SPEAKER PRESENTATION:
CRAFTING YOUR WEBSITE’S MISSION: A BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS by Holly Cliffe
Discover why defining your website’s objective is paramount for online success. Join marketing veteran Holly Cliffe as she unpacks the pivotal role of objectives in content development and marketing strategies. Learn how to structure your website to guide visitors seamlessly through their buyer journey, ensuring a stellar user experience that…(Read on…)
More please! →
There are 33.2 million small businesses in the USA, which make up about 99.9% of all American businesses. Making yours stand out and grow effectively and fast among so many small businesses can be a real challenge.
Most business owners feel intimidated about investing in their business growth. Due to the tough competition, they feel there’s no point in spending on strategies.
However, there are some great ideas – ON A BUDGET – to make your business shine among existing customers and even turn prospective customers into regulars. So, let’s know all the strategies here! (Read on…)
More please! →
You may not realize it, but most U.S. businesses are small businesses; SBA statistics show that 99 percent of all businesses are independent companies with fewer than 500 employees.
That’s the good news. The bad news? While estimates vary, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data 20 percent of new businesses fail within two years, 45 percent during the first five years, and 65 percent during the first 10 years. (Only 25 percent make it for 15 years or more.) (Read on…)
More please! →
Running a small business is by no means an easy task, especially when you are just getting started – you have limited time, resources, and budget, all while trying to get things done in order to create more awareness and grow your brand. Nonetheless, it is crucial to get your company name out there as much as possible to generate a customer pipeline and have steady incoming revenue. So, the question becomes: What’s the best way to get started?
PR, or Public Relations, is more essential than ever for small businesses to grow in 2024, and it doesn’t have to be super complicated or costly… (Read on…)
More please! →
Frustrated with your Website? Fails with D.I.Y. site builders? HERE’S THE ANSWER!
Great for DIY’ers! Not just a website, but a turn-key small business marketing solution.
Here’s The Thing: You Should Spend Your Time On Your Business, Not Struggling To Learn Web Design! (Read on…)
More please! →
Being a talented public speaker is a skill that is able to help advance a wide range of careers. The first step in this pursuit typically begins with enrolling in public speaking classes to help you master the craft.
Whether you are a published author trying to promote your new book, a marketing specialist presenting an important pitch at work, or anything in-between, being a great public speaker is something that is sure to be incredibly valuable. (Read on…)
More please! →
WordPress powers almost 43% of all websites and not all of them are in English. In fact, the number of non-English websites is on the rise, with 56% of WordPress sites being created in languages other than U.S. English. This shows there’s a huge opportunity for going multilingual and translating your site in multiple languages.
But getting started can be confusing, even for experienced WordPress users. (Read on…)
More please! →
Within our global economy, small businesses play a significant role in driving innovation and embodying the entrepreneurial mindset. They are often at the forefront of introducing new products, ideas and services to the market.
…small businesses are no strangers to adversity and face a variety of challenges within the fast-paced and ever-evolving market. (Read on…)
More please! →
According to a 2021 HubSpot State of Marketing survey, 50% of small business owners say generating qualified leads is their primary digital marketing goal. But generating leads is a top challenge for 41% of content marketers. So, For the growth of a small business, understanding how to generate qualified leads should be a top priority.
While large businesses can speed up the process using special software for generating leads, small businesses with limited budgets can only rely on… (Read on…)
More please! →
Do you want your articles to be as well optimized as possible? Do you aim for that number 1 position in the search results? And do you madly chase traffic and clicks? It’s not easy to achieve all these things entirely on your own, but luckily, Yoast is here to help. In this post, we’ll talk you to the process of optimizing your post in the best possible way. We’ll explain the five steps on how to Yoast your post. (Read on…)
More please! →
Besides instilling in me a desire to crane-kick everyone, The Karate Kid …implanted a nascent interest in Japanese culture. When I was five, I remember cobbling together a small Shinto shrine out of construction paper, popsicle sticks, and Elmer’s glue so I could have a setup similar to Mr. Miyagi’s dojo in my bedroom. It’s funny to think about a five-year-old church-going kid living in the middle of Oklahoma creating a Shinto shrine for himself.
My appreciation for Japanese culture has deepened since then and continues today. One of the things I love about the Japanese is…. (Read on…)
More please! →
We all know that testimonials are an important part of marketing. Humans are social animals and social proof is a powerful signal that can turn a prospect from a skeptic to an enthusiastic buyer.
The problem is that actually getting good testimonials is a pain, which is why a lot of freelancers don’t bother, or have really boring, vague testimonials to share.
Well, no more!
In this article, I’m going to give you my exact process to get great testimonials from your clients. (Read on…)
More please! →
Reading great business books is one of the most cost-effective methods to become a whip-smart business person. As business book editors, we read a lot of books — and this curated book list is to bring you the best choices.
Indeed, reading top-notch business books is a smart investment of time and money. As business book editors, we’ve navigated the sea of literature to distill the most potent wisdom and strategies for you. This list will guide you towards making the right choices in the business landscape. (Read on…)
More please! →
Marketing opportunities are endless, but marketing budgets are finite. Is it better for a mom-and-pop business to put money into online and social media marketing, or to invest in real-life sponsorships and events?
As with many things in business, you can only find out through trial and error, says Rus Graham, cofounder of New England-based Rushton Gregory Communications.
“The difficulty with marketing programs is that everyone is unique,” Graham says. “There isn’t a cookie-cutter approach.” (Read on….)
More please! →
Content marketing is a strategy that utilizes a wide variety of channels, including social media, websites, videos, infographics, podcasts and blogs, to attract potential customers. By creating, publishing and sharing relevant content, companies are building their brand, establishing trust, increasing engagement and ultimately influencing more people to buy their products and services.
With an influx of options everywhere we turn, establishing and nurturing a strong, sustainable relationship with customers is more important than ever. Buyers need to feel not only satisfied, but also truly cared for, in order to stay loyal to a business. In addition to supporting this customer relationship, content marketing also helps make it easier for your customers to become champions of your brand and assist in boosting awareness.
More please! →
The data shows that omnichannel marketing strategies have power. When implemented successfully, they increase ad-driven store visits by 80%. With consumers relying more on their mobile devices and expecting tailored, seamless experiences from brands, failing to embrace omnichannel marketing seems like a wrong turn. Omnichannel strategies can boost sales, personalize the customer experience and increase retention rates.
More please! →
The number of Americans who say they are “cashless” has jumped in the last five years. Forty-one percent of Americans said they did not use cash for their purchases in a typical week in 2022, up from 29 percent in 2018, according to a Pew Research Center survey released last October.
Small-business owners increasingly are making the switch to cashless payments for several reasons, including rising consumer demand, faster checkout, lower labor costs and increased security. Those who wait risk losing revenue, experts say.
More please! →
Organizations are constantly looking for strategies to increase leads, customer satisfaction and revenue.
An effective way to achieve this is through sales and marketing alignment.
When your marketing team is enabling sales, it becomes easier to achieve target goals.
In this guide, we will investigate the benefits and challenges of sales and marketing alignment. We will also discuss some of the best strategies and share success stories:
More please! →
When marketing a business, the key to success lies in the ability to target the right group or groups of people accurately. Knowing your target market is essential for any company that wants to create an effective, compelling marketing message that resonates and results in sales.
In this guide, we’ll explore what a target market is, how to define one, and why it’s so important.
More please! →
Brand loyalty is one thing, but when that loyalty is directed at a small business, it stands to benefit an entire community…The relationship between a small business and its customers is unique — rarely is it purely transactional. In fact, 37% of Americans say they purchase from small businesses to receive a more personal experience. Also, 30% of them are willing to pay more and 30% are willing to wait longer at small businesses versus major retailers or chain stores
More please! →
What can you do to increase your sales right now? Today on the Atlanta Small Business Show, we’re pleased to welcome back Melinda Emerson, America’s number one small business expert, CEO of Quintessence Group, and best-selling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, to share a few tips.
More please! →
Email subject lines are arguably the most important component of your emails. After all, the subject line is what subscribers see in their inbox, and is what determines if they even open your email or not
So without good email subject lines, your email marketing efforts could go to waste! But don’t worry — you’ve come to the right place.
More please! →
Are you intimidated by copywriting?
If your answer is yes, welcome to how 99% of marketers feel.
If your answer is no, are you some kind of wizard?
Copywriting is the reason why people buy something.
More please! →
These marketing strategies can help small businesses gain new customers and increase repeat business. Image credit: Shutterstock Kimberly de Silva Marketing is important to every business’ survival, whether it’s for the local business up the street or the mega-corporation that spreads across all continents. Unfortunately, for the former, marketing is often put on the back burner, as a small-business owner has so many other things to deal with. 1. Learn from your competitors As a small business, you should start by looking at what your direct competitors are doing in the area. Find out how they are attracting customers and, more
More please! →
Greetings, all… One of the most popular WordPress forms plugin, the Fast Secure Contact Form plugin (which has been the standard for all Brass Ring Multimedia websites for years) has been removed from WordPress’s favorable status and listing quite suddenly and unexpectedly. Unfortunately, this was due to the actions of a nefarious individual who recently purchased the plugin from its creator…a fine developer who created, supported and evolved it for many years. We have been at risk since June when ownership changed. WordPress has now removed the plugin from its downloads and issued a “clean” version. The clean version will
More please! →
Today I want to talk to you about some ways small business owners almost always fail when it comes to their marketing because they don’t do three specific things. By Brad Swezey First, they don’t have a systematic plan in place to get new business. Second, they don’t have a systematic plan in place to stay in contact with the clients and customers that they do get. And third, they treat marketing as an afterthought. They spend all their time and energy thinking about their product, or maybe their office furniture or other things, but they don’t think about their
More please! →
Your stomach ties itself into a knot and your heart races nowhere as your mind sorts through every conceivable worst case scenario. We call it “fear” and our instincts scream for us to avoid whatever source it stems from. But as irrational as it often is, as silly as it sometimes seems when you witness it in others, fear is something we have to continually confront throughout our lives. Entrepreneurs especially—so steeped in uncertainty as they are—have to learn how to live with fear if they want to go far. Because perhaps the scariest thing about fear is how it
More please! →
Building a universally loved brand without engaging in price wars against competitors is not easy. But one brand that has achieved this seemingly impossible feat is Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL). Behind Apple’s phenomenal success lies its strong product portfolio and design standards. But the company’s unparalleled marketing strategy has also played a crucial role in ensuring it stays on top of its game. According to an infographic created by web design company, The Website Group, Apple’s winning marketing strategy provides lessons for small businesses. by Shubhomita Bose In Marketing Tips You may READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE on Small Business Trends website The company created the infographic
More please! →
TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE: How Healthy Is Your Website? 27 Amazing Online Marketing Tactics for Small Businesses With Low Budgets, by Neil Patel How to Create a Social Media Marketing Content Plan in 7 Steps Copywriting: Text Structure Featured Small Business: TaxRelief.Info Download as .pdf
More please! →
Get this valuable toolkit now to improve your website’s effectiveness PLUS! we’ll also send you our newsletter where you’ll continue to enjoy WordPress, marketing & small business tips, advice, tools, news and exclusive offers!
(No cost…no obligation!)
60 day warranty (we take care of changes, fixes, etc. while we coach you to work on your site.)
*Not included. (Typically $40-60, we’ll discuss that before you purchase)
| By purchasing from Brass Ring Web Design, you confirm that you (the client) agree to adhere by these terms and conditions of these terms of service. These terms of service represent an agreement between you (the client) and Brass Ring Web Design (the developer) |
| 1. Time for Payment – All invoices are payable upon receipt. The grant of any license or right of copyright is conditioned on receipt of full payment. Any extras must be paid prior to website launch. |
| 2. Default in Payment – The Client shall assume responsibility for all collection of legal fees necessitated by default in payment. |
| 3. Estimates – If this form is used for an estimate or assignment confirmation, the fees and expenses shown are minimum estimates only. Final fees and expenses shall be shown when invoice is rendered. The Client’s approval shall be obtained for any increases in fees or expenses that exceed the original estimate by 10% or more. |
| 4. Expenses – The Client shall reimburse the Developer for all expenses arising from this assignment, including the payment of any sales taxes due on this assignment and shall advance $TBD (if any) to the Developer for payment of said expenses. |
| 5. Progress Reports – The Developer shall contact or meet with the Client on a mutually acceptable schedule to report all tasks completed, problems encountered, and recommended changes relating to the development and testing of the digital media. The Developer shall inform the Client promptly by telephone upon discovery of any event or problem that may significantly delay the development of the work. |
| 6. Changes – The Client shall be responsible for making additional payments for changes requested by the Client in original assignment. However, no additional payment shall be made for changes required to conform to the original assignment description. The Client shall offer the Developer the first opportunity to make any changes. |
| 7. Designee -The Developer shall designate (Edward A. Sanchez) and the Client shall designate one individual as the only designated persons who will send and accept all deliverables and receive and make all communications between the Developer and the Client.Neither party shall have any obligation to consider for approval or respond to materials or instructions submitted other than through the designated persons designated in “website planner form”. Each party has the right to change its designated person upon 5 days written notice to the other. |
| 8. Hosting – The Client authorizes the developer to access their website hosting account for purposes of ascertaining status, settings along with making any necessary changes needed for purposes of this project. |
| 9. Website Maintenance – The Developer agrees to provide the Client with reasonable technical support and assistance to maintain and update the Website after launch during the Warranty Period of 60 days at no cost to the Client. Such assistance shall not exceed 1 hour per calendar month. After the expiration of the Warranty Period, the Developer agrees to provide the Client with reasonable technical support and assistance to maintain and update the Website on the Internet for an annual fee of N/Afor a period of N/A years after the last day of the Warranty Period payable thirty (30) days prior to the commencement date of each year of the Maintenance Period. Such maintenance shall include correcting any errors or any failure of the Website to conform to the specifications. Maintenance shall not include the development of enhancements to the originally contracted project. |
| 10. Confidential Information – The Developer acknowledges and agrees that the source materials and technical and marketing plans or other sensitive business information, including all materials containing said information, which are supplied by the Client to the Developer or developed by the Developer in the course of developing the digital media are to be considered confidential information. Information shall not be considered confidential if it is already publicly known through no act of the Developer. |
| 11. Return of Source Information – Upon the Client’s acceptance of the Golden Master, launch of website or upon the cancellation of the project, the Developer shall provide the Client with all copies and originals of the source materials provided to the Developer. |
| 12. Ownership of Copyright – Client acknowledges and agrees that Developer retains all rights to copyright in any original artwork created by developer. |
| 13. Ownership and Return of Artwork – The Developer retains ownership of all original artwork, in any media, including digital files, whether preliminary or final. The Client waives the right to challenge the validity of the Developer’s ownership of the art subject to this agreement because of any change or evolution of the law and will return all artwork within thirty (30) days of use. |
| 14. Cancellation – In the event of cancellation of this assignment, ownership of all copyrights and the original artwork shall be retained by the Developer If, for any reason, client should decide to cancel this order, 15% of total shall be retained by designer until such point as work commences. Once work commences, if assignment is cancelled, fee owed will be based upon actual work completed. (See rates above) |
| 15. Ownership of Engine – The Developer retains ownership of all engines used in the production of the product unless those engines are provided by the Client. |
| 16. Credit – The Developer shall be given credit in footer of site in this form: WordPress Website by Brass Ring Web Design (incl. Link) |
| 17. Alterations – Any electronic alteration of original art (color shift, mirroring, flopping, combination cut and paste, deletion) creating additional art is prohibited without the express permission of the Developer. The Developer will be given first opportunity to make any alterations required. Unauthorized alterations shall constitute additional use and will be billed accordingly. |
| 18. Limitation of Liability – Client agrees that it shall not hold the Developer or his/her agents or employees liable for any incidental or consequential damages which arise from the Developer’s failure to perform any aspect of the Project in a timely manner, regardless of whether such failure was caused by intentional or negligent acts or omissions of the Developer or a third party. Furthermore, the Developer disclaims all implied warranties including the warranty of merchantability & fitness for a particular use |
| 19. Unauthorized Use and Program Licenses – The Client will indemnify the Developer against all claims and expenses arising from uses for which the Client does not have rights to or authority to use. The Client will be responsible for payment of any special licensing or royalty fees resulting from the use of graphics programs that require such payments |
| 20. Delays -The Developer will make every good faith effort to meet or exceed any mutually agreed deadlines. It is understood that this is a collaborative process & client agrees to provide completed questionnaire(s), text & image content within a reasonable period of time. We consult with you throughout this process so you’ll have guidance. A typical website project takes 6-8 weeks. If an excessive amount of weeks pass and content is not received for us to work with, do understand that reopening files & getting reacquainted with aged projects poses an extra challenge &likely increase overall increase in time expenditure. For this reason, a late fee may apply. Understand that delays can also negatively impact our other active clients’ projects. We will discuss creating content for you or hiring out content creation to help you move forward. |
| 21. Excessive Contact – We are in business to be of service & do not apply strict limits to the amount of support we give to our clients. The client understands that the developer must ensure it is able to provide quality service to all its clients, and that no clients should be disadvantaged by the behavior of others. Training time: Typically up to 3 hours of 1-on-1, in person or by phone after launch to ensure designated staff is able to carry out website content management, etc. Coaching time: During 60 day post-launch warranty, we will support trainee(s) to ensure confidence. Typically, 3 total hours but we are dedicated to getting you confident and capable by the end of your warranty period. |
| 22. Dispute Resolution – Any disputes in excess of $5000.00 (maximum limit for small claims court) arising out of this Agreement shall be submitted to binding arbitration before the Joint Ethics Committee or a mutually agreed upon arbitrator pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Arbitrator’s award shall be final, and judgment may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The Client shall pay all arbitration and court costs, reasonable attorney’s fees, and legal interest on any award of judgment in favor of the Creator. |
| 23. Acceptance of Terms – Payment for this system indicates acceptance of above terms & conditions. |
