Why Your Business Needs A Website

The Importance of a Good Website for your Business

94% of first impressions relate to your site's web design. In a digital age where the importance of your social media presence is so significantly talked about, it can be easy to forget about your website or dismiss it as less important than what you’re posting to Facebook and Instagram. However, there are many reasons why your business needs a website.

5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Website

The importance of a quality website cannot be overlooked or overstated, so here are 5 reasons we believe your business needs a website:

1. Cost Effective

Putting time and effort into your website is a guaranteed return on investment (ROI), because your website is a sales tool. You’re putting more money into it upfront with the design and development which means you won’t have to spend as much on the upkeep and maintenance of your website.

2. Established Brand, Voice, and Credibility

Your website is oftentimes the first thing potential customers see when learning about your business. That’s why it’s important to put your time and care into the design of your website. From text font and size to color palette and content layout, your website can tell customers a lot about your business’ beliefs and principles. By continuously updating your website’s content, it will let customers know that you’re quick with communication and you’re in the know about the world surrounding your products and services.

3. Strong SEO

Think about how you go about researching a new restaurant or trying to find a local service. You typically search using a specific phrase or keywords to get you to the best choice. Apply this to your website content and creation! By adding certain keywords and graphics to your website, you can directly affect and improve your business’ SEO.

4. Build Trust

People don’t trust poorly designed websites. If someone sees a poorly constructed website with outdated information, they automatically lose trust in the company by raising confusion and questions. By consistently updating the content and design of your website, current and new customers will feel comfortable using your products and services.

5. Your Competitors Are Doing it

That’s right; your competitors are doing it, too. They’re utilizing their website to establish trust and credibility with potential customers. If you want to remain in competition with them, you must update your website. By using web design to boost your business’ brand and reputation, you can stand out from your competitors.

We mention quite a bit about website design and content. If you’re not sure how to get started on designing a website, Paragon Marketing Group is here to help! We have all the tools and skills to bring your website to life and set you apart from your competition! Call or message us today (262) 443-9092

5 Ways Graphic Design Can Improve Your Brand

Why should I have professional graphic design?

Graphic design is a must for all aspects of your business right now! From website content to social media posts to email marketing, graphic design can go a long way in improving your brand. Take a look at what’s trending and learn how graphic design can improve your brand.

5 Ways Graphic Design Can Improve Your Brand

Can graphic design really improve your brand? Check out these 5 simple ways graphic design could help you build better brand awareness for your business:

1. Flexible Aesthetic

When choosing what aesthetic you want to use to represent your company, the possibilities are endless! Right now, all sorts of designs are trending. From 3D design to minimalism, your business can go in virtually any direction. It’s a good idea to look at your target audience and consider what they would interact with most. You can post different graphics to see which receive the most interaction. You can even do formal research based on their age and what generation your main demographic is and look at what that generation is most likely to look for aesthetically.

2. Simple Data Visualization

Customers want to know numbers and stats in the quickest and easiest way possible. Of course, you’re the expert so information about your service or product may seem second-nature to you, but complicated to your audience. Data is constantly being circulated nowadays and it’s important to find ways to communicate it in the simplest way.

3. Social Media Carousels

Rather than trying to jam pack a bunch of information into one image or Instagram description, try disbursing your information over a couple of slides, like this. This is a great way for you to communicate a greater amount of information to your audience without overloading them.

4. Retro Palettes

This could be due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but many people have found themselves clinging to comfort and nostalgia lately. Retro fonts and color palettes have been resurfacing and there are so many fun things your business can do with it. Using imagery of nostalgia can be used as a sort of security blanket for your customers, making them feel safe and comfortable with your business.

5. Sustainable Packaging

Graphic design plays a huge role in the physical packaging of your products. When thinking about the wrapping itself, consider the possibility of positive packaging. Not only are people starting to love the look of sustainable boxes and bags, but you’re doing good by being environmentally-conscious. Just like eco-friendly products lead to the simplification of materials, professional graphic design leads to more sustainable packaging. Most imagery or text included on the packaging will have a more organic, simple approach to match the physical packaging.

It’s incredible how many ways you can improve your brand with graphic design! It can be used on so many different platforms like your website, social media pages, email marketing, physical packaging, magazines, and more. If you have questions about how to incorporate these trends into your business, Paragon Marketing Group is here to help. Contact us today!

Why Does My Business Need Video Testimonials?

The first use of testimonials dates back to the 15th century and is still a great way to promote your company! Did you know that 72% of consumers say positive video testimonials and reviews increase their trust in a business? Further, 93% of brands got a new customer because of a video on social media. You can imagine the impact these can have on your business when they’re combined to create video testimonials. Check out why your business should start using video testimonials.

5 Reasons Your Business Needs Video Testimonials

Your business needs video testimonials because video . . .

1. Creates A Deeper, More Personal Look At Your Business

One of the most important parts of running any successful business is communicating with your customers both current and potential. What’s better than having your current customers who you’ve created a loyal, trusting relationship with to advocate your products and services to new customers? Video testimonials give your consumers a chance to give their authentic opinion and emotions on your business.

2. Has Higher Retention Than Text

It’s said that video has a 95% retention rate while people only remember about 12% of textual information. This is because you can evoke emotion through video, therefore making people more likely to remember what was said. Further, you can make your video more engaging by adding small graphics, animation, and music.

3. Offers Social Proof

Social proof is “a psychological and social phenomenon wherein people copy the actions of others in an attempt to undertake behavior in a given situation.” In simple terms, this means that what people see, people do. Posting video testimonials on social media platforms will encourage new clientele to follow in the footsteps of the current customers in your videos. They see that your loyal customers have had success with your products and will want to hop on the bandwagon.

4. Reinforces Credibility and Trust

Video testimonials can humanize your business and build trust. While written testimonials and reviews are good to establish initial interest in your business, turning them into a video allows people to connect with other real people in the most authentic way possible over social media. Giving your customers this platform shows that you trust in the quality of your services and want to document their thoughts on it. In return, this builds a strong sense of credibility.

5. Expands Your Horizons

Any sort of video is a great tool for your business because it can be used across a large range of platforms and you can repurpose the content. Posting video testimonials to your website is a great way to archive your work. Plus, your customers can view your content at any time. You can also use your videos in email marketing and, of course, on your social media platforms. The great thing about all of these things is that you can recycle and repurpose them throughout these different mediums and even repost every couple of months.

Video testimonials are one of the most powerful ways to increase credibility of your business and build trust with your audience. If you want more information about what creating a video testimonial entails, Paragon Marketing Group can help! Call or message us today (262) 443-9092.

5 Video Marketing Strategies For 2021

video marketing 2021

What’s on your new year’s resolutions list? Eating healthy, staying active, and traveling of course. What about upping your video content game? 2021 is the year of fun, trying new things, and being adaptable! We’ve created a list of video marketing strategies your business should be incorporating into your marketing plan this year.

Video Marketing Strategies

What type of video content could up your marketing for 2021? Check out these 5 video marketing strategies:

1. Casual, Laidback Content

Yes, you read that right. In light of COVID-19, big video production has been put on hold. Throughout the year, we’ve seen companies create advertisements and videos from compiled home videos of their employees and customers and we don’t see this leaving us any time soon. Above anything else, people prefer authentic content. That means snippets of live streams and selfie videos from your iPhone can be used and reused on your social accounts! While they may be lower quality, they invite personality to your business and your clients can have a better understanding for your company’s message and morals.

2. Live-Streaming

You can also thank COVID for this one. Did you know that the online live streaming industry has grown 99% between April 2019 and April 2020? Live streaming has become increasingly more popular for many reasons. It’s a way for businesses to directly interact with their customers and people love it because they can watch video content with advertisements or commercials. According to Livestream, 82% of people prefer live video from a brand over standard social media posts and 80% of people prefer live streaming over reading a blog from a brand.

3. Super Short Videos

We’re talking 5-10 seconds short. We all know and love the “Skip Ad” option on Facebook and Youtube videos. Creating an advertisement that people can watch before being able to skip the ad ensures that your content is being seen.

4. Long Video

To the same degree, consumers are increasingly enjoying longer content. Perhaps it’s due to COVID and freed up time on people’s hands, people are getting more used to watching longer content. A recent study found that videos longer than 15 minutes account for 50% of all video engagement but only 8% of content. This means you can produce fewer, longer videos for better results. The key to success is to make the video exciting and engaging.

5. 360 Video and AR Content

360 video is a powerful tool to allow your audience to be more interactive with your content. This type of video is becoming more popular even for regular, every day people to use. AR content is being used by big businesses and smaller companies are slowly catching on. IKEA, for example, allows you to place their products into your living spaces to see it for their intended use.

With these video marketing strategies, your business is sure to capture the attention of new and current customers. Paragon Marketing Group is no stranger to any of these types of videography and are eager to help you launch into the new year! Call or message us today (262)443-9092

Positive Impacts Of Email Marketing

Email marketing.

When you think of marketing in 2020, you probably aren’t thinking of the positive impacts – or any impact – of email marketing. Many believe that email promotions are dead, but a recent study found that there are 3.9 billion daily email users and 73% of millennials prefer communication from businesses via email.

Positive Impacts of Email Marketing

What are some of the positive impacts of email marketing? With email marketing, you can . . .

Increase Communication with Current Customers

Email marketing is a great way to increase loyalty with your current customers. This is because customers must ask to receive emails by manually signing up for your newsletter. This allows you to communicate with your consumers on a broader level but you still control how personalized the contents of the email can be.

Educate your Customers

As stated above, you get to personalize what goes into your emails. This type of marketing is to not only sell a product but to also educate your clients on matters related to your services as well as your company’s values.

Improve Sales

Did you know that 59% of marketers say email is their biggest source of ROI (Return On Investment)? Your email marketing campaigns should include messages to encourage your customers to purchase products. They may be more likely to make a purchase because they actively chose to receive messages like these from you. Email marketing allows the ease of purchasing a product with no more than two clicks. With a catchy tagline, your email can take a customer right to the checkout page of a product on your website.

Increase Your Value

After some trial and error, you’ll be able to discover what communication strategy works best with your customers. Once you do, your customers will pay more attention to the message in each email. In return, you’ll be able to establish the brand of your business and create a closer relationship with your clients.

Reach People from Anywhere Instantly

Email marketing reaches customers faster than a social media post. This is because the email notification shows up on a smartphone as it’s sent out. Rather than having to scroll through Instagram or Facebook to see the post, it’s instant. People are constantly checking their emails: first thing in the morning at work, while at lunch, and even when lounging around.

Learn What Works

Email marketing is another way for you to monitor what’s working and what’s not based on clicks. After sending out a campaign, you can look back and see which links had the most amount of traffic. From there, try incorporating more of that topic into your emails, social media posts, and advertisements.

These are just six of several ways in which email marketing can benefit your business. The best news is, it’s cheap and easy to get started with it! Call or message Paragon Marketing Group today (262) 443-9092.

Positive Impacts Of Email Marketing

Email marketing.

When you think of marketing in 2020, you probably aren’t thinking of the positive impacts – or any impact – of email marketing. Many believe that email promotions are dead, but a recent study found that there are 3.9 billion daily email users and 73% of millennials prefer communication from businesses via email.

Positive Impacts of Email Marketing

What are some of the positive impacts of email marketing? With email marketing, you can . . .

Increase Communication with Current Customers

Email marketing is a great way to increase loyalty with your current customers. This is because customers must ask to receive emails by manually signing up for your newsletter. This allows you to communicate with your consumers on a broader level but you still control how personalized the contents of the email can be.

Educate Your Customers

As stated above, you get to personalize what goes into your emails. This type of marketing is to not only sell a product but to also educate your clients on matters related to your services as well as your company’s values.

Improve Sales

Did you know that 59% of marketers say email is their biggest source of ROI (Return On Investment)? Your email marketing campaigns should include messages to encourage your customers to purchase products. They may be more likely to make a purchase because they actively chose to receive messages like these from you. Email marketing allows the ease of purchasing a product with no more than two clicks. With a catchy tagline, your email can take a customer right to the checkout page of a product on your website.

Increase your Value

After some trial and error, you’ll be able to discover what communication strategy works best with your customers. Once you do, your customers will pay more attention to the message in each email. In return, you’ll be able to establish the brand of your business and create a closer relationship with your clients.

Reach People from Anywhere Instantly

Email marketing reaches customers faster than a social media post. This is because the email notification shows up on a smartphone as it’s sent out. Rather than having to scroll through Instagram or Facebook to see the post, it’s instant. People are constantly checking their emails: first thing in the morning at work, while at lunch, and even when lounging around.

Learn What Works

Email marketing is another way for you to monitor what’s working and what’s not based on clicks. After sending out a campaign, you can look back and see which links had the most amount of traffic. From there, try incorporating more of that topic into your emails, social media posts, and advertisements.

These are just six of several positive impacts of email marketing. The best news is, it’s cheap and easy to get started with it! Call or message Paragon Marketing Group today (262) 443-9092.

Adapt Your Marketing In 2021

2021 marketing.

As 2020 progressed, we learned that we have to adapt to the new environment we live in. However, this is not a contemporary concept to the world of marketing. Living in the digital age of technology and social media, things are constantly changing which means your business needs to regularly adapt your marketing. Here’s what’s to come in 2021…

5 Changes To Adapt Your Marketing in the New Year

Here are 5 changes you’ll need to adapt your marketing in 2021:

Mobile Functionality

We understand that mobile marketing is not a trend – it’s here to stay. It’s predicted that smartphone users will exceed 280 million users in 2021. This means that more people will not only research, but also shop online on mobile devices. Make sure your website is up to date and easy to use on mobile devices. Not only for your blog and contact page, but also your services and products page.

User-Generated Content (UGC)

UGC is any content (images, audio, text, video) that has been created or posted by a user of a brand. This means that those Google and Facebook reviews matter more now than ever! This version of word-of-mouth marketing is powerful and authentic. Of course, it’s not a new type of content, but one in which you should invest. Not only is it a fun way to get your customers more involved but it’s a great way to market your business.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Voice Search

SEO is a key and effective way to build your online presence. As technology develops, voice search becomes more popular. According to a report from Juniper Research, the percentage of homes predicted to own a smart speaker (Google Home, Alexa, etc.) is 55%. If you consider how many people who already use Google and Siri on their smartphones, think about how you should optimize your business for SEO. Consider what keywords you plug into your website and posts.

Brand Activism

While this prediction is very much based on an individual’s beliefs, it’s said that a business’ stand on hot-topic issues socially and politically play a huge part in their loyal customer base. For example, a big corporation like Ben & Jerry’s teamed up with the Climate Council for their ‘Unfudge our Future’ campaign. This is a new range of products pushing the Australian government to ditch fossil fuels and embrace renewable energy. Movements like this are not only a way to invite new customers with similar beliefs, but to build a more loyal and secure relationship with current customers.

Nostalgia Marketing

I’m sure you saw Geico’s classic “hump day” commercial make a comeback in the early days of quarantine. This type of marketing has become popular in recent months due to the pandemic. Even though we live in a fast-paced world, everyone likes to take a moment and look back at memories every once in a while. Instead of focusing on the new, paying attention to familiarity is comfortable and it makes people feel good – science even says so.

Living in such a fast paced environment can be a lot! Having a plan and preparing your business for current and upcoming trends is the first step to making for a smooth transition into 2021. If you’re not sure where to go from here, Paragon Marketing Group can help you adapt your marketing. Contact us today at (262)443-9092!

Benefits of Being Active on Facebook

Social media marketing.

Social media. Regardless of how connected or disconnected you are, social media can greatly benefit your business. It’s a convenient and fun way to engage with current customers and attract new ones. Small businesses have an advantage on social media for they’re more focused on individuals. There are so many benefits you can gain for your business by staying active on Facebook. The more you engage with followers and customers, the more success you’ll have and the better relationships you’ll build. Respond to comments and reviews, and quickly respond to messages. Make it personal. Not only will this make your current customers feel listened to and respected, but new customers will notice!

How Can Being Active on Facebook Help Your Business?

It’s important to remember not all social media platforms are compatible for your business. You have to decide what’s right for you. Facebook might be a great platform for your business because it’s easy to use and it’s a platform for all ages. We compiled a list of some of the ways your business can benefit from being active on social media, specifically Facebook!

Covers all Three Means of Communication

Verbal, nonverbal, and visual. Unlike Instagram, YouTube, or other visually based platforms, Facebook allows you to share pictures, videos, simple text posts, or livestream. By engaging in all three means of communication, your business can reach and connect with more people, depending on their likes and dislikes.

Share Basic Information about Business

A lot of people use Facebook to find a specific product or service. Making a page for your business allows you to provide people with business hours, contact information, company address, and more. You can add an “About” paragraph and biography about you and your business, post reviews, and advertise your services.

Provide Customer Service and Support

Living in such a fast-paced world, we don’t always have time to sit down on a phone call. Having a Facebook page allows potential customers to ask questions about your business and current customers to send follow up questions and comments about services you provided through private messaging. This allows both you and your customers to reach out on your own time, but with accessibility through your smartphone or computer, it’s easier than ever to give or get a quick response.

Promotes Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Facebook is a great way to get more exposure to your business. Think of it as a snowball effect; you post a funny video or helpful insight to your page; your customers engage with the post by liking, commenting, and sharing. Their friends and family will see that they engaged with your business, pulling them into the intrigue, and so on. You can encourage this by holding some sort of social media contest or other sorts of content that will get your followers to share your page.

You may be thinking, sure, these are all great points, but what if you don’t have extra time to spend on social media? Or I’m not too tech savvy, where do I begin? We understand that there are a lot of moving parts in a small business and it can be a lot. Paragon Marketing Group is here to help. If you have zero or 100 ideas for social media posts and engagement, we have the right people and tools to get the job done. Give us a call or message us today (262)443-9092

Create A Marketing Plan For 2021

2021 marketing plan.

The cozy, warm vibes of fall are an easy excuse to slip into a slow and sluggish routine. This is actually a great time to hit the ground running and hash out a 2021 marketing plan and strategy! Relaxing during the holidays will be a lot more fulfilling knowing you’re already prepared for the new year. Don’t worry, you don’t have to do it alone; we’ve curated a list of some great ways for you to get a plan in place.

2021 Marketing Plan To-Do List

-Embrace Change

Think about it: is the marketing plan you had in place back in January 2020 relevant anymore? Chances are, you had to change and adapt to quite a bit of change since then. Having a plan in place helps to set a pace and keep your business organized, but be open to making changes as the year progresses.

-Set a List of Goals

Before you go full speed ahead into 2021, it’s important to establish what you want to accomplish for the year. Making a list of goals will help keep you on track, and imagine how good it will feel to check off each one as you complete them! If you’re not sure where to start with your goals, try using something like SMART goals or CLEAR objectives as a template.

-Stay Connected

If there’s anything to take from 2020, it’s that life is unpredictable. Who knows what’s to come in the next calendar year? Staying connected to your customers, especially online, is crucial. Keeping your website and social media sites up to date, making it easy for customers to contact you via phone, email, or online chat, and even incorporating more virtual events is a great way to stay connected.

-Keep Track of Results and Know Your Audience

While analyzing what works now for your customers is a good way to get started, really honing in and looking to see what your audience is attracted to monthly, weekly, and in certain cases, daily will help to know what kind of content to post. Keeping track can also help you establish a marketing budget.

-Give a Little Bit of Extra Love to Online Marketing

There’s a lot to organize and keep track of in your business. And sometimes we place marketing on the back burner. With your customers spending more time online now than they would have before, putting a little extra time and money into your marketing efforts will go a long way. Consider posting on your socials more, extending your services to online if possible, and keeping your website up to date.

Adding “adaptability” and “flexibility” to your everyday vocabulary AND your marketing plan is important for 2021! Be open to change, especially for your business’ marketing plan. We know starting can be scary; Paragon Marketing Group is here to help you through it all! Call or message us today (262)443-9092

Top 6 Fall Marketing Ideas

Top 6 Fall Marketing Ideas

Fall is a time for change, focus, and hustle. In nature, fall is a time for death, but this also means a time for rebirth. How do we take this idea and translate it to our business? Creating some new fall marketing ideas is a great place to start.

Try These Top 6 Fall Marketing Ideas

We found the top 6 fall marketing ideas you can take advantage of this upcoming season. Check them out below:

1. Celebrate New Holidays

Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are always fun holidays to celebrate, but finding smaller holidays that relate to your business is great to use for marketing to new and current customers. For example, if you’re running a local coffee shop, offer deals and celebrate National Coffee Day (September 29). If you run a restaurant, consider celebrating National Pasta Day on October 17th!

2. Collaborate with Local Businesses and Organizations

People recognize fall as a way to spend time with friends and family, especially in your local community! Working with other businesses to host something like a special discount, promotion, or something fun like a cookout. This is a great way to expand your connections and bring in potential customers.

3. Take Advantage of Holiday Spending and Savings

On one end, this is the time of year where people spend a little more on themselves and family members for holiday gifts. At the same time, people love to save and will splurge on something if it’s a deal (Black Friday, Cyber Monday, etc.) Take advantage of this and get creative with some discount deals and announcements!

4. Express Gratitude and Thankfulness

While it’s important to express gratitude all year around, the holidays remind us of how thankful we are for family, friends, your business, and your customers! Your marketing techniques don’t always have to revolve around a service or product. Sometimes putting in the time and effort to say “thank you” to loyal customers goes a long way.

5. Get Creative with Themed Giveaways

Who doesn’t love themed gifts? People go especially crazy for pumpkin spice flavored anything. Take advantage of the tropes of fall like pumpkins, colored leaves, movies and hot cocoa, and more to add to your business’ ads or posts. Not only will this attract your audience to the post itself, but it will also encourage them to reach out to find out more information about your services and products – don’t be afraid to get creative!

6. Boost Your Media Output

Especially in Wisconsin, the chilly weather invites people to cozy up inside. Because of this, people are probably seeking out more things on social media to watch and interact with. This is a great time to up your video production game and put out some awesome material for your new and current customers.

Now that you have all of these awesome fall-themed ideas for your business, it can be difficult to find a good starting point. If you have a seed of an idea or a fully bloomed proposal, Paragon Marketing Group is here to help you every step of the way. Call or message us today for more information! 262.443.9092