Small Business – BlakSheep Creative https://blaksheepcreative.com Website Design, SEO, and Digital Marketing in Denham Springs, LA Thu, 23 Jan 2025 01:16:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://blaksheepcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/cropped-blaksheep-creative-denham-springs-web-design-SEO-agency-32x32.png Small Business – BlakSheep Creative https://blaksheepcreative.com 32 32 10 Small Business New Year’s Resolutions To Try in 2022 https://blaksheepcreative.com/small-business/new-years-resolutions-grow-your-business/ Thu, 06 Jan 2022 02:21:07 +0000 https://blaksheepcreative.com/?p=71740 Small business owners are more than likely feeling some sort of way right now. It’s that time of year when you’re looking back on how your year went, and you’re setting goals for yourself to hit in the New Year.

In this blog post, we’ll give you a few examples of some popular phrases that may help you achieve your goals.

So here are our ten small business new year’s resolutions proven to help you grow your business!

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

You have a good thing going for you, don’t mess it up. Do not let your emotions get in the way of doing something that could cost you your business. If you’re already making sales and marketing yourself is working, why would you change it?

But you can use other people’s emotions to generate conversions. Read our recent blog post to learn more about emotional marketing.

Of course, there are probably some things you could do better, and those are the things to work on.

customer is always right small business new year resolution 2022

“The customer is always right.”

No, you’re not going to please everybody, but you should certainly try. You may even find that they aren’t always right, but by the end of the day, you’re going to keep up a good face and do whatever it takes to make them happy.

Remember, your customers are the lifeblood of your business. Treat them well, and they’ll treat you well, too.

time is money small business new year resolution 2022

“Time Is Money”

Time is important, and we know it. But when you’re running a business, how do you find the time to do everything? If you want your business to be successful in the New Year, maybe it’s time for you to start delegating some of these tasks so that you can focus on your business’s day-to-day operations.

As a company leader, each minute spent performing tasks that others could accomplish is costing you.

How can you get the most out of your limited daily schedule? You might be hesitant to give up specific responsibilities, but you’ll be grateful when you have more time to focus on what matters most for the agency’s future success.

Do you need to hire a professional digital marketing agency to take the load off? Visit our services page to see how we can help.

you get what you pay for small business new year resolution 2022

“You Get What You Pay For”

Depending on the size of your company, you might be tempted to save a few bucks here or there by hiring the cheapest help. This New Year’s resolution is going to cost you!

You get what you pay for. If you’re trying to build a brand and it looks like it came out of Google Images, that may not be the best route. Instead, why not invest in the higher quality service?

You’ll get better results in the end.

When deciding how to spend money, it’s essential to consider time, quality, and training. Short-term savings can turn out to be a false economy if the business ends up suffering.

quality over quantity small business new year resolution 2022

“Quality Over Quantity”

In business, it’s better to do a few things extremely well than a lot of things poorly.

You want to be known for your excellent service and the wonderful products you provide.

To succeed in 2022, we recommend focusing on quality rather than quantity in key areas such as products and services and customer relationships.

Don’t skimp on your website, please! Read our recent article to learn why a DIY website can end up costing you money in the long run.

For example, do you really need to send out weekly newsletters when your open rates are low?

Remember that quality is better than quantity!

penny saved penny earned marketing budget small business new year resolution 2022

“A Penny Saved Is a Penny Earned”

A penny saved is a penny earned. There’s no time like the present to start saving up for your business goals.

Examine ways to save money within the company. If you’re worried about saving money, just look at what needs to be done and think of ways to do it more efficiently.

A little research may go a long way in helping you find possible cost-saving solutions.

Make sure that you get the best return on investment.

Periodically audit the services you are paying in light of the value provided.

If you’re paying a digital marketing agency, are they bringing you the right clients at the right price?

Ask them to show you hard numbers proving that your investment is working for you.

If your marketing efforts are falling short of your goals, it may be time to set new goals or find a new marketing company.

Read what to look for in a digital marketing agency in our recent blog post. Or contact us today to learn how we can help you get the results you want!

people before profit marketing budget small business new year resolution 2022

“People Before Profit”

It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers game. If you’re trying to make sales, it’s essential to be focused on your top priority – people.

There is nothing more valuable than having satisfied customers.

The customer experience will keep your clients coming back for more. If you’re not focused on the customer and building the right relationships, you won’t be in business very long.

time management small business new year resolution 2022

“Manage Your Time or It Will Manage You”

You can’t manage what you don’t measure. This New Year’s resolution is going to improve your business overall.

If you want to get organized and stay productive, you need to start measuring the time spent on different activities to know where valuable company resources are being used. If you don’t pay attention to these details, it will be harder to manage your time and build your business.

Take a careful look at how you spend your day—and then take control!

owner passion small business new year resolution 2022

“Make Your Passion Your Profession”

Don’t let your passion die. This New Year’s resolution is going to keep you in business!

With all the hard work that goes into running a small business, it’s easy for your passion to take a back seat. But if you allow things to get too busy, it will be challenging to run your business. Make sure you carve out time to pursue your passion!

You’re the best person to represent your company. If you’re not excited by what you do, it will be difficult for others to get excited either, so make sure that you keep your passion alive in the workplace.

Keep your work-life balance in check.

Here’s an awesome article by The Mayo Clinic with tips on how to do just that.

actions speak louder than words small business new year resolution 2022

“Actions Speak Louder Than Words”

Your actions speak volumes about the value of your products and services.

This New Year’s resolution is going to increase your conversions.

But here’s where many businesses come up short.

Sure, you can offer a bunch of promises, but do you have the track record to back them up?

When you have nothing to show, your words are empty.

This year, make sure you can back up your claims!

think before posting on social media small business new year resolution 2022

“Think Before You Speak”

Whether you’re talking to employees or clients, taking a few moments to consider what you’re trying to get across is critical. In business, making the wrong statement might cost precious time through misinterpretation or even prevent a sale. Straightforward communication keeps everyone on the same page.

The same holds true for your social media strategy.

Before you post, take a moment to consider how your audience will receive the message. Ask yourself whether the information is valuable for them before hitting “enter.”

under promise and over deliver small business new year resolution 2022

“Under-Promise and Over-Deliver”

In business, we frequently believe that the only thing that matters is the outcome. In reality, what we expect from results has more weight than what we get.

When a business outperforms expectations for clients or customers, it resonates much more strongly than if you had made enormous promises that are just unrealistic.

Make precise predictions and then blow them out of the water!

Conclusion

These ten small business New Year’s resolutions above should help you get started on the right foot.

Whether you’re looking for ways to grow your product sales, improve customer service or make sure that your employees are happy in their jobs – these resolutions will steer you in the right direction.

Which of these tips has helped you stay motivated and productive? Let us know how we can be of assistance!

Are you looking for a new digital marketing agency?

BlakSheep Creative is an award-winning, full-service marketing firm specializing in creating custom solutions to meet your business goals. We offer everything from web design and development to SEO, content creation, social media management, and more.

We’re the best at what we do because of our passion for creativity and innovation. Our team thrives on bringing fresh ideas to life with every project we take on.

Check out our portfolio to see some of the products we’ve completed and see for yourself.

BlakSheep Creative has been recognized by the likes of Expertise, Salesforce, and more, so you can trust us to get the job done right.

Whether you need help ranking higher in search engines results pages, creating a website, email marketing, or creating a marketing plan, we’ve got you covered.

Contact us today to find out how we can take your digital marketing strategy above and beyond!

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Should a Marketing Agency Join a Business Networking Group? https://blaksheepcreative.com/marketing/marketing-agency-networking-group/ Sat, 01 Jan 2022 02:25:21 +0000 https://blaksheepcreative.com/?p=71704 Marketing agencies are often hesitant to join a business networking group, even though it seems like the perfect opportunity for growth. And while there are some benefits to joining a network, you need to weigh them against the potential risks of wasting time and money.

There are many reasons why networking might not be the best option for a marketing agency.

First, most networking groups are focused on finding clients or employees, which may not be relevant to your business.

Second, you may not have the time to attend all of the meetings or events

Third, you may not be able to generate leads from the group.

Finally, networking can be expensive, and it’s not always clear what you’re getting in return.

On the other hand, networking does have some benefits. 

First, it’s a great way to build relationships with potential clients or partners.

Second, it can help you learn about new trends and technologies.

Third, it can give you access to resources and expertise.

Fourth, it can help you expand your reach.

Ultimately, whether or not to join a networking group depends on your business goals and the networking group’s focus. If the group is relevant to your business and you have the time to attend meetings, it may be worth your while.

So let’s unpack this, but first, we’ll explain why BlakSheep Creative doesn’t focus on business networking.

why we are not in business networking groups

Why we’re not in business networking groups.

Business networking is marketed as a great way to grow your business, but for us, it’s not worth the cost or time.

If our average web developer or SEO’s rate is $100/hr, then it would be $100 * 6 hours = $600 to attend an event. If our average project is $4000+, that’s not something we want to spend for one potential lead.

So should marketing agencies join business networking groups?

We don’t think so.

Someone who runs a marketing agency may think joining a business networking group is an obvious choice. After all, you’d expect these groups would be full of potential clients or employees. But in our experience, this isn’t always the case.

Networking groups are often focused on finding leads, and while this may be relevant to some businesses, it’s not always a good match for marketing agencies. In addition, marketing agencies often don’t have the time to attend all of the meetings or events, which can be a waste of time and money.

Plus, if you’re a marketing agency, isn’t it an oxymoron to join a group that’s focused on finding business?

Shouldn’t your agency generate leads for other companies, not the other way around?

How is this effective at all?

What does that say about your agency if you’re only relying on business networking groups for leads instead of having a diversified lead generation strategy?

If you ask me, it’s not a good sign.

But that doesn’t mean marketing agencies should give up on networking altogether.

There are still some benefits to joining a group, such as building relationships with potential clients or partners, learning about new trends and technologies, and expanding your reach.

But the decision of whether or not to join a business networking group depends on your business goals and the group’s focus.

If you’re not looking for leads or interested in networking with businesses, then it likely won’t be worth your time or money.

Of course, there are many factors to consider before joining a business networking group.

First, let’s discuss some problems with business networking.

benefits of marketing agency business networking

What are some problems with joining a networking group?

Here are some main problems with joining a group:

Relevancy

Most networking groups are focused on finding clients or employees, which may not be relevant to your business.

For example, if you’re a marketing agency specializing in video production, you might not find much value in joining a group of dentists.

Time commitment

Many networking events require a lot of time to attend. You may need to participate in several meetings or events each month, which can be challenging to fit into your schedule.

Some groups go so far as to require that you attend. And if you can’t, to provide a stand-in for you.

That seems rather demanding, and it’s not always easy to find someone who can do that for you, especially if you’re busy.

Control over leads

Networking groups are often focused on generating leads, which means you don’t always have control over the quality of your leads.

Some events may be more successful than others, and some meetings may not lead to anything at all. Keeping track of this activity can also be time-consuming and frustrating.

Cost

Joining a networking group can be expensive. Most groups charge dues, and then there are the costs of attending events. This can add up quickly, especially if you’re not seeing a lot of return on your investment.

Most people have a very naive and incorrect idea of what networking is and how it operates.

Effective salespeople are measured not by how many cards they have in their wallets but rather by the number of connections made and maintained.

Meaningful connections.

Not contrived or “you scratch my back, I scratch yours” relationships, but genuine connections that grow naturally.

Often, networking groups are so focused on getting you out there, making your business known, and “networking” that they neglect the human element – the connection. A good relationship is built upon trust and creating a meaningful bond between two people.

Most individuals do not utilize networking meetings to their full potential.

I’ve had my fair share of networking meetings, and some of them have been quite disappointing.

One time I met with a guy who had a terrible sales pitch, and he tried to sell me on something that wasn’t related to anything I needed. To top it off, he followed up with me days after the meeting to continue his sales pitch.

I had another one where I was very excited because it looked like they would be an excellent company for me to connect with. They did not show up, and I still haven’t heard from them. Why did they RSVP and then not show?

There are some benefits to business networking and making connections, but is it worth the investment when you could just find people on your own and skip the meetings?

Business networking meetings seem like they will be an excellent opportunity to meet with potential clients and make new relationships. However, things like sales pitches and showing up late or not at all leave people turned off and not interested in making connections.

Some people go about it all wrong.

At one business networking group, I met a marketing agency owner who wanted me to recommend her to BlakSheep Creative’s clients who needed help with their branding.

I’m always interested in talking with people about their businesses, so I agreed to meet for coffee.

(Bear in mind that I didn’t know her well.)

I prefer to work with people that I know, that I like, and that I trust.

She may be the nicest person in the world, but I’m not about to risk BlakSheep’s reputation by recommending her to one of our clients without getting to know her better.

Plus, she failed to realize that we do branding also.

Related Reading: The Importance of Branding

Networking meetings are like job interviews. You wouldn’t go into a job interview without doing some research on the company and the people you would be meeting with, would you?

The same goes for networking meetings. If you want to get the most out of them, you need to do your research and come prepared.

Joining a networking group might seem like a straightforward strategy to gain leads and grow your business, but it’s not without its challenges. For instance, the quality of leads you get from such groups can vary greatly, and there’s no guarantee that the time and money you invest will yield a substantial return. This is a dilemma that’s not just confined to offline networking groups but extends to online communities as well.

Now, let’s discuss some of the benefits of joining a networking group.

pros cons business networking group for marketing agency

What are the benefits of joining a networking group?

Now don’t get me wrong, there are some benefits to joining a networking group (if you’re willing to put in the time and effort). Here are some benefits that you might expect:

Relationships

Networking can be a great way to build relationships with potential partners, clients, or employees.

But only if they’re nurtured and developed over time. Simply attending a few events will not be enough to make these connections.

Information

Networking can be a great way to learn about new trends and technologies. Groups often have experts who are willing to share their knowledge with others in the group.

Resources

Networking groups often have access to resources that can be useful for your business. You might meet other members in the same line of work, and they may be able to refer their clients or partners to you (although this is highly unlikely.)

Expansion

Networking can help you expand your reach within a community or industry. The more people know about your business, the more opportunities you’ll have to build relationships with potential clients or partners.

should marketing agency join business networking group

So, should you join a networking group?

The answer to this question depends on your business goals and the focus of the networking group. If they’re relevant to your business and you have the time to attend meetings, then it might be worth your while.

However, if you’re not finding enough value in these groups or putting in too much time and effort for minimal return, then there’s little reason to continue.

Networking is meant to build relationships with professionals who may be able to help your business, not to be a waste of time. If it’s not benefiting you, then it’s probably not worth your while.

Instead, of joining a business networking group, consider joining your local chamber of commerce. They tend to be more community-focused, which is a plus in today’s me-first business mindset.

In fact, just by joining your local chamber of commerce, you could receive leads and referrals from local businesses and professionals through the chamber.

We find that “chamber leads,” tend to be more reliable, more committed to working with us from the get-go. Plus, they tend to have a higher budget and are more focused on the importance of marketing.

Conclusion

Networking is one of the best ways to grow your marketing agency, but it’s not always worth the investment. Only join a networking group if the time commitment and relevancy are worth your while.

But for us, right now, it’s going to be a hard pass.

What do you all think? Are there any benefits to joining a networking group that I’ve missed?

Do you think it is worth the investment, or should agencies avoid it?

What are your thoughts on a marketing agency participating in a business networking group?

Please, share your opinion in the comments below, and thanks for reading!

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Pay-Per-Month Websites VS. Pay Once: Which Model Suits You Best? https://blaksheepcreative.com/small-business/pay-per-month-vs-pay-at-once/ Tue, 06 Jul 2021 01:14:57 +0000 https://blaksheepcreative.com/?p=70762 The pay-per-month website model has been gaining a lot of attention lately. The pay once model is still the most popular, but pay-per-month websites are quickly becoming more and more common.

There are many benefits to pay-per-month websites that need to be considered before you decide which one suits you best. In this blog post, we will compare pay-per-month websites with traditional pay-at-once models and help you decide which one would work better for your needs.

Pay-per-month websites offer flexibility.

Pay-per-month websites offer flexibility.  With a pay-per-month website, you only have to make monthly payments instead of paying upfront for the entire year or more like most pay-at-once websites.

This flexibility is great for startups and small businesses that need more control over their finances. It allows them to pay less upfront cost with the option of paying later if they have a sudden financial emergency.

More frequent payments are more affordable to a lot of people.

More frequent payments are more affordable to many people: pay-per-month offers an easier way to pay for your website, as it is monthly pay-as-you-go.

Pay-at-once sites can be more expensive because you have to pay upfront for the entire year or longer and are required to pay a higher amount upfront, which many people cannot afford.

This payment model provides an easy solution for anyone who has financial limitations that prevent them from paying upfront.

All-inclusive packages make it easier to manage your website.

All-inclusive hosting packages make it easier to manage your website.

Many pay-per-month websites will have all of their services included in one package, from domain name registration, hosting,  and management, to provide you with a fast and reliable web host for the price.

Pay-at-once sites typically charge more because they are offering individualized services.

A pay-per-month business model is great for startups and small businesses that need more control over their finances.

A pay-per-month business model is great for startups and small businesses that need more control over their finances.

Pay-per-month websites offer a low-risk option with less initial investment because they are not required to pay upfront like most pay-at-once sites.

This means that you can try out the website service without making too much of an investment before deciding if it works for your needs.

Considering a pay-per-month website? Visit our pay-per-month services page to learn more.

Hosting fees will vary depending on the size and frequency of site updates.

With the traditional pay-at-once model, hosting fees will vary depending on the size and frequency of site updates. 

Pay-per-month websites generally offer a lower hosting fee to stay competitive with pay-at-once sites,  But included in this fee is all that you need for a website.  Most of the time, subscription-based websites offer SSL certificates, updates and maintenance, virus protection, and daily backups.  Some even offer content management and marketing for you.

It is essential to pay attention to the hosting fees and make sure that you are getting what you pay for in terms of your website needs, as it will dictate how much control over updates you have.

Pay-per-month websites allow for easy content updates.

Pay-per-month websites allow for easy content updates. Pay-per-month sites are cheaper and typically offer complete control over website management. Still, some of them will have a CMS which allows you to update your site with minimal technical knowledge.

Our pay-per-month websites are all-inclusive, meaning that you get unlimited updates, so our professional designers take care of all the heavy lifting for you.

When to consider a pay-at-once website for your business.

When to consider a pay-at-once website for your business.  if pay-per-month websites don’t meet all of the needs you have, then pay-at-once sites might be more appropriate. 

Pay-at-once websites offer complete control over updates and management and services like SEO optimization and social media marketing which are not included in most websites and can be very expensive if purchased separately.

Internal Website Management Staff

If you’re a medium to large-sized company, you may already have internal staff to take care of your website needs. If not, pay-at-once websites may be the best option for you because they will provide all that you need in one package.

You can either hire staff already experienced in web development and SEO, or you can train existing employees. Be warned, however, these two fields are labor-intensive and are forever changing. 

While using your own staff to manage your website and SEO may seem like a good idea initially, just know that it’s a significant commitment.

Large Investments and Your Cash Flow

A pay-at-once website is a significant investment. Still, it will be more beneficial for your cash flow: It may seem like pay-per-month websites are the best option because they offer a manageable monthly payment, but this can often result in higher long-term costs.

For example, if you’re paying $30 per month with no upfront cost, you could pay $360 per year, which would cost more than paying for a pay-at-once site with an upfront fee.

Pay-at-once sites are great if your company is making enough money to pay for the services all upfront: If you’re not making that much or want the flexibility of monthly payments, pay-per-month websites may be a better option for your business.

The pay-at-once model is best if you have an established company with the cash flow to pay upfront and want complete control of updates, management, SEO optimization, and social media marketing.

Since pay-per-month websites are cheaper, they may be a better option for startups who want to try out the service before investing in pay-at-once hosting.

Website Customizations

Pay-at-once websites are great for precise customizations: pay-at-once sites offer services like SEO optimization and social media marketing which can’t be found in most pay-per-month hosting packages. 

These extra, potentially expensive services are essential to the success of your business, so it’s important to make sure that pay-at-once websites include those features.

The pay-at-once model is also best for those who want to pay upfront and have complete control over updates, management, SEO optimization, and social media marketing without having to pay monthly fees. 

It provides access to services that are not available in pay-per-month hosting packages but often comes with an expensive price tag if found separately – so pay-per-month websites may be a better option for startups who want to pay monthly until they’re established.

However, if you have an established company and the cash flow to pay upfront for your website hosting services, then pay-at-once sites are best because they often include those extra features that pay-per-month packages do not offer.

Ability to Handle Extra Fees

The pay-at-once model is best if you have the cash flow to pay for extra fees. Pay-at-once websites are great because they often include services like SEO optimization and social media marketing.

If you’re not paying monthly, these additional features may come with a high price tag which can quickly add up – so the pay-per-month option may be better if you have the cash flow to pay for these costs upfront.

If your company is not making enough money or wants more flexibility in their payments, pay-per-month websites may work best because they offer monthly payment options without any significant upfront fee and often include services like SEO optimization. 

While pay-at-once sites are great with precise customizations, pay-per-month sites may work best if you want to pay monthly until your company is established.

Considering a pay-at-once website for your small business? Visit our web development page to learn more.

When to consider a pay-per-month website for your business.

A pay-per-month website may be a better option for your business if you are just starting out and want to try the service without committing to pay-at-once hosting or if you’re not making enough money to pay upfront.

Pay-per-month websites can also work well with established companies that need monthly payments rather than one large payment.

Your Monthly Marketing Budget is Tight

If your business is just starting out and doesn’t have a lot of money in your monthly marketing budget, pay-per-month websites may be the best option because pay-at-once websites are typically more expensive.

Pay-per-month websites are the best option for your monthly marketing budget if:

  • You do not make enough money to pay upfront for website hosting services.
  • You don’t want to commit to paying for web hosting and aren’t sure if it will work out in the long run.
  • Your company is just starting and does not have the cash flow yet.

Everything Managed For You

If you want everything managed for you, pay-per-month websites may be a better option: pay-per-month sites offer services like SEO optimization and social media marketing. 

This extra, potentially expensive service is essential to the success of your business, so it’s important to make sure that subscription-based websites include those features.

Some other add-ons typically offered with pay-per-month websites are:

  • Site backups
  • Unlimited storage space
  • Virus protection and malware removal
  • Professional web design services

Pay-at-once websites pay for these features upfront, so if you want everything managed for you, pay-per-month is the way to go. 

Incentives for Success

When you pay a company monthly, they have an incentive to form a solid relationship with you and truly help your business grow. 

They’ll work hard to keep you happy because if the competitor is good enough for your needs, nothing is stopping you from going over!

All-Inclusive, With No Surprise Fees

For one monthly price, you can have everything taken care of with your website. You can even purchase upgrades like online marketing, SEO, or content generation.

You’ll never be faced with any surprise fees because if something breaks down or updates are needed, it will all get done for the same flat rate–no extras! 

This may provide some peace of mind to business owners who don’t know what they might need next month that could break their budget.

You’ve been looking for a website, but you don’t want to pay the full price upfront.

We offer monthly payment plans so that you can get your site up and running without breaking the bank. Our team is here to help with any questions or concerns you might have about getting started.

You can sign up for our plan in just 3 minutes! It only takes a few seconds to fill out our form, and we’ll be in touch within 24 hours with all of the information you need. Plus, there’s no commitment – if it doesn’t work out, we’ll cancel your account at any time! No risk involved!

Complete the form below right now and learn how you can dominate your competition with a pay-per-month Website from BlakSheep Creative, or visit our portfolio to see what we can create for you.

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