A strong online presence is a powerful marketing tool for any small business. Consumers often make quick decisions about whether or not to engage with your content and brand based solely on the design and functionality of your website. To ensure that your business has the best opportunity to engage with consumers, you need a professionally designed website. Many business owners attempt to create a website on their own, only to find themselves struggling to meet the needs of their target audience and ever-changing algorithms. A professional web design and development company can create a quality website that reflects the values of your brand. Here are five reasons why your business would benefit from hiring a professional web design company.

Tax season is upon us, and it is time to start gathering documents and familiarizing ourselves with the latest tax updates and possible deductions. Tax deductions help small business owners to make the tax-filing process more manageable. These deductions are subtracted from your taxable income and can make a big difference in how tax season affects your business financially.

The holiday season is the perfect time of year to express gratitude for our loved ones. A gesture of kindness, no matter how small, always counts. Small business owners depend on the support of their communities to continue their mission. This holiday season, consider how your business can give back to your community.

Are you and your family looking for a festive way to usher in the holiday season? On Saturday, November 19, Downtown Ocala will host its 38th Annual Light Up Ocala event from 4-9 p.m.

Rolling out your seasonal marketing campaign can be both stressful and exciting. As a small business, it gives you the perfect opportunity to bring attention to your brand, and remind consumers about the importance of supporting locally owned businesses. Don’t be afraid to start your campaign early, as many consumers have already started their holiday shopping.

According to a recent research study, 83% of American consumers purchase a product or service based on verbal recommendations. Whether someone is sharing a rave review on social media, or in person, the influence of recommendation is powerful.

As we get closer to the biggest shopping season of the year, consumers are searching for unique gift items and hoping to support local businesses in the process. Make sure consumers have an opportunity to notice your brand and business with these local marketing strategies that will help you get noticed this fall and beyond!

Learning about your target audience is a powerful way to boost your marketing strategies. Many businesses struggle when it comes to marketing to both younger and older audiences. A recent Forbes article entitled, “12 Marketing Moves Businesses Can Use to Reach Older and Younger Audiences," offers marketing advice from a 12-member expert panel at the Forbes Communications Council. We wanted to share some key takeaways that we think are especially valuable to any small business marketing strategy.

Creating video content is a powerful way to increase consumer engagement with your brand. Consumers prefer video content now more than ever! Once your content is ready to go live on your website, there are a few things you can do to ensure a successful return on investment. Here are some tips to help you optimize your video content before launch.

Online video content accounts for over 80% of consumer internet traffic. Creating authentic, entertaining, and educational video content for your potential customers and clients is a powerful marketing strategy with a guaranteed return on investment. If you are ready to start engaging customers, generating leads, and building your brand awareness, here are a few basic tips to help you get started.

Did you know that Google uses the acronym E-A-T to determine the quality of your web page? Google’s algorithm seeks to identify pages that provide viewers, customers, and clients with Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. The pages that provide this high-quality content are ranking higher in SERPs (Search Engine Result Pages). Google is looking for websites that provide the greatest value to viewers, rather than sites that are solely focused on “making a sale.” One powerful way to increase the quality of your content is to create your own videos and include them on your website.

When a potential client or customer visits your website, you want the content to be engaging while still being deeply connected to the message and purpose of your brand. Whether you are hiring a professional photographer or searching for budget-friendly stock photos for your website, there are a few things you should keep in mind when choosing which images will represent your brand.

Each year, First Citizens Bank conducts a small business survey in California, Florida, Wisconsin, South Carolina, and North Carolina. FCB uses this data “to assess the motivations, sentiments, and success of small business owners in the U.S.” Many business owners are still recovering from the impact of COVID-19 as they attempt to adjust and adapt to the current state of inflation. Considering these seemingly insurmountable obstacles, the data collected from FCB’s survey offers some encouraging insight into the health of small businesses across the country, especially in Florida.

Organic marketing (also referred to as inbound marketing) works to gain valuable traffic by providing potential customers and clients with value. This mutually beneficial marketing method provides a powerful, long-term strategy to increase traffic, revenue, and profit for your business.

Could a 360-degree virtual tour benefit your small business? Virtual tours give potential customers and clients an opportunity to walk through your space, learn about your business, and build trust with your brand. While real estate certainly makes up the bulk of virtual tour production, many businesses have found these tours to be essential to their marketing and overall web presence. Set your business apart from the rest by showcasing your space and your work with a professional 360-degree virtual tour.

Shopping local and supporting local businesses is a powerful way to encourage local economic growth.

Marketing can make a big difference in the success of your small business. With so many ways to get your brand noticed, it can be difficult to choose which strategy is the best investment of your time, energy, and money.

In uncertain times, running a small business can feel like steering a ship in a storm. One tried and true strategy to survive, and even thrive, in these uncertain economic times is to rely on customer loyalty.

Launching and sustaining a small business can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, local small business organizations offer connections and resources to help you access capital, learn, network, grow, and thrive in a competitive market.

Adding a method of e-commerce to your web presence can expand your customer reach, grow brand awareness, and increase sales.