You may be wondering how many people found your local business via Google. Do they focus on your business listing or are they going straight to your website? Are they going to your website directly? Or both?

Do you really need both a Google Business listing and a website to be successful?

Answers to this question vary depending on whom you ask.  What’s the answer?
Let’s first take a look at the actual functions of each marketing platform and how they are used by consumers.

Google Business Profile

First, let’s do some housekeeping. Google changed the name of its business directory from Google My Business to Google Business Profile in late 2021. The interface and functionality are essentially the exact same. It’s just a matter of renaming. In the future, some GMB features will be retired while others will be expanded under GBP.

GMB and GBP can be used interchangeably for the time being. Google’s Business Directory displays some search results with expanded details, such as business hours and customer reviews. These results are usually displayed on the right side of your screen on desktops; they’re typically at the top on mobile devices.

Google Business Profiles give users a wealth of information about businesses without having to leave Google’s home page. Users can view updated or temporary hours of operation, view photos uploaded to the site by the business. They can also ask questions, read previous answers, check reviews and add their reviews. GBP listings can also include links to a company’s site, directions, and call-to-call buttons.

A well-populated and optimized listing on Google Business Plus can help you rank higher in Google search results.

Local Business Website

It’s safe for you to assume that since you’re reading this on the business website of Emerging Business, you know what a website is. Remember that your website has a much greater purpose than a digital card. Your local business’s website should tell the story of your company through its design and copy.

It’s important that your website includes easy-to-access information about you, including contact details and directions. Your website can be a powerful tool for connecting you with your customer. It provides them with useful information, establishes your expertise in your area, and shows your commitment to customers and community.

What are the differences?

A GBP listing is similar to a website for a business. Are they redundant? Check out some statistics.

What source can consumers trust to provide the most accurate, up-to date information?

• 56% of consumers want accurate contact details on local business websites.
• Google My Business profiles (Google Business Profiles) are the most accurate, according to 32% of respondents.

Only 32% of people trust GBP as the most accurate currency for business contact information. The majority — 56%– feel that a company’s website actually is more accurate.

What are your competitors doing?

• Only 44% small businesses have claimed a Google Business Profile.
• Fewer than 64% small businesses own a website.

Local businesses underuse both GBP (pounds sterling) and websites.

You have a distinct advantage over the competition by claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile.

A website is a must for any small business. More than half have one, so there’s an excellent chance that your competitors do too. Your competitors have the advantage if you do not have a local website.

Bottom Line

Should you choose between GBP and a website or both? Or, do you require both?

You should have both. Your business is unique. It has a different budget, skill set and timeline from the business next door. What worked for them might not work for your business.

If you do it right, both platforms will work together to drive customers into your business. For the best results in terms of customer engagement and ranking on search engines, you should use both GBP and your business website.

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Why is color so important in marketing?

Each color conveys a specific message, both consciously as well as subconsciously. You want to ensure that the message you send is one your customers will be interested in. Many marketers ignore the importance of color and research when deciding how to use it in their marketing strategies.

You’ll be a step ahead when you discover the colors that are associated with certain psychological states, and you can find the perfect color combinations. This will help you create a business color palette for your marketing.

Understanding the reactions of your target market to brand colors will help you to be successful in advertising and retaining customers. It’s therefore important to find out what colors are associated psychologically with certain states, and the best color combinations for your small pet business.

• Red Power, excitement, passion and love.
• Pink: Creative, imaginative, assertive, feminine
• Orange Confident, friendly, energetic, bold, and confident.
• Yellow – Clarity, optimism and warmth.
• Blue: Loyalty, dependable, trust, calm, intelligence
• Green: Growth and freshness, nature’s wealth, stability, wealth, etc.

These color meanings don’t have to be fixed and some colors can even have opposite meanings. Red can be a symbol of love or danger. (Think stop signs and red traffic lights.) Different hues, saturations and combinations can also evoke different feelings.

How do you choose a brand color palette?

You need to understand your brand identity before you can choose colors for your business. Your Mission, Vision and Values.

Asking these questions can be a helpful way to find out.

1. Why did you start your business?
2. Vision: What makes your brand different and unique from the competition?
3. Values (What beliefs and values are important to your business?
4. Brand personality (If you were to imagine your brand as a human being, what personality traits would they have?)

Colors again! You can use the words that describe your Mission, Vision, Values, and Brand Identity to extract color meanings.

Adobe Color is reminiscent of the art classes of long ago. It offers additional information on color theory. Entering the hex number of your primary color will show you color schemes that relate to the wheel. These include complementary, analogous and triad color combinations. This is a fun tool to use if you are even the slightest bit interested in colors. Color Hunt is a site that focuses on only color palettes. It’s simple, has a nice aesthetic, and can be fun to use even if you aren’t terribly into colors.

Where to include your brand colors

Are you aware of the best places to use colors? It can be hard to answer this question because everyone has their own opinion about what colors are best. It’s crucial to include colors at the right spots. It’s not just about logo color schemes.

Your brand colors should be used on your website as well as any landing pages. Designers can create a mockup of your website using brand colors and brand guidelines, if available. You can see your brand colors before you update and publish your website. Your developer can use a mockup to help implement any major changes on your website.

You’ll also want to update the colors on your social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. You can interchange the design of Instagram, Facebook and Twitter by using square images. You can also use the same template, but you might want to give each template a different color variation to keep it fresh.

Lead magnets and printed materials like brochures, flyers and business cards will all feature your brand colors.

The personality of your brand can affect how you choose to use colors.

It doesn’t matter how you use your colors. Consistency across platforms creates a cohesive and memorable brand for your company. It can be difficult to decide which colors to use, and where. These tips and tricks will hopefully help you create a beautiful brand that is consistent and captures your business’ essence.

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To begin with, your company’s logo should be legible in black and white. A robust design foundation is required before you begin adding or altering colors. However, because you’ve probably already decided on brand colors, you should be able to move on to the next phase with simplicity.

Choosing the appropriate colors or introducing a new one

Don’t worry if you already have collateral that matches your existing brand colors. You can always gradually phase out outdated brand materials and implement color rebranding with a promotion or a milestone anniversary celebration.

I would not recommend changing the colors totally or at all if you only want to boost your brand and not completely change the appearance and feel. You might be able to experiment with different accent colors to give your brand a new look.

Adobe Color is one way to see what might work for your company’s brand update. This website allows users to experiment with, create, and save several color schemes, each of which consists of a set of five colors.

Adobe Color offers a variety of options for selecting new or updated colors. Color harmony can be changed to similar, monochromatic, triad, complimentary, compound, shades, or custom, for example (by uploading a photo).

Adobe Color can not only assist you in communicating your new color codes (HEX and RGB) to your designer or print shop, but it can also assist you in visualizing your brand in various lighting and tones. This makes it easy to discover colors for many items, even if those colors must be consistent with the main brand.

When it comes to picking a new hue or accent color, the possibilities are unlimited, but don’t get too carried away! Before you go too far with changing your brand colors, you should give it some thought.

Color psychology is the study of the psychology of color.

Each color elicits a different response in the human mind. If it doesn’t already, your brand should address this. The chosen brand colors should re-emphasize and validate the desired emotional response. Many businesses have already adapted their logos and designs to reflect this attitude, as shown in the figure below.

Strokes at the End

Overall, changing or adding a color to an established logo or brand can generate new enthusiasm and position your firm for a promotional and/or celebration occasion. It’s also a simple way to keep things fresh as the year progresses! Plus, generating some buzz or PR around a campaign to introduce something new may be a fun way to re-engage your clients and attract new business.

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Do business cards still need to be used in 2022? There are many more ways to transmit information now than twenty years ago. A business card, on the other hand, remains relevant as it has in the past.

Business cards are a great way to make a lasting impression.

Imagine you just completed an exceptional meeting with a potential new client. But you didn’t leave a business card behind. Despite the good meeting and the exchange of contact information, it’s possible that your potential client will quickly forget about it. Due to our busy schedules and cluttered inboxes, things often get lost or forgotten.

A business card, on the other hand, would make it more likely that they would contact you again.

Keeping clients in the loop and laying the groundwork for future business is important by providing them with a business card. Providing business cards also ensures that you are always accessible.

Cards for businesses

As marketing tools, they are also effective. However, marketing can be quite difficult and expensive. In contrast, your business cards are a great marketing tool at a low cost. Despite their common use as tools to make a good first impression and provide contact information, business cards can do so much more. The design of business cards has significantly advanced. Long gone are the days of flimsy paper cards that all looked the same. Business cards have more design options than ever before.

Consider your business card as a new way to sell your business. In this way, the value offer appears even stronger than before. When it comes to marketing your business, the design of your business cards is crucial. Business cards that are designed well will provide all the information that your clients need, as well as be eye-catching and promote your brand.

Businesses have also gotten creative with their business cards, turning them into appointment cards, promo cards, discount cards, and more. When it comes to business cards, the sky is the limit, and we’re always happy to brainstorm with you about how to make them stand out.

With business cards, you can present a professional image to others.

Do you know the adage “don’t judge a book by its cover”? Even though that is a wonderful gesture, many people do not take it seriously. The first impression is crucial in business.

The reason why some salesmen dress nicely and real estate agents drive nice cars is that presenting yourself as successful and professional can help you gain clients’ trust.

Giving out business cards is another way to demonstrate to a customer that you are an expert in business and that they can trust you with their business.

The same principle applies to business cards.

Seventy-two percent of survey respondents rate the quality of a company’s business cards.

A business card serves as a reflection of your company, establishing a connection with your customers and promoting your brand. A good first impression can be made on your customers with the right design and construction. It is one that shows you are willing to go above and beyond to meet their needs.

Business cards that are innovative

Business cards aren’t an exception to the trend of mass innovation as mentioned previously.

More design options are available, including bespoke shapes, clear cards, metallic components, and embossing.

Today’s business cards can be as distinctive as your company, allowing you to stand out from the crowd.

Compared to business cards of yesterday, today’s business cards are far more sophisticated and relevant to consumers.

The most recent innovations in business cards will allow you to impress your customers, distinguish your company, and provide information to them in the most convenient manner.

We are always happy to help if you have questions about how business cards might help your company or if you’re ready to get started on your own bespoke business cards.

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What are brand guidelines?

The brand guidelines are a set of tools and rules that explain how to use the branding elements. Designers, writers, and anyone else creating marketing materials with your brand’s elements can use these guidelines.

In the guidelines, you will find information on how your brand works and how the different elements work together to form your brand identity.

What’s included in brand guidelines?

Due to the fact that no two brands are exactly alike, the elements included in your brand guidelines may not look the same as those included in guidelines from another brand. However, the following three elements are always included:

1. The color palette that your brand uses.
2. The different typography associated with your brand including the various typefaces and families.
3. The different versions of your logo design and how they are to be used.

Almost all brand guidelines include these three elements, but there are other elements that may be included:·          

• Graphic elements that can be used separately from a logo.
• Symbols may be included, if your brand contains any.
• Wordmarks are included when appropriate.
• Brand tone is also included, if your brand has an established tone of voice for messages and content.

Brand guidelines are based on your brand’s elements.

What are the benefits of brand guidelines?

You might wonder why you need brand identity guidelines now that you know what they include.

It is best to use brand guidelines as a tool to keep your brand consistent. In order for your brand to work effectively, brand guidelines are critical regardless of the size of your business. Without them, your brand will fail. An organization’s message can change at any time if its logo was used incorrectly or if a wordmark was used instead of a graphic element.

Here are just a few of the reasons you need guidelines:

Brand Consistency

Brands need to be consistent in order to be effective. If you change your logo’s colors to match a particular marketing material, then it may no longer be recognized by your customers or clients.

To keep your brand identity consistent and recognizable, a style guide puts rules in place not to limit creativity. You can ensure your brand’s elements will be used effectively and will look professional with brand guidelines in place.

In addition, when you use the elements of your brand consistently, you can build a powerful and recognizable brand.

Sets Standards and Rules

Color palettes and logo versions are just part of your brand guidelines. Specific rules and standards will be contained in it regarding how to use those elements.

In addition to providing information on different logo variations, the guide will also provide examples of how not to use those logos. It is just as important to follow rules such as clear spacing around logos as it is to know when to use the logo versus the wordmark.

Using the guidelines, anyone creating a message from the brand will know and understand which elements to use and how to use them. It’s about consistency, but it’s also about knowing what’s right and wrong when it comes to how to use those brand elements.

Provides Tools

However, brand guidelines are more than just rules. The tools you use to keep your branding consistent are meant to help you and anyone else sending a message on your behalf.

These elements work together to create a coherent message, and they are the tools you need to create moving messages and iconic marketing communications.

Avoids Confusion

There is a possibility that not many people will use the tools and elements outlined in your brand guidelines. Whether you’re planning to scale your business or just add an employee, more and more people will be involved and part of your brand. A consistent, cohesive brand is essential.

Because you created your brand, you know it like the back of your hand. New employees will not know the rules of your brand identity, at least not right away. By having brand guidelines in place, you can prevent confusion and ensure your brand is consistent.

How do I get brand guidelines?

Color palettes, logos, brand voice, and other brand elements are established before brand guidelines are created. When you are just starting out, it’s the perfect time to have your branding done and create your guidelines.

Your brand may be well established, but if you don’t have brand guidelines, we can help. Developing brand identity guidelines can never be too late. Realizing you need them is actually the right time to have them created.

You can’t keep your branding consistent without guidelines. You need brand guidelines to build and maintain a powerful brand. If you’re ready to define your brand’s elements and the best uses for them, you’ll need a marketing strategy team.

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When a business’ main focus is to sell products to consumers, it is crucial that they know where they stand when it comes to the competition. You have to learn whether or not people find your website appealing enough to forge a solid business relationship with you. There is no doubt you will do well as long as you understand the core principles of branding.

You may have heard the old adage about not judging a book by looking at its cover, but this is not how things work in relation to online sales. All kinds of businesses and the products they sell are judged from a mere glance. The logo, name, design and overall message give people an idea of who you are and what you have to offer.

As people interact with your brand, they will form an opinion about your business and the products you are offering. You may not enjoy the fact that this occurs, but it is a part of life. It is your job to offer a view of your brand that resonates with your target audience since their opinion can make or break your business. Make sure that it is unique, current and fresh. Brands wither all of the time, like old plants, so updating things periodically is a great idea.

An esteemed and knowledgeable web development company that specializes in branding knows that if things get stale means that your business will not be able to reach its full potential. Proper branding consists or more than a great name and an eye-catching logo. It is about being able to remove the logo and name and have people still be able to identify your product.

Branding is imperative because people have countless options available to them when making purchases. It would take them forever to research every item they come across, so making judgments based on first impressions is common. The font, logo, language, image and colors used can tell them a great deal about you. If they are not happy with what they see and the brand is not appealing, they will look for another company to do business with.

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This is just as true for small and medium sized local businesses as it is for large multi-national corporations. In fact, it’s probably even more true for the smaller businesses without an almost unlimited marketing budget. If a business can’t be found online, it may not be found at all.

People are no longer finding businesses in the local paper or the yellow pages. They are using search engines, which are being tailored more and more toward local search results, social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, as well as online review sites like Yelp.

This means if you want to jump start your business you will need a complete digital marketing plan, specifically designed to attract qualified leads and turn them into customers. After all, does it really matter how many visitors a business drives to its web site, if they buy anything?

First, you’ll want to start with a web site.

A static brochure like web site is not enough anymore. A local business must have a well designed web site that attracts visitors, helps customers and is designed specifically to generate leads and sales.

To produce those leads and sales, the content of the site must provide the visitor with the information they want. It must also do so in a way that drives them to take an action that the business wants.

You can’t afford to write some quick article that took all of five minutes and upload it to the site. The content needs to take the visitor on a specific journey that, when completed, has them eager to take the necessary action.

This could be getting the visitor to call the business or give up their email address in exchange for more information that eventually leads to a sale.

Your business must also track all this information so that you know where visitors, leads and sales are being generated in order to improve the results.

This plan should include search engine optimization (SEO) in order to design a search engine friendly site that will be found on the first page of results for specific keywords related to the business.

For example, if your local business is a Crossfit gym and it appears at the top of Google’s results for the keyword phrase ‘crossfit gym”, you’ll be able to generate high quality leads for your business practically ever day, almost on auto-pilot.

In order to make sure this happens, an ongoing web site and search engine optimization plan must be in place. Once you get on the first page of search results, you’ll want to make sure you stay there.

A well thought out and well executed digital marketing plan may be the difference between a business thriving or going broke. However, there really is no generic plan a business can put in place to ensure great results. Not to mention, business owners are very busy. Most don’t get started with a plan like this because it’s overwhelming and time consuming.

Emerging Business Systems will take the time to learn your business and its industry, as well as the unique challenges presented, to help develop a digital marketing plan that is specific to your business needs. By working with you, Emerging Business Systems can create a personalized plan for the purpose of jump starting your business online.

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Driving Organic Traffic

Every day, prospective customers are using Google and other search engines to look up information about the products or services they want to buy. If your business website doesn’t appear on the first page of the search results, they might not even know that your business exists. Obviously, this is a situation you wouldn’t want to find yourself in. Search engine optimization increases your chances of showing up for the keywords used by your target audience, thus driving organic traffic to your site instead of you actively seeking their attention.

You should understand that organic traffic holds the key to boosting your sales. Since your potential customers are the ones who enter the keywords, you can bet that they know what they’re looking for. By using the right SEO tactics, your website will start appearing for relevant search terms and attract visitors that already have an interest in what you have to offer. Take note that your goal should be to land on the first page for the keywords used by your target customers since virtually nobody scrolls past the first page.

Now, you might confuse SEO with SEM, but it pays to understand the difference between the two. Search engine marketing involves different tactics that increase your search engine visibility. This primarily deals with PPC or pay-per-click advertising. You may notice ads showing up in the organic search results, and they occupy an attractive place that immediately captures the attention of search engine users.

You can use these ads to increase the exposure of your business to your online audience. This is similar to SEO in that you need to know what keywords to target. You then bid on these keywords so your website will appear on top of the organic search results. While PPC requires spending money every time someone clicks on your listing, it can prove worth it as the visitors flocking your website have a good chance of converting into real customers.

Start Investing in SEO and SEM

If you need professional guidance in formulating the best SEO and SEM strategies for your business, look no further than Emerging Business Systems. After almost 15 years in the industry, they’ve built their reputation as one of the leading web development, SEO, and SEM service providers. Working with them means getting a custom strategy based on your unique needs, ensuring that your website will dominate the search engine rankings and start generating more visitors and sales.

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With years of expertise in designing quality websites, Emerging Business Systems provides the ideal launching pad for passionate business owners. This is a great opportunity to move forward with a quality website and feel good about how it is going to set you apart.

Let’s take a look at what makes Emerging Business Systems a legitimate option for those looking to build a fantastic website.

Crisp Finishing

A professional website needs to look the part and that includes crisp finishing. Whether it is the images, links, or the way each sentence reads, all of it has to flow. If not, the website will remain second to its competition!

SEO-Friendly

Want to beat your competition and make it look easy?

It all starts with an SEO-friendly setup where the website is able to rank on Google and Bing. This is the only way to continue to bring in free leads while building a good website.

Interactive

An interactive solution is of utmost importance as users expect a lot more from business owners these days.

This includes having videos, images, and easy-to-click links where things don’t fall apart as soon as one gets started. This is essential information for business owners hoping to get a leg up on the competition.

Safe To Use

There is nothing worse than visiting a website and then being inundated with pop-ups, spam, and viruses! This is one of the worst feelings in the world and can completely ruin a business in a matter of seconds.

To avoid this issue, why not make the most of a high-quality setup and know it will be designed the right way? A quality service is able to take control and make sure all safety measures are put in place well in advance. This keeps the website in good hands and ensures it doesn’t break down as soon as someone visits.

This is the best way to make sure the competition starts to slip away and lose ground on what your business has to offer. With the help of Emerging Business Systems, it’s possible to get to the top of the niche and stay there for years to come using a world-class website. All it takes is a quick call to (651) 204-0455 and a professional will be ready to get started on your virtual needs.

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All of this can be initiated and improved upon with a creative consultation. This step is ideal for startups as well as established businesses.

A creative consultation takes place in person with a team of experts in digital marketing, web engineering, and project management. You get a personalized assessment of where your business is at and where you want to take it. Through the consultation process, you will be guided to creating a strategy with these professionals to get where you want to be.

You have a vision for your business. You may feel you cannot expand on it for a variety of reasons. With the help of your expert consultation team, you will find ways to do this. Your team will help you assess which customers you want to attract, and they will come up with ways to attract them primarily online through your website.

They have a team of writers, graphic designers, and developers ready to implement the strategies you both discuss. The initial consultation is only the first step. Once it is complete your team sets about getting your marketing plan up and running together with your new, fully optimized website.

The project manager will stay in touch with you through the entire process from start to finish. They will let you know what is going on every step of the way. If you have questions or concerns, they will be happy to address them for you to make sure you are getting the results you expect.

When the project is complete your rep will visit your office to see how everything is going. This is your chance to test everything out with their help. They want to make sure that the results are exactly what you wanted, and they want to make sure that you are getting the increased business and expansion you needed.

A better business starts with keeping up with the evolving times. The first step is going through a creative consultation to pinpoint what your business goals are so that you and your team of experts can make them happen.

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