Are Most of Your Website Visitors Local?
Many businesses assume website visitors are only from other cities or states. Non-local visitors might be browsing while local website visitors are looking to buy or visit.
Many businesses assume website visitors are only from other cities or states. Non-local visitors might be browsing while local website visitors are looking to buy or visit.
You don’t need a huge marketing budget to build a strong online presence. You just need the right level of consistency and a social media plan that fits your business.
Business owners often ask me to take over a website that was built by another web designer. Let me tell you why I won’t, and why a fresh start is usually the best option.
Most users are browsing on phones so your website has to be mobile-friendly. Sites that are hard to use on mobile means lost sales and lower search engine rankings.
Winter in northern Michigan is beautiful… but it can also be very quiet. Slow seasons are when an ecommerce website becomes a lifeline, not a luxury.
Website bounce rate measures the percentage of visitors who leave your website after viewing only one page. This is a single-page session. What is a good website bounce rate score?
Hiring a local professional web designer offers several key benefits, including a better understanding of your local market, personalized communication, and a higher degree of accountability.
Creativity meets functionality in web design refers to a harmonious balance between pleasing, original design (creativity) and a site’s ease of use while achieving its purpose effectively (functionality).
Does your website make your heart grow THREE sizes… or shrink a little? If your own website makes you cringe, It’s a sign you need a website upgrade.
Your Google Business Profile is crucial for local SEO. An optimized profile directly impacts your visibility and credibility in local search results and Google Maps.
‘Tis the season of cozy sweaters, warm drinks, and treating your business to something that makes life a little sweeter, like the gift of a great new website!
If your website traffic dropped, it’s probably due to the Google AI Overview. Google AI’s answers at the top of search results means users no longer click through to websites.
As a tool for credibility, your business website must be designed credibly. That’s why it’s so important that you choose the right website designer for your business.
The top website mistakes small businesses make include ignoring mobile optimization, poor navigation, outdated or missing content, and neglecting SEO.
Your business can improve your appearance in high-intent near me search results by optimizing your Google Business Profile and your Website for Local SEO.
A website refresh and upgrade is crucial for staying current with technology, security, and user expectations. A website refresh can mean better rankings on Google, too!
Not only am I celebrating 11 years on 11/11 as Abuzz Creative, but I have reached a milestone of providing 24 years of web design in Northern Michigan.
Engagement on Facebook Business Pages has declined noticeably over the past few years, especially for small businesses that don’t advertise. But that doesn’t mean Facebook has lost all value.
Your website should be all about your user’s experience. User-Centered Design focuses on understanding the needs, behaviors, goals, and pain points of real human visitors.
This holiday season, put a new website on your Santa list. Let’s make 2026 the year your business really gets noticed online with a shiny new website!
Did you know your social media profile descriptions are crucial for local SEO? Your profile description provides Google with crawlable content so they understand more about your location and services.
Google AI Search Results now appear at the top when you search on Google. The box at the top left is Google AI Overview and relevant links appear in the top right.
Whenever you Google something, Google’s new AI search answers your question at the top, right above website listings. If you have a list of FAQs, answers from your FAQ Page might appear in Google AI search results.
Adding high quality photos to your website makes your pages more appealing to visitors. To improve your website’s performance and Google rankings, you need to optimize website images for better SEO!
Highway M-119 is best known as the Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route. This winding narrow road is one of Northern Michigan’s most beloved fall color drives.
My clients have secure email hosting and I always recommend using domain-based email. Does your business email match your domain, or do you use Gmail for business communication?
Is your business starting the process of choosing a web designer? Before you begin your search, decide what you need in a website and what you can afford!
I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that Google AI search results show up first. How are Google AI search results generated, and what does this mean for getting your business found on Google?
Trending SEO for 2025 is being defined by AI-first search behaviors. Instead of using “playing the game” tactics, the focus is more on real, structured content that AI systems can interpret.
When it comes to writing captions for Facebook, you get one chance to grab our attention and that’s with your very first line. Do not bury the lead on Facebook posts!
Responsive website design is all about creating websites that look amazing on every screen – from big desktop monitors to tablets and phones.
Like you, I get bombarded with tons of unwanted email, and most are in a format asking about my services. Messages that lack an email signature line get deleted.
When you hire me to build your website, you get a professional design that is yours to own once it’s live. Since you have control of your website, why would I charge you monthly website fees?
When you’re running a small business, every dollar matters. You might think a new website is just another expense. But what if I told you that a website is an investment?
I’m often asked if I can teach website design to someone who wants to build their own website. While I love sharing tips, building websites is how I make my living, and my 20+ years of experience is valuable.
I get asked to build a website for free or in exchange “for exposure” often. People must assume that websites are easy to create so there’s no reason to pay for website design services.
With so many website visitors using their phones now, a mobile-friendly, thumb-friendly website is essential – especially when it comes to ecommerce, where mobile shopping dominates.
You’ve probably seen ads from services promising a free website for small business owners. That sure sounds like a dream – until it’s not. Let’s unpack what this free website offer means.
You’ve heard “any website is better than none” which can be misleading and isn’t always true for a small business. In reality, bad websites are worse than having no website at all.
If you’re a small business owner trying to get more visibility on Google, but the term SEO feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. I have easy SEO tips that will help your website rank better.
If you’re a small business owner in need of a new website, you probably have a few questions when hiring a web designer, like “How much will it cost?” or “How long will it take?”
More than 60% of all internet traffic comes from smartphones and tablets. This means most people will see your business website on mobile first, not desktop.
I’ve been asked by business owners if it’s OK to brand their business website with keyword domain names that use relevant keywords instead of their business name.
Launching a new business? Planning a big event? Your website and social media should work together. You need website design and social media marketing as a bundle!
In my twenty years of web design experience, my website design portfolio of my client work is where potential customers look before ever contacting me.
Here’s a simple truth about marketing your small business online – people hire people they like. When you show the real you, it helps build trust. We want to know who we’re doing business with.
In addition to having relevant content and really nice images, there are other key elements that you need for a high quality site. What makes a great website?
Posting and Ghosting means you publish a post on your social media account – and then disappear. No checking back to respond to comments, no liking other posts, no replying to DMs…
The “silent audience” is real. Just because people aren’t liking, commenting, or sharing doesn’t mean they’re not paying attention. You have lots of lurkers, and that’s OK.
If you’re wondering if social media marketing is still a game-changer, you’re not alone. Many business owners like you are asking the same thing right now.
I get asked to create a single page website quite often, especially by small business owners who assume a single page website is a more affordable option.
When it comes to launching your new website, you might think, “if you build it, they will come” – but in reality, launching your new website is just the beginning.
We’re well into another new year. I bet your website is long overdue for a refresh. What website trends should your business be using?
As a small business owner, you are probably writing blog posts on your own website, but do you know how to optimize blog content for SEO?
Should you be updating old blog posts instead of writing new posts with a similar subject? What about the date – should you change that, too?
If you just made significant changes to your website pages, asking Google for reindexing in Google Search Console is a good strategy.
If your business sells products online, your Google Business Profile has a feature for getting you more sales, and fast – your Google Business Profile Products section!
I got a call from someone posing a “Google representative” from a spoofed local number. He tried to scare me into thinking Google was having trouble listing Abuzz Creative on Google Maps.
Keeping your WordPress website updated and fresh is essential for attracting visitors, improving search engine rankings, and ensuring a smooth user experience.
Are you tired of Facebook and Instagram? You’re not alone. You might be one of many small business owners now exploring ways to market your business without social media.
Are you wondering how to use your website marketing tool for events? Your website can be a powerful marketing tool if used strategically!
Your About Us page is one of the most visited pages on your website. The About Us page helps potential customers learn more about your business and what makes you unique.
Marketing without relying on social media in today’s digital world is still possible. There are lots of effective marketing strategies that don’t involve Facebook and Instagram.
In today’s competitive digital landscape, you need an online home that gets people’s attention. Now is your opportunity to create a buzz with your website and get noticed.
When you hire Abuzz Creative to design your website, I follow a website SEO checklist during the build. What happens to SEO when the website is yours to manage?
What does Attention Economy mean and how does it apply to your marketing? Businesses that provide value, create engaging content, and build relationships will win!
Does your business show up on Google when people search for local services? If not, you’re missing out on valuable opportunities. How can you improve your local search rankings?
Your website deserves more love than your social media. But, if you’re like most business owners, you’re pouring all of your marketing energy into social media.
How do you survive the Facebook algorithm when it has significantly impacted the visibility and engagement of your business page posts?
Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is how your business appears on Google when people search for your services or products. Without SEO, you will miss out on potential customers!
Ten years ago, we launched the first HarborActive marketing training for Petoskey and Harbor Springs business communities.
Have you noticed an Instagram Profile Grid Change? Instagram is testing a new profile grid layout that uses rectangular images instead of squares.
When you shop locally, you’re not just buying a product or service – you’re investing in your community. Supporting local business matters and it keeps northern Michigan strong!
As a small business owner in northern Michigan, I know how challenging the busy summer season can be. You have little time for summer social media marketing tasks!
When you created your website, you might have started with Wix, Weebly, or Joomla. These tools promise quick, easy website building with minimal upfront cost.
For the past few years, I’ve chosen one word to live by instead of setting resolutions I know I won’t keep. My word this year? Extraordinary.
Being able to customize your website makes investing in a Self-Hosted WordPress Website worth it, especially since a DIY website is not yours to own and keep!
Getting on page one of Google Search Results requires a consistent effort on your part. Websites at the top of Google search results will always get more clicks.
Many small business owners think marketing is just about pushing products or services to customers. But effective marketing is more than just selling.
Google Maps Marketing is how you optimize for Google Maps placement. By leveraging your Google Business Profile, potential local customers can find your business in a search.
If your website is starting to feel outdated or is losing visitors, a simple website refresh can increase sales for your small business!
A home page is an important page on your website. A good home page will clearly state who you are and what you do, and will encourage users to take action.
Changes in our online world reshapes how websites are developed. When creating websites for 2025, UX and SEO will still be key for engagement and ranking.
I’m Marcie Wolf, your local website wizard, and I’ve spent 25 years helping northern Michigan business owners bring their online ideas to life!
A zero click search on Google is when a query is answered directly on the search results page without needing to click through to a website.
MonsterInsights Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress websites is a great way to see quick stats while logged into your own website.
Web design trends are something to think about as your business starts planning for a new website. What’s new in web design for 2025?
Google updates happen quite often so website owners need to stay up on important changes that have to do with SEO today’s Google indexing.
Ten years as Abuzz Creative means ten years of collaboration and trust of amazing clients! I’m giving a heartfelt shoutout to everyone who’s been part of my story.
Social media search engines are being used more and more, especially by people who are looking for local business services and product recommendations.
When you’re adding posts to your Google profile listing, have you wondered what Google Business Profile photo sizes you should be using?
Best battery backup systems will help protect your computer and router. In Good Hart, we experience lots of power outages due to high winds and downed trees, so an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is essential!
Google Local 3-Pack Map. Ever wonder how Google decides which businesses show on the coveted Local 3-Pack Map and how your business can appear on top?
Converting website visitors into sales is a struggle most small business owners face, and there are common issues that can help improve conversions.
Social Media post tips for better engagement: Is posting on Facebook and Instagram for engagement better than selling yourself all the time?
Quality content for Google focuses on the overall quality of the content rather than its length. What does Google consider to be quality content length for posts and pages?
Affordable web design in Michigan might sound like a myth, especially since most website designers do not share their prices. So, what’s affordable?
Tunnel of Trees in Northern Michigan is in my front yard. I live on M-119 just north of Good Hart, Michigan, and there has been more traffic this fall than ever before.
Every small business needs a website. An entry-level website is better than not having one at all. As a Website Designer in Michigan, I provide affordable plans for your business.
With the holiday shopping season fast approaching, now is a great time for a retail business to ramp up your online presence – and attract more website sales!
Google Analytics can be very overwhelming. I mean, how can you just find simple stats like visits, keywords used, and where people came from? Let me help simply things!
Michigan website designer differences are mainly based on our location, but industry focus is a factor, too. Do we serve urban or rural areas, and what are common industries we might serve?
Professional website designers know that your website is often the first impression people have of your business. Why not make it a good one?
Small Business Marketing. We know we need it, but we’re only marketers by necessity. We’re so busy running the show that there’s little time left for marketing.
Google Business Profile was formerly branded as Google My Business and is one of the most powerful tools for boosting your local online presence.
Professional Instagram Profiles are a great place for your business to promote your products and services. However, do your followers see your posts as too promotional?
Mobile First is a web design approach where the primary focus is on creating a mobile version of a website before scaling up to larger screens like desktops and laptops.
SEO Tip: An optimized blog can significantly enhance your website’s visibility in organic search results which will bring more visitors to your website.
You made a website and put a great deal of time and effort into it, but you’re not getting any visitors. How frustrating. Why isn’t your website getting found?
Running a business in northern Michigan during the busy summer means more people are needing your services. It might mean your website is getting ignored.
According to the latest available data, it is estimated that around 36% of small businesses in the United States still do not have a website.
Facebook Page or Website? “I have a Facebook Page for my business. Do I really need a website?” I hear this from business owners often and the answer is YES!
Website Design: While every business has a different goal, every website needs four important elements, no matter the site’s purpose.
Website Question: Build your own website or hire an experienced pro? This question can leave small business owners without a website for weeks, months, and even years!
Website Keywords: Your website content needs to include good keywords and long-tail keyword phrases. It’s how people find your site when searching on Google.
Social Media Managers might seem like an added expense, but outsourcing online marketing tasks and promotions will save every business owner valuable time!
Building the best website for your online home provides a potential customer with their first impression of who you are and what you do.
Hashtags or Keywords? Both hashtags and keyword text play important roles in improving discoverability and engagement on Instagram, but they serve slightly different purposes.
You need responsive design for your website so that your website content can be viewed on any device. Don’t make users pinch and zoom to read content.
There was a time when your business card was your most important marketing piece. You carried a stack with you for networking and meetings, and handed them out freely.
The term search engine optimization may sound daunting, but there are easy updates you can make to improve SEO for better Google ranking and search results.
Ecommerce Website: We are all searching for products online. We compare prices on multiple websites before we make a purchase. Are your products getting found?
Instagram search can help you convert Instagram users into customers. Make sure people can find you when they search on this popular social media platform.
Business websites serve a unique purpose for promoting talents and your unique brand. Every business has a different goal when it comes to online marketing.
Overposting on social media, or sharing too much too often, can overwhelm your followers. The risk is people decide to stop following your account permanently.
Abuzz Creative is a renowned digital marketing agency in northern Michigan that is owned and operated by web design veteran Marcie Wolf.
Web Designer Question: Why do people ask a professional web designer for a free website? I’m surprised how often I get asked to create a complex website for a business for FREE.
Upgrade your HTML website to WordPress! Even though your static HTML website was fine as an entry-level option, it’s time to upgrade your software and grow your site.
Monthly website fees. Are you paying too much for monthly services? What are those monthly fees for? In all honesty, you might be paying for services you’re not getting.
Social media content for your B2B audience presents a different set of challenges. How can you effectively capture people’s attention and drive engagement?
Benefits of hiring a marketing expert to manage your website and your social media accounts include giving you more time to focus on running your business!
Risks of keeping an old outdated website includes putting your business at risk for cyberattacks. Plus, your website is challenging for today’s mobile users to use and navigate.
Near me searches on Google are when people search on their phones to find places to eat or shop close to them at that moment. Is your business ready?
DIY Website Troubles. You decided to go DIY and created a business website yourself. You started from scratch without any kind of website building knowledge and just assumed people would come.
Summer is just around the corner, and you know what that means up north – daily operations for every business owner are about to get extremely busy.
Facebook and Instagram continue to be popular social media platforms with billions of users ready to engage. Should your business be on one or both?
Websites have changed a lot in the last five years, plus we saw accelerated growth in doing business online during the COVID-19 pandemic. You have to keep up!
Search engines and social media are where people are looking for a business like yours. They type in their search terms and the search engine returns relevant results.
A well-designed website is a powerful tool that attracts customers and builds trust while showing the uniqueness of your brand. A professional website is crucial for the success of your business.
Near me searches on Google is when someone searches online to find local businesses or services that are close to their current location.
As website owners, we all know that if our page appears higher in Google search results, more people will be likely to click the link and visit our site.
With continual changes in design standards, technology, marketing strategies, user expectations, and the competitive landscape, it’s probably time to give your website a complete refresh.
“When you are consciously aware of all that you have to be grateful for, your life is in perfect harmony.” ~ Hal Elrod
4 Tips for Sharing Events: Scrolling through social media, don’t use time-based words in posts like TODAY, TOMORROW, or NEXT WEEK – especially on Facebook!
Social Media Marketing Services: Social media is an important part of a successful marketing plan for every northern Michigan business. You need to be active on social media. Do you have the time?
Social Media Marketing Tips: Successful marketing strategies rely heavily on social media. Your business can engage with your target audience, build brand awareness, and drive sales.
If you own a small business, you know the daily challenges of trying to do it all. You’re juggling lots of responsibilities and managing operations, so when do you find time for marketing?
Having a great online presence is essential for the success of your business. A well-designed website is a powerful tool for attracting customers, building trust, and showcasing the uniqueness of your brand.
What’s the Buzz? I just launched a new and improved website for Screen Graphics of Indian River, a leader in printing services for Northern Michigan business!
Have you claimed your Google Business Profile? Did you know Google gave your business a free listing in their massive directory? Make sure you claim your listing as your own.
Thumb stopping content for social media helps your business grab people’s attention when they’re scrolling on social media. The trick is finding ways to stand out with thumb-stopping content.
How does SEO help your website? To rank well on Google, you need to focus on search engine optimization as part of your entire site build. SEO plays a crucial role in improving your Google visibility and ranking.
How does Digital Marketing help your business? You’ve heard the term digital marketing and wondered what it all means. Digital marketing, or online marketing, is how you connect with potential customers using the internet.
If you’re been wondering when you should hire a social manager, just know that working with a marketing expert is a valuable asset and a great investment for your business.
Creating websites with accepted web design principles helps users find what they’re looking for. We have certain expectations about how your design elements should work.
More people search the web with a mobile device than a desktop these days. We always have our phones with us and can easily find local things we need by searching on Google.
AI Text Tool is great for creating marketing campaigns, and the best natural application of an AI writing tool is to create content for your website and social media.
Don’t lose another day without a website for your business. Hire a web designer with pricing for your budget.
Avoiding Facebook highjacks of your business page starts with your Page Admins! Facebook hackers try to steal personal and financial details to exploit, and your Page Admins could be vulnerable.
Responsive Design is how a website resizes itself for your phone. To be mobile friendly, every website should be using responsive design. Is your website responsive?
Optimize Google Business Profile! Google gave your business a free profile in their online directory. Optimize your listing and start posting often for better local SEO!
Website pricing that fits your budget can be a daunting task. How much do you have to invest? Who can you trust? Will the web designer’s fees be worth it?
Like most business owners who are short-staffed, you’re tired of trying to do everything yourself. That includes being a social media manager for your business.
Yellow Page Listings! Remember that phone book with yellow pages at the back? Our primary use for yellow pages was to look up a business or to scan categories for something we needed.
Social Media Marketing is important for a business like yours! Social media helps you grow your online presence, gain followers, and connect with people who need your services.
Instagram captions are key for getting found on this popular social media channel. Think of it as another search engine with built-in search functions. Instagram is kind of like a mini-Google.
I see so many businesses using only social media to promote and share their stories. While I do love social media, your website is your hub for building your influence.
Your website plays a crucial role in your online marketing strategy and typically serves as the marketing hub for your efforts. Always update your website first!
Social media boosts the visibility of your brand where people hang out most. In today’s digital world, your business can’t survive without a social media presence.
If it’s time to create a new website for your business, a website checklist will help your decide the content and special features you should include. Aside from a pleasing design, you need to give people what they came looking for!
If your marketing messages are always about selling, that might now be going over well. Social Media Marketing is more engaging if you’re helping people with fun and educational posts.
When people do a search on Google, some top results they see come from Google Business Profile listings. So, yes, your business needs one!
If you manage a business profile on Instagram, you struggled with only being able to share one link in your bio. Instagram Tip: Now you can a total of FIVE links!
Have you wondered how to make your website viewable on smaller screens? That’s called Responsive Web Design, and you need it!
“Build it and they will come.” For your website, that would be nice. In truth, getting visitors to your new website is going to take a lot more work than that.
Have you ever wondered how web designers come up with project prices? Web designers use various cost models to set their project pricing.
Mobile browsing can feel like a website is testing your sanity. You get website pop ups, “we use cookies” warnings, and pop-ups asking permission to send more pop-ups and notifications. Argh!
What is mobile first? It’s how we design digital experiences like websites and apps with the mobile user in mind as the primary audience.
We’ve all seen those ads saying anyone can make a website in just one hour. Is a “Do-It-Yourself” website builder really the best option for your business?
Is your business and brand in a boring industry that nobody wants to hear about? When it comes to promotions, lots of B2B business owners feel this way.
Google Business Profile is a free business profile in the massive Google directory. Your profile helps Google show your business in the right search and map results.
Instagram is a powerful tool for expanding your market to new areas. It’s a great place to find new customers where they like to hang out!
I can’t imagine my local communities without my favorite small businesses. When you support local business owners, you get personable, memorable customer service from people you know.
At the beginning of 2023, a local business found that their Google Business Profile was suspended. When was the last time you checked your listing?
Is all of your online content mobile friendly? Websites, social media, email newsletters – it all needs to be easy for us to read, no matter our screen size.
I’ve been inundated with spammers trying to sell me Google Reviews for my business profile. No matter how tempting it sounds, just say no to buying reviews!
As part of Women in History month, the Harbor Springs Chamber highlighted women who are business owners and members of the chamber.
Buying Instagram followers might sound like an easy way to increase your follower count on Instagram. Unfortunately, the negative consequences for your account outweigh the vanity numbers.
A potential client asked me how much of my work I outsource. My answer? None of it. I wondered why they asked, and they were happy to tell me.
I can’t express enough the importance of managing your Google Business Profile. Your Google profile listing is an important part of your local SEO strategy.
Time to redesign your website? Is your site outdated or not finished? I am fielding more calls from business owners who are frustrated with their current website.
To drive the right kind of traffic to your website, you need to create quality content that your target audience is interested in. That’s where evergreen content shines.
Today’s trend is to search for a business like yours on Google before contacting you. Does your website provide a great first impression with up-to-date information?
Your business manages social media profiles to reach more people and to communicate. Social media engagement refers to the level of interaction between your business and your audience.
You should never buy Instagram followers for your business profile. If you buy Instagram followers, it’s considered a dishonest practice and goes against Instagram’s terms.
You’re ready to hire a professional website designer to create an effective site for your business. The designer you choose should know how to build your site with SEO in mind.
People are using their mobile devices more to search for businesses when they are out and about, and Google keeps getting better at handling local near me searches.
Your business deserves a professional website that fits your budget. Our Basic Buzz Websites grow with your business and is priced competitively.
Google’s mobile-first indexing determines organic rankings. Google will look at the mobile version of your site before crawling and indexing your content.
More than 60% of consumers use Google Business Profiles to find a local business like yours. One of the top things they look for are Google Reviews left by your customers.
What is my word for 2023? Outshine. The idea is to choose one word for the new year to live by instead of setting resolutions you most likely won’t keep.
When it comes to designing a website for our business, Golden Rules of Good Web Design guide how our choices impact the people who visit the site.
You know that Social Media is an important part of your marketing plan. No matter the size of your business, you need Sweet and Affordable Social Media Services.
Since a website is the online home for your business, would you rather rent your space from a site builder or purchase your own custom home?
The design and performance of your website is key to your business success. You should always be evaluating your website. You might need to redesign your website for today’s web.
Does your website accommodate the Multi-Device User? We use different devices to view your website content. We might even look at the same website from our laptop and smartphone.
If you’re still questioning the need for social media marketing, your business is missing out on some great leads. Where are those leads going? To your competitors, of course!
November 11, 2022 makes 8 fabulous years as the owner of Abuzz Creative, and 20 years as a small business owner!
I’m finding more email messages in my Junk Mail folder. Some of them are legitimate messages from newer clients. Learn why email gets flagged as spam.
My Basic Buzz website plan is a cost effective website solution with fixed fee pricing for the small Northern Michigan business.
Never ever buy Instagram followers – it’s a trick, not a treat! Buying Instagram followers means you just end up with a room full of bodies. Dead bodies at that…
Have you ever thought about how your negative phrasing is complicating your marketing message? Try focusing on more positive phrasing in all of your writing.
As visually-driven as we are, colors really affect how we feel about something. Your website color scheme should give us a positive feeling about your business.
Fall means people are starting their holiday shopping and much of it might be online. If you sell products online, optimizing your online product descriptions will help you appear at the top of search results.
Are you passionate about supporting small business owners in your community? Support web designers in your local community if your mission is to hire local services first.
In addition to posting, we need to engage on social media as our business. That means spending time on social media in the best way possible.
I live in Good Hart on the beautiful Tunnel of Trees in northwest Michigan. M-119 is a historic route along Lake Michigan that offers amazing views, and is a popular destination for fall colors.
You are passionate about your business. It’s not just a job, it’s a labor of love. But, when it comes to marketing, you might be trying to do everything while you excel at nothing.
Now more than ever, people are looking online for a business like yours. The best place for them to find you is on your own company website.
Don’t buy Instagram followers! All you’re doing is just paying for a number. You need to connect with real people who care about your business.
Summer is winding down. You can finally take a breath. And now you have time to think about a website for your business.
Labor Day is a good time to think about the northern Michigan business owners you know and trust. Mom-and-pop shops, solo entrepreneurs, designers and artists, our hard-working farmers…
Is it time to get your small business online? Abuzz Creative has a Basic Buzz Website Promo that will get you there for less.
I’m trying to figure out why so many small businesses in Northern Michigan still don’t have a website. Is your business one of those without a website?
Image SEO helps your product photos and website images rank well on image search engines like Google. If your photos don’t show up in an image search, you’re missing simple Image SEO.
For a website project to be successful from start to finish, the client has a very important part to play. A website designer is responsible for the way a site looks and functions. Clients are responsible for the content visitors will be reading.
Is your DIY website project driving you to drink? DIY isn’t always best when it comes to creating a website for your business. You might think a cheap option makes sense, but is it right for what you want to achieve?
Social Sunday Tip: Using hashtags when posting on Instagram will give your business a big boost on social media. By using different types of hashtags, you can reach more people in multiple audiences.
Let’s simplify what marketing is for your business. Marketing is anything that gets you closer to your clients. Marketing is how you attract customers.
With a solid portfolio of client projects spanning more than 20 years, Marcie Wolf’s marketing services create long term value for a business like yours.
If you want more attention for your business, spending just a few minutes a day on Instagram can bring your engagement rates up dramatically.
Are you looking for more targeted visibility on Google? Your Google Business Profile is your best Local SEO strategy and a great place to start!
One of the great things about owning a business is you can choose your path and pursue what you’re passionate about. Follow your dreams of owning a business.
Business owners want website visitors to contact them so they can become a new customer or client. To make this process easy, we need to include a call to action on every page.
Are you using all of the free promotion features that come with your Google Business Profile? You can add events, offers, posts, photos, and it all helps with your local SEO!
Fourth of July in Northern Michigan brings lots of summer visitors. People travel from all over to enjoy the place I am fortunate to call home.
The tourists have arrived in Northern Michigan and they’re using Google on their phones to find a local business like yours! Time to update your Google Business Profile!
Are your customers being ignored because your employees are more focused on their personal phones?
What’s The Buzz? It’s more like Who’s The Buzz! Meet Fern and Olive, two amazing entrepreneurs who inspire me and make me happy just knowing them!
Too often a small business will publish a website, then they never revisit it. Having a website is not a one-and-done process. The digital world is constantly changing, and your website needs to move with it.
We all know how important social media is for any size business. We also know how time-consuming it can be when you’re a one-person show.
Long form content is an article or blog post with more than a thousand words. The content has been optimized with relevant keywords for better ranking on Google.
Your customer base is on the internet right now searching for specific services, products, or a local business location. Since 80% of searches happen on Google and more than 50% have local intent, there’s a good chance people will discover you through content you’ve added to your Google Business Profile listing.
The design of your site affects user experience, which in turn affects your search engine rankings. When it comes to search engine optimization, the design of your website does matter.
Our mobile devices have taken over every aspect of our lives. We have them on us all the time. We are using our mobile devices the most for searching online.
It’s time to get a website online for your business, which means you need to gather quotes for your project. And you’re afraid of how high all those quotes will be, right?
I am a web designer and have owned a website design company in Northern Michigan for more than twenty years. I am in business to do something I love and am good at, and I get paid for the services I provide.
Google My Business is no more. Get used to saying Google Business Profile. I know I know – it’s a hard habit to break! I catch myself doing it, too.
Adding posts to your Google Business Profile is an excellent local SEO strategy. But what size should your images be for posts?
As part of your local SEO, it’s important that you include photos in your Google Business Profile, and that you keep adding new photos often!
People use Google to explore businesses and shops in their local areas, find answers to questions, read reviews, and get contact information.
The pandemic sent us all on a pretty wild ride! We were driving in all directions, trying to keep business going. We cruised on over to social media to promote ourselves.
User experience is a common buzzword with today’s websites, and that’s because it’s extremely important. A happy visitor might become a happy customer!
Thanks to Do-It-Yourself Website options like Wix, more small businesses like yours are taking the DIY approach to make their first website.
Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is how you improve a website so more people find your business when searching on Google.
You might have great salespeople, but a bad looking website is making it harder for them to sell your products and services.
A “near me” search is when someone is looking for something in close proximity to them at that moment. These location-based search queries are being made by people who are ready to buy right now.
If today’s marketing is all about being real and authentic, is it time to stop using stock photos on your website? Maybe… OK – yes!
Google knows the hottest content right now is video. The search engine is always looking for quality video content so add videos to your profile!
When posting someone else’s photo on Instagram, you must give credit where credit is due. Always, always credit the source.
If 2022 is all about gaining traction with your SEO, then a great place to start is with your Google Business Profile. Time to optimize and manage!
People visit your website first to learn about your business. Potential customers are hard-wired to make quick judgements, so you only have a matter of seconds to make a great first impression.
It’s been proven that most people’s local buying journey starts with a Google search. If I’m looking for a local service or product, I begin my search on Google. That means that it is critical for any local business to rank well on Google.
More than half of all Google searches show local search results. People are typically looking for a nearby business that can provide them with a service they need or a product they want to buy.
Hopefully your business is using Instagram by now and you’re reaching more people. Instagram is such a great visual platform for social advertising and organic reach.
Is your business spread too thin across too many social channels? You could be setting yourself up for failure when you try to do it all.
Tired of hearing about algorithms? Well, everything in our digital marketing world is driven by algorithms. Website SEO, Social Media, and Online Ads are all algorithm-driven.
I love my weird little creative life here in Northern Michigan. My days are spent creating content and visual designs for my client’s websites and social media channels.
If you want more attention for your business, spending just 15 minutes a day on Instagram can bring your engagement rates up dramatically.
We all have a product to sell or a service we provide, and we all have lots of comparable competitors. In order to get noticed, we have to be different and unique.
We all want to rank better than our competition in a Google search. To compete locally, we need Local SEO strategies and tactics – on our website and on our other online marketing channels.
Potential customers are finding you online which means your website needs to make a great first impression. Your website should also be optimized for mobile devices.
We use our mobile device when we want something quick, which results in bursts of digital activity up to 150 times a day. The average mobile session is only one minute long, dozens of times per day.
Unique content on your website helps you rank better on Google. Social media content plays a crucial role in driving customers. Content on your Google Business Profile improves your local SEO.
Social media is about building relationships and being social with people. Don’t focus so much on follower numbers since a follower doesn’t always equal a customer.
“Doing business without marketing is like winking at someone in the dark. You know what you are doing, but nobody else does.”
A website for your business is your most essential marketing hub. A great website presents your company as solid, stable, and willing to invest in itself.
What’s the most common question that I get asked by business owners with a new Instagram account? “How do I buy followers on Instagram so I have more followers than my competition?”
Every business needs a website, plain and simple. It’s natural to have questions about the benefits and costs when building a website for your business.
You might think having a large following on Instagram will make your business look more credible. If you have more followers, that means you’re more popular, right?
Your most important online marketing channels include your business website, all of your social media profiles, a Google My Business listing, and your email newsletters.
Skip the DIY Website! Your business needs a killer website with an eye-catching design that attracts customers to your business. Hire a pro to do the work for you!
When you hire a web designer, they will take your online presence to a higher level. You’re hiring them for their professional expertise in website development, creative design, and SEO.
When we first visit your website, we decide whether we plan to stay within 5 or 6 seconds. That means you don’t have much time to make a great first impression. And to keep your visitor around.
I’m still seeing lots of local business owners who have not claimed and verified their Google My Business listing. A verified and optimized Google My Business profile gives your business a huge advantage over your competition.
There is no magic formula when it comes to SEO and there is no magic way to rank your website on the first page of Google.
We live in a digital world and every business needs a website. If you do one thing today to help your business be more successful, it should be getting online with a new website.
In today’s digital world, we look for a local company on a search engine first, and that really means we do a Google search.
When we’re on Google searching for things like time, weather, how-to tips, and word definitions, the answer is displayed directly at the top of our Google search results page.
If you feel that something is wrong with how your website ranks on Google, there are three technical aspects that might be the culprit.
Instagram is a visual social channel with great photos and engaging videos. Instagram is also about the text in your captions. The words you share are a key part of your Instagram marketing strategy, too!
Check out your Google Analytics. Are more people visiting your website from a mobile device than from a desktop computer?
Can you take high quality photos yourself? You sure can! Your mobile device lets you take some pretty great photos on the fly to use for promoting your business.
I find it surprising when I see how many small businesses still do not have a website. It’s 2021 and our world is shaped by digital media now more than ever.
I know, you’re anxious to launch your new website. But you still have to decide true colors and write a bunch of valuable content. You’ll just add it later because it’s better to have something online than nothing, right?
Are you getting anywhere with your website? I have a few quotes from Paul Cookson that help drive a few points home.
Your website is the face of your brand online. There’s a lot of planning that goes into creating this space. It’s where potential customers come to find out who you are and what you do.
Everyone knows a website needs to be optimized for search engines like Google. Search engine optimization (SEO) brings more traffic to your website.
Is your retail business selling online? If you are a legitimate Northern Michigan brand, or you are committed to building one, selling online is in your favor.
If you have a local business and you want to attract more local clients, a great way to do that is by being active on Instagram as your business.
Social Media is a powerful tool for marketing your business and reaching more potential clients, but should a Facebook Page take the place of a Website for your business?
Can you actually “own” a hashtag? The answer is no, you can’t legally own a hashtag. They’re not intellectual property you can own.
Today’s marketing trend is to show your true self and the people behind your business. We remember brands who tell marketing stories we can relate to.
Promoting your business on social media is the best way to increase the visibility of your business. Do you find yourself struggling with writing new content?
Social media has been proven to work for any size business. Social media is the best way to increase the visibility of your business to the millions on social media every single day.
Instagram isn’t just for retail and highly visual businesses. If you own a service-based business in northern Michigan, there are lots of opportunities on Instagram for promoting your services and sharing your expertise.
Running a marketing agency gives me a chance to create something of value and beauty in a world that desperately needs it. I try to bring sunshine and laughter every day, even if it’s only for me.
You’ve heard that imitation is the highest form of flattery. If someone copies your ideas, you can take that as a compliment.
If you offer a wide range of services and you’re in a competitive niche or location, you can improve your website SEO by creating a unique web page for each service.
Are you always wondering what kinds of things your business should be posting on social media? Believe me, I struggle with marketing content the most.
I’ve talked to business owners who are so short-staffed that no one is managing their website or social media right now.
Studies have shown that more than 50% of global web traffic comes from mobile devices and through mobile apps. These numbers will continue to grow as we discover more ways to use our phones.
Summer is a crazy time for business owners in Northern Michigan! If you’re spending too much time on social media marketing tasks instead of running your business, why not partner with Abuzz Creative for the summer?
Your business is what you know best. What Marcie Wolf knows best is websites. Your website needs fresh content to stay competitive. If your business is short-staffed and no one has time to update your website, Abuzz Creative can make WordPress website updates for you!
Your customers follow your business because they like you and what you have to offer, but that doesn’t mean they want to hear about your promotions and sales offers around the clock.
Flowers will soon be blooming, we’ll be seeing longer sunny days, and tourists will start arriving – these are all signs of summer in northern Michigan.
When I develop a new website for a client, I always recommend adding the blog post option to their website. Their first reaction tends to always be, “I don’t have time to be a blogger!” You don’t have to be a blogger to write posts on your website.
Have you tried adding a photo or graphic to a new Google My Business post and important parts of your image were cropped out? Google tells you to upload square images, but if you’re like me, you prefer to upload the right size without parts of your image getting cropped out.
Social media for a small business can feel overwhelming and challenging, especially if you’re a solo entrepreneur. Social media does make spreading the word about your small business faster or easier. By having an active social media presence, you can start building relationships with your audience.
Your forte is your line of work and you do it well. If you’ve been handed over the management of your organization’s social media channels or you’re a small business owner who’s doing everything yourself, you might be wondering where to even begin.
A lot more goes into your website than just creativity, planning, and coding. Applying psychology to web design can give your business a competitive advantage and improve engagement by website visitors!
Creating the right file name for your photos and PDF files will help improve your website SEO. By using keywords in your file names, you are helping Google understand what your file is about.
As the Internet quickly became a place for doing business, lawmakers realized that persons with disabilities faced new obstacles. The Internet was an unwelcome place to individuals with various disabilities.
In partnership with Tip of the Mitt SCORE, I offered a free online seminar called “Making the Most of Your Website in 2021” on Tuesday, March 16.
Join us for a free seminar Making the Most of Your Website in 2021 which is presented in partnership with Tip of the Mitt SCORE Mentors
Get your website ready! User experience is very important to Google. This has become more evident in new Google ranking factors these past few years.
Two different business owners contacted me in the last few weeks asking me to move their Wix website to WordPress. Unfortunately, you can’t move your Wix website “as is” to another hosting server.
I have partnered with the Lifelong Learning Center at North Central Michigan College to offer Boost Your SEO, a four-part virtual learning session from 12:00 – 1:30 pm starting February 25th.
There are businesses that do a great job showing who the people are behind their brand which makes their company more relatable and memorable. They share behind the scenes photos and pictures of their staff.
We’ve all seen the commercials. “Build your own stunning website in just a few minutes!” Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly let you build your own cheap website. But is it the right choice for your business?
People who know SEO tend to speak a language all their own. SEO terminology can be confusing to the small business owner who wants to optimize their website.
Is a new Website on your Wish List for 2021? Is it time to update your website to be more mobile friendly? My project timeline for January is filling fast for new website projects so the time to plan for a 2021 project for your business is now!
Every business owner wants their website to rank higher in search engines than the competition. We want to be at the top of the Google Local Pack Map. We want to be in the top organic search spots on Google.
Digital marketing is when you use the Internet and online digital technologies such as desktop computers, mobile phones and other digital media platforms to promote the products and services for your Northern Michigan business.
You need to get people from the search engines to your website. To do that, you need a solid search engine optimization strategy. Without a solid SEO strategy, it’s kind of like driving around without directions to a real destination.
It should come as no surprise that mobile responsiveness is essential to the success of any website. In 2020, over half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices.
A solid search engine optimization strategy can boost your website rankings and the traffic you get from Google. And yes, Google is the search engine you want to focus on!
You’re active on your personal social media profiles like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. These are the most popular social networking sites with millions of people logging on daily.
To me, fall feels like a fresh start. Summer is behind us and the holidays are not here yet. My business always picks up in the fall when people have more time to think about their website and marketing.
Title tags are the most important meta tags on your site. This is basic SEO. Every single web page on your website must have a title element in the head section which identifies each individual page’s content.
We all love the feeling of having others like and share what we post on Pinterest. For others, Pinterest is an organizational tool. People will pin recipes, vacation destinations, fashion, food and wine, and everything under the sun.
Your new website has been launched and your most valuable marketing piece is live. People don’t just magically appear when you launch your new site.
Your website needs to provide a positive first impression with pleasant visual elements and intuitive navigation to make finding content easy.
Website Page Speed is about making sure your site visitors don’t get frustrated with waiting for your site to load.
Why is social media important for my Petoskey Michigan business? There are so many people spending hours a day on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Social channels are the perfect place for your business to find new customers and drive traffic to your website.
Pinterest remains one of the most important platforms for your Petoskey Michigan business to use. It’s easy for you to get the message across, Pinterest has millions of members who love the platform, and it sends huge amounts of traffic to your website. This is a recipe for success!
Schema markup is a great way to help your website stand out from your competitors in search engine results. Adding Schema markup to your website content will help improve the way your page displays on Google Search.
If your website is optimized for Google, you will get more people visiting your website which could mean new customers and sales. If your site lacks SEO, people searching for your products and services won’t see your website in search results.
If you are hosting a Petoskey Michigan event, social media is an extremely powerful way to gain exposure for your event, conference, or in-store promotion. Here are some quick and easy ways to expand the promotion of your event.
Social media impacts people’s lives every day. Through social media, we get to meet, connect, and interact with people we might never have otherwise met. Social media makes it easy to support each other, help others, and to communicate in new ways.
SEO isn’t just about keywords and link building. You need to step back and look at the human visitor’s journey through your website. Google considers lots of factors when ranking your site, and user experience is an important one.
Thank you for voting for Abuzz Creative in the Best of Northwest Michigan Awards. We proudly earned 2nd Place for Professional Marketing Agency!
If your retail business has been thinking about moving sales of your products to your website, now is the time to do it! Most of us are at home and we are shopping online for all kinds of things, including products like those that your local shop sells.
People click a link to your website from a search, a social media post, or from an ad you placed. No matter how they get there, you have mere seconds to get their attention and keep them on your website.
Your business website might be the first thing potential customers will see when they’re searching Google. If they click a link to your website, are you making a good first impression?
Local businesses in northern Michigan are starting to feel the financial crunch from coronavirus restrictions. Business owners and employees have taken refuge during the pandemic by staying at home and working at home.
I can relate to your frustration right now. Your office might be closed, but your business is still open, and working at home isn’t for everybody.
The Internet helps us find answers to questions, locate businesses, purchase products, connect with friends, and so much more. Thanks to voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google, we can get what we need through audio content, or voice search.
When is your local SEO a success? When your business starts appearing in the coveted Local 3-Pack map on Google.
What’s the Buzz? Creating a marketing buzz – or simply creating a buzz – helps you interact with consumers. Creating a local media buzz will help you find local customers who are looking for products and services like yours.
Social media is perfect for finding new customers. Unfortunately, most small business owners don’t see the potential and they avoid hiring specialized marketing help.
Writing for your website is much different than writing for print. People visiting your website skim content. What they’re looking for has to pop out quickly. We all walk that fine line between having too much content and having too little. Just make sure you’re giving site visitors what they want. Great Website Content Write…
Your website is the most important hub of your business marketing strategy and supports all of your digital marketing efforts. Since each aspect of your marketing strategy directs people to your website (or should be), your website should give consumers a clear idea of what your business offers in regard to products and services. Evergreen…
Writing social media posts and blog posts on your website are very similar in that they both allow you to share thoughts, ideas, and stories with people who are interested. Social networking and blogging are great ways to get traffic to your website. However, social media and blogging are also very different. Challenges of Social…
Your website is your most important marketing tool and is the online face of your business. Your website might be the only interaction a person ever has with your company. New Visitor Stats: First impressions are 94% design-related. 75% admit to making judgement on your credibility based on your website design. 40% will stop engaging…
Are you only interested in how many followers you have? Is your boss more focused on quantity of followers over quality? Buying followers is a thing, but is it a good thing?
Marketing your business online is an essential part of your marketing strategy, but knowing where to begin and focus your efforts is a daunting task for any business owner.
On Saturday, September 12th, Marcie Wolf and Eric Davis will get married at their home in Harbor Springs and celebrate the day with friends and family. The theme is more about the party with friends with a few wedding vows thrown in.
Your website might be the first impression potential customers or clients have of your business. It should represent who you are, what you do, and be personality-driven while giving a great first impression.
Responsive Web Design allows website visitors using different types of devices to view your site effectively. Your website looks the same – or similar – on all devices including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smart phones.
Every business is trying find success with their online marketing, but if your site is giving such a bad first impression that it drives people away – and you’re losing potentials sales – how can you possibly recover from that?
