What’s the first thing you think about when it comes to your business website? It may be the design…or the words…or the functionality you need (like appointment scheduling). It may be something else entirely. But chances are, as a small business owner, you don’t have a lot of time to think about it — or […]
For small businesses, “business as usual” can be a challenge any time things, well, aren’t usual. From bad weather to natural disasters to other extraordinary circumstances, your local business may have to react quickly to get the word out about how you’re responding — and how your business is operating differently. Here are some quick […]
Our podcast, Small Business Small Talk powered by Hibu, gives you the insider expertise your local business needs to compete online. Small Business Small Talk brings you informative conversations with digital marketing experts who specialize in online marketing for small- and medium-sized businesses. In this episode of our Small Business Small Talk podcast, we talk […]
It’s hard enough just getting found online. You fight your way to the top of the search results, you claw your way past your competitors and manage to get a prospect or customer to click the link that takes them to your website… and they take about three seconds, don’t see what they want, and […]
The majority of websites today simply aren’t built to give you the best ranking in search or to get you found with voice search — but Hibu Smart Sites are… and the secret is something called “schema.” How small businesses can use schema in digital marketing Schema markup is advanced code that helps Hibu Smart […]
The majority of websites today simply aren’t built to give you the best ranking in search or to get you found with voice search — but Hibu Smart Sites are! Hibu Smart Sites have advanced technology that 80% of websites don’t have, helping Smart Sites perform better than other websites* — simply put, they communicate […]
In Part I of Hibu’s Local SEO series, you saw some of the many parts that make up modern (or Local) SEO – what it takes to optimize your website for both your customers and search engine crawlers, and why SEO isn’t just about optimizing your site anymore. Now let’s take a look at your […]
Let’s face it, it’s a complicated and fragmented world out there when it comes to marketing your business online — and it’s not getting any easier. Today, we’re going to try to simplify at least one part of that landscape and explain some of the key things you can do — yourself, or with help […]
If you’re like many small business owners, you may be using a website for your business that you created on your own. There are certainly enough DIY site options available. Unfortunately, a majority of DIY sites suffer from a lot of glitches, big and small – built-in issues that could dramatically hurt your business. Check […]
Good news… the future is here! Bad news… there’s a really good chance your website isn’t ready for it. Changes in technology are driving dramatic changes in customer buying behavior. The expanding impact of social media, mobile search, site security — your website needs to be built in a way that it can easily adapt to […]
For business owners, increasing the visibility of your business is essential to your growth online and offline. You have to stand out above your competition if you want to get in front of the most potential customers. One of the most effective ways to increase your visibility is through the process of Search Engine Optimization […]
You can’t talk about digital marketing and websites today without talking about privacy and security — and you shouldn’t! Almost 33% of all websites have inadequate security, and you can’t afford to let yours be one of them. Making your customers feel safe and confident about interacting with your business online needs to be a […]
Google shows MORE than just your site (if you know what to look for) When you work with as many small businesses as Hibu has, you hear a lot of the same reasons for needing a new website: Your site looks old Your site doesn’t have the functionality you need today You can’t find your site […]
It’s March! In like a lion, out like a lay-up. It’s time for that great Spring sporting spectacular, when basketball brackets take over our nation’s psyche.. and cost businesses across the country hours of work as employees focus on their picks (instead of their productivity). In an effort to turn the Final Four into a fiscal […]
Sometimes it’s the little things that mean the most to your marketing You love your local business. You work hard to make sure your customers love your local business, too. But when was the last time you took a few minutes to show your business how much you appreciate it? You don’t need to mail candy hearts […]
When it comes to mobile speed, time is money Everyone who uses a phone to browse online knows how frustrating it can be to wait for a site to load…or rather, to leave a site when it doesn’t load quickly. “Going mobile” is a subject we can’t get enough of — we’ve talked about 6 tips to […]
With social media, listings on search engines and online ads — do you still need a business website? Yes, we think you do! We firmly believe two things about digital marketing: You need a synchronized solution that includes more than just a business website …but you still need a business website — and your customers […]
Puzzled about what your site needs today? Trying to sort through all the advice about what your small business website needs can be frustrating. Our short guide “10 Missing Pieces from Local Business Websites” will show you where to start putting the pieces together to win new business on: Mobile Search engines Social media Directory sites […]
The Internet can be a scary place and having to figure out your business’ digital marketing can be a pretty daunting proposition. Here are five tips to help you slay your digital marketing monsters and grow your business online. #1: Transform your social media into social marketing Congrats on getting your business set up […]
Does your website highlight these “motivating factors”? As a small business owner, you know what makes your company great. You hear it from happy customers all the time: “What keeps people coming back is the QUALITY of my work. “My PRICES are very competitive and fair.” “When someone needs me, I’m there – FAST.” “I am a fantastic […]
In our experience, most local businesses want a blog on their website… but very few take the time to publish blog posts on a regular basis. We get it — deciding on what to post isn’t easy, and finding the time to sit down and write is even harder. After a while, you probably find […]
Poor content that delivers poor results As you saw in part I of this series, UX (or “user experience”) mistakes are everywhere online. And while they’re easy to roll your eyes at on someone else’s website…they’re also easy to make on your own site. Here are a few content-related UX website mistakes that Inc.com highlighted. […]
Poor design that delivers poor results You’ve probably read plenty of lists detailing the painful (and sometimes painfully obvious) mistakes on small business websites. But it’s the obvious mistakes that bear repeating, because they’re the ones that are going to make for a poor user experience. User experience (or “UX”) focuses on how easily people interact with […]
What your site shows says a lot about your business Your Hibu Website isn’t JUST a pretty picture. It’s a tool that your customers are using to interact with your business…and that your potential customers are using to judge your business. Sure, both audiences expect your site to look good, but they’ll only stay there if […]
In the world of websites, differentiating between all the tricky terminology can be difficult. Using the wrong term can really confuse you or the people you’ve hired to work on your site — and can leave you with poor results. Being able to talk with web developers using the correct terminology is essential. You’re going […]
For a small business owner, it’s not unusual to try writing your own website content (or copy). After all, you may have written your own sales letters before, either from scratch or using content from a brochure or print ad. With with so many DIY website options available, writing your small business website content yourself […]
It used to be that if you were launching and marketing a business, all you had to do was get an office, print some business cards and maybe take out an ad or two to spread the word. Today, the most important thing is to effectively launch your business ONLINE. That’s where people will be […]
Starting a small business is a big task — and so is taking your business into the digital age. One of the fastest ways to get your name out there and online? Having a website. Small business websites are great for showing your potential customers who you are… what you do… and how you do […]
Did you just start a new local business? Congrats! You’ve made the first step toward becoming a successful small business owner. But the next step can be the hardest: how are you going to market your new business so people know you’re out there? Here are some simple suggestions about how to show your local customers that you’re “Open for […]
Web design that keeps visitors on your site Creating your brand is key to marketing your small business — and your online brand is your website. What do people see when they visit your site? Your visitors need to know what your site is about (and that it’s what they were looking for) within seconds of arriving or they’ll […]
Creating a website for your business is the best way to market to as many people as possible. Research shows that up to 80% of people research a small business online before deciding to visit them or make a purchase, so the importance of a website isn’t up for discussion. The challenge is that making […]
When you’re building a small business, your website is a vital component to marketing your brand. Even the smallest mistakes in web design can discourage potential customers from doing business with you. If you’re thinking about a new website design for your local business, avoid these common mistakes: Overly busy design — You need to […]
When people need something done around their house — whether it’s fixing a leaky faucet, adding new lighting fixtures to the basement, or even walking the dog — they almost always turn to the Internet to find someone who can do the work for them. To make your company the first choice for that service […]
It’s Cinco de Mayo! Should your business website speak Spanish? [scroll down for the English] Muchas personas creen que el Cinco de Mayo celebra la revolución Mexicana, pero eso no es verdad (en realidad reconoce el ejército Mexicano en la batalla de Puebla el 5 de mayo, 1862). Sin embargo, hay una revolución en marcha […]
In honor of May the Fourth (as in “be with you,” the unofficial Star Wars Day), here’s a quick reminder of four important ways to put added force in your website and your online marketing. Make your website mobile friendly – or you risk losing more than half your audience. With more than 50% of […]
Mobile-friendly. Mobile-ready. Mobile-optimized. By now you know how important it is for your business website to look and work well on mobile devices. Your potential customers expect it. Your return customers expect it. Even Google now gives slight preferential treatment to sites that are mobile-friendly. Since the beginning of 2017, mobile users have been responsible […]
If you’re just starting to take your online marketing seriously, you may be looking for the most affordable business websites out there to quickly jumpstart your online presence. But will a “cheap” website really give your business what it takes to succeed online? 88% of people will research a business online prior to making a […]
We understand that if you’re an accountant, you’re probably too busy to read this today (since it’s Tax day) – but once the tax rush is over, here’s a handy overview on what you can do to make sure your site is built to accrue new clients. Here are 10 key factors that can have […]
In honor of April Fool Day, let’s take a look at Foolish Myth #1: My site looks great… and that’s all it needs to work Your site has 3 seconds to sell your business – make sure your site looks great AND tells your customers what they need to know: who you are, what you do, […]
Promoting and marketing your small business online can take many forms. Once you’ve built an effective website, what are the best way to promote it online and offline? Start by thinking about your website as: A virtual extension of your brick-and-mortar shop or office A location that’s “open” 24/7 Your best salesperson The more places you […]
