Either […]
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