Wheelhouse Marketing Blog

When we typically sit down with a potential client to explore their goals and vision for their website project, we ask them if they have Google Analytics set up on their current site. Most of the time the response is yes, but occasionally we are met with a blank stare. For those who do have Google Analytics, we are always curious about how they use the tool. This helps us find out how truly engaged they are in their digital marketing efforts. Those who are leaning on that data to understand the impact of their marketing efforts have a much better understanding of their results, their audience, and their goals. Those who don't use Google Analytics are a bit lost. If you are one of the lost souls of Google Analytics, this blog is for you. I am are going to break it down to give you the lay of the landscape and help you get up to speed on using the tool to understand your website traffic. 

If you have ever done any digital marketing you know how valuable a good call-to-action (CTA) is. Let's face it, if you've been on the internet you've probably experienced how valuable a good CTA can be, even if you didn't know what a CTA was. CTAs are those cleverly designed buttons that get you to click through and do something. The objective of a well designed CTA is to capture leads, and there isn't just one way to make this happen. So we took a look around the internet to pull together examples of the most clickable CTAs out there.

We know. SEO is one of those terms that, if it’s not your line of work, can sound crazy intimidating up front. The earliest mention that can be found of SEO traces roughly back to 1997. This was the same year that Titanic smashed the box office, Hanson released their debut album, and Biggie Smalls was shot. The point? It’s been around a long time (it’s technically old enough to have a drink), and there’s no reason for any person with half a brain to still shy away from the very basics of SEO. Once you look under the bed, this monster is really no monster at all. You can tackle it with ease, we promise. Let’s take a look at three simple ways to do just that.

There are lots of sure-proof ways to ruin a good website, but let’s be clear, sabotage is never, ever cool (unless you’re the Beastie Boys, obviously). Whether it’s what users see upfront when they land on your site, or something more sinister going on in the back end of things, today we’re taking a look at five of the most common things you’re doing to sabotage your website.

Social media has come a long way, you guys. From your first friend Tom to Mark Zuckerberg’s dorm room, to an entire network in your back pocket, social media has been morphing through the years. It’s no longer just the place where teenyboppers post their best duck-faced selfies. Don’t get us wrong, there’s still a lot of that out there, a lot. And yet, social media campaigns have become one of the best weapons for any company looking to get ahead. Let’s dive in and discuss three ways you can tap the benefits of social media marketing, no matter your business. First and foremost, it allows you to...

To turn potential credit union members into real life customers; you need to keep track of them and pay attention to their needs. With a strategy and a tailored customer relations management system, you’ll be able to track your buyer's journey and better meet their needs. You should think of the system like a funnel where you’re helping those potential members along to your institution. 

Credit union marketing is much more complicated that it seems to most. It doesn't just bring people into your financial institution; it informs them so that you can continue to serve them with the quality they've come to expect. One strategy to ensure a satisfied customer and a smooth running credit union is utilizing a customer relationship management tool. A CRM works not only by retaining information about your customers , but it allows that information to be used in a way that will improve your whole management system. A CRM is a software that combines information from sales, marketing, and customer service positions. This gives you a complete picture of your customers as individuals. It's a valuable tool with some great benefits.

Are you just starting to plan or design a website, yet are unsure what to include? Do you already have an existing site but are looking to add a better foundation to it? Maybe you're like me and really like to nerd out to website ideas and designs.

Whatever the case may be, you're here now and I have a list of 10 must-have website ideas that are sure to shed light on potentially missed factors of a website. Enjoy!

Before you get started with a new website design you should come to your meeting with a few website goals in mind. That being said, make sure they are realistic, with the means to execute them. This way you get the most out of your web developer and the website once it is up and running. We put together a few questions that you should be able to answer before walking into your first meeting with a developer.

When I sit down for an initial meeting with a client to talk about their their business, I ask them what their digital marketing goals are. The common response is, "To rank #1 in Google at X keyword." Which I usually follow up with "Why?" The look I get is usually a bit dumbfounded, as if I obviously don't know the answer to the easiest question on earth. Think about it, why would you want your business to rank #1 on Google? The response I like the most is, "Because if we are ranking #1, that means we are doing good." Doing good at what? It's clear that many people equate a #1 ranking as an indicator of success, but sometimes I have to push my clients to think deeper. Success isn't measured in ranking for one keyword-- rankings don't equal money. Leads, sales or conversions equal money. In all honesty the need to rank #1 for that top keyword is closer to a middle school popularity contest than a measure of success. Step outside of the competitive mindset that Google has created and really think about your business. How is the success of your website really measured? What does your website need to do to help your company?