What makes a great website? Good bones. Attractive looking. Entertaining. Educational. Easy to use and find answers. Good Bones A solid foundation is important to having a solid home. The same thing applies to your website to make sure it is searchable and functions properly. Your links actually link. Your photos load quickly and properly. Your keywords make you website move up the Google ladder. These are just a few of the must does to make your website stand up and out. Attractive Looking Please do everything you can to not use stock photos. Photos of the building, staff, interior, products, services and what you are all about. You want your website to look like your businesses. Here is an example of a website we just designed for a pediatric dentist clinic that shows parents and their children exactly what they will see when they visit for the first time. CLICK HERE And do not forget about a video! Videos that introduce your staff, demonstrations on your products and services, adding a video to a blog, and giving a tour of your store are just a few of the examples of types of videos that your future customers or clients would like to see. Entertaining Is your website fun? Okay. Not literally fun but has interesting with creative icons, actual photos and even staff pets. Today your customers or clients are looking to learn more about your business as well as your staff. They want to know that you are approachable and someone that they would like to know better. Educational Let your customers know about your company, your products and your staff. This can be done both visually and with content. Again, do not go for stock photos. Spend the time and money to have some good photos taken. This goes for your products and services as well. For an online store, take the time to get a photo of the real product so your customer sees and receives exactly what they were expecting to receive. Easy to Use and Find Answers You know how frustrating that is when you go from tab to tab to find what you are looking for. This goes for your contact information as well. Do not hide it at the very bottom of the page. Give them options on how to contact you with emails, your actual location and even a phone number and have it in more than one place on your website. If you have a chatbot make sure someone is monitoring it. There is nothing more frustrating for your customers and clients to try using your chatbot and no one responds. Spin Markket + Digital provides digital marketing and strategies for small and medium size businesses. Supporting Shop Local, Shop Small and #MakingSmallBig

The hype about marketing to Millennials is so abundant that it’s borderline tiresome. But marketers who don’t take this trend seriously will hurt their brands for years to come. Millennials, or people ranging from ages 23 to 38, are estimated to be the nation’s largest living generation. They not only make up the largest share of the American workforce, but they also hold major spending power — they are projected to spend $1.4 billion annually in the U.S. and represent 30% of total retail sales. Despite this influence, however, some marketers have been slow to understand Millennial habits and preferences. Millennials are different from other generations because they’ve grown up in a world where technology is infused in every aspect of life; they have access to an unprecedented level of access to information, people, and brands. This has shaped everything from their worldviews and social structures to their entertainment needs and how they travel, work, and buy. Many marketers are scrambling to catch up — especially in industries that don’t yet offer what Millennials are interested in. Inevitably, though, Millennials have different tastes than other generations. For instance, they often prefer beverages like White Claw and Truly to traditional beer and wine. The alcohol industry has felt this impact: The wine industry saw the biggest drop in sales in a quarter of a century. Millennials don’t seem interested in cruising down the open road on motorcycles, either; which is why sales have dropped considerably over the past decade. Millennials’ buying habits are also changing the market itself, leading household names like Macy’s and Sears to shutter stores across the country. According to a survey by CouponFollow, Millennials make 60% of their purchases online, which is a big jump from the 47% reported in its 2017 survey. They also tend to spend their money on experiences — seeing the world and attending concerts — rather than accumulating “things.” Despite their unique habits, it’s important to keep up with Millennials. It may be the only way to stay relevant, moving forward. As Baby Boomers lose buying power, businesses must cater to the Millennial audience — especially because Millennials have more spending power than Boomers ever did. Appealing to Millennial Buyers While Millennial habits are certainly changing some industries, change can cause growth. Industry analysts might have once claimed Millennials would be harbingers of death for the auto industry, but they actually caused recent sales growth. The best way to ensure your business thrives in the current market is to appeal to Millennials in real, authentic ways. The following four strategies will help you create marketing campaigns that truly resonate with Millennial consumers: Build Environmental Appeal Millennials are highly concerned about the state of our planet. According to the Shelton Group, 90% of Millennials will buy from a brand if they trust its social and environmental practices. Additionally, 95% would recommend the brand to a friend. If your company is not already working toward eco-friendly solutions and practices, it’s time to start. Then, use marketing campaigns to let consumers know about your efforts. The auto industry, for instance, has a history of leaving a big carbon footprint. More recently, however, hybrid and electric cars have become popular with Millennials, because they’re more sustainable options that require minimal (if any) lifestyle changes. Find Ways to Give Back Similarly, Millennials are concerned with how their purchases affect others. As a result, they expect brands to give back to communities and nonprofit organizations. It’s a win-win scenario, though: According to Business Insider, brands that have a sense of purpose beyond profits grow almost twice as fast as those that do not. Giving back can also give you free marketing and publicity that reaches new audiences. When you sponsor an event for a charity, for example, your logo will be on banners, T-shirts, social media, and more. And if you post on your own social media accounts when you volunteer, you’ll garner more support from your customers — and maybe gain a few new supporters in the process. Create Personalized Campaigns Despite countless generalizations about Millennials, this generation includes many unique individuals who have their own preferences and personal habits. Because of this, they seek out custom, one-on-one relationships with brands. Show these young consumers that your business knows them and understands their interests and online behavior. Look at the personalized buying recommendations on Amazon, for example. Each person’s homepage is customized to show them items relevant to their past searches, purchases, and more. Mobile-first strategies are excellent for delivering personalization. Just about every Millennial has a smartphone, which allows brands to deliver targeted messages or reminders that a favorite store is nearby (and here’s a coupon!). You can also use the data collected from these devices to create a customer experience adapted to each individual’s preferences, much like Stitch Fix does. Enhance Your Digital Presence Millennials were raised in the age of social media. They use it as a source of news, entertainment, and to explore products and services. It’s how they operate and interact with the world. If you don’t exist online — especially on relevant social media channels — you may as well not exist at all. Start building your social media presence by showing off your inventory or service specials across the channels Millennials love, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Take things a step further by showcasing your brand’s personality on your social accounts and engaging with your audience through direct interactions. A study by TELUS International and Harris Insight found that nearly 72% of Millennials are more likely to become loyal customers if a brand engages with them on social networks. Before You Concentrate on Gen Z Is it really that important to target Millennials specifically? Absolutely. Their consumer presence will continue to grow with time, and businesses that fail to connect with Millennials risk anonymity — and their overall success. Need more information? Contact us at Spin Markket + Digital. 515-302-8026

You have heard me say over and over that the best examples of how important digital marketing plays in making sure you are noticed is using examples of what our clients experience. Well, it happened again this week. It all started with a phone call from the Governor's office asking if staff would be available to meet with the Governor and Lt. Governor to discuss childcare in our community. As part of the campaign project to increase the need for childcare in our community as well as to kick off a campaign for a new childcare center, they had hired our services to manage the digital marketing. I had explained to the board and the committee the strategy behind the campaign that we were going to run and that you just never know whose attention we will get. The phone rang and the Governor's Assistant said that they would like to meet and discuss the needs for child care, more information on what our client was doing on the project and how the Iowa Legislature can play a role in the project as it impacts everyone in our state. Our client said she was curious as to how the Governor's staff heard about the project. "I asked her assistant why she contacted me…was it Sen. Kraayenbrink, Rep. Meyer? She said she did a Google search and our info popped up! So she read about everything we’d been doing…..Thanks Cheryl!!" Read more about the meeting. While we cannot guarantee that the Governor will be visiting your business, we can make sure that your next new customer and client finds you. Let's talk today at Spin Markket + Digital by calling 515-302-8026

In the world of branding, every choice made—whether it's the logo design, website layout, or packaging color—sends a message to consumers. These choices extend beyond mere aesthetics; they tap into the fascinating world of color psychology. A branch of behavioral psychology explores the way different colors affect human emotions and behaviors. It looks into the subconscious associations people have with different colors, stemming from cultural, societal, and personal experiences. These associations can evoke a wide spectrum of emotions, from warmth and trust to excitement and tranquility. Understanding how colors influence consumer perception is a powerful tool for businesses seeking to create lasting emotional connections with their audience. See also: How to Create a Brand Identity and Logo that Stands Out Red: The Color of Passion and Energy Red is a dynamic and attention-grabbing hue often associated with passion, energy, and excitement. Brands utilizing red in their branding seek to evoke feelings of urgency, boldness, and vitality. It's no coincidence that many fast-food chains, such as McDonald's and KFC, incorporate red into their logos and branding. The color red stimulates appetite and creates a sense of urgency, encouraging quick decisions and action. Additionally, red has been found to increase heart rate and blood pressure, further enhancing its ability to create a sense of urgency and excitement in consumers. Blue: Instilling Trust and Stability Blue is one of the most universally liked colors, representing trust, reliability, and serenity. Brands leveraging blue in their branding aim to establish themselves as trustworthy and dependable. Companies in the financial and tech industries often opt for blue hues to convey professionalism and competence. Think of brands like IBM, PayPal, and Facebook, whose blue logos instill a sense of confidence and security in consumers. Blue's calming effect can also evoke a sense of stability and reassurance, making it an excellent choice for brands looking to foster long-term relationships with their customers. Yellow: Radiating Optimism and Cheerfulness Yellow is the color of sunshine, radiating warmth, optimism, and cheerfulness. Brands incorporating yellow into their branding seek to evoke feelings of happiness, positivity, and youthfulness. It's no wonder that brands in the food and beverage industry, such as McDonald's and Subway, utilize yellow to stimulate appetite and create a welcoming atmosphere. Yellow grabs attention and promotes feelings of optimism, making it an excellent choice for brands looking to stand out in a crowded market. Yellow's association with energy and positivity can also create a memorable and uplifting brand experience, helping businesses leave a lasting impression on their audience. Green: Symbolizing Growth and Sustainability Green is synonymous with nature, growth, and harmony, making it a popular choice for brands with eco-friendly or sustainable values. Companies leveraging green in their branding aim to convey messages of environmental responsibility, freshness, and vitality. From Whole Foods to Starbucks, green-branded businesses signal their commitment to sustainability and health-consciousness. Green also has a calming effect on viewers and is often associated with balance and harmony, making it ideal for brands promoting wellness and eco-conscious living. Purple: Signifying Luxury and Sophistication Purple has long been associated with royalty, luxury, and sophistication, making it a favored choice for upscale brands. Companies incorporating purple into their branding seek to evoke feelings of elegance, exclusivity, and creativity. From Cadbury to Hallmark, purple-branded businesses exude a sense of prestige and refinement. Purple stimulates creativity and imagination, making it an ideal choice for brands in the beauty, fashion, and creative industries. Orange: Energizing and Friendly Orange is a vibrant and energetic color that radiates warmth, enthusiasm, and friendliness. Brands utilizing orange in their branding aim to create a sense of excitement, fun, and approachability. From Home Depot to Nickelodeon, orange-branded businesses capture attention and exude a playful vibe. Orange evokes feelings of enthusiasm and creativity, making it an ideal color for brands targeting young and adventurous audiences. Black: Conveying Sophistication and Authority Black is a classic and timeless color often associated with sophistication, elegance, and authority. Brands incorporating black into their branding aim to convey a sense of luxury, power, and professionalism. From Chanel to Nike, black-branded businesses command attention and exude confidence. Black is versatile and can be paired with any color to create a bold and impactful visual identity. White: Symbolizing Purity and Simplicity White is a color of purity, simplicity, and cleanliness, evoking feelings of clarity, innocence, and perfection. Brands leveraging white in their branding aim to convey messages of simplicity, minimalism, and purity. From Apple to Adidas, white-branded businesses exude a sense of sophistication and modernity. White creates a sense of spaciousness and cleanliness, making it an ideal choice for brands promoting simplicity and clarity. Color Combinations in Branding Color combinations play an important role in branding, as they can significantly impact how consumers perceive a brand's identity and message. When selecting color palettes, brands must consider the emotional responses and associations each hue evokes, as well as how colors interact with one another. Complementary colors, such as blue and orange (e.g., Gulf Oil and Nickelodeon) or purple and yellow (e.g., Yahoo and Taco Bell), create a sense of harmony and balance, making them ideal for brands seeking to convey stability and vibrancy simultaneously. On the other hand, contrasting colors, like black and white (e.g., Chanel and Adidas) or red and green (e.g., Coca-Cola and Spotify), can evoke a sense of dynamism and excitement, drawing attention and leaving a memorable impression. By strategically combining colors that complement or contrast each other, brands can create visually compelling designs that effectively communicate their values, personalities, and unique selling propositions to their target audience. Whether it's the passionate red of Coca-Cola or the trust-inspiring blue of Facebook, each color choice sends a powerful message that resonates with consumers on a subconscious level. By harnessing the power of color psychology, brands can unlock new opportunities for growth, differentiation, and brand loyalty in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Ready to harness the power of color psychology and elevate your brand's impact? Spin Markket + Digital can help you create a new logo with an included style guide to build a better brand for our business. Visit our website today to explore how we can tailor a strategic branding approach that resonates with your target audience and drives meaningful connections.

Moving a website to a new web host can be a seamless process, provided one comprehends the intricacies involved. The level of complexity varies depending on the type of website, with static sites being the easiest to transfer, while dynamic and commerce-oriented sites demand more attention. Understanding Website Types: Static Website: Simple, no database, minimal scripts. Dynamic Website: Blogging sites, database-driven for posts and comments. Dynamic Commerce Website: E-commerce platforms with complex databases and scripts. Single Source Solution Websites: Rely on one platform for all functions. Steps in Web Host Transition: Selecting the New Web Hosting Provider: Consider website type and specific requirements. Prioritize reliability and 24/7 technical support. For geo-targeted sites, hosting location matters unless the domain has a country-specific extension. Duplicate the Website: Always create a backup, crucial for safeguarding against data loss. Static sites can be transferred via FTP; development software like FrontPage and Dreamweaver facilitate file transfer. For databases (e.g., blog databases), create a new one with the same name and password; export/import using phpMyAdmin. Transferring an eCommerce site requires careful synchronization; seek professional help if needed. Moving the Domain: Critical step; The domain must point to the new servers. Lower the Time to Live (TTL) prior to the move for quicker IP address updates. Replace old DNS information with new DNS host details. Ensuring DNS Propagation: Not an instant process; major ISPs cache DNS requests. The website may appear in the new host, but visitors might still access the old location. Ensure the old site is not taken down until the new IP address is accessed by all. Switching Name Servers: After passing tests, switch name servers to point to the new server. Propagation may take up to 48 hours; test connections through proxies or VPN. Keep data on the old domain for at least two weeks for monitoring. Common Concerns Addressed: Redirecting Old Domain: Generally unnecessary unless changing the domain name. Effect on Rankings: If done correctly, there should be no impact on rankings. By diligently following these steps, a web host transition can be executed smoothly, ensuring minimal disruption to the website's online presence and reputation. Spin Markket is your digital marketing agency. Contact our website design team today.

Understanding what ADA compliance means for your website is crucial in today's digital age. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was introduced in 1990 to eliminate discrimination based on different abilities. While it primarily focused on physical accommodations, such as wheelchair ramps and accessible restrooms, the rise of the Internet has brought new challenges. The ADA does not explicitly address website accessibility, leaving it up to the courts to determine if ADA standards apply. Some courts have ruled that commercial websites are subject to ADA rules, while others have found no protections for online users. This lack of clear regulations has led to confusion and an increase in accessibility-related lawsuits. Although ADA compliance is not mandatory for websites due to the ambiguity surrounding it, it is advisable to err on the side of caution. Many states have implemented their own accessibility laws, and lawsuits against non-compliant websites have seen success. Fines established by the Department of Justice (DOJ) start at $25,000 per incident. To assess your website's compliance, following the WCAG 2.0 Level AA guidelines is recommended. While these guidelines are not enforceable legislation, they serve as a reliable model for providing equal access to all users. ADA compliance checklist for websites Step 1: Read the law documentation Step 2: All media files and maps should have an “alt” tag Step 3: All your online forms should have descriptive HTML tags Step 4: All hyperlinks should have a descriptive anchor text Step 5: All pages on your website have “skip navigation” links Step 6: All the text content should be structured using proper heading tags Step 7: All PDF files should be accessible Step 8: All videos should have subtitles, transcripts, and audio description Step 9: The color contrast of your web pages should be sufficient according to WCAG Step 10: All fonts should be accessible Step 11: All HTML tables should be populated with column headers, row identifiers, and cell information Step 12: All audio files on your website should have a written caption Step 13: All call-to-action buttons on your website should have an accessible name and an ARIA label Step 14: All your website should be accessible with keyboard navigation Step 15: Have a website accessibility policy page Step 16: Have easily locatable contact information to allow users to request accessibility information Step 17: Test your website accessibility according to the Website Content Accessibility Guidelines Step 18: Automate your website accessibility check to prevent missing critical accessibility issue Achieve ADA compliance with these clear and concise guidelines for making your website accessible to all users. Ensure your entire team understands the importance of accessible marketing materials and follow these key points to quickly and effectively meet accessibility standards. Content Create content that is accessible to individuals with visual, hearing, motor, and cognitive disabilities. Consider these users when writing content for the web, social media, emails, and other platforms. Structure: Improve the readability of your content by using proper heading tags and structuring your headings in a logical hierarchy. This benefits users with screen readers or visual impairments, making it easier for them to navigate your content. Readability: Make your content easy to read and understand for users with cognitive disabilities, as well as for others. Keep sentences short and concise, use bulleted lists, summaries, and bolded keywords for easier scanning. Avoid jargon and complicated language, and left-align all text. Link Text: When linking to other web pages, use descriptive link text instead of generic phrases like "click here." This helps users with screen readers or visual impairments understand the purpose and destination of each link. Accessible Files: Ensure that any linked files, such as PDFs, PowerPoints, or Word documents, are accessible to all users. Design Create an accessible design that benefits all users, not just those with disabilities. Consider the following elements when designing for accessibility. Videos: Make videos more accessible by including subtitles, transcripts, and audio descriptions. These features assist users with hearing disabilities or visual impairments in consuming video content. Images: Provide alt text for all images to assist visually impaired users. Use clear and neutral descriptions of the image to ensure accessibility. Color: Avoid relying solely on color to convey information, as some users may have color blindness. Use additional visual elements like patterns, fill, sizing, borders, icons, or whitespace to supplement color. Fonts: Opt for sans serif fonts for better readability. Limit the number of fonts used and ensure that the font size is at least 12. Use bold for emphasis instead of italics. Website Consider all four types of disabilities when making your website accessible. Focus on three main areas for marketers: Keyboard Navigation: Enable keyboard navigation so that users with visual or motor disabilities can navigate your website without a mouse. Ensure all elements can be accessed and highlighted using the keyboard. Indicator or Focus: Provide a clear indication or focus to show users their current location on the page when navigating through elements. Improving Form Accessibility: Ensuring Clear and Effective Labels The key to enhancing form accessibility lies in the use of labels. It is vital to include a label for each form field by utilizing the element in the code. This ensures that screen readers correctly identify the name of each field. When conveying important information about a field (e.g., password requirements), it is better to provide it as text below the field label rather than using placeholder text within the field. Enhancing Usability: Creating Intuitive and Keyboard-Friendly Forms To optimize user experience, it is imperative to make forms user-friendly and logically organized. Keyboard accessibility is crucial, allowing users to navigate through fields using the tab key. Including instructions at the beginning of the form helps users understand how to complete it successfully. Maximizing Marketing Impact: Achieving Accessibility for CTAs Calls to Action (CTAs) play a significant role in marketing success. Ensuring accessibility for all CTAs is essential. Buttons should always have an accessible name, typically reflecting the text displayed on the button itself. Incorporating an aria-label for the button provides the necessary information to screen readers. Collaborating with your website development team to implement button accessibility best practices will guarantee fully accessible CTAs. By following these guidelines, you can create an accessible website that increases conversions and provides equal access to all users. For more information, contact Spin Markket at digitalagent@spinmarkket.com.

Did you catch the latest from Google? In June, they tweaked the Search Console's rich results report for breadcrumbs. Now, if you're using the HTML 'id' attribute to assign an ID to Breadcrumb structured data, you might see a few more warnings popping up in your Breadcrumb report. The change was reported on the SC data anomalies page. You're probably already familiar with breadcrumb trails—those handy little guides that show users where they are on a website or web application. They leave a trail of crumbs (or, in this case, links) that users can follow back to previous pages or levels of the site hierarchy. But breadcrumbs aren't just about helping users find their way around. They're also about keeping users engaged. By making navigation easier, breadcrumbs can help reduce bounce rates. After all, if users can easily find what they're looking for on your site, they're less likely to leave and more likely to stick around. Also, let's not forget about efficiency. Breadcrumbs provide a quick way for users to see the overarching category or section of the page they're on, without having to hit the 'Back' button or dig around in other navigational features. This isn't just good for user experience; it's also a big win for SEO, helping search engines understand the structure and hierarchy of your website. So, what does this all mean for you? Well, it's a good idea to check your Breadcrumb report in the Google Search Console and make sure your website is playing by the new rules. We don't want those warnings to catch you off guard. As we continue to ride the wave of SEO and user experience design, let's use these updates as a chance to make our websites even better. Spin Markket is a full service digital marketing agency. Contact us at digitalagent@spinmarkket.com to learn more and be sure to ask about our Fractional CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) services.

Those who are familiar with the Google Business Profile (GBP) guidelines would know that the search engine giant has some special suggestions for Service Area Businesses (SAB). Google recommends that since these businesses do not serve customers at their business address, they hide the address under the “Info” tab in Business Profile Manager. The Idea Does Seem Plausible Hiding the address or even leaving the Business Location field blank makes sense for small businesses like plumbers, electricians, gardeners, and more. where they are required to visit the job site rather than have their customers show up at their business address. And going by Google’s guidelines, it looks like they completely understand this. But All Is Not as It Seems! A study that was recently conducted by a local search expert revealed that following Google’s guidelines can cause one’s ranking in the search engine result pages to take a serious hit. In fact, the drop in the rankings caused by hiding the address in the SAB listing also results in reduced number of calls for services. Here’s a look at what happens when the Business Location field is left blank in an SAB listing: In the images above, green tags indicate ranking 1-3, the yellow tags indicate ranking 4-7 and the red ones indicate rankings at position 8 or lower. While the image to the left shows the ranking before removing the address, the middle one shows the effect of removing the address on the ranking, while the last one shows the recovery of rankings on adding an address. Final Takeaway Although the above mentioned study may be too small to actually count as one, it is better to be aware of what hiding the address can do to your local search rankings. Contact Spin Markket + Digital to learn more! Be sure to ask about our Fractional CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) consulting services. digitalagent@spinmarkket.com 515-302-8026

With the end of GA3, the last day for collecting new data in Google Analytics Universal Analytics (aka, GA3) has passed, and this didn’t go down well with lots of publishers. According to a poll, which asked publishers whether they are ready for the switch or not, the response says that many publishers weren't yet prepared. Google's John Mueller published a poll asking, ‘Ready for GA4?’ Which shows: The poll results tell a high 39% of respondents are "Not yet" ready, with only about 27% confidently reporting that they are. Have a look at another poll result by Google Analytics expert Krista Seiden asking, ‘Are you ready for the switch to GA4? (Please only answer if you are using Universal Analytics and considering what's next.)’ These poll results show that 41% say they are ready, while 59% are in some phase of not ready or else planning to leave Google Analytics altogether. A few days before the end of GA3, MARTECH reported that a majority of sites (28M compared to 11M) were still using UA. Contact Spin Markket + Digital today to learn more. digitalagent@spinmarkket.com 515-302-8026. Need a Fractional CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) services? Let's Talk!

Listings are your business's digital storefront and have become a powerful way to attract potential customers. A well-crafted listing can be a game-changer in a world where attention spans are shorter than ever and competition is fierce. When done right, it gives you a chance to create a good impression and tell your unique story with an irresistible call to action that beckons visitors to discover the wonders your business has to offer. Whether you run a small local shop or a large e-commerce empire, this guide will help you master the art of crafting effective online listings to attract, engage, and convert customers easily. Checklist For Creating a Compelling Listing Profile From selecting the perfect visuals to crafting persuasive descriptions and everything in between, our checklist will equip you with the tools to elevate your online presence to new heights. Want to know more? Here we go! Know Your Audience Before diving into the world of listings, take a moment to understand your target audience. Who are they? What are their needs and pain points? This will help you tailor your listings to speak directly to them. Use language that resonates with your audience and address their concerns in a friendly and approachable manner. Consistency is Key To build trust with your potential customers, ensure consistency across all platforms. Make sure every detail matches across platforms, from your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) to your logo and website URL. This simple step shows professionalism and boosts your online credibility. Craft Compelling Descriptions The description is like a first handshake with your customers. Make it count! Keep it clear, concise, and engaging. Highlight the unique features of your products or services and explain how they can solve your customers' problems. Don't forget to include essential keywords related to your business, as they help improve your online visibility. Captivate with Visuals A picture is worth a thousand words, and that's especially true in the online world—high-quality images and videos showcasing your offerings attract potential buyers. Make sure your visuals are professional and represent your brand accurately. Leverage Customer Reviews Customer feedback is gold for your online listings. They build trust, establish credibility, and influence purchase decisions. Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews and respond graciously to negative ones. Show your audience that you care about their opinions and strive to improve. Optimize for Local SEO If your business caters to a local audience, local SEO is important. Incorporate location-based keywords in your listings to improve your chances of appearing in local search results. Google My Business and other local directories are excellent places to start. Stay Updated Regularly update your information to reflect product, service, or contact detail changes. This ensures that potential customers receive accurate and up-to-date information. Mobile-Friendly Listings Optimizing your listings for mobile devices is the need of the hour. Most customers search for businesses on their smartphones, so your listings should be easily accessible on smaller screens. Track and Analyze Monitor metrics like click-through rates, conversions, and customer engagement. Use these insights to refine your listings and make data-driven improvements. Top Platforms for Listing Your Business Online With countless platforms available, deciding which will work best for your business can be overwhelming. So, we've come up with the top media for listing your business online; here are our top picks: Google My Business (GMB) Google My Business is one of the most powerful platforms for listing your business. With over 5 billion daily searches, Google is the go-to search engine for most users. Creating a GMB listing allows you to appear on Google Maps and in local search results. You can provide essential business information like your address, contact details, operating hours, and even images of your products or services. It also helps local customers find and engage with your business quickly, making it an indispensable tool for any business owner. Yelp If your business thrives on customer reviews and recommendations, Yelp is the place to be. With millions of users actively searching for companies and leaving reviews, it plays a significant role in shaping a business's reputation. Claiming this listing enables you to respond to reviews, provide accurate business information, and showcase your business in its best light. Facebook Business Pages Social media giant Facebook is a great platform for businesses looking to connect with their audience personally. A Facebook Business Page can help you engage with your customers through posts, videos, and live streams. Additionally, you can use the platform's targeting tools to reach specific demographics, increasing your chances of attracting potential customers. With a user-friendly interface, managing your page on this platform becomes easy. Bing Places for Business While Google dominates the search engine landscape, let's not forget about Microsoft's Bing, which holds a considerable share of the search market as well. Bing Places for Business is Microsoft's answer to Google My Business, allowing you to create and manage your business listing in this space. By listing your organization on Bing Places, you tap into a vast audience that prefers using this search tool for their queries. They allow you to showcase your firm’s vital details, such as location, contact information, business hours, and a website link. LinkedIn Do you own a B2B business? Then, LinkedIn is your golden ticket! It provides a platform for businesses to connect with other businesses and professionals. Creating a LinkedIn Company Page lets you showcase your company's expertise, share industry insights, and promote job openings. Networking on the platform can lead to valuable partnerships, collaborations, and potential clients in the corporate world. Providing accurate and up-to-date information across all platforms is vital to successful online listings. Keep your profiles engaging, respond to customer feedback promptly, and be active on social media to foster a genuine connection with your audience. Amp up your business's online engine and accelerate toward success with Spin Markket + Digital! Don't miss the chance to harness the art of crafting compelling online listings. Ignite curiosity, fuel engagement, and steer your business toward unprecedented growth. Contact us today to learn more!

Responsive design and accessibility are the two pillars of web design, and they hold the power to revolutionize the way we interact with websites. Building websites that are accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities or devices, can boost your business. Keep reading as we unfold the importance of responsive design and accessibility and how they work together to create inclusive online experiences. Understanding Responsive Design Responsive design ensures that websites adapt and respond to different screen sizes and devices. This approach eliminates the need for separate mobile versions and provides an excellent experience for all users. Flexible layouts, proportionate images, and fluid grids help ensure that the content fits the user's screen automatically. This adaptability is particularly important as more users access the web from devices like smartphones and tablets. The Power of Accessibility Accessibility in web design focuses on making websites usable for everyone, including people with disabilities. It involves removing barriers and providing alternative ways for users to access content. Descriptive alt text for images benefits visually impaired individuals, while captions benefit those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Accessibility also extends to keyboard navigation, color contrast, and proper heading structures, among other considerations. By prioritizing accessibility, we create an online environment that caters to the needs of all users. Tips To Create Responsive and Easily Accessible Websites Responsive Typography Responsive typography involves optimizing the readability and legibility of text across different devices and screen sizes. By using relative font sizes and adjusting line heights, the typography ensures that text remains easy to read. It also considers the limitations of smaller screens, allowing users to consume content without excessive zooming or scrolling comfortably. This approach is crucial to making websites accessible to users with visual impairments or reading difficulties. Mobile-Friendly Navigation Smooth navigation improves the user experience, and applying it to mobile devices is integral. Mobile-friendly navigation involves designing intuitive menus and systems that are easy to use on smaller screens. This includes using clear labels, concise menus, and optimizing touch targets for easy tapping. This layout ensures that users can effortlessly navigate through the website, regardless of their device. It benefits all users, particularly those with motor impairments who may rely on touch or voice commands. Testing and User Feedback To ensure the effectiveness of responsive design and accessibility features, continuous testing and user feedback are important. Testing across various devices and assistive technologies helps identify issues and allows for necessary adjustments. Additionally, gathering input from users with different abilities can provide valuable insights into improving accessibility and the user experience. By involving users throughout the design process and actively seeking feedback, we can create websites that genuinely meet their needs and enhance inclusivity. Optimizing Load Times Optimizing website performance for faster load times on mobile devices in today's mobile-centric world can boost website visitors. Mobile users often have limited bandwidth and slower internet connections, making it essential to reduce load times for a smooth user experience. To achieve this, web designers focus on strategies such as compressing images and other assets, minimizing HTTP requests, leveraging browser caching techniques, and utilizing content delivery networks (CDNs). Voice User Interface (VUI) Design Voice user interfaces (VUIs) have emerged as powerful tools for enhancing accessibility. They enable users with physical or visual impairments and those with limited dexterity or language difficulties to interact with websites using their voices. It makes websites more accessible to a broader range of users, enabling seamless interactions. When designing VUIs, it's crucial to consider factors such as speech recognition accuracy, natural language understanding, and providing clear prompts and feedback. To ensure inclusivity, designers must also accommodate diverse speech patterns, accents, and languages. Inclusive Design for Users with Cognitive Disabilities Users with cognitive disabilities face unique challenges when navigating websites. To enhance accessibility for these individuals, web designers employ inclusive design techniques. They focus on improving comprehension and reducing cognitive load by adopting clear and concise language. They also provide visual cues and clear instructions and utilize consistent and predictable layouts. Designers also consider content organization, ensuring a logical information hierarchy and clear navigation. By implementing inclusive design practices, websites become more user-friendly for individuals with cognitive disabilities, enabling them to access information and services more efficiently. Cross-Browser and Cross-Device Compatibility Ensuring cross-browser and cross-device compatibility in today's diverse digital landscape is mandatory for inclusive web design. Websites should function and display consistently across various web browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer, to provide a flawless experience for all users. Additionally, with the rapid increase of different devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, designers must optimize websites to adapt to different screen sizes and resolutions. By thoroughly testing sites on other browsers and devices and making necessary adjustments, web designers ensure a consistent and accessible user experience, regardless of their preferred browser or device. Creating inclusive website design should be at the forefront of the design process, ensuring everyone can engage with the online world effectively. It is not only a legal and ethical responsibility but also a powerful way to foster a more inclusive and accessible digital landscape for all. At Spin Markket + Digital, we believe in the transformative impact of inclusive web design. Don't miss out on the opportunity to create websites that cater to all users. Join us on a journey toward accessibility and user-centric design. Contact us now and unlock the potential of inclusive web experiences. Let's make the web a more inclusive place!

The popularity of ChatGPT, DallE, and other artificial intelligence (AI) tools has had a massive impact on the current digital marketing landscape. That’s why businesses are currently leveraging them to stay ahead of their competition. However, implementing an AI-powered digital marketing strategy can backfire if you are not fully familiar with how the tools work. Let’s look at the benefits and challenges of AI-infused marketing and the importance of a digital marketing agency. Benefits of AI in Digital Marketing Artificial intelligence systems can learn from data and patterns to make informed decisions. Since the turn of the decade, AI has been used to analyze business performance, provide custom suggestions, and several other requirements. The proper use of AI could, therefore, result in the following benefits: 1. Personalization In an era where customers require personal attention, AI-powered tools can help you create targeted marketing strategies by analyzing market trends and customer data. For example, automated chatbots allow businesses to have personal conversations with their customers 24/7. Generative AI, like ChatGPT, can create personalized content that doesn’t lose the underlying sentiment and tone. Another option for personalization could be using AI-powered tools for email and social media campaigns. 2. Predictive Analytics Since artificial intelligence allows businesses to process large data sets, they can get near-accurate predictions about emerging marketing trends and customer behavior. By conducting real-time assessments, you can select the most effective platform for your next marketing campaign. Predictive analytics also helps identify and resolve potential issues before they become major hindrances. 3. Content Creation and Optimization Creating targeted blogs and landing pages is an excellent way to increase customer engagement. ChatGPT and other generative AI tools allow you to create optimized content templates based on current trends. You can also improve your overall content strategy using AI-powered tools to analyze your content’s performance. 4. Improved Ad Strategies Google’s recent announcement of AI-enhanced Search Ads processes has reinforced the general shift in marketing behavior. Experimenting with various artificial intelligence tools can help you create excellent Google, Bing, and social media Ads. Delivering these targeted ads to the right audience at the right time could improve your Ad campaigns' ROI. 5. Enhanced User Experience Website design and performance are significant factors in today’s marketing landscape. AI-powered website tools can offer various services, from creating basic automated chatbots and enhancing website accessibility to providing personalized recommendations. Testing each tool and finding the right fit for your audience might help you leave a lasting impression on your customers’ minds. Challenges of Using AI Tools and Techniques As one of the major marketing trends of 2023, AI is providing new insights that were previously unavailable. While businesses currently use AI-driven techniques to enhance existing marketing strategies, this novel concept has its own challenges. Some of the significant challenges of using AI marketing tools and techniques are listed below. 1. Finding the Right Voice AI-powered content can be beneficial but also be a source of frustration if it doesn't sound natural. You might have to experiment with multiple tools and techniques to find the right tone and voice. It's better to look at artificial intelligence as an enhancement to human interactions/content, not a replacement. So, there’s a need to analyze existing customer interactions and make necessary revisions to make them more human-like. 2. Ensuring Factual Accuracy An AI’s source data determines its effectiveness. If it’s fed with inaccurate data, it can lead to mistakes and misinformation. Keeping yourself updated about the AI’s data source could help you avoid mistakes. For example, ChatGPT's sources were initially limited to data till September 2021. However, there’s also a need to verify the accuracy of the data using other data sources. By adding reliable information, you can build customer trust and reputation. 3. Understanding Ethical Concerns As the use of AI grows, so do the ethical concerns surrounding its use. The major ethical concerns discussed at large currently are bias, discrimination, data privacy, and plagiarism. For example, an AI algorithm trained on biased data may lead to discriminatory outcomes against specific demographics. Reading the content and making necessary changes can be a great way to limit bias. On the other hand, privacy and plagiarism concerns can be limited by being transparent about using AI-generated data. 4. Training and Investment While AI can provide many benefits, it requires significant time and resources. Rather than infrastructural changes, AI implementation will require procedural changes that might impact business processes. While most AI tools are easy to operate, you might need to create training programs to use them efficiently. These programs could range from simple training on prompts to detailed training on data analysis. 5. Adapting to New Trends Since the AI landscape is rapidly evolving, learning about the latest developments can help you stay ahead of the curve. Attending conferences, reading industry publications, and networking with other professionals are some of the best ways to do it. It is also essential to be flexible when implementing AI marketing strategies, as what works today may not work tomorrow. If you’re willing to take risks and experiment with new technologies, you could forge a new path and gain recognition in your field. How Can a Good Digital Advertising Agency Help? When it comes to digital marketing, not all businesses would have similar requirements. So, finding the best tools to help you with your specific needs is important. By partnering with an experienced digital advertising agency, you can bypass the experimentation phase and see excellent results earlier. In addition to identifying the right tools, a good digital agency can help: ● Develop data-driven AI marketing strategies. ● Provide future-proof optimization support for marketing campaigns. ● Stay updated on the latest AI marketing trends. ● Train employees on how to use AI for marketing effectively. ● Offer ongoing support to ensure the success of your AI marketing campaigns. If you’re looking to develop an AI-powered digital marketing strategy, Spin Markket can help you create a customized plan. Our main goal is to help businesses from various domains establish a strong web presence. Our Iowa-based team specializes in providing all-in-one digital advertising and website design solutions.